Chapter 29: The Colosseum Part 2
Mordred moved slowly down the dark corridor, following the dragon guards as they led him to his destiny. His heart pounded violently in his chest, a complex mixture of apprehension and fierce determination burning within him. His hand was firmly gripping the scabbard of the black katana he had just chosen. The presence of the weapon brought him a semblance of comfort, a faint but tangible connection with Isaac, the hunter.
At the end of the long, dark corridor, a large metal door decorated with draconic symbols slowly opened before him, letting in a blinding light. Mordred instinctively raised his hand to shield his eyes from the glaring sun. His heart raced as he finally emerged into the vast arena.
He stopped dead in his tracks, impressed despite himself.
The arena was immense, stretching as far as the eye could see under a clear sky, with a floor entirely covered in fine ochre-colored sand, reminiscent of ancient arenas. Bleachers rose all around, capable of accommodating thousands of spectators. Torches, lined up along the high walls, burned brightly, diffusing a stifling heat and a strange smoky fragrance into the air.
Before long, the stands began to fill up. Majestic, immense dragons flew over the arena before landing gracefully. Mordred stood in awe of this fascinating and frightening sight.
Just before touching down, each dragon took on an elegant, imposing humanoid form. Their scales retracted, their wings disappeared and they strode with dignity towards ornate seats reserved for the most important beings.
The audience was clearly made up of an elite, richly dressed, adorned with glittering jewels, with faces imbued with obvious arrogance. Everyone made themselves comfortable, exchanging a few words in hushed tones as they waited for the show to begin.
Suddenly, a powerful, metallic sound burst through the air, a trumpet blaring to announce the arrival of royalty.
All eyes turned skyward as a colossal shadow suddenly enveloped the entire arena.
An immense black dragon slowly descended, towering over the other dragons. Its presence immediately commanded respect and fear, a terrifying aura emanating from every dark scale, faintly reflecting the sunlight. Accompanying him were three slightly smaller but equally impressive dragons, each a different color: silver, red and emerald.
Mordred felt a cold sweat slowly trickle down his temple as these creatures gently landed in the space reserved high up for the nobility. At the last moment, the immense black dragon metamorphosed fluidly into a man with deep black hair, dressed in sumptuous black and crimson garments.