If they expected to be kept from the ring because of the upcoming auction, they had been sorely mistaken.

When considering this in a positive light, Technoblade would consider it a testament to his skill. There was no reason to sell damaged goods, but clearly the handlers didn't expect him to get hurt (or worse: die) by putting him in the pitch. Not that some of the prior events didn't contradict this rationale. Still, they were trying to squeeze every last piece of gold out of their slaves in the arena before making the big bucks by selling them off. It was despicable, player lives traded around like commodities.

(And Technoblade did not dwell on how that very thought made his skin crawl. It leaned a little too close to him lying awake at night listening to the tundra wind lashing at the walls of his freshly built cabin, wondering what the purpose of a weapon was if it wouldn't be wielded. If it had any worth beyond that what other people gave it - a tool to fight their wars for them.)

"What did you say about your aim before?" Techno asked, holding the crossbow up so he could adjust the wrist strap. It was too loose, risking it would fall off in the midst of battle. He pulled the leather tight, tight enough it would probably leave welts. Better safe than sorry.

"Is this all we're getting?" Ranboo looked around the benches anxiously, searching for any sign they had missed something. If he was expecting any other weapons to materialize out of thin air he'd find himself disappointed. Only bows today, limited arrows. Such had been the handler's order. Technoblade had picked up the crossbow out of habit. Heavier and more bulky than a regular bow, he'd rather have the increased speed and force it provided for arrows despite being notoriously harder to aim. Techno wasn't scared about missing his target.

Ranboo did pick up the normal bow, seeming uncertain with his choice. Techno had seen him use both equally well in the past, so he wasn't going to butt in.

"It's interesting," Techno ventured, notching the first arrow while they waited. "There's ten of us but it's not a battle royale. Mel said we would know what we needed to do when it happened."

"Oh, I hate that." Ranboo laughed a little. "Can't they just tell us what's up? Or do they know we won't like it when they do?"

Their starting signal was near deafening. Techno eyed the other fighters as they walked onto the pitch, all on one side of the circle instead of facing each other. The opposite end of the arena remained empty.

"Who are we fighting?" Ranboo shout-whispered. The eight other fighters had clearly gone through this routine before, holding their positions with pinpoint focus. They were all watching the open arches across from them.

As a cloud moved from in front of the sun, a few rays broke through an otherwise clouded sky. Techno caught the glint of metal – heavy ropes being undone, rotted fingers pushing through the bars, handlers with shields standing to guide what would soon come out of these cages onto the pitch and towards the waiting fighters.

"Looks like it's not a question of who," Techno said. "But what."

Ranboo hardly had time for a surprised chirp at the realization and then the cages fell open. For a moment nothing happened and even the audience seemed to be holding their breath in anticipation. Then the first lumbering husk started to stagger forward, its guttural moaning almost confused in nature. Taken from its natural terrain and dropped into unfamiliar territory.

It stumbled onto the sand of the arena, taking a few steps before the fighter standing left from Technoblade raised their arm and shot an arrow into the undead creature's throat. It fell back, pitching onto the ground with strangled noises. Another husk hissed at the commotion, drawn by the motion.

More of them advanced, pulled by the dual encouragements of more sounds luring them forward and the smell of fresh meat allowing them to hone in on their intended prey. After everything that had happened, Techno still found himself a little stunned that a makeshift husk horde was what this arena would invest in as their chosen entertainment.

And entertainment it was. The audience ate it up with glee. Suddenly what had been a handful of slowly approaching husks turned into a wave of them, more and more pouring into the arena. Unlike normal zombies, their grayish flesh would not burn beneath the daylight – tattered clothes and putrid skin sloshing off their bones making for a horrendous smell. Techno raised his own crossbow to start picking a few off.

Husks weren't very fast. Despite being outnumbered they wouldn't form a threat against a group of skilled archers. But the lack of arrows was worrisome and they didn't have any other weapons to fall back on. On top of that, husks didn't die unless you took them out properly – destroy the brain. The one who had been hit in the throat before was still twitching on the floor, trying and failing to get up while its undead comrades walked over it, uncaringly trampling it underfoot. Techno realized this was a matter of testing their aim. Every arrow they wasted could be the difference between life or death.

Others had started to fire at the oncoming horde – Ranboo among them – and Techno did the same. The husk's numbers dwindled rapidly, most of them not making it more than half the way towards them before being picked off. Techno was about to start wondering how effortless this was for them when Ranboo cried out beside him.

"There's more to the right!"

Another batch was approaching from that side, too close for comfort. Out of the corner of his eye, more were spotted on his left which told Techno they were dealing with a similar situation there. The handlers had released more creatures from both sides, hoping to catch them unaware. Surround them. An increasing number of shots were being fired, but trying to be quick about it meant their accuracy wasn't as good anymore, leaving more undead to slip through their defenses and within a range that made using the bow difficult. One husk reached towards him, slender fingers outstretched and Techno smacked them with the crossbow, forcing them to the ground. He used his hoof to bash their skull in.

A pained cry had barely ripped out of Ranboo's throat before Techno was already moving, dodging another husk's attempt of making a grab for him. Ranboo had pushed the one trying to grapple its way on top of him off, nails scratching at his face. Its claws cut into his cheek, digging deep enough to draw a waterfall of blood.

Techno rammed into its side with his shoulder, throwing the husk to the ground. He planted his hoof on its throat to keep it still while he shot it with his last remaining arrow. Ranboo dispatched two more coming towards them. There weren't many left by now.

Except for the one sneaking up on them from behind. Techno became aware of them too late and turned, throwing his arm up to shield himself. Their teeth sank into his flesh, molars ground against his bones. Pain shot up the limb, only worsening when the husk tore at their meal like a man starved. Techno lashed out blindly, finding a misfired arrow stuck in its hip. He pulled it out and redirected it, jamming it into their eye socket. It screeched but wouldn't let go. Techno pulled it out again before driving it back in, over and over. Finally, their jaw dislodged from his arm with a spray of blood as the husk collapsed.

And then it was over.

The crowd erupted again. Techno put his hand over the wound, pressing fingers to teeth marks to staunch the bleeding. Ranboo wiped the scratches on his cheek, smearing red all over. He smiled gratefully. "That was uh, what did you call it... interesting."

Techno smirked and shook his head. "Let's not do it again."

Ranboo frowned down at the bite next, blood still flowing out of it in lazy pulsations matching Techno's heartbeat. "We need to get that cleaned. I don't think husks are well-known for their amazing dental hygiene."

"Not sure they can even hold a toothbrush, honestly. I'd rather not get another fever."

The other fighters were returning to the armory, Ranboo made eye contact as they started back as well. "Tomorrow?" He clenched his hands, tail flicking once.

"Tomorrow," Techno confirmed with a small nod.

One more day and then they would take their opportunity to break out of this hellhole.