Across the world, people had gathered around televisions and enormous screens to watch the American Guild's tournament. Nearly every continent was following the event, including the researchers stationed in Antarctica, who had been given a rare day off to enjoy it. Even those who had little interest in Adventurers were curious enough to watch the competition unfold.
The tournament was being broadcast live, without the violence being concealed from its audience. Children under fifteen had been advised against watching because of the amount of blood and gore. That warning, however, did little to discourage the millions of adults who wanted to see what the contestants were capable of.
Most watched from their homes or the guilds in their respective countries. North Korea was one of the few exceptions, as the broadcast was not available there.
At the American Guild, Marcus was seated on the first floor, watching the tournament on an enormous screen alongside three to four thousand other spectators. Even the guards had joined the crowd, eager to see whether the contestants they supported would survive the next stage.
And, of course, there was gambling.
There was enough money being thrown around to refill all the water on Earth three times over, or so it felt to anyone listening to the wagers being made. Civilians, guards, wealthy sponsors, and even Marcus had placed bets on their favorite contestants. Some people wagered amounts they could easily afford, while others seemed determined to ruin themselves before the tournament ended.
Marcus had put money on Nova and Adam surviving. Adam had already cleared the second round, but Nova was still trapped inside the stone walls, fighting the same boy who had challenged him at the Guild before the tournament.
Although Nova appeared to be losing, Marcus watched him with an interested smile.
Beside him sat an associate he had known for five years. The man had already placed a hundred thousand dollars on the blue team winning Nova's match, and he hadn't taken his eyes off the screen since the fight began.
Marcus leaned toward him, a faint smile on his face.
"Want to make a bet?"
"What kind of bet?" the associate asked without turning around.
"I think Nova will win. I'm willing to put a million dollars on it."
The man finally looked at him. "A million? You're betting a million dollars on that boy?"
"That's right."
"Marcus, are you watching the same match as me? Nova looks like he's one bad hit away from being carried out of there. The other boy keeps recovering from everything he does."
Marcus glanced toward the screen. "I can see that."
"Then why would you bet on Nova?"
"That's what makes it interesting." Marcus turned toward him, his smile growing a little more menacing. "So, what do you say? Are you willing to put your hundred thousand against my million?"
The associate swallowed.
The offer was generous enough to be tempting, especially when the screen appeared to support his choice. But he had known Marcus long enough to recognize when something was wrong. His boss was an experienced Adventurer who rarely made a decision without some reason behind it.
'I should take it. Nova's clearly losing,' he thought. 'But why is Marcus so confident?'
Finally, after nearly five minutes, the associate straightened his back.
"Fine. I'll take you on."
"Excellent!" Marcus exclaimed, extending his hand.
They shook on the wager, and Marcus's secretary recorded their agreement. She had learned long ago to document any arrangement involving Marcus and his employees, especially when large amounts of money were involved. The record also gave the wager a rather intimidating air of official business.
"May the best man win," Marcus said cheerfully.
The associate frowned. "You already know something, don't you?"
"I know quite a few things. You'll have to be more specific."
"About the fight. You're smiling like you've already won."
"Then keep watching. Perhaps you'll see it too."
As the match continued, the earth manipulator began consuming yellow mana crystals more frequently. At first, the associate took it as another sign that the boy had the advantage. Each crystal restored some of his strength, allowing him to continue attacking while Nova accumulated more injuries.
Then the boy consumed three crystals at once.
"Marcus, there's something I don't understand."
"Go on."
"I'm not an Adventurer, so I don't know much about mana crystals. But that boy keeps swallowing them like they're candy. Isn't that dangerous? What happens if he takes too many?"
Marcus's smile widened into something approaching a vicious grin.
"Now you're beginning to understand why I made the bet."
"So it is dangerous?"
"Of course it is. Mana crystals aren't harmless sweets. They restore mana and vitality, but the human body has limits. Keep forcing that much energy into yourself, and sooner or later something gives."
The associate glanced at the screen again. "But he's healing. Every time Nova hurts him, he takes another one and gets back up."
"That's the problem," Marcus answered. "He thinks recovering from an injury means the damage has disappeared completely. He isn't considering the strain he's putting on himself every time he absorbs another crystal."
"How bad does it get?"
"Bad enough. Take them repeatedly, three times within five minutes, and the craving becomes difficult to resist. It's rather like getting hooked on a drug. Once the body starts burning under that accumulated strain, there isn't much left to do but endure the consequences."
"And when all that damage catches up with him, it tears through the body from the inside."
The associate went pale.
He looked back at the screen, where the boy was still using crystal after crystal. Suddenly, those bursts of golden light didn't look nearly as reassuring.
"I lost."
"The match isn't finished yet."
"I know, but I can already see where this is going!" The man dropped to his knees, then onto all fours, rubbing his face with both hands. "A hundred thousand dollars... Why did I agree to this?"
"Get your ass off the floor. You're embarrassing yourself."
"You made me bet five years' worth of savings!"
"I didn't make you do anything. I asked, and you agreed."
The associate looked up at him miserably.
"Relax. I was messing with you. I'm not taking your money."
The man blinked. "What?"
"You heard me. Keep it. What kind of boss would I be if I let an employee throw away five years of savings over a single wager?"
"You're serious?"
"Yes. I've already got another three million spread across different bets today. Your hundred thousand isn't going to make a difference to me. Consider it a freebie."
"You nearly killed me with that," he muttered. "I thought I was finished."
"That's the fun of it," Marcus said with a grin. "But next time, don't bet against me. You'll sleep better."
***
Elsewhere in the city, Talia was watching the same tournament from the comfort of her home.
Every time Nova appeared on the screen, another injury seemed to have been added to the growing collection covering his body. Talia winced as the earth manipulator sent another attack toward him. She had known the tournament would be dangerous, but watching someone she cared about suffer so much was different from hearing about the risks beforehand.
The kittens were gathered around her, and she kept trying to cover their eyes whenever the violence became especially unpleasant.
"You don't need to see this," she murmured, holding one kitten closer to her chest. "Honestly, I don't think I need to see this either."
She had also invited over the girl she had met at the market. It was supposed to be a friendly visit, a chance for them to become better acquainted. The girl had stepped into the bathroom a few minutes earlier, leaving Talia alone with the tournament and her increasingly anxious thoughts.
The girl stepped back into the room with an easy confidence that immediately caught her attention. There was something about the way she moved, the small smile on her lips, and the amused expression she wore when she noticed Talia staring.
"What?" the girl asked, smiling.
"Nothing!" Talia replied far too quickly.
"I was just wondering if you were comfortable. Do you want anything to drink? Water? Something else?"
"I'm fine, Talia. You don't have to worry so much."
She settled beside Talia on the couch, their shoulders nearly touching.
The girl glanced at the television. Nova was desperately avoiding another wall of stone.
"Is that the friend you were talking about?"
Talia nodded. "Yes. His name's Nova. He entered the tournament even though he hasn't been awakened yet."
"He looks like he's having a terrible time."
"He probably is," Talia replied, letting out a nervous laugh. "But knowing him, he'd find something to enjoy about it. I just wish he would stop taking so many hits."
"You care about him."
"Of course I do. He's a good friend. I want him to come home safely."
"Then I hope he does."
Talia smiled at her, grateful for the simple response. Before she managed to say anything else, the girl leaned closer.
"Careful," she whispered near Talia's ear. "Or you'll miss all the action."
"You're the one distracting me," she murmured.
"Am I?"
"You know you are."
The girl's smile grew more mischievous. Her fingers brushed gently along Talia's arm, and the slight touch made it difficult for Talia to remember what she had intended to say.
Then the girl tilted her head and pressed a soft kiss against Talia's lips.
Talia froze in surprise, only for the tension in her shoulders to ease as she returned the kiss. The kitten in her lap shifted, reminding her that she was still sitting in front of the television, but she hardly noticed anything beyond the person beside her.
"Focus on the fight, kitten," she teased, "or I might have to distract you again."
"You're impossible."
"You don't sound upset."
"I'm not."
***
Back at the American Guild, Marcus was still watching the tournament with a calculating expression.
The betting had hardly slowed down. Guards compared wagers in low voices, while several of his younger associates continued to watch the odds change as the matches progressed. Marcus's secretary stood nearby, recording the latest agreements and occasionally looking up at the screen.
"Another three million on the red team?" one associate asked, staring at Marcus in disbelief.
Marcus swirled the whiskey in his glass. "Why not? I trust my instincts. And if everyone else is overlooking something, I might as well take advantage of it."
"You make it sound so easy."
"It isn't easy. That's why you shouldn't put money on something you don't understand."
He glanced toward the guards, several of whom had begun arguing over whether Adam would survive the next round. Others were still focused on Nova's fight, waiting for the earth manipulator to finally bring it to an end.
"Remember," Marcus told them, his voice calmer now, "patience is where the real victory lies."
Marcus chuckled and settled deeper into his chair, his attention returning to the battered figure still refusing to fall on the screen.
***
Back in Talia's apartment, the girl beside her brushed her lips against Talia's once more, softer this time, before taking her hand. Talia glanced at their joined fingers and smiled despite herself.
"Do you want to stop?" Talia asked quietly.
"No," the girl replied. "Why would I?"
Talia laughed under her breath. She could still hear the commentators on the television, and she knew Nova was somewhere in that arena, fighting for his place in the tournament. She would check on him again in a moment.
But right now, with the girl's hand resting comfortably in hers and the kittens curled up beside them, Talia allowed herself to enjoy the unexpected happiness of the afternoon.
For the first time all day, she simply let herself feel.