As we embark on a recap and review of the ninth episode of "Those About to Die," we find Tenax apprising Domitian of the hefty sum required to compensate the soldiers. Faced with this daunting task, they devise a daring plan: gambling their entire fortune in a bid to raise the necessary funds.
Concurrently, Elia gears up for the next race, with Scorpus and Fonsoa representing the Gold faction. Tenax cunningly enlists Cala's help, tasking her to place their entire stake in the race, after slyly persuading Scorpus to manipulate the outcome in a specific manner. Unwittingly, Cala's words spark a revelation in Tenax's mind, and he promptly acts on it. He returns to the chamber where he had concealed the funds for Ursus and discovers a vast tank brimming with coins atop the roof.
Meanwhile, Elia stages an accident reminiscent of Scorpus's fateful crash, ending Scorpus's life. Unfortunately, Fonsoa, who had been trailing Scorpus, gets caught in the chaos and perishes as well. With each passing moment, Domitian's despair deepens, convinced that death awaits him. However, Tenax reveals the staggering amount of money he discovered in the tank, offering a ray of hope.
As the city mourns Scorpus's demise, Elia solemnly buries Fonsoa's body. On a different front, Caltonia visits Rufus's wife, offering her heartfelt apologies and urging her to press the case. According to the law, a wife who has borne three children is no longer beholden to her husband. This presents a golden opportunity for them to reclaim the 500 shares Rufus had unlawfully seized.
Elsewhere, Tenax fulfills his obligation to the soldiers, sealing the deal with a parchment as a safeguard against betrayal. Should any of them violate their agreement, the other would face the emperor's wrath for treason. Tenax conceals the parchment in a secret chamber, revealing its whereabouts only to Cala.
Amidst this turmoil, Domitian's fate hangs in the balance. Knowing too much, Hermes' tongue is cruelly silenced. Rufus informs Berenice of Domitian's plot to procure guards, and she swiftly relays this information to Antonia. They seize the opportunity to unite and thwart the coup, leveraging Cala's cooperation by taking Jula hostage in exchange for the incriminating parchment.
Amidst the deafening roar of the crowd, the Flavian Amphitheatre's opening ceremony unfolds in a grandiose fashion. The gladiators emerge, tribal dances enliven the air, and birds and wild animals are released, creating a breathtaking spectacle. Amongst the warriors, Aura stands out, a female gladiator adding a unique touch.
Suddenly, Tenax's command resonates through the arena, instructing the flooding of the grounds. With three senators and Hermes aboard a boat, crocodiles are unleashed. It is then that Tenax receives the unexpected news: the witness to Domitian's crime has arrived sooner than anticipated. He whispers a sinister plan, suggesting Titus's demise after the festivities.
Meanwhile, Berenice, desperate to warn Titus of the imminent threat, is denied entry into the amphitheater. However, Antonia, sneaking in unnoticed, watches in horror as her husband is devoured by the crocodiles. Titus, informed of the witness's arrival, is cautioned by his chief of the imminent danger. Berenice, holding the scroll, attempts to reach Titus but is brutally slain by Jewish men, labeling her a traitor. The amphitheater, once a grand stage for entertainment, has now become a sinister arena for betrayal, murder, and the unraveling of fate.
