Chapter 13: First Win

Soren disregarded the prying eyes, as Machi also felt the stares, but seeing as Soren was ignoring them, she thought it best to ignore them as well. The both of them began walking down the hall until they saw a sign directing them to the registration desk, and upon looking down the hall, it seemed to be a pit of darkness, but Soren knew that someone happened to be using their Nen to keep out those who aren't worthy to enter the 200th floor.

"Shroud yourself in Ten and just follow me": soren

Machi nodded as she covered herself in Ten, as the two of them began walking down the hall, and upon reaching the end, the feeling disappeared as the figure who was causing the disturbance had left, deeming the two of them qualified. After seeing the room lighten up, Soren and Machi began walking towards the reception desk to register for the 200th floor, and after filling out their information, the receptionist began explaining the rules for them.

"The 200th floor is very different from the lower floors…You will not be earning money, and all fights are for fame and glory… All weapons are allowed during fights, and death sometimes occurs among fights… You have 90 days upon registration to register for a match, and 90 days after a match to register for another one… 4 losses disqualifies you, while 10 wins grants you the chance to challenge a floor master!... If you can become a floor master, you can join the biannual battle tournament to decide the floor master ranking out of all 21 floor masters, and the top ranked floor master gets to live on the 251st floor in a luxurious penthouse": receptionist

"Exactly what perks aside from fame and luxury does the floor master on the 251st floor get that other floor masters don't?... the rooms can't differ that much in how luxurious they are, and if they do, it's not by much to really want to live there": soren

Upon hearing Soren's question, the receptionist thought about the perks that all the floor masters get, and the difference between them and the ones for the person who lives at the top, as a blush appears on her cheeks.

"T-the floor master who resides at the top can have servants": rep

Seeing how the receptionist acted while saying that, Soren could understand the perk that the floor masters are vying for, and it's not fame or money, but lust and greed. Soren had to admit, that every single one of the female staff members were beautiful beyond belief, and even the men could be considered handsome, so it's obvious that a lot of the contestants would feel lustful towards the staff, and knowing that they can sleep with the staff whenever they want if they reign at the top, many would fight as the benefits themselves aren't bad to begin with, so be them men or women, they would have a reason to fight for the top spot.

"Do you have any other questions?": rep

"Yes, how do we register for fights?... And where are our rooms located?": soren

"Oh! Yes, I'm sorry, your previous question got me side tracked… You can register for fights here, and these will be your rooms": rep

The receptionist tried to hand Soren two keys, but he only took one as he spoke.

"One is fine, my wife will stay with me": soren

Machi nodded at the side as the receptionist looked at both of them before taking the other key back and altering data on her computer that listed their rooms and put both of them under the same room number.

"Anything else?": rep

"Nothing I can think of, thank you, and I hope to see you again when I register for a match": soren

Soren and Machi gave a nod to the receptionist before heading to the room number marked on the key plate, but before they could walk any further, they had been surrounded by a group who seemed to be a group of weaklings who had barely qualified to be on the 200th floor.

"Kekeke!... Fresh blood, fellas… And it seems one of them is a pretty girl!": ???

The creepy man said while licking his lips as he began scanning Machi's body

"I'd say they're about a C-cup, but they could be a B-cup": ???

After hearing the creepy man talk about his wife, Soren's anger began to rise as a suffocating pressure began to surround the group as the cold glare of Soren's began sending chills down the man's back.

"So you want to fight?... Then let's sign up right now": soren

Hearing Soren's cold words, the man felt a bit of fear, but seeing as he felt he had the most experience here, he got cocky as he spoke.

"Listen up, brat!... We'll fight, and I'll win, then you will fight my 3 friends, and then they will win… Then you can get the hell out of Heaven's Arena… And after that, I'll show your little girlfriend here a good time, kekeke": ???

"Disgusting… I don't even want to look at you, let alone spend any time with you, you fucking creep": machi

"You fucking bitch!... Hehe, I'll force you if I have to": ???

Just then, Soren's aura enveloped him as he immediately released 3 tails, as his aura slowly began corroding his body, but it would take at least half an hour to show any noticeable signs of corrosion.

"I guess you wanted to die here then… I'll have you know that this tower means nothing to me, and if I want you dead, you will die… Now, sign up and then leave… If you dare to show your face, you will die": soren

As Soren spoke, his entire aura was pressing down on the man as it became hard for him to breathe, as all he could do was nod, before Soren turned his attention to the others and spoke in a similarly cold tone.

"Do you also want to fight?": soren

Immediately, these guys shook their heads before quickly leaving as if they didn't even know their friend.

"Now, go sign up for tomorrow, and if you show up, I'll kill you… I advise you leave Heaven's Arena": soren

Soren then followed the man over to the counter as the man signed up for tomorrow's fight, and seeing the other spot open, Soren signed his name next to the man named Baxtor.

"Alright, you guys are registered to fight for tomorrow": rep

Baxtor gave a frightened nod while Soren just gave a cold look towards Baxtor before watching him walk to the elevator, and just like that, Baxter was never seen in Heaven's Arena ever again.

"Soren, thank you for sticking up for me, but I could have done that myself": machi

"I didn't do it for you… I did it to mark my territory… No man will even look at you with such thoughts as long as I'm here… I know you can defend yourself, but that was purely me being selfish… Did you dislike that?": soren

"No, not necessarily, and now that I know the reason, I feel that it's kinda sweet": machi

Soren gave Machi a smile before they made their way towards their room, and after entering, Machi was surprised just how vast the difference between the rooms are compared to the lower floors.

"So how long will we stay here for?": machi

"However long we want… Rooms are complementary as long as we hold our spot in the 200th floor, but once we lose 4 times, we'll be disqualified, and we only need to fight once every 90 days, so even if we lose, we can stay here for 1 year": soren

"I see… And tomorrow you have that match, with the guy who just pissed his pants, so you won't have to fight for another 90 days, right?": machi

"Yeah, but I might fight other participants to try and get stronger": soren

"Alright, then I'll do the same!... Oh, Soren?":machi

"Yeah? What's up?": soren

Soren noticed that Machi wanted to ask him something, so he wanted her to speak her mind.

"C-can we have sex again?": machi

Hearing the question, Soren smiled as he said with a happy tone.

"We can have sex any time!": soren

Soren and Machi had spent the next 3 hours embracing each other before they both took a bath together where they spent another hour cuddling up against each other as they sat in the hot bath water while holding hands as the sweat and filth was being lifted from their bodies as it was washed away.

"You know, I don't think I will ever be able to get enough of this… But thinking about how there will be others in the future, it makes me a little sad… Will you really be able to still think about me if you start chasing other women?": machi

"That's stupid talk, how would I ever be able to forget you… Although you may not be the last, but you are the first, and will always hold a special place in my heart, and in the future you will share that place with others, but know that you were there first and hold that close to your heart": soren

"I understand… I love you, Soren": machi

"I love you too, Machi": soren

Soren laid his head over Machi's as she rested her head on Soren's shoulder, and after they got tired of being in the bath, they rinsed off before going to bed. The next morning, Soren was called for his match as he went to the stage, and upon seeing the massive crowd, he felt that this would be a disappointment, as nobody would show up to face him, but if they did, the audience would get a death match as Soren planned on killing his opponent in a brutal way.

"I'm sorry to say this, but Contestant Baxter has not shown up, so this match will be a forfeit!... Contestant Soren is the winner by default!": ref

Upon hearing the results, Soren gave a smile before leaving the stage under the boos of the crowd who had paid to see a fight, but were left with disappointment.

"We're really sorry, but we have another match for today, so let's get it underway": ref

Soren had walked back to his room and opened the door only to see Machi attempting to make breakfast.

"What are you doing?": soren

I'm cooking breakfast, obviously… Come and sit, it's almost ready": machi

As Soren pulled out a seat, he swore he could hear the screams of tortured sould eminating from the frying pan, as he decided to tease.

"Oi!... This isn't Hell, stop torturing the damned": soren

"Ha?... What are you talking about?": machi

"Hehe, nothing just do whatever your doing": soren

Soren was a bit sad that she didn't understand the joke, but soon the food was placed before him as he realized that HE was the damned being tortured here.

"Have a bite!... I've never been one to cook, and I know Nobunaga had prepared a lot of our meals, but I decided I would take up the position of cooking in this relationship": machi

Soren looked at the 'food?' that sat in front of him as he tried to decipher what it was exactly, but the only way to find out seemed to be through taste, as Soren began to pray to the Goddess who sent him here, but he felt like his response was a jab at his wish.

'You should have wished for Immortality': goddess

Soren resigned himself to his fate as he took a bite of the 'eggs?' as he slowly began to chew, as the flavorless and rubbery texture of the food began to permeate in his mouth as all of his taste buds began experiencing a mass genocide.

"So?... How does it taste? Good?": machi

"D-do you want the honest truth?": soren

"Of course!... If it taste bad, I need to know so I can improve": machi

"Alright… It tastes like shit!... No… It's worse than shit!... I love you, Machi, but I wouldn't even force someone who I'm going to kill to eat this… What is it?": soren

Hearing such harsh criticism, Machi felt her heart breaking, but hearing such a claim, she had to defend herself.

"Come on, it can't be THAT bad!... Look I'll eat some to prove it": machi

The second Machi took a bite, she immediately spit it out as she shouted.

"It tastes like garbage!... Soren, why did you let me eat this!... Why did YOU eat this shit!": machi

Machi no longer felt that Soren was being harsh, and it was more like this was a gentle criticism, as she began detesting her own food.

"I ate it because you made it!... Don't blame me for this!": soren

"I'm not cooking EVER AGAIN!!!": machi

"I think that's for the best… I'm glad you have come to that conclusion": soren