We finally reached the entrance to the arena, a huge complex, Ri had told me it was elliptical in shape, but from how big it was you didn't even notice the fact that it was curved.
It occurred to me to try to escape from her, however, even if I did, where would I go? Where would I hide? Besides, I didn't even have any food or water with me. I, therefore, decided to continue following her.
The outer wall of the Arena was actually a huge screen that continuously aired the highlights of the day's clashes.
Ri led the way, a spacious iron arch decorated recalling the Renaissance churches, opened to a huge space, formed by various areas as large as basketball courts or more, and numerous stands. There were screens that came down as if from nowhere, you could not see a ceiling, which broadcast the scores, rankings, and highlights.
"Souè Souè Souè!"
Inside, the enthusiasm of the fans in the stands was incredible, the energy they created was comparable to that of the fans during a World Cup final.
"Ah"
I was speechless, Ri smiled, somewhat proud.
"But, why are they screaming Souè?"
I had to scream to make myself heard.
"Mmh? Souè? Well it's our way of saying "Come on!" or anyway a way to support those who are fighting, however, if this seems incredible to you, wait until you see the game of towers "
'What does that mean ?!'
However there was one more thing I couldn't understand about ring fights, the people fighting there seemed to be using powers, or magic, or something fantastic, I rubbed my eyes several times, I thought I was hallucinating. I didn't ask Ri, thinking they were only fruit of my still not entirely healthy mind.
Much higher than us there was a network of bridges in wrought iron that felt like stone that led to the various sections of the arena, there was also an ultra-fast underground shuttle, to move we used the bridges, Ri wanted me to enjoy all the splendor inside the arena.
"Here we are, we're almost there"
I began to glimpse towers in the distance, in medieval styles, such as those seen in castles in England or France. In addition to the towers, you could see a dirt road that connected all the towers with groves on the side.
"Wow"
"Oh, I see you're enjoying what you see ..."
More than enjoying, it left me bewildered and fascinated.
"Usually, due to the size in which this game develops, it is seen more via streaming than in presence, or in semi-presence"
"Semi-presence?"
"It means through a more immersive technology than streaming, it's like you're experiencing the scene firsthand but, in reality, you're not really there."
We had arrived at a more central point of the battlefield, you could see people fighting with weapons and ...
"Magic?"
"Mmh? Hehe, well sort of, let's say we've unlocked dormant powers in them ... "
" So I too …"
"Well, of course, all living beings have "sleeping" powers within them, in reality, your power has already been awakened in you, maybe now you don't feel them yet because you have recently been awake ... "
'Really ?!'
"Anyway, does this game remind you of something?"
"Mmh ... now that you mention it to me ... it's a moba-style game ... maybe ..."
"Exactly, many of the games we offer derive from your videogames"
"The "game of Towers" in particular consists of a lane with 3 towers to be protected for team, the teams, red and blue, are made up of 4 gladiators each, the goal is to destroy all the opposing towers, these towers periodically launch a beam against an opposing player who is within his range, this beam takes away 500hp, if one is skilled enough he can also avoid it; bombs are provided to destroy the towers, 1 every 30 seconds, ten bombs are needed to knock a tower down and when you die you drop all the bombs in possession, also see… "
She pointed to our right.
"From there, once in a match a legendary weapon is spawned, to get it you have to stay within 1 meter of it for 1 minute.
While on our left, in that circular area, it can randomly spawn a ground dragon, if it is killed by a team, it will respawn as their ally; in addition, even weaker monsters randomly spawn on the battlefield, by killing them you can get bonus bombs, shields or Hp. "
"..."
"I see you worried ... is it because I said" when you die… "?"
"... Yes"
'Was it that obvious?'
"Don't worry, you are not really going to die, when a gladiator's HP reaches 0, it means that they are one step away from real death, so they are given immunity and they are teleported to the base, you see that circular area before the first tower? Well, anyway every time you "die" you will have an increasing respawn time. "
I had received a lot of information, but having played games like Lol or Dota in the past, I was able to understand pretty much everything. I was partly excited to try these "games" however… was it possible that there were no downsides to being a gladiator? Well besides being under the control of the Slters …
At that moment, a very important thing still did not occur to me: even if I didn't die fighting, I would've still felt pain.
"But is there a way to really die playing?"
She smiled slightly.
"No, here you do not risk dying, however by playing you gain or lose Fame Points, or FP, if you get to -100 FP, your powers will be blocked and you will be sent to some mine in some moon scattered in the universe, so, if I have to give you an advice, 100% committed "
We finished watching the match, the red team won, it was really crazy, just looking at them made me want to "play" too.
'Maybe I'm a fool, but my heart is really beating very strongly with excitement'
Subsequently, Ri led me to take me to my new accommodation, it was a room, like those of a three-star hotel but with a futuristic character, with a prevalence of colors white, gray, and black, it was a little "boring", if I had to have my say.
There was a bed, a wardrobe, and a desk with a chair, nothing else, not even a window or a picture of any kind.
I tried to open the wardrobe, there were 5 other suits identical to the one I was wearing at the time.
"Now rest, tomorrow morning I will tell you everything that will help you from here on out ..."
"But you, then, are you a kind of manager of mine, or something like that?"
"Well, let's say yes, actually, to be honest with you, you are the first gladiator I manage ... but I can assure you that I have studied hard for this and that I will help you get to the top of the arena, well goodnight."
I didn't know if it was good or bad, but it's not like I could complain to anyone about it, a day so full of new information… my head was about to burst.
I said goodnight and went straight to bed.