Slave of Fignters "Champion of the Black Star Part One

The second level of the asteroid known as the **Black Star** was a fairly prosperous district, and in some places, incredibly wealthy. Unlike the third level, its streets were clean, and even the criminals were more civilized. They wouldn't harass random passersby just to steal a wallet and spend the money on drinks the same day. Instead, the locals preferred patient, elaborate schemes that brought in far more profit than ordinary robbery ever could.

The goods sold on the second level were also much better and of higher quality than those on the third, so it was no surprise that this district was considered far more prestigious.

The places where the levels connected were called **checkpoint hubs**. Residents of the third level could not enter the second without the proper authorization or documents, while people living on the second level were free to travel down to the third whenever they wished.

Our heroes stood at one of these checkpoints. After showing their documents to the guards, they were asked to wait for a moment. A minute later, they were allowed through. As soon as they stepped outside, Edmond found himself staring at a completely different world.

Clean asphalt roads. Beautiful houses, some of them almost picturesque. But what amazed Edmond the most was the transparent ceiling, through which the endless expanse of space could be seen. On the third level, space was never visible because a solid ceiling always blocked the view overhead.

After passing through the checkpoint, they boarded a vehicle that had been prepared specifically for the members of **Galaxy of Beauty**. Once everyone was seated, they drove along the smooth roads of the second level. Unlike the rough streets of the third level, where even cargo trucks bounced over potholes, this ride was almost perfectly smooth.

As they passed building after building, Edmond couldn't take his eyes off the scenery outside the window. He could barely remember the last time he had seen a place this beautiful.

Tork, on the other hand, wasn't particularly impressed. To him, it simply looked much cleaner than the third level.

Before long, they drove past an enormous dome-shaped building. A giant holographic sign glowed across its wall, announcing that the second qualifying round for fighters from the second and third levels would begin in just a few hours.

"So the matches are going to be held here?" Edmond asked.

"No. This isn't our arena," Squid replied. "There are six major arenas on the second level, and all of them will be hosting the second qualifying round at the same time."

"But why use all six?" Edmond asked. "Why not hold everything in one place?"

"Because the winners from each of the six arenas will advance to the final tournament," Tork explained. "That means six fighters from the second and third levels will qualify. They'll compete in the main tournament on the first level alongside the six winners of the first-level qualifiers."

"And while the second- and third-level qualifiers are happening here," Emali added, "the fighters from the first level are holding their own qualifying matches."

"Six fighters from the second and third levels, and another six from the first," Squid said. "Whoever came up with this system understood one thing perfectly: the longer the tournament lasts, the more money people spend on betting. A longer tournament means more wagers. It's a foolproof business model."

They drove for another ten minutes, passing three more massive domes before finally reaching their destination.

It was another enormous dome, just like the others. On the opposite side of the building, a long line of people stretched into the distance, all waiting to buy tickets for the spectator stands.

Edmond, Squid, Tork, and Emali headed toward the staff entrance reserved for tournament participants. After walking through several corridors, they arrived at their waiting room.

Edmond looked around, let out a whistle, and said,

"Wow... Usually a waiting room has nothing but a locker and a bench, but this..."

It looked more like a small hotel suite. There was a comfortable locker, a brand-new bench instead of a worn-out one, a soft couch with a table, and a large holographic television mounted on the wall. There was also a restroom, a bathroom, and even a refrigerator stocked with food.

At that moment, one of the arena staff members approached them.

"Please be ready. In thirty minutes, all the fighters will make their entrance together. When it's time, I'll come for you, and you'll follow me."

The staff member left, and Edmond immediately started taking off his clothes. He was already wearing shorts, so all he had to do was remove his shirt.

But Emali stopped him.

"Don't rush. We've still got time."

She held something out to him.

"Try this on instead."

Emali handed Edmond a new pair of professional boxing shorts. They were bright red, with double blue stripes running down the sides and the patterned **Galaxy of Beauty** logo printed on them.

Delighted with his new gear, Edmond was just about to take off his denim shorts when Squid lashed out with one of his tentacles, smacking him across both eyes. Edmond instantly jerked his hands away and clutched his face.

"AAARGH! Damn it! What was that for?!" he shouted.

Squid answered in a stern voice,

"Do you have any manners at all? Were you raised in the wilderness?" He paused for a moment. "Actually... that's right, you really were. Listen, you idiot, were you seriously about to strip in front of a lady? Do you have even the slightest sense of decency?"

"I wouldn't have minded..." Emali muttered, but quickly fell silent when she saw Squid slowly turn his head toward her with a piercing glare.

"Emali, out of the room. Now. You can come back in one minute. And you," Squid ordered, pointing at Edmond, "get changed while she's gone."

Emali stepped outside, and Edmond quickly changed into his new boxing shorts. They fit him perfectly.

"Look what else we've got," Tork said, pulling a red boxing robe from a box. It matched the shorts perfectly and had the same **Galaxy of Beauty** logo across the back.

"We wanted you to make your debut on the second level in style."

A minute later, Emali returned. The moment she saw Edmond in his new outfit, her eyes lit up.

"Ooooh... My goodness, it looks amazing on you! All you're missing is a hood."

She hurried over to a pile of bags, rummaged through them, pulled out a pair of boxing wraps, and walked up to Edmond.

"Hands," she said.

Edmond held them out, and Emali carefully wrapped his palms, knuckles, and wrists. She didn't wrap his feet, though. Instead, she simply handed him the remaining wraps so he could do that himself.

Some time passed. Squid continued lecturing Edmond, reminding him that he needed to take every fight seriously and stop making reckless decisions that usually left him open to unnecessary hits.

---

"One day, this habit of testing your opponents' strength is going to get you killed," Squid said. "It won't make you stronger-it'll just leave you crippled. We have to reach the finals, and you're more than capable of doing it, but only if you treat every fight seriously."

Edmond waved the warning away.

"Come on, don't worry so much. Everything's going to be fine. You'll see-we'll be in the finals before you know it."

"And where does all that confidence come from?" Squid argued. "Your opponents are second-level fighters. They're nothing like the amateurs you fought on the third level..."

"Oh, give it a rest, Squid," Edmond interrupted. "Petrion was from the second level too, and I beat him easily. Twice."

Just then, an arena staff member entered the room. After giving them a polite bow, he said,

"Ladies and gentlemen, please follow me. Your ceremonial entrance into the arena will begin shortly."

Edmond immediately got to his feet.

"Finally. I was starting to shake from impatience."

Squid followed in silence, lost in thought.

Edmond was underestimating his opponents far too much, assuming every second-level fighter was no stronger than Petrion. According to what Tork had learned, however, Petrion wasn't considered a powerful fighter even among the second level. He was an average professional with plenty of losses on his record. That was exactly why he so often came down to the third level, where most fighters were considerably weaker than he was.

Yet even someone like Petrion inspired fear with his strength.

So just how powerful were the true elite fighters of the second level?

Blinded by his effortless victories over weaker opponents, Edmond still couldn't grasp that reality.

He would understand...

...only when he finally faced an opponent capable of fighting back.

-------------------

The arena looked exactly like a place where real fights were meant to happen: a spacious hall with concrete walls, semicircular rows of seats rising toward the back, and an octagonal fighting platform at the center. It stood on a raised stage so that even spectators in the front rows could clearly see the action.

There was no cage or any other barrier surrounding it, but a thin black pillar stood at each corner of the platform. About three meters above the floor, the pillars curved inward and connected above the center of the arena. The floor was covered with fighting mats bearing sponsor logos, worn around the edges where grappling most often took place. Along the sides were designated areas for cornermen, referees, and medical staff, all arranged according to tournament regulations.

Huge screens hung above the arena, displaying replays and close-up shots, while advertising banners stretched around the perimeter.

As Edmond stepped toward the arena entrance, a sharp, almost icy glare from the spotlights struck his eyes. The beams poured down from above, pulling the arena out of the surrounding darkness. The air smelled of heated concrete, rubber, and adrenaline.

Standing at the center was the familiar announcer, Avalar. As always, he spoke into the microphone with theatrical flair, welcoming everyone to the second qualifying tournament for a chance to compete in the **Champion of the Black Star** tournament.

"And now... let me introduce the first contestant of today's tournament!" Avalar proclaimed dramatically. "Our next fighter stands one hundred seventy-two centimeters tall and weighs eighty-four kilograms! A third-level fighter with one hundred and ten victories and not a single defeat! Representing the trading company **Galaxy of Beauty**... E-e-e-edmo-o-o-ond!"

The arena staff member escorting the group said,

"All right, this is your cue. Walk onto the arena and stand by your team's logo."

They did exactly that. The moment Edmond stepped out of the corridor, an overwhelming roar erupted from the stands. Cheers, whistles, and shouting crashed over him all at once.

From the nearest rows, individual voices could be heard:

"No way! He's that young and already undefeated?!"

"I bet a third of those wins were bought!"

"Hey, brat! You don't belong in this arena!"

After climbing onto the platform, they headed toward the section marked with the **Galaxy of Beauty** logo. As they walked, Squid and Emali smiled and waved to the crowd.

Emali glanced at Tork and Edmond. They were the only two who weren't waving. They simply walked forward with blank expressions.

"What's wrong with you two?" she asked. "Would it kill you to wave?"

Tork looked at her in confusion.

"Huh? What?"

Emali stared at him in disbelief.

"What do you mean, 'what?' You both look like statues. Fine, Edmond gets a pass-he practically grew up in the wilderness. But what's your excuse? Why are you staring at the floor like some big oaf?"

Tork immediately shot back,

"Oh, give me a break. I'm not the main representative here. I don't need to wave at anybody."

Emali frowned.

"Hey! Who are you calling out?"

"That's enough," Squid interrupted. "Behave yourselves. If he doesn't want to wave, then don't make him. Honestly, I'm not exactly thrilled about doing it either."

When they reached their place, they stopped. Avalar caught Edmond's eye and gave him a subtle nod of greeting. Then he raised the microphone once more and, swaying rhythmically as always, announced the next contestant.

"And now, representing the **Golden Hide Company**! A second-level fighter-wild, swift, graceful, and the most beautiful contestant in the tournament! After all, she's the only female fighter competing today! Height: one hundred seventy-five centimeters! Weight: seventy kilograms! One hundred fifty-six victories and only two defeats! Welcome... C-a-a-a-ssa-a-a-ndra!"

From the opposite corridor emerged a man wearing an elegant suit with a cloak made from the hide of a rare beast. Judging by his appearance, he belonged to the Jarvon race.

**Jarvons** are anthropomorphic humanoids resembling frogs. They have broad heads with almost no visible necks, bulging eyes, enormous mouths, and massive, stocky builds.

He wasn't alone.

In one hand, he held a chain attached to the collar of a young woman wearing a mesh muzzle.

She was Cassandra.

She had dark gray hair, sleek gray fur patterned with lynx-like spots, and ears that resembled those of a lynx. Long claws tipped both her hands and feet, while a long, flexible tail ending in a sharp spike swayed behind her. She wore a dark athletic top and tight-fitting shorts.

As they walked through the corridor, Cassandra hissed at the cheering spectators, while her handler occasionally tugged on the chain to keep her under control. When they reached the arena, she snarled at Avalar as she passed him.

Chuckling, Avalar playfully hopped backward.

"Oh my, what a naughty kitty. I definitely wouldn't want to end up locked in a cage with someone like you."

Edmond looked at her in confusion, nudged Emali with his elbow, and whispered,

"Hey... what's wrong with her? Why's she wearing a muzzle? They actually let mentally unstable people compete in this tournament?"

Emali smiled.

"What, are you scared?" she teased. "Relax. It's just part of her persona. You know, the whole 'wild and untamable beast' image. Although, honestly... it's a little cringe."

Cassandra and her handler took their place. As she glanced toward Edmond, she stuck out her tongue at him with a smug grin, as if trying to provoke him.

Edmond paid her no attention. She didn't strike him as particularly interesting. In fact, the moment she calmly took her place, all that exaggerated ferocity seemed to disappear. If anything, she actually looked rather cute.

Avalar then extended his arm toward the same corridor from which Edmond had entered.

"And now, representing the **Red Kitchen Company**-a second-level fighter! Height: two hundred and one centimeters! Weight: one hundred seventy-eight kilograms! One hundred eighty-nine victories and only one defeat! An unstoppable machine! The King of Knockouts! Give it up for... P-o-o-o-dlu-u-u-ben!"

A massive reptilian creature stepped out of the corridor. His body was covered in silver scales. Two spiral horns curved backward from his head, while a shorter horn protruded from the bridge of his nose. A pair of mandibles extended beneath his lower jaw.

His entire body was protected by thick silver scales, especially across his back, where they resembled solid armor. The only vulnerable area was the front of his torso-his chest and abdomen.

Tork went pale.

"Oh, damn... They've got one of those too?!"

Edmond noticed his reaction.

"Tork, do you know who that is?"

"Yeah," Tork replied. "A **Stahlpod**. They're an incredibly powerful warrior race. Half reptile, half insect. They're often hired as elite mercenaries. Those guys are no joke."

What Tork didn't tell Edmond was the whole truth.

Yes, the Stahlpods were a fiercely martial people, but they were also known for their strong sense of justice. Despite their warrior culture, their homeworld had long been peaceful. When enemies of the Coalition attempted to invade it, the Stahlpods fought them off with remarkable determination. Later, the Coalition itself arrived and helped liberate the planet completely.

Out of gratitude, the Stahlpods pledged their loyalty to the Coalition. As a result, members of their race were now commonly found throughout the Coalition's armed forces. As warriors, they were considered nearly ideal soldiers. Their extraordinary endurance and incredibly durable bodies made them fearsome opponents, even for highly trained combat veterans.

Podluben and his entourage took their place alongside the other contestants.

Avalar then resumed his usual theatrical style as he introduced the next fighter.

"Please welcome another young third-level fighter, representing a group of mechanics straight from the scrapyard! Height: one hundred sixty-eight centimeters! Weight: seventy-nine kilograms! One hundred and eight victories without a single defeat! Give it up for... Bl-u-u-u-rk-e-e-e-na-a-a!"

A familiar young man stepped out of the corridor.

It was the same blue-skinned Bixsar who had interrupted Edmond's fight with the giant during the first qualifier. He walked with calm confidence. Just like Edmond, some spectators greeted him with boos, shouting that no third-level fighter could possibly have that many undefeated victories and claiming his record had been bought.

Amateurs. What else could you expect?

As Blurken walked past Edmond, he noticed him and smiled warmly, clearly happy to see him again.

Walking beside Blurken were five elderly humanoids-thin, slightly hunched, and covered in wrinkles. They were apparently the mechanics Avalar had mentioned. It seemed that, in their old age, they had decided to promote their scrapyard workshop by sponsoring a fighter.

Avalar continued.

"Our next contestant represents **SEV Company**! Height: one hundred eighty-one centimeters! Weight: eighty-seven kilograms! One hundred twenty-three victories and forty-five defeats! A second-level fighter! Please welcome... Pi-y-u-u-u-rl-o-o-o-na-a-a!"

A representative of the Guboyr race emerged from the corridor. His body was covered in black, needle-like fur, especially thick around his head. Representatives of the company he fought for accompanied him. Together they climbed onto the arena and took their place.

Then Avalar introduced another contestant.

"Joining us next is another challenger! A second-level fighter! Height: one hundred seventy-five centimeters! Weight: eighty kilograms! One hundred thirty victories and fifty-six defeats! Representing the **Three Roots Trading Group**... Sn-a-a-a-psh-o-o-o-t-a-a-a!"

A well-built Seroxas walked confidently toward the arena, entertaining the crowd with flashy punches and martial arts poses. After climbing onto the platform, he joined his manager and the other members of his company.

The second-to-last contestant introduced by Avalar turned out to be Glukloyd.

"Our next fighter represents **LP Company**! Height: one hundred eighty centimeters! Weight: eighty-five kilograms! One hundred and one victories and eighty-nine defeats! Please welcome... Ch-i-i-i-br-i-i-i-la!"

Glukloyd calmly walked down the path leading to the arena. There was uncertainty in his movements. Even his posture suggested that he didn't truly believe he could win the tournament.

Still, the excitement of simply being there was written all over his face.

He stepped onto the platform with his team and took his place.

Finally, Avalar raised his hand and announced the last contestant.

"And now, our final fighter! Representing a funeral services company! Height: one hundred seventy-six centimeters! Weight: ninety kilograms! One hundred five victories and fifty-six defeats! Please welcome... Endr... End...-"

Avalar squeezed his eyes shut, obviously struggling to pronounce the name correctly.

"Endochloromil! Good grief... what a name!"

Once Avalar finally managed to say it, the last fighter emerged from the corridor.

His body was hidden beneath a long boxing robe. Walking beside him were several people completely concealed beneath black hooded robes.

Endochloromil behaved aggressively, constantly waving his arms. Only the lower half of his face was visible beneath the hood. He repeatedly stuck out his tongue and licked his lips as he stared at the arena.

After climbing onto the platform, he walked to his position and slammed his fist into the floor with tremendous force.

The impact was so powerful that everyone standing on the platform felt the vibration beneath their feet.

Avalar merely grinned.

"What incredible strength and energy! This fighter can hardly wait for the battle to begin. I like that kind of enthusiasm!"

Then Avalar pressed two fingers against his left ear. After nodding to someone over his communicator, he waited for the crowd to settle down before continuing.

"Ladies and gentlemen! Those are all the contestants in today's tournament! Very soon they will face one another, and only one of them will earn a place in the final stage, where they'll fight for the right to become the next **Champion of the Black Star**! And now, dear contestants, please return to your waiting rooms and prepare for your matches!"

The fighters and their teams began leaving the arena. This time, those who had been introduced last exited first.

After leaving the arena, Edmond, Tork, Squid, and Emali headed back to their waiting room.

-------------------

When they returned to their waiting room, they noticed the holographic TV screen was already on. A tournament bracket was displayed.

Tork looked at it, and when he saw that their first match would be against Cassandra, he said,

"Looks like they didn't bother putting much thought into the bracket. The fights are set up in the same order the fighters were introduced."

"And we got the worst possible matchup," Emali added. "Lynxsors are a pretty dangerous race."

Edmon answered confidently,

"We'll see just how dangerous she really is."

"Why wait until the fight? I'll tell you everything I know about them right now," Emali said, showing off her knowledge a little.

"That's the right idea, Emali," Squid praised her. "Knowing your enemy's strengths and weaknesses is a tactical advantage."

Just then, Squid noticed Edmon slowly walking toward the door.

"Where do you think you're going?" he asked.

Edmon replied,

"Well, you guys are talking about... uh... what was it again..."

"Lynxsors," Emali reminded him. "I'm giving you a special lecture to give you a tactical advantage..."

"I don't need it," Edmon cut her off. "Why ruin the fun of the fight? It's like eating dessert before dinner-you lose your appetite."

"What appetite?!" Squid snapped. "We're in a tournament! This isn't the time for your stupid self-tests! We need the best possible result, not a beaten-up fighter who'll be lucky to even make it into the second match!"

But Edmon acted as if he hadn't heard a single word.

He suddenly bolted out the door.

"Hey! Where are you going?!" Squid shouted after him. "You idiot! You have no idea how dangerous your opponent is! Get back here!"

Edmon didn't stop.

He sprinted toward the arena.

Squid, Tork, and Emali immediately ran after him.

As they chased him, Emali tried to shout,

"Watch out for her tail! There's a venomous stinger at the end!"

The moment Edmon heard her voice, he jammed his fingers into his ears so he wouldn't hear any advice or warnings from his friends.

One of the arena staff members happened to be walking toward them.

Seeing Edmon sprinting down the corridor, he said in surprise,

"Oh, you've already come out on your own. That's perfect-your entr..."

Before he could finish, Edmon grabbed the employee and hurled him straight at Squid.

With a loud scream, the poor man flew through the air.

Squid reacted just in time, caught the terrified employee, and gently set him back on his feet.

"You idiot!" Squid yelled after Edmon. "Are you seriously that stupid?! Why are you throwing people around?!"

Edmon couldn't hear him anymore.

He was already racing toward the arena entrance.

When he reached the exit tunnel, he saw Avalar standing in the center of the arena.

Avalar was telling the audience about his very first match in this very arena-the one where he had earned his promotion from the third level to the second.

But the moment he noticed Edmon running toward him, he fell silent.

"My friend, I haven't announced your entrance yet," Avalar said. "Why don't you head back for now?"

Edmon shook his head.

"Sorry, buddy, I can't. I don't really know how to explain it, but... would you mind starting the first fight a little early?"

At that moment, Squid, Tork, and Emali burst out of the corridor.

The crowd immediately greeted them with a chorus of boos and whistles.

"Hey, you lousy managers! Can't you keep your hothead under control?!"

"He's completely out of control!"

"What an embarrassment!"

Those shouts made Squid feel deeply uncomfortable.

He was an agent, and things like this normally didn't bother him at all.

But now he felt overwhelming secondhand embarrassment... even though he had no idea what Spain was.

"You idiot!" Squid shouted. "You're acting like a clown! Get off the arena right now! If you don't, you won't get a single ticket-and you'll be stuck on this asteroid forever!"

"Deal," Edmon replied calmly. "If I lose, you can leave me here. But I'm not going to listen to advice on how to beat my opponent."

"But, Edmon, that's selfish," Emali pleaded. "Maybe fighting is exciting for you, but this match is just as important to us. Please come down and listen to us."

Edmon simply turned to Avalar.

"Come on already. How much longer are we going to stand here watching and listening to this drama?"

Avalar chuckled.

Throughout his career, he had seen plenty of fighters rush into the arena ahead of schedule, hoping to impress the crowd and intimidate their opponents. More often than not, they were the ones who ended up losing.

"Edmon, listen to us..." Tork shouted in frustration.

But Squid stopped him.

Calmly, he said,

"Don't bother. He's chosen his own path. If he loses, so be it. He agreed to this himself. Even if he loses, we'll still be able to reach the first level as guests since we qualified for the second preliminary tournament. So if he loses, we won't actually lose anything."

Avalar pressed two fingers against his left ear, listening to the message telling him it was time to announce the opening match.

Without wasting a second, he straightened his suit, stepped into the center of the arena, and announced with his usual dance-like swagger,

"Ladies and gentlemen! Your wait is finally over! Right now, our restless third-level fighter, Edmon, representing the clothing store *Galaxy of Beauty*, will face his very first second-level opponent! Representing the *Golden Hide* Company... Casssssaaandra!"

Cassandra stepped out from the opposite corridor.

Just like before, she wore her mesh muzzle and leash, both held by the Jarvon handler.

As they walked toward the arena, the crowd roared, shouting for Cassandra to tear the upstart Edmon apart.

When they reached the arena, the Jarvon removed Cassandra's muzzle and unclipped her leash.

The instant she was free, Cassandra launched herself forward.

With a single leap, she landed in the center of the arena and fixed her eyes on Edmon, hissing menacingly.

Edmon studied her carefully.

She actually looked rather cute to him-smooth fur, a feline face.

Even though she was hissing and trying to look intimidating, he didn't feel the slightest bit nervous.

Meanwhile, Avalar stepped out of the arena, took his seat at the judges' table, and called out,

"Fighters, get ready!"

The moment he spoke, the black pillars at the corners of the arena began to vibrate.

A red mesh-like energy barrier instantly formed between them.

It was yet another reminder of how much better organized the underground fights on the second level were compared to those on the third.

"The rules are simple," Avalar continued. "No weapons. Fight until one side wins. If your opponent surrenders, they automatically lose. But remember-fatalities are not impossible."

Cassandra spoke up.

"You heard him. Fatalities aren't impossible. Why not surrender now? I'd hate to ruin such a handsome face."

As she said that, she stuck out her tongue again, teasing Edmon.

Edmon smirked and scratched his nose.

"Those little claws of yours won't even leave me a scar. And scars would only make me look better. But after my punches, your cute little face might never look the same again. So instead of trying to scare me by acting like some tame little pet, why don't you prove your threats are actually worth something?"

Cassandra let out a quiet giggle.

Still smiling at Edmon, she suddenly began to change.

Her jaws widened, revealing long rows of razor-sharp fangs.

Her claws grew longer and much broader.

Her fur stood on end.

The cute cat was gone.

Standing before Edmon now was a monster straight out of a child's nightmare.

Seeing such a sudden transformation, Edmon genuinely froze.

His eyes went wide, staring in different directions, and his face was the picture of complete shock.

"Oh... holy hell... So that's how it is..." was all Edmon managed to say before the arena was filled with the thunderous sound of the gong, signaling the start of the fight.