Hot sand scraped over Aegis' skin. He could feel the fiery sand under his body as he rolled on it in discomfort. Roars of spectators penetrated his ears as the Arena stands loomed around the battleground, and he coughed. Splatters of blood fell on his torn black leather armour. The crimson blood shone bright as two balls of fire up in the orange sky above the Arena loomed.
His gaze swept the Colossal Arena stands, rose tier by tier until a golden dais crowned the top. The sand covered a huge area between Aegis and the Lowest stand of the Arena.
Aegis's black eyes stared into the orange sky above, his red pupils shrank as the sunlight penetrated his iris. The four horns on his head had tiny cuts, and his hair looked dirty.
Is this what peace looks like?
His jaw was loosened, and a wheeze escaped his fangs as he exhaled.
However, a growl echoed to his right. Aegis turned his head to see a Fiend, his crimson skin shone as sweat rolled down. His two long horns glowed red, and a smirk appeared on his scarred face. Matted long hair that dangled in front of his face was swept back as the fiend ran his hand through his hair.
The gladiator straightened his back and spoke, and his rough voice resounded.
"I had fun! You fought just like your father!"
The crowds of horned fiends in the arena stands screamed,
"Kill that Bastard!"
"No cambion should disrespect us again!"
"Halfbreds should suffer!"
Multiple voices echoed in the Giant Arena as they roared, and the small rocks near Aegis's head shook as the crowd flocked toward the metal railings. Children, Adults, Men, and women, Nobody stood still.
The fiend in the arena with Aegis moved toward him. He gripped an elegant rapier in his hands. Its tip was coated in blood, Aegis's blood. The iron boots of the gladiator made a noise when they met the sand.
Thud-Thud-Thud.
With each step, the cheers grew louder. The metal armour clanked as the gladiator moved toward Aegis. A velvet shroud hung on the right side of the gladiator's armor fluttered in the air.
Soon, the gladiator stood in front of Aegis.
A thought appeared in Aegis's head as he looked at the rapier in the gladiator's hand.
Was it worth it?
The rapier then pulled back a few inches and moved. The blade shone as it cut through the air and advanced toward his head. But each second felt like an eternity for Aegis.
Was my gamble worth it?
Even though my stakes were too high, too grave?
Aegis smiled, a bloodied grin was plastered on his face.
Yes!
…