In the dimly lit chambers of the House of Decimus, Alcides huddled with a group of gladiators who had found solace in his words, in his dreams of freedom and a life beyond the bloody sands of the arena. The flickering flame cast dancing shadows on the walls as Alcides spoke fervently, his words laced with the bitterness of oppression and the sweet promise of liberation.
"As long as we remain shackled by Rhesus, our fate is sealed on the arena's floor," Alcides declared, his eyes ablaze with determination. "But united, we can defy this fate, forge our own destinies."
The gladiators gathered around him nodded in silent agreement, their faces reflecting a mixture of hope and apprehension. Among them was Caius, a seasoned fighter who had witnessed the rise of many champions but had never dar
