The underground arena roared like a living beast.
People crowded around the rusted metal fence surrounding the ring, shouting bets and insults at the fighters below. Coins clinked in greedy hands while bottles slammed against metal rails. The noise rolled through the cavern like thunder.
The air smelled of sweat, cheap alcohol, and old blood baked into the sand.
Near the entrance gate, Rimay stood quietly, rolling a small crystal between his fingers. The stone caught the harsh arena lights and glimmered faintly.
"Don't."
J grabbed his wrist.
"That shit will eventually kill you, Rimay."
Rimay glanced down at the crystal, turning it slowly between his fingers. Behind them the crowd suddenly erupted in cheers as another fight ended in the ring.
Without answering, he slipped the crystal into his mouth and swallowed.
J groaned.
"You never listen."
Rimay rolled his shoulders, loosening his arms.
"I don't care," he said calmly. "As long as it helps me win."
A sharp bell rang through the arena.
"Next fight! Get in the ring!"
The metal gate screeched open.
Rimay stepped forward into the sand.
Across the ring stood his opponent—a thick man with heavy arms and a crooked nose that had clearly been broken more than once. His knuckles were wrapped in old tape stained dark from previous fights.
The bell rang again.
They began to circle.
Warmth spread through Rimay's chest as the crystal dissolved inside him. It seeped through his body like liquid fire. His heartbeat quickened, and the weight in his muscles began to fade.
The larger fighter suddenly lunged.
Rimay slipped aside and drove a tight punch into the man's ribs.
The impact landed with a dull thud.
The crowd roared.
Rimay stepped forward again and snapped a quick jab into the man's face. His opponent's head jerked back.
Encouraged, Rimay pressed forward.
A jab.
A hook.
Another hard shot to the body.
The larger fighter staggered backward, clearly surprised by Rimay's speed.
For a moment, the fight felt easy.
Then the man stopped retreating.
His boots dug into the sand as he planted his feet.
Slowly, he lifted his head.
And smiled.
Rimay hesitated.
Just for a second.
That was enough.
The man's fist shot forward like a cannon.
The punch slammed into Rimay's jaw.
Pain exploded through his skull.
The arena tilted sideways as the ground rushed toward him.
Then everything went dark.
A distant voice pulled him back.
"Rimay… you alright, man?"
The sound felt warped and far away.
Rimay forced one eye open.
The arena lights stabbed into his vision.
J crouched beside him.
"I told you," he muttered. "That shit is no good."
Rimay groaned and pushed himself upright. His head throbbed with every movement.
He wiped his forehead and felt something wet.
Blood.
Just above his eyebrow.
J handed him a bottle of water.
Rimay poured some over his face before drinking the rest.
The crowd still roared around them—some cheering, others booing loudly.
Well… I didn't ask them to bet on me, Rimay thought.
"Hey!" someone shouted. "Get up! This isn't your bed!"
Rimay raised a hand and showed the man a middle finger.
Then he climbed out of the ring.
As they walked away from the arena, Rimay rubbed his temple.
His head throbbed with every step.
"Do you have the med, J?"
J avoided his eyes.
"No."
Rimay stopped.
"I bet it," J admitted. "Instead of money. I thought you'd win."
Rimay stared at him for a moment.
Then he sighed.
"Next time," he muttered, "bet on the other guy."
J snorted.
"You say that like there's gonna be a next time."
Rimay glanced back toward the arena.
"There will be."
He looked down at his wrist.
The veins beneath his skin had darkened slightly.
Well… what's done is done.
His phone suddenly buzzed.
J leaned over.
"Who's calling?"
Rimay checked the screen.
"Sarah."
Both of them froze.
"You better pick up," J said quietly. "Or she'll kill us."
Rimay sighed and answered.
He didn't even get the chance to say hello.
"Did you buy what I asked you to?" Sarah snapped. "Or are you planning not to eat dinner tonight?"
Rimay glanced nervously at J.
"You're in the arena right now, aren't you?" she continued.
"Eh… no."
"I'm not dumb, Ri."
Rimay winced.
"Both of you are not getting dinner tonight."
The call ended.
Rimay slowly lowered the phone.
J groaned.
"We're dead."
They broke into a run toward the market.
Their footsteps echoed through the underground streets.
Halfway there, the ground trembled.
Dust drifted from the ceiling.
J glanced up at the massive stone pillars supporting the surface far above them. Cracks spread across the stone.
"How long do you think they'll last?" he asked.
Rimay followed his gaze.
"I don't know."
Then he kept running.
"But I'm sure Sarah will starve us tonight."
J groaned.
"That's definitely worse."
The market was already packed.
People pushed through narrow paths between stalls while vendors shouted prices. Steam hissed from pipes that ran across the ceiling like metal vines.
Even after all these years, the place still amazed Rimay.
Thick cables hung between iron beams while massive generators hummed against the walls. Dim industrial lights flickered overhead, bathing everything in a dull yellow glow.
The whole place felt like the inside of a giant machine.
Rimay shoved through the crowd—
Then realized J was gone.
He turned quickly.
For a moment panic flickered inside him.
Then he spotted J struggling through a cluster of customers a few stalls away.
Rimay grabbed him.
"Where's the list?" J asked.
Rimay blinked.
"I was fighting. Aren't you supposed to check our stuff?"
J stared at him.
"I left it at The Rusted Barrel."
Rimay sighed.
The Rusted Barrel looked like an ordinary pub near the arena entrance.
Most people had no idea there was a hidden fight pit behind the storage room.
"I think she asked us to buy beef," Rimay said.
His mouth watered.
They hadn't eaten real meat in weeks.
While Rimay spoke to the butcher, something caught his eye.
A small shadow floated at the edge of his vision.
Across the street, a sleek inspection floater hovered silently in the air.
Its metal body was painted in the dull gray colors of the city authority.
A city inspector climbed out while the machine hovered beside the shop.
Rimay stared at it.
That thing would sell for a fortune.
For a moment he imagined stealing it and vanishing into the crowd.
A hand landed on his shoulder.
"We can't," J whispered.
Rimay didn't look away.
"Too obvious," J continued. "And they all have trackers."
Rimay sighed.
"I know."
But he still couldn't stop staring.
Then suddenly—
A sharp pulse shot through his arm.
Rimay stiffened.
He looked down.
The dark veins beneath his skin had spread further, crawling slowly across his wrist like black cracks under the surface.
Another pulse ran through his chest.
Hot.
Painful.
"What?" J asked.
Rimay clenched his fist.
"It's nothing."
But the warmth inside him flared again.
Stronger.
Across the street, the inspection floater suddenly shifted.
A thin red scanning beam swept across the market.
And stopped.
Directly on Rimay.
The machine hummed softly.
Recording.
Rimay felt the crystal burn inside his chest.
Something was changing.
And the city had just noticed.