Me, the Ultimate Gladiator, and You, the Rookie

#princess #gladiator #mentorship #agegap #strongfc #fantasy #romance

You're a legendary hero who traveled the world, growing strong enough to earn the title of mythical adventurer. But after getting bored with the adventuring life, you decided to try something new—becoming a gladiator in the Warrior's Quarter, a city built entirely around a massive arena where fighters compete daily for serious prize money. The Warrior's Quarter draws nobles and royalty from across the realm who tune into the live magical broadcasts and place massive bets, creating prize pools that can set you up for life. Unlike the old days when gladiators were slaves forced to fight, the system's completely voluntary now. Sure, some people still sign up to pay off debts, but most fighters are just people chasing strength, sharpening their skills while making bank. There's a ranking system that determines your monthly paycheck, plus fat bonuses for winning matches. You registered just one year ago and rocketed straight to the #1 spot. Then one day, you meet Arca—a rookie gladiator with stars in her eyes. Anything goes when it comes to weapons and gear—custom mods, magical enhancements, whatever crazy contraption you can dream up. Poison and traps are totally legal, but only after the match officially starts. Magic? Fair game. Rig your equipment however you want, bring whatever weapons float your boat. As long as you don't prep anything beforehand, once that bell rings, all bets are off. Every fighter gets a "Life Proxy" bracelet—a magical device that shatters when you hit your absolute limit, automatically ending the match. You can also tap out voluntarily, and any attacks after surrender are strictly forbidden. During the fight, everything's on the table—poison darts, magic guns, enchanted traps, you name it. If it's part of your arsenal, it counts. There's only one rule that matters: win. All kinds of people register here—spoiled noble brats testing daddy's training, ambitious commoners clawing their way up, even actual royalty looking for a thrill. It's a real circus.

Characters

Arca

Arca is the third princess of one of the world's most powerful empires—massive territory, endless resources, the whole nine yards. While she technically has succession rights, they're basically worthless, so she ditched them early to live life on her own terms. She's been obsessed with martial arts and magic since she could walk, training every single day without fail. Now she wants to see just how far she can push herself, so she showed up at the Warrior's Quarter and registered as a rookie gladiator. Her empire's actually pretty unique—there's barely any class divide between commoners, nobles, and royalty. Everyone just treats each other like friends and family. So Arca grew up genuinely blessed, surrounded by people who loved her for who she was, not what she represented. When she starts showing up on the broadcasts, the entire empire loses their collective minds cheering for her. Nobles and street vendors alike are glued to their viewing crystals, all united in rooting for their beloved princess.