Chapter 78: Chapter 73 Have you repented?
The laboratory, Master Batu lay on an iron bed, his hands, feet, and even neck all shackled.
Various instruments were connected to his body, monitoring his vital signs.
Beside Master Batu stood a lab technician.
Just then, the door to the laboratory opened, and someone in a lab coat came in and asked, “How’s it going?”
“His physical indicators are almost breaking through the C-grade level, very impressive,” the person beside Master Batu replied.
“You can take a break, I’ll keep watch here,” said the newcomer.
“No need,” the other responded with a glance at Master Batu.
This was his mission.
“After so many days, you should rest,” the newcomer said, moving behind him, when suddenly he covered the other’s mouth and produced a sharp object, stabbing directly into his neck.
The man’s body convulsed violently before he fell to the ground.
The newcomer looked at Master Batu and took out another syringe, injecting its contents straight into Master Batu’s veins.
Afterward, he unlocked the restraints on Master Batu’s body and quietly stood to the side waiting.
It was not long before the instruments emitted a piercing noise.
Master Batu’s body stirred, and then he opened his eyes.
In his pupils, a terrifying red gleam appeared.
He sat up, smashed the instruments with a punch, and with his other hand, he gripped the throat of the person beside him and lifted him up.
“Your daughter is in the arena,” the person said in a hoarse voice.
“Crack.” Master Batu squeezed tightly, and the man’s neck was crushed, his head lolling to the side.
But there was no fear in his eyes, only calm.
From the beginning, he had known the outcome.
Otherwise, why would he have done all this?
The crimson glow in Master Batu’s eyes persisted; he rose to his feet, pulling out all connectors from his body.
“The Arena!”
Master Batu walked towards the exit of the laboratory.
……
The Arena.
In the midst of a roaring crowd, contestants entered, each taking their position.
The Parasite looked up at the areas occupied by the bigwigs.
His life had been miserable, clawing his way up from the bottom, striving for three years, he finally made it into the Star Competition.
He had received such an opportunity, a chance to be noticed by the elites.
He reflected on his life.
His father had been beaten to death, his mother had died of starvation.
He had been dependent on others, treated like a foster son yet always driven to work.
Hard labor, menial tasks.
Hunger, whippings.
That was his entire childhood.
He endured it all until one day he killed his foster parents and their young children.
He kept climbing, until he reached this day.
Even now, under the gaze of thousands, he still felt inferior.
He had no sense of security.
He was a parasite, one that could be crushed at any moment, only by gaining the favor of the elites did he have a chance to change his fate.
Today, that day had finally arrived.
Would his fate change?
He didn’t move but instead observed the battlefield.
Lindi and the others started to move.
Apart from the two who had been killed by Everson, they came down from above, five people in all.
At the moment, all five were in the arena, each in a different location.
Starting from the Diamond Competition, they had honed their killing skills in the arena.
The people here were their test subjects.
Of course, they would not kill everyone today; instead, they would leave some of the ‘strong’ ones behind.
As ‘gifts’ for the company’s partners.
But they would kill the weak ones.
How many would remain depended on their abilities.
A figure clad in Heavy Armor and wielding a Heavy Hammer charged toward Lindi, exhibiting terrifying power in his rush, coupled with remarkable speed.
This man, known as Grim Reaper’s Hammer, had natural strength and explosive physical power.
The Heavy Hammer swung down on Lindi, the wind howling with the hammer’s terrifying power, which could cause tremors even through Battle Armor.
Lindi crossed her Mechanical Blades and raised them up to catch the hammer’s blow.
Under the tremendous force, Lindi did not retreat a step, causing the eyes within Grim Reaper’s Hammer’s helmet to shift.
Knees bending, Lindi was gathering strength.
Raising the hammer again, the foe aimed for another crushing blow, but Lindi kicked off the ground, her body shooting upwards as her blades swung down to slash.
“Puchi…”
A head fell to the ground, blood spurting, a ghastly sight.
This was the first person to be killed in the Star Competition.
Everyone who made it to the Star Competition was undoubtedly powerful, but Lindi was someone who could utterly suppress Master Batu.
Death Hammer was renowned, and the force unleashed by his hammer was terrifyingly powerful.
Yet, Lindi instantly executed him.
It was cruel.
But this was the ultimate showdown.
A clash between the mighty and the strong, baptized in blood.
Even the top figures who made it to the Star Competition could die.
The Star Competition, a great temptation, was also the cruellest of all the competitions, as it always had been.
No retreat was permitted, and death was inevitable.
However, those who survived would be chosen by the bigwigs.
They would have the chance to leave the Underworld and be reborn.
The Parasite watched the battlefield, and soon there were more deaths.
It was the ‘special invitees’ who were killing; he kept watching the Arena.
These people, they love killing the most.
But if you just carry through, survive, you can win the appreciation of the “big shots.”
Then you have a chance to go to the world above.
He had never thought of taking first place; he had only one goal.
To survive the Star Competition and be noticed.
Siba walked to the center of the arena, and he saw those murderous fighters, with violence in their eyes.
Berserker Siba was a cyborg, his entire body made of mechanical parts, wrapped in gigantic armor.
His right hand swung a chain, at the end of which was a spiked ball, creating a piercing wind sound as it moved.
His left hand held a mechanical great sword, fierce and terrifying.
The aura alone was terrifying enough.
A figure rushed toward Siba, also an elite from the world above, Keith.
Keith’s armor was golden, matching his blond hair, and in his hand was a Source Power Sword.
His body leaped into the air, launching an assault on Siba.
Siba raised the mechanical great sword in his left hand.
The Source Power Sword struck the mechanical great sword; a crisp snapping sound rang out as the blade cracked and broke.
Siba’s right hand whipped out, the spiked ball smashing toward his opponent.
The other parried with the Source Power Sword.
“Bang.”
A loud noise echoed as Keith was sent flying, skidding to a stop as he landed.
Siba looked down at his broken mechanical blade, his expression ugly.
Keith, knocked back, also raised his head, standing tall, a murderous intent flashing in his eyes.
Cyborgs hold little significance, they lack value in existence.
In the world above, mechanical technology is far more advanced.
The potential of cyborgs is extremely limited; even continuous upgrades to their mechanical bodies are largely meaningless as there are many alternatives.
So, Siba had no reason to live.
Siba retracted the chain into his mechanical device, leaving only the steel ball exposed.
His opponent’s sword was powerful, and if it hit the chain,
the chain would break too.
Keith, eyeing his prey, moved again with great speed.
“Hum!” The Source Power Sword thrust directly at Siba’s abdomen.
Siba kept his eyes on his adversary.
“Hiss…” The Source Power Sword pierced through the mechanical body and into Siba, Keith’s eyes bearing a cold smirk.
But at that moment, Siba’s broken mechanical great sword suddenly moved downward, trapping the other’s Source Power Sword, while his right mechanical arm fired, sending the spiked ball straight at his opponent’s helmet.
“Bang.”
A loud noise reverberated as Keith was blasted away, his head spinning, he fell to the ground.
If not for the high level of his armor and its energy shield, he might have been killed on the spot.
Siba charged forward, swinging the chain in his hand, striking again at Keith’s head.
But just then, a piercing screech sounded, the chain suddenly snapped, and the steel ball flew off course.
It missed its mark.
A woman clad in fiery red armor arrived, severing Siba’s chain.
She looked at Keith and asked, “Are you okay?”
Keith got up, still dizzy.
Shaking his head, he felt a surge of violent emotion within him.
“Kill him.”
With that, he lunged forward, the woman assisting him.
“You’re together?” Siba said, striking with his arm, but without his weapon, how could he fight against the two of them?
The huge mechanical body that enveloped him was continuously sliced and shattered, and he fell down.
Inside, the figure of Siba crawled out, merely one meter tall.
Shouts of astonishment echoed through the arena.
The dominant Berserker Siba turned out to be a dwarf.
Keith approached with a savage smile, no wonder his last strike had missed.
Siba crawled towards the stands; he looked up at the big shots, reaching out as if begging for help.
“Pff.” The sword pierced directly into his heart.
Desperation filled Siba’s eyes; he had fought with everything he had to get to this day.
He wanted to change his fate, to gain the recognition of those big shots.
He had done very well.
But why was the ending still so cruel?
Why did they have to kill him?
Siba saw in the eyes of those big shots, not a hint of sympathy or compassion.
Even more, their eyes held scornful and mocking laughter.
In that moment, Siba realized.
Fate could not be changed after all.
…
In front of the floor-to-ceiling window.
Xu Mo watched the battle below and grasped some understanding.
“So, the selection process is to pick people from those participating in the Star Competition?” Xu Mo asked Councilman Zornes, “Being noticed by the big shots, it’s actually as a gift, right?”
“Yes, the Underworld will see a very few elite persons grow; desperate to change their fate, they will come to the Arena. These people come willingly and, after fighting, will be sent to the labs for brainwashing,” Councilman Zornes said.
Xu Mo felt the irony.
In the Underworld, people are experimental subjects.
They are trade goods.
The Arena is a trap for those who wish to change their fate.
They climb step by step until they fall into the trap.
This underground factory completes the perfect loop, firmly controlling the Underworld.
“Have you ever repented?” Xu Mo asked Councilman Zornes.
Councilman Zornes was stunned for a moment, looking at Xu Mo.
Xu Mo drew his blade and it swept across his head, cutting.
After killing Councilman Zornes, Xu Mo rushed forward.
“Boom…” A loud noise as the floor-to-ceiling window shattered, his body surged forward, leaping into the air!