The man explained, “A berserker is a professional gladiator trained in the arena. It’s said that before their fights, they take a special drug. After consuming it, their speed and strength surpass those of ordinary humans, giving them terrifying combat abilities. We call them berserkers.”
“Oh, so there’s a magical drug like that. Do they sell it here in the arena?” Leo asked, feigning curiosity.
The man looked at Leo as if he were naive and replied, “That drug has terrifying side effects. Those who take it lose their ability to walk within a year, relying on wheelchairs.”
“Why would those fighters take such a drug with such awful consequences?” Leo couldn’t comprehend.
“Those fighters come from impoverished backgrounds. Imagine this: they offer you two million to be a berserker. With that money, you can provide a better life for your parents and family. Would you take it?”
Leo fell into thought. Money might be just a number for some, but for those struggling to make ends meet, it held immense allure.
Two million-some people might never earn that much in their entire lives.
“What if a fighter gets killed by the beasts?” Leo inquired.
The man chuckled, “Deaths are rare in the arena. Even though the arena holds great power, death is a tricky matter. Plus, the spectators who come to gamble don’t like seeing deaths. So, if a berserker is defeated, the arena immediately sedates the beasts and provides medical treatment to the berserker.”
As they conversed, the iron door of the metal corridor to their right swung open, and a muscular man wearing a mask burst out, shouting loudly.
Once the man reached the arena floor, he crouched down and began pounding the ground with his fists violently, creating a drum-like sound, displaying his rage.
The man beside Leo nodded, saying, “Indeed, that’s a berserker.”
“Dear guests, our mighty hero has arrived. Let’s applaud him for his upcoming heroic performance!” Ursula announced.
With Ursula’s cue, the audience in the stands erupted into applause and cheers, even more enthusiastic than before.
Ursula pointed upward, saying, “Check the odds on the big screen, everyone. Make sure to place your bets within the designated time. Ursula wishes you all good luck.”
Leo looked up at the big screen, noting that the odds were 2. 6 for direwolf, 1. 8 for berserker, and 4. 5 for a tie.
From the odds, it appeared that berserker had a better chance of winning.
“Hey, buddy, earlier you mentioned that these berserkers are trained by the arena. What if they rig the fights?” Leo asked again.
The man shook his head, “That’s not possible. The arena conducted an experiment, and after taking that drug, the person’s consciousness becomes chaotic. They have only one thought, to vent their energy. Only when they completely expend the drug’s effects do they regain their sanity. So, are you betting on direwolf or berserker this time?”
Leo waved his hand, “I’ll pass this round.”
“Your call. I’m betting on berserker this time, two million!” The man placed his bet on his membership card.
Five minutes later, the betting channel closed, and the LCD screen switched to display the betting percentages.
Seventy-one percent had bet on berserker, twenty-four percent on direwolf, three percent on a tie, and two percent had not bet.
With a resounding bang, the massive iron cage in the center began to descend.
Five direwolves gathered around the descending barrier, their hunger for human flesh palpable.
As the barrier reached halfway, two direwolves leaped up and pounced toward berserker.
Berserker was faster, easily evading the first direwolf’s attack and delivering a powerful kick to the second direwolf’s head.
The second direwolf was sent tumbling, but it quickly got back on its feet, seemingly unharmed.
These probing attacks allowed the direwolves to gauge the human’s fighting capabilities, so instead of immediately attacking, they surrounded berserker.
The five direwolves bared their sharp teeth, their eyes gleaming with a crimson light.
Berserker roared in madness, appearing to possess boundless strength.
The direwolves, knowing that taking on berserker by one of them wouldn’t work, howled in unison after the lead wolf, and together, they charged at berserker.
Driven by the drug’s effects, berserker’s consciousness was in turmoil, devoid of any combat techniques, relying solely on instinct.
After dodging the attacks of two direwolves, berserker was bitten on the leg by the third, followed by a bite to his right arm by the fourth direwolf.
Berserker roared explosively, shaking off the fourth direwolf’s bite. He flung it away, sending the fifth direwolf crashing to the ground.
Then, berserker clenched his right fist and slammed it down on the direwolf that had bitten his leg.
“Boom!”
A deafening thud echoed as berserker’s punch shattered the direwolf’s skull, instantly killing it.
At this point, berserker’s right arm was covered in blood, but the spectators in the stands didn’t seem to care. All they knew was that one direwolf had been eliminated.
“Brilliant fight! Keep it up!”
“Kill all five wolves and show these beasts the might of humanity!”
“Fighting barehanded against wolves is just too thrilling!”
Those who had bet on berserker winning cheered excitedly, waving their membership cards.
The death of one direwolf only fueled the remaining four to become even more ferocious. They once again closed in on berserker.
At this point, berserker’s arm and leg were both wounded, and his movements had become somewhat sluggish. However, there was still no sign of pain on his face, as if he couldn’t feel the agony.
The four direwolves once again lunged at berserker, employing their familiar strategy of coordinated attacks.
After several more rounds, berserker sustained additional injuries, but he managed to eliminate two more direwolves.
Berserker’s upper body was now exposed, drenched in blood, making him resemble a figure bathed in crimson.
Berserker’s upper body was now drenched in blood, making him look like a crimson figure. However, there was no pain on his face, only a wild and frenzied expression.
With another wild roar, berserker launched a preemptive attack, targeting the direwolf in front of him.
Though they had lost three of their comrades, the direwolves remained undaunted. The lead wolf leaped from the ground, jaws wide open, aiming for berserker’s neck.