PART 7 :-
TRAINING WITH JUHA
MC perspective :-
[In the forest at Land of Aaru's hill. ]
It is still dawn. I just finished my run on a track that Bond and I created. I lack physical strength, so I have to train very hard. We created a schedule, but I think I need to go beyond it.
"Oohoho… I was just thinking about who was disturbing the animals, and look whom I've met."
"Juha!! What are you doing here???"
"The same question goes for you."
"I'm just trying my best to improve my physical strength."
"And suddenly your training time has increased—what's the real reason?"
"We have a test in ten days, and an inspection of our physical limits in two days."
"Hahaha… And you think you can break your physical limits with just two extra days of training?" He laughs at me.
"There's nothing wrong with trying!!"
"Did you forget what I told you before?? We need discipline more than motivation in life. Extra training will just make you tired."
"But if I don't perform well, I'll never achieve a high rank in the academy."
"Is that your dream??"
That one question is enough to make me fall silent.
"Your dream is much bigger than achiveing some ranks. You work on your physical strength from last two years, just follow that is enough for you now. Some bloody test will not going to decide your future. Remember this word for lifetime."
"Then what should I do now???"
"It's true you need power, but for now, just focus on your combat training. Do you remember what I told you before?"
"Yes."
"That's good. Now train with that puppet."
He creates a wooden puppet with his magic, which helps me with my combat training.
"Start with Cyclops Hammer."
"But why not Lion Crush?"
"You ask too many questions. Just do what I said."
I try to punch the puppet, but I fail. It counters all my moves, strikes back, and he starts laughing again.
"Hey!! Don't laugh—help me learn."
"You're forgetting the most important thing in Pankration."
"But my body is moving, so where did I make a mistake?"
"Do you know how to dance?"
"No."
"When we dance, our brain or mind giving comands to every portion of our body from head to legs when to move. Just like that, in Pankration you need to active your whole body. When you move your legs your hand movements stops and when you trying to punch it, it's easy to detect where your leg going to end up."
"What should I do then??"
"Relex your body and try to dance. Make your whole body follow the Ridham and when you able to dance perfectly, it's hard for your opponent to detect your movement."
"And for the Cyclops Hammer,
Raise your arm slightly above shoulder level.
Form a tight fist and prepare the hammer-fist (bottom of the fist).
Step forward or rotate the hips.
Bring the fist downward like a hammer onto the target."
"Now follow the puppet, and go with the flow."
I follow the every instructions step by step.
"Now punch that puppet again."
This time I able to hit a punch, but that punch doesn't that powerful.
"Good, now do that again and again."
After a long time, I able to did that perfectly.
"That's good."
"Now next move."
"I think this is enough for today."
"No no, I am not done yet. I only learn how to punch."
"Okay, okay…. So how about Lion Takedown."
"Rush forward, grab the legs, and drive the opponent down."
I tried that but fail again, it's difficult for me.
"Keep the head tight against the opponent's body. Push forward with legs and shoulder. Train explosive movement."
After finishing my training for today morning, I asked Juha
"Hey, why don't you teach Bond as well??? When ever he ask, you reject him."
"Hmm… How should I put it, I agree to become your master because of your purpose. His purpose is different. He is not like you, he doesn't find his path yet. For his purpose, I am not suitable as a master for him."
I don't fully understand about what he said. But I guess there is a deep meaning on it.
...
PART 8 :-
PICKING UP A CHALLENGE
Bond perspective :-
I train alone, doing my best to improve myself. I asked Bright's master to teach me as well, but he refused, saying that I lack purpose. I don't understand what he's trying to say.
Bright helps me most of the time, so it isn't that difficult for me.
After finishing our morning practice, we both head to the academy for today's class.
[In the classroom]
"Today I will tell you about another religion. Just as you know that our Land of Aaru believe in Bird. Their are other lands in this world and their belief is also different than us.
Our neighbour country LandofZion. They are our rivals as well. They are Leonites, they believe in Lion. When you all become warriors or Faris, you all going to face MaasaiWarriors, The Maasai people have a deep cultural and totemic relationship with the lion. Young warriors, known as Morans, traditionally proved their valor through lion-related rites of passage."
"Why they are our enemy???" Bright asked Shaman.
"Because both Land's belief is different. They don't acknowledge our belief. And consider them as our superior."
"Did we acknowledge them???"
"What!!!" Shaman is clueless about Bright's word.
"No, I mean if we don't acknowledge them, how do we supposed to expect that from others??"
"Only war is the last option for us to decide who is superior, we fight against every other religion so that we can decide who is superior."
"So the war happened because of some people's ego."
"Okay, the class is dismissed for today."
Shaman leave the place immediately.
"Our class dismissed because of him."
"Even Shaman doesn't want to interact with him. He is really cursed, that's the reason teachers avoid him."
Others started giggling and comment against Bright.
"What's your problem curse?? Because of you, today's class is so short. Their is a chances that he will tells us more about other religion, although I know most of them."
"His name is Bright. And if you know everything, why are you here??? Just declare yourself a warrior and go to the battlefield." I object.
"It's okay, Bond." Bright try to stop me
"You guys are just jealous of me. You low level people can't match me."
"Insulting my friend is not make you a hero or cool, it's just shows your worth. You have the gift that doesn't mean you have the right to talk bad about other."
Minidra complan about Nekh's behaviour.
"What you see in that curse. He is disgusting for our class, and you make him your friend. You should team up with me at that time."
"So, you are jealous about him. Because you can't accept that I didn't choose you."
"I am jealous by that curse!!?? Don't joke around, I am better than him in every possible way. I train myself since I was a kid. There is no way, I am jealous."
"Who knows!??" Minidra started moking him.
"Then how about I will show you all, how worthless you are at the next test."
"Are you picking up a fight??? I will show you than… "
"Stop Bond, my dream is bigger than his challenge. I don't care what he thinks about me."
"You always insulting other low status students, but what's your worth without your clan, nothing, same as us."
Dex word make him silent.
"Let's go."
While leaving the academy, Bright told Dex—
"I didn't expect Dex to take my side."
"Don't think too much. I still hate you!" he shouted.
"It's just that I can't let someone else disrespect my comrade," he said in an embarrassed voice.
"Ha… ha… That makes me happy…"
We all start laughing.
"Hey, don't laugh at me!"
...
PART 9 :-
THE CHALLENGE AND DEX'S FIGHT
MC Perspective:-
It's test day. Our group passed the physical inspection, so there's no problem there. But this is where the real challenge begins.
Although I'm not taking it too seriously, if I lose, others might make fun of me or start joking about my group—which I don't want.
I need Juha's advice, but he didn't show up. He never shows himself when I need him the most.
[At the academy's test ground]
Not every student is here today, because some failed the physical inspection.
Shaman start talking—
"Today's performance is going to be very important for all of you, because your rank will be decided based on it."
"Each time, the monitor will show two names, and they will face each other."
The first names to appear on the monitor are Dex and Dilsan.
They both take their positions.
"Dilsan, don't lose to them!"
Nekh shouts, ordering him. They are in the same group.
"Dex, do your best!" we cheer for him.
...
Dex perspective :-
I have to win this match. The shaman instructs us to take our positions.
"Now, let's start."
He instantly starts moving—so fast that I can't track his footwork. He opens with a Thunder Kick. I quickly block the attack with a Cross Block, but I can still feel the force behind it as it pushes me back.
"Yeah, that's good. Show him who you are!"
"Dilsan! Dilsan! Dilsan!"
The crowd starts chanting his name.
"He's my personal bodyguard for a reason. My clan personally trained him—do you really think he'll lose to you?"
He comes for my leg. Realizing that, I dodge and counter with a Cyclops Hammer—but it has no effect on him.
"You may be good but, can you survive my PunchBarrage???"
After saying that, he starts throwing punches at me continuously—each one at a fixed rhythm and range. It feels like a storm of punches. It's difficult for me to maintain my defense against his attacks.
"You think defense at that level can survive my attacks?!!"
What?! He doesn't stop for even a second—for over five minutes. Then he kicks my leg, and I can't dodge his next attack.
I fall to the ground, pushed backward by the force of his strike.
"What was that attack?" I hear Bright say.
"You don't know how much I've suffered for this. I'm going to win."
"Dilsan, finish him!" Everybody starts chanting in his favor.
"Hey, Dex! Don't listen to them. Do your best! Show him that you're not weak!" Bright shouts.
Just like that day… the day that changed everything for me.
[ Dex past memories. His back story. ]
"Leave me, I have to go and save him...eeeaaaa."
What is he trying, can't he realise, that if he goes now, he will die for sure.
"You will going to die or become their test subject, if you chase them. Now leave that topic."
Lord is right, it's too late now.
"I don't care what happened without trying, I am going to save him."
What!!! I always thought that he doesn't care about other, and he only use him, but I guess I am wrong.
He left the barrier to protect his friend. He's not like my friends, who left me in that mall.
The mark has already disappeared, so I guess that man was joking about it too.
Bright is not like them—the ones who stayed with me in good times and left when I needed them the most. I wish I had a friend like him. At least then, someone in this world would think about me.
He was able to protect his friend. That's a miracle.
I guess I've been on the wrong side from the very beginning.
I want to watch him more… I want to acknowledge him.
[ Present time. ]
I did bad thing to you, always hated you, even still now. And you still support me. I maybe hate you Bright but, you earn my respect. I can't lose like that, I have to prove him my worth as well.
...
Dilsan perspective :-
"It's over for you. People like you are no match for me. That's a fact."
"I'm not done yet."
What? He still wants to fight? How did he counter my attacks with just ten days of training?
He starts attacking me—copying my moves and using them against me.
"You're cleverer than I thought."
"Does that surprise you?"
"You think copying my moves will give you victory?"
How he able to dodge me!?? He grab me from back and give me a Germansuplex. For the first time he standing and I am in the ground.
"You are not a easy opponent. But this is not enough for you to take me down."
I instantly release my actual speed. It's impossible for a new learner to see me.
"ThunderStrickPunchBarrage!!" That punching barrage can even break rocks. His diffence finally break and a final punch in his stomach and he knock down.
"Ahaa… "
"The match is over. Dilsan is the winner." Shaman announce.
...
Dex perspective :-
Shit!! Why I lose, I feel so weak.
"You did great, and kept your promise." Bright let his hand towards me while saying that.
"Thank you."
[ And Dex lost his very first fight. ]
...