Five Teachers

The massive body fell. The incident happened so suddenly that the two closest to the giant were tripped.

I didn't give them time to react, charging forward and piercing them to death. Although I was also cut twice, this exchange was worth it.

As blood splattered onto me, I suddenly felt an inexplicable excitement. This was a completely different feeling from the battlefield. There was no honor, no morality, only the most primal desire to survive and kill.

With three dead, their formation became chaotic, and I began to kill amidst the confusion!

I couldn't hold back anymore because they could take my life at any moment, so I had to strike first!

"Zhao Xin! Zhao Xin..."

The crowd in the stands cheered for me, and I actually quite enjoyed the exhilaration of this free duel and the wild release within my heart...

After killing them all, I also collapsed on the ground. I was severely wounded in the previous battle, especially my legs, which were bloody and mangled. However, I managed to survive. Thanks to the moves Fiora taught me, they saved my life!

The guards carried me down, not back to the stone prison, but to the training ground Tam had mentioned.

He personally found a doctor for me, and it took a long time to stop the bleeding. The doctor told me I wouldn't be able to get out of bed for a month, and perhaps I would never stand up again.

Tam didn't abandon me because I lost my ability to fight. He instructed the doctor and the staff at the training ground to take good care of me, ensuring I would recover if there was even the slightest possibility. This gesture touched me deeply.

The next day, Tam came to see me again, bringing a large pile of bottles and jars:

"These are the best medicinal herbs. They will definitely help you recover."

"Thank you for your trouble, boss. Spending so much to treat someone who might be permanently paralyzed."

"It's a small matter. I promised you'd get back on your feet, and I won't go back on my word. Besides, this money is nothing. Besides the two hundred gold coins I won from Uzi yesterday, the bets on the matches made us a hefty sum. I had someone bet one hundred gold coins on you, and it paid out sixty-six times."

This amount would be a considerable fortune anywhere, yet he spoke of it so casually, showing no sign of joy.

Sometimes I really wondered if Tam liked money at all. I always felt he had some other motive.

"Then congratulations, boss. I have a small request, and I don't know if you'll grant it."

"Tell me."

"I want to ask you to release Jeram, the big guy opposite me."

"He's a Berserker. Releasing him will provoke retaliation from the Berserker Clan, which is very dangerous. But, what does it matter? I agree."

Tam let out a big sigh. I almost thought he wouldn't agree, but I didn't know where his confidence came from. It seemed like there was no one who made him feel afraid. He truly was an inscrutable fellow.

"Thank you, boss."

"I'm growing more and more fond of you, Zhao Xin. Everyone here is struggling to look after themselves, yet you still have the heart to care about others. Why don't you ask me to release you? If it were before you made this request, I think I would have agreed."

You damn catfish!

Why didn't you say so earlier? You only promised me freedom within the arena, not that you could let me go!

After Jeram was released, he came to visit me. When he saw that I, who was severely injured, had pleaded for him, a man as sturdy as a tower, tears fell like raindrops.

"Just you wait, my brother. I'll definitely come back to save you!" Jeram whispered in my ear as he left.

Although the doctor said I wouldn't be able to get out of bed for a month and might never walk again, I had almost fully recovered in just half a month. With a few more days of rest, I'd be ready to fight!

It seemed this body was quite resilient. Of course, Tam's medicine was also top-notch.

During my time in the arena, I grew to love the feeling of fighting. I felt restless when I was idle. I felt I was no longer fighting just for freedom; I had come to love the smell of blood here.

Habit is the most terrifying change. I must control this thought, otherwise, if killing becomes instinct, I will truly become a monster.

Two more days passed, and I was able to participate in training. Besides me, there were five other people in this training ground, all survivors of countless battles in the arena, all powerhouses.

Each of them had their own specialty. Some were immensely strong, some incredibly agile, some skilled in assassination, some adept at defense, and some possessed precise techniques.

They had even abandoned their original names and were known by their specialties: Strength, Speed, Shadow, Defense, and Precision.

No matter which one, their combat power was astonishing. I was the sixth, capable of everything but excelling at nothing.

After defeating the "Ten-Man Squad," I thought I was already very strong. But compared to them, I realized the true gap. The desire to learn surged within me.

"Strength" was a woman with light brown skin and a head of red hair, giving her a wild appearance. She wasn't tall but was voluptuous, her figure appearing tight even in loose clothing. Her bright eyes had two vertical lines. It was said she had Dragon Race blood flowing through her veins, and these eyes were the best proof.

Strength symbolized power and was ferocious in battle. However, outside of combat, she was different, treating everyone like a gentle older sister. This contrast made me suspect she had a dual personality.

"Speed" was an Orc, resembling a monkey. His movements were as fast as lightning, and he was also a chatterbox, never shutting up even during battles. I greatly admired this talent of his. If one could distract and fight simultaneously against an enemy, it would surely be very effective.

"Shadow" was an assassin, skilled in the art of assassination. He was small and taciturn, saying less in a year than Speed said in a day. His frontal combat ability wasn't strong, but he had rich combat experience.

Shadow didn't teach me any specific moves. Instead, he imparted combat experience: when to strike, how enemies attack in various situations, how to conceal one's form, how to find hidden enemies, and so on. It was very practical.

"Defense" was quite interesting. He was of average build and unremarkable, like an ordinary middle-aged man. Yet, this ordinary-looking person possessed astonishing defensive capabilities, not by brute force but through various techniques to counter attacks. One move, in particular, involving blocking weapons, bore a resemblance to Laurent's Mind Blade.

I sparred with him several times but could never break through his defense. Only once did I manage to push him back a few steps with sheer force, but it had no substantial effect. These techniques were very difficult to learn and required deep comprehension. He also constantly advised me to be patient and not to try to learn too much too quickly.

"Precision" was the youngest among them. He looked like a youth with a small shaved head. The opposite of Defense, his moves were precise and steady, always finding an opening in what seemed like an all-encompassing defense. I eagerly anticipated seeing him fight Defense, but unfortunately, it never happened.

Precision, with his unique understanding, refined the moves I had already learned. While searching for the enemy's weaknesses, he tried to make his own weaknesses less apparent. Of course, it was impossible to eliminate weaknesses entirely, as everything in the world has its counter, and martial arts are no exception.

I trained with these five people for over a month, which was far more beneficial than the half-year I spent honing my skills in the Dauntless Vanguard. Frankly speaking, they were my second teachers after Fiora, and I referred to them as such.

Under this specialized training, my various abilities improved significantly. When I first arrived, I was restricted everywhere. Now, in terms of one-on-one combat, I was no weaker than any of them.

I was extremely grateful for their unreserved teaching of their most proficient skills, which led to my progress today.

During this period, people still came to challenge me. However, few of these challengers were stronger than the Ten-Man Squad, and even those who were slightly stronger were no match for me. They died one after another, simply because my bounty had increased to one thousand gold coins.

One day, as we were training, Tam arrived: "Your growth makes me very pleased, Zhao Xin. How are these teachers I found for you?"

"Thank you for your nurturing, and thank you all for your generous guidance."

"No need to thank me. Today, I've come to you because there's a special mission I need you to undertake. Come with me."