A loud, crackling sound echoed throughout the colosseum as a speaker came to life.
"Ahem. Attention, everyone! We have an opening match tonight!"
The announcer's voice boomed through the arena.
"A new fighter enters the ring under the name 'Unmarked'! They will be challenging 'Siren'! This one's bound to be exciting—come one, come all, and prepare for a slaughterfest!
The city erupted.
Footsteps thundered through the streets as crowds surged toward the colosseum. Murmurs turned to cheers, cheers to screams of excitement. The mere mention of an Unmarked fighter set the masses ablaze.
"I can't wait for Siren to kill the Unmarked!"
"All Unmarked should die!"
"They should skin them alive!"
The hatred in their voices only fueled Roako further.
Excitement boiled in his chest, a hunger for strength twisting into a sharp smile. A real fight. A chance to grow stronger. The thought alone sent a thrill through him.
"Finally," Roako muttered, punching his fists together as he stretched. "It's time."
As he neared the colosseum, Kathy raised a hand, flagging him down. She pointed toward an opening beneath the structure.
"Enter through there and take a left. There's spare equipment inside if you need anything." Her voice was calm and professional. Then she leaned closer and whispered, "I wish you luck."
She turned back to her duties, guiding confused spectators as Roako headed underground.
The underpass buzzed with tension. Roako recognized a few faces as he moved forward.
At one table sat Kryi, locked in heated discussion with four others—raised voices, fists slamming wood. Across from her sat Jackson, steam hissing from his nostrils. Perched atop his shoulder was Peli, blue hair swaying as she watched with keen interest.
Every figure at the table radiated power.
Roako glanced their way only briefly before continuing.
A guard eyed him sharply as he passed, his expression darkening.
Beyond the guard, a wall of weapons came into view. Basic, but clean and well-maintained. Along the side rested spare armor sets of varying sizes and weights.
After a moment's consideration, Roako equipped a pair of iron gauntlets and a suit of lightweight leather armor.
He flexed his fingers, forming a fist.
His finger glowed white as he activated his Contract. The gauntlets followed, a fiery marking etching itself into the metal. Heat pulsed outward as the iron glowed red.
Roako smiled.
Power surged through him.
He had taken another step toward his goal.
Above, the crowd roared as the announcer's voice returned.
"Are you all excited for tonight's match?!"
The cheers exploded.
"Then let's not waste any time! Tonight, we have Siren, a rising star, facing off against the unknown newcomer, Unmarked! Prepare yourselves!"
A guard approached Roako, his voice low and sharp. "You're up in two minutes. Be ready."
Roako ignored the man's glare and continued stretching, confidence radiating from him.
The moment had finally arrived.
The announcer's voice rang out once more as the arena erupted.
"In the right corner of the ring... the quick... the deadly... and the beautiful... SIREN enters to display her strength!"
The cheers shook the colosseum.
The lights dimmed.
Silence rippled throughout the stadium, anticipation tightening like a drawn string.
Tap.
A single heel clicked the ground, striking stone.
From the opposite tunnel, Siren emerged into the light.
Her figure was slender, wrapped in a shimmering orange gown that clung to her form. Her skin carried a faint coral hue, smooth and warm, glowing underneath the arena lights. Long aqua-blue hair flowed freely behind her.
Then her wings unfurled.
Thin, bat-like membranes stretched wide from her back, translucent and veined, catching the light. The wings were light, humming faintly as they flexed, vibrating the air around her.
The crowd erupted at the sight of her appearance.
Siren smiled and waved, graceful and charming. Her eyes glimmered as the cheers of the crowd washed over her.
Her gaze locked onto Roako.
Her smile faded.
For a breath, her wings stilled, and a stern expression followed.
"So this is the Unmarked," she murmured, lips curling. "You're even more disappointing than I imagined."
Her wings twitched once, sharp and eager.
She took a step forward into her corner, light following her every movement, waiting.
"In the opposite corner, the mysterious UNMARKED enters the arena, attempting to prove themselves!"
The crowd went silent.
Cheers turned to booing, chants continued, wishing for his death.
Roako stepped out, the light shone into his eyes, and his hands lifted up, attempting to block the light.
Glances from across the arena, looks of disgust, anger, and resentment loomed along the stadium. Beasts of all different shapes and forms, the Marked surrounded him.
Roako ignored their stares, drowning out their words, his eyes sharp and focused. He had set a goal to become stronger, and this was another step he needed to climb.
His eyes lit up, and passion and determination followed him.
He walked forward, entering his corner, locking his gaze upon Siren, observing her every move. He watched as her wings sprouted and continued to twitch. Roako had noticed how, unlike Peli, her arms had remained, her wings sprouting from her back.
The mic perked back up, "In tonight's fight, we will have a special arena! We will have a mountainous arena for these fighters to properly showcase their skills!"
The arena shifted.
Stone split apart as jagged slabs rose beneath the floor, grinding into place. Pillars of rock formed uneven peaks, narrow ledges, and blind corners. A mountainous battlefield locked into place.
"With this, the fight shall begin!"
The crowd erupted into cheers.
"This arena's perfect for Siren!"
"Crush the filthy Unmarked!"
"Let him die oblivious!"
Roako sprinted forward, weaving between the rising rock formations. His vision was obscured, walls blocking his line of sight.
The air trembled, not loudly, yet with intent.
A faint hum followed.
Roako's skin crawled.
Flap.
A sharp screech ripped through the air.
The impact came an instant later.
Roako's chest tightened as an invisible force slammed into him, hurling him back several feet. He barely caught himself before another strike hit, then another.
The crowd roared.
The air itself was attacking Roako.
Roako raised his arms, heat flaring from his gauntlets as another concussive blast crashed against them. The iron rang violently, the force slipped around his guard, and struck his ribs.
These attacks weren't wild.
They were precise.
Each step Roako took was answered.
Each movement was predicted.
The moment he changed direction, another blast struck him from the side.
Then behind.
Then below.
Roako's eyes widened.
It's bouncing.
Roako sprinted, trying to escape the barrage of soundwaves.
His teeth clenched, blood splattered across the stone floor. The blows weren't crushing, but they stacked. Each blow repeatedly aimed at one spot, vibrating the bone and muscle. His body screamed in protest.
She knew where he was.
Not by sight.
By sound.
By motion.
By the echo of his own existence.
"This arena..." Roako realized through his gritted teeth.
The screech rang out once again, closer, followed by rapid flapping that seemed to come from everywhere at once.
Roako thrust his hand forward, erasing the flame from his gauntlet. A new symbol burned into his leg.
x3.
Power surged downward.
Roako launched himself forward, smashing through a wall of rock formation in a violent burst. Debris exploded outward as he burst through, revealing open space.
Empty.
No Siren.
Only the echo of wings flapping.
Her wings flapped unevenly, they tremored.
The flapping continued above him. Behind him. Somewhere unseen.
It was as if the echo was mocking him.
Yet, the echoes came back slower.
She was reacting now.
Another strike hit, then another, yet this time the rhythm had faltered.
The screeching paused, wavering, cracking midway.
The interval between impacts grew longer.
Roako staggered backwards, his blood flowing freely, yet his eyes sharpened.
She was still attacking, but her control was slipping.
Roako lunged forward, striking the stone structures.
Each structure fell before Roako, revealing each with a space filled with an empty void.
The crowd reacted in confusion and uncertainty.
The barrage continued, never-ending, yet always faltering.
The battlefield flattened.
Only one wall remained.
As each second passed, the barrage staggered.
Roako lunged forward, striking, mustering as much force as he could. Debris ripped through the air.
Whoosh
Behind the rocky wall and debris, Siren emerged, standing rigid, her wings trembling mid-beat.
Siren flapped her wings, motionless, screaming weakly, soundwaves barely forming. Her hands trembled, dropping a small dagger she carried.
The arena fell silent.
Roako stepped forward, looking toward Siren, placing a hand on her shoulder.
"That control... I've never seen anything like it."
Siren stepped to the side of Roako, grabbing his hand and lifting it.
"He won, fair and square! Respect him, even if his kind is disgusting!" Siren bore a creepy smile on her face, respecting their battle.
The crowd hesitated, then reacted conflicted, uncertain.
The battle had concluded.
Roako had won, using his wit rather than his strengths.
The announcer spoke up, "In an outstanding battle of Wit & Durability vs. Control, Wit brought it home and won! The fiery inferno, speed demon!"
The crowd broke out, some laughing, others disappointed.
Roako had exited the stage. What awaited him was three figures he had interacted with before.
Kyri stood dead center, looking impressed and proud, giving a nod of approval. Jackson stood off to the side of her, steam enveloping the area. He looked stern, not saying a word. Peli stood perched atop Jackson, grinning.
Without missing a beat, Peli blurted out, filling the void and awkward silence between the three. "You totally rocked out there! You wanna grab something to eat together? I could show you a few tricks! You should fight me in the colosseum, don't you think so, Unmarked? Jackson, you should allow the fight to go through! I think I could take him on!"
Her speech had interested Roako.
"Jackson can allow fights to go through? Is he a Guardian?" Roako said, his voice uncertain.
Kyri spoke up, shushing Peli in the process.
"That's correct, as am I, I didn't mean to hide it from ya. Although we needed to discuss what territory ya belonged to. Luckily, ya can now operate under my jurisdiction." She bowed apologetically. "Anyways, with that match and performance, I could bump you up two ranks. From Stone to Iron, skipping right past Copper!"
This was only the beginning.
Stone to Iron.
They had finally recognized him.