a simple bet

"Such a simple bet. Safe, secure, yet here we stand - only one path to tread."

His malevolent tone reverberated around the stone cavern. Darkness prevailed around the rock walls, as was foretold. Everything lined up; The man's triumphant gaze, the object of his scorn. Only the drops of crimson littering the smooth floor showed any hint of rebellion.

For this was foretold to be a bloodless death.

"Do you regret those foolish actions? Such a bet was suicide from the moment it was finalized, but I know you, the way you think. You saw through the illusion of safety! You knew exactly how this little game would end!"

"So what?" Chained to the smooth crimson floor was a broken man. His clothes were tattered, soaked in a river of blood. Yet a triumphant grin was plastered on his face - the expression of a man who'd already won. "I die, whatever, the world would be better without me. That isn't what you should be worried about."

The earth shook. What started from the shaking of a pebble quickly sent stalagmites plummeting to the ground. With each impact, clouds of dust coated the room in a thin brown film.

"W-what is this!" The malevolent man looked around the room with a sense of scorn.

"I knew exactly how this game would end! It is as you foretold. What you thought were simple regrets, I realized were the only way to win.

Death was always heading my way. After all I have done, it is a mersifull end. But not for you!" Before the other man could react, the chained man bit down on a pill hidden in his mouth.

And he laughed.

"Let this mark the end of the 66th round. The future is here fdkrfhdc!" Just before the poison won, the chained man sputtered out eight last words. "Let the 67th round, the final round, begin!"