Sam glanced toward the section reserved for Tahi officials. Hundreds of pigs, both male and female, were watching the match with bated breath.

  “The guard presence is too heavy; it’s impossible to get close to the Queen and the Princess.”

  Sam strained his ears, unable to pinpoint exactly where the conversation was coming from.

  “What about a sniper?”

  “Security is tight. Every suitable high point has been locked down.”

  The voices of two men whispered to each other. Sam immediately scanned the area, trying to locate the pair. However, nearly everyone in the section was chatting with those beside them, making it impossible to distinguish the source. Because he was positioned behind them and at a distance, he could only rely on the sound of their voices.

  “Fine, we’ll find another way! Glory to the Mother! Glory to Tahi!”

  “Glory to the Mother! Glory to Tahi!”

  The mysterious pair's chanting made Sam’s heart race. He grew restless, wanting to rush down toward the official stands.

  “Is something wrong with the Princess’s Guardian? It looks like he needs to use the latrine.”

  Prince Rother of Domecus noticed Sam’s behavior and suddenly questioned Juliana. The Princess looked at Sam, but he shook his head in denial. He didn't want to leave his post. Sam feared that if he left for even a minute, something terrible would happen to Juliana. To him, the Princess was a life buoy in a vast and dangerous ocean.

  Suddenly, an AI notification flashed in Sam’s mind: "Signal from the AnD Command Center is emitting at high intensity!"

  Sam was stunned, his heart pounding. Why would the signal suddenly spike like this?

  “It’s right beneath this arena, approximately 100 meters down!”

  “Is someone boosting the signal?” Sam asked urgently, hoping against hope that it might be a true human from a thousand years ago.

  “Unclear, Master. I only detect that the signal strength has suddenly become very high,” the AI replied.

  “Forgive me, Princess, I must use the latrine!” Sam abruptly changed his tune, catching Juliana off guard. Just moments ago, he had denied Rother’s suggestion, and now this.

  “Go,” Juliana nodded, a look of confusion in her eyes. Sam didn't linger; he immediately left the stands, following the signal’s path.

  Sam ran quickly to a deserted area outside the stadium. Here lay an entrance leading to the underground sewer system. A few pig guards were stationed nearby, but seeing Sam in a Guardian’s uniform, they ignored him.

  “The strong signal is coming from here!” the AI confirmed.

  Without a word, Sam plunged inside, following the conduits downward. As he descended, the air grew cold and foul, and darkness slowly swallowed the space. After a while, Sam stopped at a crossroads, his gaze fixed on the right wall.

  The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

  “It’s right there! Inside the wall,” the AI announced.

  Sam remained silent, his heart a tangle of joy and sorrow. The secrets of a thousand years ago were separated from him by only a moldy, filthy wall. Behind that barrier surely lay the doors to the Command Center.

  “Overlay the Command Center blueprints onto this location,” Sam commanded.

  Instantly, ancient data flickered to life, merging with his current surroundings. Within minutes, the AI transmitted a reconstructed image into his brain.

  “This... this is the center’s external ventilation shaft!” he nearly cheered. Sam remembered it—the massive vent that rose high above the center like a great sail. Occasionally, plumes of smoke would drift from it, making AnD look like a factory. He never understood why a research center would emit smoke like a workshop.

  “This will have to do for now. We’ll find a way in later.”

  Sam turned to leave. He had no way to break through the wall right now without exposing the entrance. He had to return to the arena; Juliana was more important for the time being.

  When he returned, the Domecus team had completely seized the advantage. They were slaughtering the Tahi gladiators in the most brutal fashion, whipping the crowd into a frenzy of curses, cheers, and screams.

  The battle drew to a close as all nine Tahi fighters were killed. Domecus had lost three. Now, only Josh remained alone on the commander's platform. Opposite him, the Domecus handler began to leave his own platform, moving toward his opponent.

  “They fight like shit! A waste of money feeding them,” a frustrated Tahi supporter shouted as the Domecus gladiators and their handler converged on the Tahi platform.

  Sam looked at Josh. He looked incredibly solitary in the middle of the arena.

  “Come on then, you bastards!” Josh raised his weapon and roared. Surrounding him were the Domecus gladiators and their handler—a massive pig with muscles like cold steel, wielding a razor-sharp double-edged axe.

  “Crush him!” the Domecus handler ordered coldly.

  Immediately, the gladiators formed a perimeter around Josh. They were forbidden from using high-lethality weapons when stepping onto an opponent's platform; it was one of the rules of the sport.

  “See that? Humans aren't allowed to kill pigs, but pigs can kill humans whenever they please,” Juliana said to Sam, her voice laced with a mix of sarcasm and fury.

  Sam felt a lump in his throat, his whole body trembling. The match was utterly unfair to humanity. He felt a wave of humiliation and pity, mixed with fear. The human gladiators were acting like a pack of hounds surrounding Josh. The image reminded Sam of the past, when humans went hunting—packs of dogs circling prey and tearing it apart at their master's command.

  “Charge!” the Domecus handler bellowed. All six human gladiators rushed forward simultaneously, devoid of fear or hesitation.

  Josh swung his great blade, cleaving the gladiator in front of him in two. Blood and viscera sprayed outward. The remaining fighters took the opportunity to rain down savage blows, dazing Josh and forcing him into a desperate defense. Before long, Josh was beaten to the ground, rolling in the dirt, devoid of the strength to counter-attack.

  “Enough!” the handler shouted when Josh could no longer resist. The gladiators instantly backed off, leaving Josh gasping for air like a dying beast.

  “Do you yield?” The handler stepped forward, pointing his axe at Josh.

  “I... yield...!” Josh managed to wheeze out.

  “The friendly mud-match between the Tahi Empire and the Great Domecus Empire is over! Victory belongs to the Great Domecus Empire!”

  The announcement echoed across the arena, followed by thunderous cheers from the Domecus supporters.

  “Congratulations, Prince,” the Queen of Tahi said to Rother with a smile.

  “Thank you, Queen. The Domecus team was merely lucky to secure this win. The Tahi team fought with great resilience and courage,” Rother stood and bowed, his voice dripping with polite formality.

  “Forgive me, Mother, I am tired and wish to retire early,” Juliana stood, bowing to the Queen. She then turned to Rother and added, “Excuse me.”

  Rother’s expression flickered with a brief moment of displeasure, but he maintained his elegant, superior facade. As Juliana turned to walk away, Sam followed close behind. Before they cleared the arena, he heard the Queen’s voice speaking to Rother:

  “Rest assured, Prince. I will finalize the arrangements for this marriage contract and notify the Queen of Domecus.”

  “I look forward to it, Your Majesty,” Rother replied smoothly, the joy evident in his tone.

  Sam froze, his eyes fixed on the Princess. So, she was to become the wife of that Prince?

  Would you like me to translate the next chapter or help you refine the tone of specific dialogue in this one?