"And now," Alpha said, spreading his arms toward the arena, "let's have a word with our winner of round 1."
He walked a few steps closer, smiling as if this were a friendly interview instead of the end of a slaughter.
"Congratulations," Alpha said to the Adiphyte. "You people usually get stronger by eating. So, this stage was a clear advantage for you."
His smile sharpened slightly.
"There are three rounds, and the theme of each round is random. You might've known an eating round could happen, but it could've landed in a round you weren't even in. So, coming here was still a gamble."
He tilted his head.
"So, tell us. Why did you gamble on it? Why come here at all?"
The Adiphyte smiled.
"Even if this contest didn't show up," it said calmly, "I still had faith I could win."
Alpha raised a brow. "Oh?"
"I took the yellow soup," the Adiphyte added. "And the yellow drink. Before I came here."
Alpha's expression shifted into theatrical confusion.
"What do you mean?"
The Adiphyte's chest shifted slightly. Then it pulled out a small container from inside its own body, as if it had been stored there the whole time.
"This," it said, holding it up, "increases your strength, your speed, and your comprehension."
Alpha stared at it.
"It was made by senior magicians," the Adiphyte continued, growing more confident. "They spent their lives on this project."
Then it turned toward the stands.
"Everyone, if you want to win, go buy this. Go find it. On the right side of the map, the street on the right side, in the shop called That Guy's Shop. We're branching over here, so give us a visit. Give us a chance."
The smile on Alpha's face disappeared.
Just like that.
The arena felt colder.
Alpha stepped forward, voice flat now.
"Okay."
A pause.
"So, this is what we're doing."
His gaze locked on the Adiphyte.
"An add."
The Adiphyte's smile wavered.
Alpha didn't raise his voice.
He didn't need to.
"Get out of here."
The Adiphyte froze for a heartbeat, then backed away, suddenly aware of the tone it had misread.
The remaining fighters were already being dragged off.
Alpha turned back to the crowd as if wiping the moment clean.
"Well," he said, forcing a grin that didn't reach his eyes, "we still have a lot of fights coming up."
He clapped once, loud enough to reset the room.
"No time to waste on stupid promotion."
Backstage, the Adiphyte was busy healing.
The fight had been close, closer than he expected and even with his lineage, his body had taken damage. Two more rounds were still playing out in the arena, but he didn't watch them. He stayed in the private recovery space, focused on sealing wounds and stabilizing himself.
When the entire event finally ended, the winners returned to the arena. They were given money, honored in front of the crowd, and then dismissed from the contest.
But on the way out, the Adiphyte was stopped.
Alpha.
The announcer stood in his path, smiling like it was a casual meeting.
"Can we talk for a minute?" Alpha asked.
The Adiphyte didn't hide his irritation. "I'm busy. Can we do it at another time?"
Alpha's smile stayed the same.
"No," he said. "We need to talk right now."
The Adiphyte paused.
He felt danger from Alpha, an instinctive warning that didn't come from the crowd or the arena, but from the man himself. He didn't like it. But he also didn't want Alpha as an enemy.
Not here.
Not in Varis Minor.
He had seen the chains. He knew what they signaled, signs tied to the old royal authority of this land. Alpha wasn't a random announcer. Not a nobody you could ignore safely.
So, the Adiphyte nodded once.
"Okay."
Alpha led him away from public view. They moved through quieter streets until they reached an open area near a park, far enough that voices wouldn't carry back to the arena gates.
Alpha stopped and looked at him as if they were equals.
"You know," Alpha said, "I was thinking. Someone who isn't a prisoner joins the event, takes the money, takes the attention, and then just leaves. He puts a mark on our event."
His tone was pleasant.
Almost friendly.
"Don't you think so?"
The Adiphyte kept his face steady.
"As I said before," he replied, "there was a great chance I would die. Even with what I have, it was a close call. If anything, it proves the opposite of what you're implying."
He looked directly at Alpha.
"It proves how dangerous this event is."
Alpha hummed softly, as if considering it.
"Hmm," he said. "Then what do you think about joining one more time?"
The Adiphyte didn't answer immediately.
Alpha continued, voice smooth.
"In the next few weeks, there's a grand event coming. One that will shake the entire continent. Our spread-out arenas will host something we've never done before."
He smiled wider.
"A first-time contest."
He raised a finger.
"Past winners only."
He watched the Adiphyte closely.
"What do you think? Are you planning to join?"
The Adiphyte gave a controlled response.
"It's an amazing idea," he said. "Only past winners would make it a great deal."
Then he added, calmly:
"But I was harmed in the last battle."
A brief pause.
"And I already served my purpose in promoting my business."
He kept his tone polite.
"So, I have to decline."
Alpha's smile didn't move.
"Well," he said, "I don't think you can do that."
The air tightened slightly.
"To stay here," Alpha continued, "you need approval. Royal approval."
He tilted his head.
"You already know I have connections."
The Adiphyte didn't speak.
"If you win this," Alpha said, "we'll be set for a long time. You will have my backing, and the royal family's backing."
His voice stayed soft, like he was offering a favor.
"You can spread your stores. Get all the money you want. All the things you desire."
Then his eyes sharpened slightly.
"And you know what else?"
"It's a contest of past winners only."
He smiled.
"If someone doesn't attend… it looks strange. Doesn't it?"
The Adiphyte held his expression.
Then he tried one more time, carefully.
"Sir," he said, "I'm not the strongest person in these contests. My chances of winning are slim."
Alpha nodded as if he'd been waiting for that.
"You know I can see it," Alpha said. "Low chances of winning."
Then his smile turned sharper.
"But you fought against the odds, and you came out victorious."
He leaned slightly closer.
"That's a headline."
The Adiphyte felt irritation rise.
He couldn't show it.
He couldn't afford to.
Alpha watched him, satisfied.
Weeks after your win, he thought, reading Alpha's intent without saying it.
The Adiphyte lowered his eyes slightly.
"You don't want to stir trouble," Alpha said, still smiling. "So, you'll attend."
The Adiphyte exhaled once.
"I agree," he said. "I will attend."
Of course he wouldn't.
He only wanted Alpha to leave him alone.
Alpha's smile widened as if the answer pleased him.
"That's good," he said.
Then he turned and walked away, like the matter was already settled.
The Adiphyte stood there for a moment, then released a long breath.
He spoke to himself quietly.
"Looks like I can't do business here."
If he truly went to that contest, he would die.
He didn't even finish the thought before deciding.
While no one was watching, while the city was busy with the aftermath of the event, he would leave immediately.
He returned to his place, gathered his clothes and whatever he needed, and headed toward the exit.
He didn't even make it out of the city.
A chain appeared around his neck.
Instant.
Cold.
Absolute.
The moment he tried to step out with his things, the chain tightened and dragged him backward, hard, unavoidable pulling him through the doorway, across the floor, and back into his bedroom.
He hit the room like he'd been thrown.
Breath gone.
Heart racing.
He lost consciousness.