Chapter 3: Determination

"Wait!" Vega yelled. "If we're going to be a team, then we'll need a leader."

"I'll let your group decide for yourselves." Headmaster Nell said.

Vega stared intently at his fellow teammates.

"Not interested. I'm going to go take a shower." Vale said as she stood up and left the room.

"Oh! Wait for me! Let's take a shower together!" Melody shouted and chased after Vale.

"Mel, we're not kids anymore." Vale's distant voiced reached the ears of the remaining people inside the Headmaster's office.

Sounds of Melody giggling gradually soften before the two of them left the vicinity.

Vega's eyes fell upon the last remaining contender for the title of "Leader."

Yin sighed and shrugged his shoulder.

"If you want it, then take it. I'm sure Vale and Melody wouldn't mind." Yin said.

"It would be meaningless if I take it without a fight. I, Vega Sol of the Four Legendary Adventurers, challenge Yin Yore of the Four Legendary Adventurers to a duel. By my rights as the Four Legendary Adventurers, I, Vega Sol, hereby invoke the Fourth Sacred Law!" Vega gleefully demanded.

Headmaster Nell took an interest in their bicker and asked, "What are these Sacred Laws?"

Yin let out another sigh and said, "Those are vows we swore to uphold when we were little. The Fourth Sacred Law, in particular, binds the user and the recipient to a duel and the winner takes all. Also, please don't get caught up in his pace."

"Yin! To the battlefield!" Vega shouted as he lifted his finger high into the air. He began to walk away without waiting for Yin.

"Sorry, Headmaster, but I will be going now." Yin apologized.

Headmaster Nell smiled and waved his hand.

Vega led them down the stairs and exited the front entrance of the castle. Many students were busy setting up their stalls for the festival. Sounds of hammer swinging, shouting, and laughter spread through the air. Makeshift tents with large signs lined up around the castle. Students ran back and forth with big metal pots, costumes, or fireworks in hand. There were also entertainment stalls that had games and prizes.

Walking pass the festivities, the two exited the large metallic gate that separated the school and the train station. Compared to this morning, the density of people dramatically decreased. Few amount of students were walking back and forth performing maintenance. Looking at the board that displayed a variety of departure times, Yin presumed that they were traversing during slow business hours.

After two miles south from the train station, Yin and Vega stood ten-feet apart on a grassy plain. A breezy wind caressed their hair, making it dance to nature's tune. Clouds slowly drifted through the clear blue sky. Numerous amounts of green trees slumbered in the far distant. Not a being was in sight - it was only them and nature.

"How long has it been since we last fought?" Vega asked. He bent his knees, readied his arms, squared his body, and faced Yin with determination.

"Four years... I think." Yin guessed. In contrast to Vega's form, Yin had his arms loose and his body straight.

"Four years, huh? That makes it eight years since the hospital. Time sure passes by quickly."

"What was our record again? My two hundred and three to your two hundred and two?"

"Hey, hey, you're being too generous to yourself. It was a tie at two hundred and two."

"Really? Oops, I didn't mean to add today's victory into my record. Sorry."

"Haha, very funny. At least you have something to laugh at after today's loss."

The two smiled at each other for a brief moment. The gap between them quickly shorten by five feet. Both of them made small adjustments such as moving a few centimeters forward or backward.

Yin scanned Vega's body for visual cue. He retreated a step every time Vega approached with his left or right leg lifted higher than usual. Likewise, every time he tries to approach Vega with an advantage, Vega quickly responded by widening the distance.

"You've been practicing? I thought these four years would've made you rusty." Vega said.

"Of course. My uncle wouldn't let me laze around the house as much as I wanted too." Yin replied.

Yin rushed towards Vega again, but this time with a different mindset. His right leg lifted from the ground when he was four feet away from Vega.

Vega noticed his opponent's speed had increased, and judged that he couldn't back-pedal his way out of this. He held up his right arm and readied himself to block Yin's right kick. However, Yin's right leg never extended. It dropped down, his center-of-gravity shifted from his left leg to his right, and then he pivoted with his right leg and unleashed a heavy kick at Vega's unguarded abdomen.

Vega was forced sliding backwards, leaving a trail in the grassy field.

"Is this really fine with you? Your fancy shoes and shirt will get dirty." Yin asked.

"Clothes are clothes. They'll eventually get dirty one way or another." Vega replied.

Vega didn't even seem the slightest faze from that kick. He gathered strength in his legs and leaped with all his might. His body twirled in the air and his heel came crashing down like lightning.

Yin crossed his arms and guarded against the attack. The energy from the kick created a shockwave that transmitted through Yin's body and into the ground. The ground under his foot began to create small fissures and his balance became uneven. Yin loosen his guard with the intention of grabbing Vega's leg. However, Vega used his other leg and kicked off from Yin's chest, effectively escaping his grab.

The moment his foot touched the ground, Vega sprinted towards Yin at a startling speed.

Numbness lingers in the arms of Yin due to the attack from before. His hand instinctively reached into his pocket, but what he needed most was not there. Realizing the gravity of the situation, Yin tried to raise his arms to block against the incoming attack.

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A raging fist, burning with the determination to acquire the title of "Leader," easily broke through Yin's sub-par guard and launched him in the air. Vega shot into the air and grabbed Yin's leg mid-flight. He then rotated his body in mid-air a few times before flinging Yin to the ground. Vega finished it off with a dive kick that connected to Yin's back.

A dust cloud kicked up from when Yin was flung to the ground.

Vega leaped out of the dust cloud and watched it slowly disperse. The silhouette of a figure about the same height as him slowly emerged from the dust cloud. There wasn't a single scratch on his skin, nor did he seem to be in pain from internal injuries.

"Adamantite skin sure is convenient." Yin said in a relaxed manner.

"It has its ups and downs. Our body did become heavier because of it. Remember how crazy Melody acted when she found out her body weight?" Vega asked.

"How could I forget? She was crazy enough to starve herself. Vale somehow managed to change her mind back then." Yin chuckled.

"Those were good times. Ready to get serious?" Vega asked.

"You wouldn't be satisfied if we stop here, would you?" Yin replied with his own question.

"Do you need to ask? Of course not." Vega smirked.

Once again, the gap between them shorten to a distance of five feet. The air was quiet as the two looked at each other. The two of them were no longer smiling; their faces both wore a solemn expression.

Yin threw the first punch. A fast, straight punch collided into Vega's right cheek. His head was forcefully pushed back, but that wasn't enough to stop him. Vega clenched his fist and counter-attacked with his own punch that connected to Yin's left cheek.

So that's how you want to play it! Yin disregarded his defense and threw another punch that hit Vega's head. Vega replied in the same manner as before and counter-attacked. The first simple punch led to a flurry of exchanges between the two of them. The speed of their fists grew faster with each exchanged. It wasn't a matter of hitting the head anymore. As soon as one punch lands, then they'll immediately throw out another one indiscriminately.

Heavy thud sounds emitted after every blow. Their fists traveled through the air with a whipped noise. It wasn't until the fortieth exchanged that Yin noticed the difference between every hit his body endured. Vega's pupil glowed red and his punch became heavier and faster. It was then that Vega's speed gradually outpaced Yin. Every hit Yin threw, Vega would throw two more. His speed exponentially rose to a whole new level that Yin couldn't compete with.

On the fiftieth exchanged, Yin took a hit to the face that his body couldn't endure. He was sent flying three feet away before crashing to the ground. His eyes were puffy, and his body was fatigue and sore. Yin stumbled as he picked himself off the ground. He faced Vega, who had cuts and bruises all over his body. His cheeks were also puffy and numbed.

Vega furiously panted as he slowly made his way over to Yin. His weak posture was full of openings. Sweats from his forehead dripped down onto his grey dress shirt, but it didn't seem to bother him at all.

Yin also made long strides with every slow step. His breathing was unstable and his body seem like it could collapse at any moment. Sweat also ran down his body, but it wasn't noticeable due to the color of his dark shirt.

The two finally closed the distance and they threw their last and final punch. Their two fist lightly tapped against each other and their body fell onto the grass afterwards. The sounds of heavy breathing permeated the air for a few minutes. Both of them stared at the endless blue sky that stretches far from what they can perceive. Clouds drifted through the sky, occasionally blocking the sunlight from hitting those two.

"Two hundred and two to two hundred and three..." Yin said while gasping for air. He closed his eyes and relaxed his muscles. The cool air refreshingly encompassed his entire body.

"You didn't even use magic. Did you forget to bring your wand?" Vega asked.

"Something like that. The Sol family's Bloodborn really is scary. I couldn't even keep up with your punches at the end of the fight."

"I just got lucky. Not everyone in my family has it. Anyway, Yin, hurry up with the ceremony!"

"Ok, ok, I just need a moment to breathe!" He inhaled a deep breath of air and said,  "I, Yin Yore of the Four Legendary Adventurers, invoke the Twentieth Sacred Law and declare Vega Sol of the Four Legendary Adventurers as the winner." A smile appeared on his face followed by a heavy sigh. He was glad that it was finally over.

The two laid on the grassy field without a care in the world. Many minutes passed by as the two indulge in nature's warmth.

"Yin, do you remember the tale about the Hero of Norm?" Vega asked.

"The legendary, heroic fighter who held the title of "World's Strongest." He slayed monsters and demons with his trusty companions as they venture across the world cleansing the evil hidden within." Yin enthused.

"At the end of the fairy tale, he died from a curse during his victory over the Demon race. Family, friends, and the citizen mourn his death and built a stone monument of his glorious pose. Is it... Do you think he deserved to be called a hero?" Vega asked.

"Isn't that what heroes are destined for? They defeat evil people, save the world, and die a heroic death. Their heroic deeds will be etched into the memories of their loved ones and live on through history." Yin said.

"I... don't think he deserves to be called a hero. What would happen if something dangerous occurs again? What if all the things he done have some sort of unexpected consequence that awakens a disaster in the future?" Vega explicitly pondered.

Yin glanced at Vega from the corner of his eyes and asked, "What do you think a hero should be?"

"I don't know. What defines a hero and what doesn't? Are the people who died in the war considered heroes? They tried their hardest, but in the end, they weren't fated to live. No one talks about them, worship them, or mourn for them other than their family. I wish I knew the answer, but I think... heroes have to live on and see everything until the end." Vega contemplated.

You've changed... Yin thought as he stood up.  He patted his pants and shirt to dust off all the dirt sticking to his clothes. He extended his hand to help Vega off the ground. Vega smiled and accepted the kind gesture. The two supported each other and made their way back to Highborn Academy.