<strong>Sarathiel:</strong><br/><br/>Argus's two eyes were closed, yet every other eye along his body continued swiveling around, ever alert. He seemed to ponder her words for a moment, though his expressionless demeanor made it hard to tell. "As much as I would like to end this peacefully, I'm afraid that that is not an option." It was either kill or be killed within the arena and there were no exceptions. Especially not under the watchful eyes of the Arena Master.<br/><br/>"If we had met under different circumstances, then perhaps I would be able to help you. However, nothing can be feigned within these runed walls." Gesturing to the glowing runes that surrounded them, he nodded ever so slightly in the direction of Balthazar. "An attempt to trick the audience is an attempt at lying to the Arena Master. Being thrown to the Legions is a better punishment than being doctored by Balthazar." The grim expression on his face, along with the seriousness of his tone, it was as if he spoke from personal experience.<br/><br/>"Even so, I do not relish the punishment of losing a match either...and so far, I have only lost once." His stance changed as he stood at the ready, a blue glow slowly traveling from the tips of his fingers and spreading along his body. Balls of flickering blue flame hovered above the palms of his hands.<br/><br/><strong>Adam Jefferson:</strong><br/><br/>The Gorgon shied away from his touch, as if afraid that he would hurt her, the snakes that adorned her head hissed venomously at him as many stretched out to snap their jaws and sink their fangs along his forearm. It wasn't until she heard his comforting words that the snakes dislodged themselves from him, though they continued to hover threateningly nearby. Her lips parted slightly, as if his words had given her a small kernel of hope, and yet they curved down in defeat again. "No, there is no escaping the fate of the Arena. Those who do not fight only die, and those who seek peace only find agony."<br/><br/>Nearby, the audience jeered eagerly as they watched. Intermingled cries of "Fuck her!" and "Kill the damned human!" could clearly be heard.<br/><br/>Upon closer inspection, the blindfold across her eyes had runes inscribed over them. It could not be removed without the Arena Master's consent.<br/><br/><strong>Athena:</strong><br/><br/>The beast howled in pain as it lost one of its tentacled legs, though the howl quickly changed to a startled yelp as the warrior's blade swung up through the bottom of its mouth and out through the top of its snout. The woman atop the beast screamed her rage as the other six heads snapped viciously at their target. All gnashing teeth and spittle, the rest of its tentacles writhed wildly in an attempt to swat the woman off and away.<br/><br/>"Cocky human!" Scylla spat her words out. "Luck was with you, but no longer!" With that, the mass of snarling teeth lunged forwards, the closest of the six beasts opening its jaws wide as it prepared to snap the fragile human in half.<br/><br/>From above, Balthazar's voice boomed out. "First blood has been drawn! Which of our new slaves will manage to survive?"<br/><br/><strong>Liliana Vess:</strong><br/><br/>Arachne watched in mild fascination as the had-been assassin spilled her own blood. The scent of it was tantalizing to her and despite her nonchalance, she was salivating over the thought of the demoness's warm blood trickling down her throat. Even so, she was no fool. Fools didn't survive in the Arena, save for the lucky few who possessed herculean strength.<br/><br/>Pushing her thirst away, she concentrated on winning her prize. "Mmm, you certainly smell sweet, though I do not mind a bitter aftertaste. It only makes the initial taste that much sweeter." She smiled again, that sickly smile of blackened teeth. Already, her spinnerets were exuding their web, spinning a trap of her fine threads around herself. "Though unlike you, I am in no hurry. It is the wait that makes the food more delicious."<br/><br/><strong>Zehair Angelith:</strong><br/><br/>The part of the Arena nearest Grendel's platform was stunned into temporary silence as the fallen angel brutally ripped off Grendel's arms. However, the draconian display earned the respect of the audience and soon they had swelled onto their feet as they chanted excitedly. "Kill him! Finish him!" Now without arms, the monster struggled to his feet, blood pouring down his sides and pooling around his feet. Despite his lack of intelligence, even Grendel knew when the crowd was against him. A bubble of panic rose within him and exploded from his throat as a ferocious roar. "Grendel no die! Grendel kill angel!" Charging forward, head down, his first few steps were slippery from his own blood, yet he managed to right himself and smash into the angel.<br/><br/><strong>Herja:</strong><br/><br/>The crowd near the Chimera's platform was practically screaming itself hoarse. As the Valkyrie dangled precariously off the edge, it was clear that the audience was hoping to see her body break against the Arena's dirt floor. The Chimera was waiting and pounced upon the Valkyrie when she rolled back onto the platform. It grumbled a low growl of dissatisfaction when it missed its strike as the angel rolled out of the way. Muscles coiled and at the ready, its anaconda tail stood poised as well, forked tongue flicking out to lick at its missing eye. The humanoid face spoke, its words catching against its own fangs to sound guttural. "Angel quick. We hungry...will be quicker..." The goat-head above voiced its agreement in its continual heave of "Ye-eh-eh-eh-ssss, fee-ee-ee-d usssss." It was hard to tell if it were actually the goat speaking or the snake as its body weaved side to side.<br/><br/>As if the three had reached an agreement among themselves, the chimera's stance lowered as its muscles coiled for another spring.