Chapter 49: Entering the Arena
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Chapter 49: Entering the Arena
Jack awoke calmly. His eyes opened, taking in the foreign room.
What? he said before remembering where he was. Right The Integration Tournament. House 425.
He reached for his phone and turned off the alarm. There was still no signalall satellites had been lost when the System arrivedbut it was still useful for simple stuff like that. Then, he got up, realizing hed fallen asleep with his clothes on. Well, it was a long day. And I got my ass kicked by a smug robot.
He couldnt help grinning. The memory was fond. Hed pay that bastard back tenfold.
Look at that. Im in a nice mood today. A good omen.
His bedroom was spacious and decorated in light colors. There was an empty wardrobe, a king-sized bed, and two bed stands flanking it, each with its own lamp. There was also a set of shutters leading to the yard and a glass window on the roof, letting the morning sunlight stream in and fall on the wall opposite the bed.
He looked at his cellphone. 6 oclock.
Plenty of time.
With a light whistle, Jack got up and started his day. He visited the bathroom, which was disappointingly empty of high-tech Dao stuff. The only surprising thing was his face in the mirror, which he almost puncher on reflex; hed forgotten he was disguised and got spooked.
He then headed for the kitchenwhich was very sunny!and started opening cupboards at random. They were filled; every necessity was there, from salt to whiskey. He even had plenty of food ingredients, as well as pre-cooked steaks and breaded chicken fillets that only needed to be ovened.
He got sliced bread, honey, and a knife. He swept the honey on the bread, then practically inhaled the entire thing down. Not only was he starving, but between hunting, meditating, and everything he did on a regular basis, good food had been pushed down the list.The initial instance of this chapter being available happened at N0v3l.Bin.
Brock went for a block of ham and demolished it ravenously. He then grabbed his stomach and make upset monkey noises.
Jack laughed. "Eat slower, Brock," he said. "Everything good starts from a healthy and balanced diet."
Brock gave him the stink-eye.
"Let's go," Jack said.
He got up to leave, then thought better about it. He had been to conferences abroad and knew what he should do. Opening the fridge, he took a bunch of cheese, salami, and chocolate, as well as a sharp knife and a bunch of napkins. He even put on his spare jacket to have extra pockets.
Hehehe. He giggled at his own genius.
Finally, Jack placed his boots by the door and, after rummaging through cupboards for a bit, fished out a pair of green, soft flip-flops that were roughly his size. He nodded to himself; in the warm weather, these would be much comfier than his boots. He fought barefoot, anyway; no shoe could handle his stats.
Finally done with preparations, Jack wiggled his toes, triple-patted his pocketsfuturistic credit card, identification token, cellphonetold himself, Im ready, and opened his door.
Oh, thank God, Edgar exclaimed from outside the gate. I was afraid you'd oversleep!
Of course not. I'm a highly responsible person.
Edgar rolled his eyes. Jack smiled, walked to the gate, opened it, and shook Edgars hand.
"I have a question," Edgar said, looking down at Jack's feet. "Why the flip-flops?"
Jack wiggled his toes. "Why not?" he asked. "They're comfy."
"You can't fight in those."
"I fight barefoot."
"We're in a large, planet-wide tournament. There will be thousands of people watching you."
"I don't care. Boots are stuffy, and the weather is nice. If they have a problem with my attire, they can let me know."
Edgar tried to retaliate but found himself unable to. Instead, he simply shrugged in acceptance. With his flip-flops, tank top, and muscular physique, Jack looked every bit like a seaside surf instructor.
"Shall we?" Jack asked, and Edgar, helpless, followed him into the participants' district.
How are you feeling? he asked, hands shoved deep into his pockets and eyes flickering from side to side. Nervous for the tournament?
Not really. Jack laughed. Ill just beat everyone up.
Even me!?
Especially you.
That got a chuckle out of Edgar, who seemed to loosen up a bit. There were people around them, too. Like yesterday, Jack noticed that each and every one of them had the aura of a top-tier expert. He even thought he recognized a few faces.
Acclaimed professors, international business people, sport champions, high-ranking military officers. All sorts of people had used their edge to claw through the Systems arrival and come out on top.
Of course, these people were very few. Even if professional athletes had a hundred times higher chances to survive and thrive than a normal person, how many normal people were there to a professional athlete?
So, we belong to the territory of the Animal Kingdom? Edgar asked.
Obviously. The Animal Kingdom paid for the scanning of your astral area, so everything here belongs to them.
I dont like the sound of that. Jack frowned. We dont belong to anyone.
Of course, of course. Its a figure of speech. Lets just call them your overseers.
A small crowd had formed around them by now; other participants drawn in by Karvahuls words. As they had no guide of their own, they simply followed from close enough to overhear. Jack and Edgar didnt mind.
Conversation died down as they approached the arena. It loomed in the sky ahead of them like a stone giant.
The building resembled Romes colosseum, except twice as large. It was also made of stone, unlike everything else on this island-starship, giving it an air of antique savagery that the pleasant town lacked.
However, knowing how large something is and seeing it for yourself are two entirely different matters. Jack watched a pair of birds fly towards the arena. They kept growing smaller until they became little more than dots that vanished behind the colossal structure.
He gulped.
Dont go getting cold feet now, Karvahul said. Ive bet good money on you. I want you to give it your best.
Theres betting?
Of course. How else do you think people make money around here?
By scamming us.
You natives are piss-poor. Karvahul laughed before adding, No offense meant, of course.
None taken. At least we're tall.
Karvahul stared at Jack, who had a face of innocence.
In any case, the merchant continued, "I mean that yes, of course were making some money off the natives, like in any market, but the Merchant Union limits our profit margins in accordance with the Star Pact. Nobody will make a fortune selling experience balls here. The real money is in betting. After all, were experienced people, and the natives are nouveau-rich and clueless on System battles.
I see. So information merchants have an advantage.
Precisely.
They reached the arena. Hundred-foot-tall gates welcomed them, making them feel tiny. Stone arches decorated the outside of the arena, each housing giant stone sculptures of warriors, while columns thicker than rooms supported the entire building. The walls were made of stone, too, as were the stairs leading upward.
Of course, this was only one of the arenas two gates.
Entrance was free, apparently. However, there was also a little desk next to the stairs, where a djinn official hasted through paperwork while a small line of people awaited. They were all humans.
This is the registration desk, Karvahul said. Walk up, show your tokens, register, and lets go! We have to find good spots.
Sure. Jack and Edgar shrugged as they approached the line. It wasnt that long; only a woman with short black hair and an archer stood before them. Jack and Edgar obediently got in line.
Next! The djinn official shouted, and the woman walked forth.
Celin Sakula, she said in a Japanese accent. Dao of Cold.
The djinn quickly wrote down some stuff, then took her token and filled out a form. Meanwhile, Jack panicked. He turned and whispered to Edgar, We need to say our Dao!
I know! Edgar hissed back. This is terrible!
Jack was in disguise. If Gan Salin recognized him, it could spell trouble for both him and his faction back at home. However, this was already pushing it. The disguise potion had only changed his face, not his body shape. If his Dao was public as well, then Gan Salin could easily put two and two together.
Robin Von Arginhold, the archer said. He looked like a forest hunter. Dao of the Bow. The djinn started filling in the paperwork.
Jack was next in line. He looked around, but there were too many people watching. If he ran away now, they would know something was up, and suspicion would quickly blow his cover. Plus, even if he pretended to go to the toilet, it wouldnt help.
Could he lie about his Dao?
Karvahul, Jack said, waving the merchant over. He then whispered, Can I lie about my Dao?
Karvahuls eyes narrowed imperceptibly. If Jack wasnt paying attention, he would have missed it. Of course, he replied, acting nonchalant. "How would they check?"
Is the Dao of the Fist common?
Its quite rare.
"I see. So I need to find a different one. What do you think would fit me?"
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Chapter 49: Entering the Arena
Jack awoke calmly. His eyes opened, taking in the foreign room.
What? he said before remembering where he was. Right The Integration Tournament. House 425.
He reached for his phone and turned off the alarm. There was still no signalall satellites had been lost when the System arrivedbut it was still useful for simple stuff like that. Then, he got up, realizing hed fallen asleep with his clothes on. Well, it was a long day. And I got my ass kicked by a smug robot.
He couldnt help grinning. The memory was fond. Hed pay that bastard back tenfold.
Look at that. Im in a nice mood today. A good omen.
His bedroom was spacious and decorated in light colors. There was an empty wardrobe, a king-sized bed, and two bed stands flanking it, each with its own lamp. There was also a set of shutters leading to the yard and a glass window on the roof, letting the morning sunlight stream in and fall on the wall opposite the bed.
He looked at his cellphone. 6 oclock.
Plenty of time.
With a light whistle, Jack got up and started his day. He visited the bathroom, which was disappointingly empty of high-tech Dao stuff. The only surprising thing was his face in the mirror, which he almost puncher on reflex; hed forgotten he was disguised and got spooked.
He then headed for the kitchenwhich was very sunny!and started opening cupboards at random. They were filled; every necessity was there, from salt to whiskey. He even had plenty of food ingredients, as well as pre-cooked steaks and breaded chicken fillets that only needed to be ovened.
He got sliced bread, honey, and a knife. He swept the honey on the bread, then practically inhaled the entire thing down. Not only was he starving, but between hunting, meditating, and everything he did on a regular basis, good food had been pushed down the list.The initial instance of this chapter being available happened at N0v3l.Bin.
Brock went for a block of ham and demolished it ravenously. He then grabbed his stomach and make upset monkey noises.
Jack laughed. "Eat slower, Brock," he said. "Everything good starts from a healthy and balanced diet."
Brock gave him the stink-eye.
"Let's go," Jack said.
He got up to leave, then thought better about it. He had been to conferences abroad and knew what he should do. Opening the fridge, he took a bunch of cheese, salami, and chocolate, as well as a sharp knife and a bunch of napkins. He even put on his spare jacket to have extra pockets.
Hehehe. He giggled at his own genius.
Finally, Jack placed his boots by the door and, after rummaging through cupboards for a bit, fished out a pair of green, soft flip-flops that were roughly his size. He nodded to himself; in the warm weather, these would be much comfier than his boots. He fought barefoot, anyway; no shoe could handle his stats.
Finally done with preparations, Jack wiggled his toes, triple-patted his pocketsfuturistic credit card, identification token, cellphonetold himself, Im ready, and opened his door.
Oh, thank God, Edgar exclaimed from outside the gate. I was afraid you'd oversleep!
Of course not. I'm a highly responsible person.
Edgar rolled his eyes. Jack smiled, walked to the gate, opened it, and shook Edgars hand.
"I have a question," Edgar said, looking down at Jack's feet. "Why the flip-flops?"
Jack wiggled his toes. "Why not?" he asked. "They're comfy."
"You can't fight in those."
"I fight barefoot."
"We're in a large, planet-wide tournament. There will be thousands of people watching you."
"I don't care. Boots are stuffy, and the weather is nice. If they have a problem with my attire, they can let me know."
Edgar tried to retaliate but found himself unable to. Instead, he simply shrugged in acceptance. With his flip-flops, tank top, and muscular physique, Jack looked every bit like a seaside surf instructor.
"Shall we?" Jack asked, and Edgar, helpless, followed him into the participants' district.
How are you feeling? he asked, hands shoved deep into his pockets and eyes flickering from side to side. Nervous for the tournament?
Not really. Jack laughed. Ill just beat everyone up.
Even me!?
Especially you.
That got a chuckle out of Edgar, who seemed to loosen up a bit. There were people around them, too. Like yesterday, Jack noticed that each and every one of them had the aura of a top-tier expert. He even thought he recognized a few faces.
Acclaimed professors, international business people, sport champions, high-ranking military officers. All sorts of people had used their edge to claw through the Systems arrival and come out on top.
Of course, these people were very few. Even if professional athletes had a hundred times higher chances to survive and thrive than a normal person, how many normal people were there to a professional athlete?
So, we belong to the territory of the Animal Kingdom? Edgar asked.
Obviously. The Animal Kingdom paid for the scanning of your astral area, so everything here belongs to them.
I dont like the sound of that. Jack frowned. We dont belong to anyone.
Of course, of course. Its a figure of speech. Lets just call them your overseers.
A small crowd had formed around them by now; other participants drawn in by Karvahuls words. As they had no guide of their own, they simply followed from close enough to overhear. Jack and Edgar didnt mind.
Conversation died down as they approached the arena. It loomed in the sky ahead of them like a stone giant.
The building resembled Romes colosseum, except twice as large. It was also made of stone, unlike everything else on this island-starship, giving it an air of antique savagery that the pleasant town lacked.
However, knowing how large something is and seeing it for yourself are two entirely different matters. Jack watched a pair of birds fly towards the arena. They kept growing smaller until they became little more than dots that vanished behind the colossal structure.
He gulped.
Dont go getting cold feet now, Karvahul said. Ive bet good money on you. I want you to give it your best.
Theres betting?
Of course. How else do you think people make money around here?
By scamming us.
You natives are piss-poor. Karvahul laughed before adding, No offense meant, of course.
None taken. At least we're tall.
Karvahul stared at Jack, who had a face of innocence.
In any case, the merchant continued, "I mean that yes, of course were making some money off the natives, like in any market, but the Merchant Union limits our profit margins in accordance with the Star Pact. Nobody will make a fortune selling experience balls here. The real money is in betting. After all, were experienced people, and the natives are nouveau-rich and clueless on System battles.
I see. So information merchants have an advantage.
Precisely.
They reached the arena. Hundred-foot-tall gates welcomed them, making them feel tiny. Stone arches decorated the outside of the arena, each housing giant stone sculptures of warriors, while columns thicker than rooms supported the entire building. The walls were made of stone, too, as were the stairs leading upward.
Of course, this was only one of the arenas two gates.
Entrance was free, apparently. However, there was also a little desk next to the stairs, where a djinn official hasted through paperwork while a small line of people awaited. They were all humans.
This is the registration desk, Karvahul said. Walk up, show your tokens, register, and lets go! We have to find good spots.
Sure. Jack and Edgar shrugged as they approached the line. It wasnt that long; only a woman with short black hair and an archer stood before them. Jack and Edgar obediently got in line.
Next! The djinn official shouted, and the woman walked forth.
Celin Sakula, she said in a Japanese accent. Dao of Cold.
The djinn quickly wrote down some stuff, then took her token and filled out a form. Meanwhile, Jack panicked. He turned and whispered to Edgar, We need to say our Dao!
I know! Edgar hissed back. This is terrible!
Jack was in disguise. If Gan Salin recognized him, it could spell trouble for both him and his faction back at home. However, this was already pushing it. The disguise potion had only changed his face, not his body shape. If his Dao was public as well, then Gan Salin could easily put two and two together.
Robin Von Arginhold, the archer said. He looked like a forest hunter. Dao of the Bow. The djinn started filling in the paperwork.
Jack was next in line. He looked around, but there were too many people watching. If he ran away now, they would know something was up, and suspicion would quickly blow his cover. Plus, even if he pretended to go to the toilet, it wouldnt help.
Could he lie about his Dao?
Karvahul, Jack said, waving the merchant over. He then whispered, Can I lie about my Dao?
Karvahuls eyes narrowed imperceptibly. If Jack wasnt paying attention, he would have missed it. Of course, he replied, acting nonchalant. "How would they check?"
Is the Dao of the Fist common?
Its quite rare.
"I see. So I need to find a different one. What do you think would fit me?"
Chapter 49: Entering the ArenaJack awoke calmly. His eyes opened, taking in the foreign room.What? he said before remembering where he was. Right The Integration Tournament. House 425.He reached for his phone and turned off the alarm. There was still no signalall satellites had been lost when the System arrivedbut it was still useful for simple stuff like that. Then, he got up, realizing hed fallen asleep with his clothes on. Well, it was a long day. And I got my ass kicked by a smug robot.He couldnt help grinning. The memory was fond. Hed pay that bastard back tenfold.Look at that. Im in a nice mood today. A good omen.His bedroom was spacious and decorated in light colors. There was an empty wardrobe, a king-sized bed, and two bed stands flanking it, each with its own lamp. There was also a set of shutters leading to the yard and a glass window on the roof, letting the morning sunlight stream in and fall on the wall opposite the bed.He looked at his cellphone. 6 oclock.Plenty of time.With a light whistle, Jack got up and started his day. He visited the bathroom, which was disappointingly empty of high-tech Dao stuff. The only surprising thing was his face in the mirror, which he almost puncher on reflex; hed forgotten he was disguised and got spooked.He then headed for the kitchenwhich was very sunny!and started opening cupboards at random. They were filled; every necessity was there, from salt to whiskey. He even had plenty of food ingredients, as well as pre-cooked steaks and breaded chicken fillets that only needed to be ovened.He got sliced bread, honey, and a knife. He swept the honey on the bread, then practically inhaled the entire thing down. Not only was he starving, but between hunting, meditating, and everything he did on a regular basis, good food had been pushed down the list.The initial instance of this chapter being available happened at N0v3l.Bin.Brock went for a block of ham and demolished it ravenously. He then grabbed his stomach and make upset monkey noises.Jack laughed. "Eat slower, Brock," he said. "Everything good starts from a healthy and balanced diet."Brock gave him the stink-eye."Let's go," Jack said.He got up to leave, then thought better about it. He had been to conferences abroad and knew what he should do. Opening the fridge, he took a bunch of cheese, salami, and chocolate, as well as a sharp knife and a bunch of napkins. He even put on his spare jacket to have extra pockets.Hehehe. He giggled at his own genius.Finally, Jack placed his boots by the door and, after rummaging through cupboards for a bit, fished out a pair of green, soft flip-flops that were roughly his size. He nodded to himself; in the warm weather, these would be much comfier than his boots. He fought barefoot, anyway; no shoe could handle his stats.Finally done with preparations, Jack wiggled his toes, triple-patted his pocketsfuturistic credit card, identification token, cellphonetold himself, Im ready, and opened his door.Oh, thank God, Edgar exclaimed from outside the gate. I was afraid you'd oversleep!Of course not. I'm a highly responsible person.Edgar rolled his eyes. Jack smiled, walked to the gate, opened it, and shook Edgars hand."I have a question," Edgar said, looking down at Jack's feet. "Why the flip-flops?"Jack wiggled his toes. "Why not?" he asked. "They're comfy.""You can't fight in those.""I fight barefoot.""We're in a large, planet-wide tournament. There will be thousands of people watching you.""I don't care. Boots are stuffy, and the weather is nice. If they have a problem with my attire, they can let me know."Edgar tried to retaliate but found himself unable to. Instead, he simply shrugged in acceptance. With his flip-flops, tank top, and muscular physique, Jack looked every bit like a seaside surf instructor."Shall we?" Jack asked, and Edgar, helpless, followed him into the participants' district.How are you feeling? he asked, hands shoved deep into his pockets and eyes flickering from side to side. Nervous for the tournament?Not really. Jack laughed. Ill just beat everyone up.Even me!?Especially you.That got a chuckle out of Edgar, who seemed to loosen up a bit. There were people around them, too. Like yesterday, Jack noticed that each and every one of them had the aura of a top-tier expert. He even thought he recognized a few faces.Acclaimed professors, international business people, sport champions, high-ranking military officers. All sorts of people had used their edge to claw through the Systems arrival and come out on top.Of course, these people were very few. Even if professional athletes had a hundred times higher chances to survive and thrive than a normal person, how many normal people were there to a professional athlete?So, we belong to the territory of the Animal Kingdom? Edgar asked.Obviously. The Animal Kingdom paid for the scanning of your astral area, so everything here belongs to them.I dont like the sound of that. Jack frowned. We dont belong to anyone.Of course, of course. Its a figure of speech. Lets just call them your overseers.A small crowd had formed around them by now; other participants drawn in by Karvahuls words. As they had no guide of their own, they simply followed from close enough to overhear. Jack and Edgar didnt mind.Conversation died down as they approached the arena. It loomed in the sky ahead of them like a stone giant.The building resembled Romes colosseum, except twice as large. It was also made of stone, unlike everything else on this island-starship, giving it an air of antique savagery that the pleasant town lacked.However, knowing how large something is and seeing it for yourself are two entirely different matters. Jack watched a pair of birds fly towards the arena. They kept growing smaller until they became little more than dots that vanished behind the colossal structure.He gulped.Dont go getting cold feet now, Karvahul said. Ive bet good money on you. I want you to give it your best.Theres betting?Of course. How else do you think people make money around here?By scamming us.You natives are piss-poor. Karvahul laughed before adding, No offense meant, of course.None taken. At least we're tall.Karvahul stared at Jack, who had a face of innocence.In any case, the merchant continued, "I mean that yes, of course were making some money off the natives, like in any market, but the Merchant Union limits our profit margins in accordance with the Star Pact. Nobody will make a fortune selling experience balls here. The real money is in betting. After all, were experienced people, and the natives are nouveau-rich and clueless on System battles.I see. So information merchants have an advantage.Precisely.They reached the arena. Hundred-foot-tall gates welcomed them, making them feel tiny. Stone arches decorated the outside of the arena, each housing giant stone sculptures of warriors, while columns thicker than rooms supported the entire building. The walls were made of stone, too, as were the stairs leading upward.Of course, this was only one of the arenas two gates.Entrance was free, apparently. However, there was also a little desk next to the stairs, where a djinn official hasted through paperwork while a small line of people awaited. They were all humans.This is the registration desk, Karvahul said. Walk up, show your tokens, register, and lets go! We have to find good spots.Sure. Jack and Edgar shrugged as they approached the line. It wasnt that long; only a woman with short black hair and an archer stood before them. Jack and Edgar obediently got in line.Next! The djinn official shouted, and the woman walked forth.Celin Sakula, she said in a Japanese accent. Dao of Cold.The djinn quickly wrote down some stuff, then took her token and filled out a form. Meanwhile, Jack panicked. He turned and whispered to Edgar, We need to say our Dao!I know! Edgar hissed back. This is terrible!Jack was in disguise. If Gan Salin recognized him, it could spell trouble for both him and his faction back at home. However, this was already pushing it. The disguise potion had only changed his face, not his body shape. If his Dao was public as well, then Gan Salin could easily put two and two together.Robin Von Arginhold, the archer said. He looked like a forest hunter. Dao of the Bow. The djinn started filling in the paperwork.Jack was next in line. He looked around, but there were too many people watching. If he ran away now, they would know something was up, and suspicion would quickly blow his cover. Plus, even if he pretended to go to the toilet, it wouldnt help.Could he lie about his Dao?Karvahul, Jack said, waving the merchant over. He then whispered, Can I lie about my Dao?Karvahuls eyes narrowed imperceptibly. If Jack wasnt paying attention, he would have missed it. Of course, he replied, acting nonchalant. "How would they check?"Is the Dao of the Fist common?Its quite rare."I see. So I need to find a different one. What do you think would fit me?"
