PART 10 :-
BATTLE BETWEEN TWO PRINCESS
Bond perspective :-
Dex may be lost his match but he delivered a great fight. After some other students, now it's time for Minidra vs Athena. So, this a girl vs girl fight.
Everybody says that Athena is a smart girl, I want to see how good she is. She is the princess of Muu[*] clan.
"Both of you girls, take your positions," the Shaman ordered.
"Hey, Mini—best of luck!" Bright cheered loudly.
"When did you start calling her that? You know she is a princess, and you should respect her."
"Come on, Bond. She is my friend."
........
Minidra perspective :-
Ooo… Bright called me with a short name like a real friend. I feel so happy. Okay, I can't lose or I may disappoint him.
"It's been a while, Minidra. I didn't expect to face you."
"Yeah, we're meeting after a long time."
"I'm not going to lose, you know."
"I'm sorry, but I can't lose either."
"Now, let the fight begin," the Shaman said, signaling us to start.
She moved quickly and launched a kick. Her movements made no sound, like an owl—the symbol of her clan.
"You've improved a lot. Your movements don't produce any sound, so it's difficult for me to detect you."
"I trained really hard so that one day I could beat you."
"I see. But you know my reason. I have to win this.
Crane slash!!"
She dodged that, but I wasn't going to stop now.
"Woo… their hand-to-hand combat is so good."
I could hear others whispering. It wasn't surprising—we've both trained since childhood to this day.
"Medusa Sweep!!"
Shit! She use it to off–balance me. She also stay low for better leverage.
"Zeus Breaker!!"
I go for a elbow kick, and it's work. She is on the ground, now it's my chance to win this match.
I instantly going for a Achilles Crush, I secure the ankel lock. It's just time for her to give up.
"They both use different moves that the Shaman hasn't taught us yet."
Well, that's true. But without them, I can't win against her.
What?!! She's still trying to resist my attack. That's not good—she managed to escape from my Achilles Crush.
"Zeus Breaker!"
She able to hit me with her elbow. We both lost most of our energy. This may be our last attack. I have to make sure, that the victory comes to me.
"Silent strick punch!"
"Thunder Strick hit!"
We both hit each other faces. And got down in the ground.
"That's enough, this is a draw."
We both are shock, after Shaman announce that.
"You maybe shy, but not when you fight Minidra. You improve yourself than last time."
"I didn't expect that from you either. You become stronger than last time too."
"You maybe not able to win because that curse boy cheer you."
"What did you just say, Athena!?"
[ With a angry voice. ]
"Hey, she is right, Minidra not win because that curse support him."
"So it's true he is unlucky for anyone."
People started talking bad about Bright again because of what Athena said.
"Now shake your hand and leave the field."
"If you talk anything bad about him again then I will kill you for sure." I wisper at Athena's ear while shaking our hand. By looking at his face, it's look like she is suprised.
"I want to win… but I guess I disappointed Bright."
"Are you alright, Mini? Here, take some water."
"I'm sorry. If I had tried harder, maybe I would have won that fight."
"Why are you apologizing? You gave your best. It's just that if I weren't cursed, you might have won."
"Don't think that. I'm really happy when you cheer for me. I'm really glad that you support me. Don't think about them—they just don't know the real you."
Ooo… I'm blushing. I have to hide myself.
........
[Muu clan :- They are Ancient Egyptian Priestesses. They worship in owl. They represent wisdom, business. While the owl was primarily a symbol of the night and the underworld in Egypt, it was sometimes linked to the goddess Neith. ]*
........
PART 11 :-
FIGHT BETWEEN NEWCOMERS
Bond perspective :-
Now it's my turn. I'm going to face Tyr. He comes from a small clan, I guess, because the higher-clan students are always mocking and insulting him.
"Hey, Bond, good luck. Show them who you are."
"See you after the match."
"Take your positions… now, start."
The shaman instructs us, and the match begins. He goes for my foot—
"Too slow."
I instantly dodge and go for a counter with a Thunder Punch.
He reacts quickly and counters my punch with his own. Our fists collide with each other.
"You're pretty good."
"Thanks for the compliment."
Our hand-to-hand combat continues. His defense is good. He's like us—he only started training about ten days ago. So, for now, we're equal.
He starts going all out, throwing punches and a Thunder Kick—but for some reason, they don't hit me that hard.
"Why isn't it working?!!"
He looks surprised. I catch his kick, lift him, and slam him down with a Lion Crush. He hits the ground hard.
"Why? Why?!! I worked so hard—so why aren't my attacks doing any real damage to you?!"
"You really think ten days of training can make you a pro?!"
"I know, but still…"
"The authority already know about who is capable and how much. They only did that because in that way nobody able to question them."
"What!???"
"Think carefully, we who came here with a goal on mind but lack of experience against those upper clans students who loves to mock us. Will they really accept if we all provide same rank than them?? They just did that for a formality."
"You will never understand my problem. I don't care what the outcome is—I just can't give up. Otherwise, I'll let my friends' expectations down."
He started trying his best, but his physical strength started decreasing. And for that reason, his movements slow down. So, it's not difficult for me to dodge his attack anymore.
I grab his both hand and give him a knee strick at his stomach.
"Aaak… " pain come out from his mouth.
"Why you trying so hard??? You are at your limit. Accept the fact."
"I can't stop, people will laugh at me."
I finish the match with a fist punch on his mouth and he knock down.
"The match is over. Bond is the winner." Shaman announce the result.
"You did great Bond." Bright came to congratulate me.
"Aa... umm…" Tyr started crying.
...….
Tyr perspective :-
"Think carefully, we who came here with a goal on mind but lack of experience against those upper clans students who loves to mock us. Will they really accept if we all provide same rank than them?? They just did that for a formality."
"You will never understand my problem. I don't care what the outcome is—I just can't give up. Otherwise, I'll let my friends' expectations down."
I lost. Others surely started laughing at me. What do I do now?
"Hey, you gave my friend a tough fight. That's really cool. And sorry for my friend's rudeness."
"What?!" The guy people call a curse…
"But others will laugh at me…"
"Who cares? There's a person who once told me that what matters is how you feel about your performance. Those people will never come when you need them—so why think about them? Your friends who support you and your loved ones are what truly matter."
"Yeah, Tyr, you did great!" My group starts cheering for me.
"Now, get up and be proud of yourself."
That guy reaches out his hand to me with a bright, warm smile. When I hold his hand, it feels so warm and gentle—I don't feel any pain inside me. It's like someone healed me from within.
"Thank you for your help."
I thank him and leave the place.
...….
PART 12 :-
CURSE VS GIFT
MC perspective :-
Every match has ended. Now there are only two fighters left.
"Now, the last match of today's test—Bright vs. Nekh! Take your positions."
We both take our positions.
"Now I will show you the difference between a gift and a curse… the worthy versus the scum."
I relax my mind, just like Juha told me.
"Start the match," the shaman signals.
He instantly appears before me and throws a punch. I immediately cross-block the attack, but I'm pushed backward by the force of it.
"You're lucky that you were able to stop me. But my next attack will be enough for you."
I close my eyes and remember my master's words… then I start moving my legs like a dance.
"What?! Did my one attack disbalance your senses?" he mocks me.
He comes in for his next attack, but it's hard for him to track my movements. I start dodging his punches.
Juha told me before: if your opponent gets frustrated, he will make a mistake—wait for that.
I don't attack yet. I'm waiting for his mistake.
"You think that just dodging my attacks will give you victory?"
Well… I know that.
"I am the prince of Nekhbet, there is no way that you can stop me."
"Bird slash!"
He starts throwing flying kicks at me. I block each one with a cross block or my hands. My defense is strong because I've fought many enemies in the forest on the hills.
"You're annoying."
Saying that, he charges at me with a Thunder Fist—and I see an opening.
I instantly dodge his attack and go for a counter. I grab him from behind and slam him down with a Body Slam. He gets up immediately, but that moment is enough for my next attack—
I launch a combo: Thunder Strike kicks followed by a Cyclops Hammer. His defense is strong too.
What?! He catches my leg and throws me to the ground.
"You've really pissed me off," he says in an angry voice.
"I'll show you real Pankration combat, you cursed one."
His speed doubles—it's becoming hard for me to track him.
"Phantom Elbow Breaker!"
He started attacking me brutally with his elbow attack.
"Titan Knee Crush! Thunder Roundhouse! Shadow Back Kick!"
It's getting really hard for me to keep my guard against these powerful moves I've never seen before. He attacks me repeatedly with knee strikes and back kicks.
"Did you see? This is what I've achieved through my whole life of training."
"It's not a fair fight! You can't use those moves in a test fight," Mini complains.
"Shaman, stop the match!"
"Nekh's moves are all part of Pankration, so they are still valid," the shaman replies.
"But—"
"It's okay, Mini," I stop her.
I've lost so much energy… what should I do now?
[ Bright past memories. ]
"Hey Juha, what is the basic for a combat fight?? What I will do if I am in a situation where my opponent is much stronger than me???
"Hmm… how should I put it!?? Well the most important part is there are four rules in combat fight.
1. Don't be a statue.
2. Use their weight against them.
3. Pain is just a reminder you're alive
4. The eyes tell the truth, but the feet do the lying
When you have to fight your opponent anyway, just don't let them think, use your movement wisely. No matter how much stronger your opponent is, if you use his force against him he can resist that."
[ Present time. ]
He comes in with another back kick. He's so focused on my eyes that he gives me an opening—I kick his lower leg, and he falls to the ground.
I instantly grab him and try to lift him for a choke slam, but he immediately counters it.
"Anapleke!" He tangle his limb and try to choke me but I asked such free myself from him.
"Klimakismos!"
He uses a move where he leaps onto my back and wraps his legs around my waist, choking me.
This is the end… I've lost all my energy and collapse to the ground.
"Stop! Nekh is the winner," the shaman declares.
I lost my very first match at the academy. My senses aren't in a perfect state, but I can still hear my friends' voices.
.......