LIGHTNOVELONLINE 『Chapter 19: Round 2』
A couple days prior.
Out in the academy's sandy, sunny field. Yamada gasps for air, as he rests his hands on his knees. Naoki facepalms. They have been there for an hour. Both are mentally exhausted. Yet, Yamada is also physically strained.
"Mm-mm." Commented Naoki, shaking his head from side to side. "Try again."
Yamada's mandibles tightened. He stood back up straight, and tried to throw a punch, using the same tips that Naoki explained. He started from the bottom with his legs, slowly twisting them upwards until his body twists, eventually reaching his arms. Yamada tried to throw a punch. Yet he fell over on his chest.
Naoki shook his head again. "Have you never thrown a punch before?"
Yamada got up and dusted himself off. "No."
Naoki is taken aback. "How?"
Yamada sternly looked at him. "I know you live a far different life than I do, but trust me, not every single person in the streets get in scuffles."
"Mmmm. I disagree, at least from what I've seen. Sure maybe not as adults, but kids get up to that stuff. Whether it be defending from a bully or *being* the bully. Everyone clenches their fist."
Yamada gritted his teeth. "Yeah well not me."
"Why not?"
Yamada glared at Naoki. "I ask myself that everyday. Now can we just get this over with?"
"Sure. Once you do a proper punch."
Yamada slowly turned his body and tried to punch again. He was rendered unbalanced, yet again.
"Damn. You suck, dude." Commented Naoki.
Gritting his teeth, Yamada got up, walked over to Naoki and put his hands on the teenager, yelling: "NAOKI. MY BODY IS SHAPED LIKE A FUCKING OVAL. WHAT DO YOU NOT GET?"
Naoki glared at the cockroach. "Okay, first of all, calm down." He slapped the cockroach's hands away. "Second of all, my bad. I didn't know it would be this hard but now I know. I'm sorry, ok?"
Yamada let go of Naoki and backed up.
Naoki breathed in and out before starting. "Look, I know we've been here for while, doing the same thing over and over again. I'm just as tired as you are. But if I don't teach you how to at least punch? You're going to die. Just straight up."
"Yeah well, with what's practically a disability, how the hell do you think I'm going to do that?" Scoffed the insect.
Naoki ponders for a sec. "(Disability, huh?)" Thought the teenager to himself. "(Well then... we just have to play to his strengths.)" Naoki took a long good look at Yamada.
Lightbulb.
"Hey Yamada, you've seen Jojo before, right?"
.
.
.
Present day
1:18 AM
Yamada assumes his cockroach stance. All six legs plant themselves to the ground, slightly pulling his body back like a large, cockroach-shaped slingshot.
Saizo simply stands on the border between where the pavement of the road ends and the sand of the harbor begins. The spirit pulls a large bottle out of his pompadour. He looks at it: it's a large, slim bottle of vodka. "Just my lucky day." Saizo uncaps the bottle and starts chugging. He holds his finger up as if signifying to Yamada "hold on a second."
Yamada's antenna twitch.
Pausing, the spirit stops drinking. Only half the bottle remains. He wipes his mouth and slurs at Yamada. "So...you rrready for round tw-"
THWOOM.
When facing danger, cockroaches unleash bursts of speed fit to outrun most predators. Having utilized this before without realizing, and honing it at the short stay at the academy, Yamada slingshots himself towards Saizo. 322 Kilometers per hour; 89 meters per second. With a Ki infused body, Yamada crashes straight into Saizo's stomach.
[Cockroach Dash] series: [Cockroach Bash].
"HWOOOG-"
The punk's eyes jut out for a split second as the oversized cockroach rams into him. The greater spirit is launched backwards, splatting onto the wall of a factory that was behind him. The bottle breaks into dust as it shatters on the wall.
Grunting, the spirit thinks to himself. "(Damn it, I'm stuck! If I lower my Ki to phase through the wall, a few hits from the cockroach will kill me. But if I keep my Ki intact, it'll react to the material world and keep me here for a couple more seconds...I'll just have to brace for-)"
Interrupting the spirit's train of thought, Yamada skitters towards the spirit. "(Just play towards my strength, huh?)" Thinks Yamada to himself. "(If you insist.)"
Standing up, face to face with the stuck opponent, Yamada cocks his four arms up. "(I may not know how to properly throw a punch. But if I already have Ki infused fists-
then quantity can still mean quality.)"
[Periplaneta Repeater]
Due to Yamada being physically incapable of throwing a proper punch, he instead insisted on using what he has. With his four arms, one punches at a time. Immediately afterwards, the one diagonally opposite to that one, throws a punch. Then the one vertically aligned to that throws one. Then the one diagonal to the latter throws a punch, repeating the process. Working exactly like an engine, Yamada cycles through the punches, not letting up the pressure. Cycle and repetition; a gatling gun of fists. Yamada presses on, wall comboing Saizo, punching him so many times it pushes the spirit deeper into the wall.
The punches on the spirit's body, combined with the chain reaction of the wall tearing apart, cracks thunderous sounds. Like a jackhammer chipping away at concrete.
T-RR-RR-RR-RR-RR-RR-RR-RR.
Yamada on the other hand, yells as he presses on. "ORA-ORA-ORA-ORA-ORA-ORA-ORA-ORA-ORA-ORA-ORA-ORA!"
Saizo, peppered by copious amounts of fists, increases the output of his Ki for the sake of durability. "(Just...have to...wait until he's-)"
Yamada stops all of a sudden. For a split second, Saizo tries to seize the opportunity to get out of the crevice. Unfortunately for him, this just opened a wider window for Yamada's delayed attack.
Cocking back all of his arms, Yamada simultaneously strikes with all four arms, pushing forward with all his might.
"[STINGER]." Yells Yamada.
A thunderous CRACK occurs.
Finally, Saizo is punched through the brick wall, making a large crevice on the building. Dust arises, blinding the cockroach. Yamada steps back from the hole and looks around.
"That was loud...but I don't hear or smell anyone coming by..."
Yamada then looks back at the hole. The dust slowly settles, and a figure makes themselves known. Standing up confidently, Saizo wipes the blood off the corner of his mouth. Despite being able to remodel himself, the damage from Ki is still visible on the gangster. Cuts, bruises, and scratches still pepper Saizo. His pompadour droops down to long, messy hair. And yet, he still stands.
The spirit scoffs. "And even after all that." Saizo spits on the ground. "You still hit like a bitch."
Yamada slowly back ups and thinks to himself. "(How? That was everything I had.)" Unbeknownst to him, Yamada's body quietly trembles. His fists are ringing, pulsing and aching. His body is hot, and his breathing is haggard.
Saizo steps over the crevice and walks onto the road, staring the cockroach down. Saizo gives off a disgusted look. "You've never fought before, have you?" Asks the spirit.
"W-what?"
"I can feel it in your fists. Weak. Limp dicked. You're no man. I could smell you're a virgin the moment I first saw you."
The gangster slowly circles around, and continues to talk. "And even then, you still ran away. Pussy."
Yamada's mandibles twitch. Yamada tries to think of something. Yet nothing comes out of his mouth. The cockroach proceeds to get on all six. The gangster still circles around.
"(He finally stanced up)" Thinks Saizo to himself. "You're scared." Says the gangster. "Your body is shaking. And you can't even take one spirit down?" The gangster scoffs.
Saizo finally stops walking and stands directly in front of the cockroach. He glares at the insect. The spirit slightly hunches his body forward. "You're not even going to fight back? Tch."
Frustrated, Yamada finally lets up.
[Cockroach Ba-]
"(I got you.)" Thinks Saizo.
There's a reason fights must be fought with a level head.
With his body hunched forward, Saizo pre-emptively sprawls, putting his arms forward and catches Yamada's shoulders. Or rather, have Yamada ram himself into Saizo's arms. Despite skittering at high speeds, Yamada's dash gets stuffed, getting slower and slower. Yamada struggles, as the spirit wraps his arms around Yamada's neck.
Feeling his neck getting tighter, Yamada thinks to himself. "(Shit, it feels like I'm fighting Naoki! But how do I counter this?)" Yamada frantically tries to remember how to fight against Naoki's grasp. But after fetching past the couple days' worth of sparring or rather, beatings, Yamada finally remembers.
"(He hasn't taught me how to counter this yet! Quick, I have to push him towards a wall so that I can at least...do something.)"
With Yamada's dash slowing down, Saizo looks behind him. It's a good thing that despite being in the middle of the road, Saizo made sure to position himself towards the road itself, and not with buildings behind him. "Hmph." Snorts the gangster.
Feeling Yamada quickly tire out, Saizo picks up the cockroach by the neck and torso, and hoists him up in the air. The insect's legs frantically flail, as Yamada feels himself get picked up and held for a solid second. "WAIT WAIT WAIT HEY-" cries Yamada. The cockroach tries his hardest to flap his wings and wave his body weight around. But the strength of the Yanki is too much.
Saizo turns his head and whispers to the upside down Yamada: "I can't get hurt from the physical world. But I know you can."
Street Style Pro Wrestling: Brainbuster suplex
With an angered grunt, Saizo slams Yamada's head and back onto the concrete. An audible crack is heard coming from Yamada's wings. Yellow blood leaks out on the ground. Panicking, Yamada frantically flails his legs. Yet the insect is stuck with his back on the ground.
Getting up, Saizo grits his teeth, remembers what Naoki did to him, and angrily yells.
"HERE, LET ME HELP."
THWACK.
Saizo soccer kicks Yamada's head, finally turning the insect around.
A migraine instantly hits Yamada, as blood seeps from the side of his head, down to his chin. Though he's on the ground on all six now, Yamada still struggles. A painful haze envelops his mind. Everything becomes blurry. The insect's body trembles, teetering on defeat.
Saizo, with a semi-surprised look, glares at Yamada. "You know, I killed someone like that before," says the gangster. "You're one tough asshole, I'll give you that much."
Yamada, slowly mustering the strength to stand up, regains his bearings. The ground becomes less fuzzy. The silhouette that was Saizo becomes clearer. Yamada stops trembling.
There are two responses that all creatures in the world share when it comes to being eaten. The first is fear, where a self induced paralysis stops the prey from moving, and overwhelms the body with hormones, fit to make the imminent death as painless as possible.
The other is rage.
Saizo, still glaring, asks Yamada. "What's up with you?"
"You..." slurs Yamada. "You would brag about killing someone?"
"Tch. Of course I would. I won that fight after all."
The insect bears its fangs.
"(Of course.)" Thinks Yamada to himself. "(I understand you now, Naoki. Why you're so annoying about your philosophy. It's less about protecting the innocent and the weak, and more about killing those who don't deserve to live anymore. What good would people like him bring to the world? People like you...)"
"People like you..." Quietly mutters Yamada.
Saizo cocks his eyebrow and cups his hand around his ear. "HM? What's that? You got something to say?"
"(The damage to his head wasn't enough.)" Thinks Saizo. "(I need to end this as soon as possible.)"
Yamada quietly hisses, clenches his fists and hobbles over to Saizo. Saizo in turn, opens his mouth and meets Yamada's angered gaze with his own hateful third eye.
[Share the shot]
"(Yes, asshole. Look at me.)"
All of the liquor inside Saizo instantly transfers to Yamada's mind. The insect's migraine becomes worse. He gets on his knees and holds onto his head, as it pulses and aches. Yamada groans, frothing at the mouth.
Saizo, with quiet satisfaction, smiles. "(Guess that hit him good. However, now that I don't have alcohol within me, I can't use [Neuropathy Entrope] anymore. And since my pompadour still needs some time to heal, I can't make any more bottles in the meantime. And that's not including how expensive it is to make one of those damn things.)" With an annoyed look, Saizo rolls his eyes as he realizes one last flaw. "(And worst of all, now I'm SOBER AGAIN.")
The gangster glances up. His face morphs from one of annoyance to confusion.
"You think that would help you?" Slurs Yamada.
Though stunned, the large cockroach stands on his legs, if just barely. Swaying side to side, Yamada clenches his fist and readies them near his face.
"You think... getting me all fucked up would make me fight any worse...? Bitch..."
Yamada wakes himself up by punching his own cheek. With reawakened vigor, Yamada, with half a bottle's worth of vodka affecting his mind, makes it clear through clenched teeth.
"You underestimate the alcoholic tolerance of someone who had very little to begin with."
Saizo furrows his brow. "The fuck...?" His heart begins to beat harder. Even though spirits have a vague structure of their human pasts, they can't produce actual hormones. Yet the sensation or rather, memories of specific sensations can still be felt. For in this moment, Saizo's heart skips a beat.
"(What...What is this?)"
Saizo too, grits his teeth, and clenches his fist. "Damn it, the fuck are you trying to say?"
"I'm going to kick your ass you piece of shit." Growls Yamada.
Saizo's nose wrinkles up. He reforms his body, mimicking taking off his coat. Just like his good old days, he exposes his scarred, bare chest. He breathes in then out. Then in. And in. And in, holding as much air as possible. His chest expands wider. His back becomes greater, taking a bodybuilder's distinct V shape.
Yamada then realizes. Even though Saizo's body still takes the form of a human, the shape of his chest couldn't be more pronounced.
"(...An engine?)" Thinks Yamada.
Holding a karate stance with his fists by his side, Saizo stances up. Visible smoke leaks out of Saizo's mouth. "Get ready, asshole."
The both of them stare at each other. They know what's coming. Snarling, revving, their brewed tempers ready themselves.
Both simultaneously charge forward, fists primed.
[Engine Gatling]
[Periplaneta Repeater]
A guttural yell and a primal screech, both men make their arms known.
"ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA-"
Fists crash against one another, as both walk forward in attempt to pressure the other. Visible sparks of Ki flash each time a fists makes contact with another. The sound of bullets raining down echo throughout the docks. Yamada's copious amounts of fists directly contest Saizo's two piston arms. Despite having less limbs, Saizo's output of Ki is enough to match Yamada's quantity. A stray fist slips past their each of their own defenses. Yamada's fist cuts above Saizo's eye. Saizo's fist cracks down on Yamada's skull.
"GYARGH-"
Yamada wants to hold his bleeding head. He wants to wipe the blood off his face. But he knows well, if he stops moving forward, he'll die.
"HUGH-HARGGHGG." Gasps Yamada.
Noticing the insect won't let up, Saizo takes another deep breath mid clash. He loudly grunts as loud as a V8 engine.
Rev up.
Yamada immediately notices Saizo's skin turning a slight shade redder. More smoke comes out of the gangster's mouth. Yamada slowly backs away, as Saizo's sledgehammers for fists punch faster.
And yet.
Despite the blood in his face. Despite the fear shaking the man. Despite the chitin of his fists quickly shaving down to the bone. Yamada refuses.
Getting frustrated, Saizo snarls. "WHAT'S WRONG? WHERE DID YOUR BROVADO GO? WHERE'S YOUR FIGHTING SPIRIT NOW-"
The gangster takes a split second look at Yamada's face. Despite having the face of a cockroach, Saizo senses through Yamada's worn down fists. Behind the shower of sparks, and wall of punches, is a crying man.
"You think I want this?" yells Yamada. "You think I ever wanted to risk my life for this? You think I ever wanted to fight for my life? You think I would rather be doing this than sleeping at home? Are you fucking kidding me? That's not manly, that's not fulfilling, that's stupid!"
"(So he's the emotional drinking type)" Thinks Saizo to himself.
Yamada's voice becomes raspy. Through gritted teeth and teary eyes, he screams.
"What the hell do you know about ME you fucking asshole?"
As a response, Saizo soaks a couple of meek, sad punches to the face, and trades it back tenfold with a meaty punch to the side of Yamada's head.
"QUIT CRYING, I DIDN'T ASK."
At that moment, words flashed through Yamada's vision. Words that he didn't want to see, but ultimately knew.
Weak.
As Yamada staggers back, Saizo takes a split second pause.
Pathetic.
Saizo's skin stops becoming red, and goes back to a neutral gray.
Ill excuse of a man.
Rev up.
Insignificant.
With a large gust of air being breathed in, Saizo's skin immediately shifts into a loud, dark red.
"[BURST.]"
Meager.
As Yamada stumbles forward, letting out his rage with all of his might, his fists are quickly drowned out by Saizo closing the distance. With sheer brute force, Saizo throws so many punches it surpasses Yamada's quantity. The sledgehammers feel more like anvils now. Yamada barely notices, but the burning sensation of each punch feels like coals, directly charring and imprinting itself onto Yamada's chitin skin.
Puny.
With the burnt skin, Yamada uses the numbed limbs to his advantage, blindly rushing forward.
"(I'm not...I'M NOT.)"
Each stray hit cracks Yamada's exoskeleton flesh.
But he does not care.
Little.
Seeing Saizo slow down his punches, and hunching forward, covering his face while both hands clasped to the side, Yamada takes the opportunity.
"(YES. YES!)"
Unbeknownst to him, the adrenaline coursing through his veins, as well as the growing numbness of the pain, prevents Yamada from realizing that his hands are worn down to the wrist now.
"GRRRRRRRYYYYYYYYYYYYYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA-"
[STING-]
Insect.
With a quiet incantation, Saizo seals his fate.
"Death in the family.
Eternal Rage.
Manji strife.
Die."
[V8 Tormenta]
Intentionally soaking up damage, Saizo's pause wasn't because he was getting drowned out or tired. He was simply charging up a meaty, wide-armed lariat coated in flames. With Yamada closing in the distance, the cockroach practically runs into the delayed attack. Saizo's fist crashes into Yamada's stomach, sending the cockroach flying backwards. A stream of blood comes out of Yamada's mouth mid-flight. Yamada eventually crashes back onto the sand. He vomits blood, and musters the remaining strength he has left to not choke on it.
"(It's...soothing.)" Thinks Yamada. "(The ocean. It's loud and overwhelming yet...I can see why people like to sleep to this.)"
Yamada feels a burning, fist-shaped indent on his stomach. He raises his arms and looks at them. His hands are gone.
Tired, the only thing Yamada can do, is drop his arms to the ground, and let the cold water soothe his body. He turns his head, and sees Naoki, holding his stomach, barely crawling forward.
Yamada smiles. "I just...I just need to...rest..."
Yamada closes his eyes, and lets the sea slowly take him.
Meanwhile, Saizo is on his knees. His body slowly turns back to a gray tone. He's panting aggressively. "Fuck..." he grunts. "There's a reason I don't use it... on one hand, that assholes finally down. On the other, well..."
Saizo looks at his shattered knuckles. The same char marks that afflicted Yamada imprints itself on Saizo's fist. "There goes my Ki..."
The gangster looks onto the shore. He sees Yamada's limp body float on to the sea. "Hmph." Comments the gangster. "I don't know you as a person, but I damn well know enough."
The spirit turns his head and sees Naoki in the middle of the road. The teenager's knees are shaking. His hat is crooked and full of sand. He's trying his hardest to not hunch over and hold his stomach. He's failing. And yet, the teenager stares at Saizo with a defiant, blood smeared smile.
"Yo." Says Naoki. "Ready for round 2?"
Saizo, with a tired glare, stares at Naoki. "How much Ki do you have left?" Asks the gangster.
Naoki chuckles. "Enough."
Silence.
"..." Saizo then points at Naoki. "You're full of shit. You're a terrible liar."
Naoki chuckles. "Yeah...I was raised by Naota after all."
Saizo grimaces. "...What?"
"Nothing, nothing. You wouldn't get it... hehehe...he-HEGH-" Naoki's soft chuckle turns into a harsh, coughing retch. Blood pours out of his mouth. The sorcerer looks up at Saizo and smiles.
With a tired expression, Saizo asks, "be honest with yourself. Do you really think you can-"
K-CHNK.
Something sharp enters Saizo's back.
"Beat you?" Asks Naoki. "No. But I know she can," he says, pointing behind the gangster.
"(What is this, a knife?)" Thinks Saizo to himself. "(No, it's something sharper, thinner.)" He then feels a liquid pump into his body. He pulls himself forward, and turns around.
There, Saizo sees a tall, pretty, green haired girl with pale skin. She's wearing a pinafore style dress with small oriental accents adorning the corners of her dress. The dress is of thin fabric, and reaches down slightly below her knees. She's holding a long spear, with a syringe at the tip. Her left hand has a single finger with a similar looking syringe as the tip. She smiles at Saizo, and has one hand on her hip while the other rests her spear on her shoulder.
"Who are you?" Demands the gangster.
"Good evening, I'm a transfer student." She gestures a small bow out of manners.
She then snaps her fingers.
"And you now have two minutes before the Polio-virus takes over your body."