"Continue!"
Lock's voice rang out firmly as he looked at the mission rewards that had just been announced. His fighting spirit surged, but the people surrounding the ring no longer dared to step forward.
Moments ago, those who had dared to challenge him in groups were now groaning on the ground. A few had even broken their arms and legs due to their own lack of physical conditioning. No one could complain about their injuries; down here, the only rule was strength. And for many, injuries like these meant only one thing: a slow death.
Realizing this, the crowd stared at Lock with growing fear in their eyes.
He was too ruthless.
When no one moved to challenge him further, Lock knew the mission wouldn't continue today. Defeating a thousand opponents in his current state was impossible. He jumped down from the ring, and as he walked toward the platform, the people instinctively parted, opening a clear path for him. Their fear wasn't rooted in his background anymore — it was his overwhelming strength that intimidated them.
"This guy's not even human…" someone muttered.
"It's terrifying. He's beaten over a hundred people and still walks like nothing happened," another whispered.
"Following someone like that might actually be a way to survive," a man said quietly.
"Yeah. Better him than those useless Military Police thugs. At least this one's strong."
"Careful what you say. You saw what happened to the others," another warned.
Amid the hushed discussions, Lock climbed onto the platform. Below, the Military Police arranged a series of one-on-one duels to continue the conscription testing.
"Although their strength is lacking and their personalities are rough, they've got potential. We'll recruit three hundred over the next few days," Lock ordered calmly.
Eld, standing nearby, raised an eyebrow. "Aren't there only a hundred open spots?"
"There are," Lock replied, smiling slightly. "But I never said I'd only recruit a hundred. We'll bring in three hundred first—then eliminate the weak later."
Eld nodded slowly. "That… makes sense. But isn't it a bit much to recruit everyone from the underground?"
"Better here than anywhere else," Lock said, surveying the fighters in each ring. "I don't trust people from outside."
Eld opened his mouth again, but Gunther shot him a warning glance.
"Let it go," Gunther muttered.
"We're soldiers, not leaders," Oluo added in a low voice. Though his usual brashness hadn't faded, his instincts were sharp. He'd begun noticing changes in Lock—subtle, but undeniable—and realized that their positions were no longer equal. Careless words could cause problems now.
Eld, no fool himself, recognized this and closed his mouth, looking at Lock's back with a complicated expression.
Petra, standing nearby, heard the exchange but said nothing. She quietly exhaled, feeling a mixture of relief and unease. In the past, she and Eld, Oluo, and Gunther had fought side by side as equals. But ever since she had inherited the power of the Colossal Titan, she couldn't shake the feeling that a gap had formed between them. They no longer interacted as freely as before, and that realization pained her.
Maybe if I reveal my abilities, the gap will close, she thought. But… will they still accept me?
Sensing her unease, Ymir reached out and squeezed Petra's hand reassuringly.
Meanwhile, the duels below continued steadily. Unlike Lock—whose combat skills and physical abilities far surpassed any ordinary soldier—the fighters from the underground, while talented, were still within the realm of normal human capability. A handful showed exceptional promise, winning multiple matches in a row through skill or sheer tenacity.
The underground district had always been a place of stark inequality. Some barely survived with scraps, while others lived more comfortably, which showed in their physique and combat readiness. The stronger, more capable fighters were naturally those who had managed to carve out better lives. Recruiting them would significantly bolster Lock's forces.
As for loyalty, Lock had little doubt he could break and reshape it to his will.
By the end of the day, seventeen fighters had achieved ten consecutive victories. Combined with the eleven Lock had personally acknowledged during earlier battles, a total of twenty-eight recruits had been selected on the first day. They were immediately stationed at the Military Police base beneath the underground district.
Lock and Petra didn't return to the surface that night. Instead, they stayed below to oversee recruitment until the operation was complete. Only then would real training begin.
As night fell, the underground district was cloaked in darkness. Unlike the surface, which glittered with lanterns and light, the lower city quickly dimmed to a near-pitch black. Yet, tonight felt different. For the first time in a long while, the people down here weren't sinking into hopeless sleep—they were talking, buzzing with shared excitement.
"Did you hear? Lenny from the next sector passed the test. He's at the Military Police base now—food and shelter provided!"
"And if he survives training, he gets paid and moves to the surface. That idiot actually turned his life around."
"If he can do it, so can I."
"Then go. It costs nothing to try. Just don't challenge that monster in Arena One, and maybe you'll win ten in a row. That could change your fate."
"I'll try tomorrow. You coming?"
"Yeah. Let's do it together."
Their voices echoed in the darkness, hopeful for the first time in years.
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A/N: New Fanfic Is Out " Naruto: I'm Boruto Uzumaki"
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