Pulley-operated, mechanical-lifts descend into the earth below the Arena. The Abandoned Mines pre-date the Galactic Empire by thousands of years. Once used as mining routes, the long forgotten network of interconnecting tunnels has held stalwart against the sands of time. After exiting, the lift begins its retreat back to the surface. Sporadic crystals protrude from the walls to quietly radiate ochre light like naturally-forming torches. The small alcove gives birth to a maze of wide tunnels supported by old, steadfast wooden beams.The tunnels spider and split off into various directions, some leading to dead ends while others ultimately lead back to the central Mining Shaft.

The central Mining Shaft is square pit that descends into a deep pit that radiates a luminescent, cerulean glow from the horde of crystalized shards still growing below. The air hangs with a cool, windless chill. Stone stalactites hang ominously overhead, flanked by jagged jutters of rock and sediment that line the ascending walls.

To reach the surface, blocks of stone wide enough for two humans to stand side by side on, shift back and forth in a combination of a lateral and ascending patterns. Each cubic platform is controlled by a mechanical pulley and each cubic platform will eventually pass close enough to step over to another. The spacing and timing is not attuned to any formal pattern, giving equal balance to both Force users and Mundanes. Whatever your talents, the shifting cubes are the only way to ascend back to the Arena.

Holocam Drones flit about the caverns, recording a live video feed that is transmitted back up towards the surface and projected over two large holodisplays for the crowd to observe. Progress will be watched as members are tried and tested.

The Grand Master’s only concern is the resourcefulness and resilience of his members. Reaching the surface will be no easy task, and doing so will be the only way for fighters to move forward in the Tournament.

Squeaks could be heard as the mechanical lift pulled away. On the bottom Mining Shaft stood Frosty and Terran, looking up at the lift that was pulling away.

“We’re in deep now!” said the Seer scouting the massive the massive shaft.

“Indeed!” responded the Battlelord as he was looking around himself.

“How about we take two hundred steps in opposite direction… After that it is ‘game on’!” asked the Kiffar.

“I agree. As allies, I will respect this agreement and wish that the best man win.” retorted the Dashade.

Frosty hailed from Tarentum and was a respected member of said Clan. He was part of the upper nobility as a Tarentae and at that time held the position of Clan Rollmaster. His opponent, Terran Koul was the Aedile of House Qel-Droma from Clan Arcona. Their clans have always maintained ally status and respected each other. It was nothing different for these respective members to uphold the values of said inter clan relationship.

Frosty turned around and proceeded walking towards the nearest tunnel. Terran turned around in place and did the same thing.

While walking both combatants gazed at the natural architecture of the Mining Shaft. Flooded by a cerulean light that radiated from the crystalized shards that grew from the walls the mine looked alien even to a seasoned veteran like Frosty. The chill atmosphere was to his liking though, as he knew that he was going to have to break a sweat later on to get on top.

As soon as Frosty got inside the cave and made the two hundred and first step he started running. He needed to find out where this particular tunnel lead and if it would help him get closed to to Terran.

Upon his first look on Terran Koul he knew that the Kiffar’s arsenal surpassed his. Frosty couldn’t try to climb up because he would have been shot down. His only chance was to take out Terran Koul before he started his climb.

Frosty ran until he heard a noise echoing through the tunnel. He paused and started listening. The Dashade crouched and concentrated trying to feel his opponent through The Force.

On the other side, Terran Koul already sensed his opponent through The Force and planted a Thermal Detonator on the ground hidden between some rocks.

“This should give me a head start”, though The Seer as soon as he finished his task.

Terran Koul ran towards the main Mining Shaft. As soon as he left the tunnel he heard the explosion ripple through the walls and ground. Dust blew from the tunnel forcing Terran Koul to protect his eyes.

“Right. I’ll think I will start my journey to the top.” said the Seer as he gazed at blocks of stones leading upwards.

“He’s crazy if he thinks that little detonator could take me out,” though Frosty as he dusted of cloak. Seeing it was a futile gesture he decided to discard it. Frosty managed to avoid the blast by outrunning it. He heard the timer starting and used The Force to run as fast as possible.

Outside the tunnel he saw Terran making a run for hit.

Frosty charged head on and ignited his saber. Surprised the Seer grabbed one of his blaster pistols and started firing away. The Dashade deflected all of them to the ground.

Seeing the futility of his actions. Terran holstered his gun and ignited his saber preparing for the duel.

The two clashed sabers. Frosty started with a flurry of vicious attacks. Each saber hit was caught by his opponent. Terran could feel each blow throughout his whole body.

The Battlelord’s crimson saber crashed against Terran’s ochre blade, flashing blindingly in the cavern’s dim light. The Kiffar quick-stepped backwards, angling his lightsaber downward and forcing the locked blades towards the cavern’s stone floor. The pair of plasma pillars ploughed through the granite, their sheer momentum cutting furrows in the ancient stone, and Terran quickly deactivated his blade before backflipping away from his Tarentae foe, the Gray Jedi’s chestnut duster flaring around him.

As the Sith growled and muscled his saber from the stone, the Arconan shook his head in an attempt to clear it. For a moment there, the sheer ferocity of the Dashade’s attack had threatened to overwhelm Terran. He had felt the stirrings of panic in his gut, though whether from fear for his life or fear of embarrassment, he couldn’t be certain. Whatever the cause, the sensation had jarred the normally unflappable Arcanist, and he did what he always did in such situations - he drew his blaster with his free hand and started shooting.

A hail of golden bolts peppered the air around the Tarenti, scoring the mine’s walls and forcing Frosty to backpedal. Terran’s eyes scanned the mineshaft, searching for a distraction as the Juggernaut’s crimson blade batted away the volley of stun blasts. He couldn’t keep him pinned down for long - not without drawing his second blaster - and the Kiffar knew putting away his lightsaber at this point was tantamount to suicide, no matter what the trial’s rules stated. Swatting away the last bolt, Frosty began to stride towards Terran and the Kiffar fired another half dozen blasts towards the Dashade. A riot of color dazzled the Arconan’s eyes as a growth of ochre crystal halfway between the combatants refracted the golden light, scattering it back at the pair.

Terran leaped backwards with a grin, thumb striking the actuator on his saber’s hilt. The blade snap-hissed to life and the Kiffar waggled it tauntingly at the Tarentae, beckoning him forward.

“No more games,” urged the Dashade, his guttural tones echoing off the tunnel’s rocky walls as he closed the distance to the Kiffar.

“Well…” murmured the Gray Jedi, quirking a half smile as he watched the behemoth’s hulking stride eat the distance between them, “maybe just one more.”

Terran flicked a switch on the WESTAR-35’s grip, stretching outward with his mind as he met the Tarenti’s red-orange stare, and fired. A streak of cobalt cut the air, missing the Dashade by a meter, and the creature’s mouth opened in a sharp-toothed grin. Then the ochre shard on the wall shattered into a shower of silica. The Sith flinched away from the sound, raising his mechanical hand to protect his eyes even as the Kiffar pushed the cloud of tiny crystalline bullets towards the black- and blue-clad beast. Many of the improvised missiles deflected harmlessly off at odd angles, or missed the Tarentae entirely, but over a dozen connected, shredding garments and skin alike. They raked through Frosty’s flesh, painting his ashen skin with rivulets of red and ripping a snarl of pain from his beastly visage as Terran turned and darted down the tunnel, hoping it led back towards the mine’s central shaft.

Sure Isshwarr, this was a great idea, the Kiffar thought to himself as he ducked down a side passage at random. I’m sure the high and blindy one will really appreciate me volunteering to get slaughtered. He growled under his breath as he took another turn, the mountainous thump of the Dashade’s boots filling the earthen corridor behind him. I swear, when I get back home, I’m gonna shave that kriffin' Wookiee for talking me into this!

As soon as Terran finished his thought, the sounds of Frosty’s boot thumps intensified. The Dashade smashed through a stalactite with a shoulder dash before pouncing on The Kiffar. He grabbed the Seer and clawed him with his metal hand.

Suddenly, a scream of pain echoed through the wall of the tunnel as blood gashed out of Arconan’s right shoulder; Terran shoved Frosty with an elbow swing, trying to restore balance in the battle. The two combatants quickly got up on their feet and clashed sabers once more. Despite the fact that they were both injured and bleeding, their marvellous duel continued with flurries of attacks and parries.

Over time, Frosty’s more powerful and faster attacks proved stronger. He faked a swing from the left, continued with a risky yet very efficient thrust and obliged Terran to step sideways. Consequently, the Battlelord took advantage of this position and swept Teran’s legs with a kick down low. By the time The Seer fell down, Frosty swung his saber cutting both legs of The Kiffar.

Terran Koul screamed in pain; he desperately tried to hold his composure and use the Force to alleviate his suffering but his injuries were far too great.

“You have fought bravely, Arconan, but the outcome was obvious!” said Frosty looking down on the wounded opponent.

Frosty turned around and started walking towards the exit of the tunnel, cutting the pillars that were supporting the structure with his lightsaber.

“Where do you think you’re going?” asked the struggling Seer as he grabbed the Glop Grenade on his belt and tossed it at Frosty with his last strength.

Frosty could hear the beep of the grenade becoming noisier and noisier. He turned around to be surprised by the blast, sticking him in place unable to move or use his saber.

The tunnel trembled and shook as it lost its supporting pillars. Frosty made a mistake and he knew it.

The Dashade tried to free himself but it was too late. The entire tunnel fell down on him and Terran Koul. It was a defeat for both combatants and a major loss for Tarentum and Arcona.

The watching crowd on top of the Mine was in shock as the Holocam Drones relayed all of the events.

The Combat Master sighed as he prepared to make the final announcement. The Grand Master's Invitational Tournament concluded in surprise for this battle. He wondered if the other battles would yield such shocking results also.