The underground coliseum of Varkros had not seen sunlight in over a hundred years.

The arena existed beneath the capital itself, hidden under layers of royal stone and black iron tunnels where screams never reached the surface. Furnace fire burned endlessly along the walls, feeding the crimson glow that illuminated thousands of spectators seated high above the battlefield like vultures surrounding dying prey.

People came there for only one reason.

To watch monsters destroy each other.

And tonight—

every seat in the underground coliseum was filled.

Because the king had promised them something special.

A child against a beast.

The chained mutant standing inside the arena was known as Gorath the Iron-Blooded.

Nobody remembered what he looked like before the experiments.

Stories claimed he had once been a great warrior who defended border villages during the northern wars.

But the royal alchemists had captured him years ago.

Now enormous iron plates were fused directly into his flesh.

Black chains pierced his shoulders.

His veins glowed with molten orange light beneath cracked skin.

Every breath sounded painful.

Every movement carried the sound of metal grinding inside bone.

And standing before him—

barefoot against the shattered stone floor—

was a skinny ten-year-old boy wearing torn ragged clothes darkened by soot and dried blood.

The child’s name was Kael.

Though almost nobody in the arena knew it.

To them, he was only another orphan dragged from the slums to die for entertainment.

A servant boy.

A disposable thing.

Yet Kael did not look afraid.

That unsettled people more than anything.

He stood calmly while furnace smoke drifted around him.

His messy black hair covered most of his dirty face.

But beneath the shadows—

his crimson eyes reflected the firelight strangely.

Not with fear.

With restraint.

High above the arena, nobles whispered nervously.

“That child should already be crying.”

“Why isn’t he running?”

“Look at those gauntlets…”

The claws wrapped around Kael’s hands looked ancient.

Five long curved blades extended from each gauntlet like the talons of some forgotten beast.

Dark crimson cracks pulsed beneath the metal surface as if something alive moved inside them.

King Malgrath leaned forward from his obsidian throne overlooking the arena.

The old king smiled coldly.

“Yes…” he whispered. “Awaken for me.”

Beside him stood the royal alchemist Veridan, a tall pale man wearing silver robes stained with chemical burns.

His eyes never left the claws.

“We are close,” Veridan murmured softly. “If the vessel survives.”

King Malgrath chuckled.

“He won’t.”

Below them—

Gorath suddenly roared.

BOOOOOOM.

The giant mutant slammed both fists into the arena floor.

Stone exploded upward.

The crowd screamed excitedly.

Chains snapped loose from the monster’s arms as he charged directly toward the child.

Each footstep cracked the ground.

Kael remained still.

Closer.

Closer.

The giant raised his enormous iron fist.

And then—

he swung downward hard enough to shatter stone walls.

BOOOOOOOOM.

The entire arena erupted with dust.

Spectators jumped from their seats.

Some laughed immediately.

“It’s over!”

“He’s paste!”

But then—

through the drifting smoke—

small barefoot footsteps echoed calmly.

Tick.

Tick.

Tick.

The dust slowly parted.

Kael stood unharmed several feet away.

The giant’s fist had crushed only broken stone.

A visible shock spread through the arena.

“How did he move that fast?”

The mutant turned violently.

Gorath roared again and swung with terrifying speed.

Kael ducked beneath the massive arm at the final second.

WHOOSH.

The iron fist blasted past his head.

The child spun sideways.

Then drove one glowing claw directly into the giant’s armored ribs.

CRAAAAACK.

Red sparks exploded.

The mutant staggered backward.

Not because the wound was deep—

but because the claws had pierced armor nobody else could damage.

The arena fell silent.

Even King Malgrath stopped smiling.

Kael stared at the giant quietly.

And suddenly—

he heard something.

A voice.

Not from the crowd.

Not from the king.

From the claws themselves.

Feed us.

The whisper slithered through his mind like smoke.

Wake us fully.

Kael’s hands trembled slightly.

He hated the voices.

Ever since finding the claws beneath the ruins outside the capital two years ago, they had whispered constantly.

At first softly.

Then louder every month.

Sometimes they sounded human.

Sometimes monstrous.

But tonight—

they sounded hungry.

Gorath charged again.

Kael leaped backward across the collapsing stone floor.

The giant ripped an entire slab from the arena and hurled it toward him.

BOOOOM.

Kael barely rolled aside before the stone exploded against the wall.

The spectators screamed wildly now.

The fight had become real entertainment.

Bloodlust filled the underground coliseum.

“RIP HIM APART!”

“DESTROY THE BRAT!”

But Kael ignored them.

His breathing sharpened.

His claws glowed brighter.

Every heartbeat made the crimson energy pulse harder through his arms.

And deep inside—

memories began surfacing.

A cold laboratory.

Chains.

Screaming children.

Needles filled with glowing red liquid.

Kael staggered slightly.

No…

Not now.

Another voice suddenly echoed through his memory.

A woman’s voice.

Run, Kael.

His mother.

He barely remembered her face anymore.

Only warmth.

Only soft hands brushing soot from his hair.

And blood.

So much blood.

Gorath slammed into him before Kael could react.

BOOOOOOM.

The child crashed across the arena floor violently.

The crowd erupted.

Stone scraped against his skin as he rolled to a stop near the furnace wall.

The mutant approached slowly now.

Heavy.

Relentless.

Kael coughed painfully.

Blood dripped from his mouth.

The claws pulsed harder.

Feed us.

Kill him.

Kael clenched his fists tighter.

“No,” he whispered.

The claws immediately burned hotter.

Agony exploded through his arms.

Kael screamed as crimson veins spread beneath his skin.

Above the arena, Veridan smiled faintly.

“It’s beginning.”

King Malgrath watched carefully.

“Will the beast emerge?”

“Oh yes,” Veridan whispered. “It always does.”

Down below—

Gorath reached the child.

The giant grabbed Kael by the throat with one massive hand and lifted him high above the arena floor.

The spectators roared excitedly.

Kael clawed desperately at the iron grip crushing his neck.

Darkness blurred his vision.

And then—

Gorath suddenly froze.

The mutant stared directly into Kael’s eyes.

For one strange moment—

the monster looked terrified.

Kael saw tears forming beneath the giant’s cracked skin.

Then Gorath whispered weakly:

“Run…”

The child’s eyes widened.

The mutant tightened his grip painfully again before roaring to hide what he had said.

But Kael understood.

This monster was not trying to kill him.

He was trying to protect him from something worse.

Suddenly—

the crimson claws exploded with light.

CRAAAAAAACK.

Massive energy erupted outward.

Gorath was blasted backward across the arena.

Kael dropped to the ground gasping for air.

The entire underground coliseum shook violently.

Torch flames bent sideways.

The crowd screamed in panic now instead of excitement.

Because something enormous was awakening beneath the arena floor.

Ancient symbols began glowing red across the stone walls.

Veridan stepped backward slowly.

Even he looked uneasy now.

“That’s impossible…”

King Malgrath frowned.

“What is it?”

“The synchronization rate…” Veridan whispered. “It’s far beyond predicted levels.”

Kael slowly stood.

The claws no longer looked like metal.

Now they resembled living crimson bone wrapping around his arms.

Sharp spikes extended from his elbows.

Red smoke poured from his fingertips.

And behind him—

a gigantic shadow formed inside the furnace smoke.

Not human.

Something with enormous claws and burning eyes.

The crowd began screaming.

“WHAT IS THAT?!”

“LOOK BEHIND HIM!”

Kael turned slightly.

The shadow copied his movement perfectly.

Like a monster attached to his soul.

Feed us.

Kill them all.

Kael grabbed his head painfully.

“No…”

The shadow behind him grew larger.

Gorath slowly stood again across the arena.

The mutant looked directly at Kael.

Then did something nobody expected.

He dropped to one knee.

The entire arena froze.

The mighty mutant warrior bowed his head before the child.

And whispered:

“My prince…”

Silence swallowed the underground coliseum.

Kael stared at him in confusion.

Prince?

King Malgrath immediately stood from his throne.

“Kill him now!” the king roared.

Archers appeared instantly along the arena walls.

Hundreds of black arrows pointed toward Kael.

Veridan’s face turned pale.

“Your Majesty, wait—”

“NOW!”

The arrows launched together.

Thousands of spectators screamed.

Kael looked upward—

and the claws finally lost control.

CRIMSON EXPLOSION.

A gigantic wave of red energy erupted from the child’s body.

Every arrow froze midair.

Then reversed direction instantly.

BOOOOOOOOOOM.

The arena walls exploded apart.

Archers were thrown backward violently.

Smoke and chaos consumed the coliseum.

People ran screaming toward exits.

Stone pillars collapsed.

Furnace chains snapped loose overhead.

Kael stood at the center of the destruction breathing heavily while the crimson shadow towered behind him like an ancient demon king.

And slowly—

memories returned.

Not random fragments anymore.

The truth.

Kael remembered a palace.

A throne room.

A woman with silver eyes kneeling before him.

“My little prince…”

He remembered soldiers storming the halls.

Fire spreading through the kingdom.

And King Malgrath standing over a dying queen with blood on his sword.

The child’s breathing turned unstable.

No…

No no no—

He remembered everything now.

King Malgrath had murdered the royal family ten years ago.

Every heir had supposedly died that night.

Except one.

Kael.

The hidden prince of Varkros.

Veridan suddenly shouted from above the arena.

“Kael! Listen to me!”

The child looked upward sharply.

The alchemist’s expression was desperate.

“You must leave now!”

“You knew?” Kael shouted.

Veridan looked devastated.

“Yes…”

“YOU WORKED FOR HIM!”

“I had no choice!”

The arena trembled harder.

Massive cracks spread beneath the floor.

Something huge moved underground.

Veridan’s voice broke.

“The claws were never weapons, Kael.”

The child froze.

“What?”

King Malgrath suddenly drew his black sword.

“Enough!” the king roared.

Dark energy exploded around the throne balcony.

The king jumped directly into the arena below.

BOOOOOOM.

Stone shattered beneath his landing.

The crowd gasped.

Even at his old age, Malgrath radiated terrifying power.

Black armor covered his body beneath royal robes.

His sword dripped shadows instead of blood.

Kael instinctively stepped backward.

The claws trembled violently.

Not from rage.

From fear.

Malgrath smiled slowly.

“Yes…” the king whispered. “You finally remember.”

The crimson shadow behind Kael snarled.

The king pointed his blade toward the child.

“You were never meant to survive that night.”

Kael’s breathing shook.

“You killed my mother.”

Malgrath laughed softly.

“She begged beautifully.”

Rage exploded through Kael instantly.

The claws SCREAMED inside his mind.

KILL HIM.

Kael charged.

CRAAAAACK.

The arena floor shattered beneath his feet.

He slashed wildly toward the king.

Malgrath blocked effortlessly.

BOOOOM.

Shockwaves exploded outward from the clash.

The king smiled coldly.

“Still weak.”

He kicked Kael across the arena.

The child crashed violently into broken stone pillars.

Pain shot through his body.

Malgrath approached slowly.

“You know what your mother did before she died?” the king asked calmly.

Kael glared upward silently.

“She sealed the Crimson Beast inside her own son.”

The world stopped.

Kael’s eyes widened.

“No…”

“Yes.” Malgrath grinned. “The claws are not weapons. They are chains.”

Veridan shouted desperately:

“KAEL DON’T LET IT FULLY AWAKEN!”

Too late.

The crimson shadow behind Kael began taking physical shape.

Gigantic claws emerged from smoke.

Massive horns formed slowly.

The air filled with beast-like breathing.

Spectators fled in complete panic now.

The underground coliseum collapsed piece by piece.

Kael stared at his own claws in horror.

He finally understood the whispers.

The hunger.

The rage.

There was something alive inside him.

Something ancient.

And it wanted freedom.

Malgrath lifted his sword triumphantly.

“At last,” the king whispered. “After ten years…”

Kael looked at him sharply.

The realization hit instantly.

“You wanted this.”

The king smiled wider.

“The Crimson Beast is the greatest weapon ever created. Your mother sealed it away before I could control it.”

Malgrath spread his arms proudly.

“But tonight—you will release it for me.”

The beast behind Kael roared.

The sound shattered entire sections of the arena walls.

Kael’s vision blurred red.

His body began transforming.

Sharp crimson markings spread across his skin.

His fingers extended into claws.

The hunger became unbearable.

Kill.

Destroy.

Consume.

Kael fell to his knees screaming.

Veridan ran toward him desperately despite the collapsing arena.

“Fight it!”

“I CAN’T!”

“You must!”

The alchemist grabbed Kael’s shoulders.

Then whispered something shocking.

“Your mother trusted me.”

Kael froze.

Veridan’s eyes filled with guilt.

“I helped her hide you that night.”

The child stared at him in disbelief.

“What…?”

“I stayed beside Malgrath so I could protect you from the shadows.” Veridan’s voice cracked painfully. “Every experiment. Every cruelty. I endured it waiting for this moment.”

The arena shook harder.

The beast continued emerging behind Kael.

Veridan pressed a small silver object into the child’s hand.

A broken pendant.

Kael stared at it silently.

Memory struck instantly.

His mother wearing the same pendant while singing softly beside a fireplace.

“Monsters are not born from power,” she had whispered long ago.

“They are born when people believe they are unloved.”

Kael’s breathing steadied slightly.

The crimson voices weakened for one brief second.

Veridan smiled sadly.

“She loved you more than this kingdom itself.”

Malgrath roared furiously.

“GET AWAY FROM HIM!”

Dark energy blasted toward them.

Gorath suddenly intercepted the attack.

BOOOOOOM.

The mutant warrior took the full impact across his chest.

The giant collapsed heavily.

Smoke rose from his cracked armor.

Kael rushed toward him instinctively.

Gorath looked up weakly.

And smiled.

For the first time—

the mutant no longer looked monstrous.

“You have her eyes,” Gorath whispered.

Kael’s chest tightened painfully.

“Who are you?”

The giant coughed blood.

“Your father’s captain…”

Kael froze completely.

“I failed your family,” Gorath whispered weakly. “Forgive me…”

Then the mutant collapsed motionless.

Kael stared silently.

The rage inside him changed.

Not wild fury anymore.

Grief.

Real grief.

The Crimson Beast roared louder, feeding on the pain.

Malgrath laughed triumphantly.

“Yes! Give in!”

The beast finally burst fully from the smoke.

A gigantic crimson creature towered above the collapsing arena.

Four burning eyes.

Massive claws.

A body made from living shadows and molten energy.

Spectators screamed as the monster opened its jaws.

Kael stood frozen beneath it.

The creature leaned toward the child slowly.

Then—

instead of attacking—

it wrapped one enormous claw around him gently.

The entire arena fell silent.

Even Malgrath looked confused.

“What…?”

Kael suddenly heard a voice clearly.

Not monstrous this time.

A woman’s voice.

His mother’s voice.

“I’m sorry, Kael.”

Tears filled the child’s eyes.

The beast was never evil.

It was her.

Or rather—

part of her soul.

Ten years ago, Kael’s mother had not merely sealed the Crimson Beast inside him.

She had merged herself with it to keep the creature from consuming her son.

The claws had protected him his entire life.

The whispers were not hunger.

They were fear.

Fear of Malgrath finding them again.

Kael began crying silently.

The beast lowered its massive head beside him.

And for one final moment—

he felt warmth.

Like a mother holding her child.

Malgrath screamed in fury.

“NO!”

Dark power erupted around the king.

He charged forward violently with his sword raised high.

Kael slowly stood.

The crimson beast rose behind him.

This time—

they moved together.

Perfectly synchronized.

Malgrath attacked first.

Kael dodged sideways instantly.

The beast’s massive claw slammed downward.

BOOOOOOOOM.

The king barely escaped as the arena floor exploded apart.

The battle became chaos.

Darkness and crimson energy collided violently throughout the collapsing coliseum.

Stone pillars shattered.

Firestorms erupted.

The underground fortress began collapsing into itself.

Kael moved faster than ever before.

Not because of rage.

Because he finally understood the claws.

They were never corrupting him.

They were protecting him.

Malgrath screamed while unleashing massive waves of dark energy.

“You are nothing without that beast!”

Kael stared at him calmly.

“You’re wrong.”

The child clenched both claws.

Crimson light surged across the arena.

“You were afraid of me before I even awakened it.”

Malgrath hesitated.

That tiny moment was enough.

Kael vanished forward.

CRAAAAACK.

The child slashed across the king’s black sword.

The weapon shattered instantly.

Malgrath’s eyes widened in horror.

Impossible.

Kael drove both glowing claws directly into the arena floor.

The Crimson Beast roared.

And every crimson chain hidden beneath the underground kingdom awakened simultaneously.

Thousands of glowing chains erupted upward from the stone.

Not to attack Kael.

To bind Malgrath.

The king screamed as chains wrapped around his arms and legs.

“No! NO!”

Kael walked toward him slowly.

The collapsing arena trembled around them.

Fire rained from above.

Malgrath looked terrified now.

“You need me!” the king shouted desperately. “Without me this kingdom will collapse!”

Kael stopped before him silently.

Then softly replied:

“Then let it become something better.”

The crimson chains dragged Malgrath downward into the darkness beneath the arena.

The king’s screams echoed for several seconds.

Then disappeared forever.

Silence followed.

The underground coliseum continued collapsing.

Veridan grabbed Kael’s shoulder urgently.

“We have to leave!”

The Crimson Beast looked at Kael one final time.

Its massive glowing eyes softened.

Then slowly—

the creature dissolved into crimson light.

The claws around Kael’s arms faded completely.

Only the small silver pendant remained glowing softly in his hand.

The beast was gone.

His mother was gone too.

But for the first time—

Kael no longer felt alone.

Weeks later—

sunlight touched the underground arena ruins for the first time in generations after the royal prison collapsed completely.

The people of Varkros learned the truth about Malgrath’s cruelty.

The hidden experiments.

The murdered royal bloodline.

The underground monsters.

And the orphan boy who survived it all.

Kael never wanted a throne.

But the kingdom chose him anyway.

Not because he was powerful.

Because he had every reason to become a monster—

and chose kindness instead.

One quiet evening months later—

Kael stood alone on the rebuilt palace balcony overlooking the capital.

Children laughed in the streets below.

No screams.

No chains.

No furnace smoke.

Only peace.

Veridan approached quietly beside him.

“You still hear her sometimes?” the alchemist asked softly.

Kael smiled faintly.

“Sometimes.”

The wind gently moved his dark hair.

And somewhere far beyond the mountains—

faint crimson light shimmered briefly across the horizon like glowing claws beneath the stars.

Watching.

Protecting.

Waiting.

Not as a beast anymore.

But as family.