"No one's ever seen the Grandmaster fight in person. You've seen what he looks like yourself. In truth, all this lord has to do is purse his lips, and his army and countless Scavengers in his service can solve any problem for him."
"Scavenger" Kardletz kept chattering in James's ear. James looked toward the northeastern horizon of Contest City. A spaceship, no bigger than a sesame seed from where he stood, was flying toward a void above the city where energy and currents churned together.
Before it could even reach the opening, the ship was caught in the raging energy currents around it. It burst into a spark and was instantly blown to pieces.
"Hey! Not many people try to leave Sakaar on their own. On this planet, you have to follow the Grandmaster's wishes, but there are no laws, no rules, no restrictions. Everyone can do whatever they want, of course."
The small airship, cobbled together from all kinds of scrap parts, looked like a large motorcycle with a sidecar. It had no roof, so a person could lean out and look down at the buildings and streets of different shapes and colors below.
James watched the bustling road below. Beside a roadside stall, a corpse-pale alien was shouting at a short figure wearing a leather mask.
After cursing and shoving each other several times, the two drew their weapons almost simultaneously. The masked figure was a little faster, firing a shot that blew the pale alien's head apart. Unbothered by the pale-yellow brain matter splattered over him, he briskly packed up the stall and walked away.
"Heh-heh. Of course, you also need the strength to withstand other people doing whatever they want to you."
Kardletz glanced down as if this were nothing out of the ordinary. His narrow