Blood filled the arena. A terrifying sight, yet it brought a dark laugh from within me. How could these fools gamble their lives on luck like this? I heard they risked everything for money, that they were once homeless, living without hope. But relying solely on chance like that? It's pure stupidity. But then again, isn't it oddly entertaining?

I chuckled again as we moved the bodies to the furnace. The sight of the blood was horrifying, yes, but it also made me laugh. A strange mix of fear and enjoyment. I felt as if they had chosen me carefully for this role. I was perfectly suited for this place.

As we burned the bodies, a strange feeling washed over me. The heat, the scent, the transformation into ash— it was odd, but it didn't disturb me.

Some might think I was once a poor, kind-hearted son, helping my father, and that's what I always showed. But what I never told my father was the pleasure I felt when I grabbed one of those who once belittled me.

I remember it clearly, how I would grab them and throw them to the ground, smashing their heads and stomping on their bodies. The fountain of blood before me wasn’t something horrifying; instead, it was a mesmerizing spectacle.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

Now, standing here, I feel that I was born for this game. Every moment of my life led me to this place. Every body I see, every drop of blood spilling, reassures me that I am a part of this world.

I noticed some of the soldiers among us taking the bodies to a secret place. What caught my attention was that some of these bodies seemed to pulse with faint signs of life. I raised an eyebrow, bewildered. Could it be that one of these fools was still struggling to stay alive?

I couldn't help but laugh quietly. Somehow, I found myself following them, though I wasn't sure exactly what was going on. What intrigued me further was that they had removed their masks. The situation was getting stranger, but more fascinating. They were holding sharp tools, as if dissecting one of the bodies.

They moved toward me cautiously, threatening to interrogate me. But I spoke first, my voice calm and mocking:

"How could you fools not tell me there was this masterpiece here?"

I pointed to the body on the table. Then I added:

"And the doctor explaining it? Yes, I’ve seen him before. He was one of the players in the game."

I laughed again. This was becoming even more interesting than I’d expected.

They grew tense, but finally said in a low voice:

"Don’t expose what you see here. Don’t mention it to anyone."

"Don’t worry, I won’t say a word."

I left them and made my way back to my room, preparing for the next day. In that moment, I knew that there was much more awaiting me in this strange world.