Several minutes had passed since the first fight, and the energy had shifted. Prior, the small crowd of earths elite chattered and teased one another, some openly relishing in the exclusivity of being here. The voice had given just enough praise to convince us that we were all the pinnacle of humanity. Now, that certainly was drowned out by millions of words the mutual silence had spoken. No one uttered a word. No one, except me and Korbin of course.
“So we’re not gonna talk about how fucking weird that guy was? I’m 90% certain he’s you if you never got bitches. No, no wait that’s you now.” Before I could retort, Korbin’s eyes wandered behind me, then locked onto whatever they’d spotted.
He smiled, pointed at me, and put his finger in and out of his other hand's thumb and inde-…you get the very vulgar picture. I didn’t have to guess which of the three remaining female fighters he was looking at, but I turned around anyway.
And cursed internally for having been so damn gullible.
I was in front of a pillar, having shuffled close to talk openly with Korbin. My expression dropped as I turned back, only to see him now leaning at the edge of the lifted arena floor, smacking it while holding his chest. The quiet wheezing indicated he didn’t know I looked back yet, but frankly it didn’t matter either way.
“Ha ha, very fuckin funny. She might actually be a real problem, you know. Maybe try to be a bit less crass to her. You know, in case she wants to be allies?”
His cheery face unchanging, he retorted,
“Hey, hey what did I do? Was I the one who missed all the crucial facts about this tournament staring at her ass? Oh, oh ok then. ”
“Hey, speaking of which, how exactly did getting here work? I mean, I figured we all got 100 fights total bu-“ My question was cut short by Korbin.
“No, no we don’t.”
“What do you mean ‘no we don’t’?” I said.
“I mean no, there’s no set number. The rankings are based on winning, yes, but the Gods rank you, with the strongest Gods having the biggest say in the vote. Didn’t your Patron tell you all this?”
Blood rushed to my face as I struggled to remain stoic. Unfortunately, my eyes gave me away. My face remained completely still. I didn’t say anything stupid, but my damn eyes flared wide at the mention of a Patron.
“Shut the fuck up.” Korbin said, a surprised smile forming on his face as he covered his mouth.
“No. Way. You’re fuckin Godless too?! How the hell did you make it this far?”
Frozen, I looked back with a confused expression, unable to answer.
“Seriously Tom, it’s a voting system, if you have no God pushing for you hard, you’re either really hot product, or someone’s fucking with you. Someone really strong too.”
My eyebrow shot up at this last bit, because that was way too concise.
“That makes sense…Hey, real quick though, how the fuck do you know that?”
His grin widened.
“Because I’m not a Godless loser, Tom. They have these things called mouths, I know it’s crazy but it gets better.”
“Yeah, yeah no I get it, they share information.”
For fucks sake.
What the hell do I have to do? Reaching the top 10 with no God felt like the natural progression to me. A few tough fights from other chosen had also indicated they weren’t untouchable. Quite the opposite in fact.
Yet having seen that first fight, the concepts and energy flying around, I understood almost none of it. How did I end up on the All-Star team while simultaneously going fucking undrafted?!
Korbin’s grin faded, replaced by a bit of concern.
“Look, there’s plenty of time to get a God. You’re in the top 10. Someone will pick you up.”
“See that’s the thing, Korbin. I’ve been picked up, dude. But each time I show up, my stomach feels like I swallowed live piranhas after filing their teeth sharper and starving them. Then they’d say, ‘oh, you don’t belong to me’ or ‘I can’t covet you, for you’re already blah blah blah’, not to mention some lame fucking justice dork even rejec-“
It took a few pats before realizing my arm was being tapped lightly. My eyes trailed the hand up to Korbin. He had his other hand up, palm facing out to me, taking slow deep breaths as if to gesture ‘stop and breathe.’ Mimicking his deep, slowly drawn breaths and exhaling slowly a few times, he finally spoke.
“Gooood, breathe it out man. Relax. None of that sounds pleasant, but you won’t solve anything freaking out about it, inward or outwardly.”
My tensed shoulders relaxed, as did my arms I’d realized were held upward, as if I was mad at my television or something. He was right, this was no time to pa-
TICK
Oh, oh excellent.
“Alright, just remember, Tom. Breathe, and stay at your pace.”
TICK
“And don’t forget to keep your damn lead hand up, you love to drop that shit.
TICK
“Oh, and like, don’t suck out there either. No Gods for suckas’.”
TICK
“I know Korbin, I know. Don’t worry, I didn’t get here letting my emotions win out there.”
TICK
“Yes but you never left the water arena this is completely differe-“
“I know it’s completely different but I’ve spent 90 fights traini-“
TICK
“I understand that Tom I’m not saying you haven’t gotten better I expect you t-“
“Okay and all I’m saying is there’s no need to soothe m-“
“Well you WONDER why I-“
TICK
“..because this, Tom. This is wh-“
“Don’t give me that come on I’m being serious right n-“
“HOW LONG have I been training you fo-“
TICK
“…are you done now To-“
“Dude I was never starting what do y-
TICK
(beep)
My hand was about to slam down my fist into my palm, as I was accenting…something important. My eyes blinked twice as the sudden change in my surrounding occurred to me. Looking at the crowd of contestants, I searched to see Korbin, wondering if he had still been yelling at the air not knowing I was gone. That was until a snapping noise came from in front of me.
Peering over, my eyes bulged at the sight of my first opponent in the top 10. Just so happens, I found Korbin too.
“Damn…welp we both knew this would happen sooner or later, buddy.” Korbin said with a sigh.
“Just promise to keep it interesting, I don’t want to find you were slacking out th-“
The sound of my pair of Wakizashi hitting the arena floor interrupted his monologue. He looked at me, seeing my smug smile and furrowed brow, and understood instantly. As he dropped his sword, he also began removing his armor, revealing the home-wear he’d been in before any of this. Naturally, I followed suit.
“Alright, let’s do this old school.”
Korbin activated a skill that amplified his fists with a bright orange glow, a move completely opposite to old school.
“Nope, that’s on brand yeah. Okay.” My response was brief, because I decided to open things up myself. Having never divulged my skills, my excitement to flaunt my Water Steps to the guy who taught the technique to me in the first place was overpowering.
Feeling the skill activated, and the water affinity in the air now flowing through me, I kept my peripherals on high alert for any sign of countering.
To my surprise, he’d yet to move, even as I closed the gap within 5 feet, a mistake I hadn’t seen in over 40 fights at th-
Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.
Oh yeah, he doesn’t know that one either.
Now overwhelmed with anticipation, I activated my Lightning Strike, confident it’d work unarmed. I’d used the technique with my fists before it became a skill with weapons, which was all I needed in this situation. I couldn’t ponder too heavily and risk getting caught out. I planted my rear foot, readying the Flow on this side for the energy burst it was about to create, only with something special in mind.
See, we’d spar a lot this past year, and he’s known my fighting style since he helped me begin development at the very start. This punch was one he’d shown me, along with most all my other Water associated moves.
The thing was, we often discussed the kind of moves that were in the realm of possibility, both for us particularly and humans in general. In theory, Flow leads to endless possibilities in terms of fighting or feats of athleticism in general, but our bodies couldn’t possibly keep up. Feats like throws from insane leverage points, kill shots requiring inhuman precision, or what I would be attempting now.
Exploding towards Korbin like a bolt to a lightning rod, he finally reacted honestly not having the speed to play possum.
He moved his hand in position to catch the punch, his palms illuminated with a brilliant orange and white glow.
Perfect.
Flow traveled up my leg, and was now just past my hip. I just needed to be a little closer, to insure he’d block this first jab. Time felt slowed as my arm barreled at Korbin covered in a purplish-blue hue.
The momentum of my approach carried me a little less than 2 feet from Korbin as his arm extended to block my lead hand. Once my fist contacted his palm, however, he slid his hand to my wrist and clamped firmly, the pressure cutting blood circulation immediately.
Gotcha.
My rear hand flew around in a hooking motion with my palm facing outward, smacking into the pit of my elbow. Flow Inverse activated sending the energy back down my arm, ripping it free from Korbin’s grasp.
The Flow continued traveling down my side, releasing out the bottom of my heel as I released a sidekick with my lead leg. His ribs cracked under the piercing heel strike, sending a pop throughout my boot as he launched back l 7 feet through the air, sliding across the floor another 2.
My body froze as the momentum of the kick spun me facing away from Korbin, hoping to reappear outside the arena. Realizing it wasn’t happening, I turned and ran towards Korbin, now down on the ground. He kicked up, shooting to his feet while grabbing my wrist on the way up.
Without missing a beat, he pulled me back toward him from attempting to step away, while an axe kick crashed down on the top of my head sending my face straight to the ground. His foot rested on the back of my head having pushed down to accelerate the fall.
How the fuck is he fine.
Korbin was many things, but among them was mortal. No one alive would continue being so after taking that kick. His rib cage should’ve splintered sending fragments into his organs, causing mass internal bleeding. Instead, he threw himself upward, just to grapple me into one of the most embarrassing kicks to have landed on you.
“Ah damnit, I didn’t mean to knock him out that fast.” Korbin grumbled standing over me
I pushed my arms along the floor, sliding me just far enough to not get punted while standing up.
“Jeez Tom, how the hell are you awake?”
“Me?! I just fucking killed you!?”
Korbin smiled and shrugged.
“What, me? Come oooon.”
We both had equal points, though the confusion on the few onlookers' faces indicated only we knew why. Firstly, I had no business being awake right now. Before the tournament, had Korbin axe kicked me with the force he used, I’m not sure I’d know my own name for the next few hours.
However, I’d noticed most everybody was far more resistant than I thought possible. Sure, some more than others, but even the average Mage could take far more blood loss and injuries that would normally be considered fatal. On average, that is.
That being said, every finalist knew what force it took to absolutely decimate a weaker foe. Considering their guffaws and gasps however, they never been fought someone like me, Korbin, or the blonde who watched on stoically.
Plus, nothing would be more gratifying than beating Korbin here, truly beating him for the first time. That last kick had been the strongest attack I’d used yet, in fact so great a notification pinged through my head right after. Yet he looked totally composed, wordlessly declaring he wasn’t going to make this easy.
Korbin whistled, waving his hand at me.
“Yoo-hoo, you good, Tom?”
Blinking quickly, my focus locked back into the fight.
“No go ahead you take a sec, I’m sure the Gods wo-“
I quickly Water Stepped entering my range of attacks, causing him to drop into stance.
“We’re being sneaky now? We just got started.” He snickered.
Not missing a beat, Korbin raised his rear knee, swinging it forward quickly.
Feign.
I stepped to the opposite side with my guard by my face, knowing damn well what he was doing. This exact fake had already caused me enough physical and, frankly, mental pain during training for a lifetime. It had burned into my memories.
On queue, his raised knee kicked out behind him toward the ground, twisting his hips and swinging his opposite fist straight for my head. A Flow Inverse at the pit of his elbow sent his arm flailing to the side.
He didn’t fall though, giving me pause charging my Lightning Strike to capitalize.
“Is that a Flow Point skill?! That’s fuckin’ sick!” Korbin hollered, giddily. Nodding with a quick smile, I stepped forward again, trying to ignore the fact he didn’t completely lose his bearings like the Touchy Hammer Dork and friends. Poking with jabs, my priority was keeping him at range, as my ready advantage was integral to winning any exchanges during training.
With Korbin’s hands glowing like two mini sun’s that emitted a blazing heat up close, odds are he has some new tricks and refined older ones too. Letting him use them first was not in my budget, so I tried to keep his mind on what we knew each other knew.
The next few exchanges were spent in a momentous deadlock. Each time one of my attacks slipped through, he’d react as if he wanted me to hit him so he could get closer. With every counter he threw awaited a Flow Inverse strike however, leaving no clear winner for what felt like a couple minutes. In reality, it had only been around 15-20 seconds.
Shuffling out and parrying another strike with Flow Inverse, a glint of frustration flashed over Korbin’s face. Stepping to the side, a devious smile quickly followed.
“Still paying no mind to your footing I see.”
What?
My eyes glanced down, only to fire back up seeing his leg flick forward. He was by no means in range to kick, which is why my own Wakizashi he slipped his foot under flying toward my face hadn’t caught me completely off guard.
Not to say I’d expected that per se, ripping out my weapon from my shoulder before tossing it to the side paid homage to that, but he was an avid collector of rat behavior. I’d seen a fair share of his sneaky attacks enough to at least expect them subconsciously, which I’d done enough to avoid getting impaled through my neck.
He never needed to use these kinds of tactics on me in serious sparring before though, so I took it as a showing of respect. That didn’t mean I wouldn’t call him out for it.
“Really? You’re gonna throw my sword at me, during an unarmed fight?”
Korbin repeated my question, only in a far more annoying voice with his face scrunched and tongue slightly out.
“…fair enough.”
Shuffling back into battle, I was greeted immediately with one of his patented roundhouse kicks of fucking death. Leaning my shoulder back to avoid the roundhouse kick from his lead foot, I lifted my rear leg, swinging with the momentum of my level change with it aimed for Korbin’s midsection. I felt my leg make purchase with his chest, but only after I’d snapped the force of the kick, dampening its damage.
Looking down, my face dropped for a split second noticing he’d shuffled closer as he brought back down his leg without me noticing. My face dropped as he wrapped my leg firmly under his armpit, his leg kicking my leg still standing out from under me in a sweeping motion.
Oxygen welcomed its opportunity for freedom from my lungs as I smashed onto the ground, but I couldn’t afford to wait for it to come home, as I rolled back to my feet breathlessly.
“You’re lucky I’m nice. That’s the only one I’m giving you.” Korbin said in a much quieter, serious tone through his guard hands. I’d heard that sentence many times before.
Way too many times.
I Water Stepped forward, dismissing my mortal dependence on air, and stomped my heel into his inner thigh. His eyes shot open, indicating I hit the fragile cluster of muscle I’d aimed at. My leg slid over and slammed to the ground behind his knee. My rear fist flew at a curving diagonal path, a deep thump sounding as my first knuckle smashed into his jaw.
Korbin stumbled, where I then water stepped to the side of him about a foot away. My hips spun back around, my rear leg rifling into Korbin’s sternum as my leg muscles extended in concert. His body lifted a few feet back before he stumbled catching his footing.
Korbin stared at me with an inquisitive look. Now with a hint of anger in his eyes, he spoke.
“Oh ok, we’re doing spinny-shit now? Alright, say less.”
Immediately he stepped back into range, putting his lead hand forward in a punching motion. Being prithee to his martially deceitful ways, I stepped back, putting my head out of range and keeping my hands free for the real attack. Once again his initial attack drifted away, his hips leaning forward and twisting as his lead leg swung towards my quid muscle.
I lifted my knee, aiming it at his shin as he attacked, ready to ‘check’ his kick. He ought to know from all the leg kicks I’d sustained from him while learning how to check that this wouldn’t work.
It wouldn’t have, if he’d thrown the kick. Instead, he planted the foot, grabbing my lead wrist with the same hand he pretended to punch me with. Using me as leverage, he spun around rolling across my back, where a loud CRACK interrupted my vision for a moment. Turning around and finally focusing, Korbin was standing still where he’d hit me, his elbow frozen in air about head height to me. He’d Spinning Elbowed me.
How did I not see that coming?
“Gotcha!” Korbin hollered in triumph. Sliding his foot, he twisted his hips, then shot forward, in a fucking water step, and tried to kick me in the chest to send me tumbling back once more.
Momentarily insulted, I Water Stepped to the side, shocked at how narrow of a miss his kick actually was. Ignoring my miscalculation, I swung my back leg around for a head kick while spinning on the other, a kicking form he’d taught me himself. He swayed opposite to the kick to avoid its range, prompting me to kick down hard with the stored Flow I was building in my knee during the step, activating Lighting Strike. My rear fist illuminated with its bright purple hue connected to his jaw once again.
For the first time, my strike drew blood from his lip. He wiped his face and looked at his hand, his demeanor shifting as he focused on it.
“That hurt. You fucking hurt me.”
He looked up at me, his eyebrows curved downward, hanging just above his eagle-like stare as his jaw cracked a few times as he clinched hard. I chuckled.
“First time for everyth-“
Korbin’s entire body erupted in the same bright orange flames that covered his hands. His eyes changed from green with orange around the pupil, to a bright golden-orange that engulfed his entire eye socket.
He exploded toward me with inhuman speed. I narrowly dodged his kick to the chest, twisting my shoulders around his foot when he snagged my wrist passing by and swung off it to get to my back. His hand slid up from my wrist, but I knew if his other arm locked under my chin, I’d go out looking like a sweaty purple grape in his choke.
I swung my elbow into his arm that was snaking to my neck, activating Flow Inverse redirecting its constrictive pressure out. Twisting, my fist connected to his jaw, but his face hadn’t even recoiled on impact indicating he didn’t care overly much.
Grabbing my shoulder, he stomped and shoved one side of me back with surprising force. I began questioning my chances of getting out of this alive, seeing as he’s not doing shit I’d ever seen him do before, not a shred of enjoyment in his eyes.
Before, it felt like any other spar. Back and forth, counters and countering that counter, chasing finally being able to say “I can beat you”. Not that I would always win, but that I just fucking could. The difference today was, for the first time I really, really believed I could.
Newfound confidence that screamed for me to plant my foot, and surprise him by going on the offensive before he can teach me a new combo first hand right now. Rocketing off my feet, I saw my path, and my fist ignited bright purple once more as my other hand grabbed his still-lowered lead wrist. So long as his guard’s down, my hit will land, and the momentum’s in my grasp.
At least, it would’ve been, had he not caught my fist with his rear hand. I never saw it move, yet there it was, crossed over the opposite side of his face from where its shoulder was connected. For the first time since he ignited like a ball of fire, he grinned.
I felt my fingers snap in an excruciating cacophony of cracks and pops as he crushed them in his hand before twisting my wrist outwardly, breaking that as well. I winced over in pain, leaving an opening as he yanked my broken hand, pulling himself forward for a vicious elbow to my nose. The sound of my nose crumbling was mute compared to the ringing in my head that followed. My eyes welled, though not of sadness, but my sinuses getting violently impacted into my skull.
Blinded, I reeled back, feeling my body and vision spinning in opposition. My weight leaned forward stumbling into a sideways ‘L’ shape to stay standing, when an arm wrapped over my neck, followed by the feeling of warmth on my right ear and back of the neck.
Guillotine.
His arms locked under my throat, and all I felt was a jerking motion as a pop sounded in my neck. Suddenly, I felt fine, and whipped up to change the tide, when I noticed white walls all around me.
Faces surrounded me, a few familiar but I couldn’t tell where from. It took seeing the old man appear from the crowd, smiling as he placed his hand on my shoulder, for me to understand.
I fucking lost.