Due to their lack of decisive power, Zafar instructs Cestvs and his companions to train all day every day by digging with pickaxes. Though his companions complain, Cestvs regards Zafar's word as his only ray of hope and continues digging. Meanwhile, a pair of messengers arrive to announce a fighting tournament held by the emperor. Emperor Nero himself has ordered that Cestvs participate. He seems to be unable to escape him... With indescribable uncertainty in his heart, Cestvs participates in the qualifier in order to win his freedom. However, the arena is a wooden structure resembling a run-down cage.
The emperor may be hosting the tournament, 
but this is only the qualifier.
،قد تكون البطولة باستضافة الإمبراطور
لكنّ هذه التصفيات فحسب
Der Kaiser mag zwar das große Turnier ausrichten,
aber das ist nur ein Vorentscheid.
Aunque lo auspicie el emperador,
esta es la eliminatoria.
Aunque lo auspicie el emperador,
esta es la eliminatoria.
Tournoi de l’empereur ou pas,
ça reste des éliminatoires.
Anche se il torneo è organizzato dall'imperatore,
queste sono solo le eliminatorie.
O torneio é organizado pelo imperador,
mas ainda estamos nas eliminatórias.
Турнир, может, и императорский,
 но сейчас идёт отбор.