“So lemme figure this out. You got powers like mages, and you are a mage, but you don’t wear cloaks or come from Mage Country?”
Akane nodded, jogging beside Rafiq on the sidewalk towards Tennoji Temple. The distant smell of teriyaki chicken invited him to stray from their path, to stop for a quick snack.
“Indeed,” she said. “Did you think all mages were like that?”
“All the mages I heard of are like that, yeah. I mean, there’s West Gale, that one fire mage I wanted to go to Morocco to fight…”
“Flint Striker doesn’t wear a cloak, either.”
“Oh shit, yeah. How does that even work?”
“Well…hm. Allow me to explain it like this,” Akane said as they jogged across a crosswalk. “Where are you from, Rafiq?”
“Pakistan, but I think my Nani’s from India.”
“Okay. Can I assume you’re Muslim, too?”
Rafiq grinned. “You think, just cause I’m Pakistani, that I’m—”
Akane raised her eyebrows.
“Yeah, I am.”
“Right. In the same way, the spectrum of Mages being more or less traditional Mages is just like people having more or less traditional beliefs in Islam.”
“Oh, bet. I get what you mean. A little before I joined Mr. Stone, my Dad chewed my sis out ‘cause she told him she liked this guy that wasn’t Muslim,” Rafiq said, rolling his eyes. “I ain't agree, but she deserved it, and it wasn’t me, so…” He shrugged.
“How would you feel?”
“If I was her, and I liked someone that wasn’t like me? Shit, if I liked ‘em that much, I’d say screw what others say. If I love them, I love them.”
“Then you understand me better than you’ll ever know.”
Rafiq raised an eyebrow. Up until now, he’d only seen her as Mr. Stone’s intimidating — yet admittedly hot — ex-girlfriend, cold and judging behind those distant eyes. But, as she jogged beside him, he read the distance in a different way. He saw the sparks behind her pupils, the independent fire in her eyes.
Was Mr. Stone that person for her?
Reaching the temple cut their conversation short, before he could ask. Tennoji Temple was a harsh contrast from the urban setting. Walls towered around the outside of the complex, hiding a buddhist statue in the center of the courtyard, between the multiple buildings.
There, at the foot of the buddhist statue, a monk with a smooth head and black robes crouched in the grass in silent meditation. The dying sunset shined into Rafiq’s eyes, from the blood-red edge of the long katana in his lap.
For a moment, Rafiq paused, considering the chances of another monk here perfectly fitting Ahng’s description.
Hell no.
Rafiq stomped on a nearby stick. Ahng didn’t even jump in surprise from the sharp crack. He shifted and rose to his feet slowly, a few inches shorter than Rafiq.
“Welcome to the Tennoji Temple, travelers,” he said, his eyes following Rafiq’s flickering glances to his katana. “Be not afraid. This blade may not be meant for you, depending on what you are approaching me for.”
Rafiq set his jaw.
Ahng ran a finger along the edge of his katana, licking a bead of blood from his fingertip. “I see I was correct. I could’ve sensed your disgusting intent from a mile away.”
“I thought y’all monks were supposed to be nice. I hoped I could’ve met one of the peaceful guys first, at least.”
“There are no ‘nice guys’. Not anymore,” Ahng said. “Now what, petulant child? Are you here to challenge me under the eyes of the Buddha? Go on. Get the words out. You’ve already interrupted my meditation.”
Rafiq clenched his fist, but Akane put a hand on his shoulder, and he took a breath, calming the anger within. “Nah. I don’t wanna piss you off more before we even start. Ain’t there somewhere more private we can handle our business?”
“I see your fervor for battle does not overrule your respect. Come.”
He turned and paced towards one of the old-style buildings, leaving Rafiq the space to follow.
“Do you need me to come with you?” Akane asked.
“You good. Get some meditation in. I’ll make it quick.”
With that, Akane remained and walked over to the Buddha statue while Rafiq followed Ahng into one of the buildings. The architecture felt like the real thing Mr. Stone’s old dojo was supposed to replicate, with the tan walls and visible oak beams. Rafiq took his shoes off, and his toes sank into the soft tatami mats. He was connected to the earth itself, with no shoes or socks as middle men.
Kicking would feel even more natural.
“You sure we ain’t gonna wake anyone else up?” he asked, as Ahng shuffled through the wide room.
“Worry not. There is no anyone else to wake up.”
“You alone in this whole temple?”
Ahng eyed him over his shoulder as they turned a corner into a straight hallway, Closed sliding doors walled them off between a narrow hallway, with a ceiling high enough to jump over an opponent, but too narrow to step side to side. It was almost like the fighting simulation games Carmen loved.
Rafiq scoffed — did he pick this area on purpose?
“Indeed. I am alone. The others could not follow my beliefs. You see, the final goal in Buddhism is a state free of suffering, of desire, of life or even death. But, the great Buddha was wrong in believing that we could walk that path without eliminating our obstacles.”
Ahng stopped at the end of the hallway, gripping his katana. Rafiq tensed.
“We will be free of suffering when we eliminate those who cause us to suffer. We will be free of desire when our goals are achieved, or when we eliminate the sources of those goals. Even if that elimination must come by force.”
“Even if you gotta kill people for it? That’s bullshit,” Rafiq said. “No wonder ain’t nobody else here that liked you.”
Ahng scoffed. “Even if I must kill you for it. But, I propose a second path.” He extended a hand. “We both have money. We both have the ability to wager on ourselves. Wager on yourself, and then throw the game. I believe that the combined additional bets from spectators will benefit the both of us.”
Rafiq’s heart skipped a beat. Anger rose in his chest as he barely fought to keep his jaw from clenching too hard.
Coach.
It was the exact kind of deal that Sir Guardian gave Coach, all those years ago. Just before he could’ve reached the Fifty, Coach agreed with Sir Guardian to bet his life savings on his own loss, and to pocket the earnings afterwards. But, when Sir Guardian betrayed him, he became selfish and cruel, and passed those same selfish morals onto Rafiq.
And now here he was, forced with the same opportunity. It may work. It may line his own pockets, sure. But, if any of them lost their fights, they would be removed from the program. He’d be costing them the program for the sake of money.
He’d be betraying his friends.
But Rafiq didn’t show that conflict, nor the thousands of sirens in his mind screaming Hell no! He chuckled, before nodding. “Sounds like a deal to me. I challenge you to a ranked fight, Ahng!”
A smile crossed Ahng’s face as he seemed to think Rafiq accepted the deal while menus appeared between the both of them. Calming his heart, Rafiq eyed Ahng’s stats.
image [https://i.imgur.com/3U32uTL.png]
Ahng was a Golden Class, higher than his S Class. By the chart alone, Rafiq thought he’d be better fighting at any range. But, Ahng’s Speed, Combo-Potential, and Long-Range were only so small because his Damage was three stats higher than Maximum. It stuck out so far, a red spike jabbed from the top of his menu screen, stabbing his heart with fear.
The katana was dangerous, more so than anyone he’d ever faced.
Ahng accepted the challenge, and the referee spawned in the center of the hallway between them. “Rex VS. Ahng. Best of three! Fighters, enter your starting positions!”
Rafiq warmed up, hopping in place before entering his fighting stance. The option came up to bet on his own fight, and while Ahng slid his upwards, betting his own money, Rafiq mimed doing it himself, his true inaction hidden behind the menu.
“Round one!”
Even if the hallway was so narrow, it would be fine. He had the mental advantage. Ahng thought he’d throw. He thought he’d really agree with such a bullshit plan.
“Ready?”
Rafiq took a final deep breath.
Watch the sword.
“Fight!”
Down. Back.
Rafiq summoned a dodgeball in his left hand and plucked it from the air as he backpedaled out of the way of the opening slash he knew was coming. Ahng’s katana sang through the air and missed.
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Down. Forward. Throw!
Rafiq summoned and threw a second dodgeball, punishing Ahng and freezing him in hitstun before going in for the combo. After a few kicks and a Kodeup Chagi — two more powerful kicks to the rib and skull — he threw his second ball, freezing Ahng once again to eat a second combo.
Rafiq backpedaled out of his range as Ahng slashed upwards on wakeup. “You lied to me!” he shouted, his voice really loud within the small hallway.
“You thought I’d take that bum ass deal?! I’m not selling out my friends!” Rafiq yelled back, feeling his blood start pumping as he summoned an offhand dodgeball.
Down. Forward. Kick.
As soon as he jumped and kicked in the air, he launched forward like a missile, bouncing off of Ahng’s guard in a backflip. As he fell, Rafiq threw the ball in his hand to keep Ahng in blockstun as he landed and went into a blockstring.
He paused for a breath and went for a grab. Ahng elbowed him, tagging him in hitstun. Rafiq’s heart dropped. He lost the offensive momentum, but it was fine. He’d survive. His health was full, so he’d still have the dismemberment protection by now.
Ahng’s katana gleamed blood red before ripping through Rafiq’s abdomen and spraying the wall with blood. Rafiq’s entire body went numb, and his lungs left the game. In a single hit, his health dropped to only a quarter, draining fast as he bled like a wet rag.
And he couldn’t even draw words. His vision blurred. Ahng drew back for a swing. Rafiq put up a block with his legs shaking, barely standing on his shaking legs. Even though he blocked, the sheer force pushed him a foot back, causing him to stagger against a sliding door.
Ahng swung for his neck, and Rafiq barely felt the katana make contact before the world went black. The next thing he knew, he woke up with fresh clothes in a pool of his own blood, and no horrible gash across his stomach and chest.
Rafiq grit his teeth. “You f—” He seethed, holding himself back before taking a breath to recenter himself and standing up. “You’re surprising me, bro. How did you get through the dismemberment shield?”
“Do you expect me to reveal my hand after you betrayed me?” Ahng scoffed. “You’ve seen my statistics. My focus in my mission to achieve nirvana surpasses my desire for Speed, Long-Range, and for Combos, in the name of raw Damage. If you cannot understand how, you do not need to. After all…”
“Round two!”
“We’re here to kill each other. Nothing more.”
Rafiq entered his, too. After a moment, the edge of Ahng’s katana flashed red, and a transparent energy dripped from the edge, fading away.
Was that the secret?
“Ready?”
He hadn’t moved his feet at all ever since shifting into his stance, and his katana’s appearance changed. Did his intensified damage depend on his movement — or, his lack there-of?
“Fight!”
Rafiq dashed back with a dodgeball summon, and the red flash disappeared from Ahng’s katana as he lunged forward to pursue. He couldn’t block while moving. Rafiq braced himself, but, instead of slicing him like a sausage, the dashing punish only took a quarter health and knocked him on his behind.
He got to his feet with a smile. It was true; Ahng’s katana let him bypass the dismemberment threshold only if he wasn’t moving while he attacked. Rafiq lobbed the ball in his hand, keeping Ahng in place from hitstun as he jumped over him. Ahng’s katana shimmered red as Rafiq touched ground behind him.
Ahng flashed into a high slash.
Down. Kick.
Rafiq crouched and dodged with a Spinning Hook Kick to Ahng’s jaw, opening him up for a combo of kicks, neutralizing the health advantage. He cursed himself for not chaining the combo into a second one with a dodgeball throw, but it didn’t matter. Rafiq threw on wakeup instead, but Ahng rolled underneath and towards him into a slash, forcing Rafiq to retreat a step.
Down. Back.
The retreat counted as a back input, and Rafiq summoned an offhand dodgeball, tossing it at his guard before going for the jump-in throw. Ahng’s katana flashed red as he remained in place and crouched.
Down. Up.
Rafiq’s breath caught in his throat. No dismemberment protection. As Ahng shot upwards in a slashing uppercut DP, Rafiq kicked off of the wall, redirecting himself midair. Instead of his ribcage, the blade slashed across Rafiq’s ankle, drawing blood as he landed in a tumble.
A rough tumble was better than a lost round. Wincing against the pain, Rafiq caught his breath and gained distance with a quick dash as Ahng landed. Ahng was too dangerous when he remained in place, and the only special move he’d used so far counted jump-in attacks. Blockstrings were too dangerous, too; last time led to him losing the first round.
I gotta bait him. That’s the move.
Down. Forward.
“Let’s see how you handle this Dodgeball!” Rafiq shouted, enhancing his summon with his voice and plucking a golden EX dodgeball from the air.
Ahng scoffed, narrowing his glare. Rafiq dribbled as he slowly approached, feeling how differently his ball bounced on the tatami mats as the timer ticked past the halfway mark. He flinched into a fake, to no bite.
Down. Forward.
But, Rafiq summoned a second red ball and bounced it off of the ground, kicking it at the ceiling — and bouncing it down on Ahng. Ahng raised his katana above his head, blocking high as Rafiq lunged in closer. From that position, there was only one way he could slash. Ahng swung straight down and Rafiq weaved past the slash, kicking Ahng in the ankle, starting his punish from a low kick.
A few more kicks and another red throw, and he launched into the second combo, finishing that one by lobbing the golden dodgeball into Ahng’s gut. It shined on impact, freezing him with blockstun for even longer as Rafiq smiled.
It was time to finish the plan.
Back, Forward, Down, Forward.
Yellow light surged around the outside of Rafiq’s vision as his heartbeat accelerated and his legs shined like gold. He kicked hard in Ahng’s stomach, and time slowed around him, freezing in awe as he struck over and over, racking his brain for every position, every combination, feeling every impact like music to his heart.
Rafiq jumped and ended it with a final kick to the head, launching Ahng into one of the bedrooms, unconscious.
“Down!”
The rush of energy left his body, and Rafiq pumped his fist in excitement in the direction he hoped the invisible camera was watching them from. He was right! Fake-outs were his best bet against Ahng. The referee revived Ahng back into the hallway and repaired the hole in the wall, where Rafiq briefly saw that, indeed, the arena boundary ended at the end of the hallway.
Ahng sighed. “You fool. This could’ve been so easy,” he spat.
“You really thought I’d sell out my friends?”
“Please. The ‘power of friendship’ is child’s play — I thought you would’ve been smart enough to recognize that,” Ahng said. “You are deluded! You are not fighting in a team. Only you can be the number one. What use do you have for fighting for the sake of others who are not in the ring with you?”
“Round two!”
Rafiq clenched his fists. “Because I’m gon’ need somebody when I come out the ring a winner. Save the bullshit! I’m done listening to people who ain’t me, and who don’t have my best interests in their heart. And I’m especially done listening to sore losers.”
“Ready?”
“You will regret those words.”
“Fight!”
Rafiq dashed back and summoned an offhand dodgeball immediately, but where he expected Ahng to press forward with a slash or stay in place, Ahng jumped in with a heavy slash. He raised his guard against his katana, but just like the first round, it hit his guard like a truck with an aura of evil red energy, stunning Rafiq for a moment as Ahng touched the ground. The stun kept him in place for a breath, long enough for Ahng’s katana to start glowing red.
He had to guess right.
A high or a low. If he was right and blocked, the force behind his slashes would still stun him, just like the first round. If he was wrong, he was dead. There was too much risk. He had to get away.
But, it turned out that slashes were never the plan. WHen Rafiq dashed a step back, Ahng chased him down with a blockstring, his slashes direct and efficient, yet aggressive with every blow.
“Burst!”
His katana shined red with the aura of Aggroburst, passing right through Rafiq’s guard and stunning him in hitstun before second slash to launch Rafiq into the air.
Forward, Down, Back, Forward.
Ahng drew his sword back into a thrusting position as a blood red aura bled around the sword’s blade, and his eyes turned black and red.
“Now, you will know my hatred!”
If he got touched by that, he was definitely dead.
But, for once, he was glad to be tall. It had its perks, aside from making it hard to get out of airplanes. It made him long enough to reach out and brace himself, pushing his hands against one wall and his feet against the other to freeze his momentum.
Ahng stabbed at the air, missing his ultimate.
Rafiq released and dropped into a punishing kick to the head, and this time, he ended the combo with a dodgeball throw, linking into a second rush of attacks. As Ahng flew backwards, on wakeup, Rafiq threw a first dodgeball but kicked a second into the ceiling. Ahng only blocked both, staying on the defensive.
Rafiq cracked a smirk as a light bulb went off in his head. He threw a third dodgeball, straight on, waiting until the very last moment before it collided with Ahng’s guard.
“Burst!”
Like a crimson sun, the light of an Aggroburst enveloped his dodgeball, too soon for Ahng to get out of the way. It shot through his guard and over his katana, smacking him in the face and freezing him in hitstun long enough for Rafiq to jump in with a kick and continue into a third combo.
Kick. Throw. Kick. Throw. Adrenaline pounded through his ears as he kept Ahng in a loop, kicking him once and throwing a dodgeball to freeze him for the next kick. But, with every hit, he only saw Coach. He only heard his voice. He only felt the encouragement to be rude and selfish, and the anger knowing that he’d never be like that again.
It got him so riled up that he kicked a little too hard, the next time, and knocked Ahng too far back at the last moment. Ahng was one hit away from losing the round, and one hit away from Rafiq winning.
But a red aura intensified around his entire body, around his sword, and his eyes started glowing, too, enough for the aura to be strong enough that he could see it with his naked eyes.
Ahng pulled his robe off and tossed it aside, and Rafiq even saw his blood vessels glowing. “You thought me a fool for refusing to yield? I’m only just now getting started.
Rafiq clenched his jaw. He knew what the blood around his katana ment; his damage was even more enhanced, now that his health was low. He slowly shuffled forward, barely even an inch, but the red glow from when he stood in place didn't disappear. It remained for small steps.
Ahng closed the distance slowly, with his damage enhanced and his katana already able to bypass the dismemberment threshold. Rafiq knew his health advantage didn’t even matter; one wrong move, and he would be dead. He tried throwing a dodgeball, but Ahng easily blocked it, and when he kicked one off of the ceiling, Ahng sidestepped and dodged it, letting it miss.
He was only about seven feet away. Too close for him to try that again. Rafiq backed away, too, but soon, his back was to the boundary, where the hallway ended. Ahng was cornering him. One hit, and he would die. Rafiq summoned an offhand dodgeball and dribbled it in place, meeting Ahng’s glare as he held his katana ready for a swing and edged closer.
I won’t let you win, Coach.
Rafiq kept his nerves on edge.
One hit.
One victory.
He didn’t have anywhere else to run.
Ahng flinched to swing.
Rafiq threw the dodgeball down and stuck his knee out, letting it bounce into Ahng’s face and throw off his aim. Instead of splitting him in two, his katana ripped through Rafiq’s abdomen, straight down from his shoulder. But, he got out of hitstun faster than Ahng got out of the hitstun from his dodgeball throw, and threw his entire body into one final blood-ridden punch, knocking Ahng out.
“K.O.!”
Ahng collapsed, unconscious, but Rafiq caught himself as blood soaked his entire pant leg and his body was numb by adrenaline, urging him to finally let it drop. His gamble worked. But the fight wasn’t over yet.
The referee hadn’t called it yet. He had to stay up, or it would become a draw. He had to stay up. He had to survive.
He would. He wouldn't fall. He was stronger than that, and stronger than Coach ever would be.
As he gasped for breath and a black haze started to swallow his vision, the referee grabbed Rafiq’s hand and raised it into the air, healing all of his wounds. “Rex wins!”
Rafiq let a triumphant smile paint his face as a menu appeared showing his new rank and his new class, in the low Golden Class. He felt good about winning, and good about the strategies he used to win.
But, ahead, the referee revived Ahng, and a menu showed Ahng losing his rank and even dropping from S Class as he stabbed his katana into the ground and glared at Rafiq over his shoulder.
“I should kill you where you stand.”
Rafiq’s triumphant happiness disappeared, and he was ready to call for a rematch.
“But, you bested me, and I must respect that, even if you desecrated the honor of my blade by rejecting my deal. Leave, boy. Immediately.”