Hydra looked around, eyes wandering over the same mythical beasts and monsters mounted on the walls. Everything was reminiscently the same, However, the two podiums stood beside the gate stuck out like a saw thumb. There were now statues placed on top of both podiums of a hooded figure. Walking over for a closer look, he stopped as he recognized the person stood atop of it.

It’s the current champion of Xaecies in the first server? What was his name again?

The male stood on the podiums wore a deep red martial artist uniform that draped down to his ankles. The light cloth would allow for completely free movement but provided minimal defensive stats. The uniform merged into a cloak with a hood that covered his face, only revealing a radical grin over his pointed chin. He was heavily armed with two huge black gauntlets that were covered in blood coloured gems, the statue itself seemed to bleed. After a closer look, the particles were coming from the gems, dripping blood like some sort of vampiric particle effect. The figures were stood up straight with arms crossed as if looked down on the players stood in this room.

The appearance of the statue seemed to remind Hydra of someone, but who was that fearsome figure hidden by the dark hood. A bloodthirsty aura that sent chills even down his spine reminded him of something, but he couldn’t quite put a finger on it. He knew he had met this guy somewhere...

A devil, that's what it was. A devil that couldn’t tell the difference between friend or foe… Blood Fiend, wasn’t that the title he was given. I’m glad that maniac won’t be here...

Hydra’s gaze turned towards the podium as he felt a bright shine slither into his eye from the golden plaque’s vibrancy. The engraved title stood out as if scorched onto the plaque itself, “The Blood Fiend”

After a moment of Hydra being alone, players started appearing through sudden portals of light, filling the entire room with confusion and excitement as the atmosphere rose in tension. Appearing wasn’t quite the correct term, more like thrown in against their will as most of the players landed on either their face or their own asses. The room soon was filled with absolute silence, as the loud voice of Xeacies echoed through the Colosseum, eyes of players roamed around before landing on Xeacies sitting on a throne above what is now four gateways. He made a slight hand gesture by flicking his wrist.

Six other podiums rose from the ground as if an earth spell had been cast, creating a total of eight podiums with two either side each gate. The podiums were all empty and the plaques underneath didn’t have any engravings, contrasting the first set of two with the statue on them.

“Now then. I won’t give you much detail, I hate rattling on. But in front of you are four gateways, some of you here will recognise the statues in front of the one the gateway as my champion from the first land you otherworlders entered. Now, we gods have been allowed to send you to other lands. Walk up to the gate and you shall receive small information about the land beyond each gate”

The gateways all simultaneously creaked open as a strong aura of light radiated from each entry. Hydra looked at them all and could see through after squinting a couple times. Each one looked identical to the arena that they were already stood in. After deciding he won’t know until he walks over, he stepped up to one of the gates.

The gateways all simultaneously creaked open, dark aura leaked out of each entrance, a glow of sorts. Hydra looked around him to see everyone was still stood still talking to each other, no one had moved yet. Spotting one of the gateways that seemed interesting, He strolled over to the entrance, it seemed to be freezing the surrounding area. A timid voice trembled from behind his shoulder, Hydra turned to look at the person talking.

“You’re Hydra, right? Do you think I could… I could get an autograph?”

A small boy with dark scruffy hair and soft features. A stereotypical ‘nerd’ that seemed to be lacking the thick glasses, makes one wonder how he was selected to a representative of the god of war and bloodshed.

Stopping in front of the boy with a look of disapproval “How am i going to sign anything here?“ A sigh comes from Hydra as he carried on talking so the kid leaves him alone “If you managed to find me in game sure.” He turns back towards the freezing gateway and pulls up the information.

Once again the timid voice trembled from behind Hydra as he continued on his business. “My-.. My in-game name is Kleo, remember that promise!” Before Kleo even finished his sentence, ears started to perk up as the other players seemed to pick up on the conversation. Suddenly, a scream came from one of the more manly female players “It’s Hydra!” and people began to flood towards Hydra’s direction, It was reminiscent of groupies flooding A-list celebrities in the real world.

Hydra was attempting to hold his temper as he just wanted to read the screen in front of him. ignoring every player that was in his personal space, he desperately wanted to throw punches but held himself back. He knew players would only get in his way in this server.

Hydra was attempting to hold his temper as he just wanted to read the screen in front of him. He ignored the groups of people that flocked to him, treating them as if they never existed, every now and then he would throw a few words into the crowd to please them as he read the information given.

-- Gateway of Frost --

A gateway to the coldest journey you shall ever begin.

Huh, if this is the gateway of frost then the others must be?

Peering at the other three gateways he noticed a theme to the aura’s that was leaking out. It had a relationship with what lay beyond the gateways, one was lightly lit up with small sparks flying about, the second gateway's surrounding ground seemed to of had moss and vines sprouting out of the walls creating cracks in the stone surrounding the gateway, hanging from vines were flowers that seem to constantly bloom over and over again. The final gateway that had the two statues of ‘The Blood Fiend’ guarding it was emitting a light breeze. With luscious green grass sprouting in the dead stone of the Colosseum. It seemed like they were representations of the atmosphere and scenery of what laid behind them.

Well suppose frost is the ‘coolest’ out of them…. What did he even mean by that though?

While stepping forward he got another notification, quickly skimming it so he can get away from the groups of people and pressing the yes option on it as he steps through the darkness being the first to select a gateway.

-- Gateway of Frost --

You have selected this gateway.

Would you like to begin the coldest Journey you ever will

|

Arriving on the other side he looked around and finds himself in an identical space. The exact same Colosseum except this time, the edges were growing out ice shards and the weather had been changed to a light snow. The dirt ground now had a blue tint to as it looks like a thin layer of ice rested on it, the walls had jagged sharp edges as if to keep people from climbing up.

Walking towards the middle, he spotted Xaecies sitting in a frozen throne in the viewing area as if a battle was about to take place. Hydra was already aware of this as he did the same thing last year. Xaecies offered a grin towards Hydra before icy blue flashes appeared and more people walked out from the black abyss that Hydra walked through, looking at the people he estimated that about a quarter of the players from the prior colosseum had entered. A belching rumble shook the stadium and a burst of loud laughter emerged as Xaecies stood up from the frozen throne to address the group of people.

“You have chosen my path of frost. Now you shall fight to be the champion of frost. Before you ask how first we will need to cut down the weaklings. First, you shall be given your status but then you shall brawl. You have five seconds to think after being given your status. That is all...”

Groups of chatter began to erupt as lights descend onto each person. Hydra watched the light descend on him and like many others he said.

“Status show”