Cheers and screams echo through the colosseum walls. These nobles don't just tolerate The Game—they thrive on it, crave it.
I'm seated by the entrance to the arena, my wrists still shackled with magic-blocking chains. Two guards flank me, their expressions blank as if this is just another day at work. Behind the thick stone door, the muffled voice of an announcer hypes the crowd into a frenzy.
"Nobles of Fangea! Are you ready?!"
A deafening roar answers him.
"Today, we have something very special for you! This man—oh, this man—is unlike any contestant we've ever seen before. He had his affinity tested just before The Game, and you will not believe the results!"
The crowd hushes, anticipation thick in the air.
"He has NO affinity for magic!" the announcer declares.
The silence shatters. The crowd erupts into jeers and boos.
"Could this be him? The Dark Deity foretold to destroy our world?!"
The audience roars louder, a cacophony of hatred and disgust.
"Welcome, The Harbinger of Destruction, Solice Caligo, to… The Game!" The announcer's voice drips with malice.
The heavy doors grind open, sunlight flooding the narrow corridor. The guards shove me forward, their hands firm but unnecessary. I don't resist. I step into the arena, the heat of the sun hitting me like a wave.
The crowd unleashes their scorn, screaming and booing from the packed stands above. Many of them wear masks or cover their faces with cloth—an odd sight for an event like this. Perhaps even they feel the depravity of it all, hiding their shame behind fabric while indulging in the spectacle.
The colosseum itself is massive, its design a testament to Saxumidian's mastery of earth magic. The walls, intricately carved from clay and stone, encircle a wide pit of dirt and sand. Above, the sun beats down mercilessly. I glance around and notice three other doors positioned evenly around the arena. It seems they sometimes pit more than two opponents against one another.
"And who will the Dark Deity be fighting today?" the announcer teases.
The crowd quiets, holding its collective breath.
"Or should I say… WHAT will he be fighting?!"
The cheers return, louder than ever.
A chilling howl pierces the air. My eyes snap to the door directly across from me as it grinds open.
A massive creature lumbers out—a luko. I've seen these beasts before. Prince Ramidion rode one in Alstidon. They pull wagons, their strength unmatched. But this one… This one is different.
Its jet-black fur is matted with sweat and blood, its jagged teeth glinting in the sunlight. Its body is marred with scars, each a reminder of battles fought and survived. Its eyes burn with a rage I can only describe as bloodlust.
The crowd's excitement reaches a fever pitch.
"Kill him, luko!"
"Rip the Dark Deity apart!"
The guards leading the luko struggle to restrain it. The beast growls, saliva dripping from its snarling jaws. It stomps forward, muscles rippling, its eyes locked on me like I'm its next meal.
My chains clink as the guards unlock my shackles. They flee to the safety of their door without a word.
The luko thrashes violently, its handlers releasing the chains before sprinting for their lives. The creature's freedom sends a shiver through the crowd, a collective thrill of fear and excitement.
"And let The Game BEGIN!" the announcer bellows.
The luko charges, its massive paws kicking up clouds of sand. The crowd's deafening cheers blur into white noise.
I glance at my timer. 38 days.
The luko barrels toward me, a living storm of teeth and fury. I grip my blade.
I can do this.