Underground town - afternoon
The gray swordsman aims his blade for my throat. Even if it's not touching my skin, I can tell it could cut my head open like a watermelon
This son of a bitch thinks he can just roll up and do whatever he wants? Well, you got another thing coming.
“What’s the matter, kid? Scared?”
“You wish, old man.”
“Hey, hey, hey! You just call me old? Do I look old to you?”
“Can’t tell, ya know, with that gray hair and all.”
My hands inch over to my blades. Just a little, not too fast, not too slow. If this pressure keeps up, then I’m gonna choke up before I can fight.
"Too slow.” A sudden kick to my ribs causes me to grit my teeth. I roll against the ground. “You’re too slow. If you’re gonna draw your sword, draw it.”
Guess I’m not as sneaky as I thought. Okay, if he insists, then who the hell am I to refuse.
“Hmm, not bad. The blades themselves are nice in quality, as for you… Footing isn’t bad and your stand ain’t half bad. Though, you don’t seem to be the type to use two blades.”
“Put a sock in it!”
Making the first move, I move quickly. I can’t waste time fighting this guy, my gut says he’s no pushover! I fake a swing with the left sword, using the other one to nail him. He blocks the attack, seeing through my trick. His boot connects with my gut, pushing me away for the second time.
“Not bad, kid. Tried to pull a fast one on me, but it was too obvious. I can tell you're right arm dominant, right? Come on, I’m right, aren’t I?”
How did he figure that out? Is he a mind reader or something? Ew, disgusting, nasty, pervert!
“...A person's stance can tell me a thing or two about em. Yours tells me that you’ve been a swordsman for a little. There’s no lack of experience, but not enough to compete with me. Plus, it also tells me you pee sitting down.”
“What!? No, I don’t, you goddamn…”
With no warning or any sign, he rushes forward, switching his sword from his right to his left. He’s closing a 15-meter gap quickly. I have to dodge!
He’s not going to let me move out of the way, I can tell. Good thing I’m a risk-taker. Just 5 feet from each other, I dive forward, leaping over his blade, which horizontally slashes the air.
Hand standing on his shoulders, I wrap one arm around his neck. I then put another around his waist as I dropped past his torso. Using this momentum to twist us around, I fling his ass away from me
Would you look at that, he dropped his sword. Said I couldn’t touch it earlier, so I might as well cop a feel now. It's weighty, but nothing I’m not used to. Oddly enough, it feels wet around the handle. It’s kinda thick too; like a cloth wrapped around the handle.
“You shouldn’t touch another man’s weapon, kid. After all, you never know what tricks he might have up his sleeve.”
Water swirls at the center of the hilt. The water is building up more and more, leaking off the sword like water out of a fountain. The water comes at me, raging as hard as a torrent and as big as a wave. It washes me away from the sword. It comes to an end as soon as I’m out of his range.
This guy is a Source-user, no two ways about it! Only someone like that can do something as amazing as that.
“What’s the matter, astonished?” branding a cocky smile, he asks me.
“That was nothing, I’ve seen a Source-user before.”
“Hey, you know about Source! Sweet, so you one too?”
“No, but I don’t give a shit!”
“Is that right? Then I gotta tell you somethin’ kid. It’s suicide to take one on, especially if you don't have Source.”
Gray hair's tone shifts from his nonchalant attitude to being deadly serious. A chill creeps throughout my body, warning me to not mess with him.
“Kid, I don’t have all year, so hand me the book and…”
I sprint on the wet surface. Running on water, I have to move slowly so I don’t slip and bust my ass. However, the water below begins to curve upward, attempting to trap me. Quick on my feet, I managed to jump out before I was trapped in. A bubble of water floats in the air, a meter in diameter, water streams down from the top of the sphere.
Even though I made it out of the pool of water, it chases after me, honing in on me. I'm gonna use the alleyways to get away.
The tight space makes it difficult to navigate when you’re running from killer water, but I can manage it with my agile footing. After a while, the water loses its form, splashing onto the floor.
Why did he stop chasing me? I doubt it’s out of the goodness of his heart. There has to be a range limit, that, or he has to see where he’s sending it. This is a start, but not by much. All I know is that he has a range limit.
My sense goes off, a warning to tell me that he’s coming from above. I jump back, watching the swordsman’s descent. His sword hits where I was standing, his sword tracing the air downward. In terms of form, he’s excellent. His eyes rolled up to face me. They narrow in on me, paying no attention to anything else but me. In a “blink or you’ll miss it” moment, he thrusts his sword.
What…?
I barely wake up from my instantaneous stupor to block the attack with both my blades. The force of the attack hurls me out of the alley. The ground grinds against my back as I slide up against it. I use my shoulder to help flip myself up, then use the front of my feet to stop my momentum.
There's no time to catch my breath, he’s coming at me! The first slash carves up at a wall I was pressed up against. He's swift to make a follow-up attack, adapting to how I dodge. All of this while keeping his chest low, using his sword in one hand, and keeping his other hand on his scabbard. Not a moment is wasted using his fists or legs to hit me, just using his sword to push me back.
I hate to admit it, but this dude is good, his swordsmanship is much better than I thought. As an amateur, I have no place to criticize swordsmanship, but I can point out how awesome this guy’s style is. Fast, fluid, doesn’t let up for a single moment, but it’s not the type of aggression that I use in my style; instead of fast and loose, it’s swift, precise, yet free, if that makes sense. Then we have his footing, firm but as light as a feather, and nimble. Finally, his gaze, again, is focused, looking at nothing but his opponent. He’s watching me carefully, making sure to react to whatever I do.
If I’m being honest, I’m gonna get my ass kicked if we keep going like this. But that's the thing, I don’t need to win. I just need to get the upper hand on him and disappear before he could recover. However, competing in swords ain't gonna work. So, time to do what I know best; fists!
“Why are you puttin’ your swords away? Given up?”
“You wish, geezer.”
“Okay, I ain’t old! Second, you better show me respect! I'm 33, you little shit!"
For some reason, I don't feel as scared anymore. But more importantly, his posture is off, this is my only chance to nail him! Jetting off, I close the distance between us. I shut my eyes, running in blind. There, I sense it! An attack is aimed at my head! Before contact, I lower myself even further to the ground.
“How did you…?"
Opening my eyes, he’s in utter shock. Good, now I need to knock him off balance and beat him with some fast hits! I stop him from moving his sword using my right hand as a guard. The palm of my left strikes his chin while I sweep his feet. I have to hit his chin and legs at the same time or else it won’t work. But since I got it off, I pushed his head and legs counter-clockwise. He’s off his feet, this is my chance to get a few licks in!
Both of my fists aim for his head while he’s falling, they’ll be the finishing blows! Each one hits, but his skin, however, feels weird, like it’s made out of liquid! As if that’s the least of my worries, his sword is coming at my shoulder. Every muscle in my legs helped me jump away right when he was about to nail my ass, doing a backflip or two to create distance.
“Damn, that was too close. Another second and I would’ve lost my shoulder.”
“Whoa, nice moves, kid! You suck with a sword, but your hand to hand is somethin’ else! You got me off my feet, not an easy thing to do. But that ain’t gonna be enough…”
Yeah, yeah, I know I’m great at hand to hand, but that’s not important. Right when I made contact, his skin had a watery feeling. Why he did is obvious; he layered himself with his freaky water ability. It's absorbing my blows. This dude has all his bases covered!
“...Well, let’s get back to it!”
If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.
Here he comes! I need to– Behind me! I jump out of the way of whatever is coming at me. A girl is behind me, holding a knife, and not just any girl; Vella!
“Vell!” She doesn’t respond to me. Her face holds the same smile she last gave me. Killing intent behind her actions, she strolls over to me with that knife in her hand. “Vella, I need to talk to you! Are you listening?”
She picks up the speed, getting ready to stab me. It’s easy for me to dodge the attacks, her movements are too obvious. Yet, she relents, coming at me with one attack after the other.
“Listen to me, damnit!”
Nothing is getting through to her, she just keeps on coming at me. I’m not in danger, but if this keeps up, then she’ll never listen to me. In that case, I’m gonna disarm her, delicately, of course. Her next move is to stab me, but I separate her hands from the blade. Despite this setback, her smile doesn’t break, making it even creepier.
“You don’t have a weapon now, just give–”
Her hand darts toward my face. I block with my arm. A sharp pain flares up in my arm. Did she just… Holy shit! She cut open my skin!
“Are…are you serious!? Vella!”
Crap, her other hand! I grab her wrist, pulling her forward. I slip behind her, wrapping both my arms tight around her. She’s trying to struggle out of my grip but it isn’t going to work.
“Will you calm down! I want to talk to you!”
“Please, let go,” she asks in a cheery voice.
“Not until you listen, and stop trying to gut me.”
“Why would you want to talk with me?”
“Because I want to help you!”
“Why?”
“Because I just want to.”
“Why.”
“I just said it, you idiot!”
“Why?”
“Because!”
“WHY!?”
Did she just yell at me?. From the shock, my grip on her loosens a little, slipping out of my iron-clad grip. She gets a quick cut in, ripping apart the skin on my arm.
“Why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why!”
God, this is too much! I have to do something, anything, or else I might get carved up! Something, say something!
“I wanna help because you’re my friend, jackass!”
A raged echo travels throughout the town, catching everyone’s attention. Vella’s arm hangs in the air, her fingers pointed right at my face…
“Friend, with me… Why?” Both her arms go limp, giving me a confused, vacant stare. “Why? I tried to kill you? No, you’re lying! You would never forgive me, no one would forgive a killer, mr. Walter said so!”
“Who gives a shit about him, and I’m not lying.”
“You are, you are!”
“I’m–”
Her arms fly past my face. A fresh cut appears on my cheek, blood rolls down my face. Hurts like a son of a bitch, but I didn’t flinch. She’s finally letting me through, the last thing I need to do is show weakness.
“You must hate me now, right? I’m a dirty murderer, the worst of the worst I’ll hurt you, I’ll kill you, so please, hate me.”
I can’t read emotions like Richard, but even I know what she’s feeling; it’s despair! She wants to sink in it, surrender to it. I won’t let her, I’ll drag her out of it!
“Vella, you airhead!” A karate chop finds its mark on the top of her head. A gasp leaves her mouth. “...Don’t ask me to do stupid shit, get me!?”
“Wha–”
“I said, get me!?”
I keep chopping her head, adjusting my strikes to not do any real damage, but enough to make it sting.
“Ow, what are– Ouch! Please stop!”
“No, I’m gonna keep hitting you till you get the message! I’ll drill this into your head!”
“Why would– Ow!”
“You want me to hate you cause you hurt me? Dumbass, who do you think I am!?”
“Wha– Ow!”
“...I am the badass Punk of NewPort Island. Someone could come at me with a knife, bat, sword, it doesn’t matter! Hell, they can even cut or stab me, I don’t give a shit! Cause that’s how awesome I am!” Yep, I sound like an absolute dork, but this is the best I can do. “...But ignoring that, I don’t want to hate a friend, and I certainly don’t wanna hate you.”
“But…”
I raise my hand. Vella flinches, covering her head.
Instead of hitting her again, I place my hand on her head, patting it. “I don’t know about this murderer stuff, but as far as I’m concerned, you’re a kind person, and kind people are cool with me. So you can hit me as much as you want, I’ll take it all and still call you a friend!”
Finally, after all this work, skin being torn apart, blood leaking out of my arms, and a bit of violence on my end, tears drop from her eyes.
“What? I don’t…I…why…this is…why?”
I can’t answer her, there’s no way I can. All I did was express how I feel. How she feels is up to her. Though, she seems like she’s having a hard time with it.
“Vell, don’t worry about Walter, I got your back.” I reach out my hand to her. “Trust this punk.” With tears dropping like rain after a long drought, she reaches out her hand to me.
Strength is all I wanted ever since Richard got poisoned. I wanted enough strength to never feel helpless, and so I could protect my friends. This is all I want right now, so I’ll take her hand and–
Boom. That sound tears the very air, a rumble rips through my eardrums. Blood paints the air. The world goes into slow motion for a moment, every part of my brain takes in the scene in front of me, attempting to deny reality… But reality is cruel.
“Vella!”
Her frail body falls as blood exits a hole in her shoulder. Don’t let her fall, do not let her fall you dumbass! Quick on my feet, I catch her. Blood is coming out of the hole in her shoulder! What the hell do I do, it’s too big for me to put pressure on! I got it, I’ll use my shirt! Footsteps are approaching us fast. It’s that swordsman!
“Stay away from us, you–”
“Move!”
He pulls me away from Vella, kneeling in front of her.
“Son of a bitch, get the hell away from her!” If he hurts her, I’m gonna… What the hell? His water is covering her wound, like a lid on a jar. “What are you doing?”
“This’ll heal her wound and keep her blood from leaking out, but it’ll take some time to heal fully.”
“Why are you helping?”
“Why wouldn’t I! I can’t just ignore some girl gettin’ injured like that, especially in such a cowardly way. Speak of the devil, the sniper reveals himself.”
From all the way on top of the tower, the bastard who shot Vella shows himself.
“Vella, you failed us all. You lost sight of your redemption, only to play around in the mud with the other sinners. Superbad, Omega bad! But worry not, you piece of filth, I have done you a favor…” Filth… Did that piece of shit call her filth!? “...I shall give you the death you deserve, I shall alleviate this world of the sinners who dare cling to it! Because I am the best, no, the ultimate agent of Justice! I am on the righteous path, and I am…”
Shut up, just shut up, shut up!
“...the one…”
Be quiet!
“...who shall bring…”
You… You!
“...justice!”
“SHUT YOUR FUCKING MOUTH!” My voice stretches far beyond the sound barrier. The rage inside me is past its breaking point, and I’m sick and tired of holding it in. “Shut up about your wack ass justice! The only piece of filth here is you, you asshole! Don’t insult her!”
“Kid!” The swordsman grabs my shoulder. “...you gotta run, take her with you. Fightin’ a guy like that is gonna kill you!”
Run with her…? Not a bad idea. Yeah right, I’m gonna beat the shit out of this guy, no matter what! After all the shit he was talking, if I just run away, then I’m no better than a chicken-shit loser! And I am not going to let that happen, no goddamn way!
Breaking out of the old man’s grip, I bolt for the tower. Getting back to the main road to the tower, there are a bunch of girls in front of me, all of them holding weapons. Shit, where did they come from?
Move out of the way
“Girl’s, I hope you all genuinely want to be forgiven, to expunge yourselves of sin, to show me you are worthy of salvation under the light of justice!”
Just move!
“...Now, I want you all to kill the one who insults justice!”
I can’t fight people who’re suffering! So move, please move! Just move!
Their weapons are raised, not giving an inch. I want to kick that bastard’s ass, so just move!
“Do it!”
“MOVE!”
Everything goes dark in my head, darkness shrouds all my thoughts. No, it’s like my mind is entering a slipstream, and for some reason, my body feels lighter too. I can’t tell why, but it feels like something was untied from my body, allowing it to go past its limitations. As if a light bulb flipped on, the darkness in my head disappears. The girls aren’t in front of me anymore. Instead, I’m in front of the tower. Whatever! I’m here, and that’s all that matters.
Running past the door, I dash for the top floor. There’s no one in here, I’m free to head straight for the top. Reaching the top floor takes a minute at the rate I’m running, now I’m one step closer to kicking in that prick's smug ass face.
Predictably, the big guy from before is standing in my way. He’s staring me down like a dog ready to bite another. Asking him to let me through is a waste of time, there’s nothing to say. We’re meant to oppose the other, nothing else to it.
Our battle begins with me going on the offensive, sprinting toward him. Wasting no time himself, his chain is already gunning for me. I steer left to avoid it, but like a homing missile, it’s still on my tail. Despite that, I keep running. If I’m faster, then I don’t have to worry as much. As if to smite me for thinking this way, the chain hard leans around my arm and back. Before it can wrap around me, I dive forward. He withdraws his chain. Both my eyes and all of my mental focus are aimed at the chain, waiting for him to swing it my way.
An opening, I need an opening to strike him and get past him. There’s only one way, and I will pass him, no matter what!
Once again, my mind goes blank, every inch of my body becomes lighter, as if I can tear through the air itself. It only lasts two seconds, but now I’m facing the elder’s room. No need to think about it, just go! I kick open the door, rushing inside. Most of the crap in here belongs to a woman, so I could give less of a shit about what’s in here. Bingo, there’s a door on the upper left of the room!
With a devastating kick, I break it open, running up the stairs that it was hiding behind it. The corridor leading up is wider than the door made it seem. At the top, there’s a metal door between us and Walter. I’m certain of it, he’s in here!
Busting open the door, Walter is standing at the other end of this spacious room, watching me enter with that shit-eating grin! “Walter! There you are!”
“You have come, sinner.”
“Shut your mouth! Just fight me like a man, you pussy!”
“Such a disgusting mouth. Filth like you deserves to be ridden of. No matter, if those worthless people down there couldn’t kill you, then I shall eliminate you myself. A hero must rid of those who are evil after all. And a hero is an agent of justice, thus, I shall deliver justice to all of you ”
“A hero? What a load of shit. You’re nothing but a scumbag!”
“No, you are wrong! The winner is right, right is always just, those who are just are heroes, and heroes deliver justice onto those who deserve its wrath. This is true! That is the truth!”
It’s sick, how could someone think like this. Not only that, but hurt and use people based on a childish idea like that? If this is justice, then I’ll crush it.
“Fine, if you’re a hero, then I’m a villain.”
A hearty chuckle exits his disgusting mouth. “You finally admit to your wickedness?”
“No, you’re not listening. If you’re a hero, then I’m the villain who’ll crush your justice. I push down my goggles, overlaying the world in orange. “So come on, hero, it’s showtime.”
Words are meaningless in this fight, and I don’t plan on wasting my breath on him. My fists are all I need! Heroes are meant to uphold justice, then I’ll be the villain who destroys it!
“Very well, a hero does need a villain. Then come, boy, no, villain, I shall annihilate you!”