The Ashen Dominion
Chapter 67 - Match Set

Chapter 67: 67 - Match Set

(Kaiser’s POV)

Miraculously, I had a peaceful time in the bath area of the copper prize room. Nothing really happened, I just received some weird stares, but whatever—I got to enjoy the pool without distraction.

Well, Damian was noisy and he kept on talking to me, but I mostly just ignored him and let him talk to himself.

And after staying in the bath area for over an hour, when my skin was starting to look weirdly wrinkly... I left there and went back to the main room with Damian.

Then there—we started eating like crazy again. We became hungry because we soaked ourselves too much. My stomach was even grumbling because I was cold, and that was the same for Damian.

Though, we refilled our stomachs quickly as we just devoured whatever we got our hands on.

"This is the best... Now I know why you sacrifice a day of training to be here, it’s more than worth it!"

Damian exclaimed as we rested for a bit.

I just smirked at him and shrugged my shoulders, looking at him with eyes saying; "I know."

Moving on, after resting for a bit—Damian and I got ready to go back to the copper place.

We want to rest now, and just as I said before—I don’t want to sleep in a place full of gladiators that I don’t know of.

Damian agreed with me when I told him that.

And so with that, we both headed back to the copper place.

Or at least, that was the plan.

"The master is calling for you, kid... Come with me."

A guard suddenly approached me and told me that!

"...?"

I was confused, but I don’t really have a choice. And so, I just complied without saying much.

Meanwhile, Damian—

"I’ll be going back first then. I’m so sleepy now."

He was escorted back.

’Ugh, I want to sleep now too...’

I was envious, seeing him go away.

And after he was gone, the guard who picked me up started escorting me toward Jeff’s office.

---

And now, currently...

"..."

"..."

I stood in front of Jeff, the boss of this coliseum. He’s behind his desk, sitting and working on something.

He’s just looking at me, not saying anything, I can’t really read his expression... He just looks tired.

"Do you know why I’ve called you here?"

Jeff asked me. And at his question, I started thinking to myself.

’Well, he seems calm and I don’t remember causing trouble... Except when I trapped Uban and his lackey in a room and locked them up for days, not letting them eat.’

But that was already resolved, probably.

’So if that was not the reason... What?’

I asked in my head.

"..."

Jeff just watched me with interest, seeing me use my brain seems to be fascinating for him.

But after a while, he got bored of waiting and just opened his mouth.

"I called you here because—"

"Edmar replied to my challenge, right?"

Though, before he could even finish his sentence, I cut him off and completed it.

"..."

Jeff was shocked, he stared at me, speechless.

Though later, he slowly opened his mouth.

"How did you know?"

Then he asked that, squinting his eyes.

"I mean, if I’m not in trouble—that’s the only reason I could think of why I got called here."

I casually replied, shrugging.

"..."

Jeff nodded his head and stayed silent for a while after hearing my answer.

"Anyway..."

Then we moved on.

"You’re right about the reason why you’re here."

"Edmar went here earlier today with a guard escorting him, then he told me that he’s accepting your challenge."

Jeff said. And not waiting for my response...

"But it’s not going to happen immediately, he already has a fight scheduled for the third week of the month."

He continued.

(It’s the second week of the month currently.)

"Then when?"

I asked, and as if he was waiting for me to do that—

"First week of the next month."

Jeff said that.

"Do you have any complaints or anything?"

"..."

I shook my head as a response, then with a smile.

"That’s just perfect."

I declared.

*****

After informing him about his next match—Jeff sent Kaiser back to the copper place, escorted by the same guard who brought him there.

And once he got back...

Kaiser was greeted by Viktor, Rose, Jhamillah, and Jenna. Damian was already asleep in his room, too tired from the day’s events.

It seemed like Viktor had been helping the three girls train before Kaiser arrived.

"You’re back."

Viktor said as he glanced at Kaiser.

"How was the prize room?"

"Good food. Took a bath. Got thirty battle points."

Kaiser shrugged casually.

Viktor blinked, surprised.

"Thirty?"

"Yup."

Kaiser hummed in response.

Viktor couldn’t believe it, he was lost for words... So in the end, he just moved on.

Then, he faced the three girls.

"Well... We’re done here for now. You three can rest now, and I suggest you do the same."

Viktor said, clapping his hands once, and glancing at Kaiser at the end.

At his words, the three girls let out a tired sigh and sat on the ground a few meters away. They welcomed Kaiser back first before leaving, and he thanked them.

He didn’t move from his spot still.

"We going to train tomorrow?"

Viktor then suddenly asked him, raising a brow.

"Of course... I need to train extra hard now."

Kaiser said calmly.

"Why?"

Viktor followed, not thinking much about it.

And without beating around the bush—

"Edmar accepted the challenge, we’ll fight on the first week of the next month."

Kaiser casually dropped that news to him!

"...?"

For a few seconds, there was silence between them.

"WHAT?!"

Then Viktor exclaimed that after processing what he just heard.

"..."

Kaiser just stared at him with a straight face, not saying anything. And because of that...

"..."

Viktor calmed down too.

"You nervous?"

He asked.

Kaiser shook his head, his expression unchanged.

"No point being nervous. I just need to be ready."

Viktor grinned.

"You’ve already been training non-stop... You’ll be fine."

Then he declared that.

...

...

*****

Not long after, dinner arrived—just the usual; bowls of porridge, a few chunks of meat, some dry bread, and water.

Viktor and the others all gathered at their usual spot, Kaiser also woke Damian by banging hard on his door.

Bam! Bam! Bam!

"Get up. Dinner’s here."

A groan came from inside before Damian finally emerged, rubbing his eyes.

They all ate together, talking in low voices as they shared whatever bits of gossip or training stories they had. The food was bland, but it didn’t matter—they were used to it. Jhamillah complained about the porridge again, Rose ignored her, Jenna quietly listened, and Viktor just ate happily.

And after finishing their meal, they all split off.

The three girls went back to their room, Damian muttered something about sleep and disappeared too. Viktor stayed in front of his room, quietly training like usual.

And Kaiser—he stayed behind, leaning on the wall near the entrance.

He was waiting for Rai.

And fortunately, he arrived not long.

Kaiser noticed something strapped behind his back, and seeing that—he smiled and started approaching the metal bar gate.

"Good evening."

"Good evening!"

They greeted each other as they stood face to face. Only the metal bars separating them.

"Here!"

Rai then immediately handed Kaiser a paper bag.

Fwip—

And Kaiser took it without hesitation. It was his daily protein.

"Thanks."

He said, slightly bowing his head.

Rai said it was nothing, and excitedly—

"Here too, your request!"

He took out the things strapped on his bag and slipped them through the metal bars!

"..."

Kaiser looked at what he was handing him. And upon seeing them, he smiled.

It was the two javelins that he asked for.

"They’re perfect, thanks."

He said as he took them. Kaiser held a javelin in each of his hand and tried swinging them to get used to their weight.

They’re just as heavy as the one that he have. And realizing, a smile crept up on his face.

...

Kaiser and Rai talked for a bit, catching up on each other’s day.

Rai mentioned his tasks, Kaiser shared how he visited the prize room with Damian, and they both laughed when Kaiser told him how much Damian ate.

But after a few minutes...

"See you tomorrow."

It was time for Rai to go back.

"Yeah."

Kaiser said, waving slightly as Rai walked off.

Then without wasting time—he returned to his room, shut the door, and sat on his bed. He pulled out the two roasted chicken breasts, still slightly warm, and quickly devoured them. The savory taste was a blessing compared to the bland porridge they usually got.

Full and a bit re-energized, Kaiser stood up and began his training. He pushed his body through sets of bodyweight exercises—push-ups, squats, core work. Then, he picked up his weapons and started going through his forms, practicing with sharp movements and solid footing. Despite the tight space, he moved with familiarity.

Only after his muscles burned and sweat covered his skin did he finally stop.

And with a deep breath, Kaiser dropped onto his bed, exhaling a long sigh.

"Haaaaaaa..."

His body was sore, his mind tired.

"The first week of the next month, huh..."

He mumbled.

’I have two more weeks to train.’

Then he thought of that before closing his eyes.