The silence lasted exactly three seconds.
Then the colosseum exploded.
Thousands of voices crashed together in a wave of pure shock. Gamblers who'd bet heavy on the Viper screamed curses at the cage. Those who'd taken the long odds on the unknown masked fighter jumped and pounded each other's shoulders. Coins changed hands.
In the VIP boxes above, a crime boss in a purple silk mask dropped his crystal goblet. Dark wine splashed across his white trousers. He didn't even notice. His eyes were locked on the masked figure standing in the cage.
"What in the world did I just watch?" he muttered.
Near the betting windows, a scarred old man with a leather ledger laughed so hard his shoulders shook. He flipped through pages of handwritten bets, counting stacks of gold coins with greedy fingers.
"Asura," he cackled. "Oh, this masked mystery is going to make me rich."
