"Technically. The Protector prefers that it be twelve monster bodies, but he has never once succeeded. He will go to great lengths to ensure he gets what he wants." They answer, clarifying a few bits.

"For example, five monster bodies and four hero bodies on the twelfth day left him with little choice." They explain, looking away at a distant window. Five and four was nine, on the last day. They don't say out loud what the Protector did to fix that, but the implication of three murders hangs heavy in the air.

"That year was instrumental in our pursuit to rig the fights, to rig the system." They shake their head, still unable to shake the guilt that those three lives could have been saved.

"To take the power out of his hands."