| Chapter 16: Hunting the Beast

“An Albinin lion?”

Alexei’s brow furrowed deeply.

It can’t be… or could it?

He had heard stories from the Luman Empire, the birthplace of gladiatorial combat, where arenas pushed the limits of spectacle by introducing beast hunts. It wasn’t enough for gladiators to battle each other—they faced ferocious beasts.

The Duchy of Ivanov, far removed from the resources of the Luman Empire, had never entertained such extravagance. Procuring a so-called beast worthy of the arena was nearly impossible. Until now.

The timing was too perfect. Just as Alexei was sentenced to the Gladiator of Atonement, an Albinin lion was brought in.

So this is it. I knew my punishment seemed too lenient.

The memory of Lady Ivanov’s cold gaze flickered in Alexei’s mind. She had looked at him as if bestowing mercy, but her unease when he glared at her hadn’t gone unnoticed.

He had tried to smile that day—not out of happiness, but to provoke her. He had even intended to accept the degrading sentence of becoming her bedroom slave, vowing to make her remember the night for the rest of her life.

But the Gladiator of Atonement had taken him by surprise. He had reluctantly accepted it, only to now realize its true nature.

Sergei wouldn’t let me off so easily.

* * *

It hadn’t always been like this. After Alexei’s first match as a gladiator, Sergei had personally praised him.

“What’s your name? You’ll be the pride of Ivanov’s arena. A gladiator like you could stand tall even in the Luman Empire.”

But admiration had turned to disdain.

When did it change? Alexei thought bitterly.

Then he remembered—the first time he had laid eyes on Lady Ivanov.

That fleeting glance had lingered in his mind all day. He hadn’t expected Sergei’s sudden wrath or the vicious beating that followed.

“How dare you set your filthy eyes on her! A lowly slave like you dares covet what belongs to me?”

At the time, Alexei hadn’t understood Sergei’s rage. But now the meaning of “belongs to me” was painfully clear. He recalled Sergei caressing Natasha’s cheek, gripping her arm possessively, and holding her close as she buried her face in his shoulder.

“Disgusting bastard,” Alexei growled, spitting on the ground.

“Are you all right, Alexei?” Mikhail asked hesitantly. “If Sergei has truly arranged a beast hunt, surviving will be nearly impossible.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll survive, no matter what,” Alexei said, his jaw clenched.

Now, he had one more reason to endure. He would never let Sergei desecrate Natasha. If anyone were to claim her, it would be him.

Alexei thought of the edelweiss he had once plucked, admired briefly, and held until it withered. He wouldn’t let anyone else touch what he desired. That wasn’t his way.

* * *

The next day, the Colosseum was electric with anticipation. Spectators crowded in, their voices blending into a chaotic roar. Today was the Gladiator of Atonement, the only match where killing was permitted. Sergei’s promise of a spectacle had only fueled their excitement.

A loud horn silenced the crowd as Sergei and Natasha appeared in the royal box.

“Today, the stage is set for the punishment of the most heinous criminals,” Sergei announced. “But those who risk their lives and survive this trial will be granted freedom. May the goddess Hela bless all the beasts who fight today.”

The crowd erupted in cheers, stomping their feet in approval. Sergei’s choice of words, however, sparked murmurs of confusion.

“What did he mean by ‘beasts’? Could it be a beast hunt like the Luman Empire?”

“Don’t be ridiculous. Do you know how expensive it is to bring in animals like that? He’s just calling the criminals beasts.”

“Still… what if it’s true?”

The murmurs grew louder as the gates creaked open, and the first fighter stepped into the arena. All eyes turned to the shadows beyond the gates, waiting to see if Sergei’s words held more meaning than they realized.

The horn blew once more, signaling the next stage of the event.

From the underground lift powered by tireless slave labor, ten or so prisoners, bound and armed with mismatched weapons—clubs, spears, chains, and swords—were brought into the center of the arena. Their faces were pale with terror.

The sound of drums echoed ominously as their opponents emerged from a second lift on the opposite side of the arena. The crowd erupted into deafening cheers and gasps of astonishment.

“It’s a real beast hunt! I can’t believe we get to see this in the Duchy of Ivanov!”

What emerged from the lift were not men but ferocious beasts—wild boars, bears, elephants, and crocodiles—all ravenous and freed after long confinement in the dark. Without hesitation, they charged at the prisoners.

“Help! Spare us!”

The prisoners scattered in panic, some swinging their weapons in a futile attempt to defend themselves. A few brave souls tried to fight, but a single swipe of a bear’s paw sent one man’s body flying, torn to pieces in moments.

The arena descended into chaos, a blood-soaked festival for the starving beasts. The drums beat again, signaling the end of the first slaughter, leaving the crowd both horrified and thrilled. Just as murmurs of “What’s next?” rippled through the audience, another lift began to rise.

Standing on it was the undefeated gladiator, Alexei Petrov.

“Alexei! Alexei!”

Holding only a sword and a round shield, Alexei squinted against the bright sunlight of the arena, scanning the carnage around him. He quickly assessed the situation.

When the gate to his cell opened, the beasts turned their attention to the new target. They charged at him as the crowd held its breath. Alexei moved without hesitation.

He swung his blade with precision, slicing through the first charging beast. Grabbing a discarded chain from a fallen prisoner, he wrapped it tightly around the jaws of a crocodile, using its massive body as a makeshift flail to hurl at an oncoming bear. The impact sent the bear sprawling.

In an instant, Alexei leapt onto the bear’s back, driving his sword into its heart. The crowd roared with approval, their cheers echoing throughout the arena.

“Alexei! Alexei Petrov! Our savior! Our hero!”

For the audience, the gladiatorial games weren’t just entertainment. In moments of danger and triumph, they saw themselves in the fighters, projecting their own struggles and dreams onto these warriors. Gladiators symbolized strength and resilience, rising from the lowest depths to triumph over all.

And in this moment, Alexei was more than a gladiator—he was the lone savior of humanity against the beasts.

“This… isn’t going as planned,” Sergei muttered, standing abruptly and raising his hand to silence the arena.

The situation had veered away from his intentions. But Sergei wasn’t one to waste an opportunity, especially when he had another card to play. He scanned the suddenly quiet arena and began to speak.

“The match isn’t over yet! Today, we’ve witnessed the punishment of heinous criminals. But now, we turn to the gravest of them all—a wretch who dared to tarnish the honor of Lady Ivanov herself!”

The crowd, confused by his declaration, buzzed with curiosity. Who would face judgment next? Who could have committed such a terrible crime?

All eyes followed Sergei’s pointing finger.

“The vile criminal, Alexei Petrov! Your final trial has been prepared. If you survive, as promised, your freedom will be granted. But if not… your remains shall be shared among the beasts.”

The crowd gasped. This very man they had cheered as a hero was now revealed as the supposed culprit who had defiled their beloved Lady Ivanov’s honor.

Before the murmurs could settle, the horn blared again. A new lift rose, carrying a massive figure that made the crowd fall silent in awe.

With a guttural growl, the Albinin lion emerged. Starved for days, its once-majestic white mane was wild and untamed, its powerful body a testament to its status as the apex predator of the Afron continent.

It locked its piercing eyes on Alexei, baring its razor-sharp teeth in a deafening roar.

The match had truly begun.