Thrax was not merely a veteran warrior.
He was a gladiator in the truest sense of the word—one who understood the arena not just as a battlefield, but as a stage. He knew how to read the crowd, how to ignite their blood, how to transform mockery into frenzy. Victory alone was never enough. To truly succeed, one had to seize the audience's heart and refuse to let go.
And nothing stirred emotion more violently than arrogance.
A newcomer—barely victorious against the Tenth Rank—challenging Karn Blackmaw.
To many, it was laughable.
To others, insulting.
To Dawnstar Arena, it was irresistible.
Laughter rippled through the stands. Jeers followed. Some spectators openly mocked Thrax, calling him a reckless fool courting a spectacular death. Yet beneath the ridicule, excitement festered like an exposed nerve. The arena roared, not in support, but anticipation.
Irritated by the disruption, the towering veteran finally turned toward the VIP platform.
