ER14-1 Arena
>Upper Level, Competition Zone
Everett Arena
Everett Arena Upper Level, Competition Zone
Night has fallen, yet the arena remains packed to the brim, with blinding lights and deafening music assaulting the senses of every spectator.
Humans throughout the crowd buzz with excitement, eagerly awaiting the day's first mechanoid death match.
Countless eyes fixed on the arena center betray barely contained excitement, all desperate for the mechanoid combat to begin.
They crave the sight of mechanoid parts shattering and vital fluid pooling across the ground—this ultimate form of "entertainment" is what they desire.
Pulsing electronic sounds blare from speakers throughout the arena, heralding the fierce combat that's about to begin.
Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the Everett Arena! A new round of mechanoid combat for this season is about to begin!
As with previous seasons, winners advance to the next round, while the losers will, unfortunately, be eliminated.
And this season's champion will receive our grand prize—and that, lo and behold, is FREEDOM!!
The victorious mechanoid gladiator will be able to leave this place and start their life anew!
And those who bet on this lucky gladiator will also receive massive payouts from our prize pool!
So sit back and enjoy this ultimate entertainment, and have a wonderful evening, everyone!
As the virtual host's introduction concludes, intense spotlights jump to life simultaneously, their beams converging on the arena's center to illuminate a mechanism activating in the floor. A massive octagonal iron cage slowly rises from below.
As people see clearly what's inside the cage, they erupt into wild cheers.
Inside is a bizarre mechanical monstrosity reminiscent of a long-tailed mechanical spider that flexes its limbs within the cage, its joints grinding together with an ear-piercing screech.
Seemingly sensing the human audience's cheers, the mechanical spider lets out a deafening roar from its vocal module, as though impatiently urging its "prey" to enter the battlefield.
With the echoing screech, an iron gate on one side of the arena thunderously slides open. Measured footsteps can be heard from the dim corridor, accompanied by the scrape of a weapon being dragged across the metal floor.
Heard today's fight is gonna be a real thriller. Wonder who's stepping into the ring this time?
Last week's match wrecked like ten fighters. They definitely need fresh meat today!
Pfft! This new season's been going for almost three months, and not a single fighter has lived long enough for a second round.
They won a match, then immediately got their heads blown off by another gladiator in the next. So damn boring!
I bet on a bunch of bruisers last season. Looked tough as hell, but not a single one of those bastards won!
Are you still betting on this one today, then?
What's the rush? Let's see what happens first! Ain't no way I'm gonna throw my money down the drain again. By the way, how much did you lose last time...?
Let's not even go there... Hey, look! The gladiator's coming out!
A masked female mechanoid, lance in hand, emerges from the shadowy corridor and steps into the harsh spotlight.
Unlike the mechanical gladiators from the seasons before with their basic coatings and barely humanoid shapes, her form is almost indistinguishable from that of a human.
With bizarre-looking "horns" protruding from her hair and a long "tail" trailing behind her, she draws all eyes.
The display screen above the gate flashes with a name the audience doesn't recognize...
"Veronica"
The moment the giant spider sees its opponent enter the battlefield, its programmed "hatred" sends it into a frenzy. Its razor-sharp limbs scratch the metal floor, making a sound that sets everyone's teeth on edge.
The mechanical spider rams frantically against its cage, its piercing shrieks echoing throughout every corner of the arena as it tries to shred the mechanoid gladiator outside.
The moment Veronica enters the battlefield, however, waves of disapproving boos ripple through the stands.
Tch, that's it?
I thought we were promised a brutal combat with fierce mechanoid gladiators! What's so exciting about this scrawny lady?! She ain't got nothing on that bruiser from the other day that crushed ten dudes in a row!
Word! They talked the talk but ain't walking the walk. Dammit, I want my money back!
What are you two whining about? This is where the real show begins! What's so exciting about watching those weird-looking mechanoids blow off one another's heads day after day?
Look at her—she's so human-like, and with that tail, too. It's fascinating! Never seen a mechanoid like this before.
Just imagine when that giant spider tears her apart and devours her bit by bit... Now, that is entertainment!
You won't see scenes like that in any movie—that's what makes mechanoid combat so damn thrilling!
Damn... When you put it that way, it does sound pretty exciting...
When you explain it like that, it does sound pretty intense! You really know what you're talking about, kid!
Worked up by these violent fantasies, the spectators leap to their feet and shout toward the center of the arena.
Hey—what's-your-name—Vero... whatever! You, the metal freak with the tail! You better put up a good fight before you die, got it? Don't waste my ticket money!
I want to see some real action! You hear me?!
Hearing this, Veronica slowly turns toward the spectator in the stands.
She removes her mask, revealing a face almost indistinguishable from a human's.
Her mask crashes to the ground with a thunderous clang. Her crimson eyes focus with icy rage, their gaze threatening to pierce right through the disrespectful spectator.
She raises her massive lance, its tip gleaming with lethal brilliance as she points it directly at the human in the stands.
Shut. Your. Mouth.
Perhaps sensing the hostility in her eyes, the spectator falls silent, though the contemptuous glares aimed at her remain.
GoDDamn it! Did I just get cowed by a worthless toaster?!
Oho, that's exactly your type, ain't it? Aren't you usually into the feisty ones?
What the hell are you talking about?! It's just a piece of junk metal! I don't care what it looks like—you think I'd be into a machine?!
Cocky little brat. I can't wait to see what she looks like when that massive beast crushes her to pieces...
For crying out loud, cut us all some slack, will ya? Sit downDI'm trying to record this fight and you're blocking my shot!
...Tch. This better be worth the damn ticket.
Malice and contempt from the human crowd wash over the arena like a tide, mingled with their insatiable hunger for violence and bloodshed.
They crave to see mechanoids slaughtered, mutilated, and mercilessly shattered into fragments in the arena.
In the twilight of the Golden Age, this spectacle unfolds under the spotlights night after night—and such is humanity's idea of "entertainment."
Only immersed in such brutality do these human spectators—their senses already dulled by ordinary diversions—find their eyes lighting up with that peculiar gleam.
Little do these spectators, immersed in their violent entertainment, realize that their own twisted cheers of excitement are simultaneously being "appreciated" as a spectacle themselves.
—Unbeknownst to them, a "distinguished guest" silently observes it all from a room above them behind an enormous one-way mirror.
Numerous display screens spread out at perfect angles before this "distinguished guest," streaming real-time footage from every corner of the arena in exquisite detail.
Behind the human "distinguished guest" stands a massive mechanoid, motionless and silent, its metallic shell reflecting the dim glow from the monitors.
Its sensitive optical recognition system detects the slightest gesture from the human and responds immediately.
Master, the room temperature is currently 25°C with 55% relative humidity. I notice your attire today is rather light. Would you like me to adjust the temperature to a more comfortable setting?
The human does not respond.
Due to the intense combat in previous seasons, some gladiators would move out of camera range during matches.
To enhance your viewing experience, I've installed additional cameras throughout the arena to ensure you can monitor every aspect of the match in real time.
You've always handled these trivial matters well. You're a good butler, indeed. But you should understand what I truly desire.
I'm tired of watching these mechanical gladiators fighting mechanical beasts. I want something I've never seen.
Master, this "Veronica" will show you something completely different.
Based on my predictive analysis of her frame parameters, there's a high probability she could be the perfect candidate for your "plan."
Excellent. Let the match begin, then. I can't wait.
Yes, Master. Please enjoy the show. I'll compile the data from this match and provide you with a detailed analysis afterward.
The massive mechanoid withdraws at its "Master's" command, and silence returns to the room.
The "Master" turns back to the display screens that capture every detail of the arena.
At this moment, every screen focuses on "Veronica", who is about to face her very first arena battle.
Interesting.
Surprise me... "Veronica".
With the buzzer signaling the start of the match, the cage holding the mechanical giant spider unlocks, its heavy iron bars slamming to the ground.
The freed mechanical spider lets out a piercing shriek as it leaps forward and launches itself toward the mechanical gladiator.
Meanwhile, massive screens above the arena flicker to life, capturing every angle of the battleground for countless spectators to see.
Thunderous cheers erupt from the stands and sweep through every corner of the arena with stifling heat.
The mechanical spider looms over the gladiator, dwarfing her tall frame beneath its massive bulk.
Veronica grips her lance tightly as she readies herself, poised to thrust at her opponent at any moment.
In the giant spider's programming, such defiance triggers its "rage" protocol. It lashes its barbed tail like a whip at Veronica.
But Veronica quickly sidesteps the attack, causing the spider's massive tail to crash into the ground and kick up a cloud of dust.
Enraged by the failed attack, the mechanical spider whirls around and slashes its razor-sharp limbs as it lunges at Veronica once more.
This unexpected turn drives the crowd into a frenzy, their screams growing even more frantic.
This pointless game of slaughter...
What a waste of my time.
Veronica's crimson eyes blaze with rage as she fearlessly stares down the mechanical spider towering over her.
In that moment, she unleashes the energy stored within her frame and launches herself skyward with her lance pointed at the mechanical spider's core.
As she soars above the giant spider, time seems to stand still in the arena. All eyes are on her now.
Die!
She twirls her lance and drives it down with deadly precision.
