Gazef could hear the deafening noise coming from the arena as he adjusted his gauntlets and sheathed his sword. It was time for the main event and he was it, as he was reading the flyer that a guard brought in and left on one of the tables. He read it again even though he had probably read it fifteen times already:

The World's Strongest Man Gazef Stronoff brought back by the Blessed 41 vs. Go Gin who came off the southern front out of retirement to fight as the Martial Lord. The battle of the Century! Who will win? Man vs. War Troll! Can Gazef do what no man could? A battle of pure martial arts brought to you by The God Emperor himself as a gift to the Baharuthian state and the entire world! Come see it prices start at ten copper Imperial coins.

May the 41 guide your steps to all prosperity and Praise the Holy God Emperor.

Every other poster he saw varied to cater to the audience but ended the same way, it did not sit right with him as he had never been a religious man and the overtones of worship reminded him the the Slane Theocracy. A nation that he had learned to despise more than any other, he did have to admit he did feel a small amount of joy when he heard the Empire destroyed the nation but the sacking of the cities and the capital were brutal, from what he had heard from the arena guards, some of which were there, they had even women pick up swords and daggers to attack the invading army with a suicidal death wish, This left a large amount of war orphans who were surprisingly taken care of and sent to become adventurers or when they came of age whatever else they wanted to be as they were sent to trade schools or apprenticeships. He shook his head, war was terrible and none are pleasant but the fact remains that those who spouted such hatred for non-humans were nothing but hypocrites because they tried to kill him and in the process killed hundreds of humans and settlements to do it. Hate is a powerful weapon indeed and that was the weapon that Ainz used to destroy their nation. Stronoff shook his head he did not understand anything anymore the more he learned the less he felt like he understood about the new world.

"A war troll huh." Gazef said to himself, he had fought all sorts of monsters but never a war troll, he knew that they can regenerate really fast, fiercely strong, one thing he had as an advantage is they are very dumb but he heard this one was very clever, "Even worse." he said to himself. He also heard that the only defeat without magic he had was at the hands of Ainz a magic caster and it was an overwhelming victory, from what he heard he just toyed with him until he ended it in an instant and the troll could not even damage him. He also learned all of his martial arts and that he never learned his opponents skills to make things more interesting, Gazef though this was foolish as knowledge had won him several fight over opponents who were stronger, faster and more talented than him. He had also heard from the guard that ever since Ainz he liked to finish fights fast, so he had to be weary of the trolls trump card early on.A wide eyed guard came in and said. "Sir Stronoff, it is time, you can follow me." Gazef nodded and started to walk in his direction, "Sir Stronoff my son is a big of yours, could you sign your name on this poster?" Gazef reached out and took the poster the man was holding the picture looked just like him and he signed it with a strange pen that he had never seen before." Gazef did not like to admit it but he was of common blood and a warrior he only knew how to write a few words and his name was one of them, he never let the nobles know this of course.

He followed the lanky guard all the way to the entrance were the man fumbled for the keys to open the gate. How this man ever got the job of a guard was beyond Gazef's reasoning as he could be easily overtaken by any of the criminals sentenced to death by the courts but we he looked to the right of the inside of the gate he was reminded why. There stood a tall black wall of a being called a death knight that could kill an entire army by itself, well supposedly. The guard finally found the key and opened the gate and it swung open, "This is where I stay Gazef, just in case you forgot their is a circle that in the middle of the arena there are two x's that are across from eachother one for you and one for Gon Gin may the 41 protect you!" Gazef smiled and waved to the guard and he started to walk to the center of the arena, he felt the sand under his feet and took note of it less he slip and lose his footing during the battle. He noticed large stains of red, green and blue, that is when he realized that those were most likely the exact spots that the creatures and humans in the games had most likely came to an untimely end. He knew they were revived but they would never be the same again, he was walking proof of that.

As he walking toward the center he could hear people chanting his name, jeers and curses, but what really concerned him was the figure in front of him in armour from head to toe. Go Gin already look big and he was still 50 meters away, he thought. The closer Gazef got the more adrenaline began pumping in his veins, and the more the daunting the task ahead of him became. He could see why this troll was pretty much undefeated he did not even need to use Martial Arts to win, but Gazef properly figured out that was his trump card and that he was not as refined in them as he was. Go Gin could rely on his brute strength for offence and his regenerative abilities bolstered his defence. That would be the flaw that Gazef had to exploit in his fight with Go-Gin.

Befor Gazef even realized it he was standing on his mark standing only 10 meters away from a massive armoured wartroll, the champion of this arena. In a low voice that Gazef found surprisingly intelligent and polite Gogin lifted his visor on his helmet and and said, "It is a honor to meet another warrior that my owner and Emperor has such high esteem for. Gazef surprised looked at Go Gin and said, "Owner? I thought slavery was banned why does the Emperor own you? Go Gin smiled and said, "When I fought the Emperor we made a bet, if I won I would get to eat him but if he won he would own me as he is a collector of exotic a rare creatures like you." Gazef laughed, "No it is different between us I well, will work for him I suppose." Then it was Go Gin who laughed, "I think it might by you that is confused but we are warriors let us speak with our sword and club" he said as Gazef noticed the troll reach behind his left shoulder and pull out a massive club that was behind his back in some sort of holster. Gazef notice the club was as tall as a man and when Go gin's took hold of it a yellow tongues of flame emitted from the club, that when he noticed three etchings on the weapon. The symbols were each the same size but were clearly visible because the yellow light emanated from each of them. Go Gin looked at Gazef and said, "Runes, a gift from my master among other things."

Suddenly a loud voice sounded over the cacophony of noises and as if a magic spell had been cast the entire arena that held over one hundred thousand people fell silent all at once. A fat man came out of an opening in the middle of the seated areas on a platform that floated and stopped when he was in the center of the arena. "Ladies, Gentlemen, Humans and all the Races of the Empire I am Ace Bilzar owner of the new Imperial Arena than was revitalized to hold four times the people it did before. It also has all the comforts and amenities you could ask for; restaurants, hotels, a temple and even an new organized system to place your wagers. I am not speaking of this to boast of me but of our honored and Holy God Emperor who approached me not but last year and gave me the idea to do this and what a wonder it has become!" A sudden round of applause broke out at and among them the most adamant were the demihumans and heteromorphs who felt the most gratitude. This caught Gazef by surprise as he did not notice that about half the audience was not human and among them; elves, lizardmen, goblins, toadmen, dragonkin, bunnymen, cyclops, beastmen, lemas, centaurs and most starling and in a group of their own even demons and undead creatures and many other creatures he had never seen befor. Ace was a fat man that wore a purple robe with a fur collar that had to be hot, he was balding and his only noticeable feature was his intricately styled moustache that curled and swirled on each side and must have been two feet long all together. It was almost comical but that is how he showed off his wealth other than his clothes.

"Now for the main event our Champion out of retirement, a adamantite adventurer, fresh off the Southern Front, he has conquered countless races, and with his unit claimed two small southern kingdoms bringing the enlightenment of the 41 to there dark existence. May the God Emperor Guide him God Gin! Ace screamed as the crowd went wild mostly the heteromorphs. "Facing him is a man who is in the Holy book itself, brought back from oblivion by the will of the God Emperor himself, the Warrior Captain who won his title winning a sword competition in the Kingdom State. A man who fought against all odds and still stood strong, a man of conviction and loyalty, may the God Emperor Guide him Gazef Stronoff! I will start a countdown from five and then I will ring this magic bell and you will fight, please remember to not hold back as the loser will be revived!"

Gazef could not believe the similarities between his last duel with the now Emperor and today were a coincidence, as he drew his sword and stook a his wide stance he always did to prepare for the fight. Gazef was nervous the last fight he was in did not go his way and here he was fighting the current Champion of the Empire who has had the luxury of ten years more experience in the battlefield than he did. Go Gin on the other hand was relaxed in the last few years on the battlefield he had never even had to use any of his secret techniques, in truth he had become bored with the constant fighting with just as predictable outcome. The only excitement he ever got is when he got to fight a new enemy with unknown strength and abilities he made sure never to learned about them to make it more of a was disappointed with the enemy nine out of ten times but every once and and a while he would fight a worthy enemy.

Ace started the countdown with the crowd screaming along, "Five, four, three, two, one." The Bell rang and Gazef readied himself for attack as he decided to go on the defence to watch the trolls fighting style and patterns, and then the unthinkable happened Go Gin turn around dragging his weapon and walked about twenty yards, stopped, and turned around. "Go ahead and give me all you got!" he screamed egging Gazef to attack. Gazef saw through Go Gin's plan but decided he was going to play along, he would now have to go on the offense, he` thought. Gazef had to activate his martial arts, " [Body Strengthening] , [Focus Fighting Power], [Magical Weapons Enhancement] and [Sense Weakness]. He could tell his opponent was weak to acid and attacks to the head, he could regenerate but if he clearly cut off an arm or leg get would have to take time and reattach it he had a plan. Gazef took a step forward, "[Full Throttle]" and shot forward in striking distance in an instant. Gazef jumped and pulled his sword back and swung down aiming at the space of armor at his right elbow joint slicing through his arm like butter landing he then side stepped to his right rear of Go gin positioning in his blindspot. He the took a low stance and harnessed his momentum to swing at the armour at his knee, if he could cut his right arm and leg off he could quickly end the fight by forcing the fight to the ground ending the fight quickly. It was a little too easy he had to admit but as he swung to take his opponent's right leg off his sword bounced off a club that was on the upswing. As Gazef looked over it was just in time to see the club change direction and swing downward directly aimed to him, the amount of strength to change direction mid swing was monstrous and with only one arm he noted. He did not have enough time to get out of the way so he decided to redirect the blow by squatting and placing his sword on his shoulder all the way down his leg so the end of the swords tip was in the ground. As the blow stuck him and he redirected the force downward to the ground as he had planned but the amount of power that hit him made his teeth rattle, if Go gin had both of his arms he was pretty sure he would have been dead.

Gazef quickly rolled away keeping his eyes on his opponent the entire time to see if he planned another counter attack. Go gin leaned over to crouch down and leaned his club against his shoulder while he reached down for his arm and reattached it, it would only take a bit but while he waited he looked up as to say something, Gazef relaxed his stance as he could also take the time to replenish his health as he lost a quarter of his life force for the indirect hit he took. "You might find this conceited but think what you may, this is not only the longest I have fought but also the most damage I have taken in years, since I started on the Eastern then now the Southern front." Go gin grunted.

"I can see how one strike could end it with you and that weapon you have with those runes, remind after this is over where get some." Go Gin laughed, "You must have been out for years, along time ago one of the Emperor's first conquest was the northern mountains in one trip he subjugated the dwarves who build our buildings and make runes and find rare metals, the Quoana who dig our tunnels and the frost dragons who serve in every capacity. So if you prove yourself like I have I am sure you can have the best of whatever you want but from the looks of your armor you already do."

"Must have been quite a war" Gazef said as his health was almost at maximum, Go Gin laughed, "All it took was one Death knight, you probably saw the undead guards when you came in, I tangled with one for fun ended in a tie but I almost died and that are the lowest of the Emperors undead creations. Alright we are both healed up let's go another round" Go Gin said as he picked up his club that started to glow brighter than before Go gin started to walk over to Gazef he said something but he could not hear him because of the noise of the crowd, Gazef knew that he most likely said his trump card his most powerful martial art he had, unlike Go Gin, Gazef had done his research it was called [Divine Skill Single Flash]. So he lifted his sword and said [pace of the wind] and [Mental Enhancement] to follow the strike and just as he predicted Go gin accelerated with ungodly speed that made him a flash to the crowd and struck Gazef right on the head with a overhead strike crushing his skull making it impossible most likely to revived him, or that is what was supposed to happen. Gazef used [instant counter] just as his massive club was inches away from his head, he then spun the side of the direction Go Gin was advancing. Go Gin tried to protect himself but he was in the middle of his [Divine Strike] and could not stop it mid skill. Gazef seeing his opportunity performed [Four Fold Slash of Light] on his arms and body cutting them into four pieces once at the wrist, elbow, shoulder, and head in that order.

This literally disarmed Gogin as chunks of his arms and club fell to the ground, the strike to the head just sunk into his helmet but did not kill him, and Gazef could not get the sword out of the helm, so he jump kicked the troll with both of his feet using all of his weight and [Full Throttle] to push Go gin back as far as he could then he landed flat on his back next to his club. Gazef noticed the pieces of Go Gin's arms that were close to each other were healing so he quickly kicked the pieces apart that had not already healed together. He picked up his opponents large club and was astonished at how heavy it was. He had a short period of time as Go Gin was still in shock, he clumsily lifted the club and ran towards Go Gin and used [Body Strengthening] using every last bit of strength he had. For that one moment he knew how strong it was to be Go-Gin he lifted the club as if it was his sword and swung down on the head of the staggering Go Gin, it smashed his helmet, if his sword was not there he would have not done any damage but since it was the rest of the downward force cut Go-Gin's head in half and forced the sword all the way to his chest.

Go Gin fell straight back and rolled on his side because of the sword that was stuck through his back. Gazef dropped the club and collapsed, he had gone to far with his last martial art skill, he used to much strength and tore all the muscles in his arms if he was not healed he would not be able to use his arms for the rest of his life. The crowd went wild the fight was short but many of the veterans of the games new that experienced warrior matches usually lasted only one or two bouts and were over quickly. No one in the audience was disappointed it was a battle beyond anything they have ever seen. The crowd human, demihuman and even demon were all cheering for him, he was surprised and as he felt a little strength come back to him he sat up, then with a lot of effort he stood up with his useless arms. He wanted to wave and thank the crowd but he couldn't.

Ace ran to his podium and spoke into his magic microphone and said, "To all Races we have a new victor….!" Just as he said that Gazef felt something pierce his right shoulder he looked over to see the sharp pointed pommel and handle of his sword sticking out of him all the way to the hilt. Everyone in the crowd gasped they did not know if the fight was over or if Gazef was dead. "Didn't you ever hear to keep your eyes of the enemy, plus I had to give you at least a scar to remember me by" Go Gin said as he fell over dead this time for real at least he thought he was dead, Gazef looked back and examined Go Gin's body and noticed it was mending itself but he was unconscious. "What a will!" Gazef said, he somehow still managed to wound him, nearly cut in half, and without arms. Gazef was not mad he was impressed he still had fight in him and if this was not a tournament he would heal in half an hour and he would be fine and Go Gin would win. Gazef bore no ill will he knew Go Gin could have gone for a killing strike but then there would be no clear winner, so when Ace descended with a look of shock in his face as he thought Go Gin acted disgracefully he stood in front of the microphone and said, "To all you out there, I should have known the fight was not over and guarded against it an attack, I tell you other than the Emperor I have never fought a great more noble opponent. I see you all here and it gives me hope for the future and that all of our kind will live in peace forever. Long live the Empire and may the Emperor Guide you!" Gazef said choking on his last words.

Everyone in the crowd lead by ace said back, "long live the Empire and may the Emperor Guide you!". Ace motioned Gazef to get on the podium and they flew up to the center level of the coliseum. Ace said, "Ladies and Gentlemen may I declare the new Champion Gazef Stronoff who has won the Emperor's favor and will take a title and land! All hail the Emperor and thank you for coming!" Ace then pushed a button on the control panel of the platform and it started to ascend with Gazef and Ace on it while the crowd cheered wildly. All the races went wild as they knew they were witnessing history in the making humans had been the dominate race but had become the underdogs when it came to battle. Every race had its stregths and humans were regarded good at crafts and governance but nowhere near to top race for fighting in the Empire but for the first time a not vampire nor ascended being but a human stood the victor and everyone loved to cheer for the underdog a scene that the Slane Theocracy never wanted to see. As Ainz watched everything went to plan and this was a perfect chance to close the gap even further between human and hetermorph relations.

Ainz cast fly and and meet with Ace and Gazef on the platform, the entire crowd went silent. Gazef did not see the Emperor coming toward him as his back was facing the direction that he was coming. What he did notice was that the entire crowd was gone, and thought was this some sort of mass teleportation? Ace began to pour down sweat and tapped Gazef's shoulder, "Sir Gazef, Behind you," as he said as he got on all fours. Gazef turned around and saw the Emperor coming towards hims with a silver mask on. Gazef got on one knee as he could see out of the corner of his eye the Emperor land in front of him. "You may all stand" Ainz said, and all the people Gazef thought were gone made a thunderous noise as they all stood coming back into view. "Ainz took a sword and taped in on shoulder and announced to everyone. "Gazef Stronoff you are now the Captain of the Emperor's guard, The Pretorians, you will be given title and land in the Royal City arise Sir Gazef Stonoff Pretorius!" The crowd went wild with cheer to see the birth of a new legend that would surely be written in the Holy scrolls.

A young half elf boy stood on his father's shoulders while his father said, "What a time to be alive my son you see those men in black and gold robes, those are the priest of the Holy See of Nazarick and they are writing down history my son! Our history and your were here to see it." The boy marveled at the sight and said, " I will fight with that great man one day and prove myself as he did!" He screamed to his father who could barely hear it through the crowd. "In the world our God Emperor has created you can my son, join the black legion and fight on the southern front learn magic and to fight as I did and you shall young Nacar-Sebas. Parents were giving their children second names of the beings of Nazarick as it was believed the names would give them more power, Sebas was regarded as a god of wisdom and honor. It was first frowned upon by the church as heresy but when Ainz heard of the practice he changed the policy of the church to encourage it.