Gentle footsteps tapped down the uneven floor of the Oumiat temple; a long shadow draped along the ground as the hooded stranger tiptoed inside. His cane clicked over the floor, his face obscured by his burgundy hood. Sunny patches dotted the hall from the crooked windows, highlighting the sparse moss and weeds growing from the monument’s ample fractures. “Unique history for such a place…” He sniggered as he turned a corner to the other hall. “It seems without the guardians, this temple is ripe for looting. What could those Oumiat be hiding?”

Suddenly, a sharp cry came from behind. He turned around, where his tightly-wrapped crony lumbered down the hall, his gnarled limbs scraping the floor. “Gah, I told you to stay out front,” the man said, shaking his cane. “You are under my command, after all!” The grungy cloth strips began peeling from the being’s foul-smelling body, its red eyes gleaming through the fabric. Its stumpy body rose and sank as it grunted. “You were probably smarter as a human,” the man retorted. “Get back out there; I must see these secrets for myself.”

Outside, Amali and the Black Assassin tumbled and darted throughout the ring, their feet stirring up sand and dirt clouds in their wake. She distanced herself, catching a breath as she wiped her clammy face. Why the hell did I agree to come here? Our job’s a walk in the park compared to this! Her eyes shifted over to Niko, watching from the temple. I don’t know the kid real well, but I suspect only he could get us into somethin’ like this! Amali’s arms rose, her feet scooting carefully as the assassin neared. Why else would I be here—I coulda just shot everyone and taken the damn money! Niko, you creampuff, this is your fault! A vague smile came over her.

“Only a fool smiles in the face of death!” the assassin yelled, his fists ripping through the air towards her.

Amali’s arms covered her face while the assassin’s fists dented into her. She broke free, slinging her leg into the man’s gut. “I’m smiling ‘cause you hit like a bitch!”

The assassin yanked her leg and shook her off balance, toppling her. “You will bleed more than confidence!” His leg rose high before crashing his heel into the rock, chasing after Amali while she rolled away. His foot crushed down on her arm, her teeth grinding while she shoved him off. She vaulted back onto her feet, her leg slapping against his neck as she sprang up. When the assassin jabbed her ribs, Amali hunched over and pulled his arm, smashing his own fist into his face. He stumbled back, bowled over as Amali slugged his face. He twirled down on his hands, launching himself back up. He ripped over the ground towards her, snatching her by the hair as he passed. Her neck twisted while he tugged, her arms flailing. While her fists thumped against him, he jerked her neck and backhanded her face. Amali spun away, her lip beading with blood.

“You motherfucker,” she said, her cheeks puffing for air.

Amali dragged the assassin’s cloak, banging her knee into his stomach repeatedly. He smacked her off him and Amali stumbled back, her legs straining to hold her up. Sweat beads flew from her hair as she bolted toward him, grabbing the assassin’s neck and kicking his jaw. Ignoring the throbbing pain and dirty boot streak on his chin, he leapt from the rear and kicked Amali’s backside.

“Pride is not strength,” the assassin jeered.

Amali pulled her mussy hair back. “Yeah, well, if I fought like you I’d hide my face, too.”

The assassin stood before her, his dusty, white mask glaring at her from its lifeless, black slits. “I will finish my task.”

Amali sidled around the ring, her tense arms by her sides while the assassin pulled a silver, cylindrical canister from his overcoat. He pressed the head of it down and pulled a little peg from the side, then pitched it along the ground. Amali’s eyes tensed while smoke spewed from the canister as it rolled towards her. She covered her mouth, flapping her hand while the smog thickened and engulfed the stage. Great, should’ve known…just don’t make a sound. Amali staggered around the arena, her eyes watering in the noxious fumes. Just then, a sharp ring scraped through the air. As she weaved amid the smoke, the ground suddenly shook with a scathing clang. That didn’t sound good.

Amali’s hands brushed through the settling smoke, revealing the assassin off to her right. He held a club attached to a long, metallic chain, where at the end hung a heavy, steel blade lodged into the ground. “So that’s it,” she said, her body tensing.

The masked villain reeled in the chain, its rattling links clinking along the ground. “Behold The Python,” he said while sliding the chain along his shoulders. “It can squeeze the life out of you or gut you with its fangs.” He yanked the chain tautly and twirled the lethal, spiked head before her.

Amali’s lip crinkled. “Is there a third option?”

“You can run!”

He hurled the metal blade at her, the sharp head slamming into the rock as she dove away. While she hopped around the ring, her boot got snagged in a little hole in the rocks. As she faltered, the blade flew forward and latched around her ankle. “Shit!” The assassin yanked the chain, and Amali toppled to the ground. She reached up to unshackle her leg when the assassin pounced over her, seizing her throat.

“This is over!” he said, his grip tightening.

Amali’s nails burrowed into his arm, her face paling. The assassin held up his right hand, each finger adorned with a metal ring topped with long, spiked blades. He brushed the prickly blades along her cheek, wheezing excitedly through his eerie mask. He swiped his clawed fingers across her belly, shredding her black shirt. She moaned while her gut pulsated with pain. The assassin savagely punctured her belly with the cool, steel scythes, causing beads of blood to puddle over the gashes. Amali’s bloodshot eyes swelled, her arms slowly falling as her vision blurred.

“He’s gonna kill her,” Alia said, clinging to Niko.

“This can’t be it,” Niko said worriedly, his eyes watering.

Off to the side, Kaffron’s head fell to his chest. “I got nothin’ to lose,” he whispered. He dashed down the stairs, his injured arm dangling beside him.

“Kaffron, don’t!” Niko shouted.

A bullet sped by them, crashing into the ground in front of Kaffron. He quickly turned, where Jirani stood at the head of the stairwell. “Take one more step! I’ll kill you both!”

Scowling, Kaffron yanked out his gun and fired at the pillar beside Jirani. “Then I’ll see you in hell!” Amid the rising smoke and crumbling marble, Kaffron stormed down the walkway towards the ring.

The assassin turned sharply from the noise, and Amali kicked up her right leg, flinging the blade over his head. She caught the blade and stabbed his left shoulder, shoving him off as she rolled away. Gasping for breath, Amali stood over the assassin while he writhed, squeezing his bloody shoulder. Saying nothing, she pulled out her gun and shot him twice in the back, blood shooting from his clothes as he flopped on his side. Kaffron hurried into the ring, catching Amali as she stumbled. Her held her tightly, her hair brushing over his cheek. “You’re alright.”

Amali held herself up, her hand covering her dripping wound. “You, of all people…were worried?” She chuckled breathily.

Kaffron smiled, gently pulling her along as they exited the arena. From the top of the stairs, Niko, Alia, and Ekzera ran down to them.

“Amali, are you okay?” Niko said, his mouth gaping.

Amali held up her thumb. “Like that’s gonna stop me.”

Niko stepped closer and put his arms around her. “I’m glad you’re okay.”

Amali’s eyes drifted over to Alia, then slowly fell downward as she put an arm around Niko. “Me too, kid.”

They walked slowly from the arena, their eyes fixed on Jirani as they neared the temple stairs.

“We’re closing the gap,” Kaffron said.

“It’s just him now,” Alia said.

They reached the last step, where Jirani made his way toward them, his gun raised. “This is far from over. You’re next, boy.”

Niko stood in front of his friends. “Alia, take cover and help the others.”

“But Niko—”

“Come, I will look after them,” Ekzera said, guiding them along the platform.

“You cannot hide forever, Alia! One way or another, you will go back! Where is he?” Jirani shouted.

“Where is who?” Niko said.

Jirani hurried along the main entryway. “Those two! They’ve snuck off!” Jirani stormed through the archway into the temple. “Don’t hide from me! Show yourself!”

He kicked through some loose stone fragments as he stepped further, his gun moving cautiously around the room. Suddenly, the mummy-like person shot through the hall, its backside bursting with black wings as it hovered over the floor. Niko rushed into the temple, his eyes locked with the red-eyed phantom while Jirani shot it at. Niko dove down near some high-standing blocks, his eyes darting around the chamber. “Quit shootin’, you’re gonna destroy the place!”

“What is the meaning of this?” Jirani said, stumbling around. “Where is your accomplice?”

With a loud hiss, the winged terror blew by them, its feathers drifting along the floor as it took to the sky. Outside, Alia flinched from the noise, her eyes following the silhouetted creature as it flew off. “My God, did you see that?”

Kaffron cringed. “Sure as hell wasn’t a bird—almost looked human.”

“There’s no way.” Alia looked back down, ripping apart her cloak to tie Amali’s wounds. “Here we go. Try not to move too much.”

Amali leaned back. “Thanks.”

“Where’d that thing come from?” Kaffron said.

“I don’t know. Sounded like it came from the temple,” Alia replied, pointing behind them.

“Wouldn’t surprise me,” Amali said. “That whole place is creepy.”

“Did you see something?” Alia asked.

“Aside from those Oomba-goomba guys, not much. Still, got a weird vibe from that place.”

Ekzera stood alongside Alia. “There is much still unknown about the Oumiat, which is why their ruins remain hidden.”

Alia snuck towards the gaping archway into the temple. “Who’s he searching for, anyway?” She stepped over some black feathers as she entered, her arms clutching one another.

“Alia?” Niko said, jumping from behind the walls.

Alia flinched, holding her chest. “You idiot…what’s going on in here?”

“Shh, Jirani took off lookin’ for that creepy guy with the big stick thingy.”

“Did something fly out of here?”

“Uh-huh. Looked like a ghost or somethin’! But that’s crazy, right?”

“I don’t like this place, let’s get out of here,” Alia said, tugging his arm.

“Right,” Niko replied, lagging behind. He leaned his head back, gazing at the brittle, marble-laden walls and the remains of sculpted friezes carved within. Lines of vague people wielding clubs and spears, garbed in robes, tunics, and armor appeared to duel one another. Further down, an excessively rotund man stood in a high throne, his arms cast down on rows of people bowing before him. “I’ve only seen this stuff in books. Lot cooler in person.”

Alia stood beside him. “It is beautiful. You can tell something dreadful happened here, yet we admire it.”

Niko looked at her, half-smiling. As they turned around, they came face to face with the mysterious cloaked stranger, his shadow looming over them.

“Blast, where has he gone?”

“Wh-who?” Niko said, stepping away.

The man bent down and picked up a nearby feather. “He was here, my lackey.”

“You mean that flying creature?” Alia said.

“You’ve seen him. Where is he?” the man said, thumping his cane.

“It flew away a few minutes ago.”

He tossed the feather down, huffing. “I must refine my power—it should have been strong enough!”

“Are you a magician or something?” Niko said, gesturing to the cane.

“Magicians are nothing but a mockery! We possess real power,” the man replied.

“Why are you here? You can get away,” Alia said. “Jirani’s nowhere around.”

“Ah, but you are the reason for my entrapment here.”

“N-no! We had nothing to do with it,” Niko said.

“All I desire is the hidden treasure, yet you two have stymied me,” the man said, his eyes igniting in with a yellow spark.

Niko huddled in front of Alia. “Wh-what’re you doing?”

As the man crept closer his eyes drew up, where Jirani came through the hallway at the end of the chamber. “What do you think you’re doing? I ordered you to stay!” Jirani called.

Niko and Alia backed along the walls as Jirani neared, his gun held out.

“Your selfish game with these kids is meaningless to me! I must find that treasure!” the man said, thrashing his arm.

Jirani grinned smugly, his arm reaching around his back. “You mean this?” He revealed a dark brown wicker box in his hands, secured by a silver lock.

“Curse you! Where did you find that?”

“What matters is it found me. Now your cooperation is guaranteed!” Jirani said.

“You conniving—!”

“A favor is all I ask: get rid of that boy, and you will have this fortune. Five thousand Dinara.”

Niko and Alia sidled along the walls, their bodies trembling as their feet dragged across the floor. He jumped as the cloaked man turned around, his yellow eyes leering at Niko.

“You are contemptible, Jirani! I have my own agenda…but this one time, I accept those terms.”

Niko’s hands shot up, his eyes wide with fear as he and Alia backed out of the temple. From across the way, Amali looked over as they all walked outside. “Babe, look.”

Kaffron’s mouth hung open. “Oh shit…”

Jirani stood beside his accomplice, his gun aimed at Niko. “The contest is not over. Niko, get in the ring. You—”

“Jijikku. Don’t forget our agreement, lest you become my servant!”

With a frown, Jirani lifted his chin. “Then be off, whatever your name is!”

Alia grabbed Niko’s hands. “Please be careful.”

“I will. We’ll find a way outta this,” he replied, touching her arm.

Amali and Kaffron hobbled over to them. “We got your back, Niko,” she said.

“Thanks, guys.” Niko headed for the stairs, when his eyes fell upon a group of people at the end of the cavern. Men and women dressed in dark green uniforms and hats marched along the walkway across the water. The foreman held up a bullhorn.

“Hello out there!”

Niko entered the ring as the group approached. “Who are you?”

“Good afternoon, we’re from the Zaarendaar police force. The Oumiat Lords called us here to dispel an emergency. Where’s Mr. Jirani?”

Niko pointed up to the temple. “He’s up there. Can you help? My friends are hurt.”

The pale-skinned, slender, brown-haired officer patted Niko’s shoulder. “Don’t worry, son, we’ll take care of them.”

Jirani stood at the center of the stairwell, smirking.

“Are you responsible for this?” the police captain asked.

“Nonsense! We are taking part in the King’s Challenge, but were attacked! Down there, that man, he’s the one!”