Blood Assimilation

Although it appeared as though Randy was getting stronger as he endured the many attacks from the Gladiators, he wasn't truly getting stronger. Instead, his body was becoming accustomed to the strength that was being transmitted over from the assimilation of his temporary attributes.

This only allowed him to get better control over his body and not actually increase his strength. According to his understanding, temporary attributes, to him, were simply a kind of potential attributes or enhanced attributes. As such, they didn't truly feel like his genuine strength.

However, once they were turned into his permanent attributes, he could feel his muscles adapting to the new strength and gradually adapting to it as the fight goes on the stage. With that being the case, he found his current strategy very effective in increasing his permanent attributes and his control over them at the same time.

Regardless of how effective his current strategy was, all good things must come to an end.

At some point, Randy realized that aside from his 'Endurance' attribute that had completely transferred over, his 'Strength', 'Vitality', 'Stamina', and 'Agility' attributes had stopped increasing. There was also his 'Perception' and other attributes that hadn't changed a single bit throughout the course of his beatdown.

Randy pondered for a bit, and then recalled that he had to train his body in actual combat in order to completely integrate with his temporary attributes. And right now, he was only defending himself without actually fighting back, which might not constitute improving his body holistically.

When he fought the two demons back then, although he was pressured throughout the fight, he still had his assimilated states to rely on, so he wasn't completely hopeless. That was why his attributes didn't transfer over at that time.

However, right now, his powers are sealed by the Power-Restraining Bracelets, and he could only rely on his physical body to fight. This situation was very optimal for him to reach his limits while polishing his combat techniques and his control over his body.

All in all, not only would he be able to reach his limits, but he would also be able to break through them in his current state.

Furthermore, for whatever reason, he could feel that the restraining effects of the Power-Restraining Bracelets on his body had increased dramatically. It was almost as though someone was manually controlling its effects without notice.

Right now, his entire body felt heavy, as though he was a mere mortal without any supernatural strength to support him. This feeling was similar to when he hadn't awakened, but at the same time it wasn't the same. He felt weaker compared to then.

He wondered if it was the umpire who arbitrarily increased the effects of the Power-Restraining Bracelets, but on second thought, he did not mind the outcome since it was partly due to this potent effect that his temporary attributes started integrating with his body at a much faster speed.

At his current rate, he shouldn't have to worry about not meeting the deadline. Even so, he should still try to hasten his pace by changing his tactics and integrating with the remaining attributes as soon as possible just in case.

With that in mind, he decided to stop defending himself against the attacks from the Gladiators. Instead, he decided to take the offensive approach against his opponents, as that might be the only way to get used to his attributes quickly.

Following his thought, he immediately roared loudly and charged forward after blocking a frontal attack from one of the Gladiators. This sudden change shocked the others momentarily, but not for long, as they also surrounded him and launched coordinated attacks from all around him.

Randy ignored the back and side attacks and solely focused on the front attacks. This was because the truly strong Gladiators were in the front and the weaklings, whose punches could hardly hurt him, were sneaking up from behind and on both sides.

With that thought, Randy charged forward like a raging bull. Shortly after, he arrived in front of Great Sword Dien and Fortress Defender Manock.

Without a shred of hesitation from his movements, he madly hurled a deadly punch at Great Sword Dien's face.

The opposition managed to dodge in time but failed to realize that it was only a feint, as Randy immediately followed up with his left hand and punched his stomach, sending him flying backwards.

Randy ignored him and turned his sharp gaze towards Fortress Defender Manock and then twisted his legs and kicked as hard as he could at him.

However, to his surprise, Fortress Defender Manock easily fend off his kick and slammed his body against him, knocking him back a few meters as he was caught off guard. Meanwhile, the others behind him immediately seized the chance and rained their fist, kick, body, and scratch attacks on Randy's back and side.

Randy scowled when he felt the familiar, slightly itchy scratch marks on his skin once again.

Earlier, he noticed that some people were purposely using their long fingernails to scratch his back and sides like a bunch of feral cats.

Although he could endure these underhanded attacks, he still didn't like the uncomfortable itchy feeling on his body. He could tell that these people most likely purposely grew their fingernails to attack their opponents since weapons weren't allowed on the stage.

Regardless, Randy could no longer tolerate these sneaky people. Thus, his sharp eyes immediately singled out those bunch of unscrupulous Gladiators.

Without giving them a chance to react, he swiftly approached them one by one, then he mercilessly knocked them out cold with a hard punch to their chins, jaws, and the back of their heads. They all fell to the floor, making dull sounds, almost like bags of rice were dropped to the ground consecutively.

With those guys taken care of, only 15 people remained conscious on the stage.

At this point, Great Sword Dien had already made his way back from the edge of the platform where Randy's assault sent him. Once he arrived, he immediately saw the sleeping bodies of the 5 of the junior and senior Gladiators that Randy had knocked out, and his expression became solemn.

Although he hated to admit it, that newbie Gladiator was indeed strong. Without a doubt, he had every right to be arrogant. After all, despite their relentless attacks, he didn't budge an inch, but when he attacked him, he was instantly sent flying by a powerful force.

His condition was like that of a rag doll or a thrown piece of flesh. He clearly couldn't maintain his balance or position until he fell a distance away. He landed on the edge of the platform. He was almost disqualified just now, which would have been so embarrassing.

His pride as a senior Gladiator was hurt at that moment.

Even though he clearly knew that he was inferior, he just didn't want to accept such an outcome no matter what. Therefore, he could only choose to fight him to the end.

With that thought and determination, he decided to coordinate with Fortress Defender Manock instead of moving by himself like before.

The two of them were the strongest on the stage, and now that they had joined forces, the battle would only get more difficult for Randy.

On the other hand, Randy welcomed such a turn of events as the more coordinated their attacks were, the more desperate he would get to break through them.

Thinking of that, Randy took the initiative to charge toward them once again. He planned on being on the offensive rather than being passive like before.

At this time, a new notification appeared in his vision.

[Perception +20]

This only spurred him on, as he increased his speed and sprinted toward the two strongest Gladiators.