Chapter 49: Bloody Debut
The training area for the youths is a separate section, guarded by armed sentries to keep adult gladiators at bay.
Henwell leads Michelle and the other three in focused training, opting not to practice battle formations like the other youths.
In Henwell's words, he doesn't trust these youths, and the remaining four don't have confidence in him either. Instead of awkwardly coordinating and ending up with a mess, it's better for each to play to their strengths. When the time comes, they can each choose an opponent to face.
Meanwhile, the adult gladiators have clearly been informed about the upcoming fight with the youths.
Most gladiators are curious about which youths will be participating. They aren't worried about being chosen to fight these teenagers, as many gladiators possess considerable skill, are proficient with various weapons, and could have left the arena long ago. They simply enjoy the cheers of the audience and the lucrative nature of their profession.
Others purely relish combat, the thrill of killing, and the adrenaline rush of living on the edge.
Using these seasoned fighters against the youths would lack entertainment value.
Hence, only low-level gladiators, those lacking skill and talent, are selected as opponents for the youths. Henwell and his group have already identified their targets. The gladiators are also observing the youths, quickly pinpointing Henwell and his team. However, neither side provokes the other; they merely watch each other quietly.
In the evening, Henwell suggests, "Let's pick our opponents. You guys go first!"
After a day of observation, the group has a rough understanding of their opponents' physiques, weights, and general strength levels. They've also noted the opponents' preferred weapons and their various strengths and weaknesses during training.
Each of them has formulated a plan, choosing the opponent against whom they feel most confident and can maximize their own strengths. These youths, initially trained as assassins, have developed keen observational skills as a basic part of their training.
The day of the gladiatorial combat arrives, and the first four matches featuring the young gladiators have already provided the audience with intense visual thrills.
These youths, dressed in white, are at the prime of their lives, yet they possess exceptional killing skills. This stark contrast drives the crowd into a frenzy, with people wildly tossing coins.
Soon, it's time for the final match involving the young gladiators. As five adult gladiators step onto the stage, the crowd initially thinks the youth performance is over. But then, the cage on the other side opens, and five young boys are driven into the arena. These boys can barely hold their weapons steady, crying and pleading for mercy.
The audience is momentarily stunned, and before they can question Bloodhorn, the five gladiators charge at the boys. Moments later, the boys lie dead on the ground. To make the spectacle even more gruesome, the gladiators dismember the bodies, leaving the viewers with chills running down their spines.
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Though the audience is somewhat dissatisfied, they understand that these are professional gladiators, and the youths, despite their skills, cannot match adult fighters. Just as the audience thinks the event is over, the arena gates open once more.
Five youths in white slowly step into the arena. Henwell carries a two-meter-long spear, while the others wield longswords or chains. Michelle holds two short swords in reverse grip.
As the audience is momentarily stunned, Bloodhorn announces loudly, "Ladies and gentlemen! Surely, you didn't think those five little ones were my best young gladiators, did you? Now, let me proudly introduce these five youths, my finest! They are here to deliver the most thrilling performance for you! Will the professional gladiators dismember them, or will these young prodigies display extraordinary talent? Let's find out!"
With the sound of a gong, the five gladiators charge at the youths, not daring to underestimate them. The five youths wear masks, unlike their peers; Henwell and his group have masks that are smooth and unadorned, like mirrors. As planned, the other four move to confront their respective opponents.
Michelle faces off against a burly man wielding a warhammer. She deftly dodges his heavy swings, slipping behind him to expertly slide her short sword into the gaps of his leather armor, slicing a gash at his waist. Like a nimble bird attacking a clumsy bear, she continues to inflict damage without being touched.
Another youth, nicknamed Flying Ant, wields chains and is exceptionally quick, skilled in close combat.
His opponent is a gladiator with a heavy sword. Flying Ant's chains have hooked blades on both ends, an unusual weapon he's clearly familiar with, likely having trained with it from a young age.
In his hands, the chains dance, extending and retracting unpredictably, with the hooks appearing and disappearing like magic. This leaves the gladiator struggling, unable to mount any offense and forced to stay on the defensive throughout.
As for the final opponent, seeing Henwell standing still, he decides to assist the warhammer-wielding comrade by taking Michelle down first. Just as he takes a step, Henwell releases his left hand and swings his long spear horizontally with his right, forcing the gladiator to raise his shield defensively while attempting to sever Henwell's spear with his sword.
Henwell grips the middle of the spear with his left hand, drops into a low stance, and powers the spear's tail downward with his right wrist. The spear blade springs up swiftly, striking the opponent's sword arm before his blade can descend. The blade easily slices through the leather armor on his forearm, causing the sword to fly from his grasp.
Realizing the danger, the gladiator reacts quickly, opting to charge Henwell with his shield instead of retreating. Henwell pulls back his spear to block, simultaneously withdrawing the force from his feet, and uses the momentum to leap backward when the shield hits his spear.
With the spear's tail grounded, Henwell halts his retreat, delivering a powerful kick to the opponent's shield.
As the gladiator's stance exposes a weakness, Henwell seizes the spear below the blade with his right hand, leaps high, and swings it down, striking the shield again with the spear's tail. This forceful blow, combined with the poor defensive angle, dislodges the shield and dislocates the gladiator's left wrist.
Landing with his back to the gladiator, Henwell thrusts the spear blade backward, sliding the shaft through his left hand, diagonally upward from beneath his left rib. The spear blade pierces the opponent's throat with precision.
The scene freezes, the gladiator struck in the neck, Henwell nearly facing away, holding the spear in reverse. Damn! I'm awesome! Phoenix Flower Dance! Just ask, isn't this cool?
Henwell withdraws the spear without aiding his comrades, instead planting the blade into the stone floor. The white-clad youth remains unstained by blood, leaning on his spear, facing the kneeling corpse amid the ongoing fierce battle. Henwell's display is impressive, driving the audience into a frenzy, showering him with coins.