As Andros enters the baths for his morning ritual, Urius is already there. Thinking that last night's event was just a misunderstanding, he began to approach his old friend. But when he saw the hateful stare in Urius' eyes, he decided to forego approaching him. Throughout breakfast he received the same treatment. Confused and upset, Andros left the dining hall and went for a walk. Tonight it was his turn to fight and he had to clear his head. He decided that after tonight he would talk with Urius and find out what was wrong.

Andros had a restful, pleasant day as was permitted any graduating student who was about to face death that evening. Through the years he had come to know the Palace grounds well and as late afternoon approached, he manoeuvred himself in a position near the "Temple of Death". The same elite crowd had once again gathered and were beginning to enjoy their feast. The pits had been cleaned and were in readiness for tonight's show. Andros felt a knot of anticipation in his stomach knowing that shortly he would be facing his first "death challenge" opponent.

The time soon approached and he found himself walking into the Temple. Although much smaller than Urius, he was himself also a very beautiful, muscular young man. As he began his "strut" around the crowd showing them everything he had, he felt that warm glow of excitement beginning to fill his body. He felt like he was invincible as the crowd cheered and clapped as he slowly walked around exhibiting his naked body. As he did, his eyes met Urius'. The look of hate was still there. He ignored it and prepared himself mentally for the fight. With this, he positioned himself at the end of one of the pits waiting for his opponent to enter.

Then in walked Ruga. He was 5'10", 170# with long blond hair; magnificent body so muscular that you could almost see through his skin. As he strutted for the pleasure of the crowd, he never took his eyes of Andros for a second. When he walked around him at the end of the pit he whispered "I will kill you!". Andros ignored his statement as his opponent continued and then took position at the other side of the pits.

Time to fight ! As happened last night, both entered the oil pit first. To say that Andros and Ruga were sexually attracted to each other would have been an understatement. They had been from the first instant their eyes met and fight though they must, it was the last thing they wanted to do. They slowly walked toward each other and met mid pit. There they oiled each other's bodies then to the utter shock of the crowd, put their arms around each other and kissed deeply and long. The crowd was displeased and made their feelings known. With this the two fighters broke apart and faced off to fight. Unlike Urius and his opponent Zaxon, Andros and Ruga excelled at both boxing and wrestling. And as was the usual case with smaller fighters, far more vicious and mean.

The fight began with a flurry of fists and feet. It was fast paced and as though both men were trying to end it as fast as possible. Not so ! One was trying to wear the other down and soon one did. Andros now had Ruga pinned face first against one side of the marble pit. Andros had concentrated his hits on Ruga's mid section and his last blow had knocked it out of Ruga. Now with him in just the right position, he began to seriously punish his opponent. Slowly, a well aimed fist into Ruga's lower back followed by another and another. Ruga was screaming. Andros continued, now leaning heavily into his opponent with slow, deliberate, well aimed punched everywhere. His back; neck; legs; calves, over and over and over again.

As he did his opponent, he began to have a strange yet very exciting feeling pervade his mind and body. He assumed it was what had changed Urius the night before. It was the pleasure of being like an animal and in control of a fight that must end in death. He like Urius was a natural born killer and all his training had accentuated and been concentrated on that aspect of his personality. It was...paying off well.

Ruga now so beaten he could take no more, slumped to the bottom of the oil pit. Ixalon called for the break and change of pits. As the fighters rested, they stared at each other and their eyes spoke. Ruga knew at that point that he would die at the hands of Andros. Andros knew it too. He now found that the thought of killing a man he was so sexually attracted to, excited him even more than the idea of making love with him. For a few seconds his eyes met Urius' and the look was now different between them. Now he knew what the change had been in Urius last night.

The fight now continued in the sand pit. Before it began, when they were close enough, Ruga told Andros to kill him anyway he wanted but to make sure he put on a good show. And so it began. The final round. There was an exchange of money between Ixalon and another rich patron. The transaction complete, two pairs of black leather gloves covered with studs were thrown into the sand pit by one of the guards. Both fighters slowly put on the gloves and now were face to face and ready to kill. Ruga fought well but was no match for Andros. Especially after the severe beating he had received in the oil pit. He managed to land a few hits on Andros but nothing major. Andros on the other hand was facing a bloody opponent who's body was covered with the marks left from the studded gloves.

All of a sudden, Ruga seemed to regain his strength and managed to land a hit that left an open wound on Andros' mid section. Andros looked down and saw the gash. When he looked back up, there was rage and hate in his eyes. He was ready to kill. In a flurry of hits he soon had Ruga on his back in the sand. Although he tried to get up, he could not. Andros dropped one knee deep into Ruga's gut . Next he positioned himself, straddling his opponent with a knee on each of his arms. Ruga was pinned for the kill and unable to move.

Andros shoved his hard cock down the throat of Ruga and pumped without mercy. As he shot his hot load of cum he was sure that Ruga was dead. But he was not. Removing his cock, Ruga began to cough and show signs of life. With this, Andros took aim and with his leather studded fist delivered the final blow to Ruga's throat. It was over and Andros now was also a champion and a full fledged gladiator. He was accorded the same honours as Urius had received the night before.

Later that night when all the guest had left, Urius and Andros were once again escorted back to their old room. Both Ixalon and Phalox knew from experience that both men were ready to talk now and face the reality of what it meant to be gladiators.

In their room they talked at length about both their fights and how it had changed them. They also talked about the future. About the fact that soon they would be separated when they were soled to different owner/masters. About the possibility that one day, they might have to face each other. If they did, they promised each other that they would do each other justice and fight like the champions they had become.

With that, they fell into each other's arms and enjoyed a night of pleasure. They made love like never before both knowing deep inside it was for the last time. They fell asleep in each other's arms, peaceful and content. Phalox had watched it all from his vantage point. He reported it to Ixalon and they agreed that the two boys were now men and ready to be sold to the highest bidder. And gems like them would sell for an extremely high price.

As the next day began, what Andros and Urius knew to be true, came true. They were told by Ixalon that this day there would be an auction and they would be sold. They wondered if they would ever see each other again and what their futures had in store for them. They hugged each other for the last time, they thought, and were separated in preparation for the auction.