By 2030, the British economy has spiralled out of control. The Government and the Monarchy have been overthrown. Cost cutting measures were brought in; saving money was the main priority. Until one night, the unelected Prime Minister decided to sell prisons as a way of raising funds; New Britain was born.
New Britain becomes one big prison, leading to the "Death or Freedom" tournament being created. Prisons use the tournament to keep prisoners' numbers down and prisoner's are given the chance to win their freedom.
The rules of "Death or Freedom" are simple: a one night, sixteen man mixed martial arts tournament. The most well behaved prisoners, over a one month period, are taken into The Arena. A square room with a raised circular platform in the middle; fencing, holding back the other prisoners, surrounds the platform on all sides. The winner of the tournament receives freedom; the runner-up, death.
Driven into crime by poverty, Viktor Flanagan attempts to burgle a corner shop in broad daylight. The robbery goes wrong, the shopkeeper dies, and Viktor is abandoned by his only friend to be arrested by the police; he pleads guilty and is sent straight to prison. Due to the new laws in New Britain, any potential suspect who pleads guilty does not attend court; they go straight to prison.
A few months pass and Viktor catches the attention of the Governor. The Governor summons Viktor and informs him he will be entering the tournament.
To be one of the final two, Viktor must overcome three vicious, violent, volatile prisoners:
Jack Happer. An ex-military officer. The leader of his soldiers, until he killed them to collect a bounty. His fighting style is an enigma. His military training seemingly forgotten. He has one goal: to knock you out.
Thomas Colligan. If there was a trophy for the worst human being to have ever lived, this man would receive it. The orchestrator of a cold, calculated attack on three religious schools. Each and every child in these schools murdered as they were worshipping a divine entity.
Alan Jones. A beast amongst men. Speed, strength, power. His only weakness: the voices in his head. Arrested for the murder of his brother, who he was trying to protect, Jones cannot stop hearing his brother's last words: "I trust you."
Only two outcomes exist for the final two: death or freedom.