The true spectacle began only after the blood of the exhibition had soaked deep into the sand.
With the slaughter complete, the arena's runes flared anew, reinforcing barriers and restoring the battlefield. This was no longer a show of mass carnage. This was the main event—the duels that defined reputations, shattered legends, and decided who would rise or vanish beneath Dawnstar's unforgiving gaze.
Gladiator against gladiator.
Not every match was a simple duel. Some were arranged two-on-two engagements, alliances forged through quiet agreements and mutual benefit. On rare occasions, a three-against-one was granted—a brutal test meant to humiliate the lone fighter or elevate them to legendary status if they survived.
Most participants were Full Moon Magus, veterans tempered by years of combat. Half Moon Magus were rare, but not unheard of—some driven by overconfidence, others offered up by their schools as expendable tributes, sacrifices disguised as opportunity.
