I GUESS NO ONE IS UP FOR VOTING YET. NO WORRIES. I WAITED TO SEE, BUT I WANT THIS STORY TO LIVE, SO I GUESS I WILL PICK IT AND MAKE THE BOOKS I WANT TO READ. MAYBE THEN I WILL HAVE ANOUGH ACTIVE READERS WHO WANT TO VOTE. I JUST WANTED TO GIVE YOU ALL THE OPPORTUNITY BEFORE I RUN WITH IT. BUT IT IS GO TIME. I WILL STILL GIVE SPACE FOR POLLS AFTER EVERY 3 CHAPTERS, SO STAY TUNED FOR A NEW EPISODE WEEKLY. WITH THAT BEING SAID, LET'S GO!

  Mackiaveli tossed and turned on the small cot, the straw mattress barely offering any comfort against the cool stone beneath him. His muscles ached from the day’s beatings, bruises still throbbing from the earlier fights. But it wasn’t pain that kept him awake. It was the conversation with Director Shilling.

  “TK10. Your rebirth was not a glitch or mistake. Since your death was imminent, we captured your soul before it could be Lost in Lethe.”

  The words echoed in his mind, circling like vultures. The Time Keepers had yanked him from the brink of death, their motives as twisted as the world he now found himself trapped in. They wanted him to find the Hacker. They wanted him to get the key. And in return, he might get his shot at revenge. Or was that just a carrot dangled in front of him to make him play along?

  “Screw it,” Mack growled, staring up at the darkened ceiling. “One step at a time. If they think I’m their puppet, they’re in for a surprise.”

  The cell door creaked open with a groan. A guard stood there, his expression unreadable.

  “The games begin today, Mackiaveli. Make sure you’re not late. The Lanista hates lateness.”

  Mack swung his legs over the cot, his boots crunching against the stone floor. “Wouldn’t dream of it.”

  “Good. You’ll be in the training yard within the hour. Don’t keep the others waiting.”

  The guard left, the door clanging shut behind him. Mack rubbed his eyes, already feeling the adrenaline spike. Today would be the real test. Not some back-alley brawl or trial by one-on-one combat. An actual event. The sun blazed high above the complex, scorching everything it touched. Sand covered the training yard, glinting like gold under the harsh light. Mack stepped into the chaos of the yard where gladiators armed themselves and exchanged last-minute taunts and strategies. The moment his presence was noticed, a few heads turned, most of them with disdain. But one figure approached him, his broad shoulders blocking out the sun.

  “So, the legend joins us at last.”

  Mack glanced up at the hulking brute in front of him. The man’s muscles seemed to have muscles, his skin tanned and scarred from countless battles.

  “You’re Stavros, right?”

  “So, you remember my name. Good. Means you remember when I was about to pound your face into the dirt.”

  Mack gave a tight grin. “Seems like you missed your shot.”

  Stavros chuckled, his voice a deep rumble. “Maybe I did. But let’s see if you can hold your own today. Because out there, it’s not about fancy tricks. It’s about strength. And who can swing the hardest.”

  “Swinging hard’s one thing. Swinging smart’s another.”

  “Smart doesn’t matter when you’re in the belly of a lion, boy.”

  Mack shrugged. “Guess we’ll find out.”

  System Alert: New Quest Received

  Survive the Beast Hunt

  Objective: Stay alive and keep as many Gladiators alive as possible.

  Details: The Colosseum's bloodthirsty audience demands a show

  of courage and brutality. You must face the wild beasts

  alongside your fellow gladiators and emerge victorious.

  Rewards: Increased Reputation, Potential Stat Boosts, Lanista's Favor.

  Failure Penalty: Reduced Reputation, Possible System Lockout.

  Additional Objective: Preserve the lives of your allies.

  The more that survive, the greater the reward.

  The roar of the crowd was deafening. Mack stood with nine other gladiators, their weapons gleaming under the sunlight as the gates of the arena creaked open. The scent of sweat, blood, and sand filled his nostrils. The announcer’s voice boomed through the air.

  “Today’s spectacle! The beast hunt!” In a somewhat passive and dull voice, he says, “Ten brave warriors against the creatures of the wild!”

  Mackiaveli eyed the others, noting the mix of fear and excitement on their faces. One of them was the bully from before, the one who had threatened Mack alongside Stavros. His face was twisted with arrogant confidence.

  “We go in as a team. Stick together, we make it out alive,” Mack said, his voice low and urgent.

  The bully snorted. “I don’t need you telling me what to do. Stay out of my way.”

  Mack’s eyes narrowed. “Your funeral.”

  The gates opposite them began to rumble. Chains clattered, and with a thunderous roar, the beasts were released. A pack of tigers, their eyes blazing with hunger. Two massive lions, their manes rippling as they stalked forward. And three bears, their bulk like mountains of fur and muscle.

  “Lions, tigers, and bears... Oh my,” Mack muttered, half-laughing at the absurdity.

  The first charge came from one of the bears, its claws raking the sand as it barreled toward them. The bully from before charged straight at it, sword swinging wildly.

  “No! Stay back!” Mack shouted, but the fool was already committed.

  The bear swatted the man aside like he was nothing more than a ragdoll. The force of the blow caved in his chest, blood spraying in a gruesome arc. The man’s body hit the sand with a sickening thud, his face frozen in shock.

  SYSTEM ALERT: ONE GLADIATOR ELIMINATED

  Mack grimaced. “Idiot.”

  “We’re not going to survive this, are we?” One of the others whimpered.

  “We will if you do exactly as I say.”

  “Stavros, take left flank. Hold off anything that comes from the side. Use your size. Make them afraid.”

  Stavros grunted. “Can do.”

  “You—what’s your name?”

  “Tiberius.”

  “Alright, Tiberius, you and the others focus on the lions. Spear formations. Aim for the eyes if you can. If not, go for the legs. Slow them down.”

  The author's content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

  The others hesitated, but something in Mack’s voice cut through their fear. The battle was a brutal blur of roaring beasts, flashing steel, and blood-slicked sand. Mack moved like liquid, his mind and body working in perfect tandem. He ducked under a tiger’s lunge, driving his sword up into its throat. He rolled to the side just as a bear’s claws raked the ground where he’d been. He drove his blade into a lion’s eye, his arms trembling from the impact.

  SYSTEM ALERT: GROUP EVENT SUCCESSFUL

  8 GLADIATORS REMAINING

  The crowd cheered, their bloodlust satisfied for the moment. Mackiaveli’s breath came in ragged bursts. His body was drenched in sweat, his arms aching from the effort. But they were alive. And he had just proven himself. The remaining gladiators gathered, battered but victorious. Stavros looked at Mack with something like respect.

  “You fought well, Mackiaveli. Smarter than most.”

  Mack gave a weary smile. “You did good out there, Stavros. Now let’s see if we can keep it up.”

  Stavros nodded. “Yeah. Maybe you’re not such a scrawny little bastard after all.”

  And then—

  SYSTEM ALERT: SPIRIT BONUS

  Stats Auto-Unlocked:

  Speech: Enhanced Persuasion

  Intelligence: Improved Tactical Analysis

  Wisdom: Insight Detection

  Reputation: Gained Respect Among Gladiators

  Luck: Minor Boost in Combat Scenarios

  The roar of the crowd was deafening. Mack stood with nine other gladiators, their weapons gleaming under the sunlight as the gates of the arena creaked open. The scent of sweat, blood, and sand filled his nostrils. The announcer’s voice boomed through the air.

  “Today’s spectacle! The beast hunt!” His voice was dripping with exaggeration. “Ten brave warriors against the creatures of the wild!”

  Mackiaveli barely had time to savor the gladiatorial victory before he was summoned by Falco. The fight against the wild beasts had been brutal, but his tactics had kept most of the gladiators alive. His muscles still ached from the effort, and his pulse hadn’t fully returned to normal. But none of that mattered now. Falco’s chambers were always dark, cloaked in shadows where his presence seemed most comfortable. The air was thick with the scent of burning oils and spiced wine.

  “Mackiaveli,” Falco said, his voice rolling like thunder across the room. “I have a task for you. A task I believe only you can accomplish.”

  Mack crossed his arms, leaning against the stone wall. “You’ve got my attention.”

  “It’s a matter of... unsettled debt. A rather lucrative merchant by the name of Gaius Septimus Varro owes me a considerable amount of gold. He’s chosen to avoid repayment by hiding himself behind hired thugs and layers of deception.”

  “Sounds like a coward.”

  “Yes. And a well-protected coward at that,” Falco continued. “His guards are nothing special, but they are numerous. However, there’s one weakness.”

  “Go on.”

  “Varro has a guard captain named Lucius, who is loyal only to coin. If I arrive with two of my own fighters, it will create enough leverage to make Lucius reconsider his loyalty.”

  Mack’s eyes narrowed. “And those two fighters are...?”

  “Stavros and yourself.”

  “Let me guess. Lucius folds, and we take Varro.”

  “Precisely.” Falco’s smile was almost predatory. “And Varro will have two choices. Work for me, or have his life stripped from him. Publicly.”

  “Why public?”

  “Because a display of power must be visible to be respected. The man must be humiliated. Broken. His reputation destroyed before it even begins to regrow.”

  Mack glanced at Stavros, who was standing at the back of the chamber, his face a mixture of curiosity and eagerness.

  “So why not just have him killed?” Mack asked.

  Falco’s grin widened. “Because fear is more effective than death. I want him alive. And I want the entire city to see what happens to those who cross me.”

  Objective: Assist Falco in bringing Gaius Septimus Varro under control.

  Details: Travel with Falco and Stavros to confront Varro.

  Ensure his guards are neutralized and force him into servitude under Falco.

  Requirements: Leverage the loyalty of the guard captain, Lucius.

  Rewards: Increased Reputation, Gold, Lanista’s Favor.

  Potential Unlock of New Abilities.

  Failure Penalty: Reduced Reputation, Possible System Lockout.

  Additional Objective: Publicly humiliate Varro.

  Set an example for the Lanista for the rest of the city.

  The sun hung low in the sky as Falco, Mackiaveli, and Stavros made their way through the crowded streets of Rome. Their destination was a sprawling villa surrounded by high stone walls and iron gates. Mack walked with the easy confidence of someone who knew danger was imminent. He glanced at Stavros, whose giant frame seemed to force the crowd to part before them. The man was a brute, no question about it. But Mack had seen what he was capable of in the arena. The man could fight, and more importantly, he could follow orders.

  “Stavros,” Mack said quietly. “You ready for this?”

  Stavros grunted. “Just point me at something I can smash.”

  “Good.”

  Falco kept his pace measured, his gaze never wavering from the road ahead. “When we reach the gates, let me speak. Your job is only to act when I say so.”

  “Understood,” Mack replied.

  The villa loomed before them, its guards posted at the entrance with swords drawn but their faces betraying unease. Lucius, the captain of the guard, stepped forward, his eyes darting nervously between Falco and his men.

  “Lanista Falco,” Lucius said, his voice shaking slightly. “What brings you here?”

  Falco grinned. “Ah, Lucius. I’ve come to collect what’s mine. And I believe you have a choice to make.”

  Lucius’s expression darkened. “You’re not welcome here. Turn back before this gets ugly.”

  “Ugly?” Falco laughed. “Lucius, we both know you’re only as loyal as the coin in your pocket. How much is Varro paying you?”

  The captain hesitated. “He... he pays well.”

  “But not well enough to risk your life, I imagine. Now, here’s my offer. Join me, or die defending a man who will never appreciate your loyalty.”

  Lucius’s gaze flickered to Mackiaveli and Stavros. Two hardened killers flanking Falco like living weapons. The hesitation was palpable.

  “I... I will let you pass. But you’ll handle the rest yourselves.”

  “Wise choice.” Falco nodded, his smile as sharp as a blade. “Now, let’s meet this merchant.”

  They stepped through the gates, past the scattered guards who had already started abandoning their posts at Lucius’s orders. It was almost too easy. Varro’s audience chamber was a gaudy affair—gold-trimmed curtains, polished marble floors, and an obnoxious amount of statues depicting various gods and heroes. The man was compensating for something. Varro himself was tall and thin, with a manicured beard and the eyes of a cornered animal. He stood surrounded by five guards, their weapons drawn.

  “Falco, you have no right to be here,” Varro spat, his voice trembling. “This is an outrage!”

  “You owe me a debt, Varro,” Falco said, his tone icy. “And I’ve come to collect.”

  Varro’s eyes darted between the guards and the intruders. “Kill them!”

  The guards surged forward, their swords flashing.

  “Stavros, with me!” Mackiaveli shouted.

  The two of them moved as one, their coordination almost uncanny. Stavros bull-rushed the nearest guard, grabbing him by the throat and slamming him into the marble floor with a sickening crunch. Mackiaveli sidestepped a thrusting sword, grabbing the man’s wrist and twisting until he heard the bones snap. He kicked the man’s knee, sending him sprawling before finishing him with a brutal strike to the temple. Two more guards came at him, but he slipped between them, their blades cutting only air. He drove his elbow into one’s nose, shattering bone, while his knee collided with the other’s ribs.

  The last guard froze, eyes wide with terror. Stavros growled and the man collapsed to his knees, surrendering before they even touched him. Varro was defenseless. Falco stepped forward, his smile gleaming like polished steel. “Gaius Septimus Varro, you are finished. You now work for me. Everything you own now belongs to me.”

  Varro fell to his knees, his hands shaking. “No... please... mercy.”

  “Mercy?” Falco laughed. “You have none left to spend. From this day forward, you are mine. Your wealth, your property, your loyalty. Or you can join your broken guards in the afterlife.”

  Varro’s head bowed. “I... I serve you.”

  System Alert: Quest Completed – The Public Humiliation

  Rewards:

  Gold: 10,000 Denari

  Increased Reputation: Lanista’s Favor +15

  Influence: Control Ability Access Regained

  Spirit Control, Umbral Control, Void Control

  Spirit Control Level 3 – Enhanced Persuasion, Aura Detection

  Umbral Control Level 2 – Basic Shadow Manipulation, Cloaking

  Void Control Level 1 – Minor Phase-Dodging, Spatial Awareness

  Luck Boost: Combat +5% Speech +15%

  Wisdom Boost: Insight Detection +10%

  Intelligence Boost: Tactical Analysis +10%