My name is Ulto Veriase, here in the Deathworld Game, I am known as 'The Pugilist'.

Where I'm from I was the undisputed champion in the world of martial arts, widely considered to be the best fighter of my entire generation.

I used to have all the challenges I could ever want, but that slowly faded.

It's like they say, there's only so many times you can beat a man down before he'll never get back up.

I became untouchable, and so all my challengers stopped coming, aiming for the second-place slot instead.

With my challengers gone, my spotlight disappeared.

But my hunger to fight never faded.

When the voice offered me a place within this illustrious competition, I leapt at it.

Further on, I eventually earned my signature [Skill], [Champion's Circle].

Finally, after all this time, I could fight in a one-on-one no-holds-barred fight.

Many of the so-called 'champions' I found were entirely unworthy of that title.

I found myself so utterly bored fighting here, as most of my competition relied so heavily on their [Skills] and weapons to get through fights that they stood no chance against me.

There were only three others that I found, that I would even consider worthy of the title of 'champion', and they are the ones with me today.

We didn't even need words to arrange it, we all just independently decided that we were going to save the most glorious fight for last, an all-out brawl between us four.

So that brings us to the present.

I split up the massive group following the 'champion', and we all simply chose our opponents like we always did.

There wasn't really any sort of 'large fighter type' in the group, so I just went against the tallest one instead.

[Andrew The Unorthodox, plus six other titles]

Danger Level: Almost Harmless

I had to say, I was a little disappointed when I saw the danger level, but I figured I could have a good time pummeling a weak thing into submission.

Every great fighter needs at least some cannon fodder right?

I took a relaxed stance, waiting for him to take the first move.

He gave himself a once-over and then sized me up.

Next, he immediately changed his stance, putting both arms into a cross-arm-block.

Smart move I have to say. He knew he couldn't take my punches head-on, so he was going to try to go on the defensive.

I decided that meant that I got the honor of the first hit and slowly closed the distance.

He proceeded to back away just as fast as I could approach.

I rolled my eyes.

Does he really think that I'm going to let him give me the runaround?

I rushed him, then stopped just within range, transferring my momentum into my opening punch.

He dodged to the side and kicked me in the stomach.

The hit itself barely hurt, but I did notice it was a bit harder than I expected.

I looked down at his feet and found that he was wearing some kind of metal boot thing with... spurs on them?

Maybe he was an equestrian? Either way, I surprised that [Champion's Circle] didn't take them away considering their shape.

I also supposed that meant it, like his helmet and chestplate, were considered armor and therefore not weapons.

I followed up with a left jab.

He didn't have the time to react properly, and took the jab dead-on.

However, he managed to roll with the punch, negating most of the blow.

This 'Andrew' person was a better fighter than he looked.

But it didn't matter.

I began the move I was known for... The Ulto Rush.

An endless barrage of jabs assailed my foe, and while he could roll with the punches, he was running out of room.

You see, [Champion's Circle] is called that for a reason, it creates a circular area around the both of us.

A 'fighting ring' if you would.

And Andrew was backing straight up into it.

Then it happened.

He squeaked in surprise as he hit 'the ropes' so to speak.

I used the opportunity to step in and deliver a right cross.

He had nowhere to go, so he took the full force of the strike.

Under my fists, I felt the shattering of bones.

From his mouth came a shrill scream.

Then something strange happened, instead of looking at me in fear or trying to run away, he gripped the sides of his chestplate to keep his arms in place and looked me dead in the face.

His expression was the expression of someone who knew that losing was not an option.

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I chuckled. "Don't worry, I'll make sure you get a warrior's death."

I began another Ulto Rush, which he sidestepped, sending a kick into the same spot where his last had landed.

I shrugged it off as though it had never happened and renewed my Ulto Rush.

He leapt back, hoping to gain some distance.

I followed him, going in for another right cross.

He sidestepped to the right, kicked me in the stomach again, and then stopped moving.

I was starting to get really annoyed.

Without turning, I jabbed at him with my right, and then followed it up with a long left hook.

He moved into close range, dodged my jab, ducked under my hook, and gave another kick to my stomach.

I decided that it was time to get serious.

I tightened my guard ready for more low-attacks.

He probably couldn't even reach my head to begin with, otherwise that would be his best bet.

I gave him a couple one-twos, which only served to make him back-step out of range.

I tried to predict what he was going to do next, but nothing he did made any sense.

He looked at me with that look of determination, yet he continued to back off.

I followed his retreat, jabbing at him every once in a while in an attempt to either catch him with an unpredicted strike, or to tire him out, whichever came first.

As it turned out, neither came first.

I stopped for a moment and realized that I was breathing heavily.

When did that happen?

Wait a minute, how long have I been fighting for?

This 'Andrew' guy barely looks weathered at all, besides his injuries of course, so it feels like it should be the start of the fight, but I know it's not.

I look down and notice I'm flat-footed.

How long have I been?!

I tried to add the spring back into my step, but found that it made my legs burn.

It seems I need to end this fight now.

I step into a barrage of crosses, before stepping back out, hoping to bait a counter.

He takes the bait, going in for another kick.

I unleash an uppercut.

He dodges to the side and kicks me in the stomach... but this time it actually hurts a little.

What is going on?!

I look down at him angrily.

He sticks his tongue out.

It was at this moment that I lost my cool.

I rushed in and beat on him as fast as I could... but he refused to go down.

I resolved to hit him with a punch that would break every bone in his body.

I stepped in, and threw all of the force in my body into it.

Suddenly, I felt my abdominal muscles tear, and then I couldn't breathe.

I looked down and saw that he somehow had kicked under my ribcage without breaking skin.

He had somehow figured out a way to kick me directly in the lungs.

He pulled his foot away and I fell to my knees.

While I was kneeling, trying to recover my breath, I felt a sharp pain in the back of my head.

I finally found my second wind and pushed him away from me.

I stood, barely still on my feet.

I put up my guard... but he didn't.

My vision got a bit blurry, so I had to focus in order to piece it together.

I looked at his right spur, and saw that it was red.

The obvious thought didn't click immediately, it only made sense when my back started to feel wet.

My guard dropped, not on purpose, but instead because I was too tired to hold it any longer.

I looked down at his eyes, now filled with the anticipation of a predator waiting for his prey to die.

My mind was brought back to a moment a little after I defeated the number one strongest martial artist and took his title.

My trainer turned to me and said this: "At this point, you won't be beaten by someone who's stronger than you, you'll be beaten by someone weaker that refuses to give up."

The last words that came to mind were also the last words I said: "I guess you were right."

----------------------------------------

Nilyid

I was in total shock.

How were we supposed to kill this monster? It's not like any of us were Nemeses.

"Nilyid! Snap out of it!" Divyn called.

The sound of his voice did indeed rid me of my stupor.

I stood up shakily, barely able to look Ewart in the eye.

I laughed at my own ineptitude. "Man, Dad would be so disappointed in me if he was still here."

"Oh, is it time for breakfast then?" Ewart asked, sending a chill down my spine.

I shook it off, I wasn't going to let him play with my mind.

I needed to move and that's all there was to it.

I exhaled and charged at him with the polehammer that each Fifska was given all that time ago.

In seconds, a hand rose from the matte-black floor and punched me in the stomach.

While I was reeling, another grabbed and threw me into another Fifska.

I rolled off of whoever it was, both of us groaning in pain.

"Are you okay?" I asked them.

"I think the chestplate saved me from a collapsed lung, but that's the end of the good news." They replied.

I chuckled, causing my chest to ache. "Fair enough."

I rose again, a bit slower than last time.

What would Andrew do in this situation?

Bad question, I can barely follow what he's doing most of the time, let alone in response to something like this.

I eyeballed my crossbow for a moment, but thought better of it when I saw the villagers behind Ewart.

I'm already a poor shot, with my hands being as shaky as they are... it would be too much of a risk.

I instead opted for a slower approach into melee.

Now, it definitely had the upside of giving me more time to react, but it also had a massive downside.

You see, you don't have to think about the consequences as much when you rush in, you can just set your brain to autopilot a little bit... unfortunately, the same could not be said about a careful approach.

I made my way closer and closer to Ewart completely unaccosted, until I was standing right next to him, staring into his eyes.

Then his mouth unhinged and split into four.

My entire body froze.

"Be a good morsel and sate me would you?"

His mouth whipped toward me unnaturally fast, aimed directly for my face.

Then he suddenly jerked to the side.

He stumbled, trying to regain his balance before he and I both discovered the cause.

He had been shot in the face with a bolt, not that it seemed to do more than annoy him.

I looked over and saw Divyn standing there. "What did I say about snapping out of it?!"

"Oh yeah?! Where were you when I tried to rush him?!"

"The reason I didn't go is because I didn't know you were going until you got punched in the stomach... that one's on me!" He apologized. "That said, you should probably pay attention to the monster that's trying to eat your face!"

I looked back at Ewart, and dove to the side moments before he came back to finish what he'd started.

I scrambled back to my feet, dodging several hands which tried to hold me down.

I waved my polehammer at him, hoping to create some breathing room for a moment.

Without looking, I started giving a speech. "What are all of you doing?! Waiting to be saved?! This isn't like before where Andrew can just solve all of your problems for you, you have to stand up and grasp victory in your hands! I know this is scary, terrifying even, but nothing will change if you're constantly petrified! The first step is to move, you can think about how horrified you are after that!"

Out of my periphery, I saw the others tentatively rise to their feet.

"That's rich, the morsels think they can rise above the maw? I will personally take it upon myself to cause true agony to those who try!" Ewart countered.

"It's better to die in agony than to live a few seconds longer filled with the regret of watching someone die who you know you could have saved!" My eyes filled with tears. "Gredaw was my dad, and if I had tried to help him when he fought Polimus, he might still have been alive to fight with me now!"

"That's enough!"

I was flatfooted for slightly too long, and got grabbed by a shadowy hand.

Before Ewart could capitalize on it however, one of the other Fifskae hit the hand with their polehammer, setting me free. "The list of names on the monument wouldn't be half as long if we could fight on our own!" They declared.

One by one, the village came together to help fight Ewart The Twisted, and he started to lose ground.

Each time a hand would rise from the ground, someone would destroy it before it could do anything.

Each time Ewart would reel back to bite someone, he would take a bunch of polehammer strikes.

"I will show the morsels their place! [Shadows Of Regret]!"

Suddenly, I was completely alone except for one other person.

A person that I missed dearly.

My father stood before me, bloodied, broken, and terrified. "Nilyid, why?"

I fell to my knees and closed my eyes. "You're not real! My dad is dead!"

"Nilyid, why do reject your father? Don't you love me anymore? Did you forget me Nilyid?!"

"No of course not! I see you just about every time I close my eyes! I see the expression that was on your face in your last moments over and over until I go crazy!" I opened my eyes back up. "The fear on his face was hidden because he knew the ones around him would still have to fight! That's just the type of person he was!"

The copy didn't say anything, it just stared back at me.

"I'm sorry I couldn't move then Dad, but I promise I won't make the same mistake twice."

Then the illusion was gone and I was back in the middle of a fight.

Many were wailing and begging for forgiveness, but plenty were already back in the fight.

I rushed back in toward Ewart and smacked him upside the face with my polehammer. "You are not allowed to use the image of my dad you disgusting creature!"

"Morsels do not have the authority to issue demands of me!" He screamed.

I begun laughing. "You're terrified aren't you?"

"How could the almighty Ewart be afraid of a morsel?"

"But I'm not a morsel, I'm a person standing in front of you, one that you have yet to even lick."

"Morsels do not-" Ewart began.

"Why do you keep calling me a morsel?! Is it because you're afraid to recognize me as something that can oppose you?!"

"Shut up! SHUT UP! SHUT UP!"

[The Skill "Shadows Of Regret" has ended early due to the user's level of duress.]

Everyone looked up at once and then turned their gaze to Ewart.

"The morsels will fear me!"

He was set upon by a mass of furious Fiskae, all baying for his blood.

He tried to use his hands to defend against them, but eventually enough of the Fifskae got through to knock him to the ground and immobilize him.

I walked up to him. "You're just a scared-"

"[Silencing Fear]!"

[A Skill has failed due to not meeting all requirements.]

I looked down at him. "You're pathetic." I then lifted my polehammer above my head and brought it down on his head.

The last expression he made was one of fear.

The world around us returned to normal and we all breathed a sigh of relief.

That was until Hund's voice called out from the distance. "Andrew! Andrew! Ayula and Sydui need help!"