The Lord of Rot

A dirtied cage that must not have been cleaned for many months - though it was decrepit there was a sense of cleanliness within it. It was probably the lack of blood, which prisons like these usually hold. 

It seemed like the room was dug out of a wall of stone - this probably done with something violently and powerful, so except the barred entrance of their cage, every other direction was covered in jagged stone - no doubt limestone. 

As soon as he entered the barred doors were closed behind him - strangely there was no one to close it. An electric function? It didn't seem as such, if it was electricity it would have made a sound... 

Inside the cage was a thin man, he had long black hair which covered most of his face. His state of being spoke of malnourishment and difficulties, but Konrad was received with a charming smile - like there was nothing to complain about. Though both of them were blatantly aware of the detrimental situation they were on - the man even more. 

"Name's Viktor," He spoke the words clearly, but breaking a little bit. He must have come from far away. "I don't know you, you don't know me. But I don't want what happened to my last roommate to happen again - so I'll tell you a few things - will you listen?" 

"Do I have a choice?" 

"No you don't. Like all of us here we were deceived by the word of the deity - Aaphaim, I was promised the world, as much strength as I wanted - - - all of it. And this place is built on strength, it really is - - - survival of the fittest, you hear? - A terrible place, really terrible. In that way Aaphaim did give us opportunity, but that bastard gave us a death sentence! And your the unlucky one - you survived the first battle--many don't survive the first battle - but if they do - - - then your freedom is gone my friend - if you win, you'll be here forever. " 

"Then I was tricked by Aphaim? Damn it!", Konrad slouched a bit, trying to rest. He must have been getting tired, suddenly he really wanted to lay down - - - 

"What did you say your name was?" 

"I didn't, it's Konrad." 

"Strange name you got there - - - I'm Viktor, I'll say it again. We are companions now - - therefore I'll tell you the bad parts - this place really is hell - - - there are too many people here - we aren't fed; the battle feeds us. Those who aren't infected by the rot... they'll have to eat their companion to stay alive... eventually, all either crumble and fall, succumb to the rot - or are torn apart by their favourite..."

"Their favourite...?" 

"Yes... don't intimidate him, don't intimidate them, don't be too strong, don't be too weak - - - maintain the absolute middle - - - that way you won't die. I don't want you to die like the old fella, crippled guy - old swordsman in the old world - - - he cut the first guy apart - - - kind old dude. But then it happened... he got a little bit too strong, and the angel got to him. They don't say he got wings for no reason. Tore the man apart, arm from arm. I didn't see it, but I heard it... "

He was locked up in the cage, the doors were closed and nothing could let him out. All he could do was wait for the next battle. So he asked Viktor of his life, wishing to understand about the city

"I come from Facility 1337." Those numbers were perhaps something he should have remembered. But he never payed attention to small things like that. "It was run poorly, then it was crushed - everyone there either died to the rot, or moved citywards. In the beginning the city was a good place - I talk too much don't I? The last guy was killed after a few weeks, never got to talk to him much, trying not to regret things - - - might die soon you know... - - - whatever! - - - The city was filled with people, all of them surviving without the help of the Lords, but it didn't go well for us - - eventually we ran out of Durs, and we were picked up by this union, it promised strength and Durs, that we only needed to fight a few battles and we could live comfortably - - - its a deceitful world Konrad, I was naive and fell for it. I can't blame anyone else."

"The rot? So you were in that void too?"

"What void? I was infected like the rest, I accidentally encountered one of those - - "creatures" and I heard the raspy voice of Aaphaim and was told to go citywards - - I didn't even know of a city that existed, and then I was here for a few months and bam!" 

'Interesting...', he heard a loud clicking noise of the doors, then attempted to touch the metallic bars. He was instantly electrocuted, and felt a pain jolting through his body. That made him notice the metal band around his neck - - - it was unnoticeable until the clicking noise - - - suddenly it must have weighed a hundred kilos, far different than a few minutes ago. 

"Don't worry, you'll get used to it, it disappears once you battle, but it returns once you are inside the cage, you must be tired - you can sleep, I won't eat you - probably. I'm still Jealous of that guy - - - their angel...", Viktor began to whisper, hoping not to be heard. Konrad fell to the floors by the weight, covering his sweated face with the dust on the floor. "His name is Gabriel - like God's soldier. You survived until now - but none of us are as strong as him - the rot kills us, but it doesn't kill him. Gabriel, like the angel, must have wings the way he sweeps down and tears the arms of them..." 

Viktor continued to speak about the gruesome deeds of the man named Gabriel, and his own deeds in the underground arena. 

Slowly, Konrad began to drift away into sleep... Knowing a hell was waiting for him...