The Roman Empire had control of most of Europe and northern Africa, where Gladiators were a big part of the culture. Blood sports for entertainment, to ease the troubles of the mob and satisfy their thirst for blood and death. Slaves were bought and sold all over the empire and some of the stronger ones were sold to Ludus’ or Gladiator houses.
Vanatrix was one such slave. She fought against the Roman Empire’s expansion in Africa. Her tribe’s warriors were not only men but women too. They were famous for beautiful warrior women and made very entertaining Gladiators. Or rather Gladiatrix, for that is what a female gladiator is called. Gladiatrix were rare because most female slaves were kept as house slaves or pleasure slaves, whores and the like but few warrior women captured and sold to those who trained Gladiators made quite the spectacle.
Vanatrix’s Dominus or ‘Gladiator Owner’, had spent a few coin to acquire this strong, confident fighter. His Ludus was a simple one, a few low level fighters. He trained Gladiatrix mostly, he thought that they could be more mainstream than they were, more than just a side show and one day he believed a Gladiatrix could fight, and win, in the main event in the grand Roman coliseum but for now he was left sending his fighters out onto the bloodied sands of small town fighting pits.
He saw promise in Vanatrix, she had only been under his Ludus’ roof for a few months and she had won every fight she was entered into. Many other Gladiatrix fell to her blade and was starting to make quite the name for herself and her Dominus. Word of her battles had reached ears of some low level politicians close to Rome and her Dominus had hosted many an event at his Ludus showing off his stock and having his slaves entertain his guests. He was close to getting an invite, not directly to the grand coliseum, not yet, but a few of the more popular fighting arenas. Here, his Gladiatrix would get noticed by more influential Romans and then… The Coliseum!
However, Vanatrix’s Dominus had a rival, he too wanted a spot in the grand battles Rome hosted. He too had set his sights on the gold, women and power such a position held. He knew that Vanatrix would put his Rival close, if not in Rome it’s self. A beautiful dark skinned warrior woman set to light up the stadiums and leave him as a footnote, fighting for scraps behind. Something had to be done.
The rival hatched a plan. He too also had the ear of the politicians and he started to sing the praises of Vanatrix to them, claiming she was as able as any male Gladiator and could face off against the best of them. Now this was probably true, she was very skilled but had only ever beaten male Gladiators from the smaller Luduses. He pushed her abilities beyond what even her own Dominus would. Her own Dominus knew, she was untested again stronger male opponents and wished her to work up to them, after more training. However, his rival got the politicians eager to see her fight a mighty Gladiator.
The rival planted a seed in the heads of the politicians, for he was certainly a very good manipulator and fancied himself in a political position as well. So the politicians visited Vanatrix’s Ludus and her Dominus thought it was to enjoy his hospitality and discuss his ideas for more lucrative fights. In a way, he was right.
They did enjoy his hospitality, they enjoyed his food and his wine, enjoyed many of his beautiful slave girls but they had a proposition; Vanatrix to fight a male gladiator of their choosing and if she wins, they will sponsor his ludus and make sure his Gladiarix see the sands of the grand Roman Coliseum!
The dominus was hesitant but, she had proven herself against any who faced up to her in the local fighting pits. So, he agreed!
The headline fight came around, a local fighting arena was the host. A far cry from the grandeur of Rome but this was just a stepping stone.
The crowd roared as Vanatrix was announced. She had gotten used to the roar of the crowd as was quite the show fighter. She taunted the rival Dominus, she wanted to prove herself. She wanted to fight in Rome, fight and earn her freedom. She was eager, she was ready and she looked as hot as ever in her new, exposing armour. Oh she was going to put on a real show for the crowd and when they saw her dressed in her new armour, they roared even louder!
Vanatrix was eager to bloody her blade but then her opponent was announced! He was NOT a fighter from one of the local Luduses, he was NOT untested against such an opponent, and he was far from unknown!
It seemed the rival had done a fantastic job of over publicising Vanatrix and her skills, for the politicians wanted to see a real fight and they had personally paid one of the more prestigious Luduses for one of their champion fighters. A Mermilo fighter!
Vanatrix’s Dominus was annoyed, angered and he knew he had been betrayed. He looked over at his rival who merely grinned in return. He then knew what had happened!
Even so, Vanatrix saw the giant Gladiator and was still confident if not as much as she was previously. The fight began!
Vanatrix put up a strong fight but it was clear early on she was out classed. She was on the back foot for most of the fight, defending her position more than attacking, yet she held her ground well against such a champion. If only she could find an opening, just one flaw in his fighting she could take advantage of. The rival looked on with concern, he thought she should of lost easily by now and yet she continued to be a worthy opponent. The crowd cheered her on, this was indeed a fight worthy of Rome!
Vanatrix’s Dominus watched on, powerless as the stronger Gladiator closed off every attack she launched but as he watched her, he realised she was testing him, testing her opponent’s defences and he smiled to himself, he knew eventually she would find it. He had been proud of how well she adapted to battle, how quickly she learnt her opponent.
Just then, the Mermilo left her an opening and she took it!
Her Dominus watched with wide eyes and bated breath “Not yet….” He gasped.
Vanatrix was indeed adaptive and a skilled fighter but she failed to see the Mermilo’s rouse. She took her shot, he parried, her sword fell from her hand and her large, ample breast was now touching the sharpened tip of his spear. He held her there for a moment; the crowd thought she was going to retourt and escape, her Dominus wondered why the Mermilo hadn’t killed her yet but it was only moments, enough time for the Mermilo to growl, only loud enough for her to hear “Such a waste of fine black pussy!”, She looked up with wide eyes into the grille of his mask and could only just make out the glint of his teeth as he grinned and then it came.
The Mermilo shoved the spear forward, it punctured her large breast and she gulped as she felt the razor sharp steel slice into her tit meat as the tip lodged it’s self between her ribs. The Mermilo gave her the slither of hope, wanted her to feel her demise but, after the initial shock passed, Vanatrix wouldn’t let him have the pleasure… “What’s the matter Mermilo? Don’t have the strength to finish me?” Even though her end was seconds away and her heart was pounding in her chest she refused to give him the satisfaction of her fear.
The Mermilo growled with anger at her comment and with an agry scream, he shoved the spear through her chest! The broad tip pushed through her ribs and sliced her heart in two, she grunted and gagged as she felt her heart stop and the steel push out her back. The crowed cheered at her demise. Sure they enjoyed watcher her fight but the crowed were fickle; they may have loved her while she was alive but they loved death and blood even more.
The Mermilo pushed the dying Gladiatrix against the arena wall and picked up her sword. She slumped against the wall, gasping and her chest heaved. She looked up as the Mermilo approached her sword in hand. All she could do was watch as he took a fistful of her long black hair and with a single swing of the sword, removed her head from her shoulders. Seconds later, her jaw slowly dropped and her tongue rolled out. Her pupils dilated and her eyes rolled up as the Mermilo held her head up high, showing off his trophy to the cheering crowd. And so passes Vanatrix.
Her Dominus sighed and hung his head as his rival gloated “I sure hope she made you a profit, while she was alive.” He grinned “Oh you did make use of those tits I hope..” He laughed and started to turn away…
“Hmm Sorry about your girl.” Said one of the politicians as the rival smirked behind them. “However, rarely have we seen such prowess and from a woman too!” The Dominus lifted his head and slowly looked towards the politicians as did the rival, although he had more a puzzled expression on his face.
The politicians continued; “If your other Gladiatrix fight as well as this one did, they may be quite the crowd pleasure. We are such they will die at the hands of the Rome champions but what the spectacle they will be! Bring your Gladatrix to Rome my friend, let them die on the Coliseum’s Sands and give the people a sight they will never forget!”
The rival looked shocked, his plan had back fired, the Dominus had been invited to Rome! “We’ll make the arrangements, you bring the fighters!” the politicians said to him as they left.
The Dominus looked down into the Arena, the Mermilo parading Vanatrix’s head around for the crowd before heartily throwing it into the stands and yet the Dominus watched with a huge smile. She had done it, she’d given him everything he ever wanted.
He would be sure to commission a marble statue of her, in all her glory.