The steel door in Kalika's new prison cell opened, waking her from sleep. She squinted her eyes a little to find Rakon and a demon woman wearing light armor with him. Like him, she had red skin with violet eyes and black hair.
"Is she the girl?" The woman gave a harsh look at Kalika. "Yes, now stop wasting any time."
"Tch!" The Woman was obviously not happy with the arrangement.
She grabbed Kalika holding her in both hands like a child. Kalika was confused but didn't fight back since she was still tired. They made their way through the corridor into a small chamber with some weapons.
"What's going on?" Kalika was still trying to wake up.
"Your debut of course. You'll need to be equipped if you're going to participate."
"Huh?" Kalika still didn't fully understand. The demon woman suddenly dropped her hard on her back. "Ow! Hey what was that for!!"
"I've done my part. I'm leaving" The woman started to take her leave.
"What a bitch." Kalika was pissed by the woman's behavior.
"Where are we?" Kalika started to look around intently. It was weird because she had never been taken out of her cell.
"We are in the castle's underground coliseum where our armies' men and generals come to unwind and enjoy the spectacles. From time to time, the king and queen come to enjoy the show, too."
"So, this is what he meant when he said debut yesterday…"
"I'm sure I don't need to explain any further. You are quite the smart human girl, after all." Rakon started to look through the weapons.
"If you want me to fight, I refuse. I'm not taking part in your stupid games." Kalika got up immediately.
Rakon now picked up a great big sword from one of the racks. He starts to examine it thoroughly as he responds. "It doesn't quite matter whether you agree or not. As the official prisoner of the Demon King, you are now under the rules of normal prisoners."
"W-what do you mean?" Kalika was taken aback.
"Did you really think you were under the same rules as a normal convict? Heh. No. every day, it's killed or be killed." Rakon threw the great big sword on the floor, grabbing another smaller sword. "Sometimes it's prisoner versus beast. Other times, it is against other prisoners, and on very rare occasions, the Demon King or the generals may also participate. Depending on the event and occasion, of course."
Kalika was surprised to hear this; she had never known that prisoners they detained were used as a source of entertainment.
"Screw this. I don't want anything to do with this!"
A firm hand then grasped Kalika's shoulder. She looked back to find the same demon woman that escorted her.
"I thought you were leaving to join the other Generals, Azar." Rakon put away the sword finally. "I returned because I wanted to see if the rumors were true." Azar curled a smile eyeing Kalika with much more interest.
"Yes, They are, but I'm sure you'll be able to witness it from the seats above just fine."
Kalika was starting to shake; she could feel that this demon woman wanted to kill her. It was the same killing intent Lillian gazed off before when she'd tortured her.
"Why wait when I can see for myself now." Azar squeezed on Kalika's shoulder harder as if readying to do something.
"You're still as impatient as always, Azar." This was Lillian's voice. She had just come from the dungeon corridor with Rhonda, whose head was down. Rhonda looked to be carrying something in a white cloth.
"Your… Majesty. What are you doing here?"
"I thought I'd come down to wish good luck to my little toy. After all, this is her debut, and I'd like her to understand how to play this game."
Azar retracted her hand from Kalika upon hearing this. "I see... May I be of assistance then?"
"No need. You may leave now." Lillian looked at the general menacingly. This took General Azar aback, but she simply excused herself and left.
"Heh. If you keep intimidating your allies like that, their loyalty will wane." Rakon was amused. He continued searching through the sets of weapons. Lillian paid no mind to the demon. She approached Kalika with Rhonda by her side.
Lillian was feeling a little awkward, and Kalika noticed. She finally decided to speak. "Going forward… you'll be living under some of the same rules as the normal convicts here. You'll have to fight hard every day if you ever want the bare necessities."
"But why can't I refuse!? I don't want to fight. I-I-I can't fight Lily!"
"And?" Lillian asked coldly.
"If you refuse now, how do you expect to eat? How do you expect to sleep? This is your new reality, Kalika. You will have to fight for yourself for the next fifteen years." Kalika was upset hearing these words. She clutched her hands in frustration, not wanting to believe a word from Lillian's mouth. Kalika's thoughts were interrupted when she heard blades clanging from behind.
Kalika turned around to find Rakon walking back to her and Lillian with several sets of swords. "I have a few weapons that might help you in your fights." Rakon presented one of his favorite-looking ones, which looked like blood dripping upwards to the blade's tip. "Might I suggest this one?"
"No need for those." Lillian gestured to Rhonda to come up, which she obliged. Rhonda opened the cloth, revealing a curved dagger with a red-stained blade and a black hilted handle. The Dagger also had some green and purple gemstones incorporated into the hilt and handle.
Kalika got closer to the blade, appreciating its design. She literally forgot about everyone around her and picked the blade with both hands from the white cloth Rhonda was still holding. The dagger started to glow a little before Kalika started to feel much more drained.
"Pity, it looks like you've just contracted your weapon of choice." Rakon was slightly disappointed.
"Huh. Wait, what do you mean?" Kalika was confused by the sudden reaction from the demon.
He started to put away the swords before explaining. "All these weapons are blood blades or what your kin have been calling 'Demon blades'. Once you've contracted with one of these weapons, you'll be unable to attack other people with anything other than the contracted weapon. And vice versa."
Kalika was slightly amazed by this, as it was something she never would have thought possible. She then returned to the blade, looking at it more curiously.
"I had it specially made for you. It was meant to be a gift once the war was over."
The Reminder about the ongoing invasion left a bitter taste in Kalika's mouth, although she had no power to do anything. Rakon pulled Kalika out of her thoughts. "Your match will be ready soon, and Lillian might want to get seated."
"Well said. Good luck Kalika." Lillian started to take her leave. Still looking upset, Rhonda gave a bow before taking her leave as well. Kalika noticed that this entire time Rhonda had refused to look at her. But she didn't care much about it, after all she isn't entitled to be liked by the girl.
Other guards soon joined them as Kalika continued holding onto this new dagger. "Don't get any bright ideas now," Rakon whispered.
"I know. I'm not stupid."
"It's truly a pity I was hoping to speak with you much more in private, but it seems that it'll have to wait." Rakon was slipping the mask off a little. He went back into character. "Alright. It'll be just this way."
Kalika followed behind, still unsure how to feel about having to now fight in a death match.
********
Elsewhere in the underground coliseum, there were many demons of assorted blue and red colors. They were settled along some of the rough stone seats and seemed to be conversing about the rumored immortal girl. At the far-off side of the coliseum was a perched balcony where four of the five generals were waiting.
Among the demon generals waiting was Bjorn, who was taking up much of the space, and three other demons, two of which had blue skin. And another red-skinned demon who is keeping his distance from the others. Not too far is the Demon King Lucius, who was pondering to himself.
The two blue demon generals were twin brothers. One of them had white hair while the other had black hair. They were placing bets and wagers on the outcome of the debut match. Both of them fit, with the only armor on them, loosely hanging on their waist and shoulder. The demon with black hair started to raise his voice. "Forget about it Ek! Even if she can't die, it doesn't mean she can lose this."
"Come on, Kel! You're telling me that she's gonna win!? In your dreams!"
"Just shut it already, you two!" The demon from the far side was getting annoyed by the bickering. This Demon was also well-built. He had snow-white hair and blue eyes.
"C'mon, Jala, you're telling us you're not the least bit interested in the girl!?" The demon general Kel was getting annoyed.
"That's right. Even if the girl can't die, she's still a useless human. She's probably only good for entertainment."
Bjorn decided to join the conversation. "I have to agree with Jala. I've met the girl myself. She's quite the fragile thing. I could understand why she was locked away in the dungeon."
Kel was getting frustrated, outnumbered in opinion. "Really now. You guys have no imagination."
Kel then saw Azar entering the gallery and started to get excited. "Azar, Honey! You made it!"
"Quiet welp!" Azar wasn't up for any conversation, likely frustrated by the queen's earlier interruption. Kel couldn't help but be very disappointed.
Ek, his brother and Lucius were chuckling at this exchange as their own little source of entertainment.
"We've been securing the border for three years, and that's what you give me." Kel was starting to complain to Azar. "It's not like doing that stuff is easy, you know; a good hello goes a long way!"
"Just ignore my brother Az. Still as lovesick as always." Ek put his brother in a chokehold. "S-Shut up, Ek!" Kel was getting annoyed.
Azar simply looked at them with a harsh gaze before responding herself. "How far have you two gotten with securing the border anyway?" She seemed to have ignored the last part.
"If I'm not mistaken, the borders were almost secured." Lucius joined the conversation, to the surprise of the generals.
"Y-yes. We just have some land in the west we need to finish fortifying." Kel seemed a little nervous.
"That's good to hear. The sooner the borders are locked down, the sooner we can begin our invasion of the West. Isn't that right, your highness?" Azar kept looking forward to the coliseum.
"Yes… It took longer than I anticipated, but it is still only a matter of time before they all fall.
Then this country will be ours." "That's a day I look forward to," Bjorn added.
"What did I miss?" Lillian seemed to have finally arrived.
"Ah, Lillian. You didn't miss a thing. We were actually talking about the war." Lucius seemed to become much happier seeing Lillian.
"I see," Lillian took her seat by Lucius.
Lucius soon signaled to the guard with his hand that they were ready for the action. The guard then passed the message to start the match.
"So, who is she fighting for her debut?' Lillian Asked.
"Oh. Didn't Rakon Tell you? She's fighting one of those bandits we caught a few years back. A real scum of a man really… I'm sure Kalika will be appreciative." Lucius smiled as they waited for Kalika and the bandit to enter the ring.
Kalika stood alone at the entrance of the coliseum ring, trembling in fear. She remembered a few moments ago as Rakon told her who the opponent was.
********
Kalika was still walking with Rakon, standing shoulder to shoulder with her as guards walked behind them. Kalika was nervous, and it was visible to everyone there.
"Would you like to know who your opponent is?"
Kalika took a moment to herself before responding. "Y-yeah. Who's my opponent?" "Well, you're mistaken if you think it's one of your kin. You won't even have to fight against some of our beasts."
"So, it's another one of your prisoners?"
"You're quite the smart girl, " Rakon said almost mockingly. He then got closer to Kalika's ear to whisper something. He even used his hands to keep the guards from reading his lips. Kalika's eyes widened in absolute shock, and she started trembling from fear.
Rakon simply gave a smile.
"O-ho. Is that a crack I'm seeing? " Rakon started taunting Kalika. Kalika, seeing this, tried to hide her own fear and deny this demon his satisfaction.
********
Kalika watched as the caged door opened, with the guard on the other side. She tried to muster up whatever courage she could and control her trembling hands.
"There's no way what that demon said was true!"
An image of Rakon's satisfied expression rans through Kalika's head.
Kalika entered the arena with her dagger and a man dressed in prisoner's clothes carrying a broadsword. Kalika shuddered a little as she looked at the man's body and face. The man had gray-stained black hair and a huge scar across his face. His body was also riddled with scars and cuts.
According to Rakon, Kalika's first opponent was a murderer who stalked the street to kill and violate women. The man excitedly looked down at Kalika, with obvious dark intent.
Kalika held her new red dagger with both hands, posing it for use. For the first time in Kalika's life, she has to take the life of a man with her own hands. And all for the pure enjoyment of the demons watching them.