Chapter 9: The Arena
Mrs. Georgina Falcon, before she was married, had been known a Miss Georgina Archon; daughter of the Earl of East Sussex. She was wed to Pride Falcon, son of the renowned Horacio Falcon, at the age of nineteen and in the tradition of nobility married into wealth.
She was a tidy woman who frowned upon disorder and unscheduled or spontaneous events. The gardens she had had planted around the Falcon estate reflected that personality. Every hedgerow, tree and flower arrangement was cut and styled with almost architectural precision.
Coming home to find the house in ruins, her greenhouse destroyed and her garden in flames was sufficed to say not one of her best moments.
Nearly fainting at the sight she retired to her brothers manor in the country where she might recover from her sudden illness. About a few weeks later she returned, already on the war path, ready to plough her way through her youngest son's excuses and give him a piece of her mind.
When she finally did arrived back, Edward had already left aboard a Turbine Ship for the States, waving goodbye as she screamed at him from the ground.
"Ha ha, that's my boy!" Pride declared returning home to the story. He hung up his pilots scarf and goggles on the coat rack near the front door and began removing his gloves.
"I don't understand how you can encourage this kind of behaviour in him." Georgina angrily stated. "It is hardly fitting for a member of both the Falcon and Archon house to act like some kind of low life ruffian." Mrs Falcon had never approved of the lifestyle Edward had chosen for himself.
Nobles, at least in her view, were upstanding citizens of the upper crust of British Society, the cream of English stock, proud rulers who by bloodline carried out their responsibilities for their country.
And how was her son living up to these responsibilities? By engaging in the filthy commerce of the everyday man, ignoring his obligation to marry a woman from another noble house and most outrageous of all, having foreigners as confidents and friends.
"Now now, remember we had an arrangement?" Pride taunted her with a all knowing smile. "Edward is under MY jurisdiction. He's my son and I believe he should develop the way he is right."
"He's going to give both our families a bad name… sneaking off and taking our best man servant with him." Georgina paced the hallway, imagining half the things she would say to her wayward son upon his return.
"Apollus is a man of sound judgement and I'm sure he'll keep the boy out of trouble." Pride stated, putting his gloves into his pocket and making for the stairs. "Have more faith in Edward, my dear, he'll do us all proud ultimately I can assure you of that." With that he walked up the stairs, making his way along the landing towards his private study.
While most of the other rooms in the manor it had been ransacked by the pirates when they raided the city. Luckily however Pride never kept the important documents and other bits and pieces he wished to remain private in any cupboard of desk.
There was a secret compartment hidden underneath the floorboards under his writing desk. Closing the door behind him, Pride crossed the room and threw open the curtains. The original curtains had been torn during the raid and replaced with new velvet ones.
From here, Pride had a good view of the river and the city. A few seagulls flew past his window cawing loudly.
Retreating back into the room, he knelt down and pushed the secret compartment open. Within was a small oak box with a lock. He placed this box on the table and then reached into his pocket, taking out a small iron key.
The lid flipped open, revealing a large collection of folded papers inside. Most of them were hand written notes but there were also old diagrams and maps, some rubbings of ancient runes and hieroglyphics and at the very bottom of the item Pride was looking for.
It was package sent to him from a college in Egypt over five years ago. Along the hand written letter it contained several pieces of chipped stonework and a drawing. Pride took the drawing out and laid it across the desk, pinning the corners down with a candle stick and a cup.
The sketched lines showed a carved stone entrance to a catacomb below the sands and many references in side notes were made to something called 'the tomb of the visitor'.
"But just who is this 'visitor'?" Pride asked himself out load. That had been the question his college had been wishing to answer, but in the tomb itself unearthed by Lord WhitePearl's American expedition, the body was nowhere to be found.
Strangely, the tomb had been prepared for the reception of a man of great importance, sealed and cursed to prevent entry by grave robbers yet there was no corpse. The sarcophagus was empty.
Pride laid the papers he had taken from Dr. Erode out across the desk as well, using them as a reference most as he skimmed through the notes.
"Valgas would know." Pride grumbled, rubbing the bridge of his nose thoughtfully with two fingers. "But I doubt he's going to give me any answers."
Edward would soon learn of the importance of Egypt in the Power Stone legacy, and their family connection to it.
The game the Falcon bloodline had played for centuries was coming to an abrupt end.
But until that moment, Pride had to play for time. The Acolytes were still ahead, every moment bringing them closer and closer to their ultimate victory. Their shadowy master, whose identify had been concealed since the start of this game, had to be stalled. And there was only one way Pride could do that.
Although it would put his own life in a great deal of danger.
There was a sudden, unexpected knock at the door. Acting on instinct, Pride swept the desk draw open and shoved the papers and other artifacts inside to hide them from view. Only once they were out of sight did he move to open the door.
Another of the houses' butlers was there to greet him.
"You have guests, sir." He stated as he showed Pride down to the living room.
Waiting for them there were four people. Two of which Pride recognized immediately.
"Ah ha, Ryoma, Wang-Tang!" The aging Englishman declared entering the room. "So good to see you again. What's it been? A year and a half?"
The samurai bowed low in a mark of respect and the Chinese youth managed a wicked smile.
"Oh and who might these raving beauties be?" Pride added, glancing back the two men to the girls.
Ayame blushed furiously and looked away, becoming timid. Rouge, her hair loose out of its usual pony tail, just stood there with a pleasant smile. Unlike the ninja girl she had attempted to fit in with the local colour by donning a more moderate dress and hair style. Despite this Mrs. Falcon was still sending both girls hostile glares from across the room, as if she considered them both invaders in their territory.
"While it is good to see you again Lord Falcon, I'm afraid we can not stay long." Ryoma started trying cut the hostility in the air off before it reached unmanageable proportions. "It is urgent that we speak with your son immediately."
Pride hummed and folded his arms.
"Well unfortunately I'm afraid he's not home." He began.
"I know this. I was hoping to learn where he went." The samurai went on. "I believe he may be in great danger."
"Danger?" Mrs. Falcon started suddenly looking more pensive than before. "What happened. What happened to my baby?"
Pride managed a ironic smile. His wife could maintain the illusion of disapproving hostility towards her black sheep boy but when push came to shove her true concern always came through.
"There is a man who wishes to do him harm." Wang-Tang added quickly. "Falcon knows this man but does not know his true intentions. He has to be warned before it is too late."
The horror on Georgina's face intensified.
"You're in luck." Pride said. "I bumped into my son when I was in London yesterday.
The family associate, Doctor Erode, told me that he left for Rome in Italy."
"Rome?" Rouge repeated.
"The Coliseum to be exact. Something about an archaeological investigation to some old Italian Catacombs."
The samurai grunted angrily in annoyance and frustration.
"We thank you for this information Sir Pride." Wang-Tang said with a short bow. "Don't worry. We'll make sure your son returns home safely."
"It's a five day trip, even on a Turbine Ship." Ryoma growled, clearly annoyed as they left the Falcon estate. "We'll never arrive there in time to warn him." Valgas was moving too fast for them and Falcon was going to walk right into his little trap before they could stop him.
"If we need to get there quickly, then I will get us there. My carpet travels at great speeds when it needs to." Rouge assured him with a smile. Ryoma couldn't help but smile himself.
The samurai had never had much in the way of women in his life. Like all serious swordsmen, he had spent most of his life in training and a samurai took training very seriously. Even despite this Ryoma had never been comfortable around woman, apart from those he knew. They made him feel uncomfortable and distracted, like he was an adolescent again.
When he was around Rouge however it was different. While she was certainly gifted with a tremendously attractive body, he immediately saw that there was more to her than that. She was witty, intelligent, funny and very caring. Almost too much so in the violent world she was caught up in.
Ryoma still wasn't sure why Galuda's Walk of Dreams would show her to him but he was glad it had. "Are you sure Mistress Ghana will be alright with this… Mel… of yours?" The fortune teller added looking a little pensive.
"If she would not be, I certainly wouldn't have allowed my Sensei to stay there either." Ryoma told her.
"Or my brother." Ayame added in as if annoyed anyone would suggest that Mel of all people would betray them. The ninja girl still felt she owed something in the way of defence to the book store owner who had helper her out so much during her first few weeks in England.
"They'll be fine." Wang-Tang chuckled. "Come on, we need to head after Falcon before Valgas can spring his trap."
As they left the house, none of them they were aware they were being watched. Pride observed them go from the living room window.
This visit had troubled him. If they were correct then Valgas was far more ahead of them then Pride had dared to imagine.
"What move are you making?" He asked himself. He'd known Edward was directed by the Acolytes somehow but this was dire news indeed. Italy would bring them eventually to Egypt and then to the ancient tombs. And within those tombs…
A sudden chill passed over the aging Englishman. The consequences didn't bare thinking of.
The enemy was one step away from completely victory in this game.
Pride had to act fast.
"Dear, is something wrong?" Georgina asked reading his expression as something of a bad omen.
"I'm afraid I'm going to have to cut my time at home sort, my dear." He stated in reply a little too calmly for her taste. "I must make a trip to Egypt immediately."
"Egypt?" Georgina repeated looking a little stunned. "Why on Gods green earth are you going to Egypt?"
"Its for the well being of our country, our family and most of all our son."
As a company of eleven people disembarked the Turbine ship and stepped onto Italian soil, none of them noticed the large black bird sitting on the top of a wall near the port. Its doll like eyes watched their every movement with great scrutiny.
Suddenly however the bird looked up, twitching back and forth as if heard a far away voice that gave it instructions. It squawked once loudly before taking to the air.
"There it is young Master." Apollus began at the sight of massive stone construct before them. "The Coliseum."
The Roman Arena was it was otherwise known was just as the pictures of it in various newspapers showed it. Over time the structure had been damaged and a good portion of it had collapsed but still it somehow managed to maintain its grandeur.
"According to the guide, the order to construct it was made by Emperor Vespasian in 72AD and the work was completed during the reign of his son, Emperor Titus in 80AD." The old Butler carried on, oblivious to the fact that nobody was really listening.
"Ah, Rome." Gourmand sighed, taking a deep breath of the air and relishing the feel of the southern Italian sun. "The city were true civilisation was born. Birthplace of the food, wine…"
"And Romance." Julia added, wrapping her arms around Falcon from behind and hugging her close to him, pressing her cheek against his. The Englishman didn't even flinch at her touch.
Even Julia noticed this to be out of character for him. Leaning around she looked at the troubled expression on the Englishman's face.
"Something the matter?" Gunrock asked. He followed Falcon's gaze to a poster on the side of a nearby wall. It was a recruitment poster for the Italian navy.
It showed lionized heroic soldiers marching to victory with the Italian flag painted onto the horizon. Falcon had seen this shameless type of propaganda before. This had been what the politicians had sold to the English to make the war for 'king and country' sound patriotic.
If Falcon's memory served there had been nothing patriotic about the French front lines. Yet still the men threw their lives aware.
It had taken Falcon a while to understand why, but it soon became obvious that the posters and speeches, all the supposed patriotism had been a subtle form of brainwashing.
The posters were everywhere along the docks and a good ways towards the Coliseum. They were on walls everywhere one turned. Most of them had been recently put up.
He growled and continued on, almost leaving the others behind.
Falcon enjoyed fighting.
That is to say, he enjoyed boxing and one on one fights. That he could get into.
War on the other hand was a different story.
"Come on, let's all forget our troubles with the sampling of local cuisine." Gourmand ventured. "Pizza, Lasagne, Pasta… then there's not forgetting the wine. The best from the southern and northern vineyards, with a taste so heavenly as to challenge the taste buds of the most accomplished consumer."
"Not now." Falcon sighed, putting his hands in his pockets. "Right now, I'd rather just get this over with."
Gourmand stood stock still and stared after the Englishman with barley contained fury. His face went red as if he might explode at any moment."
"Again I see more evidence that ignorant foreigners can not appreciate the fine foods." The chef snorted eventually turning his nose up. "When one in is the holy city of Rome herself, not to take the chance to sample the food and the wine is an act of blasphemy."
As they neared the Coliseum the unmistaken sound of the roar of a crowd of some size struck them full in the face.
It reached a peek when preceded by a loud thud that shook the ground.
"I didn't think the old Arena would still be in use." Gunrock stated looking a little surprised.
"It wasn't the last time I was home." Gourmand complained sourly. "This is a monument to the former greatness of my imperial country. It should be preserved, not trampled on by hundreds of tourists."
Curious, Falcon went up the large stone steps that lead to one of the entrances. Apollus and the others followed close behind them. The roar of the crowd got louder and louder as they moved into the old Coliseum and then out into the arena pit itself.
Whatever seats still remained were full to the brim with people, all cheering as loudly as they could.
From the balcony they were on, Falcon could see right down into the arena pit itself. In amongst the sand two men were fighting, going hand to hand in an attempt to smash each other into submission.
"Cool it's a martial arts tournament!" One of Gunrock's kids said grinning, running up to the rail to get a better view.
"Well, its may not be Gladiatorial duels to the death but it's certainly brutal." Apollus muttered, as one of the combatants took out of his opponent by the shoulders and tossed him back across the arena.
"I don't believe it." Falcon began, staring down towards them.
The one who was just picking himself back up he didn't know but the other was a figure most familiar. A tall man with tanned skin and short but spiky blonde hair. He was extremely well build with chiselled muscle and broad shoulders.
He was naked from the waist up apart from a pair of white gloves with studded wrist and a golden chain around his neck, a round ruby like jewel hanging on his chest. His pants were light blue with a yellow lightning bolt streak down each side.
"Mr. Valgas?" Julia started in surprise.
Down there, fighting in the Roman Coliseum was the man who was funding their expedition to find the Power Stones.
His moves were stunning to watch. Despite the bulky body he was incredibly fast, blocking his opponents kicks with ease before retaliating with a punch that left Falcon breathless to watch.
Valgas fought with passion, unleashing power in his techniques that the Englishman had only dreamed about.
It was impossible to tell exactly what fighting style he was using. There was all mixed elements, some Falcon recognised from boxing, wrestling and even several fluent kicks taken from tai-chi. It was as if he'd mastered all know fighting styles and merged them together, resulting in this unbeatable combo that sent his opponent flying out across the sand strewn arena until he connected with the stone wall encircling.
"And the Winner of the tournament by knockout is Rome's very own Valgas!" The announced proclaimed over loud speaker and Valgas lifted his fist in triumph to the roar of the crowd.
At the sight of Valgas, Gunrock looked quite pale. Thankfully everyone was too preoccupied with the arena to notice it.
"Ladies and gentlemen, contrary to our schedule we are having one final round for you to enjoy." The loud speaker voice continued. "Our pride and joy, Valgas the invincible, will now duel an up-and-coming fighting star well known in his own country for his skill."
Valgas moved to the centre of the centre and flexed his wide shoulders, shaking the rolling sweat off his body.
"Presenting, our champion's new challenger…." With deliberate movements, Valgas turned to face the onlookers and pointed up directly towards the Englishman. "Edward Falcon!"
Falcon was at a stunned loss at the roar of the crowd, egging him on to enter the Arena and duel their champion.
"This is utter nonsense, a Falcon noble does not demean himself by…" Apollus started but Gunrock stopped him by tapping the butler on his shoulders.
"He's already gone." The Mexican told him with a gesture towards Falcon, who by now could be seen leaping over the stands on his way down to the arena with the most eager look imaginable on his face.
"Young Master!" Apollus called after him but he was already too late.
"Knock 'em dead Eddy dear!" Julia called after him, shaking her fist in the air.
"Miss WhitePearl! Please don't encourage this behaviour!" Apollus implored her.
Somersaulting over the edge of the pit Falcon dropped into the centre of the arena.
Valgas turned to face him, a wide smile spreading over his face.
"I greet you Edward Falcon, I see you've taken my words to heart. I see more spirit in you." He stated, noting the enthusiastic expression on the Englishman's face. "And so, let us put your mettle to the test in the Arena of champions!"
Without a moments hesitation Falcon charged, fist drawn back. Meeting his opponent in the centre of the Coliseum he threw the punch forward. Valgas swiped the blow aside with the back of his hand before throwing his own punch forward.
It was only by backstopping as fast as he could Falcon was able to avoid the strike. Trying to use Valgas' own attack against him the Englishman swung in close while the larger man was still moving. His leg swung around, nearly striking Valgas on the side of the chest.
Surprising everyone with his shear speed Valgas not only dodged the attack but went on a full offensive.
His arms were a blur as he landed countless numbers of punches directly into Falcon's body knocking him left and right before finally smacking him to the ground to land with a loud thwack in the sand.
Falcon struggled to get himself up, paused for a moment to spit out a mixture of blood and saliva before back flipping up to his feet and adopting a fighting stance towards his opponent.
The crowd cheered, their cries filling the air around them.
"Yes, now that is what I'm talking about." Valgas stated with a grin that showed off his oddly sharp teeth before he darted in. "Can you feel it young Falcon, the heart thumping in your chest? The adrenaline pulsing through your blood?
The feeling one only gets from immersing oneself completely in the fight. Can you feel it?"
The two of the exchanged punches, kicks and an assortment of other physical attacks at such tremendous speed it almost appeared like a blur to the outside observer.
Falcon had always enjoyed bare fist fighting. It had given him a sense of purpose and dare he selfishly say it; power. It wasn't just the feeling of being stronger than someone else either. It was a feeling of reconnecting, a feeling of completeness that was unattainable anywhere else.
Since both Kraken and the war, Falcon's love of fighting had lessened considerably to the point where it almost detested him.
Valgas' philosophy had reawakened that love of battle in him and when Valgas saw the burning fire in the Englishman's eyes, he smiled and fought back even harder than before.
As if he could increase the speed of his moves as will, he powered through Falcon's own strikes and slammed a punch directly into the Englishman's chest. The result of a shockwave that could be felt throughout the entire arena.
Falcon was sent flying backwards to smash into the side of the pit, breaking the stone on impact.
"Edward!" Julia cried out from above as the Englishman slumped down to the arena floor.
Still he didn't give up and with utter determination on his face, he pushed himself back up to his unsteady feet. The Power Stone in his pocket was burning with a ravenous anticipation, feeding him with strength, keeping him on his feet. It pulsed with his heart and soured with his soul.
"Is this… is this how the Stones work?" Falcon asked, looking up as Valgas approached.
"The stones respond to human emotion and will and their power intensifies when the mind, body and soul of their user is set on a goal." Valgas replied.
"You attack with such power.. Such passion and strength." Falcon carried on. "How can you do that?"
"By uniting the body, mind and soul. Casting aside all doubts and fears, discarding distractions." Valgas carried on. "There is only one way to fight Edward Falcon, and that is with everything you've got!"
He clenched a fist before charging at the staggering Englishman, bringing his arm back and tensing is muscles ready to deliver a finishing blow. Time seemed to slow down and Falcon watched as his opponent got nearer and nearer.
The words of his father passed through the Englishman's head in those precious few seconds. Words about war, and about life. They intermixed with Valgas' own words, about the nature of the fight and the immersion one can have in it.
Falcon still did not fully understand what drove man to fight so much but perhaps, he mused, it did not matter.
Bringing his own fist up, he swung it forward with all the strength he could muster straight into the path of Valgas' own coming punch.
The second shockwave was even more powerful than the first, dislodging a few pieces of stone from the top of the arena and filling the air was dust.
When it finally settled, Falcon was lying slumped on the ground while Valgas stood over him.
"And the winner, once again by knockout is Valgas the Invincible!"
With a loud groan, Falcon pushed his eyes open. The first sight that met him were the sparkling of dozens of stars high above in the night star. Blinking, he sat up straight up and hissed. His back and stomach muscles ached as if someone had taken a large branch to them.
"I do hope you're not too sore. I did try not to break any bones." Valgas stated, still with a faint smile on his lips. The large man was standing nearby with a shirt on with a towel draped over his shoulder, his arms folded behind his back. Falcon shook his head groggily and looked around. They were still in the arena and some time had passed since then. The arena was empty of spectators and it was the beginning of night, stars blinking one by one above.
Julia was sitting nearby where she had watched over the Englishman, her expression turning relieved to see him awake.
They were in the Emperor's private box, where ages ago the ruler of Rome would sit to view the spectacles of Lions and Gladiators.
"Nah, I think I'll be fine." Falcon replied, flexing his arm.
"Your style has improved and you fought with both passion and heart." The larger man continued. "I would dare that you've been put through some challenges since we last met. Challenges which have put your spirit to the test."
"Been though one or two things."
Valgas chuckled slightly before looked up at the sky.
"Well shame on you good sir." Julia said looking annoyed. "You may be the financial supplier of this er' endeavour but that was still uncalled for."
"Its ok, Julia." Falcon told her. "Actually, after that little sparing match I feel a lot better."
"I don't say this to everybody, but you remind me of myself when I was younger." Valgas sighed, seeming a little detached keeping his eyes on the stars in the clear sky above. "Paradoxically, I hated war but loved fighting. I enjoyed seeing the duels in the Arena but when our soldiers came back from campaigns aboard I couldn't bare to look at the horrific injuries some of them had."
Falcon opened his mouth to say something.
"I could see the confusion in your eyes." Valgas added in quickly. "Confusion I had to overcome in order to master the techniques of the body and mind.
Confusion that tears you between your love of the fight and your hatred of war." He gave the Englishman a frank look. "My father once told me that man has a dual nature and while he strives for peace, he will ironically fight to that end."
"Yeah I guess so." Falcon sighed.
"Well just what are y'all doing here anyway?" Julia asked, looking up at the larger man.
"Can't a man be entitled to visit his home country?" Valgas retorted with an ironic smile. "I'm their regional martial arts champion and I have fans all over Italy." Julia's sceptical expression did not change. "Very well… that is my official reason for visiting but as you're aware I have other concerns beside tournaments.
I've been keeping tabs on you and the word is you're looking for information leading to another stone."
"You keep good tabs." Falcon commented dryly.
"Good enough to know your looking for the secret meeting places of the Order of Dark Gem." Valgas carried on. "Their order is a fable here in Rome, an Imperial day Illuminati you might say. People have been searching for their supposed meeting place for centuries without much luck." He managed a smile. "After I heard your destination was the Coliseum I put two and two together. My men have been combing the Arena most of the day."
Falcon blinked and looked up at him with a hopeful expression.
"You mean you found it?" He asked. Valgas nodded once.
"That we did. It took some persuasion to get past the authorities who don't let outside organisations coveting their landmarks, but since it was the people's hero Valgas himself asking, I don't think they had much in the way of a choice."
"Say, where are the others?" The Englishman asked, suddenly noting the absence of Gunrock and the others.
"Gourmand took Gunrock's little tykes to our hotel." Julia replied.
"And Gunrock and your butler have taken point to explore the underground catacombs." Valgas continued. "We found the entrance in the pits where they used to keep the Lions. It had been sealed up and it took us a while to open it but its all yours now."
Before Valgas could say any more, two men in black suits ascended the stone stairs to the precipice. One of them crossed over and whispered something into Valgas' ear. Valgas himself only nodded once in confirmation before turning to face Falcon and Julia.
"I wish you luck. And now, if you excuse me I am needed elsewhere." He said in farewell, giving them a short wave before leaving with his two escorts close behind him.
"Well that was odd." Julia stated with a cocked eyebrow watching them go.
"What was odd?" Falcon asked, testing his neck muscles.
"Valgas said he enjoyed seeing fights in the Arena as a kid." She went on seeming puzzled. "But the Arena's only just been reopened. The last fights held here before then where in the time of the Roman Empire."
"Maybe there's another arena?" Falcon suggested. "Ah, who cares? Come on, let's get after Apollus and Gunrock before it gets any darker."
"Edward dear, you should rest."
"Rest? When the answer to the location of arguably the most powerful Power Stone is so close?" The Englishman asked. "Not on your life."
The stone floor inside one of the ancient lion pits was false, mere sandstone carefully placed so that no one might suspect it was the entrance to a flight of stone stairs that lead down into the ancient catacombs that not only spread underneath the Arena pit but for a good few Miles beneath Rome.
"This may take longer than expected." Gunrock muttered at the sight of a seemingly never ending series of dark tunnels.
"Perhaps I shouldn't have left the young master's side." Apollus ventured looking uncertain. "I know Miss WhitePearl can be trusted to look after him, but if something happened to him I don't know what I'd tell Master Pride."
"While your concern is touching, Apollus, I'm just fine." Falcon told him, coming down the stairs after them.
"Young Master, how are you?" The old butler started at him.
"I'll not playing the Violin for a while but yes, I'll be fine." The Englishman assured him. "Now, let's just find this meeting place and go."
"But that could be anywhere down here." Gunrock said, gesturing out as the expansive tunnel that stood before them. Even in the dim light dozens of tunnel entrance could be seen, all of them going in different directions.
"Oh boy." Julia muttered.
Falcon paused there, putting on a thoughtful expression that did not really suite him. He looked first left, then right as I searching for some sort of clue. The Order of Dark Gem used this as a meeting place thousands of years ago. That meant that they must have had some means of telling which way to go.
Did Valgas' men give you any directions as which way it might be?" He asked.
"They said its likely the chamber we're looking for is still under the arena." Gunrock replied. "So it shouldn't be too far away."
The Englishman hummed something to himself and taped his index finger against the end of his chin.
Eventually running out of ideas, he place a hand over his eyes and before pointing in random directions while going 'eni' minie' mynie' mo'.
Julia however was making a more detail observation, examining the ground on which they stood. At their junction point were three passageway, each leading off away from each other.
Only one of those passageways had a worn floor, where dozens of feet had trodden repeatedly to smooth it down. Examining the entrance to this passageway, she cleared the brick dust off the side and discovered some etched into the stonework. It was a carved image about the shape of a diamond.
She called Falcon's attention to it at once.
For a brief moment he was tempted to hug her, but refrained knowing she would take it entirely the wrong way.
Taking a flash light, Apollus led the way down the tunnel as it seemed to descend but keep itself within the radius of arena itself. Several times the tunnel tried to deviate off, and each time they came to a fork they discovered once of these passageway entrance had a diamond etched into them under encrusted dirt and cobwebs.
Eventually they came to a dead end, a large stone surface baring their way. Like a flat wall made out of solid brick, the barrier bared their way completely.
"Guess it's a no go." Gunrock muttered looking a little disappointed.
"I don't think so." Falcon replied with a smile. He bent down and brick up a loose brick from the floor. Heaving his back over his shoulder he tossed it at the wall in his way.
It struck the layer of dirt and rust covering the surface, which cracked and fell away with a loud crash and a bellowing of dust. Engraved into the surface underneath was a diamond shaped icon.
Directly down the middle of which was a gap, where the two halves of a massive door met. Now the dirt was gone, there were even metallic holders for torches were visible on either side.
Gunrock flexed his muscles, before moving forward and slamming his shoulder against the side of the door. Pushing with all his might he threw everything he had against that barrier, trying to push it open.
Inch by inch it creaked open and a blast of foul, stale air came flying out as soon as the seal was compromised.
Apollus pushed his head thought the widening hole, keeping a napkin over his mouth to stop himself to breathing in too much the foul smelling air. Shining his flash right around he observed the inside of a large chamber.
"This is it, young master." He stated over his shoulder towards Falcon.
Gunrock gave the door one finally shove, leaving enough room for them to make their way inside.
Falcon went first with Apollus close behind, his flash light shining on the walls of the inside chamber. It was a large room with a dipping floor and an oval ceiling. There were dozens of pew type seats encircling the middle like a palladium. At the centre of this was a large pedestal where the rotting pages of a book, long into the stages of decay, stood upon.
"So, where do we start looking?" Gunrock asked.
Falcon and Apollus were down by the book but that didn't give them any answers. As soon as they touched a page it crumbled at the touch of their fingers. The writing was a form of runic that almost appeared Nordic but with some differences, a form of writing neither of them could read.
"Er… honey." Julia started. Falcon looked up towards her. The Louisianan girl was staring up at the walls around the chamber. Because this chamber had been kept isolated and sealed, no encrusting filth decorated the walls and they were lest bare.
Apollus shined his torch in her direction and the walls were sudden alive with imagery, the encircle surface spanning the room a sea of murals and mosaics.
"Blimey." Falcon was only able to gag at the sight.
Images of war, of grand falling empires and great battle was more than evident. Great heroes of Rome stood opposing the warriors sent by two opposing empires, all of them clashing and fighting over the same treasures.
Nine relics of immense power.
"This is it." Falcon started looking excited. "This is what Erode told me about.. The three-way war that's been excluded from the history books." He started up towards the murals and examined them with fervour. "This might be the answer to that war and the location of the Light Stone!"
"All I needed to hear, land lubber! A voice called out and the door leading in was thrown open completely with a thud that shook the ground. Falcon turned around too late as something hit Gunrock over the back of the head sharply.
The Mexican dropped with a loud thud to the ground, knocked unconscious with his Power Stone rolling out of his pocket. The gem was scooped up in an instant. Apollus whipped around, the light from his torch casting itself over half a dozen men moving into the room armed with rifles and other weapons
"Edward, look out!" Julia cried and an instant later, a shot was fired from a pistol .Falcon only just managed to duck in time. The Englishman swung to the side was a massive pincer claw on the end of an arm slammed down, cracked the floor where he had been standing moments before.
"Thank ye Englishman. I've been searching for this 'ere chamber for over a hundred years and ya led me right to it."
Apollus pointed the torch, shining light upon the grinning face of the Pirate king.
Kraken charged with his claw held high. Falcon dodged the side and brought his leg sharply around trying to catch him with a kick. Kraken caught the attack with his good hand and using the Englishman's own momentum spun him around through the air to crash onto his face.
His boot came down trying to squash his head into the ground. Falcon rolled before back flipping back to his feet, a punch already prepared. It was thrust through the air to connect sharply with Kraken's chin.
The pirate staggered back a few paces from the blow; before scrapping his foot along the ground to stop himself.
He thrust an open claw forward, the metal pincers grabbing Falcon by the arms and pinning them to his side.
The Englishman couldn't move as fast as he usually could. The sparing match with Valgas had left him weakened.
Bringing his free hand back, Kraken smashed his own fist into the Englishman's face, then back against across the other cheek before dealing a painful blow up into his stomach.
Letting him go, the pirate brought his leg up and in his stunned state Falcon couldn't defend himself to a powerful strike that struck him full in the chest.
He was sent flying backwards through the air like a limp rag doll. His jacket had been ripped by the strike ands out of the hole in his pocket, the Power Stone of Wood came flying out. It glinted in the light from Apollus' torch for a moment before dropping to the ground, rolling until it came to a stop at Kraken's feet.
"Ah… ya brought me a gift." The pirate king chuckled, picking the gemstone up with his claw. "Oh dear, and I didn't get you anything. How selfish of me." He paused to admire the jewel for a moment, before turning to give Falcon a sneer. "You know its appropriate the two of us meeting here.
In the coliseum where warriors have duelled to the death for the entertainment of Emperors.
I can think of no better place to bury you for good!"
With his good hand, Kraken reached into his coat and took out the Power Stone of Earth. Holding the Wood Stone in his pincer and the Earth Stone in his hand, the Pirate called upon his necromantic powers; forcing both sources of elemental power to abide to his well.
With a flare of light the stones started glowing in his grasp and lighting up the entire chamber.