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“Duck!” I shouted, and the four of us hit the sand. Just in time. Stone swept over our heads. The massive blade whistled as it sliced the air.

Before the giant could right himself, Drazen popped back on his feet, hands flared, menace in his expression. Fireballs launched from his palms, exploding in the monster’s face.

Morpheus flinched, recoiling. Off balance, the giant lurched backward a step.

Bones crunched. Another contestant fell beneath the creature’s enormous foot. Once he righted himself, he leveled his furious glare at the infernus.

“You angered him,” Kronk stated the obvious.

“You think?” Drazen turned his frustration on his brother. “You think I angered him?”

“Guys?” Runa eyed the giant.

“If you shot fireballs up my nose, I too would be angry.” Kronk folded his thick arms while the giant took a pounding step.

“Guys?” Runa repeated.

I clutched her forearm, pulling her away from the approaching giant.

“Like you had a better plan,” Drazen sneered.

“Guys!” Runa shouted.

“Run, you fools!” I slung the sorceress over my shoulder.

“Victor, wait! What about my brothers?” Runa pounded my kidneys.

I ignored her concern. “Can’t help them if you’re dead.” Nor would she be able to help me.

The squabbling siblings finally glanced up and blanched.

Smiling an evil grin, our giant opponent raised his leg, eager to smash Runa’s kin.

We dove to safety as Morpheus’s mighty foot slammed down.

“No,” Runa cried out, peering at the cloud of dust behind us.

An image emerged from the sand, coughing and waving his hand. “Flark, that was close,” Drazen said.

“Do you see Kronk?” Runa shouted.

I peered through the fading cloud, seeing nothing. I grimaced. Kronk was powerful but slow. It was possible he hadn’t moved in time.

“Kronk?” Drazen turned a circle, panic in his tight expression. “Kronk!” he bellowed.

Morpheus snickered, his laughter booming throughout the arena.

Moisture gathered in Runa’s eyes, and she lurched to her feet. “No. No. No. Not my brother,” she screamed, a dark gleam mixing with her unshed tears. She stood before the former champion, hands raised, energy sparking in her palms. Before she could unleash whatever nightmare she’d conjured, the giant wobbled.

Peering down, the creature frowned. Cracks formed in the giant’s boot, spreading across his arch. Thunder cracked, stone splitting like two icebergs colliding. Craggy fractures splintered the warrior’s ankle, shooting up his calf. The beast threw back his head, roaring his fury at the sky.

“Look!” Runa pointed. Beneath the giant’s shattering instep, two much smaller yet sturdy legs rose from the sand.

“It’s Kronk!” Drazen jumped, punching the sky.

Hands pressed beneath the monster’s wobbling foot, Kronk powered through his deadlift like Atlas with the world perched on his shoulders. With every inch he gained, more fractures shattered the giant’s leg, racing up his thigh to his hip. I gaped at the athos’s strength. I knew they were strong, but this was incredible.

Cheering voices permeated my shock. The arena went wild with the athos’s achievement. “Kronk. Kronk. Kronk,” they shouted, stomping the stands.