Chapter 8: Five common moves
Arnold went back to the university with his face darkened. If that guy hadn't come to mess things up, he could have filled the bag with metal. This was actually what he did every time he went to pick metals. A full bag of metals usually earned him 60 to 100 dollars, depending on the weight.
He had just gotten half of his aimed metal collection, which should approximately get him 30 to 50 dollars, however, Arnold knew that this wouldn't satisfy his needs.
"I'll say it again. Damn you, Murphy!" Arnold's eyes were burning in anger. If he had gotten another chance, he would love to punch Arnold in his d**k!
Just while Arnold was on his way to his dorm room, the Pro Wrestling System's blue screen appeared in front of him. Arnold froze at first and glanced around nervously at the students walking by.
[Don't worry, host. You are the only one seeing the screen.]
"Pheww..." Arnold sighed in relief. "You almost made me shrink."
[Aside from Skills which could be Moves or Finishers, the system would like to teach you common wrestling moves for a match to begin with.]
[Without delivering these common moves to an opponent, you might not be able to weaken the opponent and secure a chance to launch a finisher.]
[Clotheslining an opponent severally wouldn't be enough to take down even a second-year student in Rising Impact University... So, you have to practice more common moves to improve your identity and reputation.]
"Yeah, I know 'Clothesline' sucks," the right side of Arnold's lips curled up as he scratched the back of his head.
[The system has commissioned five common moves for you to start with. Remember, these moves are just common wrestling skills, it wouldn't help much in making an opponent fail to kick out.]
"Understood," Arnold replied.
When Arnold returned to the training ring, he asked the system to reveal the five common moves...
[1. Suicide Dive. E-class common move.
Description: Performing a flying attack from the ring to an opponent in the ringside. You can choose to fly through the second or top rope.]
[2. Super Kick. (D-class common move.
Description: This could be a very brutal common move. It is performed by launching a foot attack against an opponent's face, delivering much pressure to the feet used. Your Agility and Attack Power would play a huge role on this one.]
[3. Powerbomb (D-class common move).
Description: It is performed by carrying your opponent's legs on your shoulders and slamming their back against the mat right after.]
[4. Vertical Suplex (E-rank common move).
Description: Performed by locking an opponent's neck to your armpit, raising the opponent's leg upward with your hand on his thighs, and landing backward with the opponent's back hitting the mat. Note that this move can also affect you.]
[5. Sharpshooter (C-rank common move).
Description: This is a submission move where you grab the opponent's leg, place one of your legs in between, and twist it while sitting on the opponent's back. In some cases, this could make an opponent tap out.]
Arnold caressed in the jaw. "They aren't alien to me though. I just haven't learned to use them," he said.
Truthfully, Arnold had only been using the Clothesline move just because he hadn't learned to use other moves. He didn't even have a finisher and just considered "Clothesline" as his every move. This was the main cause of his constant failure as many opponents he faced began to predict his attacks.
Arnold spent the rest of the day practicing these five common moves in the training ring, applying his attribute power to enhance his attack and endurance force.
He also tried practicing Neckbuster for some time, trying to make his delivery perfect. All through the days before his final exam match, Arnold made a huge effort to practice moves and improve his attributes further.
His roommates suddenly noticed his strange change of attitude and coldness. Arnold would always leave the dorm room very early in the morning, and come back when they were asleep in the night.
Until the final exam match day, no one knew what Arnold had in mind. No one knew his plan...
No one had perceived a slight scent of his effort.
After eight days since his last loss, it was time for Arnold to have his last match.
The students who had had their matches the previous day or the day before gathered in the fans area as they waited impatiently.
Rowan Pierce arrived as soon as it was dawn, however, no one had spotted Arnold around. It was about twenty minutes to go for his match to begin, yet he hadn't shown up around the dressing room. Even his roommates were stunned... And worried.
No one knew that Arnold was busy in the gym, making his final attributes improvement training before the match.
[You have gained one point to your Strength.]
[Strength: 6.]
[You have gained one point to your Agility.]
[Agility: 6.]
[You have gained one point to your Endurance.]
[Endurance: 6.]
[You have gained one point to your Attack Power.]
[Attack Power: 6.]
Arnold decided to surpass 20 overall attribute points to increase his chance of staying fit for the match. He also learned that if he could keep performing more attribute training, and get 50 overall attribute points, he would surely gain another Skill.
The progression would keep advancing, and if he kept up with the training, more Skills would be gained after reaching certain overall attribute points in the future!
Taking this into consideration, Arnold wondered how strong he would be if he kept working hard. Although it was going to be a really tough process, he knew the effects would manifest at last.
"Well, I guess it's time to go beat Rowan Pierce," Arnold's revengeful eyes stared blankly as he left the gym and made his way to the Rising Impact University's wrestling arena.
The whole final-year academic area was deserted due to the ongoing matches in arenas. Although it wasn't only Arnold who fought today, other students had fought, victorious or defeated.
It was Max Fury's time now, and almost everyone in the fans area was just eager to watch him lose to the former Grindhouse Omega Champion miserably yet again.
Just as they noticed Arnold walking into the arena and straight to the ring, a loud BOOOO was heard from different sides, causing Arnold to shrug at once.
'Stupid bastards! Just sit and watch me win.'
Arnold approached the ring with his fist clenched, staring right at Rowan who was patiently waiting at one side of the ring corner, casting underrated glances back at the twenty-three-year-old youngster.
"And his opponent, weighing in 217 pounds, Max Fury!" The announcer, a female staff clad in a simple gym attire, spoke loudly.
"BOOOO!"
"F**k you, Loser!"
"Another miserable defeat, here we go again!"
"I heard you pick metals. Weak metal-picking loser! HAHAHA!"
Arnold's heart almost splattered in his chest as more mockeries flew into his ears. However, Rowan Pierce didn't seem to erase the smile on his face.
He was truly enjoying Arnold being mocked to death by his mates.
Ding. Ding. Ding.
After entering the ring, the referee ordered the match to begin! Unlike other opponents, Arnold didn't expect what Rowan did just as the third sound of the bell rang.
With a crazy force of speed, Rowan charged at Max Fury...
It was as if he was going to deliver a Spear!