That discussion with his fellows wasn’t the only news that Jonas had received that day, nor was it the only situation that required his talents. Brow had swung by later on during the sparring session to inform Jonas that a new fight had been scheduled.

“Jake Davidson,” began Brow, “He’s a fringe-top ten fighter that belongs to the Southside Hell Ryders, and he has a professional record of five wins, zero losses.”

“How big is he,” Jonas was surprised that his next opponent was undefeated.

“Six-foot-two, two-hundred and ten pounds,” Brow added, “Not the biggest pup of the litter, but still has some decent size.”

“Alright,” said Jonas, “Anything else you know about him?” He asked, “Fighting style, or habits?”

“Fuck if I know?” Brow looked at him stupidly, “You think this is the UFC? This is underground cage fights, no one studies that shit. You just get in the ring and destroy whoever's in front of you,” Brow glared at him, and Jonas rolled his eyes in return.

Jonas began taking his training much more seriously, with his next fight being a week away. In the past, Ahmed had watched Jake Davidson fight, and he thought that Jonas was a bit worse, but not too far behind. This was something he told him honestly.

To make up for the difference between him and his opponent, Jonas began putting extra effort during his weight training, pumping iron as if his life depended on it. Including his extra efforts in the gym, Jonas' sparring sessions with Ahmed had become very intense, and the rate of injuries had vastly improved. Broken bones and spilled blood, lacerated skin, and bruised organs. With all the injuries, Jonas was able to focus on both embracing the pain and building his connection with his Original Sin.

The members of their group noticed that two days before the big fight, Jonas was starting to fight Ahmed for much longer than he had before, and not only that, Ahmed looked mortal as he was forced to dodge, block, parry, and occasionally make awkward movements that barely prevented saved him from taking damage.

“It’s crazy how fast he improves,” Ralph said to both Simon and Johnson, he was sparring with them two-against-one.

“It doesn’t shock me anymore,” said Simon, “He’s just a natural-born Sinner, just like the other top-five fighters. They have a talent level that far exceeds what most people are capable of.”

“I'd say that Jonas was even more talented than them,” said Johnson, his nose still swollen from where Ralph had punched him, “He's been able to accomplish things that took them years, and it only took him a couple of months. By the way, has anyone heard anything about Xiao Lin?"

“I did some digging,” said Simon, “Xiao Lin might just be the most mysterious man in this entire gang. He has no friends, communicates with no one, doesn’t like being seen in public, and spends all of his time alone in his room, doing God-Knows-What. I'm not sure if he's in love with Yotama Yuki, I didn't hear anything about them spending time together.”

“Well, someone needs to talk to that asshole,” said Johnson, “He’s essential.”

“Forget all that for now,” Ralph gave them a serious look, “Focus on getting stronger, or you’re just going to hold everyone back,” both Johnson and Simon’s faces became ugly, but they knew that they had no right to argue back. Their thin bodies were battered, bruised, and malnourished, but even so, it was evident that both had become much more refined since Jonas had started feeding them extra rations, and the small workout sessions they did in their cages.

Night soon came, and just as Jonas was drifting off to sleep, he heard a tapping on his cage. He looked up and saw a familiar face, it was the guard on Yuki's payroll. He was staring at Jonas with a stone-faced expression, and he quietly pulled out his key ring.

‘I wonder what she wants?’ Jonas was surprised that she was calling on him so soon. He climbed out of his cage and began marching ahead of that guard in the direction of Yuki’s room. Nervousness had built in both his stomach and loins, as he knew that she could very easily snap his neck. However, he felt like their relationship was at a point where he no longer needed to worry about her hurting him, she needed him, and he was essential to the plan.

The guard knocked on her door, and Jonas heard a melodious voice call to enter. He closed the door behind himself and stared at the familiar room and all its luxurious contents. Jonas caught sight of a beautiful woman standing in front of him. She wore a long night dress the color of navy blue, and it seemed to shimmer in the lowlight of her extravagant chandeliers.

“Good evening, Jonas,” she said with a smile. Her sweet scent entered his nostrils as she wrapped her arms around his neck.

“Good to see you again,” he sounded awkward, and he wondered if Yuki understood what a personal bubble was.

“You’re probably wondering why I called you here tonight,” she used her hands to gently caress his cheeks, “I wanted to see you before your next fight.”

“That's very kind of you,” said Jonas as he stared into her dark eyes, “Thanks for taking the time to check up on me,” and Yuki began to giggle because of how professional he sounded, she found it adorable.

“You’re still on edge around me?” She asked while pouting, “I thought we were past that, we shared drinks, and don't forget that you tucked me in, such a gentleman,” she wore a teasing expression that made Jonas feel like he was her prey.

“Of course I am,” he looked exasperated, “You’re still a top-five fighter who could crush me in a few moves, and I’m still a lowly fighter who has barely scratched the surface of Sin.”

“Don’t be so hard on yourself,” she whispered with her pink lips, “If you want something, you just have to ask me, and I’ll give it to you,” her soft sensual voice made his body numb.

“How about another bath?” He killed the mood, and Yuki froze on the spot, she couldn’t believe her charms had failed her twice.

Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

“What is it with you and baths?” She looked grumpy, but seeing the innocent expression on Jonas' handsome face made her feel warm again. “Fine, you can use it. However, I want to watch,” and for a moment, Jonas thought about refusing her, but he changed his mind as he had some questions he wanted to be answered.

"Fine, but I need you to answer a few of my questions."

"Of course," she wore a seductive smile, "Anything to please you."

Very soon, Jonas was naked and submerging himself into hot water, while Yuki sat on a nearby chair and watched him. She had a delighted expression plastered on her face.

“Yuki,” he said, “Tell me more about Xiao Lin?”

“Even though we've met on multiple occasions, I don't know a lot of personal information about him. He would invite me to his room for sparring, mediation, or just conversation. However, he propositioned me and I turned him down. I've been somewhat avoiding him for over a year now."

“Propositioned you?” Jonas looked curious.

“I wasn't interested in a relationship with him, and his persistence had become annoying. However, I never became rude to him because I couldn't be sure if I would need him or not, you know, for a future escape plan."

"Looks like you might need him," Jonas was unnerved at her cunning ability.

"Perhaps not," she said, "Next time I see him I'll gauge his interest, if he doesn't seem into the idea of escaping, we can just kill him."

"You wouldn't feel bad?" Jonas felt his heart palpitate at her words, it was a casual ruthlessness he hadn't expected from her.

"He isn't a good man, there's nothing to feel sorry about. He may act as if he loves me, but he just wants my body," her words seemed true, and Jonas went quiet as he contemplated them.

"We'll come back to him later. What's Thomas Vale like?"

“Thomas Vale? He taught me and Wolf nearly everything we know about Sin and the modern world. He also provides us with whatever luxuries our hearts desire. Not only that, but he's a very generous man, as long as you're winning fights.”

“That's all?" Jonas scrunched his eyebrows.

“He keeps slaves and makes them fight till they're broken, all for money,” she said sarcastically, “What else would he be like?”

“Okay, that’s fair,” said Jonas, “Could you beat him?”

“Not now,” she said, “I haven’t been able to progress as a Sinner for some time, and I feel like there is some qualitative leap I need to take to approach his level."

“How do I meet them, Xiao Lin, and the two leaders?"

“You’ll meet them as soon as you become a top-five fighter. Every time a top-five fighter is replaced, Howard Hurts will hold a meeting, a sort of initiation for the newest fighter. It happened to me, it happened to Keal, and I’m assuming it happened to Ahmed.”

“Alright,” said Jonas, who began focusing on cleaning himself. Very soon he climbed out of the bath and began drying himself, however, it embarrassed him greatly that Yuki had insisted on blow-drying his hair.

Sometimes, Jonas felt that Yuki just wanted to sleep with him, while other times he felt that she was just a huge sadist who wanted to dominate him. However, there were also tender moments when she was fussing with his hair or caressing his cheeks.

Later on, the two of them sat on the lounge with glasses of wine in their hands. “Cheers,” said Jonas, "I never thought I'd enjoy wine,” his hair was sleek and shimmering. Yuki seemed to be enjoying their time together as she had her long legs stretched across his body.

“There isn’t much else to do in here, unfortunately,” she said, “You fight, you fuck, and you indulge in the finest pains and pleasures that you can get your hands on,” she sipped her drink.

“It sounds like basic poverty,” said Jonas,

“Very true,” she nodded, “My husband had once told me that the line between rich and poor wasn't as pronounced as most people thought,” Jonas nearly choked on his wine.

“Husband?” he asked, “You’re married?”

“I was married before I died.”

“What was your life like?” Jonas asked, “Before you came to Hell?”

“Why do you want to know?” she asked while wearing a playful expression, “Are you having thoughts about me?”

“I'm just curious,” said Jonas, he pursed his lips, “I’d like to know a little about my partner-in-crime before we lead a prison break.”

“Fine,” she laughed, “I’ll give you a few tidbits,” and she finished off her glass of wine before delving into her story. “My father was a Daimyō, a feudal lord during the Edo period of Japan, and I was the sheltered young lady living under his roof, an only child.”

“Sorry,” interrupted Jonas, “What’s the Edo period?”

“Roughly between the sixteenth and nineteenth century. Japan had just begun unifying under the Tokugawa Shogunate, and to curry favor with the new ruling class, my father married me to the son of a Rōjū, a high-ranking government official.”

“So he married you off to build a relationship with the new government?" Jonas was confused by the Japanese terms, but he did get the basic idea of the story.

“Exactly," she said, "I was fifteen at the time, and my new husband was thirty. I was nervous about leaving home, but I was also excited to bring honor to my father and to do my duty as both a wife and future mother. The first night I entered his household, my husband was not gentle when he took my virginity, nor was he gentle during the next few weeks as he fucked me, beat me, and took out all of his daily frustrations on my body."

“Sorry,” Jonas felt terrible for her, “That’s a horrible thing to go through.”

“Peasant girls would have had happier marriages than me. You don’t need to feel sorry for me, I was just unluckier than most to have ended up married to such a sadist.”

“Still,” said Jonas, “You were only fifteen, just three years younger than me.”

“I managed to reach the ripe age of twenty before my husband finally killed me in a fit of rage,” she said, and her words sent shivers down Jonas’ spine. “I hadn’t given him children in over five years, and the excuses began to run dry, and my usefulness had evaporated, and I had soon overstayed my welcome in his household.”

“Yuki, I’m sorry.”

“Not as sorry as I was,” she said with a smile, “I wish I could tell my younger self not to be so naïve, and to not wait around hoping that her psychotic husband might change.”

“So he killed you, and you woke up in Hell?”

“He divorced me, and when I begged for forgiveness, he told me the name of his new mistress, and when I pleaded to stay, he wrapped his hands around my neck and choked the life out of me,” she smiled seeing the look of anger on Jonas’ young face. “I woke up in Hell, scared and alone, and before there were skyscrapers and glass towers, there was the farmer field that I tilled as a girl, and a lovely family that I grew up with.”

“Hell seems to change with the people who occupy it,” Jonas said.

“You keep your memories, don’t you? Over time, people died and brought with them the culture, inventions, and social norms of the world that they left. You could say that Hell is just a reflection of Earth.”

“Hell is just a reflection of Earth?” Jonas felt depressed as he heard this.

“Don’t look so sad,” Yuki smiled as she grazed a finger across his outstretched arm, “Life on Earth is just a fruitless game of survival, where you learn as much as you can.”

“And Hell?” Jonas asked.

“Hell is where you put your knowledge to the test, where you can rise high above the rest… or fall.”