Returning to the dorm room, Leo looked to see that everybody seemed to have returned from the trial. Two guards in a tan, long-sleeved uniform wearing a Mark II helmet were standing by the exit but no officer seemed to be there. It seemed as though they had the rest of the day to relax.

  ‘I should find Patrick.’

  He moved through the crowd scanning the room to find Patrick dozing off at a table with a blank expression. It was an odd sight considering his usual smug look, it was almost refreshing. Leo approached the table and sat across from Patrick, who stayed in a daze, his eyes unfocused as if in an illusion.

  Leo snapped his fingers to get his attention.

  Patrick’s eyes focused and landed on Leo. His usual smug expression returned at the sight.

  “Leo! When’d you get there? Where have you been?”

  “I just got here. What were you doing?”

  “Ah, just thinking. What about you? How are you doing?”

  Leo laid his elbow on the table, resting his head on his hand.

  ‘If I ask questions, I should be direct with him. Beating around the bush would probably have the opposite effect.’

  “Nothing much. I was just hoping that I could get some answers to some questions I’ve got about the city.”

  Tilting his head, Patrick exclaimed, “Ask away! I know all there is to this place! I’ve lived here since birth after all.”

  Leo smiled, grateful at Patrick’s simple personality. He noticed that interactions with Patrick have always been refreshing to him, no tricks, no figurative speech, just straight replies.

  “I guess I’ll start off with a more complicated thing. Do you know much about Smogborn in general? Like how Smogborn even came to existence.”

  Patrick bore a confused expression upon hearing the question. “From what my tutor told me…Smogborn were just a natural evolution for us. After fifty years, the terraforming caused the evolution as the demon world’s influence spread to ours. The history during that time’s a bit fuzzy though since nobody actually wrote much of the history during this period.”

  Leo nodded. It made sense, such a chaotic era wouldn’t allow for historians to write. And if they did, the preservation of such history would be even more difficult considering now they had only one real city in this entire world left.

  “What about Refractions? How do those work? I heard the Refraction you get is based on the person itself.”

  Patrick nodded, his arms folded. “Indeed, what you’ve heard is correct. But not just anybody can get one just because they have some big trauma or whatnot. You get a Refraction if the World chooses you.”

  Leo tilted his head, confused.

  “The…World? Like this planet?”

  Patrick shook his head. “Not exactly, it’s this planet, but not the planet itself. During the terraforming, some believe some other entity slipped through the demonic gates and embedded itself on our planet. Instead of corrupting, however, it acted as a stimulant, awakening hidden potential in the existing lifeforms, slightly altering their genetics. That’s why animals in this world have evolved to become even more dangerous than back before the invasion. For humans it’s different because we have intelligence, meaning we are capable of more lasting damages. The entity we call the World will choose individuals to become Smogborn, of course some may slip as some can be born with Refractions if either parent is already a Smogborn.”

  Leo nodded while putting his thoughts together.

  “So, it’s really just up to our genetics, huh?”

  Patrick wryly smiled. “Kind of, of course I doubt the World actually chooses anymore as nowadays the genes are hereditary. So you’ll see some families having similar Refractions amongst its members.”

  “I see…”

  So the Smogborn didn’t just appear out of thin air, Smogborn came from regular people to begin with but were given powers by the World. It seemed to also be an inheritable trait considering what Patrick said about those being born with the ability.

  But this answer posed a new problem. What exactly is the World? Leo doubted anybody actually knew considering the information he got. Why is the World even here though? At least he wasn’t in a rush to figure this out considering the World has been helping them so far.

  ‘That was actually really helpful. Bless you, Patrick!’

  “That was actually really good…Another question please!”

  Patrick nodded. “Go on!”

  Before Leo could ask, Connie appeared beside Patrick. “What are you two up to now?”

  This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

  Patrick looked at Connie, unfazed by her sudden appearance. “Leo’s asking a bunch of questions. He just asked about Smogborn stuff.”

  Connie looked at Leo incredulously. “You don’t know this stuff?”

  Leo shrugged. “Should I? I haven’t lived in a settlement all my life so I wouldn’t know.”

  Connie facepalmed. “It’s a miracle you’re still alive,” she muttered, then waved to Patrick. “Go on.”

  Leo asked, “Now this question might be a bit personal, so you don’t have to answer if you don’t want to. How’d the Lin Family get New Anglia and Chang’an?”

  Patrick’s expression froze, his bright eyes dulling becoming more dejected. “From what I know, it was just because those two were just so much stronger. It’s as simple as that. The rules wouldn’t allow some scheming to cause a change in Gatekeepers as the only way you can become a Gatekeeper is through dueling the current Gatekeeper.”

  That was…a lot simpler than he had expected. A simple duel could change leadership just like that? Well, maybe not as simple as it sounds. It made sense though considering the strength needed to single-handedly protect a colony.

  Leo asked, “How do they get so much stronger, though?”

  Patrick shrugged along with Connie. “That I have yet to figure out.”

  ‘No clue, huh? Guess that comes after trials…’

  “So I guess here’s the most important question I’ve got…who’s the Gatekeeper here?”

  Connie and Patrick looked at each other. “You really don’t know much do you?” asked Connie.

  Leo shrugged. “Again, never lived in a settlement.”

  This time, Connie answered. “No one actually knows his name. All we know is that he’s a terrible person, but incredibly strong. Some say the strongest the North has ever had. Before he showed up, this place used to have gangs run the place. But when he appeared, they just dissipated as if they never existed.”

  Patrick suddenly cut in, not letting her continue. “Why are you asking all this stuff, anyway?”

  “I just need to know this in case I actually pass. If I know nothing, how am I going to survive?”

  It was true, all the information they gave him was useful in understanding the world around him. Thankfully these two seemed to be willingly giving him this information so he had to capitalize on it now.

  Patrick stared at him. “Just make sure not to ask these questions around willy-nilly. Not everybody’s as kind as us. Especially in regards to stuff about noble families. Some of them don’t like being dug into.”

  “Noted.”

  Patrick squirmed out awkwardly as he looked at the two. “So, any idea what the next trial’s about?”

  Leo replied, “No idea, I hoped you would know.”

  As if fate answered them, an officer entered the dorm. The room’s attention all turned to the officer as the boots could be heard. He was a tall man with a larger belly than the others. His uniform was a dark navy-blue with a black cap. He had a scruffy beard with black hair and a drunken look to him. He wasn’t as formal as the other overseers had been, but nonetheless his presence called for everybody’s attention.

  “My name is Grand Warden Cox. I’m in charge of all the prisons in this colony and the people in it. Today, I’m here to inform you of your next trial.” He turned to a guard. “Is everyone here?”

  The guard scanned the room while looking at a clipboard. After a few minutes, he turned back to the warden and gave him a nod, confirming the attendance of everybody.

  “Good. The next trial will be much more difficult than the others, probably the hardest you’ll have. Your task will be to defeat a prisoner with your bunkmate. The average opponent you’ll have will be roughly D- Rank or D Rank, but nothing a recruit in the Internal Security Division can’t handle. If you’re unfamiliar with that rank, then compare it to a strong Powerless soldier.”

  Grand Warden Cox lifted a finger.

  “However, there’s one catch. This time it’s really kill or be killed. The prisoners will not be limited by anything, some may even be Smogborn. But the prisoners will be receiving their freedom if they kill their opponent, so they will be doing their absolute best to kill you for their release. And do not worry about the fairness of it all, these prisoners will be weakened as they have been starved, but do not be mistaken, they are still deadly in their own right.”

  ‘The fuck? Now it’s a real life or death fight?’

  “But other than that, the task is simple. Kill the prisoner, or free the prisoner. Your strength will determine the fate of this match. These fights will begin tomorrow once you’re all fresh and ready. Tomorrow at 6 A.M. I’ll be returning to send you to the matches one team at a time, so please be ready by then. That is all.”

  As suddenly as he entered, he exited the room with no room for questions. The door shut loudly as the room was silent.

  Leo whispered to Patrick, “I’m going back to my bunk, good luck my friend.”

  Patrick, perhaps taken aback by him referring to him as a friend, smiled brightly and said, “Alright, make sure to win.” He moved his fist forward for a fistbump.

  Leo tilted his head, his brow furrowed in confusion. “What’s that?”

  “A fist bump!”

  Leo continued staring at it blankly.

  “You…don’t know a fist bump…”

  Connie said quietly, “I don’t know either, is that a city thing?”

  Patrick quickly demonstrated a fist bump with his two hands. “Do that, go on now!” He brought his fist up again to Connie and Leo.

  The two looked at each other before giving an awkward fist bump to Patrick.

  “Nice, I’ll see you guys later then.” Patrick dashed back to his room.

  Connie rolled her eyes. “Weird customs…but hey, good luck!” She waved and followed Patrick back to their room.

  Departing to his room, Leo entered to see Anthony had been listening through the metal door as he was peeking out the door.

  “You ready, Anthony?”

  Anthony weakly nodded before jumping into his bed for sleep. From the way he looked, he needed it.

  Leo, not wanting to disturb this, went to bed without a word. He knew one thing for tomorrow.

  It wasn’t going to be an easy day tomorrow.