Survival to Godhood 25 I Surrender

Sitting in his cell, Leo was meditating. He was sitting there with his new armor on him. He was allowed to convert Ursus into his coat. Now he had a furry leather chest plate and steel plate bracers. He had matching steel shin guard to match his bracers, and his lion helm was sitting against the wall. Leo had cut his hair, and it was now a jumbled mess.

*Ping* A sound went off, and Sprite spoke up. "Sir, congratulations for completing tempering your vascular."

Feeling strength throughout his body, even Leo was impressed with the new him. The blood pumping through him felt powerful and bringing new energy every second. His whole body had been tempered, and it made him leaps and bounds above most Mana Fighters. He could easily fight a peak beastman Mana Fighter. This was the difference in a good foundation and a weak one.

The beastman guard walked up and motioned Leo over his food was here. Leo walked over and received the food. "Thank you old blue," Leo told the guard. Being the only person he interacted with he nicknamed this a while back.

Old blue didn't mind the name and enjoyed talking to Leo. Besides cultivating and guarding, he didn't get to talk much.

The bear in his blast beastman armor was noble. He always used minimal words, but still answered Leo's questions. The beastman respected the human with how hard he fights, trains, and acts like he's not even a prisoner.

"You seem stronger today, human."

"Yes, I just had a breakthrough."

"Congratulations then." The beastman gave him his bucket of food and water and then left.

"So Sprite, do you have any ideas how I can get around not having a dantian?"

"Sir, you brought up the idea of using a beast's core, but I told you to give up that idea until I analyzed it more."

"So that's why you were lit up at night the past week."

"Yes, Sir. I analyzed the two cores you have. I suggest you use Preaza's core. The mana in her core is metal oriented, and you would have an easier time absorbing it."

"Wait a second. So you think I can use Preaza's core to become a Mana Fighter?"

"Yes, but you will have to insert the core into your own body and make it your own. This process will be painful, and you will need to heal. Then you will have to drain the core of all its mana and blood into your own body. You will have to start tempering your body all over again. Once you complete Tempered Body with the core emptied, you can finally enter the Mana Fighter Realm."

This new information blew his mind. This was just an idea he was tossing around, but Sprite resolved it. The question now was how would he insert it into his body. While he was mid thought, Sprite spoke again.

"Sir, the insertion will have to be very careful. You will have to break the 3rd rib on the right side near the body of the sternum without puncturing your lung. Then you will cut yourself open at that spot and move the core there. It needs to be opposite of your heart. Then we will need a healing agent to increase your recovery, or you might die in your next fight if not treated."

Leo went through each step in his brain. For the most part, it wouldn't be difficult. The hardest part is he didn't have any medicine with him or in Gladiator Hall. Thinking about it maybe he could ask Old Blue to get him some when he brings food tomorrow morning.

"Sprite thank you. Without you, I don't think I would've survived this long or be this strong."

"Sir, that is my job."

"I know Sprite." Leo sat back down with a piece of meat in his hand. He finished it off and drank some water. He would circulate the mana within his belly after every meal.

The meat they fed Leo every day was meat from a high-level beast. This meat is always rich in vitamins and mana. This was one of the reasons Leo finished tempering his body so quickly here.

The night came and went. Leo was awoken in the morning by Old Blue. He gave some food and was about to walk away.

"Old Blue, do you have and fast reacting medicine you can give me?"

"No. Emergency medicine only used when our brethren is dying."

Leo looked down sadly. He knew he was asking a lot of Old Blue. The look on Leo face made Old Blue feel bad. What was one emergency medicine? He wondered what the boy needed it for but then knew the human never asked for anything besides the Ursus' body. Old Blue talked himself into it.

"Human on second thought, I will bring you the medicine at dinner."

Today happened to be one of Leo's off days, and he just meditated and trained. Then upon dinner time, Old Blue brought him food and a syringe of emergency medicine. "Destroy the needle once you are done." Just like that Old Blue left.

Wasting no time, Leo ate his dinner and prepped himself for the surgery. He took off his armor and cleaned the area on his chest as Sprite instructed.

Using his thumb and index finger he grabbed onto his 3rd rib. "1, 2, 3!" *Snap* "Argggggggg.....damn it...." Leo took a few breathes to try and calm down. Breaking his rib was more painful then he thought.

"Alright, Sir you need to cut yourself open."

Using his small pocket knife, he cut his flesh about an inch wide. Blood started trickling out. Leo focused on his vascular system and used mana to slow the bloodlets near the wound down.

Picking up the silvery-blueish orb, Leo thought about the short time he spent with Preaza. In a way, she would always be with him. He moved the sphere to his chest and pushed it into his chest cavity.

"Sir, now use the syringe near the wound."

Leo stabbed the needle in and pushed it down. The medicine circulated his bloodstream quickly. Leo started wincing in pain. It felt like fire ants were digging throughout his body. Leo began to turn pale and puked up his dinner. The skin and muscles were slowly repairing on his chest.

"Arggh." Leo was on all fours on the ground. The medicine was burning away diseases and small abrasions all over. The 3rd rib even starting repairing itself.

Leo sat up into a lotus pose Sprite taught him to use for mediation. Leo tried to focus on circulating mana in and out of Enyeto's metal ball like he does every night to get his mind off the pain. Leo stayed awake all night fighting the medicine and healing.

The next morning a new beastman came to get Leo.

"Let's go Panthera. You fight this morning." Leo wondered where Old Blue was, but he followed the beastman down the corridor to the large metal door to the area.

"Today my champion Panthera Knight will face a Core Builder Prisoner alone," The Collector announced. "This beastman recently stole from me, his superior, and can only redeem himself through battle." The metal door slowly opened and Leo walked through ignoring all the chants from the crowd. Across the arena was a familiar face. It was Old Blue.

The beastman looked at the deathly pale human and nodded towards him.

"Get ready! Battle to the death!"

"No," barked Old Blue. A silence came over the entire crowd. Who says no to the Collector? "I will not fight the human. I surrender!"

Chapter end