Episode 3: Cruel Games (Part 1)
In the vast circular arena, an iron cage with visible bars stood isolated at the far end. Bloodstained weapons lay scattered across the grounds like morbid confetti.
The setup alone gave no indication of what was expected.
Karon quickly pressed his ear toward the spectator stands. Through his heightened hearing, whispers floated from various sections:
"Will we survive if we enter there?"
"Where are the beasts?"
Suddenly, vivid memories surfaced - the mountain of corpses and countless wounded bodies he'd seen while being herded in. Only then did Karon understand. They would unleash beasts to slaughter children entering the arena. Survival meant reaching that cage unharmed. His eyes narrowed to slits.
"Move! That iron cage is your only chance! Only those inside before it closes will survive! Run, you maggots!"
A spear-wielding soldier barked from behind. The children turned as one toward the cage, its gate now creaking downward from above.
"AAAAH!"
They stampeded forward without coordination - all except Karon, who stood rooted.
"WOOAH!"
The crowd erupted when children spilled into the arena, their roar vibrating the earth itself. Amidst the frenzy, Karon calmly scanned the walls.
Right on cue, hidden iron gates groaned open.
CRASH!
ROOOAR!
Lions. Wolves. Bears. Starved for days and maddened by blood-smear tactics, the beasts charged the panicking children. Nearly twenty froze in terror; some collapsed where they stood. A brave handful snatched fallen spears or shields, sprinting desperately toward the cage.
Predators instantly overwhelmed stragglers. Each torn limb and devoured head drew thunderous cheers. That's when Karon moved.
While beasts gorged at center stage, he sprinted along the perimeter. Wide circling would bring him to the opposite cage - if the carnage held their attention.
Neither beasts nor crowd noticed immediately. His presence had always been faint. Like a shadow-leopard, he ran silent and swift until his stamina wavered. As his pace flagged, beasts finished their feast and began hunting anew.
Soon they chased fleeing children - one wolf locking yellow eyes with Karon.
GRRRRL-
Electricity surged through his muscles. Every fiber fired in perfect sync as he instinctively adjusted his gait. His lagging speed doubled. Tripled. The distant cage grew larger.
"WOOAH!"
The crowd finally noticed, switching cheers to this unexpected contender.
SCREEEECH-
The iron gate descended toward closure. Ahead, leading children desperately fended off beasts with stolen weapons - unwitting shields for Karon's approach. But untrained youths stood no chance. They fell like wheat before scythes.
At the final moment-
SHHHK!
Karon slid through the narrowing gap as the last "shield" child was dragged screaming into jaws.
CLANG!
The gate sealed behind him. A pursuing wolf slammed against bars, howling frustration.
"Sa...save me..."
A bisected child crawled toward the cage on bloody stumps before collapsing.
"Hah...hah...hah..."
Karon exhaled jagged breaths, calming his hammering heart. He stared impassively at the twitching corpse before him, then surveyed his surroundings.
"WOOAH-"
"OOOH!!"
Thousands cheered their lone survivor. Twenty entered. One remained. Facing this grotesque celebration of child slaughter, Karon simply regulated his breathing and assessed.
Meanwhile in the Colosseum's highest tier,
a watcher observed with peculiar interest.
The Colosseum divided into five strata:
Top tier - royalty.
Upper - nobility.
Middle - wealthy commoners.
Lower - general populace.
Underground - slaves and outcasts.
Though front-row seats were aristocratic privileges, most high-ranking officials preferring upper tiers regardless.
In the nobles' section:
Marble-clad walls held silk-cushioned seats overlooking the arena. Every detail reflected the occupants' status - from chair carvings to segregated pleasure chambers behind the stands. These private rooms hosted saunas, bathhouses, and spaces for carnal indulgences.
In one such sauna, two naked men lounged while women serviced them with wine and mouths.
"This spectacle grows tedious."
"Indeed. The new event we're preparing-"
A lithe man burst in, dripping sweat.
"Councilor Montecorato! The match concluded."
The toad-like noble - Montecorato, Senate member and Colosseum overseer - didn't look up from his grape cluster. "Profit?"
The messenger hesitated. "All... lost."
"What?"
Montecorato's jowls quivered as he glared. "One child survived."
"Curse the gods!" He hurled his wine goblet, purple liquid splattering marble. "I wagered fortunes on total slaughter! Who claimed my coin?"
"C-Councilor Hiltern, sir."
"Blast that cretin! Where's the surviving whelp?"
"Below. The underground cells."
"Lead! I'll twist off its head myself! Summon the handlers too - their failure deserves public flaying!"
Descending through worsening stench, Montecorato marched past kneeling workers. All knew his reputation: a man who slaughtered humans more casually than livestock.
"Here, Councilor."
They stopped before a cell better suited for rabid dogs. Inside stood a boy shackled to walls.
"An actual child?" Montecorato sneered through his perfumed kerchief. "Open it."
CLICK!
He snatched the jailer's sword upon entering. The blade tip traced Karon's cheek, drawing crimson. No reaction.
"You cost me a warlord's ransom." The blade lowered to toes. "Let's see how long your silence lasts when-"
"Councilor Montecorato."
A clear voice rang out. Montecorato's smile turned syrupy as he hid the blade - poorly - behind his back.
Prince Mercia de Agrofon stood flanked by General Eugenia, her scarred face promising violence.
"You wouldn't execute a trial victor, surely?"
"Perish the thought, Your Highness! Merely... assessing his worth."
Eugenia stepped forward, armor clanking. "Who gave you leave to question royalty?"
Montecorato prostrated instantly. "Forgive my impertinence!"
"Rise." The prince's frosty tone matched winter winds. "Harm this boy, and prepare consequences."
As Montecorato retreated, his face contorted behind a bow.
(Fine. If I can't kill him... I'll send him to Palemon.)
The "Ant Hell" prison at empire's edge would finish what beasts couldn't. His lips curled upward, savoring the cruelty.
