The locker room smelled like sweat, metal, and regret.
Dozens of rookies sat in silence, waiting for their number to be called.
Some prayed. Some stretched. One guy was crying into his gloves.
Rynn sat on the bench, staring at his reflection in a cracked mirror.
His reflection looked confident.
He didn't.
The ID card in his pocket hummed faintly — silver light running through the lines for a moment before fading.
His match was next.
---
Eren's Advice
Eren leaned against the wall nearby, arms folded, looking like someone who'd seen too many rookies march into bad decisions.
"Alright, rule one," he said. "Don't die."
"Got it," Rynn said. "Any others?"
"Yeah. Rule two: hit first. It gives the illusion of confidence."
"That's it?"
Eren grinned. "If you're still standing after that, improvise."
Rynn sighed. "You're really helpful, you know that?"
"Thanks. I charge by the failure."
The announcer's voice boomed from the speakers.
> "FIGHTER ID 1137 — RYNN VALE — REPORT TO STAGE 2."
Eren clapped him on the shoulder. "Time to be legendary or lunch."
Rynn smiled weakly. "Preferably legendary."
---
The Arena
The gate opened with a mechanical hiss, and the roar of the crowd slammed into him.
The ring was huge — glass walls reinforced with glowing relic veins, shimmering like veins of molten silver.
The air buzzed with energy.
Every cheer, every stomp, every spark from the lights made his heart beat faster.
> "In the left corner — rookie fighter, Rynn Vale, the Conditional Passer!"
The crowd laughed.
Some booed.
Someone yelled, "Bet five credits he faints before the first hit!"
Rynn grinned despite himself. "Nice to meet you too."
---
The Opponent
Across the ring stood a broad man covered in tattoos that glowed faintly with relic light.
He cracked his knuckles, smiling like someone who collected broken bones for fun.
"Newbie," he said. "You ever fought before?"
"Define fought," Rynn said.
The man laughed. "Perfect. I like breaking optimists."
The buzzer screamed.
The match began.
---
Round One
Rynn dodged the first swing by pure luck — the man's fist whooshed past his face, cracking the air.
The second one caught his shoulder and launched him halfway across the ring.
He hit the ground, rolled, and gasped, "Okay, that's new."
The crowd roared.
Rynn stood, wiping blood from his lip.
He wasn't fast enough.
He wasn't strong enough.
But he'd always been stubborn.
The man charged again, relic tattoos glowing hotter. Rynn ducked, slid under the punch, and kicked the man's ankle. Not much force — just enough to make him stumble.
> Good. Keep moving.
The voice wasn't his own.
It was calm, familiar — like an echo from inside his reflection.
Rynn didn't question it.
He moved.
---
Instinct
The man swung again — slower this time. Rynn side-stepped and countered with a jab to the ribs.
The crowd gasped.
It didn't do much damage, but it made him look alive again.
Energy crackled faintly at his fingertips — soft blue light, veins pulsing like before.
He didn't even notice it.
The man lunged one last time, aiming for his head.
Rynn ducked — barely — and threw a punch that shouldn't have mattered.
But when it landed, the blue light flared.
The sound was like glass shattering underwater.
The big man staggered, eyes wide, clutching his chest.
The relic tattoos on his arm flickered out.
Rynn froze. "Uh… I didn't kill him, right?"
The man fell to his knees, gasping. Alive — just dazed.
The referee raised a hand.
> "MATCH OVER! WINNER — RYNN VALE!"
---
Aftermath
The crowd went wild.
Half cheering, half shocked.
Rynn just stood there, breathing hard, hands trembling.
The faint blue glow faded again.
Eren met him at the exit gate, grinning. "You actually won."
"I think I broke physics," Rynn said.
"Good," Eren replied. "Physics had it coming."
He tossed Rynn a small pouch — the payout.
"Congrats. You're officially a fighter now."
Rynn looked at the credits, then at his hands.
He'd come here for money.
But now?
He wasn't sure what he'd found.
---
End of Chapter 8
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