After receiving the mantras, everyone was moved to the training grounds. While walking, Old Gramps looked at Zane, shaking his head, he patted him, "I commend you for your bravery. I don't want to question your decision and I respect it that much. Once you die, I will try to bury you somewhere honorable."
"What!" Zane looked at Old Gramps. Internally he was asking if Old Zhao has a problem in the head. Before he can ask Old Gramps about his condition, they were moved back to the plaza, and in front of a stage, they were lined up.
Zane heard a shout, "All of you stop whatever you are doing, we have new recruits."
A well-toned black hair middle-aged man suddenly started walking on the stage. Zane looked at the guy, and he could feel the danger coming from the him. Just looking at his face, you can tell that he has been through multiple life and death battles.
Gerax
Level:11
Strength: 18
Agility: 21
Perception: 9
Constitution: 15
Mana: 11
Passive Skills: Two Swords Style Lvl 1
Active Skills: Speed Burst Lvl1
Gerax's stats seem very balanced. For sure, he is an Awakened one, with the primary indicator having mana and trained up Active Skills.
Zane thinking about it; the only way to learn mana and become a superhuman is going through Awakening. He has a big hunch that Level 9 is the bottleneck; however, if one was able to level up to 10, then he steps on the Awakened status.
Looking at Gladiators thinking, "No wonder many are at level 8-9, but there is no Level 10."
Meanwhile, Gerax introduced himself as the Umbras' Gladiator overseer, and he trains the gladiators to prepare themselves for the arena, how they are to fight with honor till the end. He also explained the rules in the courtyard. However, he saw that Zane wasn't paying attention to what he was saying. Then, he pointed at Zane, "you, what is your name?"
Zane looked above, in his mind, "Shit!"
"This insignificant one is Zane," trying to salvage his situation.
"Oh, you got a quite a good tongue there boy," smirked. "Pay attention, otherwise, I will be the one to cut you before you can even step on the next Arena."
Zane bowed, "Yes, sir Gerax!"
Gerax then shouted, "Morning till dawn, you will be training here. At night time, you are to go on to your own assigned duties."
"Now, recruits, pair up with other gladiators. Grab those wooden weapons! Your training starts now.
He then shouted, "Zane, you practice with Cray!"
Then Gerax left the training area.
Other gladiators murmured, "Cray is a low level but very brutal and bloodthirsty."
"Cray will murder the boy! He likes to toy with the new ones."
"Captain Gerax is surely punishing the boy! I remember there was an incident where he fought for another newbie and broke his two legs."
"That is his own fault for pissing Gerax!"
Zane heard the commotion. Without any choice, he moved to where his opponent was. He quickly used identification.
Cray
Level:7
Strength: 5
Agility: 7.8
Perception: 4
Constitution: 4
Passive Skills: None
Zane compared to his stats:
Name: Zane
Level 4
Strength: 5.8
Agility: 9.7
Perception: 8
Constitution: 4.9
Passive Skills: Archery Lvl1, Swordsmanship Lvl 1
Zane is not even worried the slightest. Fighting the Blood Jackals and Blood Jackal King, Crane is nothing but a joke to him.
Cray looking at Zane, a bit pale and skinny body, he laughed maniacally. He shouted, "Hahahah, thank you Captain Gerax! It has been a while since I played with tender bones."
With saliva dripping from his mouth, "Boy! Boy! I want to break all your bones slowly! Captain Gerax is not here to save you!"
Zane just looked at him amusingly.
Cray getting no response made him laugh more. He thought that Zane was afraid and couldn't speak, "How about this is lick my feet and beg like a dog, I won't hit you harder? What do you say huh?"
Zane, with his serious eyes, "You bark like a dog."
Angry with Zane's word, Cray grabbed his sword stick and ran, intending to bash Zane's head. But before he could land the blow, Zane disappeared.
"Huh, where did he go?" Crane was confused about what had happened. Then, suddenly he felt the worst excruciating pain in his whole life."
"AAAAAaaaaahhhhhhh"
Others were shocked. They looked at Cray with dread. His legs were twisted in the wrong angle, facing beyond the range it could turn.
They looked at Cray, who was screaming nonstop. Then, he passed out. Many were shocked and asked what had happened, but no one knew since it was only barely a minute.
Zane felt that many eyes were focused on him, even the level 8 and 9s. For him, it doesn't matter. There is no point hiding his strength now. Only those with the capability are respected and nurtured.
A minute ago, Zane put all of his strength in one blow. He did not know how strong when it came to fighting humans because he only fought the Blood Jackals. He forgot that the Blood Jackals skins are much tougher than humans.
People started to look at him but just shrugged it off and casually said, "I did not know that he will just let me hit him."
Others were surprised, thinking that Cray was careless. But the higher-level ones deducted the strength of his hit based on the forced rotation of Craw's leg.
Zane, not knowing what to do next, started walking outside the training grounds. He saw Gerax was waiting outside. With his glowing eyes, he knew that Gerax saw the whole thing.
"You have got potential," hearing Gerax voice, he can feel his joy.