The Gauntlet (Born to the Blade Season 1 Episode 4)

This is the fourth episode in the first season of Born to the Blade, an eleven-episode serial from Serial Box. This episode is written by Michael R. Underwood.

The time has come for Kris Denn of Rumika to challenge for their place in the Warders Circle of Twaa-Fei, adding a seventh voice to the nations dedicated to keeping a fragile peace through diplomacy and duels rather than war and death. Kris must face all six warders in the dueling circle and either win over four of them or, in defeat, earn their respect and support. Kris has spent their time on the sky islands of Twaa-Fei seeking alliances, forming a strong bond with Warder Ojo Kante of Quloo, whose nation needs Rumika's precious aerstone to stay afloat. Ojo defeats Kris in the first duel, but gives his backing. After series of wins and losses, including a brutal defeat by Warder Lavinia Junius of the Mertikan Empire, it comes down to a final bout with Junior Warder Oda no Michiko of Kakute. She is at war with herself, under pressure from her imperial master, Lavinia, to win, and from her grandfather's ghost, The Golden Lord executed by Lavinia's hand, to lose and deal a defeat to the empire. What she decides will irrevocably set the course of the future.