The masked shirtless man that oversaw Uma's "match" did not send out flames to encircle her. The first round was over and all fifteen flames around the other participants were extinguished. Every participant stood in place, waiting for what would come next. Beatrice looked around and saw that Olivia did in fact make it past the first round unscathed.
"What a fine selection we have!" Thelicia said with some pride. "With most of the worthless trash out of the way, the true spectacle can begin!"
Many people cheered, mostly those that held the tickets in their hands for correctly picked winners of the first round.
"But to ensure that our participants will be in top form for the next round, we have allotted some time for them to rest and enjoy themselves!" Thelicia announced. "After all, who can tell how many will live past the next round? To achieve the best performance, we have found that it is necessary to give each participant something to remember.
"Listen up! You have all performed well enough to separate yourselves from the rabble and have earned a half hour's rest! Please follow the fine masked gentlemen who will take you to your temporary quarters. Oh, and don't forget to inform them of your preferences for a partner. Male or female! We've had a particularly great surge of capable and eager volunteers which guarantees no less than two for each victor!"
"Hell yeah!" Number Twenty-nine, the wolfkin who scored the first blood in this round, cheered, high on adrenaline, and excited for some bonus action.
"Would you prefer male or female partners?" a masked staff member asked Uma.
After staring absently back at the mask, Uma finally said, "One of each. As close to Aldrich and Ethel as possible."
"Participants Number Eight and Forty-nine?" the masked man asked. "We shall see what we can do. Come this way."
"Can we spend our time with one of the other participants?" Olivia asked her staff member.
"That is absolutely forbidden," the masked man answered.
"Oh," Olivia frowned. "Then… Two… Two male partners. With… huge veiny cocks."
"Follow me," the masked man guided Olivia.
"Would you prefer male or female partners?" a different, yet similar masked staff member asked Beatrice the same question.
"Ah… Female, I guess," Beatrice answered after a pause. 'Kill three people and earn sex for your reward', Beatrice translated the barbaric simplicity of what Thelicia just announced, even if it was a side bonus and not the main purpose of these games.
"Very well, this way," the masked man gestured toward a different bridge than the one by which Beatrice got to the arena.
One by one the victors were guided to one of the six bridges that led off the arena, toward the mysterious quarters.
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