"Why is that? Are they just gonna kick us fun or give us more work?" Auran asked while taking a sip from his cold soup.
"You… guessed part of it. But there's more. The whole section is an arena—a body-crushing arena where the newly arrived fight to earn a place for themselves in the prison. If they fail, they're treated as slaves and have to do whatever the other prisoners say," Marian explained.
"But that's awful! How could the officers let someone treat another being like a slave?" Henry said as he looked around the cafeteria and eyed the officers holding mana blasters.
"This isn't a place run by democracy, Henry. This is a place ruled by strength—and strength is the only thing that matters here. Even in the short time I've been here, I can understand that," Auran added in response to the question.
"Yes, the quicker you understand that, the better," Marian muttered with concern.
"Yeah, listen to the beast woman," Auran winked as he finished his cup of soup and placed it on the table.
"I do not like that word," Marian said, showing her dislike. But Auran casually ignored it and continued.
"So, I assume you guys planned what would happen sooner, so I can go ahead with my own plans?" Auran asked.
Marian nodded and answered with a similar tone while also glancing at Nimuk. "Yes, tomorrow we'll show you what we've prepared."
Afterward, when the day came to an end, Auran and Henry were led back to their prison cell, while Marian and Nimuk went to their own cells. Auran didn't ask when they would meet again—he had a feeling it would be sooner than expected.
---
The next day, Auran and Henry were led outside. That day, the prisoners were transferred from one section to another for mining, and today they were being escorted to Section Two by an officer.
"Oh man, I hope you guys come out fine," said the officer as he opened the gate to Section Two, letting Auran and Henry step through.
The two looked at each other before walking into Section Two, where a group of prisoners was already waiting for them.
As soon as Auran entered, a fist came flying and struck him in the stomach.
"Ugh!"
"Auran!" Henry, who was beside him, reacted quickly and reached for Auran—only to receive a strike to the face as well.
"Who the hell—" Lying on the ground after the devastating punch to his face, Auran looked up at the figure who hit him. It was a tall man with a muscular, rugged body, scars running across his skin like battle marks.
Auran tried to get up, his eyes burning with fury that could kill the man in front of him—but he failed. Even his hands and legs trembled.
"Damn, my body is nothing without magic."
Then he was lifted up by the same man who had punched him and dragged into Section Two's mining area.
"Once I get my strength back, I'll kill you," Auran muttered, lying limp like a lifeless body as he was hauled along, but speaking with absolute confidence.
The man laughed at his words, treating them like a joke. As he continued dragging Auran, prisoners around them screamed and cheered with excitement.
"Fight! Fight! Fight!" they roared.
In the middle of the cheering prisoners, Auran was thrown to the ground. Right beside him, Henry was tossed the same way.
"it's been at least three days since we last got fresh blood in here!" a loud voice echoed over the crowd.
"Let's hear it for all those excited to see some action!"
It was like a gladiator gathering. A woman with a manly voice and shamelessly exposed large breasts, only the tips covered, stepped into the center and shouted with pride.
Her words stirred even more excitement, and the entire section burst into screaming cheers.
Aside from a few prisoners still working in the mines—dragging out rocks from deep within—everyone else had come running to join this spectacle.
Auran and Henry remembered Marian's warning: unlike Section One, Section Two didn't use explosives for safety reasons. Instead, prisoners mined by hand and hauled the rocks out manually.
That meant the work was much harder in this section than in others.
"Okay, let's get this started then," the woman said. And she wasn't done yet.
"As always, let's give our bottom ranks a chance to prove if they've got the guts to step up."
As she finished, a man stepped forward from the crowd. His prison suit was dirtier than the others, and grime covered most of his thin body.
"I… I will challenge him and defeat him!" the man said, pointing at Auran.
The woman looked at the slim figure and gave a mocking smile.
"Look who it is. Our always-working newbie wants to advance from his job. Shall we give him a chance, everyone?"
Some in the crowd booed while most laughed and shouted in agreement.
"Go on, show us what you've got then," the woman said as she pushed the man into the center of the circle, now completely surrounded by prisoners.
In the circle stood Auran and Henry, both looking confused at what was happening around them.
But as time passed and the woman pushed the slim man into the center of the circle, the two of them began to get a clear idea of what was going on.
Along with the information Marian had given them the day before, they'd be idiots not to realize what this was.
Still, they acted confused in front of the others.
"Looks like our newbies are still clueless, so let's give them a quick heads-up on what's going on," said the woman loudly as she walked toward the two of them.
"Okay, you two, I'm gonna explain quickly. In here, strength is everything. Only with rough fists can you survive.
To determine where one stands in our society, there are a four titles. The lowest of the four is slave—they have to listen to everyone else's orders.
Above slaves are crookeds—they can command slaves but still have to work themselves.
Above crookeds are the masters—they only give orders, enjoying free time while others do the work.
And above them all is the boss—one man who rules everything. He has whatever he needs and can demand anything from anyone: lunch, dinner, even a liver or a life. If he requests it, others will willingly give it.
As newcomers, you're starting from nothing on this ladder. Because of that, you'll be challenged by slaves. If you lose, you stay a slave.
But if you beat the slave, you become a crooked. And from there, if you choose, you can continue to challenge masters and rise even higher."
After explaining, she paused and examined the two of them closely.
"You two are actually pretty boys—it'd be a shame if you ended up as slaves, hehe.
Also, only one of you can fight at a time, so one has to step out before the match starts."
With that, she stepped out from the circle.
"I'll go first. You should rest," Henry said, looking at Auran who was still recovering from the punch to his stomach.
Auran didn't reject the offer and quietly stepped out of the circle, leaving Henry and the slim man to face off.
"Then let's begin!" the woman's manly voice echoed loudly, and the brawl in the circle began.