You follow Kyros, as you head to the arena. You reach the doors that would lead into it, but instead oof entering you go off to a small elevator behind it. You enter, and it slowly begins descending. It opens, revealing the underhive of the arena. There's dozen of cages, holding exotic beasts and dangerous Xenos. You see a half dozen thick, heavily muscled, green-skinned Orks in a cage, their necks chained to the wall. They're howling and roaring, tugging at their chains. Surprisingly, while most shout in their barbaric, guttural language, one seems to speak yours.


"Humie! Humie! Get me free! Get me free!" he shouts. "I is gonna let you live, even give ya a bitta loot and an escape pod if ya let me free!"


"Don't respond!" someone further down the catacombs that lay beneath the arena shouts. "It only encourages Ol' Dak!"


"Hmmm... this Ork must be one of the greatest speakers of his kind," Meliodas points out. "Of course to us he's a fucking idiot."


The ork's eyes narrow, before he begins howling in frustration and smacking his hands against his own head, a heavy thud emanating as his muscled fists slam into his thick skull. You continue walking, passing amazing and fantastic creatures and gladiators. There's a tentacled slug-man with a large beak and dozens of eyes peppered around his body which is huddled up in the corner of it's cage, a trio of horrible bird-hound creatures that scratch at their bars, a massive human wearing what appears to be an iron cage with hundreds of inward pointing nails who rams himself against the cage wall, his body shredded to such an extent you're amazed he's not dead yet, a multi-legged, horned creature that looks almost cute. Finally, you reach a long hallway, with thick, heavy metal doors spread along the hallway. An eye peers out of a door eye-slot, staring at you.


"Hello there. Do we have more fighters, or...? Oh wait, it's them. Terrific."


The eye disappears, and the slot closes. Kyros takes out a datapad, pressing several buttons before the door slowly slides open, revealing a large open area. Bunk beds line the wall, with a bunch of young men and women, the oldest in their late twenties and the youngest in their mid-teens. They wear very little armor, all of which is either leather or light combat armor. They sit around a fire, roasting chunks of meat on sticks in it. Two of the gladiators lean against the beds nearest to you, staring at you. One is a tall, muscled and tanned, with long blond hair and sparking green eyes. She holds a long, rifle-like gun with an axe blade made into the barrel with a grip under it. The other is shorter, with similarly tanned skin, with playful green eyes and curly brown hair, holding a curved sword and a Plasma pistol. They both look to be in their late teens or early twenties at latest.


"Is that a fire?" Fay asks.


"Are they armed?" you also.


"Yes and yes," the male says, turning to the girl. "This question game is fun."


"The fire's below a vent that's sending the smoke... somewhere. We weren't exactly given schematics of this place, all we know is the smoke doesn't bother us. And we're allowed weapons to keep the others in check. Even if we both went for Kyros, our minds would be shattered before we could raise our weapons," the girl says.


"Nah, I could at least start a swing before I was killed."


"These are the Twins. They lead the Gladiator-Slaves. Now, introduce yourselves," Kyros says.


"I'm Castus," the boy smiles, staring at the pair of you.


His eyes flicker, as he looks over Fay. He appears to be checking her out. You feel like punching him in the throat, but refrain.


"You're a jealous one, aren't you?" Meliodas says.


"I'm Olive," the girl says, extending a hand, which you grab and shake before Fay does the same. 


"So, is there a reason you're here?" Castus asks.


"Fay and Karth will be taking command of the gladiators. They are my lieutenants, and will command a segment of our army, the slaves."


"Oh, terrific. We've been shafted," Castus says.


"I'm sure Kyros will want us to have an advisor position to assist Fay and Karth," Olive says.


"Correct," Kyros says.


"Well, there might be an issue with that," Castus says. "You see, both Fay and Karth have a history of... well, murdering my men. Pitting the Kyros Jr and Magos Cern's latest brand of super-freaks against us has led to a lot of men being, quite understandably, pissed with the guys who hacked apart, or psychically exploded, or simply beat their friends upside the head until they went comatose."


"If you want, we can have the dissenters flailed alive. Simply point them out, and I'll have them broken. Is that preferable?"


Castus goes quiet. 


"As I thought," Kyros says with a smile. "Make sure the men know to follow orders. Now, it's late, and these guys need sleep. Is anything else needed?"


"I suppose not," Olive says.


"Well, we need a lot, but nothing we're realistically getting anytime soon," Castus says.


Kyros stares at Castus, fire beginning to run along his body.


"Nothing needed, sir," Castus says.


"Good. Fay, Karth, let's go," Kyros says.


Kyros swivels around, walking out of the room. You quickly follow him, and the massive metal door shuts behind you.


"So, we'll escort Fay back to the Uwais dorms, and then send you to your room," Kyros says.


"Well you know, Karth's room is closer. I could just spend the time in his," Fay suggests. "It would give us some time to go over battle plans now that we know what our men are capable of, and I can inform him of what the Uwais tribe are like in battle..."


"Really? That's the reason? That's the reason you're going for?" Kyros asks, raising an eyebrow. "No."

You accept Kyros' decision

"Fine," you say dejectedly.


"Jeez, Karth, your stubbornness will serve us well in time," Fay says, looking annoyed at you.


You arrive at the doors to your cell, and Kyros opens it.


"Very well," Kyros says. "Inside."


You look at Fay, who smiles at you despite still looking annoyed.


"Bye, Karth," she says, giving a short little wave.


"Bye, Fay," you reply.


The doors are shut, and you walk over to your bed, collapsing on it. Only now do you realize how exhausted you are. You've spent all day walking, which again isn't exactly your specialty. You close your eyes, and soon sleep takes you. Thankfully, the twilight stage where your soul can rest and your exhausted mind can find peace, lasts extra long. Of course, it doesn't take long before the nightmares hit.