"Food and drinks for now, please, Mr. Android Man," Gabriel said.
The android's eyes brightened instantly. "You can call me Arthur, and of course! Please browse our extensive menu of meals and beverages!"
Four holographic screens unfolded in front of each one of them, expanding outward until it was nearly the size of the counter. Rows upon rows of options scrolled past—meats, grains, vegetables, desserts, drinks he didn't recognize, drinks he did, drinks that probably shouldn't exist.
Marcus leaned in immediately. "Oh hell yeah. They've got burgers."
Cole nodded approvingly. "And fries. Real ones."
The girl tilted her head, scanning the menu more carefully. "They have pierogi," she said, sounding surprised. "And goulash."
Gabriel scrolled past most of the comfort food and paused on a bland-looking option.
Grilled chicken breast. Steamed vegetables. Brown rice. Nutritional breakdown listed in meticulous detail.
Boring, he thought. Perfect.
"I'll take this," Gabriel said.
Marcus shot him a look of genuine disappointment. "Man, you might die in twenty five hours in an interdimensional death trial in view of a billion people… and you still eat like you're cutting."
"Discipline," Gabriel replied simply.
Cole ordered a double cheeseburger with fries and some kind of thick milkshake. Marcus followed suit. The girl ordered a bowl of goulash with bread, looking quietly pleased.
The android processed the orders instantly. Trays slid out from beneath the counter, steam rising gently from the food.
"Please enjoy!" the android said brightly. "I am available if you require further sustenance or emotional encouragement!"
They took a long table near the center of the canteen and sat together.
As they ate, Gabriel let his gaze drift across the room.
A handful of contestants were, still, sat hunched forward, faces buried in their hands. Some stared blankly at the table, unmoving, as if afraid that looking up would make this place real.
They have to accept reality.
Most people, though, had gathered in groups. Now that the language barrier was gone, the clusters weren't purely divided by race or nationality anymore—but people still gravitated toward those who felt familiar.
The canteen buzzed with low conversation instead of chaos now.
A strange kind of calm.
They finished eating quicker than Gabriel expected.
Marcus stood abruptly, stretching. "Alright. Gym time."
Cole nodded. "Sounds good."
The girl hesitated, glancing down at the dagger she'd bought earlier. "I should probably… practice."
Marcus grinned. "Perfect. Come on… what's your name?"
"Erin." She said.
They cleared their trays and headed toward the gym area together.
The gym was active. Dozens of contestants were testing their strength—lifting weights, swinging wooden practice weapons. A few people already had their own weapons bought from the street vendor area. The clang of metal and dull thuds of impact echoed through the reinforced space.
No one was in the sparring area.
"Race you," Marcus said.
Cole smirked. "You're on."
Marcus and Cole made a beeline for the heavy bags.
They started throwing punches almost immediately. Heavy, practiced blows. The bags swung violently with each impact.
Nearby, Erin stood in front of a humanoid mannequin, dagger in hand.
She hesitated for only a moment before stepping in and driving the blade forward.
Again.
And again.
Each slightly better than the previous.
She's taking this well, Gabriel thought.
He lingered at the edge of the gym, watching them for a moment longer.
"See you later, I'm checking out the end of the hub." he said.
Marcus threw a punch mid-swing. "Don't die without us!"
Cole waved without turning around.
Gabriel left the gym and continued down the main hub.
The light dimmed slightly the farther he walked. The walls narrowed. The atmosphere shifted—subtly heavier, more oppressive.
Gabriel had reached the end of the hub by now.
No one else was over here.
Twelve small doors. Cold to the touch. They had the same material as the walls, but had an odd pattern carved in them.
Each one was identical.
Gabriel tried to push one of them open, but it wouldn't budge.
The digital clock above ticked down steadily.
26:08:03
Gabriel exhaled slowly.
Then he turned and walked back. He had a couple questions to ask Arthur the Android.
Gabriel passed by Marcus, Cole and Erin. Waving to them and went over to Arthur the android who was by himself, polishing trays and glasses.
"Hey Arthur," Gabriel said, sitting down on one of the stools by the counter. "How do we get back to our rooms?"
"It's easy, you can go whenever you want, just go to any point in the hub, and knock three times on the wall. It doesn't matter where. After that, the door will appear." He paused, "If you want to come back, just knock three times on the wall adjacent to your bed. If you forget or need anything, use the grey tile. It has all the information you need."
"Great, thanks Arthur. Another quick question… what are those vials in the glass cabinet back in my room?" Gabriel asked, his arms now resting on the counter top.
"Ah, that is the reward for whenever you complete a trial. After you finish a trial, you can open the cabinet, and drink the vials. The reward from each trial isn't always the same," Arthur continued, leaning in, his voice a whisper, "Would you like my personal recommendation?"
Gabriel nodded slowly, puzzled by the android's actions.