Elijah woke up to find himself sitting in a cell with a wet floor, which confused him. The unpleasant smell made him angry that someone would just throw him in this water.
Looking around the cell, he noticed a young boy about his age with blonde hair and golden eyes that made him devilishly handsome. The boy held a sword and sat there, seemingly waiting for something.
"What happened?" Elijah wondered aloud, still confused as he surveyed his surroundings.
"You're in the gladiator death zone," the young man answered, gripping his sword while also sitting on the wet floor.
"What's a gladiator?" Elijah asked, feeling he had heard the word before but couldn't quite remember.
The boy sighed. "It's a place where people fight each other to the death. Simple as that," he replied mockingly, but Elijah didn't mind. He continued to look around, trying to remember how he ended up here.
The Past
Elijah had just finished showering after returning from the beach resort, his thoughts wandering over the events of the past few months. His training had been interrupted when the realm opened in the lawless city, as Ava mentioned that young masters and misses were entering that realm.
Elijah's growth wasn't just in power but also in physical stature, becoming even more refined and dignified. Yet, his thirst for vengeance hadn't faded, leaving his heart in turmoil knowing that the man he sought still lived.
Deep within, a sealed demon raged, governing his thoughts throughout his months of training and struggling to suppress it.
After his bath, Miss Amy awaited with his clothes. As she left, he thought, "This agitation is annoying," a devilish smile forming on his face. "But I'm still not strong enough to eliminate the Slash Faction," he sighed, disappointed.
Dressed, he entered the dining hall where Miss Amy and Ava awaited his arrival. Pushing aside his thoughts, he anxiously awaited the food. Ava, with her ever-present smile, remarked, "Our training wasn't useless."
"Yes, I couldn't even control my power when I removed the training suit," he replied as Amy waved her hand, and the food appeared before them.
"Is that so." Ava paused before continuing, "As you know, the Mana Xinna realm has opened. It's a treasure trove for young masters and misses. Even the Three of Seven Miracles are entering it." Elijah's interest peaked at the mention of the Seven Miracles.
Seeing this, Ava added, "But you won't be entering that realm, Elijah."
Elijah stared at her, confused. "Why?"
"After the realm opens for three months, every young master and miss of their respective households will be given a task to complete," she explained.
"Until that time comes, you will be entering the gladiator death matches continuously," she stated bluntly.
"But why?" he asked, stuffing his face with food.
"Because you lack combat experience, and the realm won't benefit you, at least not yet," she explained further, waiting for his response.
Considering her words, he nodded. "Okay then. I trust you, Ava." He drank some water and asked, "When do I depart?"
"After your meal," she replied.
Elijah remembered the moment clearly. The dining hall was filled with the aroma of freshly prepared food, a stark contrast to the dank cell he now found himself in.
Ava, the ever-strategic mind, saw potential in Elijah that he himself was often blind to. Her decision to send him to the gladiator matches wasn't just for combat experience; it was to harden his resolve, to make him face his inner demons head-on.
She knew that only by confronting his fears and weaknesses in the most brutal environment could he emerge as the leader they needed.
The Present
"Oh... that's what happened," Elijah laughed, confusing the young man before him. Despite the impending risk to his life in the gladiator matches, the harsh conditions, and the terrible smell, Elijah smiled.
The young man was puzzled but chose to ignore him and closed his eyes. Elijah did the same, increasing the volume of his chi. With the training suit at level 2, his power was significantly weakened to that of an ordinary human.
Elijah's mind drifted as he meditated, recalling the intense training sessions with Ava and the moments of clarity he had under her tutelage.
She had taught him not just to fight but to think, to strategize, and to understand his opponents. Her lessons were etched into his mind, becoming second nature to him.
After some time of cultivating, Elijah sensed someone approaching the cell. Opening his eyes slightly, he saw a tall man in his thirties with an axe by his side. The man's eyes showed taunting, mocking, and pity as he looked at them, sword in hand.
"Your match is up. Stand up and let's go," the man commanded. From his aura, he had reached (C-) rank. Knowing resistance was futile, the boy stood up and left the cell, glancing at Elijah before leaving.
"Good luck," Elijah called out, making the boy smile a little.
The cell door clanged shut behind the boy, and Elijah was left alone with his thoughts. He stood up and stretched, feeling the constraints of the training suit.
It was designed to limit his abilities, to force him to rely on skill rather than raw power. He knew that once he mastered fighting in this suit, he would be unstoppable without it.