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His Victory, Page 3

Christiaan Bann

never saw Aurelius train he could not spot any weakness. The sunrise and it was the 7th day of the games and it was time for Spartacus to do battle against the unknown Aurelius. Spartacus threw his spear at Aurelius but Aurelius caught it in his hand and would use it against his opponent. Spartacus drew his gladius sword he knew the underestimated Aurelius was also military, this would be the battle of the ages and they battled for two hours straight with no rest. The crowd enjoyed every moment of the battle they shouted out load and made lots of noise for the Gladiators fighting to the death. Both men out on their feet having nothing left to give, with their knees on the ground punching each other neither wanting to give up. Then out of nowhere a loud voice “STOP” the Emperor Julius yelled, the crowd cooled down and it was silence, “only one can leave the arena alive who will it be. Aurelius - Live or Die?” he shouted. LIVE-LIVE-LIVE! The crowd yelled “Spartacus - Live or Die?” DIE-DIE-DIE! The crowd yelled. The noise could be heard inside the sell Spartacus’s fate was in the crowds hands. Aurelius lived and he received max 100 Points for the battle.

  Two killed and only four left out of the group. In two days’ time Flamma will face Spiculus, Flamma was average build with no fear his weak spot he had a short temper and could easily loose his head if the right buttons was to be pushed, on the 8th day of the games only one day from his battle he got into an argument with Spiculus, they clashed with each other and he killed Spiculus and three other guards who was trying to separate the two. He was critically wounded and would not make it to the next day, Emperor Nero heard of the incident and arranged a special match for the crowd to show them how brave he was by facing a fierce Gladiator to the death, Flamma’s wounds were hidden and no sign of cuts could be seen on the Gladiator, they placed armour on the wounds and gave him a blunt sword, Nero entered the arena wearing white armour and armed with shining silver bladed swords. He toyed with Flamma, but the Injured Gladiator was no match for the Mighty Nero, he savagely killed him in front of the crowd, the silence was unbearable and the crowd was sickened by the Emperor’s action the crowd started to boo the Emperor. Some even yelling DIE-DIE-DIE!

  Another one of the group dead, only two survived so far and the odds was against Marcus who would face a Lion on the 10th day of the Gladiator Games.

  The 10th day of gladiator games have arrived and it was time for Marcus to battle the Beast. “Marcus get ready” was called out, his time has come.

  Accompanied by the guards he was led out onto the arena in front of the Emperor, “bow to your emperor” he looked at the guard who instructed him to bow and spit in his face “that’s not my Emperor”. Marcus stepped back to face his opponent who was a 308 lb Lion. Only having his spear, a dagger, and a net to kill this Beast. Then it appeared out of the shadows of the tunnel a large muscular Lion ready for its meal. The lion stormed up to Marcus, not knowing what to do threw his spear towards the Lion but missed totally, he only had his dagger and net to defend himself, the lion got hold of his arm but his arm guards helped so that the teeth of the Beast do not sink into his flesh, he then stabbed the Beast a couple of times into the ribs and shoulder blades with his dagger.

  Then the Beast struck him with its massive paws over the neck and shoulders hitting him into the ground but again protected by his metal shoulder shield that protected his neck and lower face. He was dizzy by the blow but knew that he had to get distance between him and the Beast if he wanted to survive the attack, he needed his spear. He took the net and threw it over the Beast to buy some time to escape to his spear. The plan worked out precisely as planned, Marcus went on one knee holding the spear at an angle towards the approaching Lion waiting for the precise moment to engage and then the Lion jumped towards Marcus, just a step forward was enough. The Lion jumped himself onto the spear killing himself by his weight forcing the spear into his flesh into this heart. Marcus survived the Beast. The crowd loved it max 200 points was given for the kill.

  We were only 3 survivors out of 6 Gladiators in our group in the first 10 days of Gladiator Games. This was not going to be an easy task to survive.

  The Gladiator Games schedule - Round 2:

  Tau would fight against Attilius on the 11th day “tomorrow”, I would fight on the 13th day against Crixus and Marcus to face an 800 lb Bear on the 20th day of the Gladiator Games.

  We started to grow as a group and communicated and shared techniques to survive in battle, we knew that we could die with every battle, Tau’s name given to him by his friends it meant Lion and he has been a slave all his live, Marcus was a soldier who turned on his own commanding officer for a decision which he did not agree upon to kill innocent lives and was sentenced to jail for refusing to carry out a direct order and me retired soldier who just protected his family and sentenced to life for killing two Roman Soldiers.

  We could not see the battle grounds from our cell but we could hear every blade and flesh cut, the screaming of the people and the shouting of enjoinment. Tau was up next het donned broad-rimmed helmet that enclosed the entire head only having two holes to look through picked up his swords placing one in each hand “go get him Lion” I whispered to him. He shook his head and walked up to the cell doors. Tau lined up next to Attilius they were similar build and would be a crowd pleasing match, Tau and Attilius left the cell to go to the arena, I could hear the crowd being silent and then Tau returned crying and holding his head with both hands, “what the hell is wrong what is going on” I wondered. I moved over to him, there were neither scratches nor any sign of cuts on him but his right hand was full of blood. “What happened, Tau please speak to me” he looked up at me and shouted “no more - no more”. I grabbed him and held him in my arms “I killed him in front of his wife and son”. This was reality and no game Tau did what was expected of him to survive. Marcus please take care of him while I prepare for my battle. I went out to train Marcus’s next battle was in 9 days’ time leaving him with enough time to prepare for his battle with the beast.

  I was to face Crixus also a crowd pleaser and very good with his hands and feet, he was trained as a “Cestus” a fist-fighter who wore the Cestus. I knew that in this Gladiator Games you cannot underestimate any opponent. He was quick to quick for me I had to slow him down in some way, as I was busy training I saw Marcus talking to his trainer, I ran up to him “where is Tau?” he assured me that all was well and that Tau was resting in the cell. So I continued with training, working hard. When training was finished I was escorted back to the cell and found Tau hanging from his belt. They took his body away. The cell was so cold that night and the feeling of all the deaths of the last 12 days could be felt all over the cells, nobody talked everybody went to sleep. Some say you feel fear. I felt it that night. I was to do battle tomorrow and survive at all costs.

  Early in the morning on the 13th day of the Gladiator Games General Quintus walked up to my cell and handed me a letter. Turned around and left. I opened slowly not knowing what to expect, a letter:

  “My loving husband Virtus

  It is me Diana we are safe and well looked after by Quintus he was forced to collect you by Emperor Nero.

  We pray for your safe return, Janus say to keep strong and win and we will soon ride into the sunset with our horses.

  Your loving wife Diana”.

  I could feel the tears running over my face, I was sad but it suddenly turned to anger and hate my hands started to shake out of aggressiveness then out of nowhere I shouted so loud the Gods could hear me. I was ready this was it Nero will be mine and his life, I will take it from him. I was up and ready for battle nothing could stand in my way, the summa barely called out our names when I was in the tunnel waiting to get out, Crixus lined up next to me, he could see that I was furious. As the gates opened I ran out onto the arena looking up at the stance where the Emperors sit, Crixus followed behind me with the guard, we were instructed to bow before the Emperors.

  As Crixus bowed before the Emperors I pulled out my sword and pointed it straight at Nero no blinking once
keeping my eyes on Nero. The battle was to start, I could feel the power within me arousing I felt like I could bend steel, I felt invincible I was so angry I threw down my sword and spear and stormed straight at Crixus I ducked his sword and punched him in the face he hid behind his large shield, I ran up towards him and kicked his shield with both feet it knocked him right off his feet, I jumped onto him disarming him of his sword and shield. I punched and punched him as I yelled out loud, he fought back but I was too ruthless for him to control. I stood up and picked him up over my head and slammed him into the ground 4 times. Then I picked him up over my head walked up Emperors seats, I threw him so hard towards them he travelled 26 feet. The crowd was silenced by the impact the body made against the Colosseum’s wall, the sound echoed all over the stands. I turned around picked up my sword and walked towards the gate when the crowd started to roar and chant.

  “Hercules – Hercules – Hercules - Hercules”

  I turned around and raised my sword; the crowd was behind me I was the favourite. A Max 100 point was given for my victory. I have collected a total of 200 points and only