text: Suddenly, it had all come down to this. It seemed as if the battle had gone on forever, but at long last, it was drawing to a close. &#x200B; Two teams of gladiators and warriors were fiercely engaged in the most ancient form of tribal combat. Everything - pride, reputation and all - was on the line. For the winners, the glory of victory and everlasting triumph was within their grasp. For the losers, the shame of defeat and the feeling of failure would haunt them forever. History would no doubt remember both, but not in the same manner. &#x200B; The combatants were not simply fighting for themselves - they were fighting for their regions. The two could not be more juxtaposed. One represented an area of success - where the wealthy called home, and where simply residing was considered a sign of affluence. One represented an area of struggle - where people would submit themselves to back-breaking physical labour, day in and day out, simply in order to survive. This was reflected in their representatives in the arena - the opulent had vanquished all who came before them in great style, while the strugglers had to scratch and claw their way to have a chance at glory. The battle was of Biblical proportions - and the comparisons to David and Goliath were many and apt. &#x200B; And yet, all that mattered for very little now. With not much time to spare, the squads were dead even. The usually high standards of combat had dropped - all concerned looked nervous and disjointed. The tens of thousands of people in the colosseum, totally unprepared to see the warriors representing them emerge defeated, screamed for blood. The battle cried for someone to take control. &#x200B; \~\~\~ &#x200B; For as long as he remembered, it had all been on him. Born to a young mother and an absent father, his generational talent for combat led many to christen him as the Chosen One in his formative years. He often delivered on this moniker, and in spectacular fashion. However, he was far from unburdened by the expectation placed on his young shoulders, and he at times failed to deal with the intense scrutiny. He promised that he would bring glory back to his city, but after many failed attempts the patience of his congregation was beginning to wear thin. &#x200B; \~\~\~ &#x200B; Once more, it was all on him. His leadership had often been called into question, and a chance to vanquish those doubts once and for all stood before him. Where all the other combatants were nervous, he was calm, and where they were doubtful, he was assured. On the biggest and brightest of stages, his heroics were on full display; in a moment sure to live on forever, he saved his comrades from what looked like certain defeat with one heroic action. When the bell rang, the deafening roar of the crowd turned dead quiet; it was all over, and the underdog had emerged victorious.