When we arrived at the 60th floor we were greeted by a large grandstand and a ring at the bottom. The 4 of us sat in a more secluded space to talk more freely.
A while later the bleachers were quite full and in the middle of the ring Viktor appeared with a cap covering his bald head and a microphone in his hand.
—Well, it looks like there are already quite a few of us so let's get started. For those of you who don't know me, my name is Viktor, today I will be the referee during the battles.
Some in the stands cheered and shouted.
—I see you're in high spirits, so before we start I'm going to remind you of the rules. You cannot kill, I will intercede before that happens. If you suffer any kind of breakage or serious injury let me know, I will send you to Lidia and you will be cured, do not worry about that. You will be able to use any type of weapon, but made of wood. You win by surrender or because you can't continue. So, anyone want to start?
A man with strong arms and long dark hair stood up. I recognized him because he was the one who spoke during the first meeting in a big white room and at the meeting on the first day of the island.
At the same time a boy with Asian features and a fishing cap also stood up. Compared to the other, this guy looked quite thin.
—Oh, two quick volunteers. Please come forward.
As the two approached Viktor told them to approach a display case I had not seen, in it were different wooden weapons.
The Asian man took a long thin wooden sword, while the big man took nothing.
The two went upstairs and stood still looking at each other from each side.
—Come on Hiroki!
Someone shouted from the bleachers.
—Smash him Frey!
I pulled out my phone and went into the betting app. On it I could see on the left Frey's photo and name and a button with the value 1'6. On the right the photo and Hiroki's name with the value 1'44 underneath.
—Oh, it's going to be even.
—How does this work?
Igor's question caught me off guard. But Mason seemed even more surprised than I was.
—You've never gambled?
Igor denied.
Mason went on to explain what each thing meant and how betting works.
—It's very simple, for example, in the case of the one called Hiroki. If you bet 1 piece you would win 1'44, 2 pieces 2'88, and so on and so forth. The bad thing is that, if you bet on one side and it loses, you have also lost the money.
—And you can bet on both sides?
Mason shook his head.
—If you could do that, it would be less exciting.
—Mason, you...
—What's the matter?
—You, are you a gambling addict?
Mason stood still for a moment before confirming my suspicion. Not that he'd said anything to give him away, but the happy, cheerful way he talked about gambling made me think about it.
—I was gambling all my life, I went from casino to casino, from gambling house to gambling house, it ruined me and my parents. In the end they abandoned me, they felt betrayed, and when I wanted to realize and change I was already an addict.
—I'm sorry about that, but then are you sure you want to gamble?
Mason gave a nervous smile.
—I don't know, something inside me is asking me to hit the button, to feel that adrenaline rush again, to play again without fear. On the other hand, another part of me is asking me to please not hit it, not to go back to the way it was before.
Luckily in my life I've never had an addiction, but I've never met anyone who did either, I don't have much idea how to help, although I guess the best thing to do is to tell him not to play.
—I think it's best Mason, if you don't gamble.
—I know, but where's the fun in that? Where's the excitement in watching the two of them fight?
As I listened to him a shiver ran up and down my spine, what's the answer to that, how can I help him?
Then, before I could do anything, Igor took the phone from Mason in one clean motion.
—I've never tried to help anyone with an addiction to anything, nor do I know how I'm supposed to, but I certainly don't think it's in your best interest to gamble, so as long as you're with us you won't gamble.
Mason went from surprise to putting on a slightly sad smile. He seems to know this is the right thing to do, but he doesn't seem entirely convinced.
—But you know Mason, instead of betting, let's analyze who you think might win.
Mason then looked at the two of them.
—I think the tall man, Frey? —I nodded at Mason's doubt.— He's the one who at first has all the odds. Taller, stronger, and at first I'd say even more experienced. But I was surprised that the value of the other one, Hiroki, was so low. I think it's going to be pretty evenly matched, but that Hiroki will win because he will use something that will surprise Frey.
To my surprise Mason did a pretty good analysis. I hadn't thought about it that much, to me they were just evenly matched.
—How do you know so much?
—When I said I bet, I really bet —Mason replied, looking at Basma—. I bet on a lot of sports and luck machines, but the ones that made me the most money were the fight bets. So to optimize the profit they gave me I decided to learn, I learned the different types of styles, the weaknesses and strengths, how a good fighter should be. I remember I watched a lot of videos and even had a notebook with notes.
I laughed as I listened to Mason.
—From what you've said you sound more like a fight geek than anything else.
Mason wanted to complain, but Basma, Igor and I were already laughing at him. And while we were like that Viktor gave the start and the bell rang.
The first to move was Hiroki, it seemed that his sword was moving pretty fast, but Frey was dodging most of the attacks.
Then Frey's arms lit up.
—Iron arms!
After the scream, the glow in his arms disappeared and I saw how his arms were now silver.
—Did he really turn his arms into iron? Impressive.
But it seems Hiroki wasn't letting it scare him off quickly. That's when Igor said something I hadn't noticed.
—Hiroki's eyes are glowing.
When I checked it was true that Hiroki's black eyes seemed to be glowing.
—Another ability?
—I wonder what it will do.
Then Frey switched from defense to attack, but Hiroki deflected all his punches with his sword or dodged them.
It was pretty evenly matched. So far neither of them had landed a decisive blow on the opponent.
Frey who seemed a little more nervous separated a little and got into position as if he was reloading his fist. At the same time Hiroki also stood on his side in attack position.
—It looks like it will be decided on the next move.
Mason was right, the two were preparing to strike the final blow. The tension in the air was palpable.
—Flash punch!
—Silent cut.
Frey lunged forward at an impressive speed almost impossible to follow with his eyes. While Hiroki made a cross with his sword, a sword cross that didn't seem to have anything special but it wasn't like that. I don't know what it was, but that cut had something that caught my attention.
In the end it was Frey who ended up on the ground and Hiroki was sweating, both were breathing quite hard. Viktor came out to proclaim Hiroki champion and the crowd erupted.
—What just happened?
—Is that cut real? He looked like a samurai from the movies.
The truth is that it was impressive.
—I knew I should have bet.
I laughed at Mason's comment and showed him my wallet with the number 544 on it. Mason's mouth dropped open before he stared at me.
—Traitor.
—I only bet on what you said. Besides, you can't bet, but the money we win between Igor and me betting will be divided between the 4 of us.
—Me too?
—You too, Basma.
—Why would you do that? We hardly know each other.
Mason had a point, but it wasn't enough to back me out.
—First of all, I won this for you, if it wasn't for what you said earlier I wouldn't have bet. Second, I've already fought for you, and I don't know what this will be good for in the future, but I'm sure you need it too. Besides, I'm going to let you bet just once.
Everyone looked at me quizzically. While Viktor asked for other volunteers.
—I'm going to participate in the next fight so bet big on me.
And saying that I got up and went down to the ring.
—Well, I haven't even said the names and we already have the first opponent. Who wants to be your opponent?
Viktor was cheering the crowd when a black guy with a fisherman's cap came down.
—My name is Zareb. I will be your opponent today.