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Blood dripped off of his thick horns under the arena lights. On the ground beside him were the bodies of six cloned tigers. There were deep slashes over his torso that were already scabbing over thanks to the gladiator coagulant in his bloodstream. His breathing was deep and even from the fight but it wasn’t ragged. It wasn’t taxed. It plumed out from his massive nostrils in the cold silence of the battle’s end. The audience waited in anticipation behind the noise-canceling force shields. The tigers were just the warm up.

I was the main event.

I’m in great shape but I’m half the thing’s size. He’s slow but if even one of his blows connects with me, I won’t be standing back up. I’m juiced and wired but I can still see that they’ve pitted me against their champion with no intention of a fair fight. I’m entertainment.

Well, it is a Thursday. If this was a weekend, the organizers might actually throw some risk in for drama. I can’t believe I took the money for this. I thought it was a lot but now I realize that they never intended for me to spend it. I didn’t even know who I was fighting.

“What’s your name?” I shout across to him.

“One Hundred Fifty.” Says the man-bull.

“That’s an odd name. Where did you get it?” I ask.

“If I defeat and kill you tonight, then tomorrow my name will be One Hundred Fifty One.” He said.

I really didn’t like the way this was shaping up.




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