"Minotaur!"
"Moo!!!"
Even before Aisha's voice had faded, a deafening bellow echoed from the opposite fence.
Immediately after, the ground began to tremble as a massive, hulking, bull-headed humanoid monster charged forward.
Despite being mentally prepared, Ryou couldn't help but feel a sinking sensation in his heart upon seeing the figure towering over two meters tall.
The Minotaur was a powerful monster born from the depths below the seventeenth floor of the dungeon. Despite being only level 2, its toughness rivaled that of some weaker level 3 monsters.
Strength, endurance, and vitality all surpassed those of monsters of the same level. It had a certain level of intelligence and could use simple weapons. If it had a weakness, it would be its lack of agility.
With the Minotaur's shocking entrance, the atmosphere in the arena was fully ignited.
In contrast, the gladiators' morale plummeted to rock bottom.
Except for those with special bloodlines, level 1 adventurers were no match for the Minotaur, and even level 2 adventurers could potentially be defeated by it.
How could a group of ordinary people, who hadn't even received blessings and weren't adventurers, possibly stand a chance against it!?
This was nothing short of naked murder!
"Why is it our opponent!?"
"How can we possibly win against such a monster?!"
Many gladiators began to tremble, and one even threw down his weapon and tried to flee.
Thwack!
An arrow instantly pierced his throat, pinning him firmly to the ground.
Ryou's heart skipped a beat, and he instinctively looked around, seeing many Amazons already drawing their bows and aiming at them. The message was clear: either die immediately under their arrows or fight the powerful monster and seize that slim chance of survival.
As the gladiators' morale hit an all-time low, the Minotaur, not understanding the concept of mercy, paused only briefly at the overwhelming cheers before its bloodshot, copper-bell-sized eyes fiercely glared at the gladiators clad in gold and red armor.
"Moo!!!"
Letting out another bellow, the Minotaur stomped its hooves on the sandy ground with force, then lowered its head, aiming its massive, sharp horns at a gladiator directly in front of it, and charged.
Thud thud thud~
The ground trembled with its advance.
Staring at the bull-headed monster charging towards him like a heavy tank, the gladiator seemed completely petrified. Perhaps the Minotaur's speed was too swift for him to react. He could only instinctively raise his round shield in front of himself.
The Minotaur reached him, its sharp horns deeply piercing his body. The bronze round shield and the golden-red painted leather armor were like paper, offering no protection and only adding to the gladiator's burden.
Then, with a vicious toss of its head, the Minotaur flung the gladiator into the air like a rag doll, sending him soaring over ten meters high.
When he hit the ground with a heavy thud, he was barely clinging to life. The terrifying creature seemed unsatisfied, stepping over to him and raising its basin-sized hoof before stomping down hard on his head.
Splat!
The sound was like a tomato being crushed, and red and white matter splattered everywhere, staining the sandy ground of the arena.
The spattered blood seemed to further ignite the Minotaur's bloodlust. Its bull eyes were nearly entirely red, muscles bulging and veins popping. Without pausing, it targeted its next victim.
Charge, toss, stomp! All in one swift motion, it was a paragon of monstrous prowess. The Minotaur continued its rampage, killing two more gladiators.
In less than five minutes, it had effortlessly killed half of the gladiators, leaving their bodies mangled and incomplete. It was a perfect display of brutality and savagery.
Yet, the Minotaur's efficient slaughter and cruel methods only drove the arena's cheers louder and louder.
The audience's bloodthirsty nature seemed to be ignited by the Minotaur.
"Kill them all!"
"Turn them into mush!"
"Minotaur! Minotaur!"
Moo!!!
Amidst the audience's cheers, the Minotaur let out a wild roar, filled with bloodthirsty savagery.
At that moment, it felt as if the Minotaur was the true protagonist, while the gladiators were mere background props, nothing more than cannon fodder to highlight the protagonist's overwhelming brutality.
This cannot go on!
Ryou's face was ashen as he watched the Minotaur swaggering in the arena. Surprisingly, he was bare-chested, revealing his well-muscled upper body, and he had discarded his shield.
He had no choice. The gold-red painted leather armor offered no protection and only served as a target for the Minotaur's fury. Similarly, the bronze shield did nothing but add weight and hinder his agility, unable to withstand the piercing horns.
So, Ryou immediately discarded the armor and shield.
Shedding the extra weight proved wise as the now nimble he managed to evade two of the Minotaur's charges.
But he couldn't keep dodging forever. If the Minotaur killed all the other gladiators, no matter how agile he was, he would eventually fall beneath its hooves.
Seeing the other three gladiators cowering, Ryou gritted his teeth and, with a resolute heart, launched an attack on the Minotaur.
Perhaps it was lost in the joy of slaughter, or maybe Ryou's smaller stature went unnoticed, or perhaps the Minotaur's small brain and constant charging had left it dazed.
It wasn't until Ryou charged right in front of it that the Minotaur realized what was happening. Enraged, it launched an attack on the "little bug" that dared to challenge it.
The Minotaur swung a massive punch at Ryou, its fist nearly as large as Ryou's head. The force of the punch whipped up a gust of wind that stung Ryou's face even before the blow landed.
But Ryou was no longer the timid shut-in of just a few days ago. After enduring brutal, almost self-torturous training and surviving the gladiatorial arena's ruthless law of the jungle, he had transformed into a competent warrior.
Facing a punch that could easily crush his skull, Ryou abruptly leaned back, executing a perfect slide to dodge the blow. The fist came so close that it almost grazed his nose, yet he didn't even blink.
That wasn't the end of it. As Ryou slid past the Minotaur's side, he swiftly raised his right hand, wielding a short sword. Using his momentum, he slashed hard at the Minotaur's ankle.
"Damn, it's tough!"
Upon contact, Ryou felt strong resistance through the blade, as if he were cutting through thick rubber rather than flesh.
With a thought, a subtle magical glow enveloped his right hand, and his strength surged. The blade easily sliced into the Minotaur's flesh, leaving a deep, long gash.
No matter the creature, the joints used for movement are always the most vulnerable, and the Minotaur was no exception.
Injuring its ankle made it difficult for the Minotaur to support its heavy weight, causing it to lurch forward and drop to one knee.
Ryou wouldn't miss this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Sliding behind the Minotaur, he sprang to his feet and thrust his sword into an unmentionable part of the Minotaur's anatomy!
Moo!!!
The Minotaur's roar was filled with excruciating pain this time.
Even the spectators in the arena felt a collective wince, drawing sharp breaths.
Without even glancing at his impressive handiwork, Ryou released his grip on the short sword and immediately rolled forward, dodging a furious backhand punch from the Minotaur.
Watching Ryou's dazzling maneuvers in the arena, especially given his small, disproportionate stature compared to the Minotaur, the crowd erupted into even more enthusiastic cheers.
"What is that? Amazing!"
"Can he do that?"
"Little guy! Little guy!"
The audience loved the spectacle of brutal violence, but they loved an underdog hero triumphing against the odds even more!
Even the gods on the viewing platform were murmuring among themselves, and the eyes of the goddesses in the front row sparkled with interest.
"Ishtar, where did you find such an excellent child?" A beautiful woman in a kimono opened her folding fan, covering half her face, her expression a mix of shyness and curiosity.
"I have my ways..." Ishtar remained expressionless on the surface.
In truth, she was even more surprised internally. To come across such a gem among the slaves she had randomly purchased was like finding an ancient treasure in a pile of rubbish.
"Amaterasu, don't bother having designs on this child; Ishtar surely won't let him go easily," teased a beautiful blonde goddess.
As she spoke, the blonde goddess's gaze shifted to Ryou in the arena, especially his bare upper body, with its well-proportioned, explosive muscles. The sunlight shining on him made it seem as if he were clad in radiant, golden armor.
Watching Ryou, who looked like a descended war god, the blonde goddess placed her delicate hand against her cheek, her face blushing, and her green eyes sparkling with a mysterious mix of love and desire.
"Ah! What a heroic, strong child. He reminds me of those wonderful times with Ares-sama."
"Aphrodite, you flirtatious vixen, you're at it again," Amaterasu said with a smile.
The goddesses teased each other like mortal girlfriends, sharing their intimate thoughts.
Only the goddess in the center, dressed in a black robe with dragon horns, narrowed her eyes as she scrutinized Ryou in the arena, remaining silent.
Amid his life-and-death struggle, Ryou was unaware that he had already attracted the attention of the goddesses.
He shouted to the remaining three gladiators, "You lot! Are you going to wait for the Minotaur to stomp you into meat paste? Or are you too scared to move?"
"Shut up! I was killing people when you were still drinking milk!" A bald man with strange patterns tattooed on his head glared at Ryou.
The other two gladiators also looked at Ryou with discontent.
"Yelling here won't help! If you want to survive, you have to pick up your weapons!"
With a cold smile, Ryou pointed to the agonized Minotaur.
"No matter how strong it is, it's still a living creature. It bleeds when injured and dies when its head is cut off. Do you want to live? If so, listen to me!"
"Damn it! You're right. I've got a wife and kids waiting for me at home. What do we do? I'll follow your lead!" The bald man patted his chest with his battle axe.
The other two gladiators also nodded, clearly convinced by Ryou's previous display of bravery and skill, making them overlook his smaller stature.
"Good," Ryou said with satisfaction. "Since its bull charge is the biggest threat to us, we'll cripple its legs first."
The three gladiators instinctively glanced at the bodies on the ground and nodded, agreeing wholeheartedly.
"With its agility and nimbleness gone, it'll be nothing more than a sitting duck. Surely you can handle a sluggish target, can't you?!"
"Well said! Let's see who can chop off this beast's head first!" The bald man laughed heartily, raised his battle axe, and charged at the Minotaur.
The other two gladiators exchanged a glance, then almost simultaneously raised their weapons and rushed at the Minotaur.
It must be said that the selection process ten days ago was brutal, but it left only the elite. Especially in Ryou's group, after receiving their blessings, each of them could become a pillar of their familia.
Unfortunately, fate was unfair; their status was that of enslaved gladiators, deprived of freedom.
Ryou suddenly had an epiphany... Perhaps the system giving him Spartacus's Noble Phantasm, the leader of a slave uprising, was no coincidence...
Even if I don't become a hero, I must overthrow Ishtar's familia. These women have gotten on my nerves!
Ryou casually picked up a spear and hurled it at the Minotaur.
At that moment, the Minotaur, in excruciating pain, finally managed to pull out the short sword from its unmentionable area, only to be immediately surrounded and attacked by the three gladiators. (Note: Gyattt)
Though it was their first time working together, they were all veterans. Coupled with the Minotaur's continuous torment from its injury, they managed to repeatedly land blows, leaving wound after wound on the Minotaur's thick legs, with blood gushing out like a fountain.
The joints received special attention from the gladiators. The bald man with the axe seized an opportunity and chopped at the Minotaur's ankle, which Ryou had previously injured.
With a pained howl from the Minotaur, the bald man's axe left a deep, bone-revealing gash.
At that moment, with a piercing whistle, Ryou's thrown spear arrived. The combined force of his strength and the spear's weight, accelerating as it flew, penetrated the Minotaur's iron-like hide and embedded deeply into its flesh, then snapped off inside.
The Minotaur could no longer stand. Its massive, tower-like body collapsed with a thunderous crash, landing face-down in a prostrate position.
"It can't hold on! Kill it!" someone shouted.
The three gladiators surged forward, hacking at the Minotaur as if it were their mortal enemy.
Seeing the gladiators triumph over a stronger foe, the cheers in the arena grew even louder, as if the roar could disperse the clouds in the sky.
Ryou picked up a short sword, hesitating whether to join in the final assault.
It was this moment of hesitation that saved his life.
Just as the audience thought the spectacular fight was about to conclude, no one noticed the mysterious goddess with dragon horns. Hidden beneath her voluminous black robe, her jade hand traced mysterious patterns. A small, pitch-black "mud" appeared in her palm and then vanished.
A barely perceptible energy fluctuation flickered and disappeared. Except for Ishtar, who sensed a slight anomaly, none of the other deities present noticed anything.
Ishtar glanced around in confusion. Just a moment ago, she had felt a familiar energy flash by. Unfortunately, the fluctuation was so weak that she wondered if it had been her imagination.
Not noticing anything unusual, Ishtar turned her gaze back to the arena. She failed to see the faint, mysterious smile on the lips of the dragon-horned goddess sitting right next to her.
Unnoticed by everyone, the "mud" instantly appeared at the Minotaur's heart and burrowed in.
"Mooo!!!"
The Minotaur, which had been continuously hacked at with no means of retaliation, suddenly let out a terrifying howl. The shockwave it generated blew the three gladiators back.
Then, a despair-inducing scene unfolded. From the Minotaur's heart, blood vessels bulged out, writhing under its skin like countless worms.
The Minotaur's originally yellowish-brown skin turned a fiery red, like hot iron. Its wounds began to heal at a visible rate.
Sensing something was wrong, the gladiators launched a frenzied attack on the Minotaur. However, it seemed as though its defense had significantly increased, with their full-force attacks only leaving shallow cuts on its surface.
Mutation... The word flickered in Ryou's mind.
Ryou's face changed dramatically as he shouted, "Get away from it!"
"Huh? What nonsense are you spouting? If we don't finish it off now..."
One gladiator instinctively replied, but before he could finish, a fist the size of a large pot appeared beside his head.
Bang!
With a crisp sound, his head exploded like a watermelon.
The transformed Minotaur slowly stood up, its already enormous figure growing even larger, its muscles swelling as if freshly forged from steel.
One gladiator instinctively tried to run. As he turned, the Minotaur grabbed him by the neck, lifting him effortlessly like a chick.
The Minotaur then grabbed his leg and pulled. With a sound like tearing fabric, the gladiator was ripped in half, blood gushing from both ends.
"Damn, this is bad..." The bald man smiled bitterly.
The Minotaur casually tossed aside the bisected gladiator and turned, throwing a punch at the bald man.
The bald man instinctively raised his heavy battle Axe in defense, but the iron fist crashed into him.
With a clear sound of bones breaking, he was sent flying, axe and all, to the edge of the arena, dozens of meters away.
Moments ago, they were about to claim victory. Now, in the blink of an eye, the gladiators were either dead or grievously wounded. Only Ryou remained, his face ashen, facing the murderous, mutated Minotaur.