Nightcrawler

The city of Gurjua was hailed for trade and entertainment. Dori accidentally figured out what that 'entertainment' part entitled once she sneaked out at midnight.

She lived in one of the residential zones, away from markets. When she sneaked out that night out of curiosity, she looked around in awe. The days were meant for dull-and-boring businesses and the night was to blow off that steam. The streets would lit up, the pubs would open. Fighting arenas, gambling dens, brothels would be full.

In her changed persona, she walked about, planning to have a lite taste of each. She wasn't sure what this changed persona was capable of dealing with. She was about five feet tall but her persona was of a six feet tall guy, changing her perspective. She wondered what would happen if someone punched her face. Would it pass through the illusion or would it actually hit her, she was itching to find out. Having a real test of her strength was a priority and testing the limits of her best tool at disposal would be helpful once she ventured out.

She went to one of the trade guild's booth. The place was crowded with people and she had to take a line to cash out a few Aures. Then she went straight to the nearest fighting arena.

The arena was like a cube-shaped colosseum with multiple layers of floors to accommodate the audience. If the trade guild's booth was crowded, the arena was packed. She had to push through, and even elbow a few people to navigate.

She was now tall enough glance over a good number of people and see the middle of the arena, the fighting pits. Contrary to what she thought, there wasn't just one fight happening at once. She could see about half a dozen bases erected, where people were kicking and punching each other, trying to knock each other out or push them off the platform. Once one fell, a man from the side would ring a bell, the crowd would cheer and the next pair would climb up.

She watched while being squeeze by the fan-girling crowd. There didn't seem to be many rules. What excited her even more was the occasional challengers that climbed up alone, to issue a bet to the crowd.

Dori poked at a guy in front of her. The guy was standing on his toes to watch the fights, even though the floors were a bit sloped with rises and runs. Five feet tall at best, with bushy brown hair and acne on his face. "How do I sign up for a challenge, bro?" she asked him.

The guy was in his early twenties but seemed pleased at the 'tall boy' who called him a bro. "Go down-floor, they arrange the fights. But it's better if you just accept one of the challenges."

She wanted to, but lots of people wanted to accept a fight and the challengers seemed to pick their opponents at random. She'd have to be lucky to be chosen. She thanked the guy after he pointed her in the direction to the stairs down-floor.

The down-floor was crowded too, but there were breathing room. Probably the entry fee of five Denas acted as deterrent. She saw a few less buffy guys mixed with more buffy guys she figured as the organizers. She greeted one and asked, "Do you know how I can sign up for fights?"

Her persona was of a tall and slender boy and the man smiled like a shark. "Challenges or regular duel?" he asked.

"How do I sign up for either?"

The guy pointed at the large board embedded on a wall. But instead of waiting for her to read the words, he started summarizing anyway. "For regular fights, the fee is ten Denas, and the bet is twenty Denas lowest or a hundred maximum, winner takes all. Challenging bets are five Aures to a hundred, and the fee is ten percent of the pot. Opponents are chosen at random but won't exceed by grades in a regular fight. Challenges are up to the challenger."

"How would you know my grade though?" Dori asked

The guy looked her like like he was looking at an idiot. "You'll be tested of course before we assign you an opponent. So what's your play?"

'Tested', that made Dori worried a little, unsure if her persona would hold against scrutiny. Suddenly being revealed as a little girl would be troublesome. But she agreed anyway.

"Testing fee is five Denas," the guy said, making her sigh. Bloodsuckers.

The testing was simple. A bony guy came and poked around with her muscles, making her twitch. And then he gave her a ball filled with white smoke. When she grabbed it, she felt a sharp pain in her head. The smoke inside the ball swirled, and gave off some hints of red and blue hues. The guy's eyes widened for a second before he hid his expression but not before Dori noticed it.

"Is there a problem?" She asked.

"No problem, sir. But we don't have regular opponents to match against you. You'll have to challenge the crowd. I'm sure there are people out there hoping to find a worthy opponent like you."

Uh, probably her minuscule spirit flow was exposed. Dori frowned. Her memories ensured that her persona wouldn't have any hints of magical Mumbo Jumbo. The ball probably detected her persona trying to repel the probing, she deduced.

She finally figured out what the Head was trying to do that day. She wondered if the Head found anything interesting, she had no idea how the ball worked.

The organizers were supposed to reveal her strength to the crowd before a challenge. She saw the evaluation written on the board the guy was holding.

Body Strengthening Realm (Novice)

Spirit-Vein Nourishing Realm (Novice)

She was led to another guy that took notes on her conditions. She deposited a hundred Aures, startling the bookie. "Opponent have to be at my grades. Loser have to cry 'Mother' or be knocked unconscious. Weapons are not allowed but any potions can be used." She didn't know what else to add.

The guy reminded her of the absolute rules. Killing and maiming had grave consequences, and the fights could not last more than ten minutes or the fee would be doubled. Double knockouts would be considered a draw.

Simple enough. Dori started to stretch her limbs and waited for her turn. There were still about ten pairs waiting for their turn.

About twenty minutes later, or thirty, she was led to the pit.

It was an amazing experience being at the center of the arena as if she was flying.

She climbed onto an empty platform and waited. The guy assigned to the platform was flaunting a large board that had her strength, bet amount, and conditions inscribed on it.

He was shouting loudly, "My fellow countrymen! I present to you a new challenger. Someone who is travelling the world, searching for an worthy opponent to fight. Is there anyone who wishes to accept the challenge?"

Dori looked around. The arena had a four floors in total. The lowest one was for the organizers and the fighters. The one above that were open to everyone and most packed. Now that she could could see the two floors above that, she saw a good amount of people sitting and chatting with each other, watching the fights. Some paid attention to her and she felt tingles on her skin. Then the earlier sharp pain assaulted her once more.

She saw no one raising their hands on the first floor, only a few on the top two floor seemed eager. Her eyes searched through the faces and found a few she recognized from the training den. A few faces seemed familiar and she pointed at one. "You, the one wearing the blue robe and red beast insignia."

The boy looked familiar but she couldn't figure out where she had seen him. The guy was slim but looked strong and agile. And to her amazement, the guy jumped out from the third floor and landed with a heroic pose, unharmed.

"It's rare to find someone with spirit roots challenging the arena. I accept your challenge," he said and then handed the guy-in-charge a token and let him check his realms.

"Body Strengthening realm, apprentice grade. Spirit-Vein Nourishment realm, novice grade," the guy notified Dori, and she nodded.

Her opponent jumped onto the arena. "Don't hold back," he said.

Dori laughed. "I don't plan to."

After the ding, she waited to see what the guy would do, and the guy mimicked her patience.

She was still feeling tingles on her spine, unsure of what was causing it. She had taken one of each potion before entering the pit, and the effect should last longer than she needed. "Come and taste my boots," she taunted the boy.

The boy frowned at the disrespectful remark. "You'll regret that," he said, and came rushing.

Fast, Dori thought, but not fast enough. Brainstorm made her see better and react faster as the world before her slowed down. The guy was glowing, which made her curious. She still didn't know much about Spirit Arts so she was on guard.

A blazing light almost blinded her momentarily, forcing to close her eyes. She could still hear the noise of his foot-steps thumping closer. She retreated a few feet and opened her eyes again, to find the guy only an arm's length away, aiming a punch.

She turned her shoulders sideways and let the fist brush past her chest and then grabbed it. Hot, and hard as steel, she thought. She clamped it and then forced it down while rising her knee.

The guy had lost his balance and was stumbling forward when her knee collided on his chest.

Dori let his arm go and moved away, watching the guy gasping for breath. He fell to the ground.

"You're too weak. Cry 'Mother' and I'll spare you some dignity."

A few seconds later, the guy stood up. Enraged, humiliated, his eyes had turned red. She felt it, the heat that was permeating from the boy. Something was rippling around the boy, like an invisible veil.

This time when he came rushing, Dori was alarmed. His speed had increased by a little and the heat that he was emitting from a distance, she no longer felt safe trying to grab those glowing limbs again.

She dodged the punch he threw but then something else knocked her off balance. She fell and immediately rolled to the side but not long before the guy's kick almost dislocated her shoulder.

Now that was thrilling, she though, her mind gears cranking at top speed. She didn't know what it was that was rippling around the boy but it was tangible and hard to avoid. She wanted to test if there was a need to avoid if she went head to head.

Jumping to her legs, she hopped around to feel her balance and grinned. "My bad. You aren't that weak. But you will cry for mommy before it's over."

The boy came rushing again and this time, Dori directly kicked at his punching arm. Her leg made contact with something before it touched the boy's arm, slowing it down, and then his punch made her ankle whine in pain.

That's troublesome. Whatever that was guarding the boy was viscous and flexible, making her attacks weaker while the boy could punch through at full force.

She just had to punch and kick harder. She took a breath and took the initiative to attack. The boy wasn't desperate to dodge when he looked for openings, and she knew she had a lot of openings. She had never received conventional training, relying entirely on her strength and speed superiority.

Two more minutes went by with none gaining an upper hand. Whatever advantage her speed had provided, the boy mostly ignored by relying on his invisible shield and training.

But he was still young. Three minutes in, Dori tried a tested trick and stared in fright at something behind the boy. The boy followed her gaze as an instinct before immediately cursing in regret. Dori's leg swooped in from the side, aiming for his ankles. The invisible guard slowed it down but there was nothing to completely block off its advance.

The boy crumbled to the ground. His shield had prevented a loud thud but that was the least of his worries. Dori started stomping at the fallen boy who was trying to roll away. Eventually he managed to roll out of the platform. By then, he had groaned a few times, taking a few kicks to his face and arms.

But the rules dictated that loser had to be unconscious or cry 'Mother', so she waited for the guy to come up. Her goal was training, and the real experience was the best form of training. She was trying to memorize the boy's moves and stances, planning to practice later in secret.

Another two minutes of kicking, dodging, and punching she felt the guy was getting weaker. She didn't mind winning back the money and receive a training at the same time, so she kept pushing.

Two more minutes, she felt the invisible veil fading away after her flurry of attacks. Did the guy run out of Spirit Force? Dori laughed heartily. The guy started avoiding farther contact, probably hoping to drag the fight and hope for a miracle. A miracle that didn't come.

A kick sent the boy flying off the platform and he hit the sandy ground. This time, she jumped off too. The boy was still not unconscious. "Cry 'Mother' and it'll be over," she offered.

"Not even if you kill me!" The boy retorted, still retching in pain.

She was planning on beating some sense into the boy when she heard a thud. Someone had leaped off the floors.

Dori realized why the boy looked familiar when she saw the other guy who had jumped in. Once fiery red hair was brown now, but she recognized the purple-eyed and thin-lipped guy. The pedo healer. The guy was growing a beard too. She hadn't recognized the guy in his casual robes from afar. She looked back at the fallen boy and saw the resemblance. Other than the eye colors, the facial similarities were there. Young Lords of the Megor family.

She could feel a different kind of energy emitting from the guy, a cold one. "Take the money and walk away," he commanded in a solemn voice.

Dori sighed. Her potions' effects would wear off soon and even with the pain tolerance, her muscles were aching. 'I'll be back for you too,' she promised silently and walked away. It was enough of an adventure for the night.

Dori was still curious. The Megor household was rather a poor one. A good chunk of their assets had been sold off to the other prominent families yet two of their young lords had workable spirit roots. She took a mental note of snooping around.

She finally realized how excited the crowd was, shouting and cheering. She smiled and waved, appreciating the feedback she got and then went back to the bottom layer.

The guy she had entrusted money to was being more polite them before, which Dori didn't mind at all. "Sir Norm, do you want the money in coins or in paper?"

"Paper would be easier," she said.

The guy handed her a debt note of a hundred Aures and eight notes of ten Aures. "It's fun to watch fights between Spirit Wielders. Do come back whenever convenient. No fees will be charged from you at the gates."

Dori nodded and bode farewell. She did have plans to come back to test her progress. The thousands of people that were watching the fights, at least a dozen had risen their hands to accept her challenge. And the pedo healer seemed strong, so it wouldn't be that waste of a time.

Her clothes were drenched and she had learned to appreciate the need for proper training. The boy never took any potions and was almost as strong as the buffed up her. Also, that weird, invisible veil made her really, really curious.

Her only regret for the night was that even though she earned a ton of points, about five hundred, she didn't get any other rewards. She was so sure that she'd get at least two milestones or achievements. She was really close to the five thousand point and she was clenching her fist in anticipation.

Her muscle aches worsened as the night went on. She rolled about her bed in unrest, massaged her arms and thighs, but the pain kept her awake all night.

Her pains turned into disbelief when she woke up with a sore body and as usual checked her system out of habit. There was a new entry to the potions' tab.

🍾Body Nourishment🍾 (25%)

[Cost: 50+100 RP]

[Overuse Restriction: 5 days]

[Nourishes Muscles, Bones, and Tendons ]

[Extra Nourishment Effect] [ON]

[Cost: +100]

[Nourishes Nerves, Skin, and Organs]

She wanted to jump around on her bed in excitement. This potion was exactly what she needed for her training.

She realized she was jumping around on her bed when Hila came complaining.