Under Where.

Arthur had been riding for what felt like an eternity, his body swaying with every step the horse took. His legs ached, his back screamed in pain, and his mind had long since drifted into a haze. The desert stretched endlessly around them—an ocean of golden sand, untouched by time.

Finally, Kai broke the silence.

"Well, kid, I'd say welcome… but you ain't gonna believe it till you see it yourself," Kai said, a grin creeping onto his face.

Arthur lazily lifted his head. His entire body was drenched in sweat, and his throat was dry. He wanted to ask where they were, but his lips barely moved.

Kai pulled on the reins, and the horse came to a slow stop. Arthur forced himself to sit up. Nothing. Absolutely nothing. Just more desert, stretching as far as the eye could see.

Arthur's brow furrowed. "You… stopped here?" His voice was hoarse.

Kai hopped off his horse, stretching his arms. "Yup."

Arthur slowly slid off, his feet sinking into the sand. He squinted at the empty land in front of him.

"Kai…" Arthur muttered, feeling suspicion creeping into his mind. "There's nothing here."

Kai smirked, dusting off his pants. "Not yet."

Arthur took a step back, suddenly feeling uneasy. He hadn't known Kai for long—what if this had all been a trick? What if Kai was delivering him straight back to the Laws?

Kai must have noticed the doubt on his face because he laughed, shaking his head. "Relax, kid. If I wanted you dead, I would've left you in the desert."

Arthur crossed his arms, his patience running thin. "Then what are we waiting for?"

Kai turned and began walking in circles, eyes scanning the sand like he was looking for something.

Arthur narrowed his eyes. "Are you messing with me?"

Kai didn't answer. Instead, he kicked the sand hard, revealing a glint of metal beneath.

Arthur took a step closer. A metal plate, half-buried under the sand.

Kai grinned. "Found it."

Arthur crouched, inspecting the plate. It had a strange symbol etched into it—not just any symbol, but a magic circle.

Arthur looked up at Kai, feeling both awe and skepticism. "This… is the entrance?"

Kai nodded. "Yup. And before we head in, we gotta fix you up first."

Arthur blinked. "Fix me up?"

Kai gave him a once-over, then dramatically waved his arms. "Look at yourself! Fancy clothes, clean face—hell, you might as well have 'Law's Little Boy' written across your forehead."

Arthur frowned. "So what do we do?"

Kai took off his straw hat and handed it to Arthur. "Put this on, cover your face."

Arthur hesitated before placing it on his head.

Kai then unwrapped his dark-red scarf, the fabric long enough to drape over Arthur's shoulders like a makeshift cloak.

"Alright," Kai stepped back, looking Arthur up and down. "Yeah. That works."

Arthur adjusted the scarf, the rough fabric itching his skin. "You really think this will fool them?"

Kai grinned. "Enough to keep you from getting stabbed on sight."

Arthur sighed, adjusting the scarf around his shoulders. "Fine. Now what?"

Kai cracked his knuckles. "Now, we enter."

He stepped onto the metal plate, his body straightening. He muttered something under his breath, placing both hands on the symbol.

Arthur felt the air shift.

Then—BOOM!

A shockwave erupted from the plate, sending sand flying in every direction. Arthur stumbled back, shielding his eyes.

When the dust settled… the desert was gone.

Arthur's jaw dropped.

Towering wooden skyscrapers stretched high above them. Buildings stacked on top of each other like a chaotic maze, held together by massive wooden beams. Walkways and bridges connected different levels, while hanging lanterns flickered in the dim underground air.

The sky was gone.

They were deep underground.

Kai chuckled at Arthur's reaction. "Welcome to Drentail."

Arthur staggered forward, his eyes darting from building to building. The entire place was alive—people shouting, laughing, drinking. The air smelled like smoke, sweat, and something burning in the distance.

Arthur turned to Kai. "How… How is this even possible?"

Kai smirked. "Magic, kid. The Under Master built this place ages ago."

Arthur's eyes widened. "The Under Master?"

Kai nodded. "A legend among outlaws. Eight-thousand gold bounty. But he rarely comes here—only stays in his office when he does."

Arthur swallowed. Eight-thousand? That was an insane amount of money.

Kai slapped him on the back. "Come on, we gotta find a place to rest. You look like you're about to pass out."

Arthur didn't argue. He was exhausted, but he couldn't shake the feeling that he'd just entered a whole new world.

And there was no turning back.

***

Arthur and Kai moved through the bustling streets of Drentail, their footsteps blending into the chaotic symphony of outlaws shouting, merchants haggling, and drunken laughter echoing through the air. The underground city felt alive—not just because of its towering wooden buildings or the flickering lanterns that mimicked daylight, but because of the people. Everywhere Arthur looked, criminals moved with purpose.

Some wore ragged coats, their faces covered in dirt and scars, while others flaunted their stolen wealth, draped in fine silks and golden rings. Weapons were everywhere—pistols strapped to belts, knives hidden in boots, and even rifles casually slung over shoulders. Arthur felt out of place, even with the disguise Kai had given him.

It was Kai who broke the silence first.

"So, kid," he said, adjusting the reins of his horse as they walked, "you're not really an outlaw yet."

Arthur glanced at him, confused. "What do you mean?"

Kai grinned. "An outlaw's someone with a bounty on their head. Right now, you're just a criminal."

Arthur frowned, considering the distinction. "So… when can they release my bounty? I bet it's not even that high."

Kai snorted, counting on his fingers. "I don't know when someone's bounty could release, maybe after two days and you killed two Laws, escaped prison, and got accused of murder. Hmmm… Yeah, kid, I'd say your bounty's gonna be pretty high. I'd guess 280 gold coins."

Arthur nearly stumbled over his own feet. "TWO HUNDRED AND EIGHTY?!"

Kai burst out laughing. "You sound surprised."

"Of course I am!" Arthur exclaimed. "280 gold coins could buy an entire street market!"

Kai grinned. "And now that amount is on your head, But it's just a guess tho."

Arthur felt his stomach twist. He had always dreamed of being an outlaw, but the reality was terrifying. Now that he had a bounty, every bounty hunter, soldier, and even other outlaws would see him as nothing more than a walking pile of gold.

Kai must have noticed his fear because he patted Arthur on the shoulder.

"If you're scared of bounty hunters and Laws coming after you, maybe I should train you."

Arthur looked up at him. "Train me?"

Kai nodded. "Yeah. I'll teach you how to fight, how to use Energy."

Arthur blinked. Energy.

He had heard of it before—whispers in the streets, stories passed down by travelers. But he had never actually seen it in action.

"Energy…?" Arthur repeated, trying to process the idea.

Kai grinned. "Let me explain, kid."

"There are two types of Energy," Kai began, raising two fingers. "Puso Energy and Root Energy."

Arthur listened intently as they walked.

"Puso Energy," Kai continued, "is all about your body. It strengthens you—makes you faster, stronger, tougher. You ever hear about guys who can take a dozen bullets and keep fighting? Or men who can run faster than horses?"

Arthur nodded slowly.

"That's Puso Energy." Kai smirked. "And if you train it properly, it can even heal your wounds."

Arthur's eyes widened. That meant…

"Wait—so if someone's shot or stabbed, they can heal themselves?"

Kai shrugged. "If they train hard enough. Most folks can only manage enhanced strength and speed. Healing takes years to master."

Arthur absorbed the information before asking, "What about Root Energy?"

Kai's grin widened.

"Root Energy is different. It's not about your body, it's about the world around you."

Arthur frowned. "The world around you?"

"Yeah," Kai said, pointing ahead. "It lets you control objects—make swords sharper, guns shoot farther, even make things heavier."

Arthur raised an eyebrow. "Heavier?"

Kai nodded. "Say you have a knife. With Root Energy, you can make that knife weigh as much as a cannonball. You can throw it, and it'll hit like a boulder."

Arthur's mind spun. The possibilities were endless.

"So…" Arthur muttered, trying to piece it together. "Puso Energy is for your body, and Root Energy is for everything else."

"Exactly," Kai said with a satisfied nod.

Arthur thought about it for a moment. "So… what happens if you use both?"

Kai's expression shifted—his usual playful grin replaced with something more serious.

"That," Kai said, lowering his voice, "is called Combination Energy."

Arthur felt a chill run down his spine.

"Combination Energy," Kai continued, "is different from normal Energy. Instead of just hitting harder or making objects sharper, it lets you create things that exist… or don't."

Arthur's heart pounded. "Things that don't exist?"

Kai smirked. "Yup. Fire magic. Gravity manipulation. Necromancy. If you can perfect both Puso and Root Energy, you can do just about anything."

Arthur felt his hands tremble.

This wasn't just strength. This wasn't just controlling objects. This was power.

But then a thought struck him.

"How many people can actually use Combination Energy?"

Kai chuckled. "Not many. It's rare. Even if you can use both Puso and Root Energy, it has to be balanced. If one is stronger than the other, you can't use Combination Energy at all."

Arthur exhaled. That made sense. If it were easy, everyone would be using it.

"So," Arthur said, glancing at Kai, "can you use it?"

Kai grinned but didn't answer.

Arthur frowned. "Hey—"

"Alright, lesson's over," Kai interrupted, patting Arthur on the back. "We gotta find an inn before someone realizes you're worth 280 gold."

Arthur sighed, but a small smile played on his lips.

Maybe this wasn't so bad.

Maybe…

He could really survive here.