Elijah's eyes were blinded by the harsh light as he woke from his slumber. Blinking rapidly to adjust, he noticed the air was fresh and crisp, without any distinct smells. The only thing with a scent was his own body and clothes, musty from sleep.
Standing up, he took in the view of the small, sparsely furnished room. It contained only two beds, one of which was occupied by Kai, who was deeply engrossed in a book.
The walls of the room were a dull gray, devoid of any decoration, and the ceiling had faint water stains, a testament to the building's age.
The floor was bare, cold concrete, and the single window was covered with heavy curtains that did little to block out the glaring light.
Strangely, Elijah felt no pain as he stared at his right hand, which had previously been injured but was now fully healed. The skin was smooth, without a scar, and he felt a surge of strength he hadn't known before.
He flexed his fingers, marveling at the newfound power coursing through him. Ignoring the oddity, he headed for the small bathroom, where a shower awaited.
The bathroom was just as plain as the rest of the room, with cracked tiles and a mirror that was cloudy with age. The shower head dripped steadily, a rhythmic reminder of the poor maintenance.
Elijah stepped under the lukewarm spray, letting the water wash away the grime and fatigue. As he scrubbed, he tried to piece together the events that had led him here.
Sometime later
Elijah emerged from the shower, feeling refreshed and invigorated. His hair was damp, and droplets of water glistened on his skin.
He grabbed a threadbare towel and dried off, then pulled on some clean clothes he found in a small chest at the foot of his bed. As he dressed, he noticed Kai was still deeply engrossed in his book, the pages rustling softly as he turned them.
Elijah smiled and walked over, sitting on the edge of the bed. "What happened?" he asked, breaking the silence.
Kai looked up, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "We won our matches, so we don't need to stay at that dreadful place anymore. But, unfortunately, we're still forced to fight for them," he explained, pointing at Elijah's hand.
On his left hand was a tattoo shaped like a triangle with a dot in the center, now starkly visible against his healed skin.
"Can you explain more about this?" Elijah asked, staring curiously at the tattoo, his brow furrowed in confusion.
Kai sighed and closed his book, setting it aside. "A forced contract is a binding agreement where your free will is taken away. You either follow the terms or face death. That's what a forced mana contract is," he explained, his voice heavy with resignation.
Elijah, mostly half-naked with his well-built body on display, asked, "What are the terms?"
"Simple: we just have to fight a match every single week." Kai shrugged, his expression weary. "We're mostly free, but we have to fight to survive."
"Huh... So, when is our next fight?" Elijah asked, his eyes gleaming with curiosity and excitement.
Sighing, Kai stood up and stared into his eyes, "The people we've faced so far can't compare to the ranked fighters. Don't just jump into it without thinking," he warned.
"They're really more powerful?" Elijah's eyes lit up with excitement, his body thrumming with anticipation.
"Are those the only words you heard?" Kai showed a confused expression. 'Why is he so calm about this? We could die; doesn't he know that?' he wondered, seeing Elijah's excited expression.
"We have two weeks off, so we don't have to fight for now, and..." Kai trailed off, hearing Elijah murmuring to himself.
"They're even more powerful? I'm getting excited," Elijah shouted, raising his hands in triumph. Suddenly, his stomach rumbled loudly. "I'm starving."
Kai sighed deeply, "Get dressed."
Elijah and Kai were provided with a place to stay in one of the domes, but no food or services. They had to fend for themselves. The dome was a massive structure, towering over the city with its steel and glass exterior.
Inside, it was a labyrinth of corridors and rooms, each identical to the last, creating a sense of disorientation and confinement.
Without money, their only option was to hunt the beasts below. The floating, lawless city was perched above an island teeming with creatures, ranging from E rank to B rank.
The island itself was a lush, verdant jungle, with thick foliage and towering trees that created a dense canopy overhead. The ground was littered with fallen leaves and branches, and the air was filled with the sounds of wildlife.
That option seemed out of reach for the two, who weren't strong enough to defeat an E rank beast alone or even together, according to Kai's analysis.
But Elijah had another logic. "We can do it, I must have meat," Elijah shouted as they walked along the winding streets of the dome.
Sighing, Kai said, "You're going to get us killed."
"But what other choices do we have?" Elijah retorted. "Anyway, have you considered it?"
"Considered what?" Kai inquired, imagining his death at the hands of some monstrous creature.
"My proposal," Elijah answered, staring around the city in amazement at the technological advancements compared to the previous city he'd been to.
The city was a bustling metropolis, with towering skyscrapers and neon lights that bathed the streets in a kaleidoscope of colors. People hurried to and fro, each absorbed in their own business, creating a constant hum of activity.
"Oh, yeah." Kai stopped, and Elijah stopped as well, both staring at the area filled with food stalls. The aroma of various dishes wafted through the air, making Elijah's stomach growl even louder. Kai's tone turned serious.
"Elijah," he said, causing Elijah to stop messing around.
"I want to become the greatest swordsman, even if I have to sacrifice everything for that goal," Kai declared, staring deep into Elijah's eyes.
Elijah smiled, a warm, genuine smile that reached his eyes. "I wouldn't ask for anything more than the greatest swordsman, and I won't let your journey end before that," he answered and laughed, moving forward, gazing at the diners and stalls around them.
The stalls were a riot of colors, each vendor shouting out their wares, from exotic fruits to steaming bowls of noodles. The smells were intoxicating, and Elijah felt his mouth water.
'Huff... what am I doing?' Kai asked himself as he moved forward. The city was alive with energy, and despite the uncertainty of their future, a small spark of hope ignited within him.