Sparta: Many childrens, Many Blessings, Starting from the Gladiator Chapter 2 2

Not long after the overseer's pathetic, scrambling figure disappeared under the archway deep in the training ground, a chaotic rush of hurried footsteps approached from afar.

Lynx stood motionless in place.

He was silently savoring the power flowing through his body — far stronger than before — along with the combat techniques that now felt as natural as breathing.

The system's "Basic Recovery Potion" was incredibly effective. Not only had it healed his wounds, it seed to have strengthened his physique as well.

"Basic Combat Mastery" made the gladiators training with wooden swords and stone weights around him look like children playing house — full of openings.

"Fuck, this is the treatnt a transmigrator deserves!" he thought with dark satisfaction, though his face remained ice-cold.

The slaves and overseers who had been watching the spectacle now kept their distance, their eyes filled with fear, awe, and a hint of barely hidden schadenfreude — as if watching a man who was about to face serious trouble.

Soon, a group of people escorted a middle-aged man in a white toga, his hair slicked back with oil, out into the yard.

It was the owner of this gladiator training camp — Quintus Batiatus.

He was short, slightly plump, and usually wore the warm yet calculating smile of a businessman. But right now, that smile had faded. His small eyes sharply sized up Lynx, darting back and forth between the scabbed whip marks on his back and Brutus's dead body on the ground.

Four or five fully ard guards with short swords and shields flanked him, watching Lynx warily as if facing a great threat.

"Well, well, look who it is?"

Batiatus spoke in a deliberately relaxed tone. He stopped five steps away from Lynx and nudged Brutus's limp head with his toe.

"Our 'lucky' runaway slave who survived the whipping — Marcus… and it seems he's had a stroke of fortune and received the gods' favor?"

He deliberately emphasized the words "lucky" and "favor," clearly probing.

Lynx knew exactly what the old fox was thinking.

He grinned, revealing white teeth stained with blood, giving him a ferocious look. "Gods' favor? Maybe. Either way, it's better than being whipped to death by that piece of shit."

He pointed at the corpse on the ground, his tone as casual as talking about the weather.

Batiatus's eye twitched.

This kid was wrong — very wrong!

The old Marcus had been silent and dull-eyed. This new version was sharp, full of killing intent, and completely different.

And how could his wounds have healed so fast? The scabbing was unnatural!

Could he really have had so kind of divine encounter?

Countless thoughts flashed through Batiatus's mind.

A slave who could instantly recover from injuries and kill an overseer with one punch… his value was enormous!

But so was the risk.

Still, Batiatus was a gambler at heart.

"You killed one of my n, Marcus," Batiatus said, his smile gone and his tone serious. "By the rules, I should crucify you and let the vultures feast on your guts."

The air around them instantly froze. The guards gripped their weapons tighter.

Lynx sneered fearlessly, eting Batiatus's gaze head-on. "Co on, Batiatus. He was just a worthless piece of shit who could only whip tied-up slaves. Dead is dead. My life is worth far more than his."

He pointed at the gladiators grunting through their training. "How much can these guys earn you? A few sesterces? I can bring you mountains of gold and silver! Provided you're worth my effort."

Too arrogant!

A slave who had just escaped death dared to speak to the ludus owner like this — and even question the value of his gladiators!

The guards behind Batiatus turned livid, itching to chop this insolent bastard into pieces.

But Batiatus suddenly smiled — a greedy smile, the kind he wore when he spotted a rare treasure.

He liked arrogance, especially when it might actually be backed by ability.

"Oh?" Batiatus crossed his arms with interest. "Tell then, how exactly will you bring mountains of gold and silver?"

"Simple," Lynx rolled his neck. "Give a chance to fight in the arena. If I live, you make money. If I die, you lose nothing and even save on food. Either way, you don't lose."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the glaring gladiators before locking onto the biggest one — a tall, muscular man with short golden hair and the fierce eyes of a bull. The current champion of the ludus — Crixus.

Lynx extended his index finger toward Crixus and hooked it lightly.

"Or you can have your 'champion' co over right now and see if I can beat the shit out of him."

BOOM!

His words were like a boulder dropped into a cesspit, instantly exploding the entire training ground!

"Bastard! What did you say?!"

"Kill him! Crixus, tear this arrogant piece of shit apart!"

"Fuck, I can't stand it anymore!"

The gladiators erupted in fury, especially Crixus. His veins bulged on his forehead as he let out a low roar and prepared to charge.

"Enough!" Batiatus raised his hand sharply, stopping everyone.

He stared hard at Lynx, eyes flickering.

This kid not only recovered, he was also extrely good at provoking and creating conflict — a perfect quality to ignite the crowd in the arena!

Risk?

To hell with the risk!

The potential reward was too high!

"Very good!" Batiatus put on his businessman smile again, as if the tension had never happened. "Marcus, you've successfully caught my interest. I admire your… confidence."

He waved his hand. "Give him a private cell. Double his food and water. From today onward, he is a new gladiator of Batiatus' ludus!"

"Master!" Crixus growled unwillingly.

"Shut up, Crixus!" Batiatus shot him a cold glance. "Your value is proven in the arena, not by fighting inside the ludus."

Crixus glared fiercely at Lynx and spat on the ground, but held back.

Batiatus turned back to Lynx with a aningful smile. "Marcus, I'm giving you a chance. But rember — you're alive because I see value in you. If one day you fail to prove your worth…"

He didn't finish the sentence, but the threat was clear.

Lynx shrugged carelessly. "Don't worry, boss. You'll be glad you made this decision today."

He added silently in his heart: When my wings are fully grown, who the real boss is remains to be seen.

Under gazes filled with anger, jealousy, and curiosity, Lynx followed a trembling slave toward his so-called "private cell" — a slightly larger stone room with a worn straw mat compared to the slave dormitory.

He knew he had passed the first hurdle.

With the system and his newfound ruthlessness, he had temporarily won Batiatus's "investnt."

But the real challenges were only just beginning.

That bull-like Crixus, the other hostile gladiators, and Batiatus's ambitious and seductive wife — Lucretia…

Ding—!

[Host has successfully gained a foothold and received initial resource priority. Hidden Task triggered: First Show of Strength] [Task Requirent: Defeat at least 4 gladiators who actively provoke you within three days (0/4)] [Task Reward: System Points x100, Random Attribute Point x1]

"Oh? There's a task too?" Lynx's eyes lit up. "Free points and attributes? Nice!"

He licked his dry lips, his gaze turning dangerous.

"Looks like I need to find so 'sparring partners' myself."