Before entering the arena, considering that it was a space located underground, based on Malin’s previous firsthand experiences in the Underground City there, this place should also be from the world before the Great Destruction Era, possibly a location like an underground commercial center. However, hearing that it was actually a huge open space half-buried underground, Malin felt it might be a construction site still under development.
After all, the previous Underground City had a surface structure, didn’t it.
Just as Malin had predicted, upon exiting the vehicle, Malin saw a massive egg-shaped structure with a metal lid on top that was definitely added later, for it showed some signs of rust. The entrance of this underground arena resembled that of a subway’s main entrance, with metal walls serving as protection that had remained intact and clean, neat stairs to this day.
Malin followed a few others halfway down, where they encountered the security guards who were presumably in charge of safety. They wore uniform outfits. The first to pull out what must have been some sort of membership identification was Tutor Emet-Selch, who pointed at the others and said, "They are my guests."
So Logan and Cohen went in. Malin, taking notes in a small notebook on the intelligence of this location, tried to follow but was stopped.
"Sorry, Mr. Sayer, a child like him cannot go in." The security guard, blocking Malin’s way, addressed Tutor Emet-Selch sternly, "According to the latest regulations, children like him are not allowed."
"He is like me, also a Transcendent," Tutor Emet-Selch noticed Malin, who was glancing around at the iron handrail to his side, and told the guard.
"But he is still a child, Mr. Sayer. Unless you can obtain the approval from my superior, I can’t let him through." While saying so, the guard also pointed at Clovis, "She too; both of them are too young."
After saying that, he also pointed to the notice on the wall, for it was indeed stated that individuals below a certain height and those under the age of sixteen were prohibited from entering. Malin blinked, feeling like nobody could be blamed for this, then glanced over at Logan and Cohen who had already gone past... being tall does allow one to do whatever one wants, doesn’t it.
While Malin was thinking this, the ground began to tremble. Everyone involuntarily looked towards the dim corridor to the left of the platform. As the footsteps drew nearer, Malin noticed the security guards were bowing their heads. By the time the muscle-bound Mrs. Mariem emerged from the shadows, the two guards were already in full bow: "Madam!"
"Mr. Malin is my friend. I vouch for him; he and his little girlfriend may enter," the madam stated. Upon her words, the diligent guards immediately cleared the path.
"Madam, we meet again," Malin walked beside the lady, looking at her walking with her head lowered the whole way, somewhat curiously, "It seems to me that you work very hard here. Have you ever thought about changing jobs?"
"The Mariem family has been managing the arena here since seven hundred years ago. I plan to hand over this job to Cassie in a few years. The child, unlike his brothers, prefers quiet and reading, so I think this building, which becomes very quiet when there’s no major competition, suits him very well." The madam’s voice was a bit hoarse, maybe from a past injury to her throat; her pace was very steady, as if moving her legs mechanically.
"This building, like the Underground City, is also from the Great Destruction Era, isn’t it." Malin looked at her and asked.
"Yes, a long time ago, our Sydney Union was just another city-state, struggling to survive against the Tide of the Dead. Later, the great Emperor united humans and established a vast Empire..." Mariem Madam spoke of the past that Malin had read about in history books – a time when humans united for the first time, extending even into the Dark Zone.
But the invasion of Chaos destroyed everything, and it was not until much later that humans united again, this time in the form of various kingdoms.
"When my ancestors discovered this place, it was an Earth Dragon’s nest. He led his guards to hunt the Earth Dragons for twenty years, driving them out of the city. Then, as a Pioneer Knight, he was granted this building and the surrounding land as his fiefdom. At that time, this great city had not begun to be established, much like your Carterburg, filled with Spirits and the different kind, accompanied every day by the dead and the unfortunate ones who were resurrected."
"Madam, speaking of which, cremation is to prevent the dead from rising again, isn’t it?" Malin asked her.
"Yes, even now when the God of Justice’s bishops have learned Purification, burning the body is still the simplest and quickest way. The same was true for my ancestors; after their deaths, their remains were burned, leaving nothing but a pinch of ashes and debris. We had to do this to survive. Mr. Malin, you are young, do you understand what survival is?"
"Survival looks different in everyone’s eyes. All I know is that to me, survival means letting every person entitled to live not face hunger and danger every day." Malin looked at the distant lights, "Speaking of which, madam, why don’t you light the lamps? I saw lighting systems in the Underground City; doesn’t your arena have them?"