Chapter 22 peace is for few

(POV: Eugênio)

"Ah!" A scream of pain escaped my lips as an intense agony coursed through every fiber of my body. I felt my cells regenerating rapidly, a bizarre sensation of relief and discomfort at the same time. My eyes opened only to be hit by the blinding glare of the sun, momentarily blinding me. I blinked several times, trying to adjust my vision to the bright light. Gradually, I began to see better.

Lifting my head, I was greeted by a vision of lush, green plants all around. The dense vegetation seemed infinite, swallowing the horizon. Where the hell am I?

Struggling to remember recent events, I relived in my mind the vertiginous fall into the sewer after delivering a crushing punch to my enemy, which destroyed the floor beneath our feet. The sensation of free fall was still vividly etched in my mind, as if it had just happened.

With difficulty, I forced my body to stand. Every muscle seemed to be stuck in a state of painful stiffness, but I managed, with effort, to get to my feet. Around me, colossal trees rose, their thick trunks and branches extending almost to touch the sky. The surrounding vegetation was dense and seemed impenetrable, a green sea stretching in all directions, with no end in sight. The place was completely unfamiliar to me, an unknown territory.

As I tried to decipher the enigma of where I was, my ears caught a delicate, hissing sound, like a whisper carried by the wind. A female voice, melodious yet enigmatic, uttered, "What a surprise." The words echoed around me, making my heart race and adrenaline rush through my veins like liquid fire.

I turned on my heels, sweeping the area with my eyes, trying to locate the source of the voice. Before I could react, a crushing pressure enveloped my face, as if a gigantic invisible hand had grabbed my head with brutal force. The pain was instantaneous, an overwhelming wave that took me without mercy.

My vision began to darken, the edges of my field of vision closing like a black curtain. My last thought, a desperate and unanswered question, was, "What is happening?" And then, darkness enveloped me completely, extinguishing my consciousness.

(POV: Urzula)

I murmured to myself, still holding the unconscious being's head in my hands. "How strange... a Ghoul, but also some kind of human." Confusion and enchantment danced within me, each emotion vying for space in my mind. It was rare to find something so peculiar and potentially valuable. The idea of the powers and abilities he might possess intrigued me deeply, like a puzzle waiting to be solved.

With a smooth and precise movement, I lifted the body off the ground, feeling the surprisingly light weight in my arms. I moved with the grace and efficiency of an experienced predator, slithering between the giant trees of the forest. The dense vegetation, usually an obstacle, seemed to part in deference to my presence as I advanced calmly.

When I finally emerged from the forest, the sight of the imposing coliseum on the horizon made my heart beat faster. The monumental structure, with its high towers and robust walls, was an undeniable symbol of the power and spectacle I controlled. It always thrilled me to see it, a constant reminder of my dominion and the grandeur of the empire I had helped build.

Entering the city, I was greeted with a mix of respect and reverence by the members of my community. Their gazes, full of admiration and curiosity, followed my every move. They knew that each new capture could mean entertainment and profit, turning into another piece in the intricate game of power and survival we all played.

Without wasting time, I ordered one of the nearby guards, "Bring a collar." The firm and authoritative voice left no room for questioning. The guard, a robust and disciplined man, moved quickly, returning in a few moments with the metallic collar in hand.

With dexterity, I fastened the collar around the Ghoul/human's neck, feeling the cold, implacable texture of the metal against his skin. The sound of the final click as the collar closed seemed to seal his fate irrevocably. I dragged him to a cell where other beings awaited, their expressions ranging from fear to resignation. Some of them were creatures I knew very well, while others were still being studied and tested.

I threw Eugênio's inert body into the cell, watching intently as the other prisoners backed away, driven by curiosity and caution. Their eyes, full of unspoken questions, examined the new cellmate. "Keep an eye on him," I ordered the guards. "I want to know what he's capable of when he wakes up." My voice carried a mix of authority and excitement, reflecting the storm of emotions within me.

I left the cell with a feeling of anticipation pulsing through my veins, each beat of my heart echoing the promise of future discoveries.

Walking down the corridors, my thoughts revolved around the peculiar being I had captured. What kind of creature could he be? It never crossed my mind that he could be a hybrid, since Ghouls are incapable of procreation. Besides, I know of no human with an energy as singular as his. This was undoubtedly intriguing. A smile spread across my face as the anticipation grew within me. How long had it been since I last felt excited? Just thinking about it made my blood boil with excitement.

Suddenly, a voice called me back to reality. "Ma'am! We found a human from the Holy Church." In front of me stood an orc with long black hair, two prominent tusks protruding from her lower lip, and glasses that gave her an air of intelligence. She was shorter than me, probably about 1.90 meters tall. I didn't care to measure precisely, but what really captured my attention were her words. A human from the Holy Church? What extraordinary luck I was having!

"Where is he? Has he been captured?" I asked, my voice filled with excitement. Priscila, my loyal secretary, immediately noticed my enthusiasm. Despite being reluctant to admit it, I knew I didn't possess the same sharp intelligence as her, but I made up for it with my strength. The realization irritated me a bit, but I wouldn't let it get me down now.

"Yes, he is in the healing hall. He came injured from the rift," Priscila responded efficiently. She began to walk, aware of my impatience. This orc was really intelligent, and I appreciated that about her as much as it irritated me. If it weren't for her usefulness, she might have already become an attraction in my Coliseum. Taking the lead, I advanced with firm steps. Never, under any circumstances, would I walk behind my subordinates or anyone else.

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(POV: Eugênio)

"Hey, are you awake?" A deep, rough male voice dragged me out of the suffocating darkness that enveloped me. I quickly opened my eyes, ignoring the sharp pain that shot through my body as I tried to get up. My vision was still blurry, but gradually, the shapes around me began to define. I saw three figures I had never met before, their silhouettes standing out in the dimness of the cell.

"Look at that, seems like we've got an excited one here, hehe." A goblin said sarcastically. He was small, with grayish-green skin and bright, malicious eyes. His sharp teeth gleamed in an ironic smile. Was it him I heard before I passed out? My eyes scanned the environment, desperately trying to understand my situation. The iron bars surrounding us were robust and unforgiving. I was trapped...

Instinctively, I brought my hand to my neck and felt the cold metal of a collar. The contact with the cold metal sent a shiver down my spine. "What is this?" I asked, my voice coming out hoarse and trembling, laden with confusion and fear.

The goblin just laughed, a harsh sound that echoed off the walls of the damp cell. "That right there is your new identity, friend. You are now a prisoner of the coliseum. Simple as that."

My mind spun with the information, as if trying to find a foothold in a sea of chaos. "Why am I going through this? What did I do to deserve this?" I murmured, feeling a wave of despair begin to overtake me, threatening to drown me in its relentless tide.

The goblin raised an eyebrow, his smile widening. He gave me a pat on the shoulder, which felt condescending and devoid of any real comfort. "Calm down, big guy. No use panicking. There's a chance to get out of this hell, you know?"

My hopes, which were about to shatter, were briefly rekindled. My head jerked up, my eyes fixed on the goblin's. "How? How can I get out of here?"

He smiled again, but this time there was a touch of seriousness and perhaps a trace of empathy in his eyes. "Winning. You have to win the fights in the coliseum. Only then do you have a chance at freedom."

I was silent, absorbing his words as if they were a bitter poison. Win fights? That was my only way out. I had never fought in a coliseum before, but the need to survive could overcome any fear or doubt. Without saying anything else, I sat in a corner of the cell, trying to process the avalanche of information and emotions hitting me. The reality of my new fate was beginning to weigh heavily on my shoulders, and I needed to find a way to survive.

As I settled in, the goblin continued to speak, but his words became a distant buzz in my mind. The only thing clear now was the fight for survival. I was determined to win, no matter the cost. The sound of chains and the murmurs of the other prisoners around me faded, leaving only one certainty resonating in my heart: I would fight. And I would win.

I looked at the goblin in front of me, and immediately, a screen with information appeared before my eyes.

[Name: Grok

Age: 7 years

Race: Goblin

Gender: male

Origin: Evador

Rank: 1

Description: An old goblin captured while trying to rob a noble orc. Unfortunately for the goblin, the victim was none other than the sister of the infamous Urzula, who imprisoned him and forced him to fight for survival.

Current thought: This kid won't last a day. He's going to find out what hell in person is like.]

"What are you looking at, big guy?" The goblin shot. I quickly looked away, feeling a chill down my spine. There was no way to predict his reaction, especially considering that the screen clearly showed he wasn't a good person from the start. I decided to check the information of those around me. At first glance, none of them seemed friendly to me. In fact, the hostility in their eyes was evident. Were they seeing me as an opponent? The doubt hung in the air, while the tension increased.

[Name: Miria

Age: 50

Race: Icefolk

Rank: 1

Rank: determined, confident. Fear. Hopeful

Gender: Female

Origin: Snow World

Description: Miria, a woman of the Icefolk race, lost a crucial battle when she was thrown off a cliff. Upon falling, she crossed a dimensional rift and appeared before the infamous Urzula, who seemed to have been waiting for her arrival.

Current thought: Is my tribe still alive? It's been seven years, but I will return!]

The next screen revealed another equally impressive figure:

[Name: Orion

Age: 25

Race: Wolfman

Rank: 2

State: excited, expectant

Origin: Evador

Description: One of the strongest wolfmen of his generation, son of the great Trekak. Fascinated by fights, he went to the coliseum on his own, betraying his family's customs just to satisfy his thirst for combat. He isn't very intelligent, but his strength is undeniable.

Current thought: Is this newbie strong?]

Orion looked at me with predatory curiosity, his eyes evaluating every aspect of my being. It was as if he was calculating my chances of survival and if I could offer a worthy challenge.

But what the hell, why am I going through this? Now I have to fight for my life because of a damn orc woman who wants to have fun. I have to find a way out, but how? How can I do it? Despair began to take over me as my thoughts ran in circles.

I looked at the bars that imprisoned me. In front of me, a new information screen appeared, this time about the material that formed the cell.

[Name: Oricom

Type: Mineral

Origin: Evador

State: Excellent

Description: A mineral found only in the world of Evador, stronger than steel. It can only be broken by beings of Rank 5 or higher.

How to escape: Impossible, no one inside the cell has the strength for that.]

The remaining hope in my heart faded away. The bars were made of Oricom, a mineral so strong that not even the most powerful among us could break it. The feeling of helplessness dominated me as I stared at the insurmountable barriers surrounding me. I was trapped, with no visible way out, and the reality of my situation began to settle in overwhelmingly.