A new client arrives, asking for Angel's help. His brother has had some problems with debt, and has since then been taken away... by demons. They later posted a severed thumb through Angel's letterbox. Angel promises to help, and follows a lead regarding the debt. He "asks" the debt collector where to go, but runs into a trap set by some howler demons. He takes them out, and believes it must have been them who took the client's brother. However, this is not the case, and as Angel investigates further, he discovers an underground fighting ring for demons, with human spectators.

The whole thing is a setup though, the client, and his perfectly well brother trap Angel, and using metal cuffs and some powerful magic, keep Angel along with a lot of other demons inside a mystical cell. He is told that he will have to fight, and that the only way out alive is to make 21 kills.

Angel is forced into the arena, and tries not to kill his opponent, but after a while, the organisers throw his opponent weapons, and Angel starts to get in some difficulty. Eventually Angel is forced to make a kill, one he does in mere seconds. Wesley and Cordelia meanwhile are able to sneak in, after posing as detectives. They witness the fight, and realise they need to get the cuffs off.

Thankfully Cordelia manages to procure one of the bracelets, and takes it to Angel Investigations for Wesley to analyse. After some time, Wesley comes up with a key for unlocking the bracelets. However, back at the arena, things are difficult for Angel. He sees demons getting killed, and when he takes the brother hostage, finds that the original client is willing to kill his own brother to keep the place running.

Despite an offer from Wolfram and Hart to be pulled out on the condition that Angel says and does nothing about the arena, Angel stays, and tries to help the captured demons. He is forced to fight Trebkose, a powerful fighter seeking a 21st kill. Angel is first to have the chance at a killer blow, but doesn't take it. Trebkose carries on, but when its his turn, also stops short. Then, using Wesley's key, the rest of the hostages come running out.

Together, the now freed demons are too powerful for the organisation to cope with, and the client is killed by his own slaves. Although they may be demons, Angel feels like the group have done a good thing today.