It was the dining hall of the underground colosseum. Savages of different qualities clamored in this place making their discussions indiscernible.

On a particular table that held a mixture of savages and challengers are the complete opposite, speaking in hushed tones.

“What was that supposed to mean?” the black haired boy asked, his brows furrowed.

“Why are you asking me? Do I look like I know?” the blue haired girl opposite him snapped.

“I wasn’t asking you…” Harvy mumbled, the sides of his mouth twitching as he suppressed a sneer.

“This is this first time I’ve heard of this. Did this ever happened before?” the blonde girl questioned, her expression a copy of Harvy.

Noet was very silent during their whole exchange oddly. He was always the one to speak out first or explain the situation so this was definitely an oddity.

Nobody answered Agnes’ question and the group descended into silence.

“I haven’t heard anything like this the whole time I’ve been here. It’s probably a new thing the new Marshall decided to add?” Bertha finally said.

“Why would Marshall ask us slaves to go watch a show?” Harvy asked

“Perhaps, they found some runaways and decided they’d had enough of that?” Agnes pondered aloud.

“That… actually sounds reasonable. So we’re going to watch them slice and dice some runaway?” Aileen answered.

“They have to know that wouldn’t work? We’ve spilled so much blood here, seeing more wouldn’t have any effect” Harvy objected to her theory.

“May” Noet suddenly spoke and they reduced their talking to listen to him.

The girl in question hadn’t spoken a word since they got to the table which wasn’t rare, it’s the fact that she was spacing out that was rare.

She turned her head robotically to look at Noet.

“Yes?” she said slowly, dragging out the word.

“What do you know?” he asked sternly, surprising the others.

“Know?” she continued slowly then suddenly her blank gaze sharpened and intense killing intent spiraled out of her.

Many people far away from her found themselves keeling over unconscious and one could imagine the state of the people on her table. Noet and Aileen had fallen to their knees, visible shivering. Agnes on the other hand had fallen face flat on the floor, barely able to retain her conscious. Harvy and Bertha had both collapsed with Bertha looking worse of the two, bleeding from her mouth.

She retracted her killing intent a moment later and sighs of relief went through the hall. The cause of all this silently glared at Noet then sighed, “I… am a bit sleepy” she got up and with very slow movements left the hall.

Nobody moved until they could no longer hear her footsteps. Even when she was gone, there was barely any movement. Fear had been instilled into their hearts.

***

“What the actual hell was that?!” Aileen screamed, her face contorted in rage. They were currently in Noet & Harvy’s room with the exception of May.

They all sat on the ground, their expressions a variation of anger, confusion and calmness.

“I think I set her off” Noet said calmly with a shrug of his shoulders.

“You think?” Agnes asked baffled, “You think?!”

“My question is what the hell set her off. You barely said anything!” Harvy yelled frustrated and angry at the fact that he actually collapsed.

Bertha was still unconscious till now, even after Harvy had used a healing spell. Killing intent mainly affected mentally weak individuals so it was understandable. Bertha was the sweet definition of a muscle head after all.

“I didn’t say anything but she most likely thought I had figured something out” Noet continued. He didn’t seem fazed by what happened 2 hours ago.

“Don’t get all fucking mysterious, Noet” Harvy snapped. It would seem his fuse had been lit.

“What did you figure out?” Agnes asked quietly. She sat on the floor still trying to understand why May did that. She was completely stunned by May’s sudden hostility and couldn’t get over it. The girl despite her terrible first impression was quite sweet. 

“Nothing” Noet said simply with a satisfied smirk. 

What is he so satisfied about? Agnes brow twitched. She wanted to pound his arrogant face in.

“I’ve never actually fought May so that was an eye opening experience” Aileen inhaled deeply and finally sat down like the rest of them. She had been pacing furiously around the room, making them all jumpy from the moment they'd entered. 

“Am I the only one more concerned about this 'show' we’re watching in half an hour?” Agnes had to say.

All savages and challengers were all instructed to come out to the now empty colosseum to watch a show. It was the first time ever and they were all concerned about what it would entail. There was no way the Marshall wanted to entertain them so it was either they were planning a mass wipeout or something more sinister. Or simply giving them new instructions but they could do that with the speakers that announced their fighting blocks. Every one underground could hear those.

“I’m concerned” Harvy replied grimly, “But I’m much more concerned about why May did that”

“Why?” Aileen snarled, “That bitch is nuts obviously. No other reason.”

Harvy turned to glare at her, “You’re just going to jump to conclusions without knowing why? Noet obviously did something!”

“Well, I’m glad you care so much for her reason, but I don’t give a fuck ok?” Aileen snapped.

“You…!” Harvy’s eyes widened.

“I don’t” Aileen repeated, “I thought we were all in this together but no apparently it’s ok to attack each other when we fucking feel like it”

“We do that all the time in the Arena” Agnes inputted.

“Please do not come into this conversation, Agnes” Aileen glared at her.

“But we do” Harvy affirmed.

“And since when was the dining hall the ‘Arena’?!” Aileen shrieked.

“Since today I guess” He shrugged

“Ok. Now you’re just being ridiculous” She bared her teeth at him.

“In case you weren’t listening, Noet obviously did something. Noet?” Harvy gritted his teeth.

“You were there weren’t you?” Noet replied tauntingly, “What did I do?”

“I’m not getting into words games with you,” Harvy snarled, “Start talking. Now”

Noet narrowed his eyes, “Make me”

“What a harmonious atmosphere,” Agnes scoffed, “Have you ever thought that she did that to get our minds off the show and onto her retardedness?”

“She is not retarded” Harvy immediately came to May’s defense.

“How fucking swell, why are you defending her?” Agnes asked incredulously.

“Well, I don’t think a retard could be a mage” Harvy immediately said

Agnes gave a laugh of derision, “Are you really getting technical right now?”

“Yes” Harvy crisply replied.

“Youfuckingpieceofshit” Agnes cursed shaking her head in disbelief,  "What is up with him today?"

"Are you really asking? He's always had a short fuse" Noet shrugged.

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"I know! The problem here is he's defending May here. She's the one who knocked him unconscious" Agnes was baffled.

"Maybe she's his rebound" Noet offered.

"No, she isn't," Harvy snarled, "I just don't think someone who's usually quite well-behaved would suddenly feel like murdering us. I am mad but first, I want to know. Why?"

"Well, I think that's fantastic" Agnes mumbled sarcastically.

"I’ll tell you why she did that” Aileen suddenly spoke, “She obvious wanted to assert the fact that she’s the strongest among us! Well, you know what I think about that? Bullshit "

“Now you’re just jumping to conclusions” Harvy snarled, “And she is the strongest among us sorry to burst your fucking bubble”

“Bubble? Really?” Aileen rolled her eyes.

“I am not getting into this argument” Harvy shook his head.

“You know what? I agree with Agnes, you are a fucking piece of shit” Aileen looked at him pitifully.

“Agnes calls everything a piece of shit, since when did that matter?” he sneered

“Since I agreed with it” She snorted

“Well, if you didn’t know, I don’t give a fuck about your opinions” Harvy retorted with a sardonic smile.

“What the fuck? Really? Are you two really starting this now? Acting like children?” Agnes shook her head

“Since this infatuated idiot decided to defend May” Aileen growled, “And I commend your taste, Harvy. May isn't a bad rebound”

Harvy scowled, “What?! Excuse me, Infatuated?! Where the fuck did you get that info?”

“Then why else are you protecting her?” Aileen asked matter-of-factly.

“Oh this is just fantastic! So if I protect someone because some crazy bitch refused to think things through I’m infatuated?!”

“What did you just me, you fucking son of a---” Aileen shrieked and whipped out her spear.

“Ok. Calm the hell down” Noet’s Ki infused voice boomed.

“No. No. You! This whole situation is because of you. I am not going to take your fucking deceit and bullshit. You’re going to tell us right now why May reacted like that!” Harvy snarled, his hazel eyes looking very threatening.

It would seem he never forgot who he truly was mad at.

“I’m not really curious as to exactly what triggered you two, but I agree with Noet. Calm down” Agnes interjected.

“Are you really ignoring me, right now? Someone’s grown some balls” Aileen voice went dangerously low and before anyone could do anything, she chanted and arcs of lightning were flung at Harvy.

Harvy anticipated this, jumping before she could finish her spell and avoiding the blast by a few seconds, “Oh, I’m sorry, I was born with those” he sneered sarcastically.

“Are y’all really starting your effing cat fight right now?” Agnes yelped as she jumped away. She was too close to Harvy and almost got shot.

“Oh for Bermia’s sake, are you two serious right now?” Noet asked incredulously. His and Agnes’ words fell on deaf ears.

The two had entered their own world, trying to one up each other with words and Harvy dodging every spell Aileen threw at him. The boy was a weaker mage than Aileen but he knew all her spells, able to know what was coming.

Aileen never actually fought at full power because the boy would probably not last a round. But technically it counted as fighting since they were trying to hit each other... right? Regardless, Aileen and Harvy would always find one ridiculous reason or the other to 'fight' against each other. Even in a situation like this. 

The times were they actually tried to kill each other was rare but it's not like it hadn't ever happened. 

“I am speechless” Agnes said as she watched them go at it.

“Well, I’m not. It’s not like it’s the first time” Noet shrugged.

"You know, I don't think Harvy liked Bertha enough to actually have a rebound.." Agnes said after some thought. 

"Eh, let Aileen think what she wants. She's quite furious right now. She hasn't lost in the arena for a while and i think having someone shove that she's still a weakling in her face riled her up"

"Well, yea. She is weak... we all are" Agnes said softly, "But I think you're the one that suggested him having a rebound"

Noet ignored the later part of her words.

Miraculously, none of the spells from Aileen and Harvy flew towards the bed that Agnes and Noet had made their safety harbor. The fact that Aileen and Harvy were able to fight in this barely spacious room was actually an amazing feat.

“You know" Agnes began, "I understand this happens more often than not but I thought we were having a serious conversation” 

"Why would you think that?" Noet smiled.

"Huh? If that wasn't a serious convo then what was it? Cuz I was being serious" Agnes sputtered

"Serious about confirming the fact that May wanted to kill us?" Noet chuckled.

"Don't try to be smart with me. You know i meant the show"

Noet was silent at that.

"Of course, don't say anything. It's not like you actually know anything about it" Agnes scoffed. 

Noet remained silent. 

“So? Any ideas to why May felt the sudden urge to kill us?” Agnes asked softly changing the topic since he refused to talk about it.

“No” Noet replied in a curt fashion.

“Ugh, I always get ticked off when you lie” Agnes took a deep breath full of frustration.

Noet went silent again and only the taunting exchange between Aileen and Harvy could be heard for a moment.

Agnes massaged her forehead, “I always knew you were an assh---”

“I didn’t lie” Noet said startling her, “I was just suspicious of her behavior. Her reaction was not what I expected”

Agnes studied him for a while. He's actually explaining himself?

“I knew something was off with May before they announced that show” he continued, “I didn’t expect her to tell me but I wanted to confirm something. However, her killing intent was out of my expectations”

“Well…” Agnes chewed over her next words, “I’m somewhat glad to hear that”

"Well... I just felt like I had to explain myself this time" He shrugged.

"Oh so you do know that you're quite cryptic" Agnes smiled, somehow she felt lighter.

"Well, people do love puzzles" Noet smirked.

"You are ridiculous" Agnes laughed in spite of herself.

“All Blocks. A, B, C & D”, a voice from the ceiling suddenly sounded out, “File out. Now”

Agnes knitted her brow, "Already?"

"It would seem" Noet affirmed.

Aileen and Harvy immediately froze in their tracks at that annoucement. Apart from a few torn parts of their clothing and little scratches, they seemed fine. They glared at each other simultaneously then walked out of the room together.

“They have a really shitty relationship” Agnes couldn’t help but comment.

Noet smiled at that, “I agree. But they sync very well”

Agnes chuckled and nodded to that. They did start and stop fighting at the exact same time.

“Let’s go?” Noet stood and beckoning to her.

She began to stand and nod then suddenly froze, “Actually, I think I’ll go change into my battle outfit. I feel odd”

Noet scanned her, “You seem pretty prepared for battle to me”

She was indeed. Wearing her signature black jumpsuit and a sword at her hip, she looked very battle ready.

“I meant my other equipment. I don’t have my throwing knives”

“Ok” Noet nodded, “Go get it, I’ll join the others”

Agnes stretched out her hand, “Pills please”

Noet raised a brow, “You really think you’re fighting?”

“Yes” She replied curtly.

He paused for a moment scanning her again then spoke, “I gave you pills last week”

“You only gave me the Ki ones”

“Got it” He reached into his pocket and pulled out four blue pills, “One at a time only ok?”

She nodded in affirmative and walked away.

Noet stood in place for a while and his eyes narrowed dangerously. He did not know what this show was going to be about and that fact annoyed him.

Even worse was the feeling of unpreparedness that overwhelmed him. He cracked his fingers, inhaled deeply and walked out of his room. 

Agnes on the other hand, had gotten her things from her room and walked in the direction other slaves went. The terrible feeling she’d been having had intensified over the past few days and she didn’t like that one bit.

Just like there were huge adamantine doors that connected to the market, there were huge ones that connected to the colosseum but these doors had never been opened- at least the whole time Noet had been here.

Instead of going to the waiting hall and joining the elevators to go into the arena, they were able to just enter the arena and this time, the usual barrier that protected the audience was down.

Just as Agnes was about to pass through the huge doors, a hand grabbed her and pulled her back.

She reflexively acted, trying to heave a blow at the owner in an attempt to separate herself but found that she couldn’t budge.

She looked up to see Marshall’s expressionless face staring down at her. 

“You don’t go there” he states softly as he lifted her from the floor with an arm, placing her one his shoulders and dashed away with enough speed to make Agnes dizzy as she struggled futilely. He stopped in front of the waiting room and threw her inside.

She groaned, shaking her head to remove the dizziness and glared at him.

A small smirk arose onto his face and he brazen asked, “Is there a problem?”

Agnes was silent. She was trying her very best not to try to escape. She could already see the result of that.

“Enter the elevator, you’re fighting” He gestured to the elevator.

“I thought we were watching a show” Agnes knitted her brow. She didn’t know why she was trying to buy time but she needed something. Anything.

“Well, they are. You aren’t” he answered crisply, gesturing again.

“Hmm, he doesn’t have bad taste” a voice suddenly sounded in her ear. She immediately dashed backwards unsheathing her blade and staring warily at thin air.

Slowly, the form of a woman was revealed. The most noticeable thing about her was her ginormous diamond that reached the top of her nose. She had a small smirk and her eyes rapidly scanned Agnes.

“I never actually saw the girl so I’m a bit surprised” The woman chuckled, flashing a smile at Marshall who still stood outside the door to the waiting room.

“What are you doing here, Mirabelle?” Marshall asked dryly.

The woman chuckled again, “How could I afford to miss such a good show?”

“You were ordered to come here it would seem” Marshall smirked.

The woman stopped smiling, “Don’t try to read me”

“I was guessing” Marshall shrugged

Mirabelle narrowed her eyes but said nothing. She turned to face Agnes, “I’m only here out of curiosity. No need to mind me” and then as slowly as she had appeared, she disappeared.

Agnes could tell that the slowness of her appearance and disappearance were on purpose and she knitted her brow. Her hairs stood at the back of her neck, and she didn’t need her battle sense to tell her she was in extreme danger.

“Go” Marshall said crisply, as it seems Agnes wasn’t going to walk towards the elevators.

Agnes turned to him, her voice strangely emotionless “Am I the show?”

“Way to be perspective” Marshall drawled and shut the door of the waiting room with a bang.

Agnes looked at the doors and sighed. He probably hadn’t left yet so she waited.

A few minutes passed and she charged at the door, heaving a punch at the hinges. The door slowly fell down forward and she scanned the area in front of her. There was nobody. She couldn’t help but grin. Did they really think I was going to enter just because they asked me to?

As soon as her feet crossed the doors, she found herself thrown backwards with such speed that as soon as she hit the ground, she was sure something broke. She looked up to see the expressionless face of Marshall.

He said nothing and slowly walked away but she knew he was still there. His eyes told her that he wouldn’t hesitate to cut her down the moment she tried again.

She gulped audibly and glanced towards the elevator. For me to be the show, maybe they discovered what was unique about me?

As soon as that thought crossed her mind she shook her head, I’ve been very careful so I don’t think so…besides they'd kill me not make me a show.

She slowly walked towards the elevators and stared at them. The doors opened widely as though asking her to enter.

She didn't like the way things were going at all. And if she stayed here, she didn't Marshall would just smile and let her be. She'd been having this bad feeling for the past week so it would seem this was the cause. 

I've fought so many times for my life. This won't be any different, She told herself taking a deep breath. The most annoying part of this whole thing was she didn't know what was going on. There was no way the opponent she was facing would be like all her previous ones. Maybe it was even a warrior. 

Then, it was either she died up there or down here.  

So she entered the still open elevators. I've fought so many times for my life. This won't be any different, She told herself again.