Survival to Godhood 22 Suiting Up

As they were flying, a large metal city came into view. The bear varients turned the mothership into a thriving empire in over five years. On the edge of the city, a massive Colosseum was built. The airship flying towards the Colosseum.

Landing outside of the ringed building, the Collector lifted Leo and the lion and brought them through a large metal gate. Walking down a long corridor they came upon, many cages of various beasts all around the world the Collector captured. There were also many beastmen prisoners of all three variants.

The Collector opened a large cage door and threw in Leo and the lioness. Rolling when Leo hit the ground, space's hold on him was released. Leo stared into the Collector's eyes with hatred and questions.

"Human tomorrow you will choose a weapon and fight. Your new name is Panthera the Knight. I feel as its flashy and entertaining and your lion's name will be Panthera the Beast. Have a good night sleep, human." The bear beastman walked away.

Leo looked at the mama lion and got up and sat next to her. He scratched her head and asked Sprite, "Is there any way to escape this place?"

"No, Sir. This place is a fortress meant to hold beings a lot stronger than the cells in the beastman ship."

Leo pondered on what to do. He decided to do what he could, and so he held the metal ball and started cultivating mana. Sprite mentioned a technique he read about during their days in old capitol. They chanced upon it right before they found the Dance of Sun and Moon cultivation.

Using that technique, Leo stored mana into the ball. The more mana he pushed into the orb, the more he could sense the laws of earth and metal around him. The particles of the universe can't be seen only felt. Sometimes it takes cultivation to learn it, and sometimes nature will present itself to you. In this case, it was an ancient relic that has shown Leo the path forward.

"Sprite, is learning the laws of the universe broken into levels also?"

"Sir, when learning laws they have seven stages. They are to touch, to control, to destroy, to create, to the domain, to govern, and to merge."

Leo nodded his head and thought that the world of cultivation was broader than he even knew.

The night went by in a flash. The feeling and knowledge consumed Leo. He was gradually learning by using the metal sphere. A giant bear beastman came to the door holding a spear with a gem in the blade.

"Panthera Knight and Beast follow me to Gladiator Hall. If you make a run for it, I was told to kill you."

"Sir, this guard is at peak Core Building and holds a spear fluctuating laws of lightning. I think its best to listen to him."

Leo agreed and motion the lioness to follow him. The guard beastman led them down the corridor until they got to a large hall. He directed them inside.

Leo walked in with the cat beast and stared at walls full of armor and weaponry. Many forged weapons were in here. Looking around Leo got himself familiar with the multiple armaments.

"Sprite, which weapon do you think I should choose."

"Sir, in opinion I think the most effective weapon would be a blunt weapon. They use far less technique, and you have never formally trained using any weaponry."

Picking up a broadsword as big as himself, he held it proudly in the air and swung it clumsily a few times. Scared the lion backed off into a corner. Looking at the lion, Leo decided to find something for her first.

"Sprite can you speak to the Lion?"

"Sir, using mana you can transmit messages yourself if you want. Comparable to how the message was left in the ball." Sprite coached him how to transmit a message, and Leo sent his first mana message using the mana he had stored the night before.

"Hello, mother lion."

The lion was shocked to hear her son speak to her finally. She growled back, and Sprite translated. [Oh Son, we can talk.]

"Yes, do you understand what's happening?"

[No, where are we?]

"We are trapped inside a place where we will be sent to battle to our deaths."

[Is this why we are here in a room with many sharp objects?]

"Yes. Before we go to battle, would you like some armor or anything?"

[If you must, find me something to cover my belly wounds and my back.]

"Sprite scan the hall and find her something suitable."

Sprite scanned the hall and found some leather-ish armor and strapped it on her. Thinking about it, Leo didn't even ask his new cat mother's name.

"Mother, what is your name?"

[I was born with the name Preaza, and my little son's name is Orino.]

"That is a beautiful name. Why did you not kill me?"

[You smelled of my son and you also saved him. That is all I needed.] When he heard that it brought a smile to his face. Such a simple answer. Now that Preaza was armored up it was his turn.

He strapped two metal arm bracers and shin protectors on. He then found a leather-like chest plate to wear. He looked in the metal mirror and was impressed with how he looked fit for battle.

Now, he needed to find himself a weapon that suited him. He picked up a wooden club. After a few swings, he put it back down.

He then saw a hammer and picked it up. The head of it was dense and kind of threw him off balance as he swung it. Leo shook his head and didn't like the feeling of using it.

Leo walked over to a barrel of one-arm weaponry. He reached in and pulled out a small mace. It was a simple forged weapon made of a hollow iron shaft and a simple metal ball at the end.

The crude weapon was primitive and easy to use. After a few swings, Leo chose to use the mace. Sprite agreed that it was a decent choice. Even Preaza grinned with her pointy teeth and nodded.

The guard returned and told them to follow him. Walking out newly armored and holding the mace, Leo followed the beastman down a different hallway to a large metal door.

The beastman turned around and handed Leo a lion-faced helm. "The Collector told me to have you wear this."

"What if I don't want to?" Leo replied.

"Wear it, or you will be beaten down before you even enter the arena."

Sprite told Leo to wear it. Grinding his teeth and balling his hand into a fist, Leo grudgingly accepted the helm. He put it on and then heard something very loudly.

"Welcome to the Colluseum! For today's first fight we will have five prisoners face off against my new champion Panthera Knight and Beast." A large crowd started to cheer. The booming voices could be felt through the door.

Leo's heart started to beat fast. He was beginning to get flustered. Preaza saw this and walked over and nudged his left hand. Looking down at the mama lion, Leo finally calmed down.

"Enter the arena prisoners." Five beastmen in rags walked out, squinting and looking around the stadium. The Collector then announced, "Enter my Knight and Beast."

The large metal door started to open as a crack of sunlight hit Leo. Sending a message to Preaza, "I got your back mother. We will survive this and figure a way to escape."

Leo walked forward into the sunlight with mace in hand and a lion following.

Chapter end