The Primal Hunter

Shopping trip time! Well, kind of. For the very first time since leaving the Tutorial, Jake wasn’t loaded and had to actually think twice before spending haphazardly. It wasn’t even sure he wanted to buy something, despite the urgings of both Polly and Owen.

Not long after the encounter with the mysterious dark elf that was totally not a teaser for a fight much later in the Challenge Dungeon, Jake and company arrived in the section of the Colosseum that dealt with selling items.

This part looked like a huge shopping district still placed within the massive structure itself. Despite having spent over a week in the Colosseum so far, Jake had far from explored close to everything, and he knew there were even restaurants and stuff somewhere. It was a big place, which it kind of had to be with the many different arenas and huge training facilities.

Luckily, one didn’t have to shop around for equipment. There was one place to go, where everything was gathered. It was a large shop with what looked like magical screens where one could simply search for items and browse for anything they wanted as long as it was on sale.

As a Gladiator, Jake had unlocked a lot better items than before… and maybe it was time to spend some points. Not all of them, though. He did need some new shoes for sure, and after searching through the footwear for a quarter of an hour, he settled on a pair he liked.

[Fleetstep Boots (Rare)] – Leather boots enchanted with powerful magic. These boots are incredibly durable and were created to make their wearer quicker on their feet, allowing them to go in and out of combat more easily. The enchantments placed on these boots make your steps lighter and increase Agility. As a rare item, these boots are insured, so should they be destroyed or lost, you can instantly get a replacement. Enchantments: Insured. Fleetstep. +1 Agility.

Requirements: Soulbound. Gladiator Colosseum Rank.

Cost: 1000 Colossem Points.

It was a bit funny that boots were the first item he bought. It was an investment for future fights, and if Jake had to spend one and a half to two years more in the arena, he would need equipment at some point anyway. Something like boots was something he could get now and keep till the end. Especially boots like these that offered not only a bit of Agility and proper durability but even a lightness effect. That was pretty nice when fighting on sand.

Moreover, they were insured. A very silly name, but the gist of it was there. This meant that even if Jake ended up destroying them – something his destructive arcane energy had a tendency to do – he would get new ones. That was far better than Owen, who would just lose his spear if he ended up breaking or misplacing it.

This entire insurance thing seemed a bit out of place thematically, but Jake could see it being necessary to entice people like him to buy anything before they began losing their lives.

“How do they look?” Jake asked after putting them on. The boots were made of thin, lightweight leather he could barely feel on his feet, and when he stepped down, it felt a bit odd. It was like he had indeed become lighter, but only from the perspective of the ground he stepped on. That is to say, Jake wasn’t actually lighter if he decided to kick someone in the face, but if he walked on sand, he wouldn’t sink in as much as before. Overall, good stuff.

“Decent,” Owen nodded. “Definitely better than no boots. Also, are you seriously wearing leather boots without socks on?”

“Yes,” Jake answered with a deadpan expression. That is what he had gotten used to, and he was not going to stop.

“Now that is just weird,” Owen shook his head. “Also, have you considered looking into any weapons or-“

“Kicking is good for now,” Jake cut him off.

“How about a wand to make use of your-“ Polly tried, Jake once more unreceptive to the suggestions.

“Kicking good.”

Both of them looked exasperated, but Jake was steadfast in his opinion.

Now, Jake would admit that buying a weapon would have made what happened the next day a lot easier and a lot less… messy. Alas, hindsight was twenty-twenty.

of Owen’s matches, where he saw his dungeon-buddy struggle for a good five minutes before finally itching out a victory. He considered staying for Owen’s promotion match but instead headed back to the training area for Gladiators to

but here in the Colosseum of Mortals, that wasn’t an option. Instead, Jake would focus on things he usually neglected. One of those had been internal energy control and familiarizing himself with his weakened body and, of course, the practice and creation of Fear Gaze, but he had one

partner in Sim-Jake, allowing him to train in melee fighting. Even if he didn’t have a specific

Jake seriously needed to practice his archery. So Jake went all the way back to the basics – something only possible due to

to improve shooting an arrow as a normal human, but from talks with the Sword Saint and even Sim-Jake, it became clear he was very wrong. Jake had been good at archery before the system, yes, but he hadn’t

far beyond anything Jake had for the Sword Saint. So, while it was a bit late, Jake

do that, he had booked a private shooting range. A privilege of being a Gladiator. It wasn’t a big place, but it was big enough for Jake to set up targets and, with his bow and practice arrows, do the most basic

Target practice.

movements. The position of his feet, the way the muscles in his shoulders moved, the fluidity of motion when he drew the string, and his method of aiming. Jake had most of these basics down already, and as mentioned, he was pretty good… but if Jake wanted to reach the top, “pretty good”

and get dinner before sleeping to regenerate his resources and rest his sore body. He ate with Polly and Owen, who both seemed interested in his practice, especially as Polly had discovered that Jake had gone and gotten a huge batch of practice arrows and even an extra bow from the Quartermaster through her

could be an archer but nevertheless encouraged him to train with a weapon. The brainstorming on how Jake could sew arrows to his boots wasn’t that welcome, though, and no, it wasn’t a “great way to add penetrative power to his

that and knew it

out the other option. Show Matches. Sure, he could only

only nodded as Jake said he wanted to do

I have some words of wisdom for you. Don’t think it is like a normal duel. This is a true fight. Also, I know you aren’t a fan of killing, but for the Show Matches, there often isn’t a choice. Your opponents won’t show any mercy to you, either. I don’t even think they know the meaning of that word. You can’t surrender either; it’s

as to what kind of fights these Show Matches

me illustrate the point. These are the options for opponents you have available today. Remember, you can only pick one fight a day, so take your time to consider the options. Oh, and the higher up on the list they are, the harder the fight is, which should be pretty obvious, considering the rewards are also higher,” the Battlemaster continued as he handed Jake a list written on

question why the words on the list looked like they were printed with

Show Match Opponents Available:

Hunting Squad (6x opponents) – 300 Colosseum

Feral Orc Berserker –

opponents) – 200 Colosseum

Badger – 150 Colosseum

– 100 Colosseum

the Goblin Hunting Squad,” Jake answered instantly. It wasn’t really a choice. He would just pick

you are stronger than each of them individually, if you mess up, things can get messy quickly. Especially considering you are not wearing any proper armor,” the Battlemaster explained. “Group combat is also very different to

it, chief,” Jake nodded with

then. Gate three, the match begins in thirty minutes… unless you need

good,” Jake waved him off as he went and waited for his match to start. He saw the timer above the gate appear and begin counting down. Half an

tall wooden towers, parts of walls, with there even being a few rusty weapons and pieces of armor in piles around the

the sand. It had an almost

hobgoblin with a machete, two small goblins with bows, two with spears, and one with a

monsters.

for you, one of new beginnings or untimely ends. I am sure you all already know. In fact, it’s why you’re here, isn’t it!? That’s right, it’s Doomfoot’s debut in

the same announcer also worked in the Show Match arena, though he did wonder when the hell the guy slept, assuming he was even real. Okay, he definitely wasn’t

tangent aside, it was interesting that the announcer gave context as to

to overcome his merciful nature and be their executioner, or will the rising meteor stick to his principles and crumble to dust? Let’s find out!

the entire situation was a bit