The Gladiator

Prologue Part One
''The crimson and silver-armored figure was running for his life. His former best friend chased behind him, firing pulses of Shadow energy. The red warrior jumped, twisted in the air, and fired a blast of energy from his Giant Axe. The energy struck his pursuer on the right leg, tearing a hole in Brutaka's gold armor. Axonn redoubled his speed, taking advantage of Brutaka's temporary defeat.''

''"You won't get far, my old friend!" Brutaka shouted. "They'll find you! Surrender, it'll be much easier than fighting my... ''friends."

"I'll take my chances," Axonn replied, ignoring his friend's agony.

''A quartet of dark-colored figures appeared several hundred yards in front of Axonn. Shadow Toa.''

''"Halt!" one of them commanded in a gravelly voice. "In the name of the Great Spirit, Makuta Teridax, I demand you halt!"''

''Axonn slowed, but did not stop. He recognised these Toa, and he felt a shiver of fear run down his spine.''

''Helryx. Whenua. Drantus. And, the worst of them all, Takanuva.''

How did Brutaka find them? ''Axonn thought. ''All four of them have been in hiding for at least twenty years!

"Surrender, and your death will be quick and painless," the Shadow Helryx said.

"Unlikely," Axonn hefted his Giant Axe, preparing to attack his old friends.

''Whenua's attack came first, a whirling inferno of Shadow blasting from his twin Earthshock Drills. Axonn dodged the energies with ease, and returned with a blast of light so powerful that it turned both Whenua and Drantus to ash. The remaining two Shadow Toa were only a hundred yards away. Now ninety. Seventy-five. Fifty. Twenty. Ten.''

''Collision. ''

''Axonn fired a bolt of lightening at Helryx, ripping a hole through her chest. She died instantly. The Shadow Takanuva fired his Midak Skyblaster. A concentrated ball of Shadow struck Axonn's hand, forcing him to release his Giant Axe. In return, Axonn unleashed a blast of energy on the warrior of Shadow's Skyblaster, incinerating it. The Shadow Takanuva growled, swinging his Staff of Light. Axonn backflipped away...''

''Strait into Brutaka's Rotating Blades. ''

Axonn groaned.

"Take him to Roma Nui," he heard Brutaka say.

Then he passed out.

Prologue Part Two
''Brinoa was fighting for her life. Directly after being transported here, she had been captured by a traitorous Toa of Stone known as Cordel. She managed to escape, regaining her weapons, and knock Cordel unconscious. Now she had been found in her hiding place, a large cave in a huge desert. Unfortunately, Brinoa was outclassed by her opponent: a Makuta known as Antidax.''

"You will do well in the Arena. You may be surprised who you meet there," the Makuta said.

''"What do you mean?" the Toa of Plasma gasped, breathing hard.''

"I can read your mind. Your friend, Drevac, died in your world. He is alive here, in the dungeons of Roma Nui."

''Brinoa paused. Antidax took advantage of Brinoa's distraction, slashing her in the side with his claws. Brinoa flew into the wall of the cave, and fell unconscious. ''