The alert had come sudden.
However, Lenny was too deep in the realm of enlightenment for him to acknowledge the alert.
At first, he stopped moving. To those watching, it was already remarkable that he was not screaming in agony.
It might have been just a whip, but to them, it was something else.
The whip was after all, infused with Dark line energy.
lenny had been shaking like a fish that was just brought out of water.
It was not a nice sight to see, but then again, it was expected.
By now, the demon instructor had already reached half of the count.
Lenny was no longer shaking in pain.
He remained still. It was easy for any one watching to think that he was already dead.
It would not be the first time that a gladiator died from the agonizing pain that the whip provided.
There were also those that had thought themselves to be wise, and stopped moving. In thought that this would stop the demon instructor from continuing his strikes.
However, rules were rules. If the instructor had said fifty lashes, then fifty lashes it would be.
The option of collecting below that, was only at the mercy of a superior demon.
But then again, Demons and devils have never been known to be kind or merciful.
Lenny stopped moving.
Potty concluded that maybe he was already dead.
It was also wise to note that Lenny's body was not as sturdy as those of the other gladiators. He was after all, a fish farm boy of the F class before this.
His body was skin and bones compared to the other gladiators.
By the thirty-first whip, things had changed once more.
Lenny suddenly started laughing.
It started low, and then it went into full blown laugh of joy.
This whip had done a lot of things to people. Many had also tried to act tough, and entered laughter. But they always broke at the end.
Lenny however, proved to be different.
This annoyed the demon instructor, and he increased the force at which he stroke.
It was so loud and hard that the sound of leather and skin kissing sharply echoed off the walls.
Every strike was also accompanied by the splashing out of blood and flesh. like the throwing of heavy stones into muddy water.
Finally, the whipping was over. At the demon instructor's orders, two gladiators stepped forward and released the holds keeping him on the Discipline board.
Most if not all, would feel paralyzed after all that beating.
It was even understandable for them to be out for days.
However, Lenny wriggled himself out of the support of the two gladiators. The blood from his back followed down his back and legs like morning dew off a leaf.
Drip drop. It fell to the ground.
Lenny stood to his feet, and then he stretched his body left and right. And then up and down.
Even the demon instructor was left speechless by this.
But it was just for a moment. He tied the whip by his side and walked over to Lenny, "not bad, growth sprout." He tabbed Lenny's chest.
The demon instructor's hand glowed dark and eerie, and the label on Lenny's chest changed from F999 to E999
"I am called instructor Bodat. Do not forget it. Don't miss the training for freshlings or else, you'll get another fifty lashes."
"Of course, I'll be looking forward to it!" Instructor Bodat had only gone a few steps forward when he heard the later half of Lenny's statement, "the lashes would be fun."
He cracked a smile as he walked away.
There was suddenly a bell that signified time for meal.
"Finally!" Lenny thought to himself as he followed the others into the dining area.
This time around, the person serving was not his mother, but he could still see her aged eyes follow his movement.
Points were used as currency for everything. If a gladiator did not have points, he could not get food or pleasure. That was how things worked here.
However, points were also not of equal value.
previously, Lenny had zero points. But after killing D4023 in the arena, he now had 5 points.
However, his points would have translated to just five points if he was in D class. However, it was different here. His five points now showed as fifty points.
For one to get promoted into the next class, the required amount of points, was one thousand (1000).
The way and manner a gladiator got a thousand points, was entirely his or her business.
The best and most efficient way to get points, was by fighting in the arena. However, other methods still existed. For example, the bet that happened between the two brothers back in the arena that bet on Lenny's life.
Gladiators were allowed to exchange points, bet with points, kill for points. And basically anything that the demons could watch and enjoy.
Lenny was not stingy with his points and loaded his plate well. He more than well needed the energy.
Just like in the dining for D class, there were no chairs and tables for the gladiators to sit.
In here, even the champion had to seat on the ground.
The champion in the E class was E444. However, he was currently receiving treatment because of Lenny's kiss.
Lenny took the bowl of terrible looking porridge to a corner and started devouring it.
It was terrible to the taste, but neither him nor the former owner of the body he was now occupying were picky eaters.
While he was eating, he noticed a movement by his side.
It was a cockroach. He ignored it and continued eating.
However, he heard a voice, "hey! E999. Hey!!!"
Lenny had nearly forgotten that his name had changed. He turned to the person that called for him.
It was woman. She was leaner than most of the other women here. If she was not in the post apocalyptical, she would have well passed for a singer with her facial looks alone.
However, struggle had affected those looks with significant scars on her face and body.
"Pass me... meat!" she requested. Her pattern of speech was weird.
"Meat!?" Lenny raised a brow.
She nodded as she pointed to the cockroach eating off little porridge on the ground.
He nodded as he trapped the cockroach and passed it on to her.
"nice!" She collected it. She first of all played with it a little. Enjoying as it tried to escape off her fingers. And then she opened her mouth and gobbled it in.
"nice! really crunchy!"
Liking eating a juicy piece of apple, she enjoyed herself nodding her head to the flavor in her mouth.
She nodded her head, "you really nice and strong. I see fight with E444. If you fuck me, I'll give you two points."
Lenny was about to take in some food when he heard what she said.
He paused and turned to her.
she had a smile on her face.