Alien Knights

In the early morning of the day of the celebration, Todd, who was sleeping on the wooden bed, was awakened by a clanging sound.

Putting on his clothes and getting out of bed, Todd saw the scene of busy construction in the arena.

A team of Ulster soldiers is directing craftsmen and slaves to install fences and wooden walls at several entrances and exits of the arena.

After asking someone to ask, I found out that in order to ensure the safety of the security work on the day of the celebration, the royal family temporarily decided to strengthen the protection in the "red circle" to prevent accidents.

While eating rye cakes, while sitting on the terrace and watching the construction below, Todd noticed a rather interesting detail - these fences and bunkers were not facing the outside, but the inside of the field.

Looking at this posture, it doesn't look like it is to guard against external enemies, but rather to prevent attacks from inside the field.

The time came to 8:30 in the morning. From the square outside the arena, there were bursts of drum music. The parade team passed through the streets, and the laughter of people singing and dancing followed the wind and spread to the "Red Circle".

Compared to the hustle and bustle outside, the arena was silent. The gladiators exchanged glances with each other, and even their voices were barely audible.

Sitting on the stone platform in the training ground, Todd closed his eyes and rested his chin on his knuckles, like an old monk in meditation, without the slightest movement.

Ackerman, holding a straw in his mouth, walked to Todd's side, turned his back and said, "All the gates of the arena have been sealed, leaving only one main gate for spectators to enter and exit. All stands and walls are reinforced with planks and rivets, and iron sheets and stones are even used for the king's viewing platform."

Ackerman glanced at the soldiers and guards who were constantly patrolling the wall, and spat on the ground: "Damn, this place is almost turned into a fortress by them."

Todd sat cross-legged on the spot, closed his eyes and asked, "What did I ask you to inquire about?"

"Oh, yes, speaking of this. Those in the northern faction haven't seen Deirdre, Lady of Pain, for three or four days. According to her confidants, Lady of Pain didn't even take the amulet with her when she left. This has never happened before."

Hearing this, Todd slowly opened his eyes, looked at Ackerman and smiled: "It must have taken you a lot of energy to get this information, right?"

The latter scratched his head shyly: "A bouquet of flowers, a love poem, three nights...and a little pain in the waist..."

Todd said with a wry smile, "I just hope you still have the strength to complete today's task."

"Boss, don't worry about this." Ackerman patted his chest with a look of indifference.

The long and loud horn sounded, and the gate of the arena slowly opened, and the spectators who came here poured into the stands like the tide breaking the embankment.

The high tide of gladiatorial fighting, the splendid fighting performances, and the kingdom celebration that has not been held for a long time made this gladiatorial match the most watched one in history. Tens of thousands of gladiator lovers came from different countries, spoke different languages, and had different skin colors, just to get a glimpse of it in the "Red Circle".

Due to the large number of people, officials had to limit the number of people entering the venue.

After nearly 5,000 lucky winners entered the stands, the heavy gates were closed, leaving only more people making noise and crying outside.

After finally getting all the spectators into the seats in the stands, the guards and staff of the arena, while maintaining the discipline on the scene, looked towards the high viewing stand, waiting for the real protagonist to arrive today.

At nine-thirty in the morning, to the sound of drums, King Conchiub of Ulster stepped onto the viewing stand.

The king, dressed in red fashion and formal attire, walked to the railing of the viewing platform and waved to the thousands of people in the audience, which drew cheers from the audience.

The royal clerk bowed to the high platform, then walked to the front of the stands, and read the king's decree aloud.

"The benevolent and wise King of Ulster has ordered that today's gladiatorial competition is a grand event in the kingdom. All gladiators who perform well and are recognized by the audience will be free!"

Amidst the audience's screams and discussions, Conchierb swayed his fat body, walked back to the throne on the viewing stand, and looked at the stunning woman beside him: "Queen Maeve, such a grand gladiatorial match must be rare in the Kingdom of Connaught, right?"

The woman in a pale pink gauze wiped her nails with freshly picked rose petals, and cast a sideways glance at Conchierb, as if she was too lazy to respond.

This coquettish glance made Conchi Erb's body half numb.

Looking at the woman's exquisite and flawless curves, the king swallowed, pulled his clothes down, and bent over without any trace.

With a bell, the Ulster gladiatorial match officially began.

As groups of gladiators took to the stage to fight, the atmosphere of the entire venue was pushed to a climax time and time again.

The gladiators fought brilliantly, and the audience shouted hoarsely. One person escaped from the center of the vortex and quietly came to the end of the corridor on the basement floor.

Stretching out the dark and narrow cell, Todd looked around at the surrounding furnishings. The straw beds, stone walls, and mud were all the same as when he first arrived here.

Sitting lightly on the pile of weeds, Todd looked at the sunlight projected from the tall iron windows, listened to the endless voices echoing in his ears, and put his palms toward the ground beside him.

A pale yellow stone with a warm luster slowly rose from the soil and rested in his palm.

Putting the "Amber Stone" into his arms, Todd stood up, took a last look at the cell floor, and then strode out of the cell door, leaving only his back disappearing in the darkness.

Perhaps it was the impact of the king's promise of freedom. The gladiators who played today did not have the ease and comfort of the past. Everyone is like a ghost in the abyss of hell, fighting and dying like wild animals in order to fight for a rope hanging from the cliff.

A gladiator with a sharp blade kicked his opponent down, dropped the shield in his hand, shouted, and stabbed the weapon into the enemy's abdomen with all his strength.

Accompanied by the screams of the dying man, blood stained the battlefield of the two, leaving only the exclamation of the audience.

Watching what happened on the field, Ackerman stroked his fingers lightly on his wrist a few times, with a serious look on his face, and he didn't know what he was thinking.

The appearance of Todd made this handsome young man in his early twenties finally regain his senses.

"Boss, the grand finale is coming soon."

Todd nodded, put on his armor, picked up his shield and dagger, found a Corinthian helmet with red horsehair, and slowly put it on his head.

"The past belongs to the god of death, and the future belongs to oneself." (Chinese)

Ackerman turned his head when he heard the words, and asked suspiciously: "Boss, what did you just say?"

"No, it's nothing." Looking at the iron winch door slowly rising in front of him, Todd took a step forward towards the light.