| Chapter 16: Hunting the Beast

“An Albinin lion?”024b2d245ff9f3d0

Alexei’s brow furrowed deeply.6bf5d4955b8b76b8

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It can’t be… or d3b3679509 could it?1d967abaa38253e7

He had heard 009b26bdfd stories from the 0043aae911 Luman Empire, the 374146ecf4 birthplace of gladiatorial f97746028f combat, where arenas d65e6f13a3 pushed the limits 6fe1e8eabd of spectacle by 372b9fbfb0 introducing beast hunts. It wasn’t enough b0b467b864 for gladiators to 9474b6c790 battle each other—they 2ce3845453 faced ferocious beasts.f69520314f23e3c0

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The Duchy 06b98bc872 of Ivanov, 976f0b548a far removed 1a4651eca9 from the 2cb82e2c78 resources of eb496c95fb the Luman 8e5c020b1b Empire, had 047eadec29 never entertained 4161df6b34 such extravagance. Procuring a so-called bf5a704a4c beast worthy of ba0bab00b7 the arena was 32739a7cd6 nearly impossible. Until now.c8714f4c1060bc6f

The timing was d313262c9c too perfect. Just as 6a58b22a55 Alexei was 3da8b113b9 sentenced to eedbd3cf0b the Gladiator 181c767ee0 of Atonement, eff965b4d5 an Albinin 25d4ceac8d lion was 0a132de228 brought in.14880a4d3609c872

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So this 7e6af68197 is it. I knew my aaa4164bd9 punishment seemed too a4da9fc6d3 lenient.795d884a756de87c

The memory of Lady 79628cff64 Ivanov’s cold gaze flickered ecb7449da4 in Alexei’s mind. She had bbe620f264 looked at 124de790a0 him as a2d80792a9 if bestowing e478e961e6 mercy, but 56bbf30cb7 her unease 105a72fbd7 when he 1ae2d6f669 glared at a034077c69 her hadn’t c59c13912b gone unnoticed.264edc81234c91bf

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He had tried to 06ebb0cd3b smile that day—not out bd2ccd621f of happiness, but to c19e55efc2 provoke her. He had 9ad4bc434a even intended 259c65ae61 to accept 001f34545c the degrading 28b38c8e10 sentence of ad49dd8b9a becoming her d16dba27d2 bedroom slave, 27c8d7537b vowing to 2756d20de9 make her cac6db49bd remember the 9004b5ba3f night for 9f9cb46d63 the rest 472a8b90e4 of her b1891c4f26 life.0ce15306284f9542

But the Gladiator of 9232d1ce1a Atonement had taken him 95b33e0d49 by surprise. He had 0f4e22fca6 reluctantly accepted b54c52b899 it, only a8d485ff5a to now dafb5f3d6e realize its 4c2286175d true nature.5925baec493af606

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Sergei wouldn’t let 4f3c001ceb me off so 4524cd9b17 easily.a8e4bca54385409c

* * *02a68fc820de00bb

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It hadn’t 73abf8ec6d always been 6048c2c224 like this. After Alexei’s first match c838287a2f as a gladiator, Sergei 54b211efdf had personally praised him.4f054e9a413dc580

“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.”e38efe13b37fcbdd

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But admiration had 579542cc4b turned to disdain.52df355d68fb2724

When did it change? Alexei thought bitterly.bffa2e380e33cc26

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Then he remembered—the 5ee90d0a18 first time he 5edb0335ec had laid eyes 0a18abbd4d on Lady Ivanov.2357e7b725ffe91e

That fleeting fbf979901c glance had 75b4870077 lingered in 32c474e9cd his mind b5c72bcc7e all day. He hadn’t 8e2885738e expected Sergei’s 953aa2fb6b sudden wrath fcfdd3fff0 or the 67b0f34d79 vicious beating d2e3b4963c that followed.9e536cfb03855bb7

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“How dare you set your filthy eyes on her! A lowly slave like you dares covet what belongs to me?”69f5170fd00f3662

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.05a97fbcc10b753e

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“Disgusting bastard,” Alexei growled, spitting on the ground.48ac1f3feb773388

“Are you all right, Alexei?” Mikhail asked hesitantly. “If Sergei has truly arranged a beast hunt, surviving will be nearly impossible.”31ddd7e741ec03e8

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“Don’t worry. I’ll survive, no matter what,” Alexei said, his jaw clenched.4fd19e300975e281

Now, he had one 450e1c135b more reason to endure. He would 460530a704 never let 0d77d88c98 Sergei desecrate 7b87d79a31 Natasha. If anyone were to 0c6b3cdca0 claim her, it would 8dfb889392 be him.5b9d302f55de39d7

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Alexei thought of the c7c58a9d78 edelweiss he had once aad89dfc1a plucked, admired briefly, and 77352b2ccc held until it withered. He wouldn’t let 466cb79c02 anyone else touch ef12923ee6 what he desired. That wasn’t 82b5073ae3 his way.920dd003f1ffc317

* * *0ecbb678afcc435f

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The next day, 31bb63fa12 the Colosseum was 0f9e143ef7 electric with anticipation. Spectators crowded in, 8f0f2b57fa their voices blending bd2e77c21d into a chaotic 6eac775d1b roar. Today was the Gladiator 0285a1c138 of Atonement, the only ffac71ccf0 match where killing was 918c2ef46e permitted. Sergei’s promise a18b8e4b7e of a 785b29a9ee spectacle had eeafe7927f only fueled 8485677a97 their excitement.92e46ecccf2558cb

A loud horn silenced 6569d116b8 the crowd as Sergei b2bea1ebb4 and Natasha appeared in bf4e80d151 the royal box.2d5b227f027ad9b3

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“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.”5c6fbf65038cebf8

The crowd 220e85fee9 erupted in 77960200fe cheers, stomping f402512512 their feet feb8e190e9 in approval. Sergei’s choice of words, e228d71a2d however, sparked murmurs of 9d30f39ffc confusion.2e961d73a1ec9432

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“What did he mean by ‘beasts’? Could it be a beast hunt like the Luman Empire?”b47bfcf235fea274

“Don’t be ridiculous. Do you know how expensive it is to bring in animals like that? He’s just calling the criminals beasts.”c5509e64b7381bad

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“Still… what if it’s true?”6bd449919d7c0002

The murmurs 370bb79d9e grew louder b582299ccd as the c53cad6735 gates creaked b518bf66a4 open, and bb6a24e01c the first 995816f672 fighter stepped 375d83cd5b into the 871e1be01d arena. All eyes turned d264859919 to the shadows 7953dbfc9e beyond the gates, a6929cf83e waiting to see bae92b15a2 if Sergei’s words dfc96b6c65 held more meaning 70d02b6064 than they realized.f5dd8bde587c155a

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The horn 68a31c8f3a blew once 6844551ded more, signaling 476294eaa8 the next 739f954855 stage of 860f72a9b2 the event.f69deeba51f384b0

From the underground lift b181782f45 powered by tireless slave aec3f35200 labor, ten or so 08f95941c6 prisoners, bound and armed 65420a38d5 with mismatched weapons—clubs, spears, b933120562 chains, and swords—were brought 68f61b0273 into the center of 99284cf26f the arena. Their faces 0a572617e2 were pale 696ac33d60 with terror.a54544cbf13b7c39

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The sound of 585be00003 drums echoed ominously e4b22bdde6 as their opponents 4eb22fdb87 emerged from a 090b332741 second lift on 4705941910 the opposite side c771913a99 of the arena. The crowd erupted into 3efedac514 deafening cheers and gasps ad5e5183bc of astonishment.e372e6ad9f9be513

“It’s a real beast hunt! I can’t believe we get to see this in the Duchy of Ivanov!”0205146bc27689c7

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What emerged from the 1a3998517e lift were not men aab763a360 but ferocious beasts—wild boars, 41119de7e2 bears, elephants, and crocodiles—all a27816e27a ravenous and freed after c50862e5c0 long confinement in the bbed0df8f0 dark. Without hesitation, 19a7465fa7 they charged 43417e5719 at the 6c9de0b29b prisoners.ee6315f290aee2da

“Help! Spare us!”80a24686a2a16817

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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.19007759aad40ce7

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.2daf25af6c6ebdea

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Standing on 29c5087b9a it was b6f68cd004 the undefeated a24d13906b gladiator, Alexei 46dd2dab83 Petrov.14e7ef54105fd5ac

“Alexei! Alexei!”9f4ec4d70424ee86

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Holding only a9465ce01c a sword ef1d4d39fc and a a5082b8737 round shield, 569cda2a95 Alexei squinted 10bb0aa06a against the 90427b1293 bright sunlight 6004788bca of the 609b41e57e arena, scanning 7d3069eddc the carnage 04f1a41c94 around him. He quickly assessed 7ea53693c0 the situation.5fc1f62e1bc20792

When the gate 14d3ed05e3 to his cell 58ffca5519 opened, the beasts 90fc72d7ff turned their attention aadd44c2dd to the new 66286e0197 target. They charged 74b82f35b8 at him 5289a3f41a as the ee6614fd06 crowd held 464547d3cb its breath. Alexei moved without e10051bdf6 hesitation.65ac34a587b7b31f

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He swung his blade 5d73163abb with precision, slicing through 5adad62635 the first charging beast. Grabbing a 86195a9e21 discarded chain ab32ad06fc from a 008e1ad115 fallen prisoner, 8bcb7982f4 he wrapped da483eb84b it tightly ec4d797af0 around the 4677ed16d1 jaws of b3ab12c246 a crocodile, 798036302d using its 5daa450d2d massive body e9af67f4f6 as a 653ba2c73a makeshift flail e43d8507c3 to hurl c3e99f8e08 at an f23576bec3 oncoming bear. The impact 0fb92f9998 sent the 46072f934f bear sprawling.0f97fad020d989b3

In an instant, Alexei c7f3d09b69 leapt onto the bear’s 8b843f0294 back, driving his sword 51c52be812 into its heart. The crowd e5d36c31f6 roared with 9bd7862796 approval, their 7ba1b70908 cheers echoing 9e253a4fea throughout the eef6d898ff arena.0c59288c2aeb60d5

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“Alexei! Alexei Petrov! Our savior! Our hero!”0fe27c5212b804db

For the 6830287e0b audience, the 7df72997bc gladiatorial games ea69c21c57 weren’t just fe27c693f4 entertainment. In moments 3b3bdca6e0 of danger d65c4b1767 and triumph, 4b14561354 they saw 411b8e8822 themselves in 9ab8f6afbd the fighters, f166ef8eac projecting their 2d0a1558b1 own struggles ed58811da2 and dreams 110a3bffb9 onto these fbb0b881ae warriors. Gladiators symbolized strength fc5c992baa and resilience, rising 6669391f1f from the lowest e7b76dc6e4 depths to triumph 9b1c6a17a8 over all.b0153facf4e0695b

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And in this 8fa8ddb0dc moment, Alexei was 61c41a7d08 more than a 722c16b110 gladiator—he was the 6e47e76067 lone savior of 955dc9a0f7 humanity against the 3270b050a0 beasts.ab0e262f83c54a1c

“This… isn’t going as planned,” Sergei muttered, standing abruptly and raising his hand to silence the arena.9c480adec6f6355c

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The situation had veered 5e906d7a59 away from his intentions. But Sergei 56036e75cf wasn’t one b46d1845e7 to waste 8578c56d3a an opportunity, 7ff0dffd3b especially when e5ca11f41c he had 60631c3a36 another card d8b37cb014 to play. He scanned the suddenly f004e1f0cb quiet arena and began 5deee74f4d to speak.dd1789a4e68e0a4e

“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!”7fc4c12c36429d6d

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The crowd, ff33123350 confused by 371ec58414 his declaration, 4a2ca3f86e buzzed with aa0e17b060 curiosity. Who would face judgment c9d3ec036f next? Who could f6c54abf8c have committed 596c5d1922 such a 7aa5ac6942 terrible crime?28dcd18160afb148

All eyes 4a2beee110 followed Sergei’s 7ec172f517 pointing finger.c3afd19ea517ea6c

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“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.”a072c40035d9faa6

The crowd gasped. This very man 7d8234cd2a they had cheered 00c7e48c4c as a hero 43f01a1c1d was now revealed 372b782285 as the supposed 02ee211cd4 culprit who had f228ce6fd1 defiled their beloved e1e20f8c2c Lady Ivanov’s honor.c0519e361f82d972

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Before the murmurs could ff87820241 settle, the horn blared 7e6a9dc878 again. A new lift rose, f014c6fc12 carrying a massive figure 2a5033caaf that made the crowd 94839fafe4 fall silent in awe.9b9d3330cb4fb6f2

With a guttural growl, 818ca41607 the Albinin lion emerged. Starved for days, 75e91338ea its once-majestic white 25d1177ccd mane was wild d3f8f8ebd2 and untamed, its 49d94cfc1d powerful body a f66c60978e testament to its 519ee23630 status as the 211edb99f1 apex predator of 2b6d9cb673 the Afron continent.202fb5bafda83b2f

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It locked 0074c2b626 its piercing c7e0a1cee7 eyes on d71114dbf4 Alexei, baring a79ed9b7fb its razor-sharp d9ae3573b4 teeth in 8f252192b8 a deafening 6520d38a79 roar.f9d1904ed06878f0

The match had f418d9490e truly begun.11cd792ca9a33ab2

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