The scorching Sun hit the dirt floor of the colosseum like a furnace, but the cold sweat running down Leo’s back had nothing to do with the heat. Across the dusty floor, the heavy wooden gates groaned under immense pressure. Millions of people watched from the stands, their voices rising in a terrifying roar that rattled the stone walls of the arena. Leo stood alone in his ragged tunic, his bare feet buried in the dry sand.

Voice over the Loudspeaker: "STOP. TURN BACK WHILE YOU STILL CAN!"

Leo: "I am not running away. Not today."

Voice over the Loudspeaker: "DO NOT FACE THE BEAST!"

Leo gripped his fists tightly, feeling the rough calluses on his hands. He looked up at the royal balcony where King Arthur sat in his lavish velvet robes, sipping wine from a golden goblet. Beside him sat Leo’s mother, her face pale, her eyes filled with silent tears. She tried to step forward, but the royal guards held her back.

King Arthur: "Let the boy stand his ground! Let us see if his blood is as noble as his mother claims!"

Leo’s Mother: "Arthur, please! He is just a boy! He doesn't know what he carries inside him!"

King Arthur: "Silence, woman! The arena demands blood!"

With a loud, splintering crash, the massive iron-reinforced double doors burst open. Clouds of black dust exploded into the air as a roaring black armored dragon emerged from the dark tunnel. Its red eyes burned with pure malice as it fixed its gaze on the small, isolated youth standing in the center of the stadium. The dragon took a heavy step, making the ground quake violently under its massive weight.

Leo: "If this is how my story ends, so be it!"

Suddenly, a strange, burning heat flared on Leo’s chest. A golden swirly mark began to glow brightly through his tattered shirt, casting a brilliant light across the dusty arena floor. The dragon stopped mid-stride, its massive head lowering as it let out a confused growl.

King Arthur: "WHAT IS THAT?!"

A blinding beam of light shot up into the sky as a ancient golden sword materialized, floating right in front of Leo’s chest. The magic runes along the blade burned with raw power. The entire crowd went dead silent as the truth began to unfold right before their eyes.