Bullfighting Performance

Even many years later, the residents of Rome would still remember this day.

Not only because a grand gladiatorial spectacle had been held to celebrate the accession of the Empire's new emperor, but also because it was the first time they had seen an authentic Wild West rodeo performance in the Flavian Amphitheatre.

To later generations, this might not have seemed like particularly novel entertainment. After all, the twenty-first century had long passed the golden age of Western culture's popularity. Yet in the second century AD, people felt the same shock as if they had witnessed a Quidditch match in person or spotted a wild Pikachu in a park.

Especially after watching Zhang Heng narrowly evade the bison's attacks time and again, then perform the spectacular feat of leaping onto its back, this thrilling rodeo performance completely captured the hearts of everyone present. It was as if an invisible hand were manipulating the emotions of the spectators in the stands, making them marvel one moment, fret the next, and then beam with delight along with the figure in the arena...

The emperor himself was among them, but the one most anxious and worried was Macrus.

As Zhang Heng's owner and the master of the Gladiator School, he had been in this business for quite some time and had seen thousands upon thousands of gladiators. Yet even all of them combined had not brought him as much excitement as Zhang Heng alone. Zhang Heng's talent for causing trouble had already far exceeded his imagination.

In less than a day, Zhang Heng had first provoked Saturnilos, a formidable enemy, for no apparent reason, giving Macrus a massive headache. Then, only half a day later, Zhang Heng had passed up being a proper gladiator and chosen a bison as his opponent. Macrus had