LIGHTNOVELONLINE VIII. Tri-Catalyst
Dawn breaks on the slums and Virno leaves home to head for Cabdan's fighting arena. As he arrives at the place he was instructed to go, he sees an old, run-down building before him. A muscular tall man guards the entrance, and looks down at Virno.
Gorilla: Can I help you, runt?
Virno exhales from his nose with a cocky smile, caring little for the man or his question. He keeps moving forward, but the large individual blocks his entrance.
Gorilla: Look, it's too early for this shit, kid... Get outta here before you lose the chance to.
Virno looks up at him.
Virno: Listen, you dumb fuc-
Cabdan: He's with me! He's with me! Finally... Sure took your sweet time, kid!
Cabdan pushes the man aside and escorts Virno in.
Cabdan: And use your damn words next time...
Virno: I was just about to... Not my fault your goon didn't know I was coming.
Cabdan: Yeah yeah, alright. Here we are!
Cabdan opens a set of double doors, revealing a large, circular arena. People gather around it, from beggars to rich men, all to watch the fight that was unfolding at the centre.
Cabdan: You're up next, boy...!
Cabdan turns to a man next to the door.
Cabdan: Did she do it yet?!
Man: Almost, any moment now...
Cabdan: Great! Then come Virno, sit here with me and enjoy the end of the show, so you can get a taste for the kind of fighters we have around here...
Cabdan grinned. As he took Virno closer to the edge of the arena, Virno saw a familiar face. The girl he had met the day before was fighting against a man that was clearly older than her...
Virno: Shit... Figures...
Cabdan: What's that? You seen Faya before, have you? She's the best fighter we've got!
The man she was fighting was bleeding from both his ears. His nose hadn't been spared, either. It was clearly broken, and spewing so much blood that if he didn't keep his mouth closed, he could probably choke on it. Faya herself was unscathed, if a bit fatigued.
Audience: Come on Faya! Finish him off! Beat his ass!
Faya approached her opponent. It was a miracle the man was still standing, for if it weren't for the adrenaline running through his system, he would have probably collapsed long ago. As he sees her approaching, the man takes a swing at her. Faya grabs his fist with her left hand. The man moved far more slowly after taking such a beat down, so he wasn't nearly as strong as he hoped. She twists his arm around his back, kicking him in the back of his knee. He loses his balance and falls forward. As his face hits the ground, he struggles to stand back up.
Audience: Here it comes! Here it comes!
Faya takes a lap around the arena, riling people on. They were going crazy, in anticipation for what was coming.
Faya (Girl): Are... You... READY?!
She flips the man around, making him face up. She then expertly positions herself next to his head. As she lifts one of her legs, something shiny and metallic in her heel blinded the audience... She seemed to have some sort of steel piece directly embedded in her boot. The audience screams ecstatically. Once her legs are at a 180-degree angle with one another, she brings her lifted leg down with all her might. The sound of cracking bones and blood gushing fills the arena. Blood spurts everywhere. The man squirmed beneath her foot, with a portion of his skull caved in. The crowd went absolutely wild.
Cabdan: Hahahah! That's what I'm talking about!
Cabdan gets up and starts clapping. The strange ring on his pinkie catches Virno's attention again, but he quickly gets distracted by the noise of all the people who cheer Faya on. In no time, a couple of goons enter the arena to remove the almost-dead man from within. Faya takes a couple more laps around it, collecting coins and other valuables that people throw in.
Audience: Faya! Faya! Faya!
They clapped as they sang in unison. Faya waved goodbye as she left the arena. Moments after she was gone, the room started to empty considerably.
Virno: Wait, where are they all going? Aren't there gonna be more fights?
Cabdan laughs.
Cabdan: Not like that one, kid... Most people are here for Faya, as soon as her match is done they leave. That's just how it is.
Virno was slightly disillusioned.
Cabdan: Don't worry, look on the bright side! If you get your ass handed to you today, at least it won't be nearly as shameful.
Virno didn't think it was funny.
Virno: Tch. Let's just get this over with, then.
Cabdan: Alright, alright, let's get you backstage...
Virno follows Cabdan through the now mostly-empty seats in the crowd. They go through a guarded door on one of the sides of the arena, which leads to a room where he can smell the stench of blood mixed with sweat.
Cabdan: Ahh...! The smell of money in the air...
A trail of blood from the arena to another door was still fresh, probably from the man that had just been beaten. Only Faya and another young man were inside. She notices Virno and walks over to him.
Faya: Ahh, there he is! So, did you see that just now? That can easily be your face if I ever see you fooling around with little kids again!
Cabdan's eyes open in surprise.
Cabdan: With little kids?! What's she talking about...?
Virno blushes slightly.
Virno: She's making shit up, don't listen to her! It was a misunderstanding... Shut your damn mouth!
Faya bursts out laughing.
Cabdan: Ah, good... Haha, we don't want that kind of trouble around these parts!
Cabdan laughs nervously. Faya stops laughing.
Faya: The same goes for you, pig-man. Don't let me ever catch you around any kids, or it'll be the last thing you do, got it?
Cabdan laughs harder.
Cabdan: Such a joker, our Faya! Haha...
She extends her open hand, as if she's waiting to receive something.
Cabdan: Of course, of course...
Cabdan takes out a pouch of coins from his belt, and gives Faya a silver coin.
Cabdan: You may go now, I'll see you again tomorrow!
Faya: Not yet. I want to see what he can do, first.
She tilted her head towards Virno.
Virno: Who am I going up against? Is it that guy?
The young man who Faya was speaking to earlier was preparing himself for something, presumably to fight. Faya jokingly taps Virno on the arm.
Faya: So clever of you! How'd you guess that, huh?!
She lets out a short laugh.
Faya: Let me guess... Could it be because he's the only one in here besides us, and he's gearing up for a match?! No way...!
Faya laughs some more. Virno didn't so much as smile. He looked at Cabdan with a serious face, dissuading the man from laughing, either.
Cabdan: Y-yes Virno, that'll be him.
Virno: Good.
Virno walks over to him. Faya stops laughing.
Faya: Oh come on, stop being such a buzzkill!
Virno: What's your name?
The man stops his preparations, and stands tall in front of Virno.
Young fighter: Rel.
They stare at each other, silently judging their opponent's physique.
Virno: Hmph.
Virno turns around and walks over to a nearby bench. He removes his shirt and leaves it there.
Cabdan: Well, he sure is eager...
Cabdan and Faya walk over to him.
Virno: So? What're we waiting for?
They silently look at his hands.
Virno: What? What is it?!
Faya: You're gonna wanna protect those with something.
Virno: What? Are you stupid...? Why the fuck would I do that? That'll only dampen the impact of my bones on that fucker. I want him to be hurting...
Faya: The one who's going to be hurting is you after you're done fighting, idiot! How are you gonna fight tomorrow if your knuckles are all bloodied and sore? Or worse...
Rel walks over.
Rel: Bandages provide a protective barrier for your hands. There are small joints and small bones that are fragile and subject to fracture from the impact of repetitive punches. They will also protect the tendons and muscles, and will cushion the impact of the wrist. Moreover, they keep the loose or moving joints in place. The wraps provide restriction for them, so the shock is absorbed and redistributed across the entire hand. If your joints are moving around when the fist makes contact with something, you could get a fracture.
Virno and Cabdan stare at Rel, in surprise. Faya yawns.
Faya: It's really not that serious Rel, take a load off. Nobody likes a know-it-all...!
Rel: If you're gonna get hurt, at least do it right. That's all.
Faya pushes him away.
Faya: Yeah, yeah, we got it thanks!
She rolls her eyes.
Faya: Just wrap those around your hands at least three times. Here, I'll show you how.
She helps Virno wrap up his hands. He blushes slightly.
Faya: ... No need to get so flustered!
Virno: Oh, shut the fuck up...
She giggles.
Faya: There, all done!
Virno: Finally... Alright, let's go!
Faya: Well, not so fast, actually...
She hands him some cotton.
Virno: What now...?!
Faya: Look, I can either call Rel over to explain to you why you need this, or you can just trust me and shove this in your mouth!
Virno: Fine, give it here.
Faya gives him a piece of cotton.
Faya: Place that between your lips and your teeth, to avoid damaging them too much.
He hurriedly distributes some pieces along his teeth line.
Virno: You guysh are preddy big pushies for a fite club in the shlumsh, yhou know thath?
Faya and Cabdan burst out laughing.
Virno: FHUCK HOFF!!!
Virno was finally ready for his fight. Cabdan had made his way to the old, patched-up curtains that the fighters use to enter the arena. As soon as he saw that both fighters were ready, he shoved his arm through them and gave the announcer a thumbs up. It was time...