Base No. 7

Chapter 7: The Hunter

“Sha Wuer, kill him!”

Amid the heavy metal music, the fighting arena was surrounded by the roars of the crowd, like wild beasts growling. Sha Wuer, a burly man with an axe, relentlessly pushed his opponent toward the corner of the arena.

Beneath the ghost mask, blood leaked out, and his arm trembled. The White Ghost was just an ordinary man who owed a large sum of money in a casino. After having his hand chopped off by a creditor, he had a mechanical arm attached by a “doctor” in exchange for participating in combat to repay the debt. After some training, he entered the fighting arena and won several matches, but today, he was facing Sha Wuer.

“I don’t want to die!” The face beneath the ghost mask was pale, and his eyes were cold as he stared at the approaching Sha Wuer. The loud music and the roars of the crowd stirred his nerves. He screamed in madness, springing into the air, his arms shooting out simultaneously, aiming to pierce the advancing Sha Wuer.

Sha Wuer raised his giant shield in front of him, making a loud clash as it blocked one of the mechanical arms. The other mechanical arm grabbed his exposed leg, and the sharp blade tore through his skin, blood flowing freely.

Sha Wuer roared and moved the shield away, throwing his axe directly.

“Puchi…” The axe struck the White Ghost’s head, the immense force splitting it open. The bloody and terrifying scene made Xu Mo close his eyes, his heart trembling a little. It was so brutal.

However, the crowd around the arena erupted into deafening cheers, like a group of wild beasts roaring to tear apart their prey. Xu Mo felt a sense of disconnection, as though he were detached from the world in front of him.

Someone walked onto the arena to clean up. After enjoying the cheers, Sha Wuer walked toward the tunnel opposite Xu Mo. The crowd's roars slowly faded.

“Sha Wuer is too strong, isn’t this his fifth consecutive win? His appearance fee must be astronomical by now.”

“It depends on the opponent. For this fight against the White Ghost, the income must be substantial. If he faces a strong opponent next, the appearance fee will only go up.”

“Such a great deal. I wish I could join and make some money.”

“You’re going there to die.”

The discussions around him kept reaching Xu Mo’s ears. It seemed a lot like boxing in his past life, only far more bloody and brutal, where one’s life was the wager.

“Who’s next?” someone asked.

“I just saw Lein entering the backstage. He might be up next.”

“Lein? He’s on a three-win streak, right? He’s pretty strong.”

“Yes, Lein is from the Cobra group. He came to the arena, probably at their orders, to fight for real. He’s ruthless.”

“Shh, are you trying to get killed?”

“Lein?” Xu Mo thought silently. Is he the criminal? The passage Lein entered earlier must lead to the backstage of the arena, but his senses couldn’t pierce through.

Most people around hadn’t left. Xu Mo remained, waiting. After a while, the passage opposite him opened, and two figures stepped into the arena, standing in the light rings.

“It’s him!” Xu Mo stared at one of the people on the left of the arena. He wore a silver helmet, metal armguards covering the upper part of his wrists. His opponent was bigger, holding a steel knife with a murderous look.

“Challenger: Three wins, Lein; Opponent: Three wins, White Blade.” A metallic voice echoed above the arena, instantly igniting the crowd.

Both were at three wins. Whoever won would have four wins, and the loser would die.

The explosive heavy metal music blasted in his ears as the crowd roared like a tsunami. Then the voice came again: “Begin!”

At the sound of the command, White Blade, holding the steel knife, took steps toward Lein, who stood still, raising his arms in a blocking stance.

The steel knife in White Blade’s hands swung down with violent beauty, and Lein raised his arm to block.

“Clang…” A sharp, piercing sound mixed with the music and the roars. Lein’s arm was knocked downward, and his feet retreated a step.

But White Blade’s movements didn’t stop. The steel knife came down again, packed with tremendous force.

“Clang, clang, block…”

The wild collision sounds continued, stimulating the crowd’s nerves. Lein was forced to step backward, his arm beginning to feel numb.

“Cut him down! Cut him down!” The roar of the crowd grew louder as they saw White Blade gaining the upper hand, eager to see him kill Lein.

Xu Mo observed the battle. Although White Blade had the advantage, he had exposed a significant opening. If Lein had the strength to counter, the outcome could turn in an instant.

It seemed like the cheers were fueling White Blade’s rage, making him more ferocious. His hands held the steel knife, slashing down with even more force, intending to end the fight and kill Lein in one blow.

“Shh…” The sound of metal scraping rang out, sharp and ear-piercing. Lein’s arm shifted downward to deflect, causing White Blade’s body to follow with the momentum. In that instant, Lein exploded into action. His right arm swung out violently, and his steel armguard smashed into White Blade’s head.

Blood splattered as White Blade’s head cracked open, his body sent flying to the left, blood pouring out, his body twitching in agony.

The crowd around the arena went absolutely wild.

“Smash him! Smash him!”

The roaring voices drowned out the loud music as Lein glared at his fallen opponent. He then picked up White Blade’s steel knife from the ground, walking toward him. The steel knife raised, and in the wild roars, it plunged down, burying itself in White Blade’s head, blood spraying onto Lein’s body.

Xu Mo didn’t close his eyes this time. He kept watching the arena, his mind seemingly blocking out the surrounding chaos.