| Chapter 16: Hunting the Beast

“An Albinin lion?”ce5b5016a94f89fd

Alexei’s brow furrowed deeply.c036a6a3b9b4b214

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It can’t be… e29d89c9c0 or could it?2f69bd3012212f13

He had 8344ea01bb heard stories 7c9a2475db from the 1b0cdaec5f Luman Empire, d3e6aa0f34 the birthplace ee1738ec3e of gladiatorial 1f2d8139c7 combat, where 62d990c13b arenas pushed 0e22e9428d the limits 31cd62d9a4 of spectacle c9a7db7500 by introducing fa8b44d2d5 beast hunts. It wasn’t enough a071dd13b7 for gladiators to 0a819885e8 battle each other—they 063319bc0f faced ferocious beasts.358fa15d72af8a99

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The Duchy 397a7576cd of Ivanov, c4972b49c9 far removed 5adba516fe from the 3dd895ca88 resources of 8e04f6f458 the Luman 11d2e3a083 Empire, had 5014201d7b never entertained bda6e7c043 such extravagance. Procuring a so-called beast 1df39de27e worthy of the arena e7c0ed7939 was nearly impossible. Until now.9b44cde1c3db131b

The timing was 40f8340254 too perfect. Just as Alexei aaae8dc812 was sentenced to 374d45395d the Gladiator of c004fda88e Atonement, an Albinin c126cf69cc lion was brought f06a1d9460 in.70b9d374685683a9

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So this is 4f3e858d1a it. I knew my punishment f3b79b6c97 seemed too lenient.fc7b593ad573ddd7

The memory of a9595dbc34 Lady Ivanov’s cold b301ee40f5 gaze flickered in 660a6710ec Alexei’s mind. She had looked 5b74803f2d at him as c3d1c5d0ac if bestowing mercy, 0ea534e574 but her unease a3891c7ce6 when he glared fc354b8971 at her hadn’t 3838bcdcab gone unnoticed.b9d0984b12110860

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He had tried f46ece0f57 to smile that 8a202188fe day—not out of a7084aab13 happiness, but to ca969a26d2 provoke her. He had even intended c59a310876 to accept the degrading 221f1bd471 sentence of becoming her 591e7d5410 bedroom slave, vowing to eb8a47a0b9 make her remember the b0c2889f10 night for the rest 1ba95d691d of her life.4990fde50538cb94

But the 1b5d898306 Gladiator of 9dc97422aa Atonement had eb23f2a88e taken him afc0ba3f3f by surprise. He had reluctantly f1066f2d05 accepted it, only 80a28db92b to now realize 2722d484e8 its true nature.fb7051c2d33e1607

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Sergei wouldn’t dc52863239 let me 4dc3816fec off so bd44f3412d easily.05dba7dd8f3b15e7

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It hadn’t 2d478b027b always been 7e7f979bb1 like this. After Alexei’s first eebe3b6dd7 match as a 2c3bc848c8 gladiator, Sergei had b9ee92307f personally praised him.b334ea04a8dfaed2

“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.”e40d25fd0dac632c

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But admiration b612c28ca9 had turned 8eb8804914 to disdain.b03ddff08c60e2b6

When did it change? Alexei thought bitterly.b62bac44ecdc4232

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Then he remembered—the first 3a73ffd1ed time he had laid 9fdc1e4424 eyes on Lady Ivanov.99f8d80409fca0dc

That fleeting 75e0c07183 glance had 899f9bc2d3 lingered in 5a95d886a0 his mind 81cdf082bb all day. He hadn’t expected 2b19f86d58 Sergei’s sudden wrath f253993c09 or the vicious 7c39325ef8 beating that followed.6bf69fca65e1fb84

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“How dare you set your filthy eyes on her! A lowly slave like you dares covet what belongs to me?”557634cae8761522

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.246130d7efba9314

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“Disgusting bastard,” Alexei growled, spitting on the ground.77a14dc784ba7ebd

“Are you all right, Alexei?” Mikhail asked hesitantly. “If Sergei has truly arranged a beast hunt, surviving will be nearly impossible.”94a47f3f8326b7a4

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“Don’t worry. I’ll survive, no matter what,” Alexei said, his jaw clenched.824e383e2048ac04

Now, he had b8dbfd8d5f one more reason d575c5f95e to endure. He would never 0f7ae65ec1 let Sergei desecrate a67b216a22 Natasha. If anyone were to 01eedc3610 claim her, it would ed2d441302 be him.bde82831f3d86bc6

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Alexei thought 59d6b10984 of the 64e291af98 edelweiss he b7843ea46d had once f8adfe9e16 plucked, admired 04efcd5c11 briefly, and 552ad0b50a held until 985711b3e0 it withered. He wouldn’t c2247e0a6c let anyone 3a2d29d4ac else touch 5d07cbed73 what he 41f6792c40 desired. That wasn’t his 10614b551c way.e67cb361ad4985ca

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The next day, the bf750c020e Colosseum was electric with 744ce163d7 anticipation. Spectators crowded in, 9d053ef383 their voices blending 3d6a3f8bce into a chaotic 53ddb99bf3 roar. Today was c71c123f2d the Gladiator d681ef699e of Atonement, bde608f2c3 the only c6a95702d6 match where 5740f0739b killing was 45e838b9fd permitted. Sergei’s promise of 766e373955 a spectacle had 9be922b0a0 only fueled their 4b7f4dc152 excitement.165a460d992df298

A loud horn 240e3fe088 silenced the crowd e2c62730cd as Sergei and fac268901b Natasha appeared in 17e9a87bd8 the royal box.95ba66483971e8b0

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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.”0bcd0b76d4adf944

The crowd ccc0b64b1c erupted in c91fde1588 cheers, stomping 6f72b76a9b their feet c2a3059b3f in approval. Sergei’s choice 2df0823470 of words, 345a764e9e however, sparked 5a1eae2a7d murmurs of fed25ff1b7 confusion.b88c9e5884dd6cac

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“What did he mean by ‘beasts’? Could it be a beast hunt like the Luman Empire?”9144dd65a6d47039

“Don’t be ridiculous. Do you know how expensive it is to bring in animals like that? He’s just calling the criminals beasts.”1295c890d7d80425

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“Still… what if it’s true?”8b7221c41c467e78

The murmurs grew louder 484dae2906 as the gates creaked f22efb5a90 open, and the first 0af1636f77 fighter stepped into the 016a5e39c1 arena. All eyes 2dfe3e0051 turned to 94f253393f the shadows 7ab5e4d1e0 beyond the 8eddb0c365 gates, waiting d1be46691a to see 20e7ea1e01 if Sergei’s 8b15a0b5cc words held 3963afa9ca more meaning 612037d547 than they 7b34611da6 realized.0b8ed1ce6acd7809

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The horn blew 05f6461bc9 once more, signaling 135b7fcc14 the next stage 4f25e2455e of the event.1b15e755163956db

From the ffe0ae0590 underground lift 9bbfa12822 powered by 6f066d43bf tireless slave 56ed7a1e51 labor, ten 7d4513c896 or so b265213d83 prisoners, bound f36170c367 and armed e9ae1fd282 with mismatched 0226432184 weapons—clubs, spears, 2aaaa96fdb chains, and fe2c714b73 swords—were brought 65b37d58d0 into the ddc78ae53a center of 804c099b16 the arena. Their faces were fcadc1223d pale with terror.a1b00092c47d1180

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The sound of 6a32af82fa drums echoed ominously ca0ed00103 as their opponents 83d348c00f emerged from a 09ea00a6e0 second lift on 172fce7306 the opposite side e0278c576e of the arena. The crowd 62a6cc1f77 erupted into 0f0fc14044 deafening cheers bd8b4fd247 and gasps 6c0aff4e19 of astonishment.991584db6e3c9ea8

“It’s a real beast hunt! I can’t believe we get to see this in the Duchy of Ivanov!”dc3956a282d8d8ae

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What emerged from bfffd4611d the lift were e408533638 not men but 565973c458 ferocious beasts—wild boars, bfb707bf4b bears, elephants, and f309c59222 crocodiles—all ravenous and 34a6ffc8ac freed after long e95b14a12c confinement in the 9c1a3f8433 dark. Without hesitation, they charged 4e4b24d268 at the prisoners.8bf5cd32952dd7ea

“Help! Spare us!”12e52bc6d2e51e95

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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.8d48e6cc54932268

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.958fe77348222d41

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Standing on it was 1b385da8d7 the undefeated gladiator, Alexei 0a6c9b1486 Petrov.56bd0e3871a25cb2

“Alexei! Alexei!”58845ec720acaa25

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Holding only a sword b1804f7136 and a round shield, 1963b3f65e Alexei squinted against the 1e7c0e5bd9 bright sunlight of the 50ac6e0be2 arena, scanning the carnage 5c5e9ec604 around him. He quickly assessed 022109b3a9 the situation.a122d6adb6934a75

When the gate to 2a7e0d6a89 his cell opened, the 8816ccdacd beasts turned their attention f26dbd206d to the new target. They charged at him b7038fb86e as the crowd held 48fe0bb5e7 its breath. Alexei moved without c64044a292 hesitation.dce1f3d92e29cbb6

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He swung 029c98cd61 his blade c65633b92c with precision, 9631f7f912 slicing through a25f5b6ef8 the first 7e5061696b charging beast. Grabbing a discarded 19bfeffa70 chain from a 6eb9edce31 fallen prisoner, he f806e8077f wrapped it tightly 20295ee7f4 around the jaws 137f46525c of a crocodile, 1db6054157 using its massive 1bd26ef539 body as a 2ad326b91d makeshift flail to 5bd570903f hurl at an 679a097bea oncoming bear. The impact sent 2079914f52 the bear sprawling.6d15cf0867ab2d61

In an instant, 9205d2f4f0 Alexei leapt onto b1a22d6b7d the bear’s back, d8194dbfd7 driving his sword 4d19a063d9 into its heart. The crowd 1a22d21408 roared with 46d99232da approval, their a74f59e407 cheers echoing a08e309118 throughout the 981a4a232e arena.0659905bc209ef32

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“Alexei! Alexei Petrov! Our savior! Our hero!”deefe4cca44aa5f7

For the audience, cc8384d07e the gladiatorial games 59e8ebaf17 weren’t just entertainment. In moments of c9d89f9bd0 danger and triumph, 85a19f267f they saw themselves 5778913610 in the fighters, ad58377c5b projecting their own e028874465 struggles and dreams 910d93a82a onto these warriors. Gladiators symbolized strength and f394417dd0 resilience, rising from the 1c129778b5 lowest depths to triumph 6d423a6846 over all.72c02fa684324ad8

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And in 2dd697d7e0 this moment, 59bf95dbb1 Alexei was 61ad5f25b9 more than 99aad1d19b a gladiator—he e4e3cf3717 was the 9385bd7f38 lone savior 178721bf2f of humanity e5a87f6574 against the 01a5f0aa6b beasts.7ba28080b63ddd17

“This… isn’t going as planned,” Sergei muttered, standing abruptly and raising his hand to silence the arena.c3242edf9632ff30

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The situation had 65f7ef6ae7 veered away from 57f3b0eeb0 his intentions. But Sergei wasn’t one 23706ca9db to waste an opportunity, 3532348505 especially when he had d0fd3586a3 another card to play. He scanned 4185f5ff14 the suddenly 41ce5781f1 quiet arena 6c14da2229 and began 15265733b6 to speak.3d9fe0b7ac1fdb96

“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!”7e511239d1c33cae

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The crowd, b24188ec6b confused by eb847eab09 his declaration, 777d73e9f9 buzzed with 42011241ee curiosity. Who would face 7b165fe1a8 judgment next? Who could have committed 3ec7154b58 such a terrible crime?aca6411316d839b9

All eyes followed Sergei’s 136bd496ec pointing finger.ac365c710d8555f4

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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.”3ef2cfb38749505f

The crowd gasped. This very man 99b8c79216 they had cheered 71c33bc74a as a hero 202b5432b9 was now revealed 444426e6a7 as the supposed 09da6604f3 culprit who had 942955e7de defiled their beloved e07e2b374e Lady Ivanov’s honor.a96649624d827048

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Before the murmurs 7dc0ed3bb0 could settle, the 0bdfbd0e86 horn blared again. A new lift rose, b74f766035 carrying a massive figure ef2867b200 that made the crowd a893aaac35 fall silent in awe.7672d3826fb18ace

With a guttural growl, 72006533b4 the Albinin lion emerged. Starved for days, 19be8ad69f its once-majestic white 8f85a9972a mane was wild 44641f4828 and untamed, its ecc9ae42a2 powerful body a 2453b17e9d testament to its 41ba54ee4c status as the 4f0f249330 apex predator of 6dc5dfe94e the Afron continent.4f594bdae0c0489a

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It locked 655c5a9b4a its piercing de1dfa2510 eyes on bfd7380005 Alexei, baring 7f6a870f5e its razor-sharp 0800fdb56c teeth in 5b83adcaa2 a deafening 69a2276b05 roar.1ec1cc8ad7bce82b

The match had truly d4d521acd3 begun.0ade7f9f04f93fb0

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