Sparta: Many childrens, Many Blessings, Starting from the Gladiator Chapter 42 42

He took a deep breath and gripped the short sword tightly.

"Spider" made the first move.

That black net "whooshed" down toward his head, covering a huge area and sealing off all paths forward, backward, left, and right.

Almost at the sa ti, the "Shadow" brothers also fired their rope darts — one left and one right, shooting straight at Marcus's calves — forcing him to jump, right into the net.

The coordination was flawless.

Gasps sounded from the stands.

Lucretia shot to her feet, her nails digging into her palms.

The corner of Batiatus's mouth curled into a cold smile.

Crixus glanced over distractedly, his face turning pale in an instant.

Octavius roared and tried to rush over to help, but "Hamr" desperately clung to him.

Saxa…

She suddenly "slipped up".

When "Viper" made a feint attack, she "accidentally" slipped under her feet and fell backward.

"Viper"'s eyes flashed with murderous intent. His dagger stabbed straight at her throat!

But the mont Saxa fell, her left hand slamd against the ground. Her right leg shot upward like a scorpion tail and kicked "Viper"'s wrist with perfect accuracy!

"Ah!"

"Viper" cried out in pain. The dagger flew out of his hand.

Saxa seized the chance to flip and leap up. Her short blade drew a cold, sharp arc —

"Puchi!"

"Viper"'s throat was slashed open. Blood sprayed all over Saxa's face.

She didn't even look at the collapsing corpse and turned to charge at "Spider".

But it was too late.

The net had already fallen.

Marcus didn't jump.

He did sothing that left everyone dumbfounded — he lunged forward, but not toward the ground. He lunged straight at "Spider" himself!

The instant before the net completely covered him, he pressed his body tightly against the sand and "slid" right between "Spider"'s spread legs!

The net "whooshed" down onto empty air, covering only sand.

"Spider" froze completely.

Marcus had already slid behind him. He flipped up, and his short sword stabbed viciously into "Spider"'s back!

"Watch out!"

One of the "Shadow" brothers cried out in alarm.

"Spider" barely managed to twist his body to dodge. The sword blade "puchi" stabbed into his right shoulder, deep enough to see bone.

"Ughhh—!"

He scread and let go of the net ropes, staggering backward.

Marcus pulled out the sword and kicked the back of his knee hard.

"Spider" "thudded" to his knees. Marcus followed up with another stab, piercing his heart.

The second one down.

The stands erupted in cheers like a tsunami.

The "Shadow" brothers' faces turned as black as the bottom of a pot.

They exchanged a glance and simultaneously threw away their rope darts. "Swish!" They drew short swords from their waists — it looked like they were going for close-quarters combat.

Marcus turned to face the two of them.

Two against one.

But he wasn't panicked.

Because Saxa had arrived.

She stood beside Marcus, casually wiped the blood off her face, and grinned: "Two against two. Now it's fair."

The "Shadow" brothers didn't speak. They charged fiercely from left and right.

The two had perfect teamwork. Their moves were identical, clearly practiced together for years.

Short swords stabbed, slashed, flicked, and chopped — the angles were tricky and fast.

Marcus and Saxa stood back-to-back, each taking on one.

With the Agility Enhancent, Marcus's speed was noticeably faster.

He no longer purely defended and began to seize the initiative to attack.

His short sword moved like a viper flicking its tongue. Every thrust went straight for vital points.

The "Shadow" brother opposite him quickly realized sothing was wrong — this guy in black leather armor, how did his speed suddenly beco so much faster?

In one mont of carelessness, Marcus's sword "puchi" pierced through his abdon.

The man looked down at the blade buried in his body, his face full of disbelief, and slowly collapsed.

The third one.

Saxa's side was also resolved.

She delivered a fierce chop that knocked away her opponent's sword, then kicked him hard in the chest. While he staggered back, her short blade flashed across his throat like lightning.

The fourth one.

Now, only "Anvil", "Hamr", and… Crixus were left on Nodis's side?

Marcus turned to look.

Crixus and "Anvil" were still locked in battle, but "Anvil" was clearly done.

Excessive blood loss made his movents slower and slower. Crixus seized the opening, delivered a heavy chop that "crack" shattered his shield, and the second sword "puchi" cut through his neck.

The fifth one.

"Hamr" saw his brother die miserably and let out a beast-like grief-stricken roar. He pounced madly at Crixus.

But Octavius caught up from behind and "puchi" stabbed through his back heart.

The sixth one.

Over?

Marcus panted heavily and looked around the sand field.

Six corpses lay scattered. Fresh blood dyed patches of the white sand crimson.

Crixus was covered in blood, leaning on his sword and breathing heavily.

Octavius had taken a hit on his shoulder. His leather armor was torn, but the wound wasn't serious.

Saxa had almost no injuries except for the blood splashed on her face.

The stands were filled with deafening cheers.

"Batiatus! Batiatus!"

"They won!"

"Freedom! Give them freedom!"

The host walked onto the sand with a forced smile, cleared his throat, and was about to announce the victory —

Marcus's heart suddenly tightened.

Danger Perception scread a frantic warning!

"Watch out!"

He roared hoarsely.

Almost at the sa ti, two more n burst out from the wooden door at the southwest corner!

They weren't gladiators.

They were n wearing arena guard uniforms, holding crossbows!

"Nodis's backup plan!"

Saxa's face changed drastically. "They even bribed the guards!"

The clear "click" of crossbows being loaded rang out.

Two crossbows, aid respectively at Marcus and Crixus.

"Get down!"

Marcus violently tackled Crixus. The two rolled together on the sand.

"Swish! Swish!"

The crossbow bolts grazed their backs and "thud thud" nailed into the sand.

Octavius roared and charged at the guards, but the distance was too far. He couldn't make it in ti.

Saxa wanted to rush over, but the other guard turned his crossbow toward her. She had to stop abruptly.

The stands erupted in an uproar.

"Cheating!"

"So shaless!"

"Stop! Stop it now!"

But no one dared to actually enter the field.

Batiatus stood up, his face as dark as water, but he didn't speak — clearly, this twist had exceeded his expectations too.

The two guards skillfully reloaded and aid again.

Marcus and Crixus were still lying on the sand and couldn't get up in ti.

Was it over?

At this critical mont, a figure rushed down from the noble seats.

It was Lucretia.

She lifted her skirt, ignoring everything, flipped over the railing, jumped onto the sand, and spread her arms to block in front of Marcus!

"Stop right there!"

Her voice was hoarse from shouting. "I am Batiatus's wife! You dare touch ?!"

The guards froze.

The crossbows were pointed at Lucretia, fingers on the triggers, but they didn't dare press down.

In that split second, Marcus and Crixus leaped up.

Octavius had already reached the guards. His bowl-sized fist "bang" smashed one guard's face bones. He seized the crossbow and smashed the stock "clang" into the other guard's head.

Both n collapsed limply.

The sand field fell silent once again.

Lucretia turned around, looked at Marcus, her eyes complex as if filled with a thousand emotions, then her body went soft and she fainted — clearly overwheld by fear.

Marcus quickly caught her and handed her to Saxa, who had rushed over.

Only then did the host regain his senses. He cautiously stepped onto the sand.

"The… victors are! Batiatus training camp!"

The cheers rang out again, but much weaker than before.

The heart-stopping scene just now had left many spectators feeling uneasy.

Marcus ignored the cheers.

He raised his head and looked toward the main stand.

Batiatus was staring at him. His eyes were as cold as a knife pulled from an ice cave.

The performance match was won.

But the real contest had probably only just begun.

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