Chapter 1: Grotesque Revenge
People called me Roman General Ahenobarbus who led my legions to many victories. I was in a war full of dead bodies, weapons and fire. As my empire thought that we won, A Germanic tribe threw a bloodied head of our soldier which got sliced by a sword. Then, a thousand Germanic tribes emerged from the pitch-black woods. I shouted to the empire that we could win this because they were feeling down to see many enemies. We fought to the death. We won daring our lives after a long night. The emperor, Claudius Caesar, appreciated my hard work and said "thank you for leading the empire".
One day, Claudius Caesar asked me to visit him. When I went there, I saw him being pale and slender in his bed. "I have important things to talk about, I'm dying soon and I want you to be the next emperor of Rome", he said. "But, what about your brother? He is supposed to be the next emperor", I replied. "He would be a bad emperor for Rome and I don't want him to be one. He will understand if I tell him", he said. I still refused but I didn't want to disobey my king's offer. The next day, the news of the Emperor Claudius Caesar dying was all over Rome. The emperor's brother, Cleopatra, became the next emperor. He decided to crucify me, because He refused his offer to work for him.
I was in Carcer with chains around my legs and my hands. I muttered that I would escape no matter what.Then, a legionary came and unlocked the key of the prison and cut the metal chains with his sword. "Run as fast as you can and never come back here. I am glad to help you, Anxillius. I ran from there and stole a horse before anyone could notice. I rode the horse straight to my family who lived near the city Zucchabar.
When I arrived there, My eyes widened in alarm as I saw my whole generation crucified in grotesque blood. I stood there glued to the ground in shock. I couldn't believe my eyes. I never thought Celeopatra would go this far. I picked up a letter that was written "This is an immediate and long lasting message for your disloyalty to the emperor". My vengeance raged at Cleopatra for murdering my whole generation. I buried them and collapsed from my injuries. I was unconscious.
Crucifixion
I woke up and found myself in a filthy place with so many injured slaves. Then, I realized that the slavers found me and took me to the city of Zucchabar in the Roman province of Mauretania Caesariensis, where they sold me to a gladiator trainer, Julius. I followed the light where it led to the colosseum. I found slaves fighting in the colosseum and the violent crowd shouting. Suddenly, the gladiator trainer Julius found me, "What are you doing here? You must be the new one. Look, you will soon be one of the gladiators fighting there. Probably, the dying one", he said and laughed evilly.
The gladiators fighting in the colosseum and the spectators
A photo of the colosseum
The slaves, including me, were divided into teams. The bloodshed match began. I could feel the fresh odor of blood while it reminded me of the wars I've fought. "KILL, KILL, KILL!, the crowd shouted. I was in the middle of the arena, holding a sword. I was ready to kill anyone. The match was easier than I thought it would be. After a long time, the spectators hoisted many yellow flags, my team color. The crowd cheered " LIVE, LIVE, LIVE".The crowd is everything in the arena. They are the ones who decide who lives and who dies. I held my weapon tight as I thought about my mother and my daughter. My mother wouldn't find this entertaining if she was here.
After the fight, a man in my team talked to me. He looked familiar, so I asked his name. "Anxillius", he said. I realized that he was the legionary who saved me. "Do you recognize me?", he asked. "Yes, thanks for saving me. I owe you a lot", I replied. Then, I was worried and asked him why he was here. He said that I already knew. I felt guilty and told him that I would be partners with him. I contemplated the wars I've succeeded for my empire whenever I was forlorn. I slept in the dirt with other slaves at night. I could only eat an uncooked egg everyday.
The next day, I heard lots of people cheering outside for someone. Unfortunately, that someone was Cleopatra. Julius came in and said, "we will be having a match today with the local winners to entertain the emperor. What is your last wish for this life?" I've won so many matches already and I was famous.
We walked through the blood stained paths to the colosseum where the crowd was excited. "We can do this", Anxillius said. The match began.The crowd roared as Anxillius and I stepped into the arena. There were only two of us in the arena. We looked into each others' eyes in shock. Then, the crowd shouted " what are you waiting for? Slice each other". That's when we two realized that this match was for the two of us. My knees got weak to kill the person who saved my life. I just stood in the middle of the arena, glued to the ground. But the crowd was merciless, and they demanded blood. Suddenly, Anxillius raised his sword and charged forward as the crowd cheered "Kill, KILL, KILL!". I dodged the blow and countered with a swift strike. The crowd gasped as we clashed, our swords ringing out the arena.
For what seemed like hours, we fought on, neither gaining the upper hand.
Finally, I saw my chance. With a quick feint, I disarmed Anxillius and sent him sprawling to the ground. "Do you really want to kill me?", Anxillius asked shakingly. With a heavy heart, I closed my eyes and stabbed his organs with the sword.
The crowd erupted into cheers as I raised my blood stained sword in triumph. I felt a sense of emptiness wash over me. "To take revenge", I muttered and collapsed.
I went through so many more matches and I became a famous champion. "The immortal champion", that was what the crowd called me.
One day, the emperor asked me when I was in the middle of the arena just after another fight, "if you are so good, then do you dare to fight with me?"
I didn't think for a second and accepted it.The sun beat down on the Colosseum as I and my opponent stepped into the arena. My opponent was wearing armor and holding a sharp sword which I didn't have. We circled each other warily, our eyes locked in a deadly stare. Suddenly, he lunged forward, his sword flashing in the sunlight. We fought for hours with the sword clashing so loud. Suddenly, he had broken my sword. I didn't give up and attacked him with all the strength I had. Finally, I broke his ankles and put the sword inside his body. "I was the one who killed my father, Claudius Caesar", he said and those were his last words. The crowd cheered my name but this time was different because it was "the Emperor Ahenobarbus"
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