Wilson's head was throbbing. He wasn't entirely sure what had happened. Last he remembered he was doing a quick scout patrol around one of the areas of The Constant and the next, things went completely black. What was going on now was beyond him.

Everything around him was hot, as if he were near a pool of lava. There was ground beneath him that was hard and rough and was bit irritating to his skin.

He finally got his eyes to open, finding himself prostrated against warm stone ground. He glanced around, noting he was on a plateau of sorts and could see flickers of ember coming up from the edges.

His eyes widened, getting to his feet.

This… This couldn't be right. He was nowhere near the lava pools in the desert but this was nothing like it.

This resembled more so a description of Hell.

Fire and brimstone… Embers and ashes…

He looked around, confusion coming over him.

Why was he here?

"How did I get here?" He asked more so to himself than anyone else.

He wandered over to one the edges, his eyes growing wide at the sight of seeing lava below him. He stumbled back, tripping over his feet, falling over onto his back.

What is going on here?

He then took note his garb was completely different. He was wearing a fur vest along with dark leggings, arm guards, boots and bandages wrapped around his chest.

And what happened to my clothes!?

"Jumpy one, aren't ya?"

Wilson looked to the side, seeing a tall woman sitting not too far from him, clad in gold colored plated armor and chainmail, fiddling with a hammer she had in her hands.

She smirked.

"Get used to it."

"W-Who are you? Where are we?" He asked, terrified. "Why am I here!?"

"One, name's Winona, two, it's called The Forge and three, even I don't know."

"The Forge?" Wilson questioned, narrowing his eyes.

Winona nodded, twirling her hammer more.

"That's correct. The armor's for protection from the heat… or each other."

"Each other?"

"Look, I got put through some training and all I know is either we're fighting each other or we're working together. All I remember hearing is we're in a gladiatorial ring area. We're going to be fighting for our lives, whatever your name is."

"Wilson. Wilson Higgsbury." He frowned, thinking of the Light Village and everyone there. He hoped they weren't worried about him. "Look, I don't want to fight anyone. I just want to go home."

"Good luck with that."

Great. I promised Willow and the girls I wouldn't get hurt or die AGAIN and now that might happen.

"Are we the only ones here?

"There are three others that I know of. My sister, Jenny being one of them… Then…" Winona's face was a bit red as she spoke. "Walter. He's a gentle guy, but ho boy get out of his way here in the arena, he will set you on fire and feed you to the pigs. Heh, kinda looks like you now that I think about it. And then there's Laika - she's some bug critter. I can't honestly remember what she said her species was called. She's a tough one though, helped fill us in on some of the stuff going on here. Main thing to know is here in The Forge, it's live or die by the sword."

Wilson leaned back against one of the pillars, slowly sliding to the floor, absorbing this information.

There were other people here. There was also an unknown species of creature he had yet to meet in this world.

And there was a high chance he was going to die.

"... I'm going to die." He remarked.

Winona rolled her eyes.

"Walter said that too."

"So… where are the others?"

Winona shrugged.

"Beats me. I just know the head honcho wanted us separated for a moment before we get thrown into the ring. According to Laika, the only way out is to win the battle together."

He swallowed hard, dread creeping in.

"Wonderful."

"Don't worry. I'm not one to turn on my teammates and neither is Jenny."

Wilson sighed shakily, looking around him again. He didn't see any means to escape… and if he could help find a way out…

"Alright. I have no other choice then."

Winona gave a bit of a smile.

"Hey, I got your back. I have full intents of getting out here. After all that training that nearly killed me and the others, there's no way I'm letting this be the end.

Wilson grinned a bit.

"Then, Winona, I'm glad to have met you. Let's get through this together." He offered a hand that she gripped tightly.

"Together."

oooooo

"Wait here till Master Pugna summons you!"

Maxwell was thrown onto the ground of a plateau by two armored pigs before they disappeared in a burst of dark black and red flames. Maxwell grunted as he made contact, groaning a bit.

"This is just undignified." He got up slowly, looking at the attire they had forced him into.

It was a deep purple blue hooded robe, clad with bronze plate armor on his chest and shoulders. His arms were wrapped in protective material, complete with gloves. He knew the attire. This was the garb of an alchemist.

I remember many wearing this in The Forge back when it was less hostile. Even I know this garb well… as did… Him.

"You're new."

Maxwell jumped, seeing standing before him was a humanoid bug hybrid creature. The top half was human while the bottom half resembled something like that of a scorpion, legs and all. They were red and tan in color and were adorned with warrior garb. To anyone else, it was a strange new creature but to Maxwell… he knew exactly what was standing before him.

He narrowed his eyes.

"And I have not seen one of your kind in ages." He remarked. "Thulecitians are rather rare nowadays are they not?"

The creature's eyes narrowed a little.

"That was rude."

"That's what you are, aren't you?"

"Yes and you would be the first to actually know that right off the bat. The others I met didn't know what I was till I told them. So, how do you know about my people? Very few hoomons know of my people's existence."

Maxwell chuckled, looking away from them.

"That, my dear, is a very long story. You needn't concern yourself with it."

"Well, we're stuck here until Pugna calls us out. So, why not?"

Maxwell rolled his eyes, sitting down, cross legged.

"It really isn't any of your concern. We got brought here against our will and Pugna has full intents of murdering us so I don't see a point."

The creature tilted their head, giving a bit of a pout.

"I'm not here against my will though."

"... What!?"

"I'm here to represent my tribe. A hoomon came to our village saying the Ancient Gateway had opened again and someone had to be sent in to help defeat Pugna to keep a war from happening. I volunteered to go, being one of the best fighters of my village. I'm here to prove my people are still strong even after all these years…. And to protect some people that are important to me." Their eyes narrowed. "I won't let them get hurt!"

Maxwell's jaw dropped, pity coming to his eyes.

"Dear, you've been tricked." He could only think of one person who could do such a thing. "You cannot be here to truly represent."

"Huh?" The creature gave another confused look. "But Pugna does want a war. I'm here to help stop that from happening."

He shook his head.

"I'm the reason he's threatening war. But that man - do you know his name?"

"The man who told us of the Ancient Gateway being open? Cato, I think he said was his name."

Maxwell lowered his head.

"That man is a monster. A literal monster, young one. He is starting a war, not Pugna. He tricked you because of the grudge that man has with the other world. Don't you find it odd how Pugna has done nothing to your people for how long and now he wants fighters?"

The creature pondered this for a moment before a frown crossed their face.

"... It's a schism, isn't it?"

He nodded.

"Unfortunately. My name is Maxwell. Pugna and Cato both want me dead for separate reasons. Cato has been after me for centuries. So long ago your own parents probably hadn't been born yet. Maybe even your ancestors from prior to them hadn't been born yet."

"So, Cato arranged all this just to kill you?"

"Yes… and wreak havoc on everyone else. I apologize if this is how you meet your end, young warrior." He lowered his head.

Scarlet… please keep the giants safe if I don't make it out of here.

The creature was silent before tipping Maxwell's chin up.

"I shall go down fighting with you and the others then. We have been brought here unjustly and we shall not let us be slaughtered."

He was stunned, keeping quiet. He didn't think anyone would give him mercy. Or even be willing to give up their safety for his.

"Thank you... What is your name?"

They smiled.

"Laika. My name is Laika."

"Laika… Well, it was nice to meet you Laika. If we make it out of this, I have many questions for you."

"No if. We will make it out of this."

He grinned.

"It's a deal then."

oooooo

Pugna grinned widely as the crowds around the arena cheered loudly, all ready to see the fight that was to come unfold.

"Fight! Fight! Fight! Fight! Fight!"

He could barely wait himself.

Well, let's put on a show.

He raised his club.

"Bring in the gladiators!"

A ring one one of the ends of the arena lit up with black and red flames pluming out of it, fading off to reveal the six fighters, the crowd erupting into a huge cheer.

"Welcome, Gate Keepers!" Pugna announced, grabbing the fighters' attentions. They all narrowed their eyes at him, holding up their weapons. "Ah, save those for your competitors."

Wilson looked at those who surrounded them. He took note of Winona on his right. Next to her was a young woman who resembled her who he could only assume was her sister, Jenny. There was the odd creature Winona mentioned who was known as Laika and next to her was a man who bared a rather striking resemblance to Wilson himself but he would ponder over that later. He just knew that was probably the man known as Walter. The last person though… he couldn't make out a face. They had a hood on, obstructing their face, the only thing really visible being their rather pointy nose.

Something seems familiar though but I can't put my finger on it.

Wilson shook his mind of it, looking to Pugna again.

Pugna sneered at them.

"You shall face our trials. If you succeed, you may leave in one piece. If you lose, you shall meet your end and The Constant shall be ours!"

The Constant? What does he want with The Constant?

"Not today, Pugna." Laika said, holding up her weapon. "We shall win!"

"We'll be the judge of that." Pugna waved his club.

"Warriors! Release the pigs!"

Fizzing was heard, the fighters whirling around as they took note of the three rings on the other ends of the arena that had embers coming off them. Then, in a sudden burst of sparks, creatures with sharp blades coming out of their nostrils appeared. They snorted before charging at them.

"SCATTER!" Winona shouted, the six splitting off into groups of two, taking on one of the three creatures together.

"SHOW 'EM NO MERCY!"