Nil didn’t need healing.
When he returned to the mall’s ground floor, a pair of women with a gurney met him. Nil recognized the older of the pair. It was the woman who had healed him following his first fight. She waved Nil away and took charge of Winter Hunter. The young woman flashed him the middle finger once on the gurney.
“You owe me a pair of stilettos, fuckhead,” she yelled while the healer and her assistant rolled the gurney away.
“You were incredible,” Andrew said, smacking Nil on the back. The man was waiting for him just outside the transport portal. Andrew handed him an ice-cold lemonade. Nil had decided to quit beer and all alcohol to take fighter life seriously. He chugged the half-liter container in less than seven seconds. “Little Miss Stabby Chills didn’t have a chance.”
“That cold thing caught me off-guard,” Nil said. “I felt it in my heart, and my joints didn’t like it one bit. If it weren’t my improved control over Expend and the ascension, I’d be shelling out three thousand to heal frostbite.”
“Through Sheer Grit. Your power realms might not have budged, but you sure as hell are getting better with it. That’s what won—”
“It was sheer martial skill and technique that decided it.” The same organizer who gave him his pay following the first match approached Andrew and him. A woman in a pantsuit followed close behind him. “Our people watched your recording over and over again. We doubted she’d get through your defense but were sure her frost would do the job.”
“It almost did,” Nil replied. He almost lost his train of thought as Aisha’s visage pranced over to the announcer and his companion. It sniffed around the woman, studying her closely. “The outer ice and frost wasn’t so bad. The chill on the inside, on the other hand—” The hair at the back of his neck stood on end. The memory of the cold was still fresh on his mind. He had felt nothing like it. The chill had somehow gone straight to the bone. “It was something else.”
“Well, all that matters is our bookmakers are happy, and the gamblers are not,” the organizer said. He handed Nil an envelope. It contained fifty thousand pounds in cash and a receipt. “Big wins are hard to clean. If you’re paying taxes and smart, you’ll declare it as casino winnings.” He took a step back and nodded to the woman accompanying him. “There is someone who wanted to meet you.”
“Hold on a moment,” Andrew said, slipping between Nil and the suited pair. “This is supposed to be an anonymous affair with no one approaching or getting to know my client. He fights. You pay him. Done.”
“I don’t need your identity if you don’t want to provide it,” the woman said before the organizer could interject. “I’m here to talk about an opportunity.”
“My client isn’t looking to work for any private security firms or crime lords either. This is a means to an end. Thank you for your interest.”
The woman looked past Andrew at Nil. “Does he speak for you on all matters?”
“I’m not too familiar with the less-than-legal side of life,” Nil answered. He couldn’t tell if the woman meant it as a slight, and he didn’t care enough to find out. “Really. I just want to take my money and go.”
“Well, I’m here to ask if you have any interest in going legitimate.” The woman handed him a business card. Nil wasn’t aware people still used such things.
“Shina Patel.” Nil read the card out loud. The visage stood uncomfortably close to him, staring at the information on the rectangle of paper. He almost reflexively sniffed Aisha’s hair. “Director. Symbiotech.”
“We’re still small, but our recent developments have us pulling ahead of Arthurtech in aethertech and biotechnology fusion.” The woman continued before Nil could ask what she wanted from him. The rushed speech made it sound like she was worried he would walk away. “We’re looking for individuals of the brute, knight, and rogue discipline—primarily melee fighters—to help with our research, test our products, and perhaps even market our creations. It involves a handful of tests at our laboratory and—”
“What’s in it for my client?” Andrew interrupted.
Shina shot him a glare much colder than Winter Hunter’s frost. “I was getting to that. This is contingent on Mr Little Fist joining Apocalypse Arena. We’ll sponsor a ludus membership and subsidize the costs involved as long as he helps with the research, uses the equipment we provide, and, of course, markets the product at official events.” Nil’s heart skipped a beat. He didn’t expect a sponsorship until he joined a ludus. The Pits didn’t feel like the kind of place for the representative of an aethertech company to hang out. He couldn’t help but wonder whether there was something shady about Symbiotech for them to look for partners among illegal fighters. “I was talking to the organizers, looking for candidates who aren’t tied to a crime family and hopefully have a clean record. They suggested you’re likely to be one such person.”
You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.
“What kind of biotech are we talking about?” Nil asked. “I’m not too keen on body modifications, and my power’s parameters involve using nothing but my body and fist weapons.”
“Do you have any limitations regarding armor?” Shina asked.
Nil shook his head.
“Good. That’s where we specialize. I know you don’t need physical protection, but the ice left you vulnerable. Given my understanding of abilities similar to yours, I’ll bet you’re also susceptible to heat and electricity. We could whip up an adaptable bioarmor that provides you resistance to elemental attacks. It won’t be anything great to start with. My RnD and development teams will need to study and adapt to you over some time, but it could be great.”
“That sounds intriguing, and I am working towards a ludus and eventually Apocalypse Arena.” Nil struggled to hide his eagerness. He checked the card. It had Shina’s contact details. “Give me a couple of days to think about it.”
“Of course.” Shina smiled. “I understand this is a strange place to be approached. You and your—” She glanced at Andrew, eyes turning cold again. “—manager probably want to do your due diligence and see what we’re about. Have a look at our website and maybe call for a walk around. We’ll show you around the facility and our affiliated ludus. It can’t compete with Wilson Luduses, of course, but it's well-equipped and has an excellent team that will ensure all your needs are met.”
“The next match will be starting now,” the organizer said, putting a finger to his earpiece.
“Would you, gentlemen, like to join me for some drinks and a snack?” Shina asked. “I promise you’ll have a good time.”
“Thank you for the offer, Ms Patel. But we need to get going.”
Nil walked away from the exchange with his heart racing. The visage followed Shina for a moment. Then it froze, looking between her and the departing men. The soul weapon and its consciousness couldn’t move far from the body containing it, so it chased him down a moment later.
----------------------------------------
Sponsorship contracts often spanned at least a year. For an unknown like Nil, it would likely demand a longer commitment. So, unwilling to rush into a decision, he shelved the idea and visited his family the following day.
“Holy shit, you got taller,” Emily said as soon as she opened the door. A throat clear from Udit followed. “Sorry, Baba! It just slipped out.”
“I think I gained an inch.”
“You’re broader, too,” Sam claimed.
“Skin, too,” Baba added. “You look airbrushed.”
“That’s what ascension does,” Nil said. “It makes people the best possible version of who they were supposed to be.”
“You were always the best version of yourself, son.”
Udit Roy was an excellent father. He was always there for his children and nephew, helped them with homework, and made time to talk about whatever issues they might have. However, he rarely gave out compliments. The man appeared happier and healthier than the last time Nil saw him. He guessed that not worrying about the house falling apart and having no appliance breakdowns had something to do with it.
Everyone appeared happy to see Nil and Andrew. The family seemed even happier when they realized the pair had brought food. Sam and Emily unpacked the kebabs, naan, daal, and curries. Meanwhile, Nil helped his father bring out extra chairs and extend the dining table. They sat down together for a family meal, almost like the days before the cataclysm. Elizabeth Gibson-Roy’s presence didn’t go unnoticed.
“So? How did it go with the police officer?” Emily playfully nudged her brother halfway through the meal. Nil had hoped to avoid the topic, but he knew there was no escaping his sister.
“It was a misunderstanding,” he replied. “Her supervisors instructed her to try to recruit me for a role in the Metropolitan Police. I told her no, of course.”
“That’s not the complete truth, though,” Andrew chimed in, much to Nil’s annoyance. Kicking the man under the table didn’t get him to shut up. “Officer Park and her partner showed up at my place a few nights ago for a wellness check. She admitted that it was supposed to be a date until her superiors and the policewoman your heroic brother saved got in the way.”
“Yes. But we decided afterward that it was for the best.” Nil snatched a chicken leg Andrew was reaching for and took a big bite out of it. He got a cheeky grin in response. “I’m not ready for a relationship. It's not the best time for it either. Also, it won’t look good for Katie if she starts dating someone her boss asked her to recruit.”
“Oooh! Katie! Isn’t that sweet?” Emily laughed. Her face went serious after a couple of bites, and her eyes narrowed. “Are you one of those—” She hesitantly glanced at her father. “—F-boys? No relationships. Only hookups and stringing people along.”
“No. It's nothing like that. Anyway. I was looking at—”
“Leave him alone, Emmy,” Sam said.
“Don’t try to change the subject, Nil,” Emily continued, ignoring Nil’s desire to skirt the subject. “Why do you never get into relationships? Or have you had girlfriends and just never told me? Why wouldn’t you tell me? I thought we were close. Am I that bad a little sister?”
“Will you cool it, Emmy?” Nil’s words came out louder and harsher than intended. All smiles and conversation around the table disappeared. Everyone stared at him, including Emily. Nil rarely raised his voice, and she looked shocked. “I’m sorry, but I don’t want to discuss this topic. I love you, Emmy, but my love life is none of your business, alright?”
“I’m sorry, Dada,” Emily said, her voice soft. She kept her eyes on her plate. “I was just teasing. You’re a lovely guy, and I think it's just strange you’ve never introduced us to a girlfriend. Or, boyfriend.” She reached across the table and placed a hand on her brother’s. “I love you, you know. If there is anything you ever want to tell me, I’m always here. Don’t take it the wrong way, please.”
“We’ve just missed you, Nil,” Udit added. “You spent so long in London, obsessing over your career and barely visiting…” He sighed. “We’re just happy to have you back and want to know about your life. Don’t shut us out. Alright?”
“I won’t, Baba,” Nil said. He smiled at his sister and squeezed her hand. “I promise.”