Chapter 5: First Fight

The evening sun dipped behind the cityscape, casting long shadows across the narrow alleys of Heliko. Nico Orion, a young boy with black hair and deep red eyes, lay crumpled on the cobblestones, encircled by a pack of sneering thugs.

Clutching the hard earned pieces of bread to his bruised chest, Nico stared at the unexpected young man introducing himself. Short silver hair framed an easy-going face, but the confidence in Noel's blue eyes belied his casual demeanor. Nico's wariness flared as he focused on Noel, uncertain of the stranger's intentions.

"Don't worry, I'm not here to hurt you" Noel reassured him, offering a kind smile. But the distrust in Nico's gaze only deepened, his grip on the bread growing tighter.

"Who are you?" demanded the red-haired thug, his anger mounting as he realized that Noel was ignoring him. The tension in the air thickened, an impending storm of violence brewing between them.

"Me?" Noel replied, unfazed. "I'm just someone passing by, someone who decided to help this boy"

At that moment, the muscles in Nico's body screamed in agony as he tried to push himself up from the ground. Yet, even through the pain, Nico’s mind raced with thoughts of “What does this stranger want with me?”

However in this dire situation, he could not afford to refuse help, no matter the source.

The derisive laughter of the red-haired man filled the air as he sneered at Noel. "You should mind your own business, or else you'll have to deal with the Red Fang gang"

Noel rolled his eyes, seemingly unfazed by the threat. As he stood up and dusted off his pants, one of the lackeys charged forward, fist raised in a wild swing. With an effortless duck, Noel evaded the attack and landed a perfect jab on the thug's face, knocking him back with a grunt of pain.

"So weak!" Noel thought as he assumed a boxing stance, his muscles tense and ready for action.

He dispatched the remaining thugs with swift, precise strikes, each blow landing with resounding force. The air crackled with tension, the scent of sweat and fear mingling with the city's grime.

Finally, only the red-haired man remained standing, his face contorted with rage. "You'll pay with your life for going against the Red Fang!" he snarled, brandishing a knife with a wicked gleam in his eye.

Noel took a deep breath, calming himself as he focused mana into his hand. Unlike his years of boxing practice, using mana like this was a first for him in this new life.

As a wave of strange energy surged through his limbs, traveling through his body like an electric shock, he could feel his muscles tighten and harden ready to unleash its power.

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The red-haired man lunged forward, knife slashing through the air. Noel barely dodged the deadly blade, feeling it graze his cheek as he narrowly avoided a direct wound. His heart pounded in his chest, adrenaline fueling his every movement.

With a powerful surge of mana, Noel's fist connected perfectly with the red-haired man's face. The force of the impact sent him hurtling through the air, colliding with a nearby building wall. His body slumped to the ground, unconscious.

A gasp rippled through the group of thugs, their eyes wide with shock at the sight of their defeated leader. They scrambled to help him, but Noel's icy blue eyes stopped them in their tracks.

"Get lost, or I'll attack seriously" he warned, his voice devoid of mercy. The thugs hesitated for a moment before scattering like frightened rats, leaving Noel alone with Nico.

After that final attack, most of the thugs realized the young boy standing before them was using mana. They were just a small team of street thugs without any proper training, so they stood no chance against him.

As the dust settled and the sounds of the city returned, Noel felt a strange mixture of satisfaction. This was his first real fight since the accident and Noel could feel the excitement bubbling over in his heart.

Sadly, these untrained opponents didn't amount to much. Besides he knew he would have plenty of chances to fight to his heart's desire in the future. With a quick stretch, Noel calmed mind, before reaching out his hand towards the young boy still lying on the ground.

Ignoring Noel's outstretched hand, Nico Struggled up from the ground, his deep red eyes focusing on Noel's. "What do you want?" he demanded, his voice hoarse and wary.

"Hey, I'm not here to hurt you" Noel assured him gently, noting the stubborn determination in Nico's eyes. "Let's talk somewhere more private, okay?"

Nico glanced around at the scene of his recent confrontation, knowing he had little choice but to follow Noel's lead. As he stood, he realized with horror that the bread he had been clutching so tightly was now a mangled mess. Seeing the boy's disappointment, Noel offered him a reassuring pat on the head. "Don't worry, I'll buy some food on the way"

Half an hour later, as dusk settled over the city, they arrived in an old district filled with crumbling wooden homes. The structures leaned precariously, their battered exteriors bearing the weight of years gone by. Nico knocked on one of the doors, and a moment later, a little girl's voice called out from inside.

"Who is it?" she asked, her tone cautious.

"Grace, it's me" Nico replied, his voice softening.

The door creaked open to reveal a young girl with the same black hair and red eyes as her brother. Grace's eyes widened in surprise as she took in the sight of Noel standing beside Nico. She hesitated for a moment before stepping aside, inviting them both into the dimly lit room.

"Hello, Grace" Noel greeted her warmly as he entered the small home, taking in the sparse furnishings and dusty atmosphere. He lowered himself onto an old couch, its cushions sagging beneath his weight.

From a bag he'd been carrying, Noel pulled out a large container of soup and a sandwich wrapped in thin paper. Handing them to Grace, her face lit up with delight as she accepted the food.

"Thank you!" she exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with gratitude.

After letting her grab her food, Nico asked his little sister to head into the other room, in order to give the two of them a chance to talk.

As Nico sat down across from Noel, his gaze remained guarded. "Okay" he said, folding his arms across his chest. "Now, what do you want?"