“When did you get here?” Zeke asked.

“Two days ago. After I cleared out the geyser field, I rested outside the den before continuing,” Ulmak explained.

“How did you do inside the den?” Elaine wondered.

“Oh, I just sneaked past all the centipedes. Luckily, the big and scary one was molting and didn’t notice me.” Ulmak continued, repeatedly tugging at his beard.

“We… weren’t so lucky,” Zeke sighed. “The Alpha woke up just as we were about to leave,” he stated before being interrupted.

“What? How did you get out then?” Ulmak asked, dropping his hands in surprise.

“This guy,” Elaine pointed her hand towards Fox.

Fox whispered, “Shhhhhh,” with his finger pressed up against his mask, where his lips would be.

“He saved us,” Elaine explained, disregarding Fox.

“Makes sense,” Ulmak stated, glaring at Fox with a certain intensity.

“Here.” Zeke handed Ulmak a bottle of vita-fluid. “Mix this with water and drink it in case you need to heal your injuries faster. I know you’re a contractor, but everyone could use a health tonic now and again,” Zeke smiled.

Ulmak laughed.

“I take it this is the stuff you used to patch little Zeke back together?” Ulmak wondered, grabbing Elaine by the shoulder.

Elaine blushed slightly. She carefully covered her face with her hand, pretending to scratch her nose, so Ulmak wouldn’t notice.

“Yeah,” she replied.

“That’s good! You gave me a real scare back there, Zeke,” Ulmak said, placing his other hand on the boy and giving him a stern shake.

Fox suddenly stepped forward.

“Sorry to interrupt, but we should get going. Now that you’ve arrived, the second part of the competition will begin shortly. Don’t worry, you will have more than 24 hours to rest before then.” Fox stepped forward towards the ledge and spread his arms before hastily turning around. “Welcome to the Undercity!” he screamed with a great deal of excitement.

His words echoed throughout the caves that appeared to go on for miles, waking up bats and other flying creatures and sending them off to parade around the underground city.

“Let’s get you guys some lodging!” Fox exclaimed.

Zeke and Elaine did not appear interested in what Fox had to say.

“Ulmak, where are you staying?” Elaine asked.

“Oh, I was sleeping on this bench the entire time while waiting for you guys,” Ulmak explained.

“But why? Why didn’t you go into the city? There should be plenty of places to stay,” Zeke asked.

“It’s not that I didn’t want to. I wasn’t allowed to explore the Undercity until you either came here or died,” Ulmak sighed.

“Said who?” Elaine asked, visibly frustrated.

“Me,” Fox smirked.

“Alright guys! Let’s go, I’ll show you around the Undercity,” Fox ordered, gesturing towards a bridge on his right.

The group walked forth. Fox moved in the very front of the pack, leading the way. Zeke was right behind him, not able to contain his excitement over seeing the Undercity for the first time. Ulmak and Elaine were walking in the back, keeping watch, in case someone was about to attack from behind.

“Relax guys, no one will come after you now. It’s still too early to think about that. Rest while you can,” Fox stated. However, his comments failed to convince the group.

As they continued walking across the elevated platforms, Zeke couldn’t help but be amazed by the crowds of people walking below. Each person, rushing to go somewhere. From up top, the crowds appeared like swarms of small, insignificant insects crawling their way to their nests.

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“Hey, why are there so many people here? Did they all come through the caves to get here?” Zeke asked with a confused expression.

“No, that’s not the case. The caves are only designed to test the contestants. If people had to go through the caves, each time they wanted to go in and out of the Undercity, I’m afraid this place would have been long-deserted. These people are the residents of the Undercity, those who call these caves home. They live here, have children here, and die here. Just like the folks up above.” Fox explained.

“Then do they all already know the king of contractors?” Zeke asked.

Fox sighed.

“No, they don’t know him. Most of them are human, so how would they? For better or for worse, the residents of the Undercity don’t have to take a test to meet with the king. The king simply tests them on the spot to see if they are worthy.” Fox said, before starting to whistle a carefree tune.

“And how often do they turn out to be worthy?” Zeke asked.

Fox stopped walking.

“No one’s been worthy yet,” he said with visible frustration, before continuing to walk.

Zeke loudly swallowed.

“And these people, what do they do? How do they survive?” Zeke asked yet again.

“Well, you’re a curious one, aren’t you?” Fox smirked. “They are mostly farmers. Most farm cave beasts for food, some farm Fuego trees. And then there are those who process the food as well. And there are miners. Ahhh and of course, there are those who process materials. I guess, Zeke, the simple answer is: they do everything they can to survive,” Fox explained, turning his head towards Zeke with a warm smile.

The group continued walking. The walkways were structured in a way that, after passing through five or so bridges, there would be a hub of sorts with shops and toilets and a staircase leading down to a lower level, and then there would be another hub after another set of bridges in another direction. This is the pattern by which the top part of the Undercity was structured. On the upper levels, most of the stalls seemed vacant or out of order, but the lower they got, the more people there were and the more stalls there were open.

The group would occasionally pass people who just moments before appeared small. Now, however, Zeke saw they were completely ordinary. They were the same as those from the city up above. The only exception being that they wore thicker clothes, and most had a flashlight strapped on them.

“Hey Zeke! I’ve been meaning to ask. Just how old are you?” Ulmak suddenly asked.

“Oh, I just turned 17,” Zeke replied.

“What do you mean!?” Elaine screamed out, her face uncontrollably blushing bright red.

“I figured as much.” Ulmak tugged on his beard. “How old did you think he was, Elaine?” Ulmak asked, lifting his right eyebrow.

“A-a-a-t-at least 20,” Elaine replied, stuttering.

Fox suddenly placed his hand on Zeke’s shoulder and looked into his eyes with a slight squint and a smile.

“Let’s proceed forward,” he said, after letting go.

The group continued downwards. The previously empty bridges and decks have become full, almost crowded. The smell of fresh food permeated the air, making its way from over the food stalls. The mouths of Ulmak, Elaine and Zeke started to water, as the three had fed on nothing but damp crawler meat for the better part of a month.

“Want some?” Fox asked.

“Yes,” they nodded.

“Alright! Three portions of grilled raptor-mole-rat coming up!” he said before turning around and going to the stall.

“You’re kidding? Right?” Ulmak asked Fox, without getting a response.

“He’s Kidding, right?” Ulmak asked again, but this time addressing Zeke.

“I don’t think so,” Zeke replied, looking towards Fox.

Suddenly, Ulmak grabbed Zeke by his shoulders and started violently shaking him?

“What the fuck is a raptor-mole-rat?” He asked Zeke repeatedly, but Zeke didn’t reply.

Soon, Fox came back with 4 large skewers of meat in his hands.

“Dig in, my friends,” he said, giving each member of the team a skewer and leaving one for himself.

The meat appeared brown and juicy, with slight charring on top. As Fox bit into the meat, juices leaked out, dripping down onto the floor below him. Zeke too bit into the meat, without giving it much thought. Elaine soon followed suit, leaving only Ulmak standing in contemplation and doubt.

Ulmak closed his eyes and bit into the meat with a rush, sending small splashes of juice all around him.

“It’s good!” he screamed out before taking another bite.

“It tastes like chicken,” Elaine said after swallowing.

Suddenly, a tall gray-haired man with a thick beard approached the group. He was covered head to toe with tattoos, wearing black leather jeans, an orange tank-top and a glow in the dark armband.

He grabbed Ulmak by the collar and pulled him towards himself.

“You sullied my clothes,” he growled, pointing towards a stain on his shirt.

But Ulmak pretended not to see him, ignoring the man as he continued chewing.

“Are you stupid or something?” he asked.

Yet Ulmak still remained silent.

“Listen here, I’m gonna cut your ass up if you don’t start answering!” the man screamed, directing his gaze towards the knife he had strapped to his belt.

Ulmak swallowed.

“Hey Fox! Is this guy a contestant?” Ulmak asked.

The man’s gaze widened.

“Nope,” Fox replied.

“Wait a minu-“the man started saying before being interrupted by Ulmak who proceeded to spit into his eyes and punch him in the face, breaking the man’s nose and knocking him down to the ground.

Ulmak stood over the man, looking around. But the crowd didn’t seem to mind.

“Serves him right,” someone in the crowd said.

Ulmak stared deep into Fox’s eyes, who had just finished eating.

“This really is a lawless city, isn’t it?” he said.

“It’s not so different from Lower babel,” Fox smiled.

“I guess you’re right…”

image [https://i.postimg.cc/y8ZnkwDk/Name-Alias-X-Species-Demon-Age-80-Height-182cm-Affiliation-Knights-Rank-Special-grade-investigator.png]