The Ludus King

In the year 3147 the Roman Imperium had finally achieved its goal of colonizing its own corner of the galaxy. Unlike in our own world the Rome of this one never fell, but instead grew to encompass the whole of the earth, and overtime spread itself, and humanity, among the stars.
Yet even with the marvelous advancements in technology, healthcare, welfare, and every other category required for a thriving society. There is still one roman tradition that refuses to die.
GLADIATORS!!
And we should all be glad for it, because during the year 3149, just two years after the long and exhausting colonization campaigns were ended, mankind learned that it was not alone in the galaxy, let alone the universe.
It had just stepped onto a much bigger stage where entire planets and even star systems were used as bargaining chips in universal gladiator games.
Wars on a galactic scale are far too destructive to simply be allowed, if left unchecked the vast majority of life in the universe would cease to be. Therefore each race recognized by the galactic or universal council (it changes depending on the scale of the race itself) must submit champions or gladiators to represent them in the games. The winners gain unfathomable rewards, the losers perish or worse have their entire species enslaved.
Please join our hero as he embarks upon his own perilous journey as a lanista, will he rise above the masses, or fall like so many others before him? Or perhaps his own latent gifts may bring him to a height, or depth hitherto unexplored by any before.