Mary’s POV

“What do you mean, he’s been abducted?”

A woman in a winged helmet stood before Mary and the others. She appeared to have a beautiful valiance to her, but her face was almost completely covered. The only things that were visible were her purple eyes and strands of snow-white hair drooping out of the helmet from the impact of the landing.

“… About fifteen minutes ago, Jensen was taken by a man with a cloak. He was really strong. We are still waiting for the games to be either cancelled or resumed. We don’t really know what’s-”

At this moment, a purple beam of light hit the ground next to the winged helmet woman. It was Skylight.

“Winter. What are you doing here?”

“Ah. Sister. So good to see you.”

“I asked what you were doing here.”

“Can I not speak to my sister before talking business?”

“What are you doing here?”

“Cold as ever, I see. I had come to take Jensen, but I see that some worms have beaten me to him.”

“Jensen Livelot was abducted. Before me or the other ‘lended arms’ could reach the infiltrator, he was already gone. This has nothing to do with you.”

“Oh, and I guess it has everything to do with you? Even though you have no interest in the games, you still agreed to participate. I wonder why you would do such a thing?”

“…”

“Could it be that your leader foresaw these events?”

Skylight remained silent.

“It isn’t important. What is important is that I get my hands on him. The games will be ended with this turn of events. If you try to stop me here, I won’t hold back. Listen to your older sister for once, you defiant child.”

Skylight grinded her teeth. Winter continued to speak.

“Girl.” She turned toward Mary.

“Were there any unique features of the abductor?”

‘Unique features? Other than his ungodly strength? Wait, there was one thing…’

“He had hooves and a large body. The cloak blocked the rest of the view.”

“Hooves. That’s going to be… troublesome.”

The woman brought her hand to her chin as if in deep thought.

“Well, I’ll be off then, Skylight. Try not to cause to much trouble for Father.”

With these words, Winter soared back into the sky as a beam of light.

“Like you’re one to talk…” Skylight muttered.

Jensen’s POV

Jensen lied in a dark room with cold stones as the floor. His eyes began to open for the first time since being defeated in the games. Looking around, he noticed that he was in a room with the only exit being blocked by metal bars. He began to get up to look out the bars, but realized that his hands were bound and his neck was chained to the back wall. ‘The only logical answer to this turn of events is that I’ve been abducted. While I do not know the exact reason for this, considering I’m not dead yet, I can assume that they will not kill me as long as I cooperate with their desires.’

Suddenly, a door being opened down the hallway could be heard. The sound of heavy footsteps soon arrived in front of Jensen’s cell. The man in front of Jensen was thoroughly shocking in appearance. Standing at about 6 feet tall, he had the face and paws of a Timber wolf. Donning leather armor, he was clearly a guard of this place. Somehow, he was able to hold onto a spear despite the lack of thumbs. The wolf-man opened the cell and led Jensen out without saying a word. Walking behind the man, the people in passing cells began to yell at them.

“A human?”

“Hahaha! A human will be fighting in the Gladiator Sponsorships? He will surely die!”

“You fool. No one will pick him to sponsor in the first place, so he’ll just be put to death.” A thundering voice from outside the jail boomed throughout the area.

“Ladies and gentlemen. Please direct your attention to a special product that we procured through quick decision making and opportunistic choices. This person is somewhat of a celebrity- coming from Earth, former favorite of the Galactic Survival Games- I now present to you… Jensen Livelot!”

A booming roar of cheers could be heard from outside. Quaking the entire area like an earthquake, it would appear that Jensen had caused quiet the splash in the universe with his declaration of future conquest.

Jensen heard these words and began to piece together a rough estimate of what had happened. This place was a simple slave trader for an event known as the Gladiator Sponsorships. He was getting ready to be auctioned off to possible sponsors. If no one took him, then he would be put to death as a useless product. Jensen began to feel nervous as he approached the exit. The wolf-man unbound his hands and gave him one piece of advice while snickering.

“Try not to die.”

With these words, Jensen was pushed through the gate into the arena of cheers.

End of Arc 1