(Cafeteria — Earth Pavilion)
It was only after Socrates returned to the Earth Pavilion that he finally noticed the changes that his body had undergone. The awareness came gradually, settling into his mind as he moved through the familiar stone corridors lined with torchlight and murmuring disciples.
Gone was the lean red-haired teenager... Socrates' body was now well developed.. His muscles were protruding at the right places... He's now exactly six feet tall with his abs well defined.. His shoulders were broader, his chest fuller, and every movement carried a subtle heaviness of forged strength, like steel tempered repeatedly in fire.
He had already dressed up in a white silverish tank top and a black fitted jean trouser. A pair of black boots.... The clothing clung tightly to his refined physique, emphasizing the hardened lines of muscle that had been carved through years of brutal trials inside the consciousness world.
He didn't wear the Earth Pavilion robe as he sat at a table of the cafeteria, dining on the dishes that Mastrile brought for him. The cafeteria itself buzzed faintly with noise—wooden benches scraping, utensils clinking, and the distant aroma of roasted meat filling the wide stone hall.
Grilled meat skewers and rotisserie meat served with fries and tzatziki. Tomatoes stuffed with rice and herbs, stuffed eggplant, lamb Giouvetsi, and rich beef stew with onions. Steam rose from the dishes in curling wisps, carrying thick, mouth-watering scents that lingered heavily in the air.
Socrates was having the best time of his life as he dined on the food without hesitation, not finishing one before returning to another.. His hands moved swiftly, grabbing piece after piece as if afraid the meal would vanish at any moment.
His action drawn attention from other disciples of the Earth Pavilion..
Not exactly the way he eat but the person serving him food...
"Who's that person?"
"I've never seen him around before.."
"To think that the great Mastrille will be serving him."
"Is he a friend to our champion?"
"Or is he from the Sky Pavilion?"
"I know the disciples of the Sky Pavilion.. Surely he's not from there.."
"Then is he from a higher one?"
"Look at how he's eating like someone who haven't eaten for months..."
All what they're saying, Socrates could actually hear them but he didn't pay them any attention.. Their whispers echoed faintly through the hall, but none of it held weight compared to the sensation of warm food settling into his long-starved stomach.
If truth be told it's almost a year he had eaten a good food....
It's been nine months now... Nine months since he was tossed into the world of gladiators.
Nine months since the death of Mr. Jaggers...
He had trained and cultivated under the statue of the Goddess of Death, forsaking meal and eating nothing but hard breathe.. He has spent six months unconscious and living in the world of Lady Achillia... The memories of endless pain, starvation, and relentless death trials flickered faintly across his mind but were quickly drowned by the warmth of nourishment.
So when Socrates caught the sight of food... He ate as if his life depended on it... Spending half of the points in Nicollo's wristband just to satisfy everything he want... The wristband flickered faintly on his wrist, its stored points draining rapidly as dish after dish was summoned.
Mastrile stood beside him looking at how Socrates savored and devoured everything while waiting for further instructions. His posture remained stiff, respectful, yet uneasy, as if uncertain of the man he now served.
Socrates grabbed the jug of wine from the table after clearing off the dishes and turned it over to his mouth at once as particles of food dropped down from his mouth while he drank down the content in the jug.. His throat moved slowly as he gulped in the liquid, the sharp scent of fermented grapes filling his nostrils.
"Bleh! .." He belched as he dropped the empty jug on the table..
"Gosh... It been long since I have such a good food... What comes next is a bathe?". His voice carried satisfaction, roughened slightly from long disuse.
"Brother.. The room of Nicollo has a bathroom." Mastrile announced. "Should I lead you there Brother Socrates?"
"That was my former room so it's only natural I know my way there. Although there's something I need your help for." Socrates said, standing up from the seat with a protruding stomach. His movements were slow but steady, like a predator rising after feeding.
"Those two axes... Give it to the Blacksmith and pay any amount to get it sharpened and then issue a challenge to the Sky Pavilion Champion under the name of thy Earth Pavilion." Socrates said to Mastrile. His tone was calm, almost casual, yet carried an unmistakable authority that made nearby listeners stiffen.
"While the first one is doable Brother Socrates.. The second one is quite overwhelming.. You should know that a lot has changed for the past six months and Merkules the Sky Pavilion Champion had broken into the Sixth level of the Energy Condensation Realm.. With the help of the golden token, he was able to break through three levels in six months and planning to get promoted into the Heaven Pavilion." Mastrile explained the current situation to Socrates.. His voice lowered slightly, wary of the magnitude of what Socrates was requesting.
'Sixth level huh... That's still mid stage Energy Condensation Realm... Lady Achilla said my strength is also at this level... Merkules disgraced me in front of everyone and took away what belongs to me... If I can't defeat him fair and square, I won't be able to reddem my pride.'
"Do what I ask of you and leave the rest to me." Socrates said to him before walking off towards the main hall.... His footsteps echoed softly across the stone floor, measured and unwavering.
Mastrile bowed a little as he watched Socrates' retreating footsteps..
"Did he really saw a goddess?" Mastrile asked himself as he watched Socrates' back fade away into the corridor's dim lighting..
"He must have gain some miraculous power and it has gotten into his head... He want to challenge a sixth level Energy Condensation Realm cultivator.. He might as well die and then I'll have back my freedom." a smirk formed on Mastrile face as he turned around to carry out the task Socrates beckoned him.
.
.
(Sky Pavilion — Champion's abode)
"Greetings Brother Merkules."
The two men bowed their head immediately they entered the room but their gaze still lingered on the back of the silhouette that was seated in a lotus position cultivating as if his life depended on it.. The chamber was dimly lit, illuminated only by faint golden light reflecting off the polished stone walls, creating long shadows that stretched across the floor.
Hovering in the air above him was the golden token...
The token was glowing with golden energy.. Energy so dense that it seemed as if the token was condensed power itself, radiating steady waves that caused the surrounding air to ripple faintly. And indeed it was condensed.
Merkules' eyes were shut close.. He had already sensed the presence of the two before they could enter inside but he didn't pay them attention.. His breathing was slow and controlled, each inhale drawing golden wisps of energy into his body.
The duo stood there in silence for almost ten minutes before Merkules finally opened his eyes as golden arcs of lightning flashed past them. Thin streaks of crackling energy danced briefly around his pupils before fading away into nothingness.
"I'm halfway in solidifying my strength as a Sixth level Energy Condensation. Why do you disrupt my cultivation?"
"We bring pressing news.." One of the lackeys stated.. His voice carried urgency, though carefully restrained in the presence of overwhelming authority.
"The Champion of the Earth Pavilion has publicly challenged you into a duel set to happen tomorrow morning.." Another replied.
Excitement bubbled in the heart of Merkules... "A duel.... I destroyed the old champion and now the new champion comes to challenge me? What do they want?".. A faint smirk formed across his lips as arrogance flickered in his gaze.
"He aim to retrieve the token that once belong to the former champion."
"Hahaha... That's a fool's dream..." Merkules laughed out loud... The sound echoed through the chamber, deep and mocking.
"What cultivation level is this so called champion?"
"His name is Nicollo and he's at the 3rd level Energy Condensation Realm.."
"Tch... This will be too easy... Accept the challenge, we fight tomorrow morning... I've been cultivating non stop.. I just realized I need to test my current capabilities.... Hahaha..." Merkules laughed out loud before closing his eyes back, returning to his cultivation.
Golden energy immediately began gathering around him once again, swirling like miniature storms as the floating token pulsed rhythmically above his head.
The two lackeys glanced at each other, didn't say a word and retreated out of the room in order to carry out the order given to them by their master. Their footsteps echoed faintly before fading into the distance, leaving the chamber once again filled with the steady hum of circulating energy.