Colosseum Grounds, Criminal Section, That Same Night

“OhmygodswhatthehellamIgonnadonow!”

Jason was pacing back and forth on the training grounds near the cell holdings, freaking out at how exactly he is going to survive the labyrinth. The only information that was given to him, Allison and the scientist was that the Game was all chance based, but that a certain amount of skill would be needed. Skill and luck, one of them was fleeting and the other inexistent.

“You need to calm down, Jason.”, The scientist said, bored to his core.

“How?! It's not you life that is at risk here!”, The Jqorn snapped at him, pointing at himself, “And how those psychos aren't shitting themselves?!”

“That is far from relevant right now.”, He sighed, his frown getting even deeper than before, “What you need to do is focus on getting at your peak so you survive the first Game. The next few will be even harder.”

“Thanks for the advice.”, Jason said flatly as his shoulders seemed to give up.

Allison saw how dejected the man was so he decided to help, “Look, I know I ain't exactly the best guy to the job, but believe me, whatever you are feeling now is not important to you.”

“What?”, His head raised, looking at the human tax avoider, “What the fuck that is supposed to mean?”

He shrugged, being sheepish, “Well, don't you have better things to think? Like, I don't know, you family?”

He offered in a way that was bofe caringly and confusing, because Allison was honestly questioning why didn't he thought about seeing them again instead of worrying so much about himself. Sure, self preservation and all that, but he can't just keep this self-centered moto, or that would lead to consequences that few wanted to see and fewer to endure.

“What do- no, you know what? Fine.”, Jason sat in a nearby chair, putting a hand in his forehead, sweat dripping through his fingers, “You are right about that, but I don't know if my family wants to see me.”

Allison shook his head, “That ain't true. I don't know a single family that would turn their backs on a member that tried everything and then some to give them a better life.”

He sounded… so sure about that. Like he experienced that himself.

“Leaving the sentimental journey aside…”, The scientist said as he readjusted his glasses, “...We have some information that you would likely want to know.”

That made Jason perk up and almost look like he wasn't in a life or death situation, “Really?”

“We did dig up some deets on the most dangerous participants, yes.”, Allison offered as he opened the file that was in his hand, only now noticed by Jason, “Well, actually we took everything we could, but eh, you know what I mean.”

“I don't.”

“...”

“…”

“...”

“What did you dig up though?”

“Oh, right.”, Allison shook his head, picking up a few papers and handing some to each man, “That's the info we got by searching, some are public as seen by criminal records and others were harder, such as slaves, mainly from the Petruvian Continent.”

The scientist looked around, making sure no one could listen their talk. Since Jason can't leave the Criminal Section, they needed to meet somewhere private, even though anyone could walk in and listen, “These ones don't have a lot of details.”, He said as he checked over the papers.

“That's because some of them were like our friend over here, just petty crimes.”, Allison offered, “Beside, Farlls, you know that most people that are dangerous enough wouldn't even compete on the first Game.”

Farlls, the now named scientist, scoffed at that, “But the Games are mandatory. Slaves and Criminals can't just skip stages.”

“On the contrary.”, Allison's smirk widened as he raised a finger, “One common thing amongst valuable warriors is that they have sponsors, be them small or big.”, He raised a second finger, this time looking at Jason, “The Second thing is that if they have an impression record before being invited by the Colosseum, they can skip steps just as sponsors do, albeit by merit, instead of coin.”

“So does that mean I am in a losers bracket?”, Jason's inquiry was answered too quickly for his liking.

“Yes.”

“Absolutely.”

“Shit. Just my luck.”, He frowned.

“I mean, that's expected.”, Allison said apologetically, “Farlls needed to pull a lot of favors to even put you inside this place.”

“The motive behind my actions is that I needed a guinea pig to test my device. And you provided me with a golden opportunity.”, Farlls said with a smile to Jason.

A smile that sent him both anger and chills.

Jason glared at Farlls, his eyes narrowing. "Right, because my potential death is a golden opportunity for you."

Farlls shrugged nonchalantly, not even bothering to look up from the papers. "Scientific progress often requires sacrifice. In this case, yours."

Jason groaned, leaning back in his chair and rubbing his face. "Great. So, I'm basically in a tournament where everyone’s better than me, I’ve got a death device strapped to my wrist, and I'm a test subject for some mad scientist."

"Look on the bright side," Allison said, trying to sound optimistic. "At least you know where you stand! You’re starting from rock bottom, so the only way is up, right?"

"Not if I'm buried six feet under," Jason muttered.

Farlls finally looked up, raising an eyebrow. "That’s the spirit."

“...”

“...”

“...”

"Man, you’re terrible at pep talks," Allison said, shaking his head.

Farlls just shrugged.

Jason sighed, glancing at the papers in front of him. "Alright, fine. If I’m gonna survive this thing, I at least need to know who I’m up against. Who’s the worst of the worst?"

Farlls tapped his papers. "There’s a few names you should be concerned about. First, there’s Zarek, a former general from the Vyzerian army. He’s been in the Games for years, and he’s known for his brutality. Then there's Kaida, a slave from Petruvia. She’s a wild card—doesn't say much, but she's deadly in close combat."

"And don’t forget the twins," Allison added. "Two guys who work as a team. They’re infamous for their synchronization and dirty tricks. You can’t trust them for a second."

"Fantastic," Jason said sarcastically. "So, I’m screwed."

"Not necessarily," Farlls said with a smirk. "That device on your wrist might give you the edge you need."

Jason looked at the weird contraption again, still not fully understanding how it worked. "If it doesn’t kill me first..."

"Details," Farlls waved off his concern. "You’ll do fine. Probably."

Jason shook his head, staring at the labyrinth in the distance. "Yeah... sure. No pressure."

----------------------------------------

On the other side, right in the Slaves Section, Connor threw a series of punches in the air as he continued his perpetual training ever since they left Tenure. They were so used to Connor just being… Connor… that they stopped trying to stop him, but the group needed to discuss something important.

And yet Connor still trained.

“Connor, do you fucking mind?”, Donovan snapped at the Wood Elf. It was honestly amazing and absurd how much he was dedicated to keep or just stubborn and refuse to stop his training.

“What?”, He said as he stopped pinching, but never stopped bouncing around the ground.

“Yeah, we kind of are trying to have a biz here?”, Yuri explained as he gestured to… well, to everything.

“You remembered, right? The plan you guys dragged me into? You more specifically.”, The Zealous Human pointed at Connor, just to clear any doubts.

“You should at least listen them. Your mind is a mess, Lad. I can't even look at your thoughts properly.”, Even Hughes advised, his concern audible.

He stopped bouncing and actually breathed in and out for once, “Sure.”

He sat down near his friends, his sweat and foul smell raising, but they never shower in the first place, so there wasn't a big of a difference.

“Alright, so, Boss said you will have the freedom to train as you like, ‘cause Donovan and I will be gonna doing the hard stuff of our plan.”, Yuri started, making sure Connor was paying attention, “I'll be the man digging for deets of the fighters for the Fourth Game, while Donny here will look for the Runecrafter we need.”

“Wait, fourth? I thought I would compete on the first?”, Connor asked as the others nodded.

“You are, but there isn't anyone there that can actually pose a threat to you. I mean, you already kick ass as it is, imagine without the rune on our necks.”, Yuri shrugged, “But the real kicker is that Richardson is trying to make you skip to the fourth game. We need info on them, since only the third and fourth game are non-slave and non-criminal starters.”

“Meaning that any Slave or Criminal will need to survive the first two games to qualify to the third and-or fourth Game.” Donovan completed the explanation.

“Roger-roger.”, Connor said as he got up and resumed his training, only to stop midway, “Wait, so how am I going to train without you guys to help me?”

“Only Orïvah can answer you that.”, He shook his head, “We need to thank the heavens that we are even allowed to come and go as we please.”

“Heh, ain't that the truth.”, Yuri chuckled, “But that's the catch on our deal with Rich if we are going to make this happen. I mean, we are already doing stuff behind his back, so we should be grateful, even if it it's fucked up like this.”

“Fucking hell.”, Connor said as he spat on the ground.

“Fucking hell.”, The other two agreed in unison.

“So, what happens now?”

Yuri leaned back against the wall, crossing his arms. "Now? Now we get to work, man. I’m gonna sneak around and gather up some dirt on these other contestants. Donovan’s gonna track down the Runecrafter so we can get your ass supercharged for the Fourth Game. Meanwhile, you just keep doing what you do—punching air and freaking out everyone around you."

Connor smirked. "Sounds like you got the hard part."

"Damn right," Donovan said, rolling his eyes. "I’m the one who’s gonna have to sweet-talk some ancient Runecrafter into giving us what we need without blowing our cover."

Connor threw a couple more punches in the air, grinning like a kid. "You know, I’m kind of excited about all this."

Yuri snorted. "Of course you are. You’re gonna get to punch people for real instead of shadowboxing like a lunatic."

Connor laughed, a bit too loud. "Yeah, I guess! But hey, what about the labyrinth? What if I get sent into that thing?"

Yuri shrugged. "Honestly, man, with the way you train, you’ll probably punch through the damn walls if you get lost. Just keep your head straight and stay focused. You’re not like the others here, you actually stand a chance."

"Yeah, and don’t forget," Donovan added, "we’re not doing this just for fun. This is survival. You screw up, you’re dead. And we’re all in this together, so don’t go doing anything stupid, alright?"

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Connor nodded, suddenly a bit more serious. "Yeah, I got it. I’ll be ready."

"Good," Yuri said, standing up. "Because we sure as hell can’t afford to lose you. Now, let’s get moving. We’ve got a lot of shit to do and not a lot of time to do it."

"Let’s go kick some ass," Connor said with a grin.

Yuri chuckled. "Now you're talking."

“Now even I am surprised.”, Hughes added with enthusiasm.

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The next day

It was pointless now to even think about complaining. Richardson was entirely out of control of the situation, being help accountable for everything that went wrong even when things weren't exactly his responsibility. Zhivko remained at the village they arrived, not wanting to deal with everything that would happen in the Colosseum, so the Foreman was alone in this mess. Not alone exactly, but his allies weren't close, which is about the same thing.

His talk with the Jester was something he couldn't fully understand. He got the general idea, the overall plan and the possible consequences of it, but it was still too…too much for him to handle. Richardson could very much be a pawn in someone's hand, about to rewrite history, and he felt enraged that he couldn't do anything about it. Zagul was still taking his time to show up despite everything seemingly positive, according to Jester himself as he assisted the Lacerta, despite his lack of knowledge of such.

He got the Draconic Iridium, but didn't arrive at Edhealrean, and the Jester did.

Of course Richardson would be careful.

The plan that Lady Nyëthilhand made also was amazingly beautiful and at the same time, diabolically selfish. He got the tidbits here and there, but to be so open to the point where she was basically defying the consequences of her actions seemed to bold to be made by an Elf. They are so methodical and perfect that a plan like this was either super well crafted that no one would understand unless they spent weeks trying to solve it or it was so simple that everyone overthinked it, trying to make it way more complicated than it should. And to be honest, Richardson wasn't sure which was which. It could very well be any or none of them.

He was sitting in the VIP area, watching the slaves and criminals get ready or praying for a quick and painless death. At his side was Lady Nyëthilhand and Lord Bhagavad, and just behind them three was Jester, telling some stories for everyone before the first game started. He wished he could've made Connor skip to the last game, but thanks to his now lack of control, it wasn't possible. Not to mention that Elisha basically had covered all of his free time explaining some parts of her plan to overthrow the government, although in way more sweet and soothing words, but he could read the hidden message.

One of them was that if he messed up or betrayed them, he would have a big target on his back.

Richardson sighed, “I guess all I can do is hope for the best.”

“That's right!”, Jester gave a thumbs up as his mask showed a grin, somehow, “Your boy right there is gonna have a real treat in the labyrinth. Oh, and thanks again Bhagavad, the crystals are a good way so we can keep track of what's happening.”

“Don't mention it.”, The Duke said with a smile, “After all this is but a fraction of what I and the Colosseum are capable of.”

“Ooohhh!”, The clown squeezed happily, “This is gonna be A-ma-zing!”

Richardson could only wince at the nature of the Jester. One time he was super serious and the other he acted like… this.

The Foreman noticed how Elisha was just smiling, happy and carefree. It seemed that everything was going as she envisioned. The arena below was filling up with spectators, and the tension in the air was palpable. The criminals and slaves were lining up, all wearing expressions ranging from panic to determination. Connor, though, stood out. He was focused, bouncing on his feet like he was just getting warmed up, oblivious to the deathtrap that awaited him.

"You seem troubled, Foreman," Elisha's voice was soft, melodic, and yet there was something sharp underneath. "Worried about your champion?"

Richardson glanced over at her, that serene smile of hers making him uneasy. "Shouldn't I be? This whole thing feels like one big setup."

Elisha gave a light laugh, leaning closer. "In life, everything is a setup. The key is knowing who holds the strings, and what the outcome should be."

"Easy for you to say," Richardson muttered, "You're not the one with a noose around your neck."

Ironic, given that it was Connor that had the rune.

"Oh, but I am," she said, her smile never faltering. "Everyone here is playing the same game, Foreman. Some just play it better."

"Yeah, well, I’ve never liked these games." He stared back down at the arena, watching as the competitors were being corralled towards the labyrinth’s entrance.

Bhagavad spoke up, leaning forward in his seat, “Your man Connor seems… unusually calm, given the circumstances.”

Richardson shrugged. “He’s a fighter. This is probably what he’s been training for.”

Jester giggled, flipping his mask around for a second, showing a new face—a mask with wide, surprised eyes and a gaping smile. "Oh, don't worry! He'll have his moment. Everyone does, whether they like it or not. That’s the fun part!"

Did he just have a mask beneath another mask?

“Fun for who?” Richardson grumbled under his breath. He was sure Connor had no idea what was coming.

As the announcer's voice boomed across the arena, signaling the start of the labyrinth game, the crowd erupted in cheers. The doors creaked open, revealing the dark, ominous path the competitors would have to traverse. Traps, monsters, and who knows what else lay in wait inside.

Richardson clenched his fists, his stomach knotting up. "Connor better be ready for this."

Elisha gave a slow, deliberate nod. "He will be. And if not, well..." She smiled again, looking back at the labyrinth. "There are always other pawns in the game."

Inside her mind however, was the thought of the Wood Elf. It was something unique, something that she hadn't seen in ages, a live and we'll Wood Elf. Interesting, to say the least, but even with their warmongering background, Elisha doubted that it would cause any trouble for her plans. Fynsell was still taking her sweet time hunting the Lacerta that stole the Draconic Iridium, the more time she took, the better. Galadar would have his reputation even more damaged the longer their child took to deliver the crystal. No one besides a select few knew about the crystal, but even so it would cause the necessary effect.

No one besides a select few knew about the crystal, but even so, it would create the necessary ripple effects in the political landscape. The whispers and rumors that would inevitably spread could undermine Galadar's authority and destabilize his alliances. Elisha smirked at the thought; chaos was often the best breeding ground for opportunity.

As the contestants entered the labyrinth, she envisioned the unfolding drama. Connor would become a key player, his Wood Elf heritage giving him an advantage in agility and stealth. If he could navigate the traps and challenges ahead, he might just prove himself to be more than a mere pawn in her game. Perhaps he could be molded into an asset, someone capable of executing her will when the time came.

“Every piece has its role,” she mused quietly to herself. “And every pawn can become a queen.”

----------------------------------------

Jason Heartwood

Yep, this was not how I wanted to be, but now I am here. Allison and Farlls have been “kind” enough to give me some details on how the hell this first came is gonna go, and quite honestly, I am not sure if they even did a proper job at explaining it to me. Like, the structure changed so it would make the contestants walk in circles? But it's a labyrinth! How a labyrinth suddenly changed its insides?!? That didn't make sense! But then they explained that the labyrinth was created by magic. It still didn't make sense, although for different reasons.

Me and all the other gangbangers and slaves walked to the entrance, the snowy ground crunching at every step we took. The first game wasn't watched as much, the stands being half empty was a testament of that, but some people liked watching every single bit of things, so they can catch a underdog. Being honest? I doubt I would be able to fulfill that. I have from fights and four games to win, or rather try to win. Filling the boos of someone that is underestimated and succeeded was not my job.

I would try to complete this fucking maze in a jiffy.

“Very well, the rules for this are simple.”, The announcer started as he explained for both the crowd and ourselves, “There are three ways one can complete the Labyrinth. One is to reach the center of it, a room that will have our staff and will allow the contestants to pass for the next Game. The second way is to survive two hours inside the labyrinth with the token we will give before the contestants enter.”

As he said that, I saw that everyone else was given a token. A coin shaped stone that had the image of the Colosseum. Weird, but fine, I guess.

“If the contestants don't have the token with then when the two hours have passed, well… I guess everyone can figure out what will happen.”

Wait, what?! Does that mean that if I lose this thing I will be killed on the spot?

I immediately notice some people nodding at the idea, and I know exactly what they are thinking. To steal the tokens from the other contestants. Form alliances, secure their own safety and other useful tactics. Well, I know for a fact that I am fucked, even more when I spot the Twins grinning like a mad couple. Well, technically they are, but my point still stands! What the hell am I supposed to do here?!?

“The last method the contestants can use to win the first Game is facing specific trials that some of our staff will present. Rewards may vary, but the completion of the first Game is one of the prizes. Of course they are scattered around the labyrinth, so the contestants need to pay attention for them!”

Oh, that was actually really nice. Or maybe not, because I have no clue what the trials will actually be.

Fantastic.

“And now, one word of the creator of the Labyrinth, Bhagavad Gopinath!”

The announcemer presented the High Elf, who stepped forward from his seat, waving his hand to everyone with a big shit smile. That's the first time I saw the guy. That shows how hard the Nobles are hard so see. So I won't bother remembering his face. Shit, I don't know if I will survive today, so…

“It is a great honor to have everyone here today, witnessing the first game of this year's Colosseum tournament,” Bhagavad Gopinath said, his voice smooth and confident. "The labyrinth you are about to enter is more than a mere trial of endurance or strength. It is a test of wits, strategy, and willpower. Each corner you turn could lead to salvation... or peril. May the most resourceful emerge victorious."

He flashed another grin, his eyes gleaming with a mix of amusement and cruelty. Great. Just what I needed—a maze created by someone who seemed to enjoy watching people squirm. I clutched the token tighter, already feeling the pressure of not losing it.

“And remember,” Bhagavad added, “even the walls may not be what they seem.”

What does that even mean?! Is he trying to psych us out before we even step inside?

With that, he did something I was not expecting at all. He flickered his wrist, a glow emanating from it. Then a light came in a dome, covering the entire Colosseum. The blinding light made me wince and close my eyes, but when the brightness diminished, I could see that… Where the hell was the snow?! Did… did he just erase the snow from the fucking ground??????!!?!?!

“He is a Caster!”, I said out loud without noticing.

“A Wizard, to be precise.”, Another criminal answered beside me.

The woman that was beside him hugged him intently, maybe even huskily. Fuck, that guy is on another level entirely.

“Of course I wouldn't let the Games start with this terrible weather.”, The Duke said after a while, getting laughter in response from the present crowd.

“Well, with all of that out the way… let's begin!”, The announcer declared.

And just like that, the gates to the labyrinth creaked open. I took a deep breath, my heart pounding like mad. Everything in me screamed to run, but at the same time, I knew that running aimlessly would probably get me killed faster. I wasn't some genius, but I wasn't an idiot either.

As soon as the first few contestants rushed in, chaos erupted. People were shoving, jostling for positions like this was some Black Friday sale and not a life-or-death situation. The Twins? They were laughing like maniacs, already eyeing people like prey. Fantastic. Just fantastic.

“Stick together?” a guy next to me asked. He looked desperate, eyes darting around like a rabbit in a field full of wolves.

I just gave him a blank stare. "Bro, if you wanna die faster, sure. Go for it. But me? Nah, I’m keeping my distance from everyone.”

He didn’t take it well, muttering something under his breath before he sprinted ahead. Whatever. Better for me if he attracts the attention of the psychos first.

I entered the labyrinth, and everything felt different immediately. The walls were tall—stone covered in moss—and the air was… heavy. Like, the second I stepped inside, it was like the weight of the world dropped on my shoulders. The path ahead forked into three directions, and of course, there was no sign, no hint, nothing.

Classic.

I could already hear fighting in the distance. Some people were losing their minds right out of the gate. Seriously, we just started and they’re already swinging fists and stealing tokens. The chaos was real.

I chose the middle path. Not sure why, but it seemed like the best option. Maybe. Hopefully. Whatever. I jogged forward, trying to keep my breathing steady while gripping the token like my life depended on it—which it did.

After a few minutes, I realized something weird. There was no snow, sure, but the ground was still freezing. The cold seeped up through my boots, and I started to wonder if Bhagavad’s little spell just took away the visual part of winter. My feet were already going numb.

I rounded a corner and came face to face with the first challenge: a dead end, or at least it looked like one. There was a carving on the wall, something that looked like an old, weathered face with hollow eyes.

Great, a puzzle. Just what I needed.

“Speak the truth, and you may pass,” a deep voice rumbled from the carving. I jumped back, half-expecting the wall to come alive or something.

“The truth? What truth?” I muttered to myself. But the face didn’t give me any more clues. Just sat there, stone cold and creepy.

Okay, fine. Truth. I glanced around, making sure no one was coming up behind me. I didn’t need to get blindsided while solving some dumb magical riddle.

“Uh, I hate this game?” I said, half-joking.

Nothing.

I rubbed my face, frustrated. “I don’t want to die here.”

Suddenly, the wall shook. The face seemed to smile—just a little—and the stone shifted, opening up to reveal a hidden path.

Holy shit, that actually worked?

"Well, better than nothing, I guess."

The corridors ahead twisted and turned in ways that made no logical sense. Every path felt like it was doubling back on itself, but I couldn’t afford to stop and try to map it out. All I knew was that somewhere, at the center of this mess, was my ticket out. Or, at least, that’s what they said.

The glowing crystals embedded in the walls made the place feel even more surreal. I could almost feel the eyes of the spectators following my every move through them. It’s kind of weird when you think about it—people watching, waiting to see if you’ll make it out alive or end up splattered across the floor. At least if I die, someone will know. But then again, who cares?

Nah, better not dwell on that. I need to keep my head in the game.

I pulled out that weird little device Farlls gave me. He didn’t really explain much about it except that it might “help” in the labyrinth. The magic-for-dummies device was still just a bracelet with no clear indication of what it did. No buttons, no magic glow, no nothing. I rubbed my thumb across the surface, hoping something would happen.

And it didn't do much for a long while, making me angry.

"Come on, do something!” I muttered, shaking it. Still nothing. I sighed. Typical.

But then, as I was about to give up, I noticed something. The crystals lining the walls started to flicker ever so slightly, and the device in my hand grew warm—just a bit. Okay, maybe it wasn’t completely useless after all.

I kept moving, following whatever subtle reaction this thing was having with the environment. Every so often, I’d take a step, and the warmth in the stone would pulse, as if I was getting closer to something. It wasn’t much, but it was all I had. The corridors were quiet, too quiet. No screams, no sounds of fighting. That freaked me out more than anything.

Suddenly, the device got warmer, almost hot in my hand. I stopped. The corridor ahead opened into a wider space, and there, sitting on a pedestal in the middle of the room, was another token—just like the one I already had, only this one glowed faintly with a blue light.

“Okay, either I’m really lucky or really screwed,” I muttered.

Before I could decide whether to grab it or not, I heard a noise behind me. Footsteps. Slow, deliberate. My heart raced. Whoever it was, they weren’t in a hurry, which made it worse. They were confident.

I turned around, and there he was—one of the Twins.