Raiden, Zohar, and Kaito were led into the Coliseum, the grand structure alive with the vibrant energy of hundreds of Olympian spectators seated in rising rows around the arena, all looking down in anticipation at the 200 chosen warriors gathered in formation below. Zohar muttered under his breath, "Are we the last ones here?"
Kaito let out a dramatic sigh, giving Zohar a sideways glance. "I knew we were gonna be late again."
As they were escorted down to join the assembly, Zeus's commanding voice filled the air, reaching even the furthest rows of the massive crowd. "Ah, you made it just in time, young ones!" Zeus called out, his tone both welcoming and strong. Raiden elbowed Kaito with a grin. "See? We're on time." They chuckled, easing a bit as they settled into their places.
Zeus turned back to address the gathered crowd and the chosen, his powerful voice carrying a weight of authority. "Today is the day we introduce the new generation of chosen," he declared, gesturing proudly at the assembled warriors. "Beside each of you stands a god who believes in your strength and potential. It is their duty — and honor — to prepare you for the darkness that threatens every corner of our realms."
Zeus continued, his gaze intense as he spoke of the looming threat. "Lucifer remains hidden, his location unknown. But make no mistake — he gathers strength, forging alliances and whispering chaos into the shadows. And there is reason to believe that Loki and Hades, formidable in their own right, may yet return." A murmur rippled through the crowd, and even the gods exchanged wary glances.
He lifted his hand, quieting the crowd. "Your path will be one of both glory and sacrifice, requiring not just strength, but unity and self-control. The final step of your training, before you face the true enemies of these realms, will be to fight each other in hand-to-hand combat." He cast his gaze over the chosen, his eyes sharp. "These duels will test your skills against opponents like the demons you'll face in the field. But more than that, it is an opportunity to master yourselves — to harness the force within and to control it. For only with control comes true power."
Zeus then raised his hands, addressing the roaring crowd with a promise of spectacle. "So, show us what you're made of, chosen ones! Give the people of Olympus a show worthy of legends!"
The chosen warriors glanced at one another, tense but energized. Raiden, Kaito, and Zohar exchanged determined looks, bracing themselves for what lay ahead, aware that this was no ordinary training — it was a proving ground, and only the strongest would walk out victorious.
The clashing of swords and cheers from the crowd faded as the match concluded, leaving a warrior victorious and another in humble defeat. Kaito let out a quiet, playful groan, muttering, "Aw man, we're late again, aren't we?" But before the weight of their lateness could settle, Zeus rose from his throne, his commanding voice cutting through the coliseum.
"You've made it just in time," he called out. Zohar elbowed Kaito, smirking. "See? On time for once."
The trio made their way down the stone steps toward the center of the arena, where Odin, Thor, and Neptune stood in a tight formation, each exuding the aura of ancient power. Zeus stepped down from his throne, joining them in the coliseum's heart and signaling for Raiden to stand beside him.
The air grew electric as a hush fell over the crowd. Olympian citizens, gods, and chosen warriors stood shoulder to shoulder, gazing with reverence toward the towering marble throne now occupied by the All Mighty. As he sat, two angels swept to either side of him, their voices ringing out across the coliseum.
"All present, kneel for the All Mighty!" they commanded.
In unison, 200 chosen ones knelt alongside their guiding gods, heads bowed in a gesture of solemn respect. Silence blanketed the arena, a profound stillness before the All Mighty's authority. With a nod, the angels' voices rang again.
"Stand."
As one, the chosen ones and their divine patrons rose to their feet. The All Mighty cast his gaze across the crowd, his expression a blend of calm authority and fierce resolve. He raised a hand, drawing all eyes to him as he began to speak.
"Today," he announced, "you gather here as a new generation of chosen warriors. Your talents, forged and tested, are but the beginning of what is to come. Lucifer, the deceiver, remains hidden, his shadow reaching into realms far and wide. The possibility of Hades and Loki joining his cause is ever looming."
Murmurs rippled through the crowd, a shared understanding of the threat they faced.
"But," he continued, his voice deepening, "look around you. You stand with those chosen not for titles or heritage, but for courage, strength, and resilience. The days ahead will test your every resolve. Many of you will find yourselves in battles that defy mortal imagination. Yet you have been called to protect and to endure, to stand as guardians of balance."
His gaze swept over Raiden, Kaito, Zohar, and the countless others gathered. "The light we carry will withstand any shadow, any deception, and any enemy who seeks to destroy it. Together, we shall ensure that hope prevails. Together, we will defend the realms from ruin."
With his final words, a roaring cheer erupted from the coliseum crowd, filling every corner with their resounding unity. The All Mighty's speech echoed within each chosen one, a spark igniting deep within them—a reminder that they were indeed born for greatness.
The All Mighty raised his hand, and the deafening cheers quickly quieted to a respectful silence, each soul in the coliseum held by his commanding presence. His gaze moved across the sea of chosen ones, singling out a few among the hundreds gathered.
"These are no ordinary warriors," he declared, his voice powerful yet steady, resonating throughout the arena. "They are true soldiers, true chosen—a true chance to defeat Lucifer once and for all."
He pointed to a young man near the front, his posture proud and unwavering. "Connor Grayson, chosen by Morrigan." The crowd murmured in admiration as Connor, alongside the powerful Irish goddess Morrigan, acknowledged the honor with a slight nod. His gaze was fierce, his connection to the ancient guardian of battle unmistakable.
Then, the All Mighty's finger shifted to Raiden, Zohar, and Kaito. "Raiden, Zohar, and Kaito—the bond that holds them, chosen of Zeus, Odin, and Neptune." Raiden's eyes flashed with a mix of excitement and solemn pride. They felt the weight of the responsibility upon them, each one a pillar to the other in this journey against the shadows.
A woman stood nearby with a steady, resolute gaze, her hand clenched at her side. "Freya and her chosen," the All Mighty continued, pointing toward the woman and the goddess of love and war who stood beside her, her presence both fierce and protective.
The All Mighty continued, pointing to others standing under the banners of their gods—a few from ancient Eastern deities, others from newer faiths, each one representing a unique and sacred alliance. He addressed the entire crowd once more.
"These are the key," he announced. "Together, you represent hope, strength, and the relentless will to protect all that exists. You are the only ones who can face the darkness and bring it to its knees. Let your unity be your strength and your purpose your guide."
The gravity of his words settled over the chosen, each feeling the full significance of what lay ahead. The task was monumental, and yet, in this moment, united under the gaze of the gods, they felt prepared to face whatever awaited them in the fight to preserve the balance of all realms.
The All Mighty continued, his tone growing even more solemn, filling the coliseum with an air of intensity. "Before you are sent to the battlefield, you must face one final trial," he announced, his gaze piercing through each chosen warrior. "In this arena, you will face each other in combat, to test your limits, hone your self-control, and refine your battle tactics. This is as close to true combat as any of you will get before you face the darkness beyond these gates."
He paused, letting his words settle. The crowd, gods, and chosen alike listened in unbroken silence.
"First," he continued, "you'll engage in hand-to-hand combat, stripped of your weapons. This will test your skill and adaptability. Only once you've proven yourselves worthy will your armor and weapons be distributed. You must learn to let your mind and soul guide your body, for in the face of darkness, your true weapon will be the strength within."
He walked down the line of chosen warriors, his gaze unwavering. "This trial will make or break you as chosen ones. I expect you to give everything you have—no hesitations, no doubts. Do not hold back. Do not lose control. And above all, do not lose focus."
A heavy silence settled over the chosen, each one feeling the weight of the words. Raiden, Zohar, and Kaito exchanged glances, a spark of determination shared between them. This wasn't just a test of their physical abilities, but a measure of their souls, a chance to prove their worth not only to the gods but to each other and themselves.
The All Mighty's eyes swept across the coliseum once more. "Prepare yourselves. The next time you enter this arena, you will step into the crucible that will forge you into true soldiers."