Chapter Text
His whole life, Tiso had been fed the tales of Hallownest’s grand colosseum. He had heard of the bloodshed and trials it presentented to its warriors, trials that promised to lead to the painful death of any experienced fighter. But he also knew of the glory it promised, of the raining geo and cheers of joy, and the title of Ultimate Fool, bestowed only upon those very few worthy bugs who rose up and conquered the challenge of all three trials. A title that he would earn for himself.
He was a fool, but no idiot. He knew of the dangers of this challenge, and had heard the countless stories of the thousands of warriors who all flocked into that same colosseum with grand dreams, only to be stabbed in the heart with a dirty spear. He’d been preparing for this ever since he picked up his weapon, he knew what he was going to be facing.
He knew he had reached the fated cliffs when the wind started to blow. It was a steady thing at first, offering a breeze for his tired shell, but that breeze quickly transformed into a force that was tempted to knock him back to the ground. A wind that seemed to have no direction and shoved him every which way. A wind that blew so loud that he almost couldn’t think. And just when Tiso thought the windy wasteland would never end, before him were the cliffs, taller and more intimidating than any bug-made structure above or below. And without hesitation, he went to climb it, and though the rocks scraped at his hands painfully and the wind threatened to blow him off every step of the way, he never faltered. With one last heave, Tiso had passed the first hurdle of Hallownest. He had climbed its Howling Cliffs.
From this entrance, the kingdom was bare. The only signs of any kind of life at all were a tiktik or two scuttering about the cracks and crevices. It was a while before he reached any form of civilization. Lumafly lampposts lit the path leading to a small town.
The town was so small you could hardly call it a town at all, though the bench was comfortable enough to offer Tiso the rest he needed, and as soon as he awoke, he started towards the deeper part of the kingdom. He had no desire in purchasing any maps, the stories he had been told had burned the directions to the colosseum into his very soul. A map would simply be a waste of geo, geo that would be better spent paying for the fee of the trials. An old bug in the town had directed him towards the well, and he made no hesitation when jumping in.
This was where Hallownest truly began. This was where the dangers lie. Infected bugs lurked around every corner, waiting to jump out and attack him with their sickly ooze. Tiso had little trouble fighting them off, though their constant presence was annoying. The stories had told him of a pathway at the bottom of the crossroads, and sure enough, it was there. The climb of Howling Cliffs had prepared him for this, as he had to climb into a small crack in the rock and fossil. The rock scratched his arms and legs, though he was determined to continue.
Tiso could smell the water long before he could see it, and when he could see it, he wished he couldn’t. It was just so… blue, so bright, so blinding, so peaceful, so serene. It was sickening. But warriors need their rest, and this lake seemed to be safe, so Tiso took a break here before continuing onward.
He crossed the water by using his weapon as a raft, and an old nail he had found discarded as a paddle. It wasn’t the most stable thing, it often shifted from side to side and he would have to spend several moments to center himself again, and he had to stay out of view of the vengeflys hovering above him, but it worked, though it was a very long ride. By the time he caught sight of the shore, he saw a bug enjoying the view on the sand. He seemed friendly, round and harmless. The bug waved to him as he approached. Tiso did not wave back.
The bug greeted him anyway, beginning small talk as Tiso stepped onto the shore, avoiding the rocks and coral. Tiso made no real effort to talk to him back, though he did tell him he was on his way to the colosseum. The stranger told him to be careful, Tiso only rolled his eyes at this. He did not need some stranger acting as if he couldn’t handle himself.
The next place was almost as quiet as the other, and the air had a thick history to it. Tiso found the region to be uncomfortable and off putting, and he was glad to find the exit rather quickly. He came upon an old elevator, and thankfully for him it still worked, though it creaked and groaned in defiance the whole way down. When the lowering came to a stop, there was only a short walk left.
A straight away tunnel led the way to the fated place, and Tiso was quick to make his way through it. The stories he’d been told had warned him of the beflys that watched above, and so he knew to run through the tunnel and to hold his weapon so that it would shield his head. The screeches of surprise and detonation were deafening behind him, but the sounds of battle and excitement were beginning to fill his ears. He reached the end without issue, and found himself standing before the grand entrance.
The old dead skull of a massive beast beckoned for him to be swallowed, and with his heart pounding, he stepped inside, ready for what awaited him.
The place reeked of death and combat, of sweat and blood. From the moment he stepped inside he felt the adrenaline from the sights and smells roaring within him. But he couldn’t fight now, no, a warrior needs his rest, and to attempt a trial right after such a perilous journey was idiotic. A small beetle hung upside down in chains greeted him once he entered, and the little bug explained to him how the trails worked. As if he needed any explanation, he knew well how the colosseum operated. What Tiso did appreciate was access to the warrior’s pit, where all the bugs awaiting combat were allowed rest. Even as he went down here, the sounds of battle above did not become any quieter. In fact, he was directly under it now, the clashing of nails was only muffled by the snores of the resting warriors.
The pit was more of a mass of sleeping bodies than any real place of rest, and the place was packed at that. He was lucky that there was a bench open for him at all. If it were not for the exhausting journey Tiso had been through, he would’ve been too tired to sleep. But rest did come, though reluctantly, as his mind whirled with the fantasies that would soon await him.
When he awoke, he was still sore, and the hard bench was not as comfortable when he was fully rested. But he was rested, and the excitement began to serge through him all over again. He spent some time stretching until his limbs no longer ached, and as he prepared to fight, he overheard a conversation behind him.
It was an argument, some warriors were shouting and spitting at each other, and it was a while before he could even discern what they were fighting about. The name of the colosseum’s champion was tossed about, and the warriors were arguing over who would be the one to defeat her. The warriors were offended at the thought that the other would be more skilled than them, and it didn’t take long for things to turn physical. Tiso couldn’t stop himself from scoffing at them. He had no doubt that they both would be crushed by the first trial, let alone make it to the third, but the bugs had heard him, and in a second their glares snapped to him.
“What’chu scoffing at, grub?” One shoved Tiso roughly so that he was forced to face them. “You got somethin’ to say?”
Tiso had no intention of getting involved in such a stupid argument, but he also had no intention of ever backing down from a challenge. He told them what he thought, and no sooner fists started to fly. Tiso was in no danger of losing, with these bugs being so weak, but that did not mean he had expected one of them to brandish their nail. It was a moment too late before he realized they had, and it would’ve resulted in a nasty injury had it not been blocked.
“Alright boys, break it up. It’s no good if you kill yourselves where the audience can’t see you.”
Tiso had shielded his face with arm, and as he brought it down to see why he had not been struck, he was at a loss for words. A large nail made of bone had stopped his attacker’s weapon, and as his eyes turned to follow the hand that held it, he was sure he was seeing wrong. A bug in copper red armor stood before him, her face completely hidden by her helmet.
“Y-you,” his attacker’s nail was stuck in her weapon, and Tiso could tell their instincts were screaming at them to flee from her. They knew who she was, what warrior wouldn’t recognize the curve of her helmet or the color of her armor? But the bug could not flee, they were trapped, and the other warrior who they had been fighting with had frozen solid, barely daring to blink.
“I hear you were arguing over me. I, and about everyone else in this damn colosseum. You three were so loud I just had to see what the fuss was all about. It’s not very nice of you to be waking everyone else though.” Her voice was like silk as she teased and taunted. You would never imagine a voice as feminine as that coming from a brutal warrior god such as her.
With a swift movement, she brought her nail back to her side, taking the warrior’s weapon with it and retching it from his hands. She took note of the stunned silence in the warrior’s pit, even the arena above them seemed to hush in anticipation and fear. “Everyone’s awfully quiet now.” Her piercing gaze could be felt through the holes in her helmet as she stared into the eyes of Tiso’s attackers. “For all that talk you were spouting earlier, you sure have nothing to say to my face.”
“I’ll… I’ll kill you,” they said as they somehow found their voice, though their statement came out hesitant and uncertain, wavering and cowardice. It hardly sounded like a threat at all.
Everyone could feel her smirk under her helmet. “Sure you will.” And without warning, she had unlodged the warrior’s weapon from her nail and pointed right under their chin. And with great amusement, she placed the handle into the warrior's hands. “Be careful not to lose this then.” The warrior did not dare to respond.
“Does anyone else have anything they’d like to say to me?” she asked. “Any challengers for my title as champion?” Scanning the room and finding no one willing to open their mouth, her gaze landed on Tiso. “Not even you?”
Tiso had to collect himself before he spoke. Standing before him was the champion of the colosseum, the Ultimate Fool herself, God Tamer, and she was even more than the stories he had heard of her. His whole life he’d been under the impression that he wouldn’t even be able to catch a glimpse of her unless he paid to watch one of her battles, but now she stood before him simply to break up a stupid fight. Why would a bug of great status as her even have to do such a lowly task? Surely even stepping foot in the warrior’s pit was beneath her. But, perhaps that’s the exact reason why she was here. Maybe she liked to render these cocky warriors speechless.
Tiso forced his fear down as he determinedly stared into the holes in God Tamer’s helmet. “I’m going to defeat you,” he said, and his voice came out steadier than he thought it would. A statement is what came out.
Tamer was amused by this. “Really?” she pressed, moving closer to him. “And what makes you think you can do that?”
He would never admit it aloud, but this throat grew scratchier and drier the longer she stared at him. “Because this is what I’ve been training for, ever since I picked up my weapon.” Despite his beating heart, his voice was defiant, and he didn’t dare break eye contact with her.
He could feel her eyes study him for a short eternity, and when she finally pulled away she crossed her arms. “Let me guess, you came from some far away kingdom, facing terrors on your journey average bugs could never imagine. And after years and years of training and preparation you arrive here, to the Colosseum of Fools to earn your place among the gods and legends. Oh, if only she knew the rigorous training I’ve been through, she wouldn’t be so smug, I’m sure you’re thinking. If only she knew she would soon meet her end at my blade.”
Tamer leaned in again, and her voice became playfully deadly. “If only you knew the number of warriors just as tiny and insignificant as you I meet on a daily basis. They all have grand dreams of glory and fame, and they all step into that same arena, and I crush them all with the same nail. And I can assure you, when you’re nothing but a corpse, and we toss your body out with all the others, you’re no different or special than anybody else. If you wish to kill me for fame, you better make your fight memorable, because your story will not be one of victory.”
Tiso swallowed.
With a triumphant huff, Tamer stepped away and began to leave the warrior’s pit. Not a single breath was drawn.
“I will defeat you, God Tamer!” Tiso suddenly shouted when Tamer had almost left. She stopped, but didn’t turn to look at him, which was good, because there was no doubt that he would lose his nerve should she face him. “I am Tiso the Warrior, and I will strike you down! Count your days, champion! Your reign is soon over!”
To Tiso’s surprise, she only chuckled.
“Return to your rest, warriors,” she told the pit. “Your trials await.”