There he smiled, remembering this, and moved through the invisible wall that separated him from the crowd.

He walked to the center of the circle to an approving noise, looking around, and marveled at the scale of the amphitheater. It seemed to the spectators that a whole army had gathered. He saw that all the seats, both standing and sitting, were taken. Representatives of all classes were here. Common people were shouting, having fun, everyone was in high spirits. But suddenly, on the opposite side of the circle, the shutters of the doors also began to open. At that moment, Tan stopped hearing the crowd. In the depths of the opening that had opened, there was impenetrable darkness, and he saw Argos emerge from it. Dressed in all black, he approached our hero with a confident gait. Coming closer, Tan noticed that he had never seen such strange protection in his life. She was whole from foot to neck. Tan did not notice a single seam or a single rope on it. The material did not look like metal hidden under the skin, but rather like wet clay. The torso was made in the shape of a human body. The armor had thickening on the arms and legs. In the area of the ribs, a round sign with unknown runes and lines that crossed each other was distinguished. The only thing that differed from monolithic armor was the traditional Voton schenti.

Before each of his battles, he saw excitement and fear in the eyes of the enemy. Lack of confidence in their abilities. But now everything was different, it seemed to him that Argos was even slightly grinning and the corners of his lips were raised. Suddenly, a horn sounded shrilly throughout the amphitheater, announcing the beginning of a week-long celebration. The man who spoke into the large brass megaphone happily announced that King Virgil and Duke Erhard are now present in the large arena. After a speech of eulogy addressed to His Majesty, the Duke took the floor as he walked out to the edge of the royal balcony. He also began to congratulate the people and praise the world, then introduced the two participants in the battle, saying that, before the start of the celebration, a demonstration battle would be fought between two representatives of the once warring races. In which blows to the head with a sword are prohibited.

Tan had already taken a fighting stance, but then Erhard said: – And at the end of my speech, I am proud and with great pleasure, I present to you, our guest, King Orm. The doors to the royal box opened, and King Orme walked into the balcony, dressed in beautiful black robes with gold embroidery.

I was dumbfounded there. His mouth opened involuntarily. He just couldn't believe what he was seeing. Before his gaze, the face of the past has just appeared. Next to King Virgil, smiling, stood the one who killed the inhabitants of his village 30 years ago. Someone who is involved in the death of his parents. His face has aged slightly. Combat clothes changed to royal ones, but it was him. Orm sat down on a chair next to the king and the duke bellowed: "Let the battle begin!"…

***

I fight after the last words of Erhard, drums sounded like thunder. Their sound was picked up by the harp, and some kind of wind instruments.

Athanasius came to his senses only after an attempt by Argos to strike from above. Tan, withdrew from the line of attack, pushing the corps back, and now all his attention was riveted on Argos. Argos made a couple of preparatory actions and struck with lightning speed from the bottom up. Tan repulsed his sword with a backhand, but immediately the opponent tried to make a stab in the stomach, turning on its own axis. Although it was difficult, Tan left the line of attack, but Argos did not yield and continued to test the strength of Athanasius's defense. The fighters moved in so much music. The crowd rejoiced at the confrontation they saw. King Orm did not leave a smile, with pleasure, and King Virgil, on the contrary, was focused, because his fighter was still only defending himself.