[Brother's Jealousy and Forced] How Hard It Is to Get Things Done

14 The First Script - Encounter in the Arena

The architecture of the arena replicated the ancient Roman Colosseum in its entirety, built from marble into a circular shape with missing sections. The space was vast, open-air, and grand both in height and size.

Contrary to common belief, the number of spectators and customers was far greater. Inner members could access the venue via hidden paths in holographic form to watch the matches. They could also visit the secluded private island in person to experience the brutal and primitive atmosphere more intensely. Periodically, there were auctions for gladiators, contracts sought by gladiators looking for external work, which attracted various underworld organizations looking to recruit. Moreover, for members of high enough rank, they could even personally select two gladiators to battle.

If the outside world divided human status by wealth, in the arena, it was divided by strength. In these transactions, larger wealth corresponded to greater power, creating a clever yet reasonable balance.

In an era where slavery had long vanished, voluntary entries into the arena remained continuous. Many were individuals at their wit's end due to various circumstances in modern civilization, seeking a shortcut to ascend through strength. And there were those like Alex, who had certain specific motives.

The arena wasn't a place where lives were casually disposed of. Information monitoring was highly advanced, and any significant disappearance of population would inevitably attract attention. With current medical conditions, even if an opponent fell without movement, as long as they hadn't taken their last breath, they could be saved and healed.

Acts of slaughter in the arena were strictly forbidden. This was a place for testing strength, not a breeding ground for serial killers. Gladiators might return to the outside world for various reasons after following their employer, and despite possessing the power to kill, they couldn't be uncontrollable individuals habituated to slaughter. This would pose too much danger for employers.

However, this was merely the setup of the game. In all holographic games, killing humanoid NPCs was strictly prohibited. Even in a virtual world, habitual killing could easily affect real-world security and have irreversible psychological effects.

The various terms of the arena only guaranteed the minimum safety of life and were still in serious violation of modern laws. It was a game created by the privileged class. Among the members, apart from those content being customers, there were many who sought excitement and personally entered the arena to challenge themselves.

Emily was among the latter. According to The Wilson family's household, he wasn't even worthy of hearing about this place. He spared no expense to get introduced, submitted his identity, and smoothly entered this private island.

Oscar Wilson, a prodigy in the outside world, was merely a low-ranking member in the arena. He couldn't even come in contact with high-level gladiators at auctions. This was why, after Alex gained recognition from the bigwigs in the arena, The Wilson family was no longer an obstacle for him.

However, Emily's purpose in this visit wasn't solely that. After playing pretend in this world for so long, he was eager for action. Upon entering the arena, he promptly submitted an application to participate in combat.

The living conditions provided for gladiators here were even better than those for low-ranking members. The primary selection involved a free-for-all with twenty combatants, each selecting a favored cold weapon and donning an iron mask to conceal their faces before entering the arena.

Here, gladiators weren't distinguished by birth, background, or lineage. Everyone remained hidden behind iron masks, with only the code inscribed beneath the eye portion of the mask to denote identity. Identity couldn't be discerned by appearance, nor could the match's outcome be bribed. Victory or defeat was determined by the life device on the chest. Once struck by a force capable of robbing life, the gladiator was deemed to have suffered a "fatal injury" and exited.

Most participants in the initial stage were either new entrants trying their luck or members like Emily playing for fun, leading to a varied range of skills.

Emily was physically fit and agile, finding the mixed competition of the initial stage almost effortless. After three consecutive victories, he smoothly ascended to the intermediate stage.

The initial-stage combats were arranged in the morning, and those who stood out within a certain period were scarce. Hence, they garnered minimal attention from the audience. However, someone like Emily, achieving three straight wins and directly ascending to the intermediate stage, was considered a potential asset. Attention gradually turned towards him in the intermediate stage, and his code, 9673, began to gain prominence in the daily rankings.

Ascending from the intermediate stage wasn't an easy feat. Most remained at that level until leaving the arena.

In the intermediate stage, there were five one-on-one combats held every afternoon. The matchups were between opponents with similar strength rankings. The winner's rank rose while the loser's either stagnated or decreased.

This prevented unexciting and predictable battles due to significant strength gaps. As for the initial rankings upon entering the intermediate stage, they were determined by a combat sport event before the promotion, assessing the gladiator's abilities and providing an accurate rank.

This was akin to the gladiator's debut upon entering the intermediate stage, also known as the rookie battle. Many viewers paid attention to these new faces, seeking potential talents. Gladiators who spent a shorter time in the initial stage usually possessed stronger skills, attracting more attention in rookie battles.

Many viewers started betting and sponsoring these gladiators at this stage.

In Emily's rookie battle, his opponent was a genetically modified black panther, larger than its natural counterparts, towering at the height of an adult male. Its fangs extended far beyond its lower jaw, sharp and intimidating.

Genetically modified beasts were a significant attraction in the arena, captivating a considerable portion of the audience. This sleek and formidable creature, released into the arena from behind iron bars, immediately caught Emily's eye. This was precisely what he wanted to see in a holographic game! After all, such genetic experiments were strictly prohibited in reality, and even if they existed, he wouldn't have had the chance to witness them.

At this point, the semi-circular seating area was no longer as empty as it was during the morning matches in the beginner's arena. Many spectators had taken their seats—some were holographic images, others were physical attendees, though their displayed appearances might not have been genuine.

They evidently approved of the black panther, emitting soft murmurs of amazement and applause, perhaps even considering commissioning a similar 'pet.'

Beneath the sleek black fur of the majestic beast, elegant dark-golden spots faintly shimmered with iridescence as it moved. However, its intense gaze, locked onto the opposing side within the arena, exuded an immense pressure. These were the eyes of an untamed beast, fully aware of its strength and form, yet calmly observing its opponent—slowly pacing around Emily, evaluating.

Clearly seasoned in battles with gladiators, the panther silently scrutinized Emily's movements and weapons.

Emily, clad in the standardized linen garb of the gladiators, had a numbered iron mask covering his face. His hands were enclosed in iron-fisted gloves, substantial enough to cover even his forearms.

Being a modern individual, Emily was more accustomed to close-quarter combat using these gloves rather than the infrequently used cold weapons like longswords or spears. They felt familiar, offering both offense and defense while amplifying his striking force.

The panther subtly closed the gap while strolling, and with a pretense of calm, abruptly launched an attack. Springing with astonishing speed, it was like a bolt of black lightning tearing through daylight, its razor-sharp claws swiftly aiming for Emily!

Compared to previous contestants in the beginner's arena, these encounters were mere appetizers. The speed and strength of the panther were incomparable to humans. Emily rolled on the ground, narrowly evading the claws gleaming with cold light. Yet, those blade-like claws, with a wide attack range, caused injury even as Emily dodged, cutting through the linen around his waist, revealing the muscular, bleeding gash.

The sharp pain immediately sharpened Emily's focus. He felt the long-lost surge of adrenaline. This world seemed too gentle and civilized, leaving him feeling as though his bones were rusting!

The panther's first strike failing, it swiftly adjusted its posture for another attack.

Emily usually favored combat and survival-type games. Aware of the absence of any real danger to his life in this game, he fought even more recklessly, essentially being 'less afraid of pain' and 'less concerned about life' than 'others.'

He maneuvered to avoid the panther's biting teeth, landing a solid punch on its lower abdomen. However, the panther adeptly evaded, lessening the impact by half. As Emily tried to grab its tail, his in-game character parameters weren't sufficient to execute such a move, leaving him no choice but to release it reluctantly.

However, this audacious taunt irked the panther. Its tail, like a long whip, lashed towards Emily, who swiftly dodged, creating distance between them once again.

To stand out swiftly from the chaotic battles of the beginner's arena, one needed extraordinary skills. Emily engaged in a back-and-forth battle with the panther, and the audience in the stands increased steadily—some physically present, others virtually entered.

Emily was the first to be injured, and prolonging the fight wasn't in his favor. Due to excessive blood loss, he risked being declared "dead" first. He needed to find a way to incapacitate his opponent first.

The more critical the situation, the more cautiously he awaited the perfect opportunity to strike. The panther, enraged by his taunting, launched aggressive and relentless attacks. Emily was on the defensive, seemingly entirely at the panther's mercy.

Some in the audience began to express dissatisfaction, shouting, "Kill that weakling! Eat him!"

These voices were also part of the arena—a gradually growing cacophony, fueled by the excitement to witness a collective killing.

Ignoring the uproar, Emily focused. The panther, swayed by this atmosphere, viciously struck at Emily's chest, attempting to "kill" him outright.

Seeming panicked, Emily dodged sideways, allowing the claws to pierce his abdomen, causing him to pale, feeling intense pain as his insides churned. Just as everyone believed he was inevitably "dead," he struck back fiercely. Seizing the close proximity, he landed a heavy blow on the panther's side, the insufficient force bolstered by his iron-fisted gloves, snapping the panther's fangs and, without waiting for its response, delivered another forceful punch to the crown of its head.

After the severe blow, the panther collapsed abruptly before him, losing consciousness.

All this occurred in the blink of an eye, leaving the arena in complete silence. Following the match rules, after counting down ten seconds, confirming the panther's temporary incapacitation, Emily's victory was declared.

The audience, as if waking from a dream, reacted variably—some cheered while others whispered. For these spectators, victory or defeat had never been their genuine concern; they relished the voyeuristic thrill of watching others fight for their lives.

After the match, as Emily received treatment, he removed his gloves and shook his hands. The black panther's head was large and sturdy, and even through the gloves, the impact had made his arms tingle.

This made him realize that it would be difficult for this character's parameters to reach a high level. His victory this time was more about luck, and the panther's intelligence would always be lower than that of a human. Facing gladiators in the intermediate arena next time might not be so easy. He had watched matches in the intermediate arena, and with his current skills, he estimated he could only struggle at the mid-level of the intermediate arena.

However, he wasn't planning to stay long, so these considerations were not that important.

But what Emily didn't know was that many people, even if they qualified for the newcomer battle, couldn't win against the fierce beasts in the arena. As a gladiator who had just entered the island for less than a week, he had been promoted from the beginner's arena and won the newcomer battle. The system ranked him at a mid-level position rather than the bottom, attracting a lot of attention.

In the spacious mansion at the top of the island, a slender and fit woman reclined on a sofa, leisurely watching the virtual images projected in front of her with great interest. Her features were not delicate; with a high nose and deep-set eyes, her silver-white long hair was tied up in a high ponytail, complementing her bronze-toned skin.

She wore bold and unrestrained clothing—a tight-fitting sleeveless triangular vest barely covering her well-defined chest. Below, she had on loose cargo pants, the pant legs gathered by military boots, exuding a wild and heroic vibe.

She dabbed at the corner of her lips, adorned with white lip gloss, took a casual sip of her wine, and nonchalantly asked, 'Leo, what do you think of him?'

Her voice was lazy and husky, seemingly casual yet affable. The person standing behind her didn't dare to be presumptuous. The young man in black clothes had a tall and straight figure, with his upper face covered by a black mask engraved with a golden code: A027.

A027's skin was fair, in stark contrast to the young lady. At the moment, his well-defined facial features were mostly concealed, revealing only a pair of golden-brown eyes. He answered respectfully, 'Miss Drelia, as long as you like him.'

Drelia chuckled, 'Will that make you uneasy, Leo?'

A027 didn't answer, contemplatively gazing at the image of the person.

On the other hand, the beast crouched at Drelia's feet emitted a dissatisfied low growl. Its sleek black fur, sharp fangs extending beyond its lower jaw, matched the virtual image of the black panther. Its wounds had been healed, and the broken tooth repaired. Just a few days of rest, and it would be ready to return to the arena. At this moment, it glared resentfully at the virtual image of its opponent from the daytime.

Drelia reached out to pat the large head of the black panther, soothingly saying, 'Fair game, Andrew.'