The handshake with Roric felt like sealing a pact with a force Kai couldn't yet comprehend. The sheer audacity of Roric's ambition – to challenge Apex – was still ringing in his ears as they left the cantina. The immediate future, however, was dominated by a more concrete, if no less daunting, challenge: Crusher.
"The fight will be in three days – Saturday night," Roric stated as they walked through the dimly lit streets of District 7, his expensive clothes a stark contrast to the surrounding decay. "Prime slot. The Pit's organizers were surprisingly… amenable when the right incentives were offered." He gave Kai a sidelong glance, a hint of a smile playing on his lips. "It seems a 'mysterious new backer' offering to significantly sweeten the winner's purse and cover some of The Pit's 'operational overheads' can open a lot of doors."
Kai was starting to understand the kind of "resources" Roric commanded. This wasn't just about having a few extra credits; Roric moved with the quiet confidence of someone who could manipulate the district's undercurrents with ease.
"Three days," Kai repeated, the words feeling heavy. It wasn't much time. "What do I need to do?"
"For now? Rest. Train. Focus," Roric said. "I'll handle the logistics, the 'promotional' aspects. We want word to spread. 'Newcomer challenges Crusher.' It'll draw a crowd. The bigger the spectacle, the louder our first statement." He paused. "I've also arranged for a slightly more… private training space for you for the next couple of days. Better than a ruined park, wouldn't you say? It's secure. No prying eyes."
He passed Kai a small, unmarked data-chip. "Location details. Go there tomorrow morning. It's stocked with basic training gear. Nothing high-tech, but functional. Use the time wisely. Crusher is strong, durable. His Anima, 'Myomer Augmentation,' lets him temporarily increase his muscle density. He hits like a freight train. But as I said, he's slow, relies on brute force. Your agility, your precision – those are your advantages."
The System, ever-present, chose that moment to chime in: [NEW LONG-TERM QUEST ISSUED: THE CRUSHER'S DOWNFALL] Objective: Defeat the Arena Combatant 'Crusher' in a sanctioned Pit fight. Sub-Objective 1: Utilize newly acquired skills/attributes effectively (0/1) Sub-Objective 2: Maintain Anima Concealment or controlled manifestation (avoid catastrophic exposure) (0/1) Sub-Objective 3: Secure Victory (0/1) Rewards for Completion: +200 EXP, +1 Skill Point, +5 Undistributed Attribute Points, +1 'Anima Shard (D-Grade)', Significant increase in local Notoriety, Substantial Credit Cache (via Roric). Failure Penalty: Severe physical trauma, loss of Notoriety, potential Faction dissolution, Anima Core Instability. Time Limit: Approx. 70 Standard Hours.
The rewards were substantial, far more than any Daily Quest. An Anima Shard – the System had mentioned those in relation to the Skill Tree. But the "Failure Penalty" was equally stark. This wasn't just a fight for credits anymore; it was a cornerstone for Roric's grand plans, and a critical test for Kai.
"The System seems to agree this is important," Kai muttered, more to himself than to Roric.
Roric raised an eyebrow. "System?"
Kai froze. He hadn't meant to say that aloud. "Just… my own way of processing things. A mental checklist." He needed to be more careful. Roric was perceptive.
"Right," Roric said slowly, his gaze lingering on Kai for a moment before he moved on. "One more thing. While you're training, I'll be making initial contact with a few… individuals. People who might be interested in joining a crew that's going places, a crew that's not afraid to shake things up. Your victory against Crusher will be their signal that we're for real."
They reached the edge of Kai's residential block. "Get some rest, Kai," Roric said, his tone all business again. "Saturday night, you're not just fighting for yourself or your family anymore. You're fighting for us. For what we're about to build." He gave a curt nod and disappeared into the shadows as silently and efficiently as he'd appeared.
Kai returned to his apartment, the data-chip feeling heavy in his pocket. His mother and Elara were asleep. The eviction notice was still on the table, a stark reminder of the stakes. He looked at it, then at his own reflection in the cracked windowpane. The amber eyes stared back, a little more controlled now thanks to his new skill, but still holding that alien, predatory light.
He had three days. Three days to prepare to face a man called Crusher, three days to get ready to become the "fist" of Roric's audacious, possibly insane, ambition. The fear was there, a cold knot in his stomach, but beneath it, something else was stirring – a grim determination, a spark of the draconic power that now defined him, ready to meet the challenge. He was no longer just Kai, the courier. He was Kai, the Conduit, and his stage was being set.