Chapter 7- slave life 5
Yami stumbled back to his spot in the holding area, his chest heaving and his mind was a mess. The guards roughly pushed him down onto the splintered bench, sneering at his trembling form. Around him, the sounds of battle continued—the roars of the crowd, the clashes of weapons, and the cries of slaves fighting for their lives.
He stared at his hands, still faintly trembling from his fight with Mikael. The memory of the explosion replayed in his mind, the impact, Mikael's lifeless body crumpling to the ground, with Half his body gone in instant.
"Killing an animal is one thing," Yami thought bitterly, "but a human… a sentient being with feelings..... I've never killed anyone before, not even in my past life."
A nauseating feeling coiled in his stomach, making the meager contents churn. "God, please help me."
The minutes dragged on as Yami tried to steady his breathing, the adrenaline fading and leaving behind a gnawing emptiness. His eyes drifted to the arena, where another fight raged. A Fishman crushed a human's skull with his bare hands, the wet crunch making Yami flinch.
As the dust settled, Yami noticed there were only a few slaves left—four, including himself. He swallowed hard. His turn would come again soon.
"Shiki D Yami!" Saint Gabrielle's voice rang out, overly cheerful and laced with sadistic glee. "Step forward once more!"
Yami's stomach dropped. He stood slowly, his limbs heavy with exhaustion and dread. Across the ring stood Thorn, the Fishman who had killed his opponent in his previous match. The towering Fishman sneered at Yami, his sharp teeth glinting in the sunlight.
"Well, well," Thorn growled, his voice dripping with disdain. "They're sending a child to fight me? What a fucking joke."
Yami stayed silent, his bloodshot eyes meeting Thorn's eyes.
"What's the matter, human trash?" Thorn taunted, flexing his webbed claws. "Too scared to say anything? You're weak, just like every other worthless human I've encountered!."
Yami clenched his fists, anger bubbling beneath his exhaustion.
"Come on, little worm," Thorn sneered, his voice rising to rile up the crowd. "Let me show you why your kind will always be inferior to us Fishman!!."
The bell rang, and Thorn immediately lunged, his claws swiping toward Yami with lightning speed. Yami ducked, the edge of Thorn's claws grazing his hair. He rolled to the side, narrowly avoiding another swing.
"Run all you want, worm," Thorn laughed, stalking toward him. "It won't save you."
Yami Spidey's Senses activated, the faint tingle in the back of his mind sharpening his reflexes. Thorn lunged again, but this time Yami anticipated the move, sidestepping and countering with a small explosion aimed at Thorn's shoulder.
The blast sent the Fishman stumbling back a few steps, but Thorn barely flinched. He grinned, his sharp teeth glinting menacingly.
"Is that all you've got?!" Thorn roared, rushing forward.
Yami barely managed to dodge the flurry of swipes, each one coming dangerously close to his face and torso. He countered with another explosion, this time aiming for Thorn's legs. The blast hit its mark, forcing Thorn to stumble and drop to one knee.
Yami seized the opportunity, grabbing a discarded spear and charging forward. He drove the weapon toward Thorn's chest, but the Fishman caught the shaft mid-thrust, his powerful hands snapping it in half.
Thorn grinned wickedly, swinging the broken spear like a club. The sharp edge grazed Yami's arm, drawing blood. Yami hissed in pain but used the momentum to unleash another explosion directly into Thorn's face.
The blast sent the Fishman sprawling onto his back, sand flying everywhere. Yami staggered back, panting heavily. His muscles ached, and his vision blurred from exhaustion, but he couldn't afford to stop.
Thorn groaned, his face scorched and bloodied. He pushed himself to his feet, his eyes blazing with killing intent.
"You're going to pay for that, you little shit!" he snarled, his voice guttural.
Thorn charged again, but Yami was ready. He dodged to the side, using his smaller size and quicker reflexes to his advantage. He landed another explosion on Thorn's side, the force knocking the Fishman into the arena wall.
The crowd roared in approval, their bloodlust reaching a new high.
Thorn spat blood, his chest heaving as he glared at Yami. "You think you've won, huh? Think again!"
He lunged one final time, his claws aimed for Yami's throat. Yami ducked, spinning to the side and channeling all his remaining strength into a powerful explosion aimed at Thorn's back.
The blast sent Thorn crashing to the ground, his body smoking and motionless.
The crowd erupted into cheers and jeers, their voices deafening. Saint Gabrielle stood, his face split into a cruel smile.
"Well done, Shiki D Yami! A splendid display of savagery! Now…" His voice dropped, becoming cold and commanding. "Finish it."
Yami froze, his breath catching in his throat. He stared down at Thorn, who groaned weakly, his body too battered to move.
Saint Gabrielle's voice thundered again. "End this inferior species life, Yami. Show us that you are worthy of survival!, Show us that you are worthy of being my fighting slave!"
The other Celestial Dragons echoed the order, their cruel laughter filling the arena.
Yami's hands shook as he approached Thorn, his dagger gripped tightly. Thorn's eyes, filled with hatred and defiance, locked onto Yami's.
"You… bastard…" Thorn rasped, blood trickling from his mouth. "Do it. Prove you're just another lapdog for these inbred fucks!!."
Yami's grip tightened on the dagger, his mind screaming in protest. ' I don't want to do this. I don't want to kill again'.
But the crowd's demands grew louder, and Saint Gabrielle's gaze bored into him.
"I'm sorry," Yami whispered, his voice barely audible.
With trembling hands, he drove the dagger into Thorn's chest, ending the Fishman's life.
The crowd erupted into a frenzy, their cheers echoing in Yami's ears as he stumbled back, his vision blurring.
Saint Gabrielle clapped, his voice dripping with mock approval. "Marvelous! Truly marvelous!!"
To be continued…