Female Announcer (voice trembling slightly):
"I'm sorry to say this... but it seems the battle ended much earlier than we expected. And with that, we have a new most powerful Celeste—Celer."
As the announcement echoed through the arena, the crowd slowly began to disperse, murmuring in disbelief about what they had just witnessed. But while the audience filed out, Vita followed closely behind a determined Meldenma, both heading toward Celer's private quarters.
Meldenma (grimly):
"I need to meet that guy—the one who was with me during the task. This can't be a coincidence. He knew the task pattern right from the start… and he knows a Duces who just happens to be one of the top leaders this year? No way this is random."
Vita (calling out nervously):
"Melma, wait. I really think we should come back another day..."
Meldenma (firmly):
"Why? I think today's the perfect chance. Everyone's distracted by the fight. If you want to leave, go ahead. I'm going in."
Vita (hesitating):
"No—I'm coming too. I just hope Celer isn't inside..."
They reached Celer's chamber, where Henzo, Vita's boyfriend's friend, was stationed outside.
Henzo (blocking the way):
"Not today. Seriously. The whole team's already cleared out—maybe that's what they wanted."
Meldenma (dangerously calm):
"Move. Or I'll knock you out before Celer even gets the chance. You think I wanted to come here? Don't treat me like I'm stupid."
Henzo (looking at Vita):
"Wait—Vita, you're going with her willingly?"
Vita (sighing):
"Of course not... but we're going in."
Henzo (muttering):
"Guess I'll have to start looking for another job..."
Meldenma (mocking):
"You look better in clubs playing music with your friends. Here? You're like a donkey holding a sword."
Vita (groaning):
"Melma, shut up! He's moving now, stop talking."
Meldenma:
"Just stating facts. Now, move."
Vita (apologetically):
"Sorry, Henzo. She's just... been off today. Probably stressed. Don't take it personally."
Henzo (half-smiling):
"Honestly? She's not wrong. Thanks. And... good luck."
The two girls stepped inside the dimly lit room—only to freeze.
Celer stood there, silent, and right beside her was that tall, mysterious man from the task.
Both of them turned their heads slowly toward the girls.
Celer (coldly):
"I've already sent the entire team out. That includes you two."
Meldenma (stepping forward):
"I'm not one of your workers. I'm a fighter. And I just want to talk to him."
(squinting at the tall man)
"The one who was with me during the task… your name is...?"
Tall Man (calmly):
"Noxny."
Meldenma (recognizing him):
"You completed that task with me yesterday..."
Noxny (to Celer):
"Go to the Duces. I'll come later."
Celer stared hard at Meldenma for a few seconds—not saying a word, but her glare spoke volumes. Then, silently, she walked past them and exited.
Noxny (to Meldenma):
"You should ask your friend to step outside. I don't think what we're about to discuss involves her."
Meldenma (coldly):
"So... you were expecting me to come here."
Noxny (tilting his head, voice soft):
"Would you like to go, Vita ? So we can talk… privately."
Vita (reluctantly and confused) :
You know my name...??? Just... don't let anything bad happen in here, okay?"
Noxny (smiling faintly):
"Fair enough."
As soon as Vita stepped out and the door clicked shut behind her, a strange silence settled in.
Noxny calmly walked toward the far side of the room where a sleek set of metallic chairs lined the wall, motioning for Meldenma to join him.
She didn't hesitate.
But the moment they sat down, her tone turned razor-sharp.
Meldenma (leaning forward, eyes locked):
"So… what's your real name?"
Noxny (raising an eyebrow, cool as ice):
"What makes you think that isn't my real name?"
Meldenma (folding her arms):
"Because someone who works for Duces… doesn't just fight on the side."
Noxny (calmly):
"I'm a fighter. I don't work for Duces. I was only called in because I'm Celer's current in-charge. That's it."
Meldenma (voice sharper now):
"Lie. You're lying. You're not her in-charge—you helped build her. And not here. She was designed outside this city. Probably in one of the outlaw sectors. That's illegal."
Noxny (leaning back slightly, still unreadable):
"And what makes you so sure that Celer wasn't built right here by our own designers?"
Meldenma (with a cold smirk):
"First of all—her external shield, the giant orb she uses to lock herself inside during fights? That's not made of a single metal. It's an alloy. A very specific one.
No local designer's ever used that alloy combination—not in this city. But guess where they have? In the banned zones. The underground Celeste rings from the outer cities."
Noxny's expression twitched—barely—but it was enough.
Noxny (quietly, eyes narrowing):
"...How do you know what's being built in other cities?"
---
Meldenma (coldly, eyes narrowing):
"Because I've been there. I saw it myself."
Noxny (sitting up straighter, eyes sharp):
"No one leaves this city. Not unless you're someone special. And by special, I mean Duces-level access."
Meldenma (voice steady, but low and piercing):
"Ever since I arrived here, I've done nothing but explore—observe—listen. And you know what I learned? People here only care about money.
They're done risking their lives for your precious tasks. The prize pool gets split equally now. So if someone really wants to earn more, they take the harder missions—
but those missions come with real pain, and a kind of pain that doesn't just injure you… it makes you beg to die.
So people gave up. Now they just do dirty deals, take bribes, avoid real work. And you? You don't even know. You're too busy building Celestes all year."
Noxny (voice dropping, serious):
"You realize what you just told me? That's enough to get you locked up—permanently. Or killed. And yet… you're sitting here, confessing this to me?"
Meldenma (smirking):
"You think I'm the only one? Please. Half this city is in on it. The only reason you haven't noticed is because your head is buried deep in your machines."
Noxny (dry chuckle):
"Shame you didn't use that brain of yours during the task… instead of swinging from that rig like a lost girl."
Meldenma (jaw tightens):
"Why are you suddenly talking about the task?"
Noxny (leaning in, eyes gleaming):
"Because you still want to know how I solved it, don't you?"
Meldenma (voice rising):
"You figured it out because you cheated. You knew the codes. Probably got them through your Duces connections."
Noxny (shaking his head):
"No. I knew the structure. That place was rectangular, and the machine inside? It was designed to sweep every corner first—pitch-wave motion—
a continuous loop system. People don't realize that.
After each loop, it would reverse, then run again. And when it did, the corners would always be left out—so in the end, the machine spun rapidly to make up for that,
covering everything.
But it was huge… intimidating…
People panicked. They couldn't read the space.
The sand dragged down their movement, slowed them further. Most gave up, exhausted.
But you... somehow used your strength to climb on top—into the safe zone."
Meldenma (staring):
"…So you did know everything."
Noxny (nodding, casually dropping a bomb):
"And I also know this:
You've been in this city for 12 years.
You hold the highest point score till date—
yet your earnings don't match.
You've completed more tasks than anyone—five to six per week, while others barely manage one or two. In rare cases hardly 3 or 4 .
And you've never had a single physical relationship with anyone."
There was a beat of silence. Then—snap.
Meldenma (at rage):
"Now you fucking shut up, asshole. You know way too much about me… and that's more than enough reason for me to kill you right here."
Noxny (voice still calm, unfazed):
"Killing, or even fighting in this city is illegal. If you're caught—six months demonetized.
And if you actually kill someone? Death sentence.
So go ahead. Kill me. But make sure you've saved enough money to survive after."
Meldenma (low growl):
"I know the rules. Don't waste time repeating them."
As soon as she finished speaking, Meldenma shot her leg straight from the seat, aiming a powerful kick at Noxny's face.
But it was like he'd already predicted it.
Noxny leaned back swiftly, dodging the blow with perfect timing.
Before her foot could retract, he caught her leg mid-air, then, without hesitation, slammed it down onto the glass table beside them.
But Meldenma didn't even flinch—she instantly aimed her other leg toward the hand holding her, targeting his grip with brutal precision.
Noxny reacted fast again. He twisted his body, quickly shifting her leg aside, but in doing so, he lost balance and had to remove his hand—
the table beneath them finally shattered completely.
Noxny (dryly, with a half-smile):
"Didn't you tell me that day—I wouldn't kick you again?
And yet, here you are throwing kicks ???
Also... that table was expensive."
Meldenma stared at him, breath short and chest rising.
She was in complete disbelief—how did he react so fast?
He wasn't just guessing her moves—he was reading them.
But there was no time to hesitate.
She got up from the broken mess and threw a punch, right toward his jaw.
He caught it effortlessly—then grabbed her other wrist, locked both her hands, and forced her back into the seat, using the metal armrests to hook her in place.
She struggled—but couldn't move.
Whether it was his grip, the way her body was positioned, or the overwhelming pressure of his presence, she wasn't sure.
Noxny leaned in close.
Too close.
He took a long, quiet breath, staring directly into her eyes.
Meldenma's breath hitched—his nearness wasn't just intimidating... it was unsettling.
Not fear—just... something she couldn't name.
And she hated not knowing what it was.
After a few seconds, Noxny slowly let her go and stood back up, brushing the dust off his clothes like nothing had happened.
Meldenma stood too—this time facing him fully, breathing heavily but trying to stay composed.
Noxny (calmly):
"Alright then.
If you want to fight so bad…
Let's meet tonight."
Meldenma said nothing.
She turned around and walked out the door—silently.
But inside, she was fuming.
Trying to process everything that had just happened.
And failing.