Katsuo set off toward Northern Gosapor, his mind buzzing with curiosity and concern. The Northern District, known for its high-class infrastructure and refined people, was a parallel from the rugged, chaotic streets of Southern Gosapor. As Katsuo walked deeper into the district, he couldn’t help but notice the stark difference in atmosphere.

The streets here were cleaner, wide, and lined with neatly trimmed trees. Tall, imposing buildings with marble facades towered overhead, their surfaces adorned with intricate carvings that spoke of wealth and power. The people who walked these streets were well-dressed, their expressions calm and composed, a stark contrast to the hustle and bustle of the southern part of the city.

Katsuo felt slightly out of place, his simple clothes and sword contrasting with the refined elegance around him.

“I don’t belong here,” he muttered to himself, his eyes scanning the unfamiliar surroundings. Yet, despite the discomfort, his mission kept him focused. He had to figure out what the Extermination Squad was up to.

As he made his way deeper into Northern Gosapor, his sharp eyes caught sight of a group of men clad in armor, their movements purposeful and synchronized. They were heading toward a massive building that loomed over the district—a structure that resembled an ancient colosseum, its stone walls imposing and etched with history.

“That has to be them,” Katsuo thought.

“The Extermination Squad.”

Without hesitation, Katsuo followed the group from a safe distance, making sure to stay out of sight. The men walked through the large entrance of the colosseum, and Katsuo hesitated for a moment, wondering how he could follow without attracting attention. Luckily, a ticket booth stood by the entrance, and with a quick glance at the ticket prices, he bought one and slipped inside.

The interior of the colosseum was even more impressive than its exterior. The massive arena at the center was surrounded by water, with towering rocky pillars spread across the battlefield, creating a space ripe for tactical maneuvering. The seats were already packed with well-dressed spectators, eagerly waiting for the next bout. The buzz of excitement filled the air, and Katsuo felt a slight twinge of discomfort at the idea of people cheering for blood.

Katsuo found a seat near the back, far from the central action but with a clear view of the arena. He scanned the space, searching for any sign of the Extermination Squad. As he settled in, the booming voice of the announcer echoed through the colosseum.

“Ladies and gentlemen! Prepare yourselves for an exciting match! Introducing… the reigning champion, Joel Ragnarok!”

The crowd erupted into cheers as Joel, a massive figure wielding a greatsword, stepped into the arena. His presence was undeniable—every movement exuded power and confidence. Katsuo watched in awe as Joel faced his opponent, a smaller, less intimidating fighter. The bout was over in minutes. Joel overpowered the man with brutal efficiency, delivering a strike that shattered his opponent’s armor and left him unconscious on the ground.

“How savage,” Katsuo muttered, his brow furrowing.

“This isn’t combat. It’s a show.”

The crowd, however, loved it. Their cheers echoed through the arena as the announcer’s voice returned.

“Give it up for our champion, Joel Ragnarok! What a display of strength!”

Katsuo was about to look away when he heard a name that froze him in place.

“And now, for our next fighter, we have a newcomer! Hailing from the southern districts, give it up for… Serena Faelis!”

Katsuo’s eyes widened in shock.

“Serena!?” he shouted, his voice carrying over the roar of the crowd. His eyes darted around until he spotted her, stepping into the arena with her usual stoic expression, though it was clear she hadn’t expected to see him there either.

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“Katsuo!?” Serena’s eyes widened momentarily before she focused back on the task at hand.

Ignoring the crowd around him, Katsuo jumped from his seat and began weaving through the colosseum, trying to get closer. His eyes followed Serena as she faced off against none other than Joel Ragnarok himself.

The announcer’s voice rang out again.

“Let’s begin the match! Three… two… one—Fight!”

Serena snapped out of it and charged forward without hesitation, her tonfas spinning in her hands as she aimed a series of strikes at Joel. But the hulking man barely flinched. He laughed, his deep voice reverberating through the arena.

“You think those hits are enough to defeat me? You’ll regret participating, girl.”

Serena’s face tightened in determination, and she launched herself at him again, this time aiming a powerful kick at his face. Joel staggered back slightly, caught off guard by the force of her attack, but quickly recovered.

“I am Joel Ragnarok, the strongest in Gosapor!” Joel roared, slamming his greatsword into the ground with enough force to shake the entire arena. The crowd cheered in response, clearly thrilled by his show of strength.

Katsuo watched from the stands, his heart pounding as he saw Serena hold her own against such a powerful opponent. She couldn’t overpower him, but she was fast—much faster than Joel expected. Her strategy was to wear him down, dodging his powerful swings and striking when she saw an opening. But it wasn’t enough. Joel was relentless.

Suddenly, Joel lifted a massive boulder from the ground and hurled it toward Serena. She barely dodged in time, the boulder crashing into the arena wall behind her. Before she could recover, Joel closed the distance between them and delivered a crushing blow to her stomach. Serena doubled over, coughing up blood as she stumbled back.

“Serena!” Katsuo yelled, pushing his way closer to the edge of the arena, his concern for his teammate growing.

But Serena wasn’t done yet. Despite the pain, she wiped the blood from her mouth and forced herself to stand. Her eyes burned with resolve.

“Let’s finish this,” she growled, charging at Joel once more. She leaped into the air, delivering a fierce uppercut to Joel’s jaw, sending him reeling back.

Katsuo couldn’t help but feel a wave of admiration for Serena’s strength and determination.

“She’s tougher than I gave her credit for,” he muttered, a faint grin tugging at his lips.

“I’d better stop teasing her or she’ll flatten me one day.”

But just as the fight was reaching its peak, Katsuo noticed something strange. The group of Extermination Squad members had slipped out of the arena, making their way toward the VIP section in the back. Katsuo’s instincts kicked in, and he quickly made his way toward them, slipping out of the colosseum stands and into the shadowy hallways beneath.

Katsuo pressed himself against a wall, listening carefully as the men spoke in hushed tones. Through a small window, he could hear them clearly.

“I can’t believe we’re about to strike it rich,” one of the men whispered excitedly.

“That treasure Joel found in the dungeon… it’s worth a fortune.”

Another voice joined in.

“We’ve got to hurry. There’s talk that others are catching wind of the treasure, and if we don’t move fast, someone else will get there first.”

Katsuo’s eyes narrowed. Treasure? This wasn’t just about a simple mission anymore. There was something bigger at play.

One of the men suddenly spoke in a panicked voice.

“Wait—did you hear something?”

Katsuo cursed under his breath. He’d been too focused on eavesdropping and hadn’t noticed how close he had gotten. The men in the room looked around cautiously before one of them spotted him through the window.

“It’s a spy!” one of the men shouted.

“We’ve been found out!”

Without hesitation, the men bolted toward a nearby door that led to the backstage area.

“We’ve got to tell Joel!” one of them yelled as they disappeared into the hallways.

Katsuo, realizing he had no choice, rushed after them. He couldn’t let them warn Joel—this treasure hunt was clearly more dangerous than it seemed.

Back in the arena, Serena and Joel were still locked in battle. Serena’s movements had slowed, exhaustion creeping in as she dodged another one of Joel’s massive swings. But before either of them could land a final blow, members of the Extermination Squad stormed into the arena.

“Boss!” one of them shouted, catching Joel’s attention.

“We need to go now. Someone’s onto us, and the treasure won’t stay hidden for long.”

Joel’s eyes narrowed as he processed the information.

“So, it’s time.” He turned back to Serena, a smirk crossing his face.

“We’ll finish this another time, little girl.”

Before Serena could react, Joel turned and stormed out of the arena, followed closely by his men. Serena, panting and battered, stood there, her hands still gripping her tonfas.

Katsuo finally reached her, his chest heaving as he caught his breath.

“Are you alright?”

Serena, clearly frustrated by the abrupt end to the match, nodded.

“I’m fine. What’s going on?”

Katsuo quickly explained what he had overheard.

“There’s a treasure hidden in a dungeon near the Ancient Forest. Joel and his squad are heading there now. We need to stop them.”

Serena gritted her teeth as she wrapped a bandage around her wounds.

“Great. So, we’re not done with these guys yet.”

Katsuo gave a nod of agreement.

“Let’s go.”

The two quickly set off, determined to catch Joel and his squad before they reached the treasure. As they moved through the city, Katsuo’s mind raced in panic as they head towards the Ancient Forest disregarding Monica's warning.