The amphitheater in Rome was the largest in the whole empire. The extravagant building was given a special name, Colosseum. The arena was large enough to have several fighters to compete at the same time. Yet the main star of the show was not any gladiators, but was Sporus, the bride of the new emperor Nero. Her opponents were the office of consuls and officials who attempted to belittle her. She sat at the royal podium area next to Nero. The caesar was very excited to watch the fight.

“Spiculus! Spiculus!” Nero shouted excitedly. “My dear, Spiculus is my favourite!”

“Your majesty, Spiculus demands to only fight with the best!”

“Yes, of course! It’s my wedding day! I want the best fight!”

“The battle shall begin, with the best gladiators from different city-states. Against the most ferocious lions and beasts. Until the last survive, shall fight against the great Spiculus!” The announcer shouted.

A muscular man gathered a scum and spit it on the dirt floor. “Filthy scum! By the time we get to that fucking Spiculus we’ll be all tired and exhausted. No wonder he kept his fame and glory by claiming that he only wanted to fight with the best.”

Mevia did not make any comment, as not most, but all of her battles, the spectators were expecting her to be dead. That was what noxiis were all about, to be mauled by the animals or killed in the gruesome fight.

There were about twenty large muscular gladiators, ready to be released to the arena. When the metal gates pulled open, they put on their metal helmets, and marched into the center of the Colosseum. Crowds were shouting and cheering. When Nero raised his hand, the guard raised the large mallet, staring at Nero, and he beat the gong with all his strength when Nero let down his hand.

The battle started with the ravening lions released to the arena, and the gladiators started to fight. Some of them knew their greatest opponents were not the lions, but were among themselves. Only the winner shall earn the most desirable prize, freedom.

While busy slaying the large predetorious cat, Mevia was attacked by another mermillo gladiator. The sword layed on her back while she was distracted, cutting through the decorative piece and the bandages that secured her breasts. The bandages came off, and the crowds were shocked as they saw her lumps.

“There’s a woman in the arena!” The crowds started to make some strange sounds. While Sporus sensed the foul smirk within the elite members who sat behind the royal podium.

Enraged by the sudden attack, Mevia tore away the furry decorative piece on her, pulled out her sword from the lion and charged towards the man. He blocked the attack right away with his shield, laughing. She yanked his shield and reached to him, punched her metal gloved hand to his unguarded neck. His helmet dislocated, exposing his still laughing mouth. She put her gloved hand inside his mouth, pulling out his tongue and cutting it with the metal piece on her glove. The audience were all cheering, that was what they enjoyed, blood and gore.

The beast bit a large gladiator and tore him into pieces. It was not a lion, its size was two times larger than a lion, with tusks near its mouth and coarse spiky black fur. Erymanthian boar, although it was a prey species, was untamed, and hungry.

“This is… the battle of… stamina!” Knowing that she needed to set aside the entertainment element of the battle, she needed to strike down the boar as soon as possible. Competing the boar with stamina might not be advantageous for her since she knew her final opponent should be Spiculus.

The angry boar knocked down another nearby retiarius who attempted to capture it with his chains net. The boar mauled the man and then set its next target towards the woman. Noticing that it was going to attack her, she threw away her short sword and picked up a long spear next to a fallen hoplomachus. She needed to aim, and the spear was the best distance weapon for that purpose. When the boar stormed forward, she ran towards it face to face, until she reached a distance close enough, she pointed the spear to strike between its eyes. Using its own forward strength, the spear pierce deep into its own and goes through its head. The boar had fallen. While she was still panting for air, the remaining gladiators on the arena had raised their hands, making a missio gesture, the sign of surrender.

“Did they… bribed?”

Since Mevia was not making the gesture, the crowd cheered “Spiculus! Spiculus! Spiculus!” And the other gladiators moved themselves out of the arena.

to be continued...