"Damn," Maughan couldn't help but complain as soon as he stepped off the Seahorse. "Ryan, do you have to be so boring?" He looked at Ryan, incredulous.
"This is Starport City, an interstellar metropolis!" Maughan continued, his tone full of longing for the bustling life. "Aren't you going shopping or hitting a bar to relax? You might even meet a beautiful woman and have a romantic night…"
Ryan shrugged, unfazed. "I've got better things to do."
"Better things?" Maughan echoed, his eyes widening. "Like what? Lifting weights and running on a treadmill?"
Ryan nodded seriously. "Exactly."
Maughan threw his hands up in exasperation. "Unbelievable! We're in one of the most exciting cities in the Pegasus Galaxy, and you want to spend it sweating in a gym?"
Ryan smirked. "Hey, muscles don't build themselves."
Maughan rolled his eyes. "Even if you don't think about yourself, consider your brothers. I've been cooped up at the base for months."
"I'm not forcing you to stay with me," Ryan replied calmly, a bit stubbornly.
The Lacertoclaweus pancreas was valuable, and he felt it would be a waste not to find a good place to absorb its energy.
Maughan sighed dramatically. "You're hopeless. Fine, if you want to train here, go ahead. I'll come back in three hours to find you. Don't wander off."
Ryan chuckled. "I'll be right here, building those muscles."
Maughan shook his head, muttering to himself as he walked away. "I swear, one day you'll realize there's more to life than just training…"
As they spoke, they arrived at the entrance of the largest training center in Starport City. The welcoming staff stood in two neat rows, bowing in greeting.
Maughan decided to try his luck at a bar, while Ryan waved him off and entered the Starport City Training Center.
As the largest training center in Starport City, its scale and facilities were far superior to those at the base. The weighted sprint training here was conducted by training robots, which could adjust precisely according to the user's condition. Of course, the cost was high, with training fees reaching 500 per hour.
However, shortly after Ryan began his training, he heard an announcement: "Hey everyone, listen up! Member number 7482 is about to start the G-level training center's first survival base challenge. Participants, please prepare yourselves!"
As the announcement ended, a dynamic image appeared on a screen. The background was heavy and oppressive, signaling an intense combat match about to unfold.
In an octagonal cage about fifty meters in diameter, an Ironback Frenzy Panther, covered in dark, spotted patterns, was pacing on the metal mesh. Its muscular body rippled with each movement, and its claws produced a sharp metallic scraping sound as they dragged across the floor. The panther's eyes glowed with a fierce, predatory light, and its tail lashed back and forth like a whip.
Suddenly, it lunged towards a man in the cage with the ferocity of a wildfire, its powerful legs propelling it forward in a blur of motion. The man, however, remained calm. He pushed off the ground, leaving a slight footprint on the platform, and then shot out like an arrow, accompanied by a roar that sliced through the air.
His eyes were sharp as he passed by the Ironback Frenzy Panther. The panther let out a scream, lost its balance in mid-air, and crashed heavily to the ground, rolling several meters away. Its body convulsed as it tried to regain its footing, but the damage had been done.
"That's underground combat technique, 'Tiger Roar'!" someone exclaimed.
"And 'Phantom Strike,' an underground fighting skill!" another added.
Ryan was deeply captivated by the brief but intense exchange on the screen. With his keen eyes, he could see that the man had unleashed two combat techniques in the instant he passed by the Ironback Frenzy Panther.
"Tiger Roar" was a vocal technique that generated a violent shockwave to attack the enemy's eardrums. If timed correctly, it could even damage the enemy's eardrums, disrupt their balance, and shake their resolve.
"Phantom Strike," on the other hand, was a technique where the fingers moved with such speed and precision that they seemed to vanish, striking vital points with deadly accuracy. This combat skill was common in elite military units.
Ryan hadn't expected to encounter a close-combat expert at the Starport City Training Center. The center's promotional message brought back memories for Ryan. There were indeed some unconventional training sessions here, with an underground gambling flavor.
Besides underground boxing matches, there were life-and-death battles between humans and beasts, and humans and Zerbeasts, scenes that were bloody and brutal. The arena was often stained with blood, and the roars of the crowd mixed with the cries of the defeated, creating a chaotic and intense atmosphere.
To participate in such fights, one had to pay a hefty deposit and sign a death waiver. Signing the waiver meant that the training center bore no responsibility in case of an accident or death. The deposit ensured the fairness of the bet—the participants had to truthfully report their strength and abilities. Any deception could lead to severe penalties or even disqualification. Severe penalties for cheating could include heavy fines, permanent bans from the training center, or even physical punishment such as public flogging or imprisonment.
Each time a warrior participated in such a fight and defeated their opponent, they would receive a substantial reward. The rewards varied depending on the difficulty of the match and the reputation of the opponent. For many, these fights were not just about the money but also about the glory and the thrill of combat.
As Ryan stood in the training center, he couldn't help but recall the brutal nature of these underground battles.
Of course!
At the Starport City Training Center, not only could one watch intense fights, but spectators could also place bets, wagering on their chosen fighters, attracting more people to participate in the gambling. Ryan had previously participated in such activities here.
Back then, with his C-level comprehensive strength, he had easily defeated several beasts and Zerbeasts, winning a considerable amount of money. However, this also got him blacklisted by the training center. Recalling those days, a smile appeared on Ryan's face.
At that moment, the conversation of members using the training equipment nearby reached his ears:
"A G-level beast, defeated so easily."
"Making 100,000 was really easy."
"This guy is clearly above G-level, probably already at F-level."
"No kidding! Who can win a same-level melee challenge against a beast? The prize starts at least at 500,000! I heard the odds for the fight were ten to one!"
Hearing this, Ryan's interest was piqued. Ten to one odds? He remembered that when he had challenged the Starport City Training Center, the odds for same-level challenges were only three to one.
Ryan quickly realized that many military techniques hadn't been widely adopted yet, and the enhancement methods for beasts and Zerbeasts were not well known. People's physical fitness was generally weaker than it would be three years later.
These were the current odds! Realizing this, Ryan felt a surge of excitement. He had 3.25 million. If he paid a 100,000 deposit and bet 3 million on himself, at ten to one odds, wouldn't he easily make 30 million?
But this crazy idea was quickly dismissed by Ryan himself. He knew it was impossible. He was well aware of the background of the Starport City Training Center—it was a group operating in the gray areas, closely linked to black market outposts, with deep connections in the military, and even ties to many space pirate organizations.
Back then, if it hadn't been for his position in the space military and a group of fierce officers under his command, Ryan might not have been able to walk away with over 50 million in gambling winnings from the training center. At that time, he was powerful, a far cry from his current status.
Now, he was just a security officer for TerraNova, with H-level strength. Expecting to walk away unscathed with millions in gambling winnings from the Starport City Training Center? Even Carlos didn't have that kind of influence. Anyone with such thoughts was likely still dreaming of fairy tales from "One Thousand and One Nights."
However, since he was here, Ryan couldn't just ignore it. At the Starport City Training Center, all members were eligible to participate in prize betting. Members only needed to enter their membership number and bet amount into the current betting pool, with the odds determining the outcome. Winning or losing depended entirely on personal judgment and luck.
The Starport City Training Center had a good reputation for this, never defaulting on payouts. Ryan quickly had Astra contact the training center and opened the current betting pool. After paying a 1,000 dollars to activate the access, all the betting information was detailed before him.
Starport City was bustling, with a constant stream of spectators, and a match every fifteen minutes. The odds for each match were clearly displayed in the system. The minimum bet was 1,000 dollars, with no upper limit.