"I choose The Brute."
"Lad, I was hoping ye would pick 'em. That's why I told ye about him first. I can't wait to see ye tussle with 'em.
Knowing how bloodthirsty both the quartermaster and the viewers of the Colosseum are, you weren't sure if his excitement was a good or bad sign. Before you can have second thoughts, Gerald continued.
"Now then. I would love to take ye into the Colosseum myself, but I got more fighters to question. Just go through the door on yer left, head all the way down the hall, and enter the door labeled 'First Time Combatants'. Ye'll wait in there until the fight begins. If ye survive, ye will be shown and told everything else ye need to know. Got it?"
"Yes quartermaster."
"Good. Off ye go. Good luck in there."
"Thanks."
You get up from the chair and follow Gerald's instructions. Upon arriving at the door you pause to notice just how big it is. Most doors throughout your life only go up to maybe eight feet high. For years now you've had to duck through them, including the one you used to enter this hallway. But this one has over a foot of clearance above you. If this any indication of the size of fighters in the Colosseum, then perhaps you would stop looking down on everyone.
Either way, you still had to enter. You walk through the doorway to find yourself in a small room. The wall on the left is actually a portcullis, leading out into the fighting pit of the Colosseum. On the right are a couple of benches and straight ahead is another door. You sit down on one of the benches, waiting for The Announcer to introduce you and The Brute, before the portcullis lifts and you two fight. At least, that would happen, if he didn't just open the door now to your right and walk in.
Like fighters in the Colosseum, everyone knew him only by his title, The Announcer. He was a short and skinny parrot anthro, only standing about 5' 6". He walked in with a confidant strut before turning his head up to speak with you.
"Felix Highborn! Or should I say, Felix the Axecutioner? This fight will tell, no doubt about it. How ya feeling?"
You briefly hesitate, debating whether you should be honest with guy who could tell the whole Colosseum what you say, but he doesn't give you the chance.
"Don't worry Felix. You can be honest with me. I won't tell another soul. I may be a loudmouth during fights, but I never lie and I always keep my promises.
Despite The Announcer somewhat unnervingly being able to tell you weren't too trusting with him, and you had just met him, his open and friendly demeanor won you over, and you told him.
"I'm... well... I'm a bit worried honestly. I've trained for years for this moment, but never really fought someone, you know?"
"I won't say who specifically, but lots of fighters felt the same way their first time. Including some of the best fighters here. Just remember, if you don't think you can handle it, you can always yield. Just drop your weapon, raise your arms high, and shout it as loud as you can. It's not worth your life to try and prove a point."
"I know, I know. Thanks, though."
"Don't mention it. Now then, the real reason I came down was to ask you something."
"What is it?"
"Are you ready to prove yourself worthy to be a fighter?"
You take a moment to gather your courage. This is the moment where your life changes forever. For better or worse. You would no longer be just a prince. You would become a champion or die trying.
"Yes. As sure as the sun sets."
"Then I won't waste any more of your time. The fight will start as soon as I introduce you two."
With that The Announcer walks out and closes the door he came in from. It only takes a minute before you hear his voice be magically projected throughout the Colosseum.
"Ladies and gentlemen! Rise from your seats! Today is the day a new fighter will prove that he is worthy of the status. Give a warm welcome to Felix the Axecutioner."
The portcullis rises and horns blare before you leave the small room to enter the fighting pit of the Colosseum. Despite there not being that many humans or anthros in the crowd, they are all risen and cheering as you walk towards the center. Once you get there, everything goes quiet as The Announcer resumes.
""Felix the Axecutioner is a prince who has come to prove he is a warrior at heart. The skinny 8'3" rabbit anthro wields an executioner's axe as his weapon, hence his namesake. He will prove himself against The Brute, the muscular 9' 7" tall boar anthro whose great club was wrenched from a giant's hands.
Now the portcullis directly ahead of you rises. The huge fighter slowly stomps towards you. He holds the great club in both hands while letting it drag on the ground beside him. He stops a few feet in front of you. Most fighters would offer a greeting, but The Brute only grunts before heading back to where he must be to start the fight. You remain silent and follow suit, leaving both of you waiting for The Announcer to start the fight.
"This is a fight to yield, death is only allowed if your opponent refuses to yield. Stay within the bounds of the fighting pit, and begin on my command."
The arena manages to grow even quieter than before. The Brute lets out another grunt.
"FIGHT!!!"
How will you approach this encounter?
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