Balin the Invincible, an amnesiac “Tantris,” and a lovesick Isolde all advance to the quarterfinals as the first day of the Annwfyn Gladiatorial Festival's direct elimination round draws to a close. Few notice, however, when disaster strikes that night, with Diodora awakening his terrible power of Despair. The second day of the tournament dawns, yet ominous clouds shroud the arena where Nasiens, Gawain, and Isolde must fight their next matches…
