This is Arkady's POV and his introduction. All characters will stop at a central point and then the story will continue with each of their POV's in turn.

Arkady Shankov of Russia was an assassin, well an assassin to be. For the past 7 years he trained as an assassin of range, specializing with fire arms. Specifically: his custom 50. Cal sniper rifle he also was equipped with 2 python pistols and a variety of throwing knives that he used on occasion. One day deep in the mountains of Russia when he was training with his short sword his mentor Nicolai dropped down from a nearby tree calling out to Arkady.

"Privét" he greeted him in Russian "what are we going to do today?" continuing with the language

"Nothing new Arkady I just wanted to see how you were doing with the short sword and I have fantastic news from the order."

Arkady lifted his head up higher and sheathed his short sword, the sound of metal on leather breaking the silence that was between them.

Nicolai began speaking in English hinting to him that it was a matter only the assassins could know about.

"As you know every 2 years the order holds a tournament for the trainees who are 18 and about to graduate, for the first time ever the order has allowed 1 trainee to graduate early if they compete in the tournament and at least make it to the semi-finals. The order has chosen you to be that candidate." Arkady couldn't believe his ears he had a chance to be the first 17 year old to graduate from training.

"Are you serious?!" he exclaimed. "Why me I'm not that much important than all the other trainees in the 8 divisions, what makes me so special?"

"It might be the fact that you are excellent in parkour training and you throw a throwing knife almost as fast as the assassins in Germany, and out of the 7 years I trained you, I have never seen you miss a shot once with your pistols or sniper." All of this was true; he could've graduated a year ago if the order would've let him.

"But," Nicolai added, "you need to work on your swordsmanship you'll get pulverized by the Italians, and even though you can hold your own with knives, you won't stand a chance against the Germans and the Australians." Nicolai smiled his green eyes beaming with pride at the student he worked with for years. "We leave in one week on Monday have everything you need, the games are being hosted in Italy." As he turned to leave he added, "and I strongly suggest that you train with the short sword, you'll need it if you want to be in the semifinals, Do svidanija!" he raced up a tree with nimble speed and agility and leapt from tree to tree down the mountain.

The next week turned into a blur from 5am in the morning he trained stopping only to eat and relieve himself he then finished his days at 11pm when he slept he did so, very soundly and the day finally came to board the plane and fly to Italy where the tournament would be held in the ruins of the city Pompeii.

When the plane landed and they got all of their bags they were greeted by a large man in a suit and glasses he looked like an Italian gang member with his black hair slicked back. He glanced around as if he was hoping no one was watching, as they got near he said in a thick Italian accent

"Are you the Russian division?" The man asked.

"Yes we are." Nicolai answered "Let's get out of here before any Reevers recognize who we are."

They left the airport and got into a black suburban, while in the car the man told them that the order has rented all the rooms of one hotel for the trainees and their mentors 10 trainee from each division. They also were told that they needed to be at the gates of Pompeii with all their gear at 4am sharp if late they would be disqualified. Arkady fell into his bed and went to sleep as soon as he could, and in his dreams he imagined himself in the tournament making it to the semi-finals and graduating early.

The next morning the tournament begun Arkady beat is divisional and his regional games, after almost losing in the quarter finals he beat the semis with flying colors. This was it he couldn't believe it I could graduate early but if he wanted to prove himself more he had to win. The final stage was against a German a girl with short blond hair by the name of Anastasia, and an Italian with a huge 2 hand sword on his back by the name of Leonardo.

"The final round!" the announcer's voice said in everyone's ear pieces. "The rules are simple last one standing wins you are eliminated if you are rendered unconscious, the entire city is the zone of play, 10 seconds until you can fight I would suggest you all run and see what happens next."

"This is it" Arkady thought, "all I have to do is trank that massive Italian and then the German will be all mine!" he started running through the streets and scaled building for a vantage point. As he reached the top of a spire, all hell broke loose.