Wow! The item-dropping rate is really high!

"Tonight's seventh gladiator duel! Coming from Furious Bloodrage! Facing our newcomer—the Bull Warrior!"

"Pssh—" Hissses filled the air.

As the host introduced him, the newcomer, who even seemed a bit fumbling as he stepped into the arena from the iron cage, looked so frail and weak.

He wasn't particularly muscular, nor was his entrance flamboyant.

Clothed in a somewhat faded light blue denim jacket and jeans, the most ridiculous part was the dirt-yellow burlap sack over his head, with only three holes cut out for sight, making his tentative glances around all the more timid.

"Where did this kid come from!"

"Is he weaned yet? Come here to mama and suckle!"

"Take off the sack! Coward!"

Despite the jeers, the audience was still eagerly anticipating the spectacle to come.

Everyone knew the organizer's routine—

As the host of the fight, considering to stir up every spectator's emotions, they naturally had to control the comparative strength between the combatants.

A one-sided crush was no fun, so "Furious Bloodrage," though it sounded intimidating, was actually just a crazy kid who had only fought twice and won one by the skin of his teeth.

Neither side was high-caliber, even if it was a mere squabble between two noobs, they were evenly matched combatants.

This kind of duel was destined to have no holding back, the lowest level of pure physical struggle that could also satisfy primal impulses for violence.

Moreover, the organizers were afraid that both fighters would be cowardly, so they purposely arranged for one of them to be a madman...

Even if the newcomer turned coward on the spot, the crowd could still feast their eyes before the staff maintaining Order rushed in to save a life.

Broken limbs wouldn't lead to death, yet still quenched the audience's thirst for violence.

"Bang!"

The iron door locked behind him, and Kuang Xin instinctively flinched.

The clamorous noise was too loud, making his brain somewhat unclear.

Just like when he climbed over the school fence to use the internet and then had to make a self-criticism in front of the whole school under the national flag, his head buzzed.

But strangely... his body didn't reject the situation.

He was heating up.

Trembling.

And... excited.

A stage for unfettered violence, an unguarded spilling of desire.

His vision started to focus; thoughts became clearer.

Adrenaline pumped rapidly, narrowing his vision but sharpening his focus, his limbs engorged, reacting faster.

His opponent, with bloodshot eyes, was grinning ferociously across from him, Kuang Xin worked his wrists, rolling his fists.

Technique? None.

Planning? None.

Stats? Seems not quite enough.

What he had was merely primal instinct!

"Roar!"

The moment the bell rang, both sides, like the wildest of beasts, lunged at their opponent.

[Close combat attack hits the target, Combat Mastery experience +2, Brute Body (locked) unlock progress 86%.]

[Current Combat Mastery experience 15/100...]

[You dealt 1 point of blunt damage to the target!]

[You take 1 point of blunt damage from the target's attack.]

He swayed, timing his steps with his strikes.

The hot breath he exhaled cycled inside the sack, causing him to feel a bit stuffy, but this couldn't affect Kuang Xin's combat state.

His eyes were fixed on the opponent's punching movements, every attack requiring full body coordination.

Each casual movement could give away intent.

He didn't know which movements indicated which muscle activations, he simply relied on instinct to guess the opponent's attack intentions.

It didn't matter if he guessed wrong—it was just a game!

What was there to fear?

[Close combat attack hits the target, Combat Mastery experience +17, Brute Body (locked) unlock progress 87%.]

[Current Combat Mastery experience 32/100...]

[1 point of strike damage dealt to the target!]

[You've taken an attack, suffering 1 point of strike damage.]

Another punch lands on my nose... my vision is turning a bit dark.

But I've also landed a punch on his belly, he's definitely not having a good time either!

Madman? What the hell are you crazy for? What gives you the right to be crazy?

I don't feel a thing! Your punches are like a massage to me.

Hit me more! More!

Trading blow for blow, I want to see who gives in first, you or me!

This is a damn game! Do you think I'm scared of you?!

"Hahahaha!" Amidst the fight, Kuang Xin couldn't help but burst into a mad laughter.

Fight! Come on!

You call yourself a madman? Then what am I?!

All the cool moves I dreamt of using can now be tried out.

No acquaintances around, I can unleash violence to vent freely.

Teeth, fists, thighs... all can be used as weapons for attack.

So what if it's wrong, or if my technique isn't scientific?

Can your body handle my fists?!

Me, scared of you?! Ha!

"Hahahaha!" Knocked back by a kick, Kuang Xin, like an ape, pounds his chest, "Come on! Come on!"

A wild fighting spirit spills out in all directions, with a combat style more savage than wild beasts making opponents tremble in fear.

"Madman! Madman!" The frenzied gaze locks onto a weird boxer wearing a head cover not far away.

Pretending to be weak through madness.

But this boxer has madness etched into his marrow.

"Madman! I don't want to fight him!"

"You! Where are you going?"

Clenching his teeth, Kuang Xin leaps into the air, delivering a Superman punch straight to the opponent's chest...

Don't run!

...

[Close combat hit landed, close combat mastery experience +14, Savage Physique (Unlocked) unlocking progress 88%.]

[Current close combat mastery experience 46/100...]

[3 points of strike damage inflicted upon the target! Target has fallen into a "Stunned" state.]

"Congratulations on witnessing the most thrilling duel tonight! Our winner is, the Bull—Warrior!"

"Wuhu!"

"Well fought!"

"Another round! One more time!"

...

The frenetic Bull Warrior sets off a wild wave of violence, Hans, with betting slips in hand, quickly finds the organizer.

"I won, I won! By the odds of 1.1 to 1, you owe me 1260 coins!"

"Don't need you to teach me, old coot!" the man holding a low-quality cigarette contemptuously glances at Hans and casually shoves the principal and earnings on a tray through the window.

Mixed in denominations, the bill-like paper money and crystal-like coins are stacked chaotically, enough to widen the eyes of Hans who'd hardly ever seen so much money all at once.

Looking over his shoulder with the guilt of a thief, he saw the foolish lad still surrounded by enthusiastic spectators, too busy to come and claim the wealth that should belong to him.

[Run!]

Stuffing the money into his bosom hastily, Hans turned and ran.

Familiar combat instincts covered his body like second nature, and Hans felt his steps lighten considerably as he ran.

Indeed, he was the one to take after all!

As for the simpleton's possible hostility after realizing he's been duped... Stupid kid, I'll just deceive him again next time I see him.

Faced with profits within reach, anyone would go mad!