Chapter 55 – All of you, come at me at once!

"What? Is that it?" Lee tucked his pistol back into his holster and chuckled as his latest opponent was escorted out after the safety device on their stomach indicated they had received a critical injury. "Challenging me when I'm second from the bottom... Well, I don't mind building a mountain of bodies to the top."

It was a bold, brash, and completely bombastic demeanour. Audacious enough that even the people who stereotyped Americans as outlandish would pause and say he was being too much.

But Lee didn't care.

He was in Arena 4, one that looked completely like the Roman Colosseum.

And he was already on his twelfth bout, the previous eleven lasting no longer than a minute each, and ranging everywhere in the rankings from 900 to 232. A full spectrum of challengers.

Lee grinned and held his hands up towards the crowd. "Are you not entertained?"

The crowd roared back.

The announcer, however, looked anxious. Clearing his throat, he said, "This is unprecedented. For a Cube Cadet to have so many duels..." He looked over at Lee and said, "Are you sure you wish to continue?"

Lee laughed and said, "It's free points? Why wouldn't I?"

Some parts of the crowd booed, heckling Lee.

Others laughed.

Others still cheered.

But Lee just smiled and leaned against his halberd. "Hey, Announcer. Why not just have them all come at me at once? This arena's big enough. And I think they need the numbers."

The crowd roared again.

The announcer looked nervous.

But then he got a message on his data tablet. Probably from the administration.

After a long sigh, the announcer shook his head and put on a smile. "Well... it's been approved! Since Cadet Lee Shin wants a battle royale... we'll have one! Let's bring them all in!"

Lee smiled and waited, looking calm on the outside. But on the inside...

'Good. It worked.'

...He was mildly panicking.

Not because he was worried about losing. No way.

Unless he went up against Suho, Nayun, Rachel, or Hajin, no matter how many mob characters were thrown Lee's way, he'd come out on top.

No, the reason he was worried was because it was getting close to lunch time, and at this rate he'd miss lunch with his baby girl.

That was a non-negotiable. So he decided to just end it all in one go.

"Wow." A random male cadet with a sword entered the arena. "Confident, are we?"

"He DID beat Shin Jonghak. Even if it wasn't official." A random female cadet with a bow entered.

"Still to challenge all of us at once..." Another male cadet with bulky muscles and steel gauntlets entered. "Balls. Steel balls."

Lee laughed. "Nah. I just can't be bothered to fight you one on one."

The cadets laughed.

There weren't any bad feelings or grudges.

The reason for that was obvious to Lee.

'These guys already got paid.'

Not only that, but the 'story' being built right now was a win-win for everyone involved.

Lee had nothing to lose and everything to gain. If he fought them all one-on-one, then they would all have bitter feelings.

But.

If he fought them all together, then even if they all lost, they could say they were part of his legend later.

It was the classic 'be so good that enemies become allies' tactic.

Lee wasn't sure if it was exactly the tactic that they used in the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, but they did it a lot in Dynasty Warrior games, right?

'Close enough for government work.'

The Colosseum slowly filled with a hundred candidates.

A literal 1 v. 100.

Lee laughed and said, "Well. Shall we dance?"

After that, all hell broke loose.

Arrows wreathed in mana shot towards Lee. Swordsman rushed forward trying to get a quick shot. Martial artists rushed too and aimed to grab his legs...

It wasn't a fight.

It was a group of people literally trying to jump Lee.

But.

Lee just laughed and said, "That's how you do it!" He spun his halberd around and deflected the arrows before saying, "I'm Lee Shin- No, I might as well be Lee Sin! If you wanna try to gank me and win this lane, you'd better have your mechanics squared away!"

===

A seat on the top rows of Arena 4, tucked away against one of the back pillars.

There, Boss sat with Cheok Jungyeon, observing Lee Shin's duels. "A free for all... What do you think?"

Cheok Jungyeon laughed and said, "It's definitely God Spear Li. Look at how he's moving. Forward lines, driving force, knocking people back and never striking twice. Efficient, brutal, and powerful. Like lightning." He let out a fierce grin and said, "...It'll be fun. He's still not enough for a proper fight. But when he grows a bit more..."

"...No killing him."

"Killing?" Cheok Jungyeon looked genuinely offended. "No, Boss. You don't understand." He laughed and said, "God Spear Li... he's someone I can train with. PROPERLY train with and not hold back. Do you know how many people can do that for me? Zero."

Boss looked amused. "Not even me?"

"Boss. You are strong. But you are not a martial artist who is seeking the pinnacle." Cheok Jungyeon nodded towards Lee Shin, literally sending people flying with his halberd. "God Spear Li is someone who is. Well, not right now." He laughed. "I think he's just showing off right now." He nodded towards the opposite side of the arena, where Rachel was hugging Evandel and cheering for Lee.

Boss looked over and nodded. "I see. Hm. Were the princess's duels cancelled?"

"Nope." Cheok Jungyeon laughed. "She did the same thing and just had everyone come at once. They're the perfect couple, aren't they?"

"Considering they're making you act like a normal person, I would say so."

"Hey, I can be normal." Cheok Jungyeon chuckled. "It's just... Mm." He cracked his neck and said, "When you've reached the end and want to go even further a second time around, it gets frustrating when everything is beneath you. But now... well, things look fun again."

"...That is concerning to hear."

Cheok Jungyeon laughed. "What? Not used to me acting normal?"

"...That implies that you were acting not normal."

Cheok Jungyeon shrugged. "Who knows? All I know is..." His eyes sharpened as he watched Lee Shin fight again. "...Boss is right. God Spear Li is going to be the key to beating that man. Watch what happens when someone using qi reinforcement or sword ki gets close."

Boss did. And when she did, her eyes widened. "...Did his physique get stronger?"

"Yep~" Cheok Jungyeon laughed. "Maybe I sparked some rivalry in him when I had that chat? He's not even hiding it anymore. His domineering bajiquan technique to engulf his foes in qi... it's being used all over the place. And that's separate from his body too. Mana and magic power just breaks on it."

Boss was quiet, watching Lee Shin closely. Then she said, "...The vote results from the others about bringing him in as Black. They were 10-0."

"They were, Boss."

"So there's no reason to not bring him in."

"That's right, Boss." Cheok Jungyeon looked amused. "The only reason is that he'll get stronger later. But we can probably make him stronger faster."

Boss tapped her fingers on the armrests of her seat, watching as Lee pointed his halberd to the sky and stood upon a literal mountain of bodies like a victorious general from the Warring States Era.

At that time, the announcer screamed out. "AND THE UNDISPUTED WINNER IS LEE SHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIN!"

The crowd roared.

And then Boss decided. "Evandel Shin. Rachel Elizabeth Louise. We'll put their names in the notebook."

The notebook could allow the Chameleon Troupe to track anyone with names written inside as well as teleport to them, so long as the target didn't know their name was on the notebook.

And for a man like Lee Shin who cared the most about his family and nothing else...

"Insurance. That will be our opening offer. After that..." Boss watched Lee Shin walk off... only for him to pause and look back directly into her eyes, along with Cheok Jungyeon's.

Boss froze.

Cheok Jungyeon laughed.

And then Lee Shin quickly traced some letters in the air.

To most, they wouldn't be able to see them.

But Boss and Cheok Jungyeon did.

'If you wanna recruit me, stop being so creepy and just talk. Ugh.'

Boss's eyebrow twitched.

Cheok Jungyeon doubled over laughing, clutching his chest.