Breath became jagged and the air froze in place just as Omar's voice pierced the silence.
"I beseech you to let my brother go and take me instead!"
There was an eruption of murmurs among the Vulnerables. Even the Maronos wore looks of perplexity, wondering if the man was mad. Anna on the other hand knew just what her brother was about to do.
"What did you just say?" Wanda asked in a tone of disbelief.
He slowly raised his head at her with pleading eyes.
"She is the only one I have left. Don't take her away from me, please allow me to swap places with her."
"You're crazy, aren't you?" Wanda sparks suddenly, looking almost offended. "Do you think this is a joke!"
Yet the Vulnerables expression remained the same, telling her he wasn't making fun of her and that he actually meant what he said.
She suddenly felt overwhelmed with shock and awe. Of all the years she spent in the outskirts,no Vulnerable ever did what Omar was willing to. It was then that she finally figured Omar was different from the other Vulnerables. Infact,when the Vulnerables had assembled,she had being sensing a particular aura that stood out from the rest and strangely Omar seemed to have that same aura.
But what he was asking was death and there was no way he could escape it.
Even if Omar did have the strength of ten men, there was no way he could survive the horrors of the arena. Infact,of all the games listed no one ever emerged alive. Not to add that the young man kneeling before her looking completely unacquainted with combat,he also looked emaciated with bulging eyes and so much of a thin frame that she could easily see outlines of his ribs beneath his tunic. Even if he was to be given all the luck in the world,death will still be his potential predator.
All the same,Wanda was deeply touched by his selfless act. Infact she felt sympathy- an emotion she never thought she had,the young man's struggle to protect his sibling was going indeed heart touching.
Wanda then slowly withdraws to a corner and suddenly deploys her helmet and she began to speak beneath it. Then some moments later,she returns back with her helmet now folded back and her face grim.
"Fine." She finally conceded.
Then immediately,a Marono abruptly seized him by the arm and pulled him up to his feet. The soldier then proceeded to put a small round metallic object round his two wrists. And just then, liquid metal began to gush out from the bracelet's pores, racing through his skin to cover his hands and then slowly solidifying to trap his hands in a coarse material. Then soldier then began to jostle him down the stage.
As they passed the spectating crowd, numerous eyes followed him. Some were mesmerized by his sacrifice while others thought what he did was stupid.
Before Omar could be led into the dark tunnels of the dungeon,he turned back one final time only to find Anna still standing,frozen solid and numb.
"I'll stay alive for you." He mouthed with a faint smile.
But before Anna could even respond,he was being shoved through the dungeon's gates.
***
This was the first time he had ever stepped into the eerie dungeon. It was a crumbling underground tunnel with elevators that go deep into the earth's crust where the Prisoners are locked up in toxic cells.
When they arrived to the final floor,the Marono took off the iron bracelet he had earlier placed round his wrists. And as soon as he did so,the hard material began to crack and shatter into pieces and Omar was free at last.
Omar had meekly obeyed all the Marono's orders, however he was taken off guard when he was asked to take off his tunic and change into a brown jumpsuit.
He hesitated to do so, mostly because he was scared the Marono would discover the brazallium core in his chest and it will raise questions about it.
He took off the tunic anyway,taking his chances. But strangely, the Marono didn't even seem to care,he only appeared to care about Omar hurrying up to change into his new attire.
Not only him,even the other soldiers walking by didn't seem to notice. Omar quickly reasoned that the core must be invisible to them.
This was a perfect advantage to him. He will now be able to hide the fact he's a Rayan without drawing any attraction to himself.
On reaching an empty cell,the grumpy Marono guard halted and opened the door via a scanner on the wall. Just as the door slid open,the soldier instantly hurls Omar into it.
"The airship arrives in an hour." He informed Omar and then took his leave.
After the guard had left, Omar moved to crouch in the corner of the cell. As much as he tried not to think about what happened moments ago,he couldn't. Numerous memories of what happened sometime ago continued to flash. He knew there wasn't a flaw in sacrificing himself for his brother, where upon he promised not to be overwhelmed by feelings of remorse. As it is,he was only trying to save his brother. But could he save himself?
"I saw what you did back there,it was stupid."
Omar stumbled to his feet,surprised by the familiar voice from the opposite cell. He slowly moved towards the iron grill to peer through.
His brows furrowed,there seemed to be something vaguely familiar of the man's face.
"Raven?" He called with a baffle. "What brought you here?"
Raven was unmoved by his question. He however began to grin, despite the fact they were in a dreadful situation here.
"It's a long story," He says now with a hardened face. " I stalked Lotus on his way home last night. You should have seen the look in his eyes when I cut his throat. But the bastard is still alive and I'm here."
Omar gave him a raised brow.
"Then why didn't they kill you by now?"
Raven looked offended by his question,he clasped the iron grill and projected an icy glare.
"Who says I'm a miserable Vulnerable like you?"
The shocking truth about Raven's real identity was finally disclosed.
'So the rumors are true then? Raven is a Marono? What a piece of crap this guy's telling me.'
For the Vulnerables the laws were different. The penalty for even striking a Marono is death and know killing a Marono attracted a punishment severe than death. The guilty Vulnerable would be flayed alive and hung over in the middle of the outskirts for all to see.
Omar restrained his surprise and asked:
"Do you really think what I did was stupid?"
Raven's brows lifted in surprise,it wasn't the question he was expecting.
"No. I think what you did was very stupid. For God's sake,the girl chose to runaway and leave you and she got caught. But now you're taking her punishment?"
"I had to,she is going to die in that arena... ." Omar began but Raven's irking cackle barged in.
"And what makes you think you can survive the arena yourself? I mean look you,all weak and miserable. Get this into your head Vulnerable,you and I and every other damn person entering that arena would never make it alive."
Silence stood in between them as they both exchanged gazes. Raven sighs and withdraws into the deeper part if the cell.
Omar hated to admit but Raven was right. Based in his current strength status, there was no way he could even get through the first stage of the deadly game.
But if he gets to bond with the brazallium and gets stronger,what will his chances of survival be?
[Host's information]
[Name:Omar Khan]
[Age:20]
[Level:0]
[Rank: currently unknown]
[X.p:0/100]
[EN.P:8/10]
[H.P:7/10]
[Strength:7]
[Agility:5]
[Stamina:5]
He has to obtain the required amount of X.P before he can level up and that he can only do by fulfilling quests. And unfortunately, daily quest isn't available at the moment.
He also noticed his strength, stamina and agility are almost comparable,but they are not too promising. If the system is really like those he read in popular webtoons,he should be able to increase those as he level up as well.
What seemed to be strange to him was the EN.P,he didn't have the slightest clue on how to accumulate that,thus he decided to ask the system.
[I wish I can help,but I can only provide such information after bonding]
It almost looked like the system is basically useless unless it bonds with the host. He had also realized that if he really wants to avoid any problem,he has to keep the system and any ability he will manage to aquire later in the future a secret.
Once the world gets to find out a Vulnerable like him got hold of such a precious element,they won't hesitate to raise against him and force him to hand it over to them. So, the best way to staying safe is keeping quiet about the brazallium and pretending to be weak until he grows strong enough to protect himself.
However,all his plans on the future depended on his survival in the arena. As a result,he knew he had to train himself hard to win, even if it will take him hundreds of hours if training.
Fortunately,the next arena battle was a week away,thus it will give Omar time to master some survival skills. Thankfully,he still had a little bit of knowledge on martial arts.
The entrance creaked opened and heavy footsteps echoed. Wanda appeared a moment later, standing before Omar with a face drained of emotion and the iron grill being the only barrier between them.
"The plane is here to take you away. Do you still wish to take your sister's place?" She informed him and the stopped to watch his reaction. Still Omar's expression remained steadfast, clearly indicating he's not at all willing to change his mind.
Wanda had quickly figured that Omar is peculiar. It had been long since she'd met a Vulnerable like him;gutsy and bold. Deep beneath her emotionless exterior,she felt sympathy.
One way or the other, Omar reminded her of the time she was his age. Those happy long years when she still had her brother Karl.
While growing up as an orphan, Karl had being her parents. He played all three roles simultaneously, shifting from one character to the other. He was her brother and had dedicated all his life to make her happy. It was out of that very dedication that she lost him in a fire fifteen years ago,in that ghastly night when the new breed of predators appeared. He wouldn't have been killed if she hadn't disobeyed him. He followed her into the building,only to discover he was being surrounded by dozens of evolved predators.
Two more guards emerged from the background,they opened the cell doors and ordered the two prisoners to step out.
"Take it easy," Raven growls feeling the soldiers intense grasp. "You don't want me to go to the arena in bad shape."
The soldiers face contorts, giving Raven a sinister look as he tightened his grip and pulled Raven into the elevator that then took them to the top floor.
The two were then led out to the open field where a airship loomed above them. Everything suddenly became more real to Omar. This was his fate,to become a gladiator whom is bound to fight till his death. Well at least,he was finally leaving the outskirts.
He also discovered that despite having a feeling of grudge against Anna,there was still a part of him that wanted to meet her and say his parting words.
As though he had been answered by the heaven,he suddenly caught Anna's familiar figure standing at a different angle.
Anna looked completely wrecked with her long hair now unkept and frizzy. Even the rims her eyes were sullen with tears and she was shivering like a chicken being drenched by the rain.
Once Anna saw him,she gallops to his side and bursts into another round of tears.
"You sister had been begging to see you. You have only five minutes." Wanda said and then takes her leave.
Immediately Wanda was out of sight,Anna quickly grabs Omar for a tight embrace.
"I'm sorry." She whines, sobbing.
"No need to cry..."
"No Omar, It's all my fault. If had listened to you,all this wouldn't have happened. Why did you do it? Why didn't you just leaving me?"
Omar detaches himself from the embrance and took her face in his hands, wiping the tears off her face.
"You were here the whole time?" He asked smiling weakly.
Anna nodded and said:
"I couldn't go home. My scruples won't let me."
'At least she cares' Omar thought feeling relief.
There were plenty he wanted to say,but he knew the impatient guards wouldn't let him. He decided to end the meeting in the most ventured way he can.
"I'll stay alive for you,I promise."
As soon as he said those words,the soldier seized him once more and began to usher him towards the gangway and the ship's widened hatch. Then he was led to a particular cabin,this was where the other new combatants were locked.
The moment Omar stepped into the cabin,he instantly discovered that the other offenders looked more venomous and brutal than he visualized it to be,with some being cyborgs and others resembling beasts and assassins.
For the first time,Omar admitted the truth to himself. There was no way he could survive in the arena, especially when such people will be against them.