"She wasn't lying. I'm a bit happy. He survived, even with his stupidity. Maybe, just maybe, I could have watched over him for a bit longer. There's no point. Eventually, he would die and leave me alone again, like all the rest did. What a terrible fate. What terrible monsters these humas are. Why put him against me? There are many others that can be put, others that can't wait to leave this world. This is just sending him to an early grave, but she said he could kill me, huh? So he's at that level already, the level of helping to cull the population. Putting old captives against new, young, and more powerful ones. People who chose death have their rewards against each other, or has that become useless to fight to the death? There are several more instances through which the population is controlled. Though, there are times in which the old still wins. Wisdom and technique of the old is not something that can be taken for granted, but that doesn't mean they couldn't succumb to their injuries.
I remember the only old captive I ever lost to. He spared me in that battle.
Though it is called a death match, in reality, the winner can spare the loser, but that almost never happens. The benefit from winning and ending the life of your opponent is too great. That is how I have been free from experiment for a long time, just laze around in my cell and even get your wish of death. Peace, what a reward. What reward did they offer you to come smiling so deviously, Miret? Freedom from experiment for a long while. That reward always works, or was it food, knowing you? Whatever it is, come show me. Show me the results of the starter experiment. And so, I took my first step into the arena."
…
I was still confused, but after a series of emotions flashed across his face, the last to settle on it was a smile—a smile of expectation, this is IQ120, the man who seeks death to free himself from this hell.
"Lately, I haven't thought of this place as hell as much, with the time I am usually given to heal a bit mentally and the food I am given here is nothing like I have ever tasted before. To me, this place is not that bad with those."
"I turn to look at Kiko standing beside me.
"Can I call this battle off? If I declare myself the loser, am I going to get killed?" I asked.
"No, you won't, but you will lose all the benefits for participating and the winner of the match. Remember, this is what IQ120 wants. He wants you to free him from this world. He wants it as a glorious battle to the end," she paused.
"Won't you grant him his wish?" She left me with a mind-boggling question. As I closed my eyes for a moment, opening them with resolve.
Convinced this was IQ120's wish, I also took a step inside the wide arena, separated by a hundred and fifty meters apart.
We looked at each other, resolve shining in both our eyes.
"Show me your strength. Should you fail, I would still spare you," Tsira thought.
"I shall grant you your wish as swiftly and painless as possible," Miret thought.
With the sound of a whistle, they vanished.