John and his friends had no time to waste. They had to find out what the Viper was planning at the Colosseum before it was too late. They needed information, and the only one who could provide it was Kirien, the Dark Elf who had been captured by the group.

John and his friends gathered around Kirien, who was bound and gagged. They removed the gag and started questioning her.

"Where is the Viper holding the others?" John asked, his voice calm yet gentle and stern.

Kirien sighed. “Since I have lost, then there is no use in lying, just promise not to kill me.”

John looked towards his two companions. Ozlo kept silent, but Isabella said, “She has to be judged under the laws of the Delfiora Human Kingdom. But leniency is certainly available. At least you will not be killed or tortured.”

John looked towards Kirien, and she nodded, giving her agreement. Before she could speak, a blue light appeared above her, and beneath her, a magic circle appeared. It came from Isabella. It's a priest skill called Light of Judgment, which judges whether someone is lying or not. Kirien knew this and just accepted it.

"He's keeping them in the underground dungeon beneath the Colosseum," Kirien said, her voice barely above a whisper. "He's using Anna as well as the other batches of them as leverage. If you don't come to the Colosseum, he'll kill them all."

John's heart sank at the news. He knew he had to act quickly to the girl and the other hostages.

"What is the Viper's plan?" John asked.

Kirien hesitated for a moment before answering. "He's planning to trap you and your friends in the Colosseum during the special event that's taking place tonight. He wants to eliminate you for mingling into his situation. Despite his gentlemanly appearance the Viper is a very petty man"

John's mind raced. He knew he had to come up with a plan to counter the Viper's trap.

"I have an idea," John said, a smile creeping onto his face. "But I need your help."

Kirien looked at him skeptically. "What kind of idea?"

"I'm going to enter the competition at the Colosseum," John said. "But I need to disguise myself so that the Viper won't recognize me. I need you to help me with the disguise since your more understanding of the inner machinations."

Kirien nodded slowly her eyes betraying her unease, and so John together with Kirien and his friends set to work on creating the disguise.

As they worked, the Viper's voice boomed over the intercom while the stars played their tune of beauty above the crowd. "Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the 50th anniversary of the Gladitorial Games! Tonight’s game a special prize will be given, namely the Ring of Erom which is able to cast a shield as strong as Elerium known to be able to easily fend of high grade steel swords and other such weapons."

The atmosphere in the Colosseum was electric. The crowd roared as the gladiators entered the arena, each one more formidable than the last.

John entered the arena, disguised as a gladiator, his heart pounding in his chest. He scanned the crowd for any sign of the Viper, but he couldn't see him.

As the competition began, John was matched up against a burly, muscular man with a shaved head and tattoos all over his arms. He was wielding two large, heavy axes, and John could see that he was going to be a formidable opponent.

The man charged at John, swinging his axes with all his might. John quickly dodged out of the way, and delivered a swift kick to the man's side. The man stumbled back, but quickly regained his footing and charged again.

John sidestepped the attack, and swung his sword at the man's arm. The man managed to block the attack with one of his axes, but John had already anticipated this and followed up with a quick strike to the man's stomach.

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The crowd cheered as the man fell to the ground, defeated.

The next fighter was a small, wiry man with a shaved head and a large scar on his face. He was wielding a pair of long, thin blades, and moved with incredible speed and agility.

John knew he had to be careful with this one. He circled the man, waiting for an opening. Suddenly, the man lunged forward, his blades flashing.

John ducked under the attack and slashed at the man's legs. The man leapt back, narrowly avoiding the attack, and charged again.

The two clashed swords, their blades ringing out in the Colosseum. John could see the determination in the man's eyes, and knew that he was a skilled fighter.

After a grueling battle, John emerged victorious.

The next fighter was a massive, hulking brute with an enormous hammer. He was covered in thick, matted fur, and had a fierce look in his eyes.

John took a deep breath and charged forward, his sword held high. The brute swung his hammer with all his might, but John managed to dodge out of the way at the last moment.

He delivered a swift strike to the brute's side, but the attack barely seemed to faze him. The brute laughed and swung his hammer again.

John dodged the attack and slashed at the brute's arm. The brute roared in pain, but didn't go down. He swung his hammer again, but John managed to grab hold of the weapon and wrestle it out of the brute's hands.

The crowd gasped as John lifted the hammer high above his head and brought it crashing down on the brute's head, knocking him out cold.

The next fighter was a graceful woman with a slender frame and a pair of curved swords. She moved with fluid elegance, her blades flashing in the sun.

John knew he had to be careful with her. He circled her, waiting for an opening. Suddenly, she lunged forward, her blades slicing through the air.

John managed to deflect the attack with his shield, and countered with a quick strike to her legs. She stumbled, but quickly regained her footing and charged again.

The two clashed swords, their blades ringing out in the Colosseum. John could see the beauty and grace in the woman's movements, and knew that she was a skilled fighter.

In the end, John managed to disarm her and deliver a finishing blow, emerging victorious once again.

The next fighter was a mysterious figure, cloaked in shadow. He wielded a pair of glowing daggers, and moved with incredible speed and agility.

John couldn't see the figure's face, but he could feel the intensity of his gaze. The two circled each other, waiting for an opening.

Suddenly, the figure lunged forward, his daggers flashing. John managed to deflect the attack with his shield, and countered with a quick strike to the figure's chest.

The figure stumbled back, but quickly regained his footing and charged again. The two clashed swords, their blades ringing out loudly in the arena. John could see the determination in his opponent's eyes, and he knew this would be a tough fight.

As the battle raged on, John could feel his strength waning. His opponent was skilled, and he had already taken a few hits. But John was determined to win, and he fought back with all his might.

Suddenly, the figure leapt into the air, and John quickly raised his shield to block the attack. The impact sent John stumbling back, but he managed to stay on his feet.

The figure landed gracefully and charged again, his sword flashing in the sunlight. John dodged and weaved, trying to find an opening, but his opponent was too fast.

Just as John was starting to lose hope, he noticed a weakness in his opponent's defense. With a quick feint, he managed to get past his guard and land a powerful blow to his side.

The figure stumbled back, but quickly regained his footing and charged again. The two clashed swords, their blades ringing out loudly in the arena. John could see the determination in his opponent's eyes, and he knew this would be a tough fight.

The next few rounds were just as intense, with John facing off against some of the toughest fighters he had ever encountered. Each one had their own unique style and abilities, making the battles all the more exciting.

One fighter was a burly man wielding a massive two-handed sword. Another was a lithe woman who moved like a dancer, her long whip cracking through the air.

As the final round approached, John was exhausted, but he refused to give up. He faced off against a towering giant, who wielded a massive axe with ease. The two clashed, their weapons ringing out like thunder.

Despite the giant's size and strength, John managed to dodge his attacks and land a few blows of his own. The crowd roared with excitement as the two continued to battle, their weapons flashing in the sunlight.

Finally, with one swift stroke, John landed the finishing blow. The giant stumbled back and collapsed onto the ground, defeated.

The crowd erupted into cheers, and John was declared the winner of the tournament. As he stood in the center of the arena, catching his breath.

Then trumpets played as magic fireworks shot into the sky exploding creating radience that was very beautiful. In the middle of the stage there opened from it a trap door from which the Viper appeared. His appearance still the same a lanky man with combed-back blond hair approached him. He was still wearing the same suit with an emblem of stars sewn into its chest area, and his face was gentle and amiable behind his sleek, and shaved glasses.

John tensed up as a showdown brewed.