"A place of power ... They don't know what is the buffer? Or pretending? "

Ink diversified his morning routines with training, while thinking about the place he was in. Trying to come up with a way not to fly out of the arena after meeting even the weakest opponent, he closed himself in the toilet and for some time created different figures from the force field. I even tried to create an image of a man that could be useful in a battle to distract attention. If with the form something more or less turned out to be something similar to a humanoid creature, then with the painting of transparent power in the colors of the body and clothes, it ended in complete failure. Ink could change the color of individual sections of the field by changing his light reflection properties. Micromanipulation was great for this.

"You just need to control the monstrous amount of these micron particles ... My mind is still too weak for this"

Ink tried to paint large areas in the same color, but it turned out unnaturally. In addition, all the shortcomings of the mannequin created by him became more clearly visible. He held the force field on the almost weightless body of Arsi in the zero world, repeating all the contours of her body. It turned out to be many times more difficult to create a form without reference to the finished frame. How many Ink did not try, some strange stuffed animals came out.

It was impossible to occupy the room longer. Ink returned to the room, exchanged glances with the other students of Mad Glam. They went to the guy at the reception in silence, even Grank showed nervousness . Kiass kept touching his hands.

"I wonder how strong his metal skin is?" Can you handle the sword? "

Golden-skinned could think the same thing. Ink had already thought of many ways to fight and, with disappointment, came to the conclusion that horns could be considered his only weapon and hope for battle.

- Ready to perform in the arena? - the guy asked in anticipation at the entrance.

- How to organize a fight and how much do they pay? - immediately decided to clarify Grank .

- Organizing is simple. You go out into the arena and call someone specific or wait for a person who wants to test your strength. They pay in different ways. We have a league system here: beginners, bronze, silver, gold and the elite. The latter is not quite a league, but rather a way to describe super-strong creatures who, for some reason, decided to publicly resolve their differences in our arena. They don't give a damn for the reward, therefore officially gold is the highest rank of the gladiator. If you want to earn something more than feeding, you have to make people come here to see exactly your fight. Show, entertainment! Most wanted to spit on it - they just train, test their strength. By the way, the forces reborn in this place cannot die, but this is not a reason to consider themselves invincible. There are guys who exhaust the enemy, and then ... capture and make their servants. Ascended can lose their bodies and become spirits. Do not take the arena lightly.

"I mean, make servants," Ink did not understand .

"You will stay here a day or two and you will understand everything yourself." Here are gathered guys from the buffer, magicians and witches, all sorts of creatures with the awakened blood of demons, mythical animals, gods, elemental rulers and so on.

- Mages? I don't know if you are aware of our situation ... " Ink began , but the guy behind the counter interrupted him.

- I know. Glam and I have an agreement. We are covering you. There is not much to talk about affairs in the arena. In addition, the renewal of residents does not occur so often. This is, like, a local bomb shelter. So we registered the basement. Here and housing, and water with food and an arena near by. Until the tournament is held, guests from the surface will not look. If they appear ... they will leave with nothing. Here, - the guy handed a piece of paper with the pen drawn by the curved lines of the corridors and an indication of the route to something marked with a cross - go here, talk with Yuvi. He will help you choose equipment if necessary, and in general will clarify the issue of rewards for battles.

"Thank you," Ink already remembered the whole drawing, but still took the piece of paper. - What's your name?

- Narkert.

- An unusual name ... Also reborn? Ink asked , introducing the others and calling himself.

- No, I'm more alive than all the living. It's just that the old names are boring, and you need to stand out somehow in the arena. Itself was once a weakling, like you, but then I heard about the restaurant, other unusual people. He got stuck to the place of power and began to grow stronger before his eyes. Nobody is going to rage here. The guys who are looking for you will not break in, and ambushes nearby will also be arranged. Have you tried our dishes? Only in places of strength and grow. Tell the old vampires that because of some idiots they will have to cut people out again and go hungry because of the lack of raw materials for cocktails ... These fools will simply be cut out. Settle a war for three newcomers?

"I see," said Kiass , who had regained some of his usual impassivity.

"Nifiga is not clear," said Grank indignantly , "whom did he call a weakling?"

"Over a million," Kiass answered him .

"What are you talking about?" - to the annoyed words , and the golden-skinned one answered with a meaningful look.

"Well, nafig," Ink also only now realized the meaning of metallic words. - He's not talking about points? This is unreal ... "

Grank wanted to say something, but pretended that there was no indignation before. Ink , such a behavior seemed a little ridiculous, although he did not understand how to react to new knowledge. Therefore, he once again thanked Narkert and, along with the others, went along the route to a certain Yuvi.

"They call it a place of power," Kiass shook his head. "She is even more powerful than I thought."

Ink raised an eyebrow inquiringly.

"The buffer alone is worth something," the golden-skinned explained. "She created the whole world with her laws, ensuring the immortality of the reborn." Many strive for the same level - to create their own world. Here is just a slight distortion of laws in the immediate environment - this is one thing, and so global changes are a completely different matter. All these resources that we are looking for that are growing here due to the accumulation of energies. These are just drops of her power. The spirit of reflection is truly incomprehensible ...

- She created a buffer? - Ink almost stumbled. He somehow didn't really think about where the space came from in which you could not die, but you could get some strength.

- You did not know? - surprised Grank . "I thought she was telling everyone about this ... And she said to me:" if you dare, I won't resurrect you in case of loss of body. "

"That is why my ability to evaluate someone else's strength in points has such a limitation," Kiass added . "As long as someone is within the borders of her territory, he cannot have any secrets from the spirit." She just sees right through us. Its power does not allow the degenerated to melt the fog, and all the energy absorbed by natural treasures ... It's like carbon dioxide for plants. A person breathes and creates the necessary resource for herbs. It costs nothing to him, and so does the spirit of reflection. Many powerful creatures appeared from her simple breath ... we are up to this level to grow and grow.

"That's it ..." Ink was forced to reconsider his views on the world. - Therefore, our abilities in the buffer almost do not develop? It turns out that we use its support as a kind of system and almost do not exert ourselves ... For those who have developed their abilities themselves, there are no such restrictions, they can become stronger in the arena, because they use only their strength.

"Sounds reasonable," Arsi joined the conversation . - You just need to take control under your full control. Then it will also be possible to develop here.

"Or use forces that were not earned for points ..." Ink thought .

"Yes," said the girl in her childish uniform, sitting on Ink a's back . "You are with special blood forces, there should be no problems for you."

"I am reborn, like you," Ink objected , supporting his cover. "There is no more blood power."

- But did you study any techniques or techniques before getting into the buffer? So take advantage of them.

"If it were all so simple ..." Ink thought about his way to win.

The name of Yuvi was a strong man two meters high. He explained that there are no special rules in the arena. It is impossible to finish off a person who has accepted defeat, and indeed it's better not to finish the matter before the murder. When choosing an opponent, it is advisable not to run too hard so as not to rake nuts.

- You can choose weapons or armor if necessary. We give for free, but you will follow the condition yourself. I am engaged in the repair and creation of equipment. You can come with your weapons, but no gunshot. You can use explosives, but warn the enemy in advance of such a trump card in his sleeve so that he has a chance to abandon the battle. We have our own code of honor, so it is advisable to prepare such things yourself, and not buy on the black market. If you take a weapon here, it is forbidden to bring to the surface. You can reserve for your use if you really like some samples or redeem it. The issue of price is discussed on a case by case basis. Poisons are permissible only for which there are medicines. It is forbidden to apply to non-reserved weapons, we will force to tear off. Here there are animals that can poison poison. Cells with particularly dangerous creatures are marked in red. Green indicates those for which there is an antidote. Blue are magical creatures. It's better not to approach them at all if you do not want to become food.

"Thank you," Ink said, somewhat discouraged . - What do you recommend taking from a weapon?

- Some kind of club. If you haven't studied fencing, there will be more benefit than with a sword. "Yuvi rubbed his chin, examining Ink a. - I look, you have demonic blood awakened ... From there after all horns? If the strength is enough, you can take a hammer on a long metal handle. Or a bigger club ... For those who can control objects in the air, a set of throwing knives will be an excellent option. Small items are easier to keep in the air ...

"I don't have that ability," Ink hastened to interrupt . - Club ... Where can I try samples?

"At the warehouse," the arena blacksmith pointed with his thumb somewhere behind him. "We can go now ..."

- I will be grateful.

The only one who chose a weapon in the armory was Ink . Contrary to my own expectations, it was not a club, but a couple of sickles.

No one else took weapons. Arsi insisted on visiting the housing of poisonous creatures. Snakes, toads, insects, including some types of bees. None of the creatures looked otherworldly, and blue marks on the cells were also not found. Yuvi just shrugged at the question of the absence of magical animals.

All together returned to the arena. The first to volunteer was Grank . His opponent did not differ from a man in appearance. Whether there were any special forces remained unclear. The motorcyclist turned out to be that fan of waving his fists. He knocked out an opponent with just a few punches.

- Hey! - he shouted towards the hall. - Such weaklings should not go. Is there anyone from the silver league here?

There was a noise among the observers. Soon one of the people got up and headed towards the arena. He looked no more than thirty, a long leather cloak, blond hair, laid to one side, a light smile of an experienced fighter, who was going to teach a lesson to an impudent beginner.

- The bronze league could suit you, but you immediately pounced on silver. I think I'll have to sober up your mind.

The stranger did not begin to approach the distance of the blow to Grank . There was about ten meters between them when he waved his hands, releasing a cluster of fog. A muscular fighter appeared two inches ahead of him, tanned skin and a terrible grin on his fierce face. A quick exchange of blows showed that the bull makes excellent use of its advantage in arm length.

Flashed an electric discharge. Grank released his power and pulled toward the original enemy. Bugai wrapped his arms around him, preventing him from moving. It was possible to delay the motorcyclist who was supplying electricity for a short time - the dark-skinned fighter suddenly broke up in fog.

"A pitiful trick," said Grin smugly .

- Truth? - his opponent did not lose his temper. He made a compassionate expression on his face, as if looking at an unreasonable child who was forced to prove common truths. "Are you sure you already defeated him?"

Ink stared in disbelief at the fog gathering in the shape of a man. The instant and tanned fighter again joyfully grimaced in the face of his fellow practitioner.

- He is reborn! - guessed Grank . "Is it by the rules?" I thought the battles go one on one.

"It is," the blond nodded in his cloak, "but, you see ... That is how the necromancers fight." And now…

From the magician the fog began to disperse in a continuous stream. Soon the whole arena was filled with his servants.

"Let's see," the blond mockingly looked at Ink a, Kiass a and Arsi , turned back to Grank u, "how promising are the newcomers to us from Mad Glam, the reigning champion of the gold league of our arena.