Hernando is a slave boxer in Doriscus's traveling pugilistic group, fighting alongside Cestvs and others like Pedro and Geti. He trains rigorously under Zafar's instruction as part of Doriscus's arrangement to improve the fighters' skills, leaving Hernando and the others exhausted but motivated to grow stronger.

During a tournament in Capua, Hernando competes as a novice fighter. He experiences significant pre-match anxiety, mirroring the novice fighters' collective tension. Hernando faces the "monster," a deformed fighter dwelling in the arena's underground, and succumbs swiftly. His defeat stems primarily from overwhelming fear rather than the opponent's physical advantage. This loss fuels audience dissatisfaction, prompting demands for a more skilled opponent like Cestvs.

After the tournament, Hernando and the other boxers, including Cestvs, express a unified resolve to become stronger and avoid future humiliating defeats.