"A human?"
Even the typically stoic face of the red dragon couldn't hide a flicker of surprise at this announcement.
"Correct. Complete this duel, and this bag of coins is yours," the portly manager said with rare seriousness, pointing to a hefty money bag held by someone behind him.
The red dragon approached to inspect the bag, then slowly nodded in agreement.
...
"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the Imperial Arena. Thank you for your patience! The much-anticipated duel will begin shortly..."
Ignoring the announcer's fervent, impassioned introduction, Smolder emerged from the iron gate, narrowing its eyes as it slowly approached the gladiator standing opposite.
The gladiator, bare-chested and formidable, stood not much shorter than the current stature of the red dragon. It was said that with just an ordinary long-sword and shield, he had slain numerous fierce beasts. The scent of blood on him seemed to momentarily overpower Smolder.
Of course, Smolder was no herbivore. Having defeated many wild beasts and even magical creatures in the arena, this was its first encounter with such an adversary, and it was not to be underestimated.
With a sonorous and prolonged dragon's roar, the noisy arena fell into a sudden hush. Pleased with this effect, Smolder lowered its body and circled to the gladiator's side, looking for any vulnerability.
The gladiator moved, leaping forward with a sword strike aimed at Smolder's seemingly fragile neck. A clang resounded as the sword was repelled—Smolder had timely raised its hard dragon claw to block the powerful blow.
Before the dragon could retaliate, the gladiator rolled away, distancing himself. The initial attack was merely a probe; the real battle was just beginning!
Smolder's demeanor darkened. The gladiator's strength was formidable, yet insufficient against a dragon. However, his speed posed a genuine threat to Smolder.
The main threat came from the ordinary iron long-sword. As long as Smolder could guard against this weapon, it believed victory was assured.
After a brief standoff, Smolder suddenly spun, lashing out with its hefty tail. The gladiator dodged the strike by bending low, then countered with a slash towards Smolder's hind leg.
Smolder lifted its leg to avoid the blow and swiftly countered with its rear claw. The gladiator dodged again, but not quickly enough, receiving a shallow, several-centimeter deep gash on his waist.
Stabilizing himself, the gladiator watched as Smolder turned and lunged at him. He dodged backward, letting the dragon overshoot, then leaped onto Smolder's back, sword raised for a downward strike.
Enraged, Smolder executed a powerful backflip before the sword could descend, forcing the gladiator to roll away from its back.
With a thunderous crash, Smolder's back made a close acquaintance with the ground. The gladiator's timely escape prevented him from being crushed.
Such dangerous maneuvers are typically avoided by dragons to prevent wing injury. Smolder, lacking such concerns, chose the most effective method to dislodge the enemy on its back.
Smolder rose, facing another stab from the gladiator. The angle was poor, allowing the dragon scales to deflect the sword. Smolder swatted towards the gladiator's head with its paw, which was blocked by the shield. The force sent the gladiator stumbling back, his shield dented significantly.
After catching their breath, Smolder and the gladiator engaged once more. Spotting an opening, the gladiator ducked under Smolder, delivering an upward slash.
Smolder roared in anger—it was wounded! A massive paw stomped down, but the gladiator rolled away, narrowly avoiding being crushed.
One drop, then two, of crimson dragon blood fell to the ground, quickly halting due to Smolder's regenerative abilities. Such wounds were trivial for a dragon.
Injured, Smolder seemed to move faster, forcing the gladiator to dodge repeatedly. After several exchanges, the gladiator managed to inflict another wound on Smolder.
Taking a deep breath, Smolder acknowledged that a few cuts were inconsequential for a dragon, yet, being young and smaller in size, it couldn't afford to lose control to rage.
Regaining its composure increased the pressure on the gladiator, who had to block several heavy strikes with his shield, which finally shattered under the strain.
The arena erupted in cheers, but the combatants, as if deaf to the noise, continued their duel. The gladiator roared, lifting his sword for a decisive strike at Smolder's head. Smolder didn't flinch, instead lunging forward to catch the sword mid-strike with its teeth.
The gladiator's shock was palpable as the sword was firmly held by Smolder's teeth, rendering it unrecoverable. He let go of his weapon and retreated.
With a crunch, the sword broke into several pieces, falling powerlessly to the ground.
Smolder displayed a victor's grin, not pursuing the attack but instead watching as the disarmed opponent charged, landing a futile punch on the dragon's chest.
Unmoved, Smolder's retaliatory slap sent the gladiator flying, a spray of blood marking his trajectory. He struggled briefly before lying still, unable to rise again. The crowd's reaction was explosive, with continuous cheers and thrown items filling the air.
Smolder glanced around, then nonchalantly made its way back to the entrance.
"The duel was magnificent, Lord Smolder, I..." the portly manager appeared, resuming his obsequious demeanor.
Smolder eyed him, motioning with a "hand it over" gesture.
"Yes, yes, of course." Hastily, the manager produced the previously seen money bag, placing it in Smolder's claw.
After counting the contents, Smolder inquired, "Who was that gladiator?"
"I'm just a minor manager, responsible for arranging the duels. I'm not well-informed about him," the manager said with a wink. "I heard if he won one more duel, he could have regained his freedom..."
Acknowledging this, Smolder picked up the money bag, shook its body, and strutted out.
The arena served as Smolder's training ground during its free time, a place where it, like any dragon, honed its skills through countless battles. Although Smolder's situation was somewhat unique among dragons, it saw no reason to deviate from this path. Moreover, earning gleaming gold coins was a bonus, a win-win situation indeed.