288 Vouchers Natalia covered her mouth , stifling a laugh , her eyes gleaming with smug satisfaction . But I couldn't tear my gaze away from Rita , battered and broken on that stage . I mouthed the words to her , hoping she could read my lips . " Don't be afraid , Riri . I'm taking you home . " The spotlight blazed down on the ring , stabbing into my eyes until they burned . Below , the crowd roared and whistled , their faces twisted with bloodthirsty excitement . My first opponent stepped up - a hulking brute , muscles bulging beneath his shirt . He looked me over and sneered , as if he could crush me with a flick of his wrist . The referee gave the signal . The brute lunged first , his fist whistling through the air straight for my face . Before , an attack like that would have seemed slow as molasses to me . But this body was too weak now . Strength , speed , endurance - none of it was enough . I had to rely on pure technique , barely dodging his punch by tilting my head at the last second . Dropping low , I drove a heavy fist into his gut . " Ugh ! " He grunted , clearly not expecting me to hit so fast and so hard . His anger flared , and his attacks grew even more savage . Ducking , blocking , countering ... My movements were sluggish , my body dragging me down , and more than once , I barely escaped a blow that could have ended it all . Sweat blurred my vision , my chest burned with every breath , each inhale tasting of iron and rust . But I couldn't fall . Rita was still watching me from the stage . 0.00 % 09:31 Chapter 6 Finally , I found an opening and slammed the brute to the ground . The referee began the count . Ten ... nine ... eight ... The crowd erupted in shouts and cheers . I gasped for air , my arms trembling uncontrollably . ... Three , two , one . Victory . The first round was mine . 288 Vouchers But before I could catch my breath , my second opponent leaped into the ring - lean , quick , a man who fought with his legs . A gauntlet match . The cruelest kind . My stamina was draining fast . Against the second fighter , I was running on sheer willpower . After taking several brutal hits , I finally managed to subdue him . Two grueling battles , and I was already at my limit . Pain radiated through my body , every muscle screaming . And all around me , a sea of hungry eyes waited for me to fall . In the VIP room , Edgar lounged with Natalia , who giggled as she fed him fruit . Edgar's gaze flickered over my battered form , his expression unreadable ... Natalia nestled closer to him , her voice just loud enough to reach my ears . " Ed , look , she's about to drop . " " Honestly , if Riri would just swallow her pride , get down on her knees and beg - admitting she's a jinx - maybe you'd feel sorry and help them , right ? " Edgar's eyes glinted as he glanced at Rita , still tied to the auction chair . He actually spoke to her . " Rita , you see ? Your sister's fighting for her life because of you . You just need to kneel and shout , ' I'm trash , I have no shame , ' and maybe , for old times ' sake , I'll throw her some supplies . How about it ? If you don't , she won't survive the next round . " Monster . Absolute vermin . 42.08 % 09:31 Chapter 6 Rita's empty eyes sharpened at Edgar's humiliation . 11 288 ( Vouchers She looked at my battered body , tears streaming down her face - pure agony and torment . She stared at Edgar , her lips trembling , her knees starting to buckle ... She was actually willing to submit to this humiliation for me . " No ... Riri , don't ! Don't you dare kneel ! " Desperation tore through me as I screamed . In that split second , my third opponent seized the opportunity and drove a vicious kick straight into my chest . 86.43 %