In this explosive chapter, the action ignites in the colossal arena of Ring Seven as Leon of Tanaju and his elite team of five bloodline warriors enter the first deadly culling of Atlantis’s brutal tournament. Thirty thousand bloodthirsty spectators roar for carnage while Nephilim giants — including corrupt Egyptian observers — watch from opulent boxes, mocking Poseidon’s “runt” empire. Leon, Stelios, Lysandros, Pyrrhon, and Boreas fight as a disciplined unit against forty hardened warriors twisted by the three forbidden Orders: Pharmacia (mind-altering drugs and poisons), Altering (body mutations), and Mancy (elemental spirit powers). The arena floor becomes a nightmare of bronze weapons, grotesque mutations, roaring flames, cutting winds, and toxic clouds as the sand drinks deep of blood. The standout moment: Leon fully invokes Kyon — the powerful Watcher of the Order of Guf — unleashing spectacular blue flames and massive wings of living fire. Soaring above the chaos, he dominates the battlefield with superhuman strength, speed, and devastating blue-fire projectiles. The crowd erupts, chanting “The Winged Dog of Tanaju!” and hailing him as the next king. Yet even in victory, the terrible cost of covenant power is on full display. Every warrior’s body begins to break down exactly as the ancient prophecies warned — bones turning brittle, lungs poisoning, flesh burning, minds fracturing. Leon feels the seductive pull of Kyon urging him to seize the throne, but he clings to the olive-branch token and the secret message from the faithful remnant, choosing obedience to the Creator over worldly glory. By the end of the blood-soaked cull, only Leon’s team remains standing. They advance to the next round with one week to heal their wounds and steel their souls. The chapter closes on a quiet but powerful note of faith amid overwhelming corruption, as Leon reaffirms their true mission: not to rule Atlantis, but to help bring about its prophesied judgment. Themes: The seductive danger of power, the slow failure of the flesh, loyalty and brotherhood, and standing firm in obedience while surrounded by spiritual darkness. This chapter delivers intense arena combat, breathtaking supernatural visuals, and deep character moments that raise the stakes dramatically. The Fall of Atlantis is accelerating — and the Flood draws ever closer. Perfect for fans of biblical historical fantasy, epic battles with moral weight, and stories in the vein of The Book of Enoch meets Gladiator in a pre-Flood world. Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/before-the-flood/id1895486202 Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/58JzKYeH8m2PxSTu28TWp1 Youtube http://www.youtube.com/@realmattmatson X @mattmatson
