Kryi's eyes widened, disbelief flashing over her face.
"That's quite the statement. I suggest ya keep that one to yaself and if ya really wanna get strong, we got some people here who might be able to show ya a thing or two."
"It doesn't matter who," Roako replied. "Take me to someone who can make me stronger, or take me to the colosseum. I'll fight anyone," his voice was sharp and impatient.
"Woah there, calm down, boy. I warn ya, but people here are a lot stronger than ya think. Rest up first, then we'll show you the difference between ya and some of us. Maybe even teach ya a thing or two," she smirked, shaking her head.
"See ya in a few days, boy." She cast one last glance at his wounded body before nodding toward Liora, "Fix the boy up fast, looks like he'll be fun to have around."
With a final chuckle, Kyri turned and headed towards the exit. Each footstep was precise and deliberate, her fur coat radiated a faint blue as it flowed across her toned back, revealing a large scar.
After hours of rest, Roako had felt replenished. His stomach was full, his strength returning, yet the fire within him refused to subside. He closed his eyes for a brief moment, steadying his emotions through meditation, before standing up and heading towards the door. His footsteps were light, yet filled with purpose.
As Roako exited the room, he glanced around, the bustling noises of the city were now in front of him. He was stationed at the heart of the city. The city stretched endlessly, more alive than Roako could have ever imagined. Each building was carved from stone and metal, towering above him, lit by torches and floating metal lanterns.
He had barely taken in his surroundings before the ground began to tremble.
Heavy footsteps echoed from afar, each one growing louder than the last. Alongside them came sharp bursts of flapping, an artificial wind rushing through the streets.
In the distance, a massive, muscular man strolled forward with a dull expression. A torn black vest clung to his gray body, barely covering it. A large mouth stretched across his face, a clean white horn protruding from his nose.
A thin lady floated beside him as she flapped her arms. She had long blue hair, excitement gleaming in her eyes. Her arms had brown feathers that extended her wingspan, each flap sending strong gusts of wind through the street. She looked at the other man as she continued to talk with a bright yellow beak. Her expression flickered rapidly between a variety of emotions, almost as quickly as her arms flapped.
They grew closer, instinctively ignoring Roako, until the woman had noticed his body.
She swooped down, landing a few feet away from him.
"Oh? What's this then? Look at this Jackson! It's an Unmarked!" Her words spilled out without pause. "Should we kill him? Look at his precious eyes, I wonder how they would look next to all the others! Aww, but we really need to get to the meeting…Can I please just kill him really quick? He might be gone if we don't, don't you think?"
She stared at Roako intensely as she spoke, with excitement flickering wildly across her face.
Holding her arms out, they shifted, her talons had retracted, her wings had disappeared into her arms, leaving plain human hands. Feathers lined her upper biceps as she strolled toward him, carefree.
Roako raised a brow, remaining silent, observing her approach. His hands rested behind his back, fingers faintly glowing white as he waited.
From afar, the large man stopped.
His glare pierced straight through Roako. Towering over three times the size of his height, smoke hissed from his nostrils as his eyes narrowed, lingering on Roako's wounds. He said nothing.
The woman suddenly lunged.
Her hands transforming back into talons, slashing straight for Roako's eyes.
Roako instantly stepped back, narrowly avoiding her strike.
In the same motion, he drew a marking across his arms. A faint red light flared, x3, as his muscles swelled.
He twisted and struck forward.
The punch tore through the air, and a sharp gust of wind exploded behind him.
"Peli, behind me!" the man shouted, stepping forward as Roako's fist collided with his hand.
The impact echoed. A red burn mark seared into the back of the man's hand as Roako slid back, raising his guard.
The man snorted. Steam flooded the air as laughter boomed from his chest.
"T'was quite the punch you got there. You might've injured Peli, that's for sure. Now I can't let you go."
His fist shot forward, narrowly missing Roako.
A grin spread across Roako's face.
His finger glowed as the marking on his arms vanished, reappearing along his legs. He surged forward, bursting through the lingering smoke. Carrying his momentum, he leapt and kicked the side of the man's leg, pushing off as he spun and slammed another kick into the same spot.
The man grunted.
"Heh. Not bad, you Unmarked. You've got some power in you. Not enough to take me on, but it's passable." He turned away. "Peli, let's go. We've got a meeting."
He walked off as if untouched, steam continuing to billow from his nostrils.
Peli's face flushed red.
"How embarrassing! I really wanted his eyes too!"
Her arms spread into wings as she lifted into the air. She glanced back at Roako, her glare sharp.
"Meet us in the colosseum, I'd love to show you what I'm really capable of and steal those eyes of yours."
She shot off, her excitement returning in an instant.
Roako remained still for a moment, then exhaled slowly.
He knew better than to chase. Peli might have been manageable—but Jackson was different. His confidence was backed by strength. All three attacks had barely left a mark.
Strength came at a cost. For now, that cost was time.
Roako turned toward the massive white stone colosseum in the distance, clenching his fists. A grin crept onto his face as he broke into a sprint. His bandages unraveled with each step, revealing a body nearly restored.
If he wanted to get stronger, he needed to start at the bottom. Roako's heart burned with passion and excitement. Strong opponents and the ability to get stronger lie ahead of him.
A flash of noise roared as he closed the distance.
The sounds of fighting could be heard from within the colosseum, beside it were the cheers, screams, and shouting.
All the voices had been rooting for one person.
"Arc!"
Their voices screamed in unison.
Boom.
The cheering grew louder.
Another boom followed.
Then the cheering slowly died down, and the sounds of fighting had stopped.
A few murmurs could be heard from around as he headed closer to the front of the colosseum. Whispers of an "Unmarked" as multiple figures stared down at him in disgust and resentment, yet were unwilling to do anything.
From under the colosseum, a lady stood still, holding a clipboard, occasionally glancing back at the center. An anxious look loomed over her, her foot rapidly tapping the cold stone.
Her glasses slid down her face, caught briefly by her gray ram horns. Bright green hair followed by a professional-looking attire.
Roako had continued to walk towards her before tapping her shoulder.
In a jolt, she screamed in shock before swinging her clipboard towards Roako's face, making contact.
Roako's surprised look stared blankly at the lady, before swiping the clipboard away from his face. A large red mark appeared on the cheek of Roako.
The lady, in a shocked, panicked voice, screamed out, "Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry! You scared me!" She started to gather herself, standing straight up in a well-suited professional manner. "My name is Kathy, what could I do for you today?", she said with an apologetic tone as she slightly bowed.
Roako stood still with a shocked face, before he asked Kathy, "How can I fight in the colosseum? Do I fight anyone, or do I work my way up?"
Kathy responded back quick and well-mannered, "I can sign you up to fight, but I will warn you people don't tend to like Unmarked fighters. You'll start in your tier bracket unless a Guardian approves otherwise."
"Sign me up, I want to be able to fight as soon as possible," Roako said, eyes burning.
Kathy looked down at her clipboard, flipping the pages carefully reading each page. "I'll sign you right in, you'll be the lowest tier of stone and the next fight of your tier would be up against Siren. I just need a code name and you'll be set," she said in a quick, sophisticated tone not stopping to look up, as she continued to flip the pages.
Roako chuckled softly.
"Unmarked sounds like the perfect name."