The sound of Krogan horns filled the air as the crowds roared; Unable to contain their excitement for the battle of the century. Tali, Garrus, and Wrex all watched from the highest point of the coliseum, gazing down at the human and tank-bred Krogan about to break each others bodies in ways they couldn't imagine.

Shepard slowly reached for the M-8 Avenger Assault rifle on his back as Grunt just glared at him from the other end of field.

"Come on...you first..." he thought to himself. He had fought many battles alogside Grunt but had never seen him at his angriest. He would be unpredictable this time and he knew that making the first move would be a mistake on his part.

Grunt smirked which caught Shepard by surprise. The Krogan slowly placed both shotguns on his back and then planted his feet firmly in the ground. Shepard took aim, ready for anything. Grunt kicked back the dirt with one foot like a raging bull and then began to charge. Shepard reacted instantly and began to fire continuously. The shots were only deflected by his Fortification barrier and the rest whizzed straight past him. He ceased fire and grabbed a sticky grenade from his belt. He waited for Grunt to come close enough then threw the grenade straight at him, sticking it to his leg. The Spectre dove to the side as Grunt flew past him and ran straight through a stone pillar causing a cloud of dust to emerge followed by an explosion.

Shepard rose to his feet and stared at the sight as if expecting something. He was right to do so. Grunt came charging out of the smoke cloud straight at him. Shepard dove once again to the side and then began to run in the same direction as the Krogan while firing his rifle. Grunt grabbed both shotguns off his back while still in his sprint and fired heavy slugs repeatedly. This fight lasted a few moments and then Grunt changed the direction of his charge back towards him. The human ran straight at him with equal speed and when he was mere feet away from him, leaped into the air doing a front flip straight over Grunt and while still in the air, fired a concussive shot into the Krogans back.

Grunt roared as he was sent flying forward off his feet but upon hitting the ground he only rolled back onto his feet. Now they both stood motionless staring at each other. Shepard felt the heavy sweat run down his brow as he watched a few drops of orange blood run down Grunts nose though Grunt seemed to ignore it.

"That's what happens when you act before you think..." Shepard yelled. Grunt only smiled which gave Shepard an instant frown. He knew he was planning something mischievous. Grunt suddenly lifted both his shotguns at Shepard and then fired a concussive round from each simultaneously. Shepard managed to dodge both as they flew past him and impacted into the coliseum wall, nearly hitting the spectators. He redirected his gaze to where Grunt was but was only met with the sight of the Krogan charging toward him from less than 10 feet away. Shepard dove to the side once again but he wasn't quick enough. Grunt's charge clipped his shoulder causing it to come out of its socket as Shepard impacted on a pile of rubble.

"Shepard!" Tali yelled reaching her hand out as if to help him. Garrus leaned over the balcony watching in horror.

"Come on Shepard! Get up!" yelled the Turian. Grunt skidded as he turned to see Shepard lying on the ground with his back against a pile of rubble. Shepard reached over to grab his shoulder as his felt the immense pain course through it.

"That's the last time I give him any advice...AAGH!" He yelled popping his shoulder back into to place.

"And I guess that's what happens when I do think before I act?" Grunt said chuckling at his malevolent sense of humor. Shepard clenched his teeth and recovered. Grunt then grabbed a smoke grenade from his leg armor's compartment and threw it in the center of the field between them. The black haze covered the field in seconds, even the spectators couldn't see them. Tali and Garrus gasped but Wrex only grew a curious expression on his face. Shepard aimed down the iron sights of his weapon and prepared to fire. A heavy shotgun slug impacted his shield causing him to stumble back. He regained his footing and fired two controlled bursts into the cloud hoping to hit his opponent but to no avail. A moment later another slug hit him, then another, shattering his shield. He had to find cover. He dove behind a nearby pillar and reloaded his rifle while checking himself for wounds. He found that one blast had grazed his side badly but not enough to be fatal. The smoke finally cleared and Shepard leaned out of cover at where Grunt was only to find that he was gone.

"Where are you..." he whispered.

"Right here..." A voice replied from behind. Shepard spun around bringing his rifle with him only to meet the butt stock of a Krogan shotgun to his face. He bit his lip and stumbled back. Grunt took another swing but Shepard blocked it with his rifle leaving them at a stalemate for only a second when the Krogan lifted his foot and kicked him in the chest sending him flying backwards. Shepard rolled behind another pillar.

"Hahaha! I've fought by you Shepard! I know every move you could possibly make! There isn't a thing I haven't learned from you!" Grunt said taking a few steps forward.

"Yeah..." Shepard whispered. "Except this one!" Shepard rose to his feet and fired a concussive shot at the base of the pillar and then kicked it forward. Grunt looked up in shock to see the the large object falling straight towards him. He didn't run, he didn't even flinch. He only watched until the pillar finally crushed him under it.

"Keelah!" exclaimed Tali as she watched the dust rise up from the crumbling stone.

"Now that's thinking with your head Shepard!" cheered Garrus. The crowed fell silent and Shepard walked over to the site feeling relief and sadness at the same time as he gazed upon it for moment. Suddenly three metal spires rose up from under the ground in the enter of the field and began to glow with energy. Shepard nearly fell back when an EMP wave flew across the entire field.

...

A Turian clad in blue suns armor with a M-92 Mantis sniper in hand crawled up the wall of the Coliseum and took up a sniping position on the highest point directly above the balcony below where Wrex , Garrus, and Tali stood.

"This is Cobra 2-4, in position. Have a clear shot at the target" he whispered. Vido, who was monitoring the situation on the feed in front of him, responded.

"Don't move a finger until I tell you!"

...

Garrus turned to Wrex, "What the hell was that?" Wrex took a step forward but kept his gaze on the battlefield.

"Round two..."

Shepard looked down at his rifle to see it sparking. He tried pulling the trigger but was met with the clicking of metal and malfunctioning electronics. He threw his rifle to the side and then wiped the blood from his lip. Just then the crumbled pillar laying on its side exploded. The dust covered his eyes as rocks flew past him. Shepard's jaw dropped when the dust cleared to reveal Grunt standing atop the rubble, unharmed by the crushing blow of the pillar except for the many bruises that covered his body.

Grunt roared loudly and leaped at Shepard with his fist drawn out in front of him. Shepard quickly grabbed his nearby rifle off the ground and used it to block the incoming punch. The Krogan's fist ended up breaking the rifle in half and striking him in the chest. However, it softened the blow just enough to cause him to stagger backwards rather than be sent through the air like a pebble. Grunt continued his rampage, throwing punches wildly. Shepard continuously dodged and blocked each one with both arms. Grunt became irritated and then threw both fists foward at once. The Spectre grabbed both his arms before they could hit and then kicked Grunt in the crotch as hard as he could. Grunt let out a quiet squeal and as both his hands shielded his wounded area, headbutted Shepard in the face causing him to fall on his back. While Grunt winced in pain Shepard crawled backward and then rose to his feet and entered a battle stance. Grunt glared at him, teeth clinched in anger. Shepard held his ground waiting for his next move.

"I'll make you into a female for that!" The Krogan roared. He began to charge. Shepard turned around and ran as fast as he could away from him. He noticed a large spear stuck perfectly in the ground ahead of him and ran towards it. With both hands, the Spectre gripped the spear and used the speed and force of his body to swing himself around and strike the Krogan in the head both legs. Grunt fell over and rolled sideways. His body came to a stop in the sand.

"Is this really worth it?" Shepard said spitting the blood from his mouth and panting. "All this just to satisfy your addiction to your rage?" Grunt lifted his head and gazed at him as he continued speaking. "Have you learned nothing from everything we've been through? What are you? An animal?" Grunt's heart began to beat faster and faster as the rage built up inside him. His eyes almost set ablaze and he slowly lifted himself to his feet.

"I...am...KROGAAAAN!" Grunt roared with a ferocity unheard of and charged at Shepard once again with a speed not of this universe. He punched Shepard in the chest so hard that he flew back like bullet into a pillar.

Tali gasped and placed both hands over her mouth piece. "Shepard no!" Shepard's body slowly slid to the floor. He tried to get up but felt his spine crack. His back was practically broken. Blood began to pour from his mouth. His breathing became ragged.

Grunt slowly walked over to the broken man. "I followed you...everywhere! You told me you were strong, that your enemies were strong!" Grunt placed his foot on Shepard's chest. "But in the end you are little more than a weak..." He began to press on Shepard's chest, the Spectre cringed and screamed as the pressure began to crush his ribs. "Pathetic..." Grunt pressed harder, Shepard felt his ribs crack. "Squishy..." He pressed even harder and Shepard screamed louder than ever and he felt several ribs break. "HUMAN!" Grunt pressed one final time. Shepard exhaled loudly, feeling the air escape his lungs as his broken ribs impaled his chest from the inside. Grunt backed away to observe the scene for a moment.

"See you in this human hell of yours Shepard..." Grunt whispered as he cocked his fist and aimed at Shepard's head. Suddenly a knife flew into the Krogan's hand stabbing right through his palm.

"RAAGH!" Grunt roared in pain. He turned his head toward the sky to see a certain Quarian floating down to the field with her arms wrapped around her combat drone. She let go when she was about 15 feet from the ground and landed in a battle stance.

"Touch him and you will be one heart short, Krogan Bosh'tet!" Grunt grinned at this new challenge.

"I welcome your attempt at doing so Quarian..." They stared off at each other. Grunt clenched his teeth and fists as he watched her narrow her bright eyes behind her visor.

...

The Blue suns sniper whispered into his radio/ "New target has entered the kill zone sir. Shepard is down but still moving. Request permission to take the shot.

Vido smiled and replied calmly. "Permission denied. Maybe the Krogan can take down more than one for us."

...

Grunt ran at Tali with a fist cocked, ready for a punch. Tali held her ground. Grunt was only a few meters away from her when her combat drone, or known to Tali as "Chitikka," landed in front of him and self-destructed on contact. Grunt was thrown back by the explosion but regained his footing instantly. The blood rage inside him was overwhelming. It demanded a kill, any kill. And he was dead set on granting it one. Tali emerged from the smoke cloud and ran at him. She began kicking him wildly in the chest and face. He walked back slowly as the barrage continued to pound on his body. Tali was confident in her attacks, she had him! Or so she thought. Grunt halted and grabbed her leg in mid-air before it connected with his face. Tali gasped as he smiled. She struggled to free herself but to no avail. Grunt spun her around and threw her into a pillar. The collision nearly knocked her out. When her vision returned she was met with the strong grip of a Krogan hand around her neck. She grabbed at it and tried to pull his large fingers awat from her neck as she flailed her legs around helplessly.

Wrex observed the scene and growled. "This farce has gone on long enough!" Wreav reached for his brother as he stood over the edge of the balcony.

"Wrex, no! You'll ruin everything!" Wrex ignored his brother's plea and jumped straight off the balcony. He fell toward the ground with no way to break his fall but it seemed to not worry him. He hit the ground so hard that one would have thought a meteor had struck the ground. A large cloud of dust emanated from the site. Grunt didn't notice the impact, however, and tightened his grip on the squirming Quarian.

"Once again. Proof that Quarian's really are the weakest aliens in galaxy..." Tali tried to yell but her constricted throat prevented this. An instinct she had grown told her that Shepard would save her, but logically she knew that was impossible. Shepard was barely conscious and couldn't even say her name as he watched her being strangled by the monster that dared to call himself the "perfect" Krogan.

"To believe Shepard loves something more fragile than a pane of glass. Now... I'm going to break you!"

Suddenly Grunt's body glowed blue and he began to float backward into the air causing him to release his grip on Tali. She fell to the ground and coughed raggedly. When she began to catch her breath she lifted her head and couldn't believe what she saw. Wrex. Of all people, Wrex had saved her. The last thing she ever would have expected. He stood firmly with his hand in the air; brimming with biotic energy.

"Fool..." Wrex whispered "You've learned nothing..." Wrex lifted his hand slightly higher and then swung it at the ground. Grunt, still in his biotic prison, was sent slamming into the ground face first.

"Perfect my ass..." Wrex mumbled. He walked slowly over to Grunt who was coughing and trying to lift himself back up. Wrex stomped on his hand as hard as he could, breaking a couple of Grunt's fingers. Grunt roared in pain.

"A true Krogan knows that the blood rage is something to control, to conquer, but you... You have made it your identity! You have no mind of your own! You act on every violent impulse without remorse and regret! The challenges we are to fight on not around us..." Wrex placed a fist over his chest where his two hearts were. "But inside us!" Grunt struggled and looked up at Wrex who looked over his shoulders at the half conscious rag doll that was Shepard, "A certain human taught me that... And you would dare to call them weak!" Wrex increased the pressure which shattered Grunts hand.

"You are not Krogan! You are a mindless beast! And I'm going to put you down like one!" Wrex reached behind his back for his assault rifle and pointed it as Grunt's head. Before he could pull the trigger a tiny three fingered hand grabbed him by the arm. Wrex looked down at Tali who stared back with concern.

"Shepard didn't give up on you back on Virmire... And he wouldn't want us to give up on him." Wrex stared at Grunt with contempt in his eyes. He wanted to shoot this deviant whelp. But Tali was right. He lowered his weapon and nodded in Tali's direction.

...

Vido slammed his fist down on the screen. "Son of a-" He activated his comm. "2-4 Take it! TAKE THE SHOT!" Nothing happened, no shot was fired. "Cobra 2-4 what the fuck are you doing!" A sarcastic voice replied over the comm.

"I'm afraid Cobra 2-4 is on a permanent vacation... In hell." Garrus laughed and listened to the infuriated voice of the Blue suns leader.

"God dammit! All units mobilize! Go, GO!" commanded Vido.