Elias concludes his shift at eight o'clock, after which he ensures all resources are securely stored in the storage room and locks the door. He proceeds directly to the office, where he signs the chart next to the time, indicating his departure at precisely eight o'clock.
As his part-time coworkers leave, Elias remains the only one in the building, apart from the regular staff, taking the time to double-check the completion of their assigned tasks.
After changing out of his work attire, Elias makes his way to the rear of the building, exiting through a basement passage that leads to the sewer system.
Though not a secret, the sewer serves as a discreet route to other industrial buildings managed by the same company.
After a considerable time, Elias emerges from a ladder that leads to the outskirts of the city.
Upon arriving, Elias encountered Victor, who greeted him with a wide smile.
"I knew you'd show up. What changed your mind?" Victor asked eagerly.
"Nothing," Elias responded with a hint of nonchalance.
After some time spent chatting, Victor took the lead and guided Elias through the gate, turning onto Larkspur Street toward a clothing store frequented by nobles.
As they approached the establishment, the cashier, assuming they were beggars, attempted to lock the door. However, upon recognizing Victor and Elias, he immediately relaxed.
"I thought this would be a difficult night, thank goodness," he remarked, unlocking the door.
"Good evening, Dan!" Victor called out cheerfully.
"Best of luck to both of you," Dan said, casting a brief glance at Elias with a smile.
Victor then proceeded toward one of the fitting rooms at the end of the hallway, with Elias following close behind. Once inside, he closed the door.
Victor knocked on the mirror in a specific pattern and began speaking.
"Remember last time? All you need to do is entertain them, alright?" he instructed Elias.
After a brief moment, the room seemed to shift, rotating 180 degrees. What appeared before them was no longer a simple fitting room, but a vibrant nightclub-like setting.
The underground arena was vast, so grand that it gave the impression of not being underground at all, but rather a mansion managed by an enthusiast of historical architecture.
The ceiling was sufficiently high to suggest the presence of a second floor, an observation room designed for noble figures, attached to the wall and offering a clear view of three expansive arenas. Each arena was protected by both physical and magical shields, capable of deflecting attacks from up to a fourth-grade specialist.
As Elias followed Victor through the bustling arena, his eyes wandered toward the observation room. It was filled with nobles and renowned figures, all appearing thoroughly engrossed in the spectacle unfolding below. Their laughter and applause reverberated through the space, adding to the lively atmosphere.
In one of the arenas, a young woman who seemed to be in her early twenties faced off against a bald man in his late twenties. The crowd's cheers grew louder with every move the combatants made.
Victor glanced at Elias and leaned closer. "Do you want to watch for a bit? I'll handle your registration. You can head to the audience area in the meantime," he offered.
The roaring crowd drowned out Victor's words, but Elias got the gist. He patted Victor on the shoulder in acknowledgment and made his way toward the audience area, eager to get a closer look at the action.
As Elias observed more closely, he noticed the bald man wielding a double scythe, one in each hand, expertly spinning and slashing with precision. Opposing him, the young woman was armed with a specialized firearm powered by aether. The bullets, tailored to her abilities, erupted as bursts of fire each time she pulled the trigger.
However, her advantage was tempered by the fact that her opponent's specialty was also fire. With each swing of his scythe, the bald man channeled flames, unleashing waves of fire through the air, creating a spectacular yet perilous battlefield.
'Fire versus fire,' Elias mused, a metaphorical thought crossing his mind. 'Let's see who's more willing to get burned.' As the battle intensified, he couldn't help but anticipate who would emerge victorious.
More and more people from other arena are gathering to a particular space as the two fire specialists are showing them great fight.
Slash after slash, shot after shot—neither combatant showed any signs of exhaustion. Their unwavering focus created an electric tension that gripped the entire underground establishment. The crowd, previously roaring, had fallen completely silent, holding their breath in anticipation of the victor.
Victor, puzzled by the intense atmosphere, glanced around for Elias. Deciding to satisfy his thirst first, he made his way to the bar.
"Hey, do you have any non-alcoholic drinks?" he asked casually.
"Quiet," the old bartender snapped, his eyes locked in the arena, captivated by the battle unfolding before them.
Unaware of the spectacle happening behind him, Victor sat down with his back to the arena. As he settled in, the silence was abruptly shattered by an eruption of deafening cheers from the audience.
"YEAH!!"
"THAT'S HOW YOU DO IT!"
"MORE!"
The crowd's fervent excitement filled the air, leaving Victor confused and slightly annoyed. He had completely missed the moment that had everyone else on the edge of their seats.
As the crowd dispersed, Victor finally spotted Elias, who was still gazing at the arena, seemingly lost in thought. Approaching him, Victor asked, "What happened here?"
Elias, without taking his eyes off the arena, replayed the incredible scene in his mind. The bald man, possessing formidable physical strength, was resilient but vulnerable to swift, precise attacks. On the other hand, the woman, agile and light on her feet, relied on her stamina and speed—though her relentless movements were clearly wearing her down.
The decisive moment came when the woman zigzagged toward her opponent, skillfully dodging his horizontal and vertical slashes. Just as she closed the gap to within three meters, she gathered momentum and leaped into the air. Anticipating her move, the bald man revealed his trump card: his scythes could combine into a circular blade of fire.
As the woman soared above him, he smirked and taunted, "There's nowhere to run now." With a powerful circular motion, he unleashed a fiery vortex, a spinning wall of flame intent on engulfing her.
But the woman remained calm. Mid-air, she raised both guns, positioning them side by side, and unleashing a continuous torrent of fire, mimicking a flamethrower. Her movements caused her to spin, creating a mesmerizing spectacle as her flames clashed with the bald man's fiery vortex. To the audience, it appeared as if a fiery dragon was dancing in the air, while she descended toward her opponent.
The arena was engulfed in flames, yet not a trace of heat escaped its boundaries, thanks to the protective enchantments of the arena's shields. The crowd held its collective breath, watching intently as the fire and smoke began to clear.
When the haze lifted, a small figure emerged, standing triumphantly atop her fallen opponent. The woman had claimed victory.
The audience erupted into cheers, chanting her name with fervor: "Mathilda! Mathilda!"
Elias, still processing what he had just witnessed, couldn't help but admire her boldness and ingenuity. 'Figures—she's not afraid to burn,' he thought with a faint smile.