Chapter 3-slave life 1

The clang of metal echoed through the cold corridors, accompanied by the occasional sob or groan of pain. Yami sat in his cell, his knees drawn to his chest, staring at the rust-streaked floor. It had only been a day since he found himself in this nightmare, but it already felt like years.

Each slave lived in a small, separate cell, cramped and barren, with barely enough space to lie down. The smell of unwashed bodies and moldy walls was suffocating. Yami's stomach growled, but the single piece of stale bread he had been given earlier sat untouched in the corner. He couldn't bring himself to eat.

Across the hall, he could hear faint whispers from other slaves. Some prayed softly, others muttered curses under their breath. In the far distance, the laughter of the Celestial Dragons carried through the halls like a mocking reminder of who held power.

The sound of footsteps approached, heavy boots against stone. Yami's heart began to race, a tingling at the base of his skull warning him of potential danger. He pressed his back against the wall, straining to hear.

"Get up, filth!" a guard bellowed, slamming his baton against a cell door. The noise made Yami flinch.

"Please! Please, not today!" a voice whimpered from the cell next to Yami's.

"Did I ask for your opinion, rat?" The guard's voice was cold, followed by the sickening crack of the baton striking flesh. The sobbing stopped, replaced by a muffled groan.

Yami clenched his fists, his nails digging into his palms. He hated the feeling of helplessness, the knowledge that stepping out of line would mean his death—or worse.

From above, a shrill, high-pitched laugh pierced the air. "Hurry up with the preparations! My friends are waiting!" It was Lilith, Saint Gabrielle's wife, her voice dripping with cruelty. "And make sure the new one doesn't die too quickly. He's too… amusing."

Yami's stomach twisted. He knew they were talking about him.

"Yes, Mistress Lilith," a guard replied, his tone groveling.

"Good," she purred. "And if anyone gets in your way, remind them of their place."

Yami gritted his teeth, his hands shaking with rage. He wanted to scream, to fight back, but the explosive collar around his neck was a constant reminder of his position. One wrong move, and it would end him.

The cell doors rattled open one by one. A guard appeared in front of Yami's cell, sneering as he unlocked the door. "Out, boy. It's your turn to dance for the masters."

Yami stood, his legs weak beneath him, and stepped into the hall. Around him, other slaves were being pulled from their cells, their faces pale and resigned. A few looked barely older than Yami himself, while others were scarred and broken from years of this torment.

"Move!" the guard barked, shoving Yami forward.

As they marched through the dark halls, the jeers and taunts from the Celestial Dragons grew louder. Yami's senses flared again—a warning. He turned his head slightly, catching sight of a guard raising his baton toward another slave.

Whack! The slave crumpled to the ground with a pained cry.

"Pathetic," the guard sneered, kicking the fallen man. "You think you can slow us down?"

Yami forced himself to keep moving, his jaw clenched. Every instinct told him to intervene, to help, but he couldn't afford to draw attention to himself.

The slaves were herded into the arena, its massive stone walls looming above them like a prison within a prison. Yami shielded his eyes from the harsh sunlight as he stepped onto the sandy floor. Around them, the Celestial Dragons laughed and shouted from their lavish balconies, their grotesque forms draped in silk and gold.

"Look at them! Like rats in a cage!" one of them cackled, raising a jeweled goblet.

"I hope they fight better than yesterday," another sneered. "That last one bored me to tears."

Yami scanned the arena, his nerves on edge. His Spidey Senses tingled faintly, a subtle warning that danger was near. He turned his head, spotting Stone across the arena. The older man caught his gaze and gave him a small nod.

"Stay calm, kid," Stone muttered, his voice barely audible. "Keep your head down and watch your surroundings."

Yami nodded back, swallowing the lump in his throat.

The gates at the far end of the arena creaked open, and a low growl filled the air. From the shadows emerged a pack of beasts—mutated creatures with glowing eyes and jagged teeth. They snarled and snapped at each other as they stepped into the light, their massive bodies bristling with muscle and fur.

Yami's senses screamed at him to move, but he froze, his mind racing.

"Let the games begin!" Saint Gabrielle announced, his voice booming over the arena.

The beasts lunged, and chaos erupted.

Yami barely dodged the first attack, his Spidey Senses flaring as he ducked and rolled. The beast's claws missed him by inches, gouging deep furrows in the sand. He scrambled to his feet, his heart pounding as he looked around.

Stone was holding his own, using a broken spear to keep a beast at bay. Other slaves weren't so lucky—two were already down, their screams silenced as the creatures tore into their throats.

Yami's instincts took over as another beast charged at him. He sidestepped, narrowly avoiding its snapping jaws. The tingling in his head guided him, warning him of every movement, every attack.

He grabbed a discarded piece of metal from the ground and swung it with all his strength. The makeshift weapon struck the beast's side, but it barely flinched, its glowing eyes locking onto him with bloodlust.

"Shit!" Yami hissed, backing away.

From above, Lilith's laughter rang out. "Oh, this one is feisty! How delightful!"

Gabrielle leaned forward, his beady eyes glinting with amusement. "Don't disappoint me, boy."

Yami's chest heaved as he tried to focus. His Spidey Senses flared again, and he dropped to the ground just as another beast lunged over him, crashing into the one he had been fighting. The two creatures snarled and snapped at each other, giving Yami a brief moment to catch his breath.

He spotted Stone across the arena, still holding his ground. The older man met Yami's eyes and shouted, "Trust your instincts, kid! You're still alive, so use every ounce of strength in you!!".

Yami gritted his teeth, gripping the metal shard tighter. He wasn't going to die here—not for these monsters' entertainment.

As the beasts continued their assault, Yami ducked and weaved, relying on his Spidey Senses to keep him one step ahead. He couldn't fight them head-on, but he could outlast them.

The crowd roared with excitement, their cruel laughter echoing in Yami's ears. He glanced up, his hatred for the Celestial Dragons burning brighter with every passing second.

Yami clenched his fists, the jagged piece of metal cutting into his palm as his grip tightened. His Spidey Senses flared again, pulling his focus back to the immediate danger. A beast circled him, its glowing eyes locked on him like a predator sizing up its prey.

He took a step back, his mind racing. I can't fight these things head-on, he thought, his breath coming in ragged gasps. But if I can just stay out of their reach… maybe they'll take each other out.

The beast lunged, its claws tearing through the air. Yami dropped to the ground, narrowly avoiding the strike, and scrambled to his feet. Another surge of danger prickled at the back of his skull, and he rolled to the side as a second beast joined the fray.

"Kill or be killed, boy!" one of the guards shouted from the sidelines, laughing cruelly.

The crowd above cheered louder, their voices blending into a deafening roar. Yami's eyes darted around the arena. Other slaves were faring no better. Most had already fallen, their blood staining the sand. Stone was still standing, though barely—his broken spear snapped in half as he drove it into one beast's neck.

Yami's stomach churned. He didn't want to die, but the thought of killing anything—even in self-defense—made his hands shake. He tightened his grip on the metal shard, his knuckles white. I don't have a choice, he realized, his teeth grinding together.

The beast closest to him snarled, saliva dripping from its fangs as it crouched low, ready to pounce. Yami's Spidey Senses flared again, sharper this time, and he sidestepped the attack just as the creature leaped. It landed awkwardly, its momentum throwing it off balance, and Yami saw his opening.

He swung the metal shard with all his strength, aiming for the beast's head. The jagged edge struck its eye, and it howled in pain, thrashing wildly.

The crowd erupted in cheers, their excitement feeding off the violence.

"Yes! That's more like it!" Lilith shouted, clapping her hands together. "What a delightful little fighter!"

Gabrielle leaned back in his gilded chair, smirking. "He's resourceful. Let's see how long he lasts."

Yami staggered back, his chest heaving as he watched the injured beast retreat. His hands trembled, the weight of what he had done sinking in. He'd injured it—but he hadn't killed it.

Another beast roared, drawing his attention. This one was larger, its movements more calculated. It circled him, its glowing eyes studying him like it knew he was outmatched.

Yami swallowed hard, his pulse pounding in his ears. His Spidey Senses pulsed faintly—no immediate danger—but he knew it wouldn't last.

"Come on, kid!" Stone's voice carried across the arena. "Don't freeze up now!"

The older man was on the ground, bloodied and bruised, but still alive. Yami nodded, more to himself than anyone else, and adjusted his grip on the shard.

'I won't die here', he told himself, his jaw tightening. 'Not for them. Not like this'.

The larger beast lunged, and Yami's senses screamed at him to move. He dove to the side, rolling across the sand as the creature's claws raked the ground where he'd been standing.

He scrambled to his feet, the tingling at the back of his skull warning him of another attack. This time, he ducked, the beast's jaws snapping shut inches from his face.

The crowd above erupted in laughter and applause.

"Look at him squirm!" one of the Celestial Dragons jeered.

"Perhaps he'll survive long enough to entertain us again tomorrow," another remarked, sipping from a golden goblet.

Yami's anger boiled over, his vision blurring with rage. He wanted to scream at them, to tell them he wasn't their toy, to go fuck themselves. But his words would mean defieances and would result in death. All that mattered here was survival.

He focused on the beast in front of him, its heavy breaths fogging the air between them. His Spidey Senses flared again—stronger this time—and he moved without thinking, ducking under the creature's next swipe and slamming the metal shard into its leg.

The beast roared, staggering as blood poured from the wound. Yami backed away, his chest heaving.

"Impressive," Gabrielle muttered, a cruel smile tugging at his lips. "He's got spirit."

Lilith tilted her head, her eyes glinting with amusement. "Let's see how long it lasts."

The beasts in the arena began turning on each other, their hunger and injuries driving them into a frenzy. Yami took the opportunity to retreat, his back pressing against the wall of the arena. He glanced around, his Spidey Senses calming slightly.

Stone limped toward him, his face pale but determined. "You did good, kid," he muttered, his voice low.

Yami didn't reply. His mind was a storm of emotions—fear, anger, exhaustion—but he shoved it all down. He couldn't afford to break. Not here. Not yet.

The sound of a horn echoed through the arena, signaling the end of the fight. The remaining slaves were dragged from the sand, their bodies battered and broken. Yami's legs felt like jelly as the guards shoved him forward, back toward the cells.

The laughter and jeers of the Celestial Dragons followed him, haunting him as he was thrown into his cell.

He collapsed onto the cold floor, his body aching and his mind spinning. As the cell door slammed shut behind him, he stared at the ceiling, his breathing shallow.

"I survived," he whispered, his voice hoarse. "But for what?"

Outside, the Celestial Dragons continued their festivities, their cruel laughter echoing through the halls.

To be continued…

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AN:more power stones = more chapters