Mage And Wolf
Chapter 189

Chapter 189: Chapter 189

Come morning the sound of light foot steps comes down the hall with the scent of some sort of food, that might be oatmeal.

Douma unlocks our door first and hurries inside with the food. "Eat quickly, they’ll set the men loose to try to break your will before the days fights soon." the human slave whispers, then startles when she realizes I’m unlocked.

"They get extra rations and awards for winning, so they pick on the weak, injuring them and breaking their will before the fights, making it easier for themselves. The guards will step in if you seriously injured anyone in the cells though, and you don’t want that. They’re all into the Divinity Realm, where all the slaves are mortals." Ahra adds.

"So there will be no immortals in the fights?" I ask with a smile, knowing this just got a lot easier on me.

"None, though a lot of them are Core Formation level, and you’re pretty small. If they catch you, you’ll be in trouble since they keep our energy levels so low." Ahra shakes her head in dismay.

Douma quietly leaves once she’s given us two bowls of what passes for food. She doesn’t go to the other cells, instead heading back the direction they brought me here from, so the food was a kindness, not an approved ration. Again signaling Ahra to be silent, I pull two servings of leftovers out of my storage rings along with an energy pill for her. Myself, I’ve been collecting the abundant Death Energy in this realm all night, and I’m all topped off.

The food that Douma brought I tuck under the low bench that passes as a bed, inside the second water bucket and anyone looking would assume the bowls are empty and forgotten as they are supposed to be.

Her shock is obvious, we’re supposed to have been stripped of anything useful before coming here. If it weren’t for the self repair enchantment even my blouse would be shredded beyond recognition from their rough treatment.

"Rise and shine ladies. It’s time you learned just how worthless you are in the Divine Realms." the choice of a guard comes from outside the door and I hurry to put the food away.

I can hear laughter from beside him, so he’s already unlocked the other doors, and Ahra looks terrified, but this isn’t going to go the way they expect. The guard unlocks the door and walks away, whistling before the other prisoners charge into the room, expecting to find two helpless victims, not two free and prepared cultivators.

I notice many of them have their hands locked either to their collars or behind their backs, so the guards aren’t being entirely biased, they just don’t care. So much for the chances of Nephilim being a good and noble race.

The first few charge blindly into the room and are immediately rendered unconscious by the two of us. The rank behind them starts calling that we’ve been let free, trying to bring the guard back to help them, but I can hear his laughter. He’s into the Divine Realm, of course he already knew we were free. He’s not on their side, he’s probably just bored.

Within a minute the doorway is half blocked by failed challengers, and the others have retreated somewhere else. I toss the immobile ones out into the hallway and chase the others away before returning to check on Ahra.

"Best morning I’ve had in years." She smiles at my questioning look and we settle down on the bench to wait on any news about the days events.

It’s the day of their weekly grand battle. According to Ahra, each cell is a team. There’s only two of us, and the other cells have between four and ten combatants, but she’s used to being stuck alone and losing quickly in the worst possible ways. They heal the gladiators enough to keep them alive, but no more, before returning them to their cells to hope they can get a fight they’ll win during the week.

"They want to study me, and my abilities, at least that’s what the Crown Prince said, so things might get messy today." I warn her and she nods silently, expecting the worst.

When the guard comes and fetches us, it doesn’t seem that bad to me though. It’s the pair of us up against a team of four. Three humans and a half Giant, all in Condensation Realm. If they thought my slender and short build was an indicator of strength they’re in for a surprise though.

"It’s a King of the Hill style fight. Winner holds the arena, and we’re the first fight of the day." She whispers to me as the announcer starts his spiel welcoming the Royal Family to the Arena along with the other dignitaries.

They’re up in a private box, accompanied by Douma, a few servants and one very bruised guard I recognize as the one from this morning. Perhaps the King actually meant I was to be locked in the cell to keep me from killing people in their sleep, not that he wanted me in the fights?

I also notice that our opponents have weapons, armor and boots, while I’m in a shirt and Ahra is simply nude. I guess they win a lot more often than she does.

"You stand back, I’m going to put on a show for Princess Amanda, it was her personal slave that brought us food this morning." I tell Ahra who nods and steps back, making our opponents laugh.

"Don’t under estimate the smaller team. The Royal Guard personally assured me that the tiny one with the tail is a superb fighter when they brought her to the arena. Everyone place the last of your bets for this fight and we will begin in one minute." The announcer calls and I can hear someone being hit up in the Royal booth.

Amanda is waving a betting slip with a large number of digits in it at me and smiling, so at least she’s got confidence I can win. Though the fact she just assumes that it’s normal for mortals to be slaves and pets is a bit annoying with her otherwise very likeable personality.

"As we have a new entrant to the arena, I will refresh you all on the rules. The fights will stop before death. Winners may take anything they want from the losers in the time between rounds, including any of their possessions left in their cell. Winning team holds the arena until they lose. Best of luck to our first round teams, they’ve got a long haul if they want to be today’s Champion."

At least we’ll have gear after this fight. I’ve been trying to materialize my Priestess Robes, but they seem to have been sealed away along with my mark. I can still sense my Royal Robes though, but I’m saving that surprise for later.

"Everyone ready? Begin." The announcer calls and the fight is on.