There is a common trait among popular matches.
The players are risking their lives.
The audience tends to gather especially when it’s their last chance.

“Didn't three die last time?”
“Yeah. They probably filled the team with new members. It’s hard with just seven.”
“Still, there’s a clear limit.”

In the floor where the only entertainment is the Colosseum matches, teams on the brink of elimination were just as popular as the stars.

“What’s this? They put an Earthling on the team?”
“Never seen those names before…”
“Looks like they’re trying to make a meat shield out of the Earthling, using the elimination prevention option.”

It was a well-known basic strategy to place a player with ample elimination prevention options in front.
It was the only way the relatively weak Earthlings could be of any value.

“Do you think they can hunt the Griffin like that?”

The audience responded skeptically.

“Well, if they die, they die. Not like I’m dying.”
“That’s true.”

The Colosseum started to fill slowly.
Since Scarlet’s team was using their final elimination prevention option to fight, there were more spectators than usual.

‘This will make it easier to secure causality.’

However, Daimus had no intention of using the causality gained this time.

Error Player.
That white dragon over there would take care of it.

Scarlet’s team entered the first Colosseum.
Their faces were full of nervous tension as they stood at the center of the arena.

“Welcome, players.”

The roar of the crowd pressed down on their spirits.

“Die! Damn it, all of you die!”
“I believe they can catch a Griffin!”

Interest beyond simple viewing.

“I’ll bet that Scarlet’s team will lose.”
“Of course the Griffin will win, right? The empty spots from the guys who died last time are huge.”

It was all because of the betting.
With betting, the audience became more engrossed in the match.

“Why’d they fill it with Earthlings? Are they just asking to die?”
“They probably couldn’t find enough people.”
“If they had any extra options, they wouldn’t have joined this team. If they don’t want to die, they’d better avoid it somehow… seems like a dead-end.”

Hastily gathered teammates have their limits.
It wasn’t all that surprising to predict Scarlet’s team would lose.

‘Idiots.’

Amidst the whispers of certainty, groups from the Middle Realm slipped in.
Members of the Bolt-less Bolt team.

‘That crazy Murim bastard is going to beat the Griffin to death.’

At the moment when Bolt was killed in one blow, there was no time to think.
I instinctively drew my sword and was busy reacting.

After fleeing like a coward, I reflected on the sequence of events and gathered my thoughts.

─ Is it possible to kill with a slap?
─ Bolt… wasn’t his durability pretty high?
─ There aren’t many players on the second floor who can kill with one blow.

Sometimes absurd monsters come up.
Since it’s the Tower of Struggle, I couldn’t rule out the impossible.

─ Wouldn’t it be safe to say Bolt committed suicide?
─ Anyone here planning to avenge Bolt?
─ No one? Okay.

The Bolt team failed to recognize the monster and paid the price.

‘I’ll make more out of this.’

Bolt’s life?
I’ll make it back with bets.

They bet all their savings on Scarlet’s team winning.
The odds were a whopping six times.

If Scarlet’s team won, they’d have enough money to live off for half a year.

Of course, because of the gladiator rules, they’d have to fight every week.
But considering efficiency, they wouldn’t need to join dangerous matches.

“Win.”
“Smash the Griffin’s head like you did with Bolt!”

Just like yesterday’s enemy could become today’s ally, they started cheering for the Error Player, who was once their enemy just four hours ago.

“Your opponent is the Griffin, everyone. It’s a beast that’s pretty popular in the Colosseum.”

Daimus briefly explained.
For the experienced ones, it was meaningless information, but it was for the benefit of the Earthlings who were participating for the first time.

“The Griffin will fly if its life is in danger. If possible, it’s better to deal with it before that happens.”

That shouldn’t be too hard for the Error Player.

Clang- Clang-!

The bound Griffin started to thrash.
It slammed against the iron bars, trying to break free.

“Show us your struggle.”

With Daimus’ words, the iron gates opened.
The Griffin quickly leapt out and roared.

A raptor’s head with a mammal’s body.
The hybrid form alone exuded an oppressive aura.

“……”

The Earthlings seeing the Griffin for the first time couldn’t help but instinctively shrink back.

The Error Player stepped forward.
He was wearing the Secutor helmet, a reward from the first floor mini-game.

“Who’s that guy?”
“He must be an Earthling.”

Why did he step forward?
The audience didn’t understand his actions.

Even Daimus couldn’t figure out what he was trying to do.

‘He could just shoot a breath and it would be over.’

What’s he doing?

“Iron staff.”

The Error Player charged at the Griffin.
A reckless Murim-style attack.

The Griffin pecked at the Error Player with its beak.

It didn’t matter how weak the human looked.
The Griffin would rip open his fragile body.

“……!”

The Griffin’s beak was harder than steel.
Most equipment would be torn like paper, and most durability couldn’t withstand such an attack.
Avoiding was the best option.

But what’s happening here?

“Iron staff.”

The Error Player blocked the Griffin’s attack with his body.
He didn’t dodge, even though he could, and collided head-on.

Strength against strength.

“What, what’s going on? Wasn’t he an Earthling?!”
“He’s a Murim guy? Why is he wearing that helmet?”
“Could be.”
“Defensive martial arts are from Shaolin. No way!”

Misunderstandings were forming about the Error Player.

“Fire!”

The members of Scarlet’s team unleashed their attacks on the Griffin.
As discussed earlier, they only used ranged skills.

Some of them looked like magic.
Skills that seemed flashy on the surface.

Bang-! Boom-!

The Error Player hid within the storm of attacks.
He wrapped his punches with force and threw them.

Kieeeek-!

Sensing danger, the Griffin tried to spread its wings and create distance, but it was already too late.
The Error Player maximized his agility and chased after the Griffin’s speed.

Bang-!

Ignoring the overwhelming difference in size, he landed a solid blow.
The strike hit the Griffin’s body, and the Griffin lost all its life force and collapsed.

Boom-.

The massive body fell.
Dust billowed, and as it slowly settled, the only figure standing in the center was the Error Player.

“Amitabha.”

The Error Player clasped his hands in a mock Shaolin style, pretending to be a martial monk.

“Oh, wow!”
“How did he win? This doesn’t make sense!”

The crowd cheered.
Those who came to watch just for the game cheered enthusiastically.

And then, the criticisms.
Those who had bet on the match yelled insults.

“Damn it!”
“Is it possible for the Griffin to lose to those guys? Shaolin? Is Shaolin everything? He just blocked a single strike!”
“Shut up, you bastards!”

Members of the Bolt-less Bolt team cursed.
They couldn’t contain their joy at winning their bet.

‘What the hell is this?’
‘Aren’t they weak?’
‘It might be easier than dealing with that Murim guy they call an Error Player.’

The Bolt-less Bolt team.
They remembered running away from the Error Player and their cowardice.

That awful memory.
They wanted to let out the frustration, and conveniently, the weak-looking players were nearby.

They didn’t hide their emotions.
Taking full advantage of the chaotic situation, they threw punches.

Smack-!
“You damn bastard. Who’s insulting who?!”

Who started the attack?
Does it matter in the chaos?
People didn’t even distinguish between each other, just throwing punches.

Chaos.
The violence that started from the Bolt-less Bolt team spread throughout the entire crowd.

How long would it last?
Until the manager, Daimus, stepped in.

“You damn bug, still hanging on and surviving.”

Amid the chaos, a group stood watching from above the arena.
They watched Scarlet’s team leave before exiting the crowd.

Victory Celebration

They had a victory celebration.
It was a gathering.

“Kereck. I always believed in the Error Player!”

Golrak grinned, clearly pleased with the result.

“Everyone thought we’d lose the elimination prevention option, so they came to watch, huh?”
“Exactly!”

Scarlet and the others didn’t have good feelings toward the audience.

The reason was the same as my own feelings during the Earthling slaughter entertainment.
No one would happily accept being treated like a toy, in that damn situation.

“Really, you’re amazing.”

Kim Min-seong approached and whispered.

“You’re hiding your true identity, right? If you get too much attention, it’ll mess up your plans.”
“……”

It’s true that I saved some of my skills to avoid attracting too much attention.

But mess up my plans?
I don’t even have a plan, how could there be any disruption?

In times like these, it’s best to stay silent.

“I’ll definitely find the hidden piece. Please trust me.”

Kim Min-seong, who had been staring at me, spoke with a serious expression.

A hidden piece that I don’t even know exists? He could go look for it himself.
I stopped paying attention to him.

I raised my cup.
One Nero Cooper per glass.
Given the inflated prices, I had to drink sparingly.

Ding. Ding-.

The sound of bells rang loudly.
Several customers entered the tavern.

They looked around and then approached me.

‘What a bunch of idiots….’

No, wait.
Are they wolves?

“You bug. The disgrace of the Wild Kingdom. Somehow, you managed to survive.”
“……”

Who are they talking about?
Excluding me and the two Earthlings, the others seemed to recognize them.

Scarlet, who had emptied her beer mug, abruptly stood up.

“These bastards. They came here looking for trouble again.”
“Human. Don’t act cocky.”

The atmosphere became tense.