Chapter 200: Bonus chapter (Magic castle reward)

As Shadow and Whisper led them deeper into the bowels of The Rusty Nail, Zafron couldn't shake the feeling that they were being backed into a corner. The twins' earlier friendliness had given way to a sharp-edged practicality that set his teeth on edge.'They're playing us,' he thought, exchanging a quick glance with Matilda. 'But for what?'

Shadow leaned against a makeshift table, her glowing eyes fixed on Zafron. "Let's cut the crap, shall we? You want to survive down here? You need to understand one thing: nothing comes for free."

Whisper nodded, a predatory grin spreading across her face. "Everything in the Undercity is either taken or earned. And right now, you two don't have the rep to take anything without losing your heads."

Matilda bristled, her noble upbringing shining through despite their predicament. "Are you threatening us? After you promised safe passage?"

'Easy,' Zafron thought, placing a calming hand on her arm. 'Let's see where this goes.'

Shadow laughed, a harsh sound devoid of humor. "Promises? Oh, princess, you really are new here. Promises are just pretty words. Down here, the only currency that matters is power."

"And units," Whisper added with a smirk. "Can't forget those lovely little crystals."

Zafron stepped forward, his voice calm despite the tension thrumming through his body. "Alright, so we need to earn our keep. What are you proposing?"

The twins exchanged a look, and Zafron felt his stomach drop. Whatever was coming, he had a feeling he wasn't going to like it.

"Here's the deal," Shadow said, her tone all business now. "The air down here? It's not as bad as up top, but it'll still kill you. Slowly, painfully. Everyone needs a mask to survive long-term."

Whisper tapped her own mask meaningfully. "And we're not giving up ours. But..." She paused dramatically. "We might be persuaded to help you get your own."

Matilda's eyes narrowed. "I thought you said nothing comes for free. What's the catch?"

'Good girl,' Zafron thought, a surge of pride cutting through his apprehension. 'Keep them talking.'

Shadow's grin widened. "Smart cookie, this one. The catch, my dear new friends, is that you'll have to earn it. And lucky for you, we know just the place for newcomers looking to make a quick score."

A feeling of dread settled in Zafron's gut. "Why do I have a feeling I'm not going to like this?"

Whisper clapped him on the shoulder, her grip uncomfortably strong. "Oh, come on, pretty boy. Where's your sense of adventure? We're talking about the one place in the Undercity where anyone can become a legend overnight."

"Or a corpse," Shadow added helpfully.

Matilda's patience, already worn thin, finally snapped. "Enough games. Where exactly are you sending us?"

The twins spoke in perfect unison, their voices dripping with a mixture of excitement and malice:

"The Fight Pit!"

A heavy silence fell over the room. Zafron's mind raced, piecing together the implications. 'A fighting arena. Of course. What else would you expect in a prison full of the worst criminals in the Empire?'

He glanced at Matilda, saw the worry etched on her face despite her attempts to hide it. She met his gaze, and a silent conversation passed between them.

'We don't have a choice, do we?' her eyes seemed to say.

Zafron gave an almost imperceptible nod. 'No, but we'll figure this out. Together.'

Aloud, he said, "Alright, let's say we're interested in this... Fight Pit. What exactly would we be getting ourselves into?"

Shadow's eyes gleamed with an unsettling enthusiasm. "Oh, it's simple really. You fight, you win, you earn units. Enough units, and you can buy yourself a nice, shiny mask. Maybe even some food and a place to sleep if you're really good."

"And if we lose?" Matilda asked, her voice steady despite the circumstances.

Whisper shrugged. "Then you better hope your opponent is feeling merciful. Or that you can afford the local medic's fees."

Zafron felt a chill run down his spine. The casual way they spoke of violence and death was a stark reminder of just how dangerous this place was.

'But we've faced worse,' he reminded himself. 'We survived the Enforcers, we'll survive this.'

He straightened his shoulders, meeting the twins' gaze with a confidence he didn't entirely feel. "When do we start?"

Shadow's grin was all teeth. "That's the spirit! The next round of fights starts in an hour. Just enough time to get you prepped and placed in the lineup."

As the twins led them out of the room, chattering excitedly about odds and potential matchups, Zafron felt Matilda's hand slip into his. He gave it a reassuring squeeze.

The walk to the Fight Pit was a blur of narrow alleys and suspicious glances from passersby. Zafron tried to memorize the route, but the twisting passages of the Undercity soon had him thoroughly disoriented.

Finally, they emerged into a vast cavern, easily three times the size of the market square they'd passed earlier. At its center stood a massive structure that could only be the arena, its walls a patchwork of scavenged metal and glowing crystal.

The roar of the crowd hit them like a physical force, a wall of sound that made Zafron's ears ring. The air was thick with the smell of sweat, blood, and something else he couldn't quite identify.

As they approached the entrance, Zafron felt a mix of dread and anticipation building in his chest. He'd been in fights before, but never like this. Never with so much at stake. He was fighting for literal ...air!!

'Just stay alive,' he told himself. 'That's all that matters. Stay alive and keep Matilda safe.'

Shadow turned to them, her eyes gleaming with an almost manic excitement. "Well, lovebirds, this is where we part ways. For now."

Whisper nodded, already scanning the crowd. "We'll be placing our bets. Don't disappoint us, pretty boy."

As the twins melted into the throng, Zafron and Matilda found themselves alone in a sea of hardened criminals and desperate souls.

Matilda leaned in close, her voice barely audible over the din. "Zafron, are you sure about this? There has to be another way."

He met her gaze, saw the concern there, and managed a small smile. "Probably. But right now, this is our best shot at staying alive and figuring out what's really going on here."

She nodded, her expression hardening into one of determination. "Just... be careful in there. I can't lose you too."

The raw emotion in her voice caught him off guard. Before he could respond, a burly man with more scars than unmarked skin appeared before them. S~eaʀᴄh the Novёlƒire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

"You the new meat?" he growled. Without waiting for an answer, he jerked his thumb towards a side entrance. "Fighter's that way. Hurry up, you're on in ten."

As Zafron moved to follow, Matilda caught his arm. "Zafron, wait."

He turned, and suddenly she was pulling him close, pressing her lips to his in a fierce, desperate kiss.

When they broke apart, both slightly breathless, Matilda's eyes were blazing with raw emotions. "That's for luck. Now go show these criminals what a real fighter can do."

Zafron grinned, feeling a surge of confidence despite the circumstances. "Yes, ma'am."

But as he walked away, he couldn't help managed a quick remark 'That woman will be the death of me,' with a small smile attached to the side of his face. One could tell he wasn't even trying to avoid the prospects of that happening.

As he made his way towards the fighter's entrance, the roar of the crowd growing ever louder, Zafron couldn't help but feel a thrill of excitement cutting through his apprehension.

'Alright, Wasteland,' he thought, cracking his knuckles. 'Let's see what you've got.'