Xavier leaned back and smiled before draining his glass. Rose quickly filled it while Jake waited impatient with curiosity. "She told me only two things. I had to pay quite a bit but I had been told to get any information I could on you." Xavier swirled his drink dragging out the time before continuing only when Jake started to fidget with annoyance. "She told me that I should never let you near a magic staff. Also, not to be near you when you die."
Jake blinked as Xavier's gaze bore right through him. As if he was trying to peer into his soul. "So, is it true? Are you really D ranked?"
The sudden question caught him off guard, the switching back to his rank not what he expected. It also raised his hackles as it always came back to his low rank."Yeah."
Xavier's reaction wasn't what he expected. His eyes lit up with the same look Killgore of the Uniques had once given him. A hungry look that screamed they wanted to possess him. Jake found it just as uncomfortable coming from this man as he had from Killgore. Smiling from ear to ear Xavier sat down his drink. "Join me. Come be part of Haven."
Again it wasn't what Jake expected him to say. "What?"
Xavier just laughed at his confusion. "I said come move to Haven. You can bring your entire town with you. All of them can be under your control as well. Rose here was my personal attendant but I have gifted her to you. Any others you wish as well. Anything you desire will be yours. Just come join us." He picked up his glass and gulped down the drink. Jake felt Rose slide up closer to him, practically melting into his side. He couldn't help but glance at her, her face was close and her eyes sparkled as she smiled at him.
"Why me?" Swallowing away his nervousness he asked.
"Because you are the key to everything if she is right. D rank and yet so powerful." Xavier stood up pacing some as he talked. Jake just watched him confused even more. Xavier seemed to pick up on this and chuckled. "Yes I know in that pathetic region you have been hunting they look down on low ranks. But that is because they don't understand how the ranks actually work. The amount of power for each rank isn't the same for each person. It is a representation of what percent of your potential you have reached. The fact you have gone so long and done so much at D rank just means your potential growth limit is… astounding." Xavier laughed an excited laugh. "I'm only B ranked yet considered the strongest evolver in Haven. I used to be proud of it but if you are half as strong as they say and still D rank I might not be for long. You could easily become the new ruler of Haven."
"Uh, wouldn't that be bad for you?" Jake found himself asking, still trying to process all the new information.
"Sure if what was most important to me was ruling Haven. No, all I care about is progressing humanity out of these stupid cages we live in. Returning us to Earth where we belong." Xavier sat down on the edge of the couch across from Jake leaning forward. His eyes were bright with excitement.
"But… most people would die if they returned to Earth." He thought of his father instantly and then Gerri.
"Of course. It won't happen right away. It will take generations beyond my life span even if I choose to return to Earth permanently. If you need more immediate benefits, the main limit to our growth is the lack of Evolvers. Beyond this region of low radiation, there are massive dungeons with millions of A ranked monsters. Bosses with cores that could fuel all of Haven for months or even years. What we need is to increase the number of Evolvers so we can expand all the dimension pockets. Eventually, humanity will reach a point where those like us are normal. Only rarely would those unable to survive on Earth be born."
Jake felt a chill run down his spine, recalling some of the things Leru had told him about Haven. "You can't change the birth rate of Evolvers." Jake as much stated as asked.
"Not exactly true but not fully wrong." Xavier stood up again reading Jake's shift in attitude. "I know what they say about Haven and some of the things we have done." He paused to look Jake in the eye. "But I don't care. History can write me as a monster for all I care but we are achieving something here. Everyone just has to do their part. Those who can fight do so. Those who can't… help in other ways. Right Rose?" Jake glanced at Rose who just smiled brightly and agreed instantly.
"What have you achieved?" Jake asked almost afraid of the answer.
"You've heard how many Evolvers we have yes?" Jake nodded. "That is only active. We have almost a thousand Evolvers most of which are only about a year old." Jake blinked shocked.
"How?" He asked before he could think about the question.
"We have a scientist who specializes in biological engineering. She has been assisting in a breeding project. Once they are pregnant the women are exposed to low doses of the same radiation from Earth. Done in a controlled manner it can help increase the odds of an evolver being born. The rate of success is only a few percent better than normal but it is a start. True it is a bit of a crude method. But, Evolvers survive to birth, and the others… die. Rinse and repeat." Jake stared at him in horror. His mind ran numbers based on what Leru had told him previously.
"That is inhuman. There is no way these women are agreeing. You… your forcing…" Before Jake could finish he was cut off.
"No one is forcing anyone. They are given the option to participate or not." Xavier growled.
"And if they don't want to participate?" Jake asked.
"Everyone has a role to play. You either play your role or you find somewhere else to live." Xavier shrugged.
"So if they don't agree then you send them to other settlements?" Jake asked heasteantly.
Xavier looked at him and started to speak then closed his mouth. Then let out an angry breath. "If they can find one sure. If not we send them to Earth." He plopped down on the couch under Jake's accusatory glare. "Like I said. History can write me as a monster for all I care. But if they are doing it from a reclaimed Earth then that is fine by me." Xavier took the bottle from the table and drank straight from it. "You don't have to worry about any of that. Just come join Haven. None of those you bring will have to participate. You alone are worth more than all of them if they are right."
Jake had a hard time remembering what exactly he said then. But he knew it wasn't polite as he told him exactly what he thought of them. Out of breath and red-faced from screaming he ended up telling Xavier he wouldn't become a monster like them no matter what. Xavier was leaned back on the couch giving him a sour look. "Fine. You so sure about that, Demon?" Xavier gave him a cruel smile. "Being a monster isn't so bad. You will see."
**********
The boos and shouts of the crowd were drowned out again by the booming voice. "And who will face this dastardly demon? This murderer of heroes? This conquerer or towns? Why none other than one of the Heroes of Haven. The Maverick!" To a roar of cheers, Jake's first challenger entered. He strode in wearing tight leather pants and a poofy sleeved white shirt open at the chest. He flashed a brilliantly white smile and flicked back long golden hair. To Jake, he looked like the cover of a smutty romance novel. The bouquet of red roses in his hand only added to his image. Waving to the crowd he spun in a circle suddenly sending the crimson rose petals fluttering into the air. There seemed to be more than should have been possible until they filled the air around him and blanketed most of the area around him. Only when the last petal was gone did he toss the stems away and raise both hands to the crowd. Somehow the roar of the watchers managed to rise another notch.
Eventually, the booming voice cut through the cacophony of cheers. "It seems our local hero needs no further introduction. A fan favorite at every tournament he is well known to all. It should be an exhilarating match!"
His opponent finally stopped playing to the crowd and faced Jake. "Well then. You are to be my challenger? I was told you are a melee fighter. Poor you to have to face moi. Do you not even have armor or weapons? How pathetic are you?" Despite the fading noise Jake and apparently everyone else could hear him speak fine. As if his words heavy with an accent cut over the background noise in a manner similar to the announcer.
Jake opened his mouth to respond. Then closed it. He had nothing to say to these people. Instead, the living metal of his equipment burst violently from his flesh. It swirled and twirled around him before snapping into place. Slowly flexing his oversized clawed hands he rolled his neck. The shattered mirror look of his mask opened and closed that jagged mouth. His opponent just smiled a brilliant charming smile.
"He does seem to like to look the part does he not my fans?" Again, he turned to address the crowd that cheered for him in response. Turning back to face the Demon the Maverick smiled. His real name had once been Matt back before he became a celebrated hero. He smirked a confidant not needing to fake it.
'Xav warned me about this one but a melee fighter against me has no chance. My runic traps are already placed. Filling the ground and air around me with deadly explosive glyphs. Using the rose petals as a distraction to place them is borderline cheating but if he did not notice so much the worse for him. Other than the area directly around me this entire arena is now one giant death trap. I will show Xav we do not need any outside help to achieve our goals no matter what that insane woman says.' Maverick finished his inner dialog just as the announcer signaled for the fight to start.
They opened their mouth to taunt their enemy, but before a single word could be uttered darkness took them.
**********
For a short moment, the once noisy coliseum was perfectly silent. Everyone looked down frozen in shock and horror. The moment the fight had started the Demon had simply vanished. By the time even the most perceptive watcher found him again it was already over. One large hand had closed over Maverick's head crushing it while another hand had thrust its claws into his back. Bloody taloned fingers jutted from their chest soaking their pure white shirt crimson. Then the Maverick was gone leaving the Demon standing there with bloody hands.
"RECALL! MEDICAL TEAM!" The announcer's shrill voice cut through the silence. The audience seemed to emerge from their stupor but the racket they caused was far more subdued.
In the arena, Jake shook the blood from his gauntlets and marveled at how easy it had been. He had expected some sort of defensive ability, a barrier or armor. Nothing. The moment the fight had started he had rift jumped intent on catching them off guard. Forcing them to show their hand, but hadn't expected them to die… so easily.
The announcer was screaming that the Maverick was alive, that the safety recall had gone off in time. But that they were still in critical condition even with that. Jake turned to leave and paused suddenly. The air sizzled in front of him and he managed to stop just before triggering the trap. Only then did he realize what their plan had been. Before he could stop it a laugh bubbled up from within and spilled out. His voice under the same augmentation as the others filled the air. His mask deepened his voice causing his laugh to take on a sinister tone. Around him, all those watching grew quiet. Shaking his head at his luck he rift jumped free of the trap before leaving the arena floor unaware of the atmosphere of fear all around him.