Chapter 76: A Mad World

Hearing that explanation, Lu Yan sat in silence for a long time in the private suite.

Even though he had long stopped expecting anything decent from the Cyber version of the world, this level of madness still exceeded his imagination.

Watching the Steroid Warrior being dragged away like cargo, and two more fighters stepping onto the stage, Lu Yan couldn’t help but ask softly,
“Is the mortality rate in the arena that high?”

“Extremely high,” Quentin replied.

“Almost 99% of fighters don’t survive more than two years. And once you step into the arena, there are only two ways to escape that identity.

“The first is to strengthen your body to a certain threshold during your time as a fighter, allowing your genes to undergo natural metamorphosis under the influence of Spirit Energy. In other words, become a true Spirit Energy user.

“Spirit Energy users are granted official status even in the Middle City District, let alone here in the Lower City. Escaping death matches becomes a trivial matter.

“But the odds are ridiculously low. Fighters only use the lowest-grade Spirit Energy potions. Unless their drug resistance and industrial Spirit Energy absorption efficiency are off the charts, they have no hope of evolving.”

Quentin sighed before continuing,
“The second method is to win a hundred matches in a row. The arena’s owner will then grant them the opportunity for Spirit Energy augmentation. Once they become a Spirit Energy user, they can leave the arena.

“But the cost of a single Spirit Energy modification starts at two million credits. Arena owners don’t want to pay that. Once a fighter hits seventy wins, the arena will do everything it can to make them lose.”

Then Quentin added with a bitter smile,
“Even becoming a Spirit Energy user doesn’t guarantee smooth sailing after that.

“The Universal Conglomerate has special policies for Spirit Energy users who rise from the Lower City. For the first three years, their Spirit Energy tax rate skyrockets.

“Those who come out of the arena are forced to either sell themselves to a corporation in exchange for high wages to cover the tax—or seize territory in the Lower City and become a local boss, raking in money by any means necessary.”

“It seems like a way out, but in reality, it’s just another dead end.

“Selling yourself to a company is literal. Spirit Energy users from the Lower City usually have unique traits. Corporations love turning these rookies into lab rats.

“If you survive, maybe you’ll gain something. But if not, it’s game over. Ordinary Spirit Energy users can’t possibly fight back against the corporations.

“As for carving out territory in the Lower City—don’t even think about it. The people in those slums can barely pay taxes. There’s no profit to be squeezed from them.

“The prosperous caverns have long been divided and controlled by powerful forces. A rookie Spirit Energy user has no way of shaking up that order.”

Quentin let out a long sigh, his eyes filled with helplessness.

The room fell into silence again. After a while, Quentin shook his head, dejected.

“You might be wondering, with such a high death rate, why do so many people still join the arena every year? Wouldn’t a safer job be better?”

A shadow passed through Quentin’s eyes. He walked to the window and stared down at the fighters in the ring. His thick arm slammed against the glass as he gritted his teeth.
“It’s simple—because they don’t have a choice!”

“People from the Lower City are born with no options.

“There are no schools here. They can’t gain knowledge or find a path to rise.

“There are no jobs. Even the most basic factory work has been replaced by automated assembly lines.

“There are no hospitals. If you get sick, your only hope is a low-grade Spirit Energy potion. If you’re lucky, you survive. If not—you die.

“The vast majority of Lower City folk can only scavenge through the trash heaps dumped by the Upper City, hoping to find something of value.

“If they’re lucky, they might earn enough in a month to pay for the sunlight tax and third-tier air tax, and enjoy a fleeting moment of sunlight and nerve-pleasure mist on the surface.

“If they’re unlucky, they stay curled up in their cavern, barely affording the minimum taxes, eating synthetic food just to get by.”

“Those who choose to become fighters—it’s not because they’re chasing the fantasy of becoming a Spirit Energy user.

“They just don’t want to live like that anymore.

“At least in the arena, they can swap out synthetic capsules for real pre-made meals. They can experience the allure of beautifully modified silicone companions. They get a taste of a life they never dreamed of.

“To them, it’s not about chasing glory.

“They just want… to live differently.”

Silence fell over the suite again, with only the two men’s breathing breaking the stillness.

After a long while, Lu Yan finally spoke.

“…This really is a mad world.”

But he didn’t lash out at the arena. Though these events occurred here, it was obvious that the arena wasn’t the root of the problem.

His eyes gleamed. Thoughts churned in his mind.

Originally, he had only planned to quietly survive these next six months. But what he had witnessed today began to shift that plan.

Just then, the tightly sealed door to the suite swung open.

A bald man, his metallic skin gleaming like steel, strode into the room.

Lu Yan activated Spirit Sight and immediately saw that the man’s original skin had been completely stripped and replaced with a synthetic metal shell.

Beneath that metal surface was a dense web of neatly arranged Spirit Energy codes, covering most of his body.

From Lu Yan’s perspective, the man had undergone standardized Spirit Energy augmentation, far beyond Quentin’s half-baked self-experimentation. His Spirit Energy level was roughly at the Fourth Layer of Qi Refining.

“Brother Quentin! Long time no see!”

The bald man spread his arms in exaggerated excitement, his demeanor warm and welcoming.

Quentin stood and embraced him enthusiastically.

“Boss Shack! With business booming in your arena, you must be raking in credits lately!”

Shack waved his hand and sighed.

“Don’t even mention it. The company’s hounds have been watching me lately. I’ve had to cough up more than half my earnings. Not much has actually made it into my pocket.”

“But a few promising rookies have shown up in the arena recently. I’m planning to upgrade their Spirit Energy tattoos. Might need your help with that soon.”

“No problem. Leave it to me.”

As the two laughed and chatted, they slowly sat down again. Shack glanced toward Lu Yan and asked more seriously,
“And who might this be?”

Lu Yan smiled and replied gently,
“I’m here today to discuss a business deal with you, Boss Shack.”

He clapped his hands, and Quentin immediately placed the silver case on the table.

With a soft click, the case opened.

Inside, rows of DNA helix-shaped injectors were neatly arranged by color—red, orange, yellow, green, cyan, blue, purple, white, and black.

“This is the latest product from our Jiulong Pharmaceutical Factory—Jiulong Power Serum!”

(End of Chapter)