Chapter 472 A Wager of Blood

    “Fine,” Theresa said quietly.

    A knock sounded at the door.

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    “Our second–inmand has arranged a special performance on the viewing tform. The honored guests are invited to attend.”

    At once, the administrator from Ark Camp Three lit up with excitement. “Excellent. Let’s go.”

    He led Theresa and the others out. Their group moved deeper into the opera house, the corridors narrowing as they went.

    On the way, the administrator spoke with barely contained enthusiasm. “We finally get to watch the beast fight again. Our camp has lost for years, but this time we’re bound to win.”

    Theresa frowned. “Beast fight?”

    “You neers from Kl Camp wouldn’t know,” he exined. “Ark Camp Two is famous for this. They hold it once a year. A hundred contestants are thrown into the pit with ten zombies. Whoever survives to the end is the champion.”

    He added with a grin, “And the rest of us get to bet on dark horses. Pick the right one, and you take home the prize pool.”

    As he spoke, a massive arena came into view, its stone tiers rising high on every side.

    Theresa froze. Her eyes locked on the lines of people shackled at the neck and ankles, standing in neat rows. Their clothes were thin, their bodies trembling in the cold center of the pit.

    From cages set into the walls, the howls of zombies echoed from all directions.

    A thunderous crash erupted as a zombie hurled itself against the inner wall, thrashing madly at the darkened wire mesh. Its mangled head forced through the bars, straining ito /ireach.

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    Chapter 472 A Wager of Blood

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    It snapped and gnashed at the sight of living flesh beyond the barrier, tearing at the steel with relentless hunger.

    The barbed mesh caught its mouth, but it felt no pain. It only bit harder, gnawing and grinding, as thick streams of ck–red slime dripped down the rusted wires, deepening their stain.

    The captives nearest the cage recoiled in terror, shrinking toward the center of the

    arena.

    “Over here, friends!”

    Voices rang out. Ark Camp Two’s people waved eagerly, weing Theresa’s

    group.

    “This year I picked a whole batch of dark horses,” one of them boasted. “It’ll be better than ever. We’ll all have a good time.”

    Theresa’s face hardened to ice. Lucas, standing at her side, spoke before she could. “Tell me something. What crimes did these peoplemit?”

    The cheer around them faltered.

    A man from Ark Camp Two looked at Lucas, his smile visible even beneath the yellow mask. “New friend, you don’t need to worry. These folks all signed up willingly. No one forced them.”

    “Willingly?”

    Morgan stepped forward, filling in the gaps. “You wouldn’t know since you just arrived. Everyone who enters gets fifty pounds of food. The one who survives takes a tenth of the prize pool. They all volunteered. Ark Camp Two didn’t coerce

    them.”

    The people from Ark Camp Two sneered at Theresa’s group as though they were naive outsiders. “What’s the fun in forcing anyone? The thrilles from them fighting by choice. If you feel sorry for them, then ce a bigger bet. The more you put in, the more thest survivor walks away with”

    “Theresa, let’s go!” Lucas tugged her arm, already turning away.

    He couldn’t save these people, but at least he could refuse to y along. Let the

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    Chapter 472 A Wager of Blood

    camps indulge in their own cruelty.

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    But Theresa didn’t move. She stood her ground, her voice cutting across the arena. “Ordinary people fighting zombies–what’s the point of that?”

    Every head turned toward her.

    “Why don’t we raise the stakes?” she continued coldly. “Send in your strongest ability users. We’ll send in ours. Whoever saves the most people wins.”

    A hush swept over the arena. Then, one of Ark Camp Two’s members chuckled darkly. “Saving people? Where’s the fun in that? Killing is more exciting. Whoever racks up the most kills wins. That includes your ability users and ours, until only one side is left standing.”

    Theresa narrowed her eyes, thinking for three long seconds. Then, she nodded. “Fine. I ept. Kl Camp wagers ten thousand tons of food that our side will win.”

    “Now we’re talking,” said the administrator from Ark Camp One. “We’ll match it- ten thousand tons, betting on our camp.”

    Someone from Ark Camp Three chimed in eagerly. “We’ll match as well. Ten thousand tons, on our camp.”

    Then, someone from Ark Camp Two raised the stakes with a grin. “We’ll put in a hundred thousand tons of food and bet on ourselves. But I have one condition. Ten zombies are far too few. Let’s make it a hundred. And I want you, Ms. Hall, to be the one who fights.”

    Every gaze in the arena swung toward Theresa. Eyes glittered with anticipation.