The past next few days were normal. Training Gelda and Dian at the same time, eating, and resting. I had nothing else to do except wait for my next fight. As I asked Verser found me a fight with someone who is raising toward high ranks. If I win against him I’ll take his spot. Normally I would listen to information about my opponent but this time I’m changing my approach.

At first, I wanted to stay for a bit as a fighter in the arena and find Tae. Of course, the plan changed once I found him. He won’t be easy to buy so I’ll rise as fast as I can in ranking to earn more money. It shouldn’t take too long. After all. He got to so high in just a few months. I can do that in a week or two.

The day has come for me to fight. The crowd had mixed feelings but my opponent was a favorite of this fight. No wonders. After all, I only thought twice. I guess it’s time to surprise them all and show what I got. I might not be as strong as Gregor but I’ll reach his level soon enough.

My opponent entered the arena without any armor and only with a short sword and a shield. I came with an ax and sword. If I want to end it fast then those weapons would be enough. As the round started he slowly approached me and threw away his shield and sword.

[ Eric ]

“Fistfight? I’m fine with that. At least I don’t need to be concerned about killing you by mistake.”

He probably thought that he could embarrass me that way but I’m not gonna play around this time. He was slightly smaller than me so I had a reach advantage. He thought that he could hit me before I even react. Usually, I would grab or avoid that kind of attack but I had to show off my strength. I hit his fist with my own. It was enough to break his knuckles and make him scream.

The ability I got after finding Stella had another use. It helped with my muscle training, making it more efficient and giving better results. I may look like a small guy but I’m as strong as the big guys I always had to fight. Probably even stronger.

I couldn’t give that guy time to recover and followed with another punch this time to the face and knocking him down. It made the whole arena go silent. Even the ones that placed a bet on me. No one was expecting a fast and one-sided fight. Especially when the last time I got wounded while fighting someone lower in ranking.

The announcer came to the arena to leave a comment about my fight and announce the next one but I had other plans. I approached him and drowned him out with his speech. Guards wanted to take me out by force but the announcer let me do it.

[ Eric ]

“Anyone wants to fight me now? And this weakling won’t help me with that.”

I angered quite a big crowd of fighters eager to fight me. They slowly came down one by one ready to challenge me. The announcer and guards let them fight me since my fight was shorter than expected. I didn’t catch any of their names and provoked them to attack me. They were defeated one after another. After seven knockouts they stopped coming and those who were already down at the arena went away scared and embarrassed.

[ Eric ]

“Anyone high in ranking wants to fight me or was that show not enough?”

[ Basnir ]

“I want! I want!” He shouted from the stands but was then pulled back by Verser.

[ Verser ]

“You can’t fight him! Fighters of the same lord can’t fight with each other in the arena!”

[ Basnir ]

“Oh, right. I forgot. Sorry boss.”

Someone jumped down from the stands for the rich. Falling from a height of twenty meters like it was nothing. It wasn’t a clean landing at all. He fell down like a boulder. I thought it was going to be some kind of giant but no. He looked like a kid with long half-black hair with blond tips. He definitely was some kind of big deal since all of the people began to chatter. All they were saying was his name. Goro.

[ Goro ]

“You want someone strong to fight you? You have a strong guy right here!”

[ Eric ]

“Huh? Somebody lost their child?”

[ Goro ]

“I’m not a child! I’m a fighter! Number twelve in ranking!”

[ Eric ]

“Number twelve? Now we’re talking! Sure I can fight you!”

[ Goro ]

“Tomorrow at night. Let’s make it a special event.” He said as he looked at the announcer who agreed without a word. “See you tomorrow…”

High-rankers really have an influence around here. The fights would be planned a few days earlier but he announced the fight for tomorrow and no one said a word against him. There was only silent agreement. So Three Lords and high rankers have the biggest authority around here.

Come to think of it. The guy that took Tae away was some kind of big shot but he didn’t look like any of the great lords. What happened in those few months? All I know as of now is that he changed physically but what about his character… Is he still the same friend I knew?