Last year's games- the first- had been a momentous, albeit initially uncertain occasion. The first gladiatrix games. People come from all the corners of the Demonate of Dianska- at the strong urging of the Demon Lord Arroal's forces- to bear witness to this crowning achievement. Lord Arroal himself made a public appearance, and there were no less than three attempted assassinations! Truly a festive day. Those who had borne witness to his magnificent presence more than once before noted that he seemed even more smugly pleased than ever before. The Demon Lord himself had celebrated more than any of his subjects that day.
There was much trepidation, but once the games began properly, all hesitation ended, as entertainment unlike any the lands occupied by the Demonate had ever known before regaled them for the entire day. Coins, copper, gold and silver, flowed like water and blood through the city throughout the day. Goods were traded, bets were placed, the city came *alive*. It was the first time in the history of the city of Darrak that they had run out of pearls to trade abroad! The event provided an economic boost for the entire Demonate, in addition to igniting a fire in the hearts of the people. For the first time in the more than forty years of the demonate's existence- even predating the assembly of the Kasjarvan tribes that had begun the conquest- there had been a sense of national solidarity. Truly, more than any other event, this first Gladiatrix games was the birth of the nation in the hearts of its inhabitants.
News of this event spread like a flash-flood. The neighboring Srovivian Demonate to the West, and the Demonate of Sudir to the South, sent in tributes to be trained in the coliseum for the future. The Demonate's two protectorates, Menyhania and Rusfoboszia, also received their own economic booms as a result of the event, as they too had been pressured into attendance. Even Dianska's bitter rivals, Husdavikia and the Holy Republic of Irenes, received the reports of the event with a sort of envious curiosity. Few in the Demonate's government doubted there would be some spies sent to attend the games the next year.
Most surprising of all the responses, however, was the letter brought to Lord Arroal shortly before the second annual game would take place. Foro, his loyal pet bat-demon, read the missive while an exotically-dressed royal courier stood behind him. It was in demonic script, ensuring only the demons present would understand.
"Risadora, Empress Conqueror of Salicosia, rightful Tyrant of Eastern Graccia, to my sweet brother, Arroal of Kasjarva, rightful conqueror of Northeastern Tiberica,
Your rise to power has been the envy of many of your brothers and sisters, myself included. It has long been my intention to meet you personally, and after receiving word of the resounding success of your latest triumph- the gladiatrix games- I see no better time to do so. I have sent you my personal courier, whom I request you accommodate with your greatest hospitality for the voyage she has endured to reach your far-away realm, with this message, informing you of my intent to attend the second such event, next year. I expect that, by the time this letter finds you, I may be making preparations to depart already. I send no gifts at this time, because I will be bringing them myself, as a show of the love I bear for you, my younger sibling of demon blood.
I make no demands or requests of next year's event, only that they would be to your own standards- and I have heard that they are legendary- and the same for my own reception. Receive me in the way you would wish to be received, yourself, should you decide to grace my halls with your presence. I look forward to our meeting with great anticipation, but I must confess, it is surpassed by the anticipation I have for the event which I will bear witness to. Make it one to remember, little brother.
I have only one thing to request before my arrival. I wish to meet one of your gladiatrices, in an intimate environment. Please adequately set aside and train one of your fighters to satisfy my desires during my stay. I leave the choice of which one up to you. I trust our tastes will align.
I end this message here. Whatever other words I wish to exchange with you, I can do in person. Until next year."
Though the contents of the letter were only made known to Arroal's inner circle, his reception of it was made known to the whole capital city of Kasuyuk, as well as the Black Opal city of Darrak. A public feast was thrown in the two cities, more lavish than any before, but the Demon lord promised even greater festivities upon his sister's arrival.
...
That same day, beneath the Coliseum, Liella had woken up at the same time as every other trainee, to begin her day with the same breakfast she had eaten for the last five years. At least, she thought it was about that long- she had stopped counting a long time ago. She was a full-blooded elf, a rarity on the continent, and perhaps one of the factors that had contributed to her being chosen for the Coliseum. But despite her initially frail frame, her life in the dark beneath the coliseum had transformed her. She towered above the tallest natural members of her species, with shoulders so broad they would make an orc look small, a full figure so unlike the slender predispositions of her race, and muscles so large and defined that they would make a minotaur flee at the sight of them. Her hair however, remained long, blonde, and beautiful, though she was mystified as to the reasons why.
She had resented everything about her new life at first. Had tried to fight back against the goblins that tormented her, until they left her beaten so badly she couldn't stand. But one flask of their potion had her ready to work again. She had tried fighting back again, but an orc had stepped in and beat her instead. As she had been, even with the potion she still could not overpower an orc. After growing stronger for a year, she had tried again and thought she had succeeded until a troll nearly broke her arm before dragging her back to her cell. The next year, she had tried to break out with several other girls near her, but they had simply been stopped by more of the defenses. Eventually she realized that there was no escape. There would always be more obstacles behind the ones she broke through, and at the top, probably something impossible. So she had given in. Work, slave away in the pit, and enjoy the heat of the baths, the taste of the potions, and the delight of the orgasms when they came.
By the fifth year, she had convinced herself it wasn't really so bad. Her old life among the trees wasn't really all it was cracked up to be. She convinced herself that she was happier down here than she had been up above. That was the year of the first gladiatrix games. She had been one of the smallest in the last one, and one of the first eliminated in nearly every event. Five years was the minimum to compete. She would have gone back to work at the same pace as before, as though nothing had happened, until she had seen what became of the winners of the games. A day off. One day of life as a queen. The spark of desire welled up in her again, and rather than return to the status quo, she launched herself into her work with a newfound fervor and determination. The next year it would be her. Of course, she was not the only one who had been spurred on, but she was determined to be the most driven of them. She started to count the days again, eagerly anticipating the twelfth month. She launched herself into her work with gusto, working harder than ever before. Cumming harder too, earning more water, wearing herself out, only to be patched together again at the next meal.
Now the time was rapidly approaching. She ate her meal quickly, savoring the potion only as long as she could afford, then got up and waited for it to work. It wouldn't give her much of a pump, but she propped herself up against the wall and began doing vertical push-ups, keeping them going nonstop until her harness arrived. The first of the five daily work-shifts. She followed everyone else mechanically, expecting everything to continue as normal. It came as the nearest thing to a shock that she had experienced in her dark years, when her division was stopped before they split into groups. One of the half-orc guards unrolled a scroll and barked out in a booming voice. "This year's gladiatrix games will be a momentous occasion! Our lord and emperor, the mighty Arroal, has received word from his demon sister, Risadora, Demon tyrant of Salicosia, that she will be personally attending the games! All of you will be charged with delivering a pleasing performance to all attendees, especially Lady Risadora! Work harder now than you have before! As always, in the month preceding the game, daily training shifts will be increased from one to two! Bring honor to yourself, and you will see the light of day next month! Dismissed!"
The girls were all divided into their work groups and lined up to delve deeper into the massive super-structure beneath the stones of the Coliseum. Again, however, they were stopped. A human man passed along the length of the train of workers, staring critically at each of them before moving on to the next. Liella continued staring ahead as he passed by, intensely curious, but knowing better than to speak. When the man reached the end, he walked back toward the front. As he passed by Liella, he tapped her hip with his whip. "This one."
Her heart skipped a beat. What was this? The uniformity of so many months had just been up-ended completely. What was she being chosen for? She followed obediently as she was tugged out of line by her harness. She felt so hot. She normally would have had at least one orgasm by now, and her body was screaming for release. The half-orc announcer smiled up at her smugly. "Horny, eh, girl? Good. You're gonna need it. Come." He led her down the halls back where they had come from, took a few turns, then gathered in a huge circular room. Other girls were entering from doors on all the sides. She had never been here- she didn't even know the room existed. She quickly noticed however that the girls they had brought were all huge, and all beautiful. Large-breasted, wide-hipped, thickly muscled, and all with gorgeous faces. She wasn't very good at counting, but she guessed there were about thirty of them.
