Chapter 36: Fight Patrons

As Rick signed his name on the form, he reflected just how many decisions in his life were controlled by circumstances. Yes, he was technically signing up for this Underground match of his own free will. But given how strongly Granny Whitney had suggested that he take it, and the fact that she needed him to get more points before the big match, it wasn't really his choice.

Rick slid the paper across the desk to Alger, who beamed with his usual cheerfulness, but Rick could barely focus on him. It wasn't just the blackmail keeping him in the Underground. Joining a combat sect or a university had never been options for him. He'd ended up stumbling forward into whatever jobs he could get, leading to his present situation.

Strangely, even though his life was so restricted now, in some ways he was more free than he had been before. He had the strength to stand on his own and he'd managed to help Melissa gain control of her condition. Once he was done with this, he might be able to make his own choices.

"Boy? You still with us?" Alger peered at him and Rick realized too late that he had been spacing out. "This is a wonderful opportunity for you! I don't give fighters on the lower tiers named matches very often!"

"Yes, I'm very grateful." Rick did his best to push other thoughts aside and just smile. "I want to participate in the upcoming tournament, but it's looking like it might be a struggle to get to 250 points."

"I have no doubt you will, my boy. You have the pluck and good heart to make it." Alger paused, glancing toward the arena itself. "But you know, you still have some time until the match itself begins. Would you be willing to listen to an old man for a moment?"

"Sure." Though that made Rick a bit nervous, he absolutely needed to stay on Alger's good side... though the strange man's favor had problems all its own.

"I understand you are thinking about fighting for Granny Whitney in the little tournament coming up. As it happens, I will be fielding a team myself, and I could use a good featherweight. Tom is developing much too quickly to compete in that power class, I'm afraid."

That made him wonder about Tom's development and Rick wanted to check the other man's profile, but he resisted and just stayed focused on Alger.

"You seem like a promising young man and, though it pains me to say this, I'm afraid that Granny Whitney is really not a very good role model for you. I think you could do much better if you were to work with my team. Trust me, I would take care of all the details, and I do very well for those who are working for me. What do you say?"

For a moment, Rick considered it. Though Granny Whitney had multiple potential threats to use against him, the initial blackmail had been over the death of the Slayer. But she couldn't go to real authorities with something like that, which meant she'd go through Alger. If Rick jumped ship and went all-in with Alger, perhaps he could negate that threat and get out of the tormenting relationship.

But of course it couldn't be that easy. Granny Whitney would come after him, since he'd be effectively stealing what she'd given him at the beginning. Rick also wasn't sure that Alger would necessarily be any better - better the devil he knew. No, better not to take the risk.

Keeping all of that off his face, Rick responded with a generic smile. "Sorry, sir, but I gave my word that I'd help her. And I like to think I'm a man of my word."

"I see." For a moment, Alger stared at him, his eyes no longer dancing. But a moment later he smiled broadly. "It's good to see a lad with some backbone! I regret I didn't get to talk to you earlier, but that's how it goes. Have fun in your match!"

That was obviously a dismissal, and if not, Alger made it obvious by getting up and rushing from the room. Rick didn't linger, trying to refocus himself as he prepared for the match. Though there was more time before the multi-tier event, he wanted to reach the 250 point entrance requirement today, so that he'd have plenty of time to prepare for the tournament.

As he headed out toward the arena entrance, he discovered one more obstacle in his way: Granny Whitney stood beside the double doors. She smiled pleasantly at him, but he could only groan.

"This time too? I thought the point was to do well and get enough points to qualify."

"If you can't make it with a handicap, dearie, then you won't stand a chance in the tournament." Her smile broadened and she handed him another pill. "Now take your medicine."

He swallowed it as usual, trying to focus on the benefits to his foundation instead of the impending dizziness and weakness. Yet this time, after he took it, she handed him a second pill. This one was pitch black and much larger than average, enough that he wasn't sure if he'd be able to swallow it.

"This should help a little. Just be quick, dearie." With that ambiguous suggestion, she pushed the pill into his hands and waited expectantly for him to swallow it. He needed to work up some saliva, but he managed. With that, she gave him a pat on the shoulder and pushed him toward the arena itself.

Within, he found that the crowd was surprisingly large and raucous. Most likely that wasn't for his match - given how things had gone the last time they were like this, he hoped not - but the fact that a match he participated in was part of a major event night indicated how his status had changed. Unless this was going to be another unpleasant surprise, of course.

But this time, he didn't see anything amiss. The match was supposed to be three on three, a competition between some of the newer members of the Underground. According to Emily, it was also likely to be for the purposes of hyping up the lower tiers that people wouldn't generally care about. Alger really wanted this next event to be a huge one.

Tom and Henry already stood on his side of the arena, waiting for him. Rick headed to join them, looking to the other side. At least he wasn't last: one of the other team hadn't arrived yet either. He didn't recognize one of them at all, a slightly older man, and the second was someone he'd seen in a few melees, a ranged aura attacker he couldn't name.

"Oh, thank god, it's you." Henry glanced at him and grinned. "Based on what he was saying, I thought the third person would be some loser."

Rick raised an eyebrow. "Was that an insult or not?"

"I really didn't know, man. Think we can do this?"

Before Rick could answer, Tom stepped in, frowning at Henry. "Just who was saying that? Did you get a patron?"

Henry gave them both a sly grin. "Maybe. But does it really matter? We need to focus on winning this fight."

"It does matter." Tom glanced once to the other side of the arena, then turned to face the other two. "This isn't really the best time to discuss this, but I guess we're waiting anyway. I've come to believe that there are three real contenders for the victor of the multi-tier match. Alger, Granny Whitney... and someone from the criminal underworld."

As he said the names, Tom pointed to himself, then Rick, then Henry. Getting it several seconds later, Henry glared at him. "Are you suggesting something? Look, I don't really know my patron, I just know that he's a big deal. And that he helped me get a new bond to bail out my previous two. What does it matter?"

"Because according to my research, the hitman wasn't sent by Granny Whitney. And unless you think Alger is playing fourth dimensional chess attacking his own fighter, then there's only one major source left."

"You don't know that! There might be only three major contenders, but there are way more minor ones, and any of them could have been behind the attack."

Tom frowned and stepped up to Henry, who began summoning his demonic shell. Before things could get out of hand, Rick stepped in between them. "I'm not saying this doesn't matter, but whatever the truth is, we all need to finish this match. If we can't work together, that doesn't help anyone."

They glared at one another one more time, but they both stepped back. Hopefully they'd be professional enough to work together, because he didn't relish the idea of trying to carry this match. At least one fighter on the other side was in the welterweight tier, so Rick was overall out of his weight class.

The only bright side was the fact that he didn't feel too bad. Though the first pill seemed to have kicked in, his vision only swam a little and the drain was perfectly manageable. Whatever that second pill was, it was canceling the side effects of the first... or delaying them. Based on Granny Whitney's warning, he wanted the match to be over as soon as possible.

Fortunately, they didn't have to wait too much longer before the final contestant arrived, and he realized that he actually recognized her. It was the young woman with the spiked club, who he hadn't seen in quite a few matches. Did that mean anything? Possibly that she'd been recruited by someone else, but otherwise it didn't make a difference.

"Finally, it is time!" Alger stood up from his usual position, arms spreading wide. "Six of the finest new warriors in the Underground, all joining within the past year. This is their last chance to win glory for themselves through their grit and determination! Fight!"

Nobody expected his speech to turn into the fight declaration so quickly, but the sound rang through the air. The fight had begun.