The moment Kaleb was tossed into the arena, the oppressive atmosphere of the pits hit him. The stench of sweat and blood was suffocating.
"Ladies and gentlemen!" a
A mans voice rang out, filled with sadistic glee as the crowd erupted in cheers .
"Welcome to tonight's main event! Back by popular demand, today we have a cage match, where two men will enter, but only one lucky soul will walk out alive!"
the crowd cheered.
"In this corner, we have a slave thrown into the lion's den without a chance!"
Laughter spread through, the crowd jeering at the underdog they'd already written off.
"And in the other corner,"
The announcer's voice dropped as the atmosphere shifted, becoming electric with excitement.
"A man who has crushed every opponent with his bare hands, a towering beast feared by all! He needs no introduction, but I'll give him one anyway! I present to you... Gorok!"
A massive man stepped into the light, flexing his muscles as the crowd cheered wildly. The arena erupted as cheers and chants for Gorok filled the air, their excitement for bloodshed palpable.
As the crowd roared, Gorok's lips curled into a wicked grin, his eyes gleaming with excitement. The look on his face was one of pure, unfiltered delight, a predator about to play with its prey.
"Two men enter... only one will leave alive! Place your bets, folks, it's going to be a bloody one!
The crowd's jeers got louder and louder as they awaited the spectacle. With the odds stacked against him, Kaleb's stomach churned with fear as Gorok took his first step forward, ready to devour the challenge ahead.
Stood in the ring, and his heart raced. He racked his brain, a desperate attempt to cling to any shred of hope amidst the overwhelming fear.
Flashing back he recalled the little fighting experience he had. Time spent in the, practicing kicks, grapples, and throws, in an attempt to find something to excite him.
Kaleb looked up at Gorok, his frame casting a daunting shadow over him. His muscles bulged, each one a testament to his countless fights. Kaleb, in stark contrast, trembled with fear. He had a trained body, but his physique now seemed feeble against the power before him.
Overshadowed by the brutal reality of his current predicament his past training seemed woefully inadequate facing the monstrous figure before him.
Kaleb could feel the pressure crushing him, the atmosphere thick with anticipation and bloodlust. The announcer stepped back, letting the tension hang in the air for a moment.
"Let the match begin!"
From the very beginning, it was clear that technique alone wouldn't save him. The first strike came fast and hard, a punch that could have shattered his skull had Kaleb not instinctively ducked.
The brute charged at him again, fists swinging. But in that moment, something clicked. His mind raced, not with fear, but with focus. He couldn't possibly match his opponent's raw power, but he could use his speed and wits to avoid the blows.
Kaleb dodged and weaved, barely slipping past each attack as his body still ached from the sleepless nights of work and the numerous beatings he received. With a newfound sense of awareness, the brute's movements were powerful but slow.
Kaleb's instincts told him that he needed to be quicker, more agile, but his injured body could not handle the strain much longer. He ducked another swing, stepping to the side, and for a brief moment, he saw a faint glow around the brute's fists.
Distracted, the next blow came from nowhere, hitting him square in the jaw and sending him tumbling back into the cage.
The crowd roared in excitement, demanding more.
Gorok smirked, flexing his muscles as the strange glow around him intensified. He rained down punch after punch on Kaleb each one carrying a bone-jarring force, giving Kaleb no room to maneuver and no time to think.
It became clear that he was drawing on some internal force to enhance his power.
'I can't keep this up' Kaleb thought, desperately trying to block despite the overwhelming force. 'I need to find an opening, something—anything.'
Gorok halted his barrage, rising to his feet to face the crowd. He flexed his muscles, basking in their praise.
"What is this pathetic excuse for a fighter!" Gorok shouted, his voice echoing through the arena. "He can barely take a hit!"
In that moment, Kaleb felt a spark within himself, a flicker of energy deep inside, something he had never felt before.
'what is this' he thought, before comparing it to the aura around Gorok.
He focused, trying to tap into that feeling, and soon felt his body respond. He rose to his feet, his senses sharper, though he was still bruised and battered, he felt strength overflowing within himself.
The fight continued as Gorok charged forward once more, throwing punch after punch, but Kaleb dodged each one with precision. Gorok's strikes no longer seemed difficult to avoid.
Kaleb could feel the power making him faster.
"Stop squirming around like a damn cockroach!" Gorok roared, his face twisted in rage.
Enraged by his opponents new found speed Gorok concentrated all the energy into his fist and punched the ground with all his strength, sending a tremor through the the ground causing Kaleb to lose his footing.
The crowd's cheers grew louder, feeding off Gorok's display of power.
Convinced of his victory, Gorok gathered the rest of the strange glow into his fist and lunging at Kaleb.
Kaleb smirked as he sidestepped the massive punch. Now overextended and vulnerable, Kaleb saw his opening. And just like Gorok had done earlier, he gathered all of the strange power within him into his fist and struck the brute with everything he had.
The crowd roared in disbelief as Kaleb pressed the attack.
"How did you.."
He was interrupted as Kaleb pressed his advantage, weaving in and out of range, landing quick, precise strikes, each one although enhanced, lacking the power to take him down.
But witheach hit accumulating damage, it was only a matter of time.
Kaleb's body moved with a fluidity he hadn't known was possible.
With a burst of speed, Kaleb delivered a powerful blow to Gorok's chest, sending him flying across the ring before falling to the ground.
The arena fell silent for a moment waiting for Gorok to rise to his feet, but he didn't, the announcer looking on in disbelief went in to check on his state.
'Can you believe it, folks? It's an upset! The slave boy... has won!"
The crowd erupted into cheers. Kaleb stood, panting, his body shaking from exhaustion, but he couldn't care less, had won, no, he had survived.
As the adrenaline began to fade, a heavy, suffocating weight settled in Kaleb's chest as the guards rushed into the ring and dragged him away. The cheers felt distant now, drowned out by the whirlwind of thoughts crashing through his mind.
The victory, if it could even be called that, felt hollow. He had won yes, but in doing that he lost something, he felt his morality shaking as he stared at his hands, stained crimson with blood, He had taken a life.
The brute's lifeless body, the way his eyes had glazed over in those final moments, Kaleb couldn't shake the image. He had been forced into that fight, pushed into a corner with no way out. But none of that changed the fact that he had taken a life.
But in the midst of those thoughts, he recalled the feeling of the strange glow. He tried over and over again, hoping to summon that power once more. But no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't bring it forth. and as the estate loomed closer, his thoughts darkened. What would come next? He had fought once, but now the pits were his future, and the thought of taking another life left him cold.
Upon arrival, Kaleb was dragged before Count Rief. Lounged in his chair with a cruel smirk spreading across his face.
Kaleb's eyes narrowed, but he held back his rage.
"I see you still have that infuriating look in your eye,"
The count said, his expression souring.
After a few moments of silence, Kaleb took a deep breath, settling his nerves before he spoke.
"let's make a deal."
The Count's eyebrow raised, intrigued.
"A deal you say? What could a slave like you possibly offer me?"
"It's simple. I'll keep fighting in the pits. I'll make you money. And in return, if I survive long enough, you grant me my freedom... and the freedom of the girls."
The Count laughed, mocking his offer "You think because you got lucky in today's fight you can win enough fights to buy your freedom? You're more of a fool than i thought if you believe that."
"You plan for me to continue fighting in the pits anyway, don't you? So what do you have to lose?"
Count Rene stared at him, his smirk fading away. Kaleb's words had struck a chord. After a long pause, the leaned forward, the amusement in his eyes returning.
"Alright, slave. You have a deal. Keep fighting, and if, by some miracle, you live long enough, I'll let you buy your freedom. But let's make this more interesting."
"What are you talking about?"
"I'm just making the deal worth my while"
"Alright fine, what are your conditions?"
"It's simple, you have one year, no more no less to win the money and the price is two thousand gold ber!"
"That amount is absurd!" he exclaimed. It would be impossible to earn that much in such a short time!"
Count Rene leaned back in his chair.
"That's not my problem, slave," he sneered. "You wanted a deal, and I gave you one. If you think it can't be done, dont take the deal, because if you disagree the deal is off."
Kaleb's jaw tightened and his nostrils flair.
"You're setting me up to fail."
The count shrugged nonchalantly.
"Perhaps. Or perhaps you'll be able surprise me again. Either way, I get my moneys worth."
Feeling the weight of the deal sinking in, he realized there was no other choice.
"Fine, but if you go back on your word, I swear, no matter what it is i have to do i will kill you!"
"Make all the threats you like slave. Just remember, if you don't make the money in time, you and those girls will be forfeiting everything"
Kaleb's heart sank, but he stood firm.
"Alright, I'll do it. I'll buy our freedom. But once I'm free, you'll regret everything you've done to me."
"I guess we'll see,. Now, get out of my sight!"
The Count chuckled as Kaleb left, clearly confident Kaleb would never survive enough to claim his reward.
Kaleb walks away, feeling a flicker of hope mixed with the cold certainty of his grim future. The deal was set, and now, his fight wasn't just for his survival, it was a battle for freedom.