Chapter 18: The Arena of Death and Life (Part 1)
Arthur:
"Ugh... my head... where am I?? What happened... ah right, I kicked that bastard's ass… I feel so hungry… ?!"
I slowly opened my eyes to find myself leaning against the mine wall, and in front of me a bowl of hot meat soup, bread, and a cup of fresh water.
When I saw the food and water, I grabbed the bowl with my hand and started eating like a madman, as if I hadn't eaten for three days. I had consumed a lot of energy in the fight against the guard.
"You're eating too fast, slow down a little or you'll choke." spoke someone with a cheerful smile on his face.
"Hmm?! Aghh.." I choked when I ate the bread.
"See? Didn't I tell you you'll choke if you eat too fast? Here, drink some water."
I took the water and drank it all to the last drop.
"Thank you…"
"Aren't you one of the group that bastard belongs to? Are you the one who gave me the food? You didn't put poison or anything else in it, did you?" After I ate until I was full, my mind finally started working.
"Ah no… I'm Kyle, and the one standing there is Maris, my companion. I want you to be in your best condition, for a certain matter."
"Hello…" said Maris, raising her white hand from afar, leaning against a wall not so close to me.
"Don't be like that, I don't want to kill you. Did my threatening aura decrease?" Kyle raised his hands, stepping back, waving them as he explained his stance, while I stood up from where I had been sitting.
"You mean some matter? Strange, you're not as barbaric as some people in the group you're in, impulsive." I was surprised by his attitude, which made me step back and relax a little.
"Yes, you have a point about that. These mercenaries pay high wages for joining, so I am here, and so is Maris. This group has around 70 members."
Maris approached and started circling around me, her hands behind her back.
"Look how dirty your clothes are, what did you do to end up like this? And I don't see any injuries on your body, strange. Isn't that red on your clothes blood?"
Ah this… thank you and damn you [Skill II Rapid Cell Evolution (Level 1)], I can't reveal my ability to them. I don't trust them, and it's not good to reveal my cards.
"This… I have a healing-type ability." I lied.
"Wow, what a powerful ability that allowed you to stand against that weak braggart." Maris' eyes sparkled.
"Ha.. ha.. ha.. I don't know its name."
"Really? That's a pity." Sadness appeared on her face and one of her cheeks puffed up.
Suddenly, a certain person I knew well appeared, his face fully wrapped, accompanied by two people heading toward me.
The first wore massive red armor with a giant sword on his back. The second was a woman wearing ordinary clothes with a black robe and a strangely-shaped staff in her hand.
When Kyle noticed them, he immediately straightened himself.
"My God! Selene and Rafos, what are they doing here? Two numbered elites: Number 15 and Number 11 of the most troublesome mercenaries. They themselves came here. I warn you, don't do anything strange or you'll know what will happen." Maris whispered in my ear.
---
Claude:
"Hmm… where is he? Claude, don't waste our time." said Selene, the one in the black robe with long white legs. "You know what will happen if you're joking with us."
My spine shivered when I heard her words and I quickly said while rubbing my hands: "Don't worry, I guarantee he will entertain you. I bet my life on it."
"Hmph… bet your life?? What value does your life even have? I don't see any. So stop talking and hurry, show us the boy." said Rafos.
"Alright, this way."
"Kyle, where is that damned slave? Hurry and bring him or we'll see hell." I said in anger and fear.
---
Kyle:
"Here." I pushed that slave toward them. You fool, why did you bring those two in particular from the elites? The most merciless. If they don't like him, we'll really see hell.
---
Arthur:
When I stood before Claude, he looked at me with his wrapped face and a wicked smile.
"Oh, have you returned after wiping your ass from the shit?"
"You… how dare you? I will…"
"What? Shall we go for a second round? Please, I'm waiting… but this time I'll break your balls, not your face… hehehe."
"Arghhh…" Claude stepped back unconsciously.
"Good, that's the spirit I want. I don't want to see a pitiful soul die a miserable death. You are coming with us." said Rafos.
"To where?"
"I'll forgive your stupid question, and I'll answer you as well." he smiled and answered me.
"To the Arena of Death and Life."
—--
In a certain tent inside the camp where Arthur currently was.
There was a man with green hair and green armor with silver edges. He looked in his thirties, sitting at a desk and writing on paper.
Terius:
"Commander Terius, this is me, your left deputy Fidan. May I enter?"
When I heard him, I put down my pen and said: "Enter."
A young man in his twenties entered, with armor on his chest and shoulders, and a sword at his waist.
"What do you want, Fidan? I'm very busy right now."
"Commander Terius, I came to inform you that my squad and I caught a beast, and we are going to hold the Arena of Death and Life."
"The Arena of Death and Life? How long has it been since the last one… fine, allow it, let the members have some fun. What is near is war."
"Ughh… the White Kingdom we are in against the Black Metal Kingdom." I held my neck and started relaxing it.
"What? But why? This is a middle kingdom and that is a high kingdom. Why would they even wage war against such a weak kingdom?"
"Yes, but there's a reason. This kingdom is trapped between two high kingdoms, and those two are going to war with each other. So this kingdom will become their battlefield."
"And since we are at its edges, specifically south of this kingdom and close to the Black Metal Kingdom, a hellish future awaits us if we don't move far away."
"So what are we waiting for, Captain Terius?"
"Don't worry, the defensive lines are still holding strong. So relax and do your duties."
"That's all, you may leave now."
"Yes, Commander Terius."