Patrick POV

I couldn’t believe what I was seeing today. I knew from the start, Atkozott had enormous battle potential, but this much? It was almost ridiculous how fast he healed. Recalling how his previous owners ended up left a creeping notion at the back of my mind. Shaking my head, I focus on the fight. He was up against a human tank, probably old Richards slave. Beh, that fool always does this, equips his fighters with top-grade equipment and steamrolls through the ranks. Just as the man cleaved Atkozott’s flank, my good slave spit in his eyes and decapitated the fool once he removed his helmet stupidly. Squinting my eyes at Richard, I grin seeing his pale expression. Another profitable win, just from this fight I got 400 gold, not to mention the other winnings Atkozott so efficiently put in my pocket. A few more like this and I will have already paid off my investment and will start earning pure profit.

Although he has proven to be a cruel bastard, not to mention unspeakably disrespectful, I now see my mild tolerance has paid off. I can’t ever be lenient with him, but a little overlooking of some minor things won’t kill me. Hah, I have nothing to worry about, the slave contract will keep me more than safe.

I couldn’t help but frown. Not once has he referred to me as master or bowed his head willingly, the damn monster doesn’t have a single subservient bone in his body. Pigheaded, short tempered and vengeful. The worst kind of slave. He isn't afraid of pain or my threats. That is quite unnerving.

The horn sounded, he glared at me while showing his intimidating fangs and exited, holding his wound. That savage disposition and those hateful glares... I can tell he wants to rip me apart... After every fight, I swear, he glared with more and more animosity. He's too intelligent for a young monster which only proves his dangerous nature. How does he even know what freedom is? Wasn't he born to a contract?

It makes me feel like something's not right with him. Maybe it would be best to sell him off once I earn a decent profit. I don’t need something like that in my life. That deep, hateful bloodthirst he releases my way makes me feel like I'm about to be torn to shreds. It’s not healthy at my age.

The way he speaks and acts is completely different than it should be. Normal monsters can be persuaded and subdued by pain, but not Atkozott. Instead of lowering his head in defeat, it makes him more defiant and resentful. He has the strength and the brutality of a perfect killer. I've never seen anyone being this vicious in fights since I rarely take slaves to the Colosseum.

He smiles every time he hurts someone and makes them bleed. He enjoys it. It's disturbing. I can't help but wonder about his origins. Have I bitten off more than I can chew? Life has flashed before my eyes many times from the day I bought him. Keeping him as a slave is not a laughing matter, nor is it easy keeping up my straight mask of calm. I know that, the moment I show weakness, he will abuse it. That would be bad. You can't show natural predators like Atkozott flaws. I have confidence in my act and have worked on it for decades. I'm certain it's flawless. There's no way he could see through me.

Sighing, I stand to leave. His next fight should be in half an hour. Clay followed me silently as we made our way to the Pits VIP lounge. Getting some refreshments, I smiled amicably and approached some known faces, mingling. Connections were an important thing. This was a prime opportunity to forge some. A friendly bet or two are always welcome.

Just as Atkozott’s next fight was approaching its beginning, I double checked with the announcer if everything was arranged. After confirming, I took my usual seat. There was no way I wouldn’t be nervous about this move. Let’s hope he survives.

***

The explosion inside the Pits shook the whole stadium. Thankfully, the barrier held fast, not letting the heat in. Jumping to my feet, I leaned on the fence with wide eyes. Atkozott was rolling on the ground with the crazy witch before hitting the wall. The vile sound of the woman’s shattering body echoed in the silent Pits, making me nearly gag in disgust. He fell over. He wasn’t moving. Shit. Did I overestimate him? I was sure his regenerative abilities were strong enough! The horn sounded, “LADIES AND GENTLEMEN! WHAT A SHOW?! WE HAVE A WINNER!? GIVE IT UP FOR THE RIPPER!!!” The crowd erupted, allowing me to sigh in relief. With this, I completely covered my losses.

Grinning in satisfaction, I couldn’t help but laugh, “Clay! Go instruct the healers to take care of my slave! I’ll foot the bill! HAHAHA!” feeling my desire for gold rise, I sighed happily. As I thought, earning money was the best.

***

Making our way to the infirmary, I glanced at Clay with a smile, “So, did your bets pay off?” His eyes widened before grinning, “Of course boss, it’s always a pleasure working for you, heh.” Nodding with a laugh, I see the double doors with a wooden plaque saying Infirmary. Knocking lightly, I wait, “You should stay here for now, I won’t be long.” He shrugged and leaned on the side.

The door opened a minute later, an older gentleman in light green robes stained with blood opened the door with a frown. His round glasses reflected me as his brow furrowed. His sandy hair was cut short, almost bald while the goatee looked distasteful on the healer. Black, thin gloves were on his hands while the robe reached his feet, an insignia of the Mages Association on his chest, “Whatddaya need?” he asked with a croaking voice, his annoyance apparent.

Clearing my throat in displeasure, I frowned, “I am here so see my slave, Atkozott.”

Opening the doors, he scratched his head in thought, “Which one was that again?”

“The cooked one.” I mutter, very irritated by this man’s lack of manners. Snorting inwardly, I found it hard to believe a man like this would be a member of the Association.

His back suddenly straightened as an “Aha” escaped his lips, “Oh, so that one is yours?” looking me up and down, he gave a toothy grin, “Come on in Sir Sullwa.”

Slightly surprised he knew my name, I entered. The infirmary was large. A few apprentices were running around, working with the many injured fighters. There were a lot of sections as the healer led me to a corner. Seeing the special ward entrance and his personal office, I was even more flabbergasted. Walking in, I immediately spotted Atkozott, though he was a bit difficult recognize. His entire body was bandaged, a revolting odor coming off the gauzes. Only his horns were visible as he laid there on the bed like a mummy. The steady rising and falling of his chest the only proof he was alive.

The healer sat behind his desk and gestured to the opposite chair. The room had multiple shelves and glass cabinets, glow stones embed into the walls to give light. It smelled highly of disinfectants. Taking my seat, I looked at the healer in confusion, “What is the meaning of this? Why is he here? I am not paying for the special service if that’s your angle. I arranged regular healing.” I spat in threat.

The man waved his arms and chuckled, “No such thing, Sir Sullwa. I merely acted on the Lord’s orders.” He leaned forward, crossing his fingers and resting his elbows on the desk, “The thing is, you have a very unique slave. In fact, not only have we confirmed he’s one of a kind, but the bloodline he carries is truly scary.” laughing, he lowered his head.

Staring in shock, my mouth opened and closed on its own before I finally managed to ask, “Well what is he?!”

Snorting, the healer narrowed his eyes, waving a finger, “Now that, you will have to pay for.”

Gritting my teeth, I glanced at Atkozott, the little voice in my head telling me it’s not worth it, but my curiosity persisted for once, “How much?”

Smiling, he lifted four fingers, “400 gold.”

Nearly falling over at hearing the price, I glared, “That is way too much!” the healer shrugged, “That’s the price for high-value information from the Codex, it’s out of my hands.”

Tapping my foot, I contemplated the offer. He’s right. If the information came from a read inside the Codex, then the price should match its value. My desire to know his secrets was currently stronger than my love for gold. I’ll get it back anyway. The return from the Ring should be at least double the Pits. With gritted teeth, I asked for a pen. Signing the guarantee of payment, I couldn’t take it anymore, “Well?!”

Nodding in satisfaction, he put away the bill and grinned, “Now see, at first glance, your slave has some obvious demonic qualities, but there are no demons so reptilian in nature. After processing his bloodline through the Codex, we learned he is actually a crossbreed.” he paused dramatically before continuing, “The ridiculous regeneration, the corrosive blood, his inclination to snap at any provocation? Ring any bells?” reaching the limit of my tolerance, I stood up and slammed my palms on his desk, “Get to the point!” Putting his hands up in jest, he chuckled, “A Hydra. Your slave is part Hydra.”

My mind went blank before I shouted, “WHAT?! That’s impossible!” gesturing to the prone slave, I ripped at my hair if I had any, “Look at him! He’s humanoid!”

The healer shrugged, “So? That just proves what I said before. He is one of a kind. For an offspring to appear between a Hydra and a Demon, do you know what that entails?” removing his glasses, he stared at me seriously for once, his gray eyes sharp, “It means that, not only was his mother an Ancient, but he is over 2000 years old. The Codex doesn’t lie. That slave of yours was in his egg for a long time before he hatched. Most likely dormant. There hasn’t been a sighting of an Ancient for over a 100 years. Not to mention, we know close to nothing about his father, other than him being one of the olden demons. I’m not talking about the demons we have today. I’m sure you know the history, they used to be a warmongering tribe excelling in both magic and combat until we cursed their bloodlines, forcing them the dwindle in numbers and be born as cripples for magic. Your slave is a mix of two of the most ill-tempered and vindictive species known to us.” he sighed. I sat back down, overloaded with the things he was telling me.

Putting his glasses back on, he continued, “Sir Sullwa, with all due respect, you are out of your depth. Do yourself a favor and sell him to us. We’ll compensate you generously.” After carefully considering all the information and his offer, I came to a conclusion that I really did hit a jackpot. Suddenly smiling, I laughed in joy. One of a kind! I can actually hope to enter the stage of the Arena this year! The prestige and honor, so much gold, the business partners will come in flocks! The little voice spewing doubt in the back of my mind was quickly crushed, as I almost broke into a dance.

“No. I’ll be by a bit later to pick him up. When will he be ready to fight?” I ask with a smile, my mood was over the top good.

The healer shrugged, “Alright, suit yourself, the Colosseum never forces an issue.” glancing at Atkozott, he scratched his chin, “Well, he’ll be good to go in 2 hours.” I gaped at the short timeframe. I was fully expecting him to need at least a day or two. Humming happily, I put my hands behind my back, “Then I will go sign him up immediately. No point in wasting time.”

Atkozott POV

I woke up to the sound of the door opening and closing. Feeling disoriented, I went to touch my face and realized there were bandages all over me. Putting my arm back down, I decided to lay there in silence, my senses telling me enough. The recollection of the fight went through my mind, making me groan softly. The bitch really did a number on me. Good thing I was already half healed. My hearing was back and the smell was horrible. I could tell it wasn’t from an infection but some kind of cream that was put under the bandages, it made my wounds itch.

Listening around, I was surprised to hear Patrick’s voice outside, soon, footsteps followed. After the two people shuffled around the room a bit, they began talking.

I would recognize Patrick’s annoying voice anywhere, “What is the meaning of this? Why is he here? I am not paying for the special service if that’s your angle. I arranged regular healing.” Playing dead and listening in on their conversation, I learned the other man was the healer. I grew confused as their topic turned to my origin, but equally as curious. What was a Codex?

The next sentence almost made me inhale sharply. A crossbreed between a Hydra and a Demon. Some things made a lot more sense now, but over 2000 years? What the hell, how was that possible? The next question from the healer made me pause. It meant the man known as Evergreen took notice of me already. I must have seriously underestimated my value if he actually paid attention to a rookie in the Pits. But Patrick’s answer caught me off guard, he declined. I quickly realized why. The greed in his voice was overflowing. He was going to up the ante my fights...

Holding back a curse, I listened as he left the room and furrowed my brows. The healer lied to him, I could sense my body would be good to go in an hour or so. Maybe he couldn’t tell? Unlikely, the man was shrewd from what I could tell. What is he up to?

He hummed a song as I heard opening and closing of cabinets. Some shuffling later, he spoke, “My Lord. Yes. He declined.”

As far as I could tell he was talking to air, but that would be denying the fact that with magic, anything was likely. He was silent for a few minutes, probably listening to Evergreen, “Yes, Lord, since he didn’t accept, I didn’t tell him.” silence again.

“Yes, I will do so. Farewell.” he put something back in the drawer with a thud and stood, approaching my bedside. Figuring this would be a good time to ‘wake up’, I twitched and groaned.

“Oho, awake at last. How are you feeling m’boy?” the way he spoke was disturbingly different from before. He removed the bandages from my head, the light blinding me slightly. After adjusting, I stared at the man in the light green robe, “Where am I?” I groaned, even though I already knew.

“The infirmary. You sustained pretty heavy injuries during your fight. Had to do surgery on your tail since the metal shards were still inside you. Please look here.” frowning, I did as he said. Looking at my eyes, he nodded lightly, “The concussion is gone and I see your hair is growing back. You have some amazing recovery m’boy.” he said with a kind, jolly voice.

With a grunt, I ignored his little charade and looked around the office. The shelves were full of vials and jars. I was glancing around with disinterest while the man casually checked my healing progression, removing the bandages. I spotted something I actually recognized on one of the shelfs. It was a glass vial labeled Viridan Thornrose. I only knew what it was because it comes from a certain plant monster, a creature called Rootstalker. The thing usually lived underground, forming a beautiful rose bush above its lair. These roses would attract insects and beast alike, serving as food for the Rootstalker. The danger level on the creature would have been quite low if it wasn’t for the toxin the roses and thorns held. They call the substance Viridan Thornrose more popularly.

This substance would cause mild hallucinations and loss of bodily control, making the numbed prey easy to just suck in through the ground. In larger dosages it would induce fast acting psychosis. But the amount in that vial? It was very likely the effects would be horrifying, rendering the consumer totally senseless and insane. That... if I could get the vial, I could write Patrick off for good. That is, if I could somehow jam it down his throat.

“Well, everything seems to be in order save the scabs. They should be good to go in an hour or so. You should rest up for now, your master wishes for you to participate in the Ring today.” he said and put away his gloves, replacing them with new ones, “You should still be in a lot of pain.”

Walking to one of the cabinets, he brought me a round, white pill, “Here, it ought to help with the pain.” he brought the thing to my mouth, making me growl in threat, “I don’t want it. Piss off.” I knew that poison would evaporate when in contact with my blood, but I didn’t want to find out the effects of ingesting it. I don’t care if it was a painkiller, the last thing on my mind is trusting this snake.

He jumped back and stared at me strangely before shrugging and putting it away, “No need to snarl. I have other patients to check on so be a good slave and stay in bed, hm? Healers orders.” putting his hands in his pockets he left while humming. The door closed behind him. Eyeing the door, I tried to get up. With a gasp, I found I couldn’t budge. The hell? Trying again, it was confirmed, I couldn’t move. Staring at that vial of Thornrose with longing, I tried moving my tail, its length should be enough to reach it. I could move it, but barely. I felt weak which was unusual, even in this state. Like this, I’ll just end up breaking the damn thing. Did he give me something before I woke up? I felt groggy. I gave up for now. Maybe an opportunity would present itself later. With heavy eyes, I couldn’t keep myself awake.

***

By the time I woke up, all the bandages were removed and I was in prime condition. Sitting up, I rolled my shoulders, feeling amazing. Who knew a little rest would go a long way? The healer was scribbling something behind his desk before lifting his eyes and giving me a glance. Smiling he whistled, “You know, I wouldn’t have believed it if I hadn’t seen it for myself. That’s some scary regeneration. Any idea how you can do that?” he probed.

I frowned and stood up, stretching slightly, “No clue.” I said courtly before taking the glass of water on the bedside and sniffing it. Seeing there was nothing out of the ordinary, I drank and sighed. My mouth was too dry. Something banged outside as fast steps approached. Patrick burst in a second later with a wide grin, “I see you’re finally healed! Good! Good! Let’s go, your fight is in 20 minutes.”

He was seriously a bastard. With a hiss, I walked to the door, not even looking back at the healer. Patrick took a step back and turned on his heel, walking out. Staying quiet, I followed. I need to get into that infirmary again, shouldn’t be much of an issue. The Thornrose was my way out. If I can’t kill Patrick, I’ll just mind fuck him into retardation.

It took 10 minutes of fast walking to reach the area of the Ring. The sheer size of this Colosseum was no joke. Instead of an attendant showing me the way, Patrick and Clay did it personally. Stopping in front of a metal gate, he clapped happily, “Since you’re a C rank now, you’re eligible for the Ring. I signed you up for a chain fight after seeing how well you did in the Pits. Good luck! Be sure to win, my little goldmine.” he rubbed his hands together while greed shone in his eyes.

I glared at him, having no desire to speak to scum as I entered through the metal gate. After it closed, I was confused. There was nothing on the other end. Glancing back at the bastard, he smiled and waved goodbye.

A sudden feeling of weightlessness made me nearly lose my balance and fall over. I managed to brace in time as the floor moved downwards for a few seconds before stopping. I could hear the cheering. Watching past the grates, I gaped in shock. The Ring was very different from the Pits. For starters, it was underground. It was a huge cave that held an enormous iron cage enforced with magical enchantments and electrical currents. I could tell because I was in the middle. The crowd was visible this time, though a bit dimmed. Since I could see in the dark, I had no issues. The seats surrounded the ring, already filled to the brim. The only way in or out as far as I could tell was the large metal door on the opposite side of the cage.

At least some of my armor had survived, currently consisting of the charred vest and torn pants, my knees were covered with the metal pads that managed to endure the inferno. The moisture in the air of the cave made me feel uncomfortable as the gates of my ‘lift’ opened. The Ring was slightly smaller than the Pits, the diameter seemingly around 70 meters or so. Nonetheless, the audience was plentiful. Sighing in annoyance, I shook my head. The lift that brought me down went back up, the cage opening at the top as the platform vanished into a dark hole in the ceiling. This was definitely Gnome handiwork.

I appear to have become quite famous since I didn't lose a single fight after coming to the Colosseum. Well, losing would have meant death. Their faces were filled with expectation and excitement. Morons. What surprised me was the lack of an announcer.

Feeling the ground slightly vibrate, I stared as the other door opened with a loud crash. On the further side stood a huge, bloated Ogre. His skin was dark green, red eyes with horizontal pupils glared at me hungrily while two short tusks stuck out of his elongated mouth. His overall size – way too big. Like, overshadow me like a fucking hill big. If I were to compare the two of us, I'd probably only reach to his waist, his height going past 3 meters. He had a hideous face, covered with multiple scars while his bald head was coated with grime and dirt. Grinning down at me, he flashed his crooked, yellow teeth as he slobbered like a dog. I don't think he could close his mouth.

He was wearing a set of heavy armor while holding an axe as big as me in his hand. How did they even craft that thing?! He smelled horrible. The putrid stench made me gag, reminding me of that nasty piece of meat the two morons had tried to feed me. I couldn't tell which was worse, but once he started to talk, I knew...

He stank worse by far.

"Bahahahaha! What is that puny thing? Am I supposed to fight that little gecko? Don't worry little man, I'll make your death quick then eat you, I’ll take your place. You won't even notice that you've been cleaved in half. Hahahaha!" he wallowed as he roared with laughter, snorting like a pig in the process.

A vein popped out on my forehead at the gecko comment. Does he even know what a gecko is? Do they have those here?

Crossing my arms, I brazenly stared up at him and grinned, "Oh? Is that so? Would you mind killing me from way over there then? I'm afraid that I might suffocate to death before the fight even begins. Do you bathe in your own shit or something? I bet your mother couldn't wash away the stench out of her vagina once she gave birth to you. Did she sell you because you stunk or was it because you looked like the inside of the large intestine? Maybe you came out of it. That would explain why you smell like excrement." I said with a sneer, replying in kind to his verbal provocations.

Flicking my tongue out, I greatly enjoyed his reaction. Heh, he seemed ready to vomit blood. He was going to answer my insult while his chest heaved with rage. However, a horn sounded, marking the beginning of the fight. Before he had a chance to attack first, I took a page out of the Kavar’s book and dashed at him with full speed. I dodged as he swung his axe down, reacting quicker than I thought he would. With a side step and a turn, I was behind him.

Striking out low with my claws, I tried to slash the back of his ankles, but the heavy armor was thicker than I believed. Though not as sturdy as the metal man from the Pits, the armor was left with deep incisions on the metal. The enchantment on it must have been weaker. Cursing, I dodged his fist as he roared in rage, slamming it onto the ground. Well, if it worked on the angry Viking in the woods, it should work on this overgrown swamp monster.

Jumping up, I latched onto his side, digging my claws into the small openings on his armor. Focusing on these openings, I pushed my claws into his flesh while driving my tail beneath his plate armor, sharpening it instantly. Because he was such a big fellow, the armor naturally had to have more parts, resulting in these cracks within his defense. He screamed, moving around in panic when he felt my attack go past his armor. While he was trying to throw me off, grabbing for me, I was forced to sway around. If he caught me, I would be in trouble. I dragged my tail along the surface of his abdomen, digging it deeper into his flesh with every move. Blood flowed down his legs, but I still didn't reach his vitals! How much muscle mass was between his skin and organs?!

I glided slightly, the blood making his armor slippery. He grabbed me with a roar and tossed me on the ground with enough force to shatter my ribs and spew blood. Then he swung his axe above his head and downwards. Knowing this would seriously kill me if it hit, I hissed in pain and tossed myself to the side, rolling far enough to dodge but hitting the cage in the process. A strong currency of lightning passed through me, making my teeth chatter while I felt the ground shake from the force of his blow. I needed to get myself together. Groaning, I sat up just to see him charging at me like a maniac. Seeing there was enough room between his legs, I tensed up, prepared to jump.

His axe once again missed as I rolled past him and once again climbed up his armor, not stopping until I reached his head.

“PUNY MAN! HOLD STILL!” he roared, grabbing for me again. Ducking out of the way, I climbed around his body, going up with precise movement, bearing the pain in my chest. His half muscular, half fat body was too impenetrable. Targeting his ugly face was the simplest way to win, but it wasn't easy holding on to the moving mountain of an Ogre when all I had were small cracks in the armor.

Seeing a punch coming my way, I couldn’t find any way to dodge so I clenched my teeth and hooked my claws to his armor tightly. The punch felt like a sledgehammer slamming into my gut. He failed to push me off, but he did manage to loosen his own armor since I was holding on tightly. The water I drank earlier came out as I vomited all over him. With a pissed growl, I dug my claws even deeper since the armor became movable, making him scream in pain as I held on to his shoulder. I was very near his neck so the punch didn’t have a good angle to actually incapacitate me. Taking this opportunity, I grabbed the shoulder guard on his right arm and ripped it away.

Trying to strike me again, I sunk my claws into his collarbone and swung to his back again. I smirked and swirled my tail around his exposed biceps. Cutting into it with a tight squeeze, I left his arm hanging on a small piece of bone before it completely fell off. He screamed in agony and charged at the wall of the cage like a maddened beast. Narrowing my eyes, I jumped off, making sure to give him a kick boost. Slamming into the electrified bars, the Ogre screamed and the smell of burnt blood spread, as more pieces of armor fell off, giving me a clear view of his neck.

I clicked my tongue in annoyance. Until now I gave him deep wounds, but none of them were fatal. He might bleed out from that stump, but as far as I can see, he's still quite lively despite the electrotherapy.

Charging at him just as the spell stopped, I tried slashing at his exposed neck, attempting to finish it there and then, but it didn't go quite as planned. I was suddenly thrown back by a strong kick, making me fly all the way to the other side of the huge cage. Luckily, I didn’t hit the bars this time. With a grunt, my back and face were burning in pain. Blood flowed from my lips as I coughed and flinched.

'Shit. I feel dizzy again.' I thought as my vision blurred. His sheer strength was ridiculous. Even though he wasn't as fast as me, he wasn't slow either. I heard heavy footsteps approaching me, gradually becoming faster as he broke out in a charge. I still couldn't focus my vision. Moaning, I grabbed my head and cursed. I definitely got a nasty concussion again. I was recovering, but it wasn't fast enough. My head took longer to heal than my bones. It was probably because the brain was the most complicated part of the body.

Lifting my gaze, I was just in time to see the Ogre swing his huge battle-axe down at me with one arm. Mustering my strength, I rolled away, but wasn't fast enough to evade completely. Hissing in pain, I grab my shoulder and keep dodging his sudden onslaught. He swung the weapon around blindly. He was thoroughly berserk. I didn't have the luxury to check the damage. I ran as fast as I could to the other side, making some distance between us. Reaching the furthest corner from the angry fatso, I glance to the side to assess the damage.

Gritting my teeth, I stare at the bloody stump where the arm was missing at my shoulder. I turned my spiteful glare at the Ogre. He was standing with his axe in hand, panting but grinning down at my severed limb in satisfaction. The floor was turning red as my bleeding gradually stopped.

My arm lied on the other side, still twitching occasionally. An arm for an arm, huh? Bastard. Narrowing my eyes, I forcibly calmed myself and released my shoulder. We were both catching our breaths while glaring. Staring at my severed arm, I tilt my head, wondering if I could reattach it.

The Ogre lifted his weapon and ran after me. He was surprisingly fast as he went for the kill. I need to get to my arm...

As soon as he was close enough, the axe came down like a deadly guillotine. At that same moment, I moved around him. He automatically grabbed behind himself, thinking I was trying to climb him again as he dropped his axe. Without slowing down, I continued my dash until I reached the severed limb. All I can do now is pray that this works.

Grabbing it, I press the arm against my bleeding stump. The pain was horrible, but I could feel my muscles and nerves connecting with remarkable speed. It only took a few seconds to reattach, I couldn’t use it quite yet, but in a couple of minutes it should be good. It was still throbbing with sharp stings of pain. At least, I didn't lose it.

Moving my fingers to form a fist, then lifting a middle finger, I grin at the enraged ogre with mockery. His eyes were wide in shock as he roared with blind rage and charged. Brainless. I prepare my good arm and tense as my muscles groan. In his anger, he forgot his axe. As he struck down with his fist, I moved to the side and jumped up. Using his shock to my advantage, I wrapped my tail around his now exposed neck. It easily went past his flesh and spine as I landed on the other side.

His head flew through the air, his knees giving out as the huge body collapsed. While I panted, the crowd cheered. A team of employees immediately walked in to take care of the corpse, dragging it away along with the axe.

Waiting for the lift to come down, I frown when nothing happens. I look around with a bad feeling in my gut. I notice the bastard in the audience giving me the thumbs up as he smiles.

I scowl, "What the hell is going on?"

My eyes widen in realization when I remember a certain paragraph from that booklet I read about the Colosseum. No fucking way. That greedy swine signed me up for chain fights, God, he even said it before! Motherfucker, I ignored him! If I survive this, my rank will automatically rise to A. However, I need to fight and kill until the horn sounds. This shit usually lasts for hours!

Whoever was left standing had to continue the fight. Clenching my jaw, I send a cold glare at Patrick, 'I'll make you suffer for this.'

Bitterly, I turn around to face my next opponent.