LIGHTNOVELONLINE XXII. Soldier of Misfortune
Cabdan: Today's show will be one like no other, gentlemen! Come on in!
His hands rubbed against one another and his grin was as wide as ever. Cabdan was at the entrance of the arena, welcoming those who had come to watch the upcoming fight. He had spent the entire morning hyping it up and drawing as much attention to it as possible, and it had bore fruit... The arena was packed, so full that it started to become impossible for anyone to so much as squeeze through the crowd.
Gorilla: Cabdan... We can't let more people in, we're bursting at the seams here...!
Cabdan's joyous expression made it clear that he wasn't bothered in the slightest.
Cabdan: Not a problem! Those who cannot fit inside can stay outside and peer through the windows. I personally allow it - free of charge! Also, make sure they are given something to stand on if they can't see anything... I don't want anyone to miss the spectacle!
Backstage, Faya prepared for the match... Her hands were already wrapped in protective bandages, and she was warming up. The steel on her boot's heel seemed particularly shiny. Oddly, Barr hadn't shown up yet.
Faya: That coward better not have gotten cold feet...
A man comes through the curtains that led into the arena.
Announcer: I've never seen us so full! The crowd is ecstatic, hungry for blood...!
He looks around the backstage area.
Announcer: But... Where's Barr?
Faya shrugs.
Faya: Probably too afraid to come. Seems like he only dares to make a move when his opponent's back is turned...
The announcer raises his brow. Suddenly, the door that connects the backstage area to another of the building's entrances opens. It was Barr, already fully geared up and ready for the fight.
Barr: I'm here. So, can we start yet?
He seemed calm and collected. Faya... Not so much.
Faya: What the fuck do you think you're doing? You can't just prepare outside of the backstage area!
Barr's mouth curves into a cocky smile.
Barr: What's the matter, afraid that I'm fighting dirty...? I know the rules as much as you do. I wouldn't dare to bring anything that could give me an unfair advantage...
Her disgusted face made it clear that she didn't buy it.
Faya: As if I'd take your worthless word for it. Hey, you! Get one of Cabdan's goons in here to search him. I don't trust him one bit...
Barr shakes his head as he shrugs.
Barr: Suit yourself...
The announcer goes and returns with one of Cabdan's men. Barr seems to be thoroughly searched... No weapons are found on him.
Goon: He's clear...
Barr smiles.
Barr: See? Told you.
Faya squints.
Faya: You're one fucking cunning coward...
Barr: Hahaha... Quite angry, aren't we? That's good! You can let all of it out soon enough.
She clenched her teeth, not convinced in the slightest that he had no tricks up his sleeve. Still, there was little time to dwell on it. As soon as Cabdan was made aware of Barr's arrival, he rushed backstage.
Cabdan: Are our superstars ready?!
He asked, overjoyed.
Barr: Ready as I'm ever gonna be!
Faya doesn't say anything, she just looks at Cabdan dead in the eye.
Cabdan: Good! And I'll take that as a confirmation as well, Faya! Let me just have a quick chat with Barr, since he took his sweet time getting here today...
Cabdan and Barr go to the corner of the backstage area, quietly discussing something.
Faya: Yeah, sure... You're not fooling me, that more than confirms it -- Barr's hiding something, and Cabdan's most likely in on it... I should be extra careful until I figure out what it is.
They return to Faya after a brief couple of moments.
Cabdan: Very well, all seems to be set. Let the show begin!
He taps both of them on the back, then heads toward the curtain. As she hears his words and feels his hand touch her, a chill ran down her spine. A terrible feeling about what was to come overcame her. As per usual, he sticks his arm through them and gives a thumbs up to the announcer... The man then clears his throat, and speaks from the top of his lungs.
Announcer: LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THE MOMENT YOU'VE ALL BEEN WAITING FOR... IS FINALLY HERE!
The audience goes wild. People whistle and yell as they jump around anxiously.
Announcer: A MATCH NOBODY EVER IMAGINED TO HAPPEN, THE TWO GREATEST FIGHTERS OF THIS ARENA, PITTED AGAINST EACH OTHER... GIVE IT UP FOR THE STONE FIST: BARR...!
The crowd cheers as Barr makes his entrance. He seemed fully confident in himself.
Announcer: ... AND FOR THE UNDEFEATED: FAYAAA!
They cheer even louder. Faya was dead serious during her entrance, not so much as a smile could be seen on her face.
Announcer: TOUCH HANDS, YOU TWO!
They approach each other, bumping their fists together.
Barr: Hey, bitch... After we're done here, I'm finishing what we started yest-
She spits on his face mid-sentence. The crowd screams with excitement.
Announcer: OH-HO HO!! LET THE MATCH BEGIN ALREADY, SOUND THAT BELL!
Barr: You're gonna fucking regret that so much...
The cowbell rings, and immediately the two take up battle stances.
Faya: The only thing I regret is not kicking your teeth in sooner.
Faya runs towards Barr, as he prepares to dodge. When she's close enough, she ducks and slides across the dirt ground, straight toward his legs. Instead of trying to dodge, Barr seems willing to take her attack head on, preparing instead to strike her as she gets close.
Faya: No attempt to evade me...?
Faya pushes the ground with her hands, changing her trajectory. She uses her momentum to quickly get back up on her feet and face Barr once more. He was beaming.
Barr: Come closer, I won't bite. Well, maybe I might...
Barr walks toward her, as she takes a couple of steps back.
Faya: Whatever trick he has up his sleeve, it seems like it relies on him landing a hit on me...
She smiles.
Faya: Sucks to be him, then.
She walks in his direction as well. Once in range, Barr takes a quick jab at her, which she easily dodges. What she did not predict was that Barr would quickly follow it up with another strike... A wide, careless and unprecise swing, made with an open hand in such a way that it cuts through the air, minimizing the speed loss from drag. Her instincts make her move fast enough to dodge and to quickly retaliate with an uppercut, hitting him straight in the jaw. Barr stumbles back. The crowd roars.
Faya: He doesn't even care about throwing proper punches... He just wants to hit me at all costs...! Why...?!
She looks at Barr's hands as they move toward his jaw. For a brief moment, her eyes were blinded by something shiny, embedded in the space between his fingers, close to the knuckles... Like a pair of very thin brass knuckles, but made of-
Faya: Razors. Fucking razors...
Barr had concealed them beneath his hand wraps... But the more he punched and moved his hands, the more they cut through the cloth, exposing themselves.
Faya: You really are a fucking coward. Hah!
Barr didn't seem so pleased anymore.
Barr: Come here, you fucking whore...
He rushes towards her as Faya braces herself. Barr tries to kick her when he gets close enough. She sidesteps, grabbing his leg mid-kick and sweeping at his other leg with her own. As Barr loses his balance and falls down, he tries to strike the hand that was grabbing one of his legs, but fails. He falls with his back on the ground.
Audience: WOO!! TAKE HIM OUT, FAYA!
Cabdan was visibly upset with how the battle was unfolding. Clearly, he didn't expect Barr to be so reckless.
Faya: You're too damn stupid, Barr... That's always been your biggest weakness!
Barr clenches his teeth, as he does his best to get back up. Faya wasn't about to let him do that, however.
Faya: You think you're the only one who can fight dirty...?
As he tries to get back up, Faya spins around with astonishing speed. With the foot that had the steel heel, she charges up a roundhouse kick. Barr tries to block it, but the sound of cracking bone echoes through the arena. The building shakes with the crowd's maniacal reaction.
Audience: SHE BROKE IT! SHE FUCKING BROKE IT!!
Some members in the audience seem visibly outraged, however.
Audience: SHE CAN'T USE HER HEEL LIKE THAT, HE WASN'T DOWNED! DISQUALIFY HER!
Others jump in to defend her.
Audience: SHUT UP, LOOK AT HIS HANDS! HE BROUGHT RAZORS TO THE DAMN FIGHT!
His hand wraps were cut up to the point where it was hard to conceal them anymore...
Audience: IF THEY'RE BOTH FIGHTING DIRTY IT'S A FAIR FIGHT!!
Nobody seemed to jump into the ring to stop them. The fight was to continue.
Barr: YOU BITCH... WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO MY FUCKING ARM...?!
His forearm dangled at an angle that made those faintest of heart squirm just by looking at it. Barr had now managed to stand up, yet he didn't seem to be all right in the head anymore.
Faya: What's the matter, not used to battle injuries?! Are you gonna cry next...? Hahaha!
In a fit of rage, Barr sprints towards her. Faya effortlessly jumps over him as he passes her.
Faya: Come on, that won't do! Try harder...!
Barr: I'LL KILL YOU IF IT'S THE LAST THING I DO...!
Barr was losing his mind. The battle should have been over by now, but somehow she was still standing. His arm was broken badly, barely hanging on, and everybody had figured out his secret weapon... He was getting desperate. Well... Desperate would be an understatement...
Audience: What the hell is he doing?!
People gasped as they looked at him. With his very own teeth, Barr bit down on the wrist of his broken arm, and with all his strength, he was ripping it apart. Blood spurt everywhere, on the ground and around his mouth, as some people in the audience began throwing up...
Faya: What... Is wrong with you...?!
Before long, Barr had completely torn the part of his arm that was broken. He grabs it with his still functioning hand, as blood drips onto the ground below.
Barr: COME HERE, CUNT.
He runs toward her. Faya isn't sure how to handle him anymore... With Barr quickly closing in, she dodges at the last second, but he is anticipating it. He throws his torn arm in her direction after she dodges, and some of the razors scrape her by. She flinched slightly, but it seemed nothing more than a flesh wound.
Barr: HAHA... HAHAHA!!! I DID IT! I WIN! I FUCKING WIN!!
Barr laughed maniacally in the arena. The audience was in disarray. Some still cheered on, but others were visibly distressed by what was going on. Cabdan seemed... Unfazed. An improvement in mood since the last time, but he clearly wasn't happy.
Faya: I'm putting you out of your misery, you damn lunatic...
Faya approached Barr. He wildly swung his arm around erratically, with little rhyme or reason. As soon as she sees an opening, she punches him in the liver. Barr flinches, and Faya uses the opportunity to get behind him and place him under a chokehold. Barr tries to free himself from her grasp, but he is already far too weak from the blood loss. His razors fail to dig into Faya's hands as he tries to release himself, thanks to her hand wraps protecting them. Soon enough, he loses consciousness. The crowd gets fired up again.
Audience: She did it... She took him out!
Faya drags Barr to the center of the arena, spreading his legs wide open. She then starts doing her usual laps. The tremors around the building reach an all-time high...
Audience: HERE IT COMES!!!
Faya: ARE... YOU... READY...?!
She stops near Barr's groin.
Cabdan: She sure wasn't kidding...
Faya raises her steel heel boot high up in the air. The metallic shimmer reflects light on the faces of the audience as they scream.
Audience: Oh my god... Is she going to...?!
Faya brings her leg down with all her might onto Barr's genitals. The sound of meat squishing and popping is heard, and blood spurts around her heel. People yell and scream.
Audience: HOLY SHIT! HOLY FUCKING SHIT!!
The announcer steps in as soon as Faya's done. He doesn't seem too willing to step close to either of them.
Announcer: Right... Sound the bell, sound the bell before either of them do something even more disgusting...!
The cowbell rings, as Faya raises her fists up in the air.
Faya: YEAHH!!!
The crowd cheers and applauds. Faya looks straight at Cabdan.
Faya: THIS ONE'S FOR YOU, CABDAN!
She gives Cabdan the middle finger as she smiles from ear to ear. He didn't seem pleased, making his way towards the backstage. Somewhere in the crowd, Jargen and Punjo were also watching the show.
Jargen: Hohoho! Match of the decade, what'd I tell ya Punjo?!
Jargen looks at Punjo, who was hunched over puking. He gets up, cleaning his mouth.
Punjo: Y-yeah... Just gimme a min-
He goes back down.
Jargen: Ahh Punjo... Never change buddy, never change...!
Faya takes a bow, and starts leaving towards the backstage area. After calming down for a bit, she starts feeling light-headed. Her vision starts to blur.
Faya: Why...? Barr didn't lay a finger on me, except for when the razors slightly cut my skin...
She takes a quick glance at her cuts. They had a strange, purple-ish hue.
Faya: Fuck...
She makes it through the curtains, and sees Cabdan.
Cabdan: Nice fight, girl. Is something wrong? You seem exhausted. Perhaps you should rest up, now...
Faya: You... I'll kill y-
She collapses before finishing her sentence. Cabdan sighs, as he turns to one of his goons.
Cabdan: Take the girl to the orphanage, let the nurses deal with her. Don't let anybody inside her room, understand?
The man nods, as he grabs Faya. Cabdan looks over at Barr.
Cabdan: That one... I'll take care of it myself.