Although the warm-up show was filled with bloodshed and excitement, it did not reach the climax of the entire gladiatorial performance. What followed was the truly spectacular part—a formal gladiator match, which marked the true highlight of the event.
The arena's host, with his passionate and fervent commentary, ignited the emotions of every spectator present. Even the nobles seated in the VIP section were swept up in the excitement, creating an atmosphere of debauchery and frenzy.
"Open the gate," a man, who appeared as though he hadn't fully woken up, dragged a long sword as he approached the door of the resting area and spoke to the person in charge.
"Get lost! Stop messing around here!" The gatekeeper, noticing the man's slave attire, frowned immediately and impatiently waved him away.
"It's my turn to go up next," the man said in the same unenthused manner, his hands hanging low, his back slightly hunched, and the three-foot-long sword dragging along the ground.
"I only take orders from the higher-ups, and now that the higher-ups haven't conveyed the order, I won't open the door for you. If you want to seek death, use that knife in your hand to slice your neck viciously." The manager was a little impatient reached out and pushed the man only to end up pushing him.
"I'm dirty. I don't like people touching me," the man said calmly, slowly raising his head. It turned out he was one of the slaves locked up in the separate courtyard—the one who was sleeping in the corner when Elmo came to inspect the slaves. His registered name was "Sinner," age thirty-seven, with no other information.
He had indeed been selected to perform in the upcoming gladiatorial match, one of the few slaves chosen for the fight. If he survived the event, he would have a high chance of transforming from a slave into a gladiator, with all the benefits that came with it.
"Hey, Sinner, what are you trying to do?" A few other slaves who had been selected walked over, clearly displeased. They didn't want Sinner messing up this rare opportunity for them.
"Nothing, just getting some fresh air," Sinner replied indifferently. Without much visible effort, he slipped past the slaves who had tried to grab him. In a few swift movements, he reached the gate. With a sudden wave of his hand, his standard sword transformed into a sharp weapon of divine power, cutting through the thick iron bars without making a sound.
"What?" The slaves who had tried to seize Sinner were stunned. They were skilled fighters themselves and could clearly see the vast difference in strength between them and Sinner.
A hole was now open in the gate, and Sinner casually strolled out. Inside the arena, the long-haired tiger hadn't been fully locked up yet. A few men were cautiously adjusting the position of the cage's opening, while several others nervously attempted to fasten chains around the tiger's neck. But from the looks of it, the task wasn't going smoothly.
"Hey, did someone just walk in there? Elmo, is this part of your arrangement?" Ruben, watching Sinner slowly enter the arena, asked with a raised eyebrow. As the owner of the gladiatorial arena, he could immediately tell something wasn't right.
"When you've got a lot of subordinates, there's always one or two who act on their own," Elmo said with a faint smile. "But it's nothing to worry about. My men will ensure we have a spectacular gladiatorial performance."
"Oh? Elmo, you're quite fortunate to have such trustworthy men," Ruben remarked.
"You're not doing too badly yourself, Ruben. Don't you have Mr. Rufus, a capable talent at your side?" Elmo said, flicking away half of his cigar with a meaningful glance.
"Elmo, you're joking. Rufus isn't really a subordinate; he's like a brother to me. He only handles small family matters," Ruben replied, a flash of killing intent in his eyes, quickly masked by a casual chuckle.
Suddenly, a scream erupted from the stands, drawing everyone's attention back to the arena. Sinner had slowly walked up to one of the long-haired tigers and, without hesitation, slashed through the chain that had been so painstakingly fastened around its neck.
"What... what are you doing?" The men working nearby shouted, retreating slowly toward the safety zone. Sinner's unexpected interference had thrown the situation into chaos once again, and the three long-haired tigers, now free from their restraints, began to leap around wildly.
"Oh, there's our warrior! The first act of the show is officially underway. This... this is the first phase of the performance, titled *The Avenger's Revenge.* After witnessing the brutal slaughter of innocent children, the warrior is consumed with rage and seeks vengeance by fighting the beasts!" Despite the unexpected turn of events, the skilled announcer quickly regained control of the crowd.
"So annoying. This is what I hate about gladiatorial arenas, especially the larger ones. How can the world produce people so good at twisting events into a narrative?" Sinner muttered habitually, still staggering as if unsteady on his feet.
"Hmm? I can't believe I'd run into him here." Aelric frowned slightly while looking outside through the railing, then shook his head gently. He turned around and burrowed back into the straw.
"Roar!" The long-haired tiger let out a roar, its blood-red eyes fixed on Sinner, as three beasts slowly began to surround him.
"The instincts of these beasts are truly impressive," Sinner muttered, with a hint of admiration in his voice. Just as he spoke, his seemingly unsteady body made an unexpected move, as if he was about to fall, but instead, he stood up straight, like a wobbling toy that never topples. In that brief moment, he had already escaped from the encirclement and positioned himself behind one of the long-haired tigers.
"Roar!" The tiger let out another low growl, instinctively leaping forward and spinning around, but when it turned, it found that Sinner was still behind it.
"Die, beast." With a swing of his sword, the massive body was split in two, and a fountain of blood shot out like a real arrow, punching a small hole in the distant wall.
"What...?" Elmo, Joseph, and all the sharp-eyed spectators were stunned. To use a sword strike to condense blood into such a lethal projectile—this was not a feat achievable by ordinary swordsmanship.
"Boss, this man..." Joseph frowned slightly. This was only the second person in his life who had made him furrow his brow.
"No problem. Let's watch for a bit. Zachary's down there watching, so there's no need to worry," Elmo said, his expression growing serious. The man before him was definitely not just a common thief, or a banished soldier.
"Seems like things are getting a bit complicated?" Zachary stood in a corner of the resting area, surrounded by a few old retainers and some assistants. "Whoever hired that announcer did a great job. Give them a raise later. And... follow the announcer's lead. Pass this message along."
"Yes, Mr. Zachary." One of the retainers bowed respectfully before turning and leaving.
"I never imagined there would be such a figure hidden among the slaves. Have someone check the transport list and investigate this man's background." Zachary hesitated briefly before giving the order to another subordinate.
In the arena, Sinner approached another long-haired tiger, his unsteady movements radiating an unmistakable killing intent.
The tiger, unable to bear the pressure of Sinner's presence, let out a mighty roar and charged toward him. At the same time, another long-haired tiger shifted its position and rushed at Sinner from the side.
"In the name of the heavens, I condemn you ignorant beings—judgment for the guilty." Sinner's voice was quiet, barely audible amidst the roaring of the beasts. However, there were some in the arena who were no ordinary people—like the man nestled in the straw.
Aelric shuddered slightly, though he made no further movement, but it was enough to reveal something significant.
In an instant, the flash of a sword cut through the air, followed by a sudden "crack." The long sword snapped in two. Half of it remained in Sinner's hand, while the other half was embedded in the ground not far away. To either side of Sinner lay the symmetrical corpses of the two giant beasts. In a moment that eluded the eyes of the crowd, the ferocious long-haired tigers of the Everlasting Wilds had been silently annihilated.
There was no uproar from the audience. Instead, the arena was filled with silence—an all-encompassing silence.
"Looks like an ordinary longsword really won't do."Sinner muttered, shaking his head as he tossed aside the broken blade, now only half intact. "Perhaps my identity has already been uncovered by that guy." He glanced toward Aelric's cell, a flicker of concern crossing his face.
"Interesting, interesting. I didn't expect to encounter the royal elite in this desolate western region." In the audience, a young man clad in gray linen, his eyes blazing like the scorching sun, locked onto Sinner on the stage, a curious smile playing at the corners of his mouth.