The nameless goblin sifted through the sand, finding what he was looking for, he stood upright. In his hand, he held a small stone rock that had broken off the wall. He remembered the first time he fought in this arena. A warg had torn a chunk off the wall as it resisted being put back inside the cart. It had a dramatic reaction after smelling his scent. It broke the lock of the transport cart and escaped the cage.

In the end, it had leapt after the descending elevator and broke three of its legs. It needed to be put down after that. The goblin’s master at the time had been so furious at the lost profit that they sold him to a different arena. That was decades earlier. This arena had changed owners almost as many times as the goblin had changed masters since then.

Who would have thought that a piece of it was still here after all of this time? You can always rely on the arena sweepers to slack in their clean up.

The goblin tossed the stone into the air and caught it with a carefree attitude. He gave the guards a sideways look to gauge their reaction. None of them were willing to object as they shifted nervously under his attention. The goblin grinned in satisfaction, moving to join the other goblins in front of the portcullis. The four guards struggled to move the transport cart across the sand. The weight of the phantom cat caused the wheels to deeply sink as they pushed.

They managed to get the cart into position and then moved to operate the winches to raise the portcullis. The phantom cat wouldn’t be released until the goblins were killed or winning. It didn’t discriminate in its targets. It was a solitary predator.

The portcullis rose to the sound of thunderous cheers, booing and whistling. The crowd threw tomatoes from the stands at the group of monsters below. The other goblins entered as the guards pushed the cart into the arena while glancing tentatively at the goblin. The cart had an expensive magical lock that could be operated remotely by the master. The guards stopped moving the cart as soon as it was inside the arena and quickly left. They resumed their positions inside with their crossbows raised at the goblin, shifting anxiously.

People avoided aiming at the goblin mage, instead buffeting the two goblins holding swords and the phantom cat cart. They were unwilling to draw the goblin mage’s ire while it wielded an arcane focus. There were magic barriers in place, but no one was willing to trust what they couldn’t see with their own eyes. The unnamed goblin waited for the crowd to settle down before entering the arena.

Crunching a rancid tomato underfoot, the goblin stepped into the arena. He ignored the unpleasant feeling of the rotten fruit squishing under his foot as he calmly walked toward the center of the sand. The crowd grew quiet, murmuring to their neighbours while pointing at his distinctive coloring. They recognized the arena champion and were confused at his lack of weapons.

The goblin didn’t flinch as the portcullis slammed closed behind him. The crowd became silent as the enormous doors began to groan inward. A pair of metal armored veterans entered the arena, followed by a petite cloaked figure. They moved agilely despite their heavy armor. They were attuned. The unnamed goblin could smell a flowery scent over the polished metal of the veteran’s armor mixed with their sweat. He inhaled deeply, it was the scent of a field of flowers in full bloom.

Are they mad? Their journeyman mage is an elven maiden. A virgin too! If these animals get hold of her, there will be no mercy. Why would they choose to fight a bunch of lustful goblins, including the current arena champion, a mage, and a fucking phantom cat? Unless, it wasn’t by choice. At least she doesn't require an arcane focus by grace of being an elf.

The elven maiden stood behind the pair of attuned veterans, flinching as the enormous doors slammed closed. The veterans adjusted the grips on their sword hilts. The goblin felt the hair on the back of his neck stand on end as they channeled mana into their blades. He could only detect mana leaving the body, that’s why he didn’t react to their movement being enhanced.

The other goblins were sniffing the air curiously, they could smell the elven maiden too. But they were too simple to realize that it was the cloaked figure in front of them as they investigated their surroundings. The elven maiden reached up to remove the hood of her cloak, exposing the three silver rings in her left ear. She was a high-elf. Not only that, she was one of unparalleled beauty. Adding to the mystery of why she would be fighting in the arena.

She had lustrous strawberry-blonde hair that was roughly cut short above her eyes to prevent it blocking her vision. It looked like it had been cut with a knife, recently if judging by the stray hairs sticking to the shoulder of her cloak. Her remaining lush locks draped over her shoulders, framing her beautiful features and red pouting lips. Her eyes were a piercing blue with dark curling lashes. Her body was concealed beneath the thick cloak. The goblin felt his lust rising as he became mesmerized by her flawless appearance. He suppressed his desire.

The two goblins with swords weren’t so restrained. They tore aside their loincloths and threw them carelessly onto the sand. Their manhood was on proud display as they stood erect while licking their lips in anticipation. They seemed to have forgotten about the pair of attuned veterans between them.

The goblin noticed two freshly healed holes in the elven maiden’s ear below the earrings. They had been healed and disguised with magic, but after becoming a goblin, his senses were amplified by multiple times. The earrings represented her station as a minor noble of the third tier.

It’s a great dishonor among the high-elves to display their empty earring holes. They indicate that her house has been disgraced and demoted. That explains why she’s disguised them with magic, but not why she’s here.

The two goblins wielding swords had become agitated. They charged recklessly at the heavily armored men blocking their path.