Nick walked across the arena’s ancient stone floor, keeping pace with his team.
He shut out the murmur of the crowd, millions of voices merging together to create an unending river of sound. He looked up at the statues ringing the top of the stadium, wondering if those fearsome fighters had once been standing here too, preparing themselves for what might well be the final minutes of their lives.
In the heart of that moment, Nick was filled with fierce and contrasting emotions. The fear of death mingled with the relief that he was still alive. His sorrow for the people they’d lost warred with his excitement for this chance to grow stronger. Rising above the rest, lending him the strength to carry on in the face of adversity, was hope.
Hope that they could pull off another victory, granting their entire species better classes and improving their odds of survival. Hope that they would grow powerful enough to pry the Earth free from Taltos’s grasp. Hope that humanity could endure this trial and carve out a place for themselves within this strange new reality.
Nick’s teammates were lost in thoughts of their own, a riot of emotions carved deep into their features. Fear and sorrow. Exhilaration and anxiety. Burning brighter than the rest, he could sense a fierce determination dwelling within each of the brave souls standing beside him.
The intention to fight with everything they had. To bring out the best within themselves, now, when it mattered the most. To win their next battle and secure a future for their species and their planet, no matter what it cost them.
The wind had picked up sometime over the last few minutes. A cool breeze that helped to mitigate the warmth of the alien sun high above. They stood there in silence, preparing themselves to fight for their lives, as the announcer addressed the crowd.
“Please take your seats ladies and gentlemen. The main event is about to begin! Team Earth is back on the field and ready for their decisive battle. Will our challengers triumph, ascending two class rarities at once and securing common classes for their entire species? Or will their hopes be drowned in a sea of their own blood?
“I know where I’m placing my bet, and I can’t wait to find out what happens next! Now that our contestants have taken the field for round two, it’s time to unmask their opponents. This time, instead of pitting them against dangers from another world, we’re having our contenders face off against creatures native to their own planet. Big gray brutes that they call rhinoceroses.”
As the announcer spoke, the crowd began to cheer, and another crystal cage rose from the arena floor. It was quite a bit bigger than the last transparent enclosure and was divided into three separate chambers. Inside each partition stood a massive bull rhinoceros, majestic animals who honestly looked more terrified than hostile. Not that Nick could blame them.
This is bullshit. He wasn’t happy about having to fight innocent animals, who were just as much victims as Nick and his team. He knew that he didn’t have a choice in the matter, and it made him hate Taltos all the more. You can’t afford to hesitate Nick. Your people are counting on you.
If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.
“These magnificent creatures are most certainly dangerous, but they aren’t nearly as aggressive as their appearance would suggest… which is why we’re pumping rage gas into their cages as we speak, getting them all hot and bothered before round two begins. Our proprietary cocktail will make the rhinos stronger, tougher, and utterly fearless, consumed by the need to destroy everything in their path.”
Nick could hear the crowd laughing along with the announcer’s words, and he realized that he was shaking in fury. He forced himself to breathe and allowed himself to be guided by reason. Arctic clarity spread across his mind, cooling his passion, and helping him to focus once more. I’ll make you pay Taltos. I don’t know how, but I will. I swear it.
“I can tell by your tone that you already know about the drug’s little twist.” The crowd roared in response to the announcer’s words. “The gas will make these animals just as likely to turn on each other as attack our contestants, but the chaos is all part of the fun.” As the alien continued playing up the crowd, bright pink vapor began venting into the crystal cages, engulfing the trio of rhinos trapped within.
The instant that they inhaled the first wisps, they started to shake, letting out increasingly furious growls as their muscles began to bulge. In a red flash, the rhinos went utterly berserk, slamming their faces into the crystal walls time and time again. Trying to gore and bite one another with such ferocity that the entire cage was soon rocking back and forth.
“Don’t worry, these walls are impregnable for an E-grade species. They can’t be broken by our four-legged friends, although the same cannot be said of our contestants. Now, without further ado, let’s get this show on the road!”
Nick tensed his muscles and intensified his focus, ready to play his part in their plan the instant that the rhinos were released. This was going to be an even tougher fight than he’d expected, but there was a chance that they could use the gas to help even the odds. If our opponents are enraged and willing to attack each other, we should be able to use that against them. Maybe even… his thought was cut off by the announcer’s next words.
“Hold that thought, esteemed patrons of the labyrinth. I’ve just received word of a special event, and it looks like we’re in for a treat. One of the arenas hosting team Earth will be selected at random, and one of Taltos’s generals will add a special challenge to the fight in question, something that will really get your blood pumping.
“The odds of our humble establishment being chosen are small, but we can watch the event play out on the big screen, then continue with today’s fight. Don’t worry, the rhinos will only get angrier the longer we wait. Thanks to the rage gas, they have more than enough endurance to battle all day long.” At that point, a ball of crimson light appeared in the air above Nick’s head, positioned in the dead center of the arena floor.
“You know all the rules, but I’ll provide a quick overview in case this is anyone’s first time witnessing this event with their own eyes. This light represents a point on a wheel that Taltos will spin. When the arrow is pointing at our arena, the orb will glow green. If the wheel stops on us when it’s done turning, our contestants will be treated to a unique contest, and everyone in the stands will receive a fabulous prize.
“Since this is a System-sanctioned event, the law of balance applies. If the challengers can triumph and overcome this ordeal, they will receive a valuable reward too, unlikely as that outcome may be. It looks like Taltos is ready to begin, so sit back and enjoy the show.”