"Nick?! Wha... What are you doing here?! How did you find me?!" I ask as I stand up.
"Do you think you have the right to ask questions?!" He asks, a wide grin on his face.
I laugh awkwardly. "Then, I assume it's a coincidence." I laugh more.
His grin widens. "Nope!" He shouts, a hint of excitement in his voice. "This is a mission to kill you." He says and I look at him in horror. "You see, we came across two powerful ladies, who gave us extra boosts and promised to give us more boost, only if we kill you. We accepted and then, found ourselves here." He laughs. "I believe their names are Aerene and Aqua." He shrugs. "I don't care! All I know is you are so so dead."
I move a few steps back, not believing what I just heard.
'It... it can't be them! Aqua and Aerene don't know each other! Someone is playing dirty here! Or could it be them?! No! It can't be them?! And... I can't remember having an issue with any of the villagers! So, who could it be?! Or could it be them?! I don't know much about them! So...., Rrgh!"
"Boys! It's time!" He shouts and instantly Mike and Sai appear, Mike at his right, while Sai; at his left. "Let's pound him, shall we?!"
I laugh awkwardly, trying not to look tense. "Wait, wait, wait. Can't we just go our separate ways? I mean, they've given you boosts in your powers, why do you still need more? That's greed, you know." I move a step back. "And three against one? Come on!"
"Nah. I don't want my boys to miss out on the fun!" He laughs. "And who said greediness is bad!"
I clench my jaw. 'Rrgh!'
I sigh tiredly. "Please! We don't have to do this! And why do you hate me so much?!"
He laughs aloud. "Oh, trust me! We're gonna do this! And why I hate you?!" He shouts, clear anger in his voice and scoffs. "I hate your kind of people, because no matter how lame some of you guys are, you guys break the rule of nature."
I laugh awkwardly. "And that's.....?"
"Your ability to always get attention or popularity, when you don't deserve it." He laughs a dark laugh. "It makes me very sick!" He shouts. "Even though you're a worthless, no name non-magic! You still have popularity and attention from students and teachers! I always walk pass the teacher's side, whenever I have an opportunity, and it's sickening to always hear them praise you. Even though they hate you, a part of them loves you. Also the students! Can you believe that?!" He sighs. "I might be popular in public, but you?! You are more popular in private! Do you know how sickening it is to hear some girls wishing you're a magic, while I am around?! I can't let that go on! So, I must do this!"
I bend my head, feeling nothing at all. "Is that all?" I ask, my tone sounding cold and distant. "Is that why? Because I..... Because I... Am secretly popular?" I grin. "Fine. I'll give you one last chance to go. I am not the same as before. You guys might be strong, but trust me, I am stronger."
They all burst into laughter.
"Is that a no, then?" I ask.
"Exactly." Nick says.
"Nick, I think we should leave him. He's a good guy and he's done nothing to us. Besides...." Sai says.
"Shut the hell up! One more shit from you, and you're gone!" Nick shouts, cutting him short.
"Sai. You're a good guy. You better leave. Cos I won't go easy on you if you stay." I say, my tone cold and distant.
"See!" Nick shouts and a loud slapping sound follows. "He doesn't even appreciate your kindness!"
"I won't pity him then!" Sai shouts, his tone filled with pain and anger.
"What a fool." I look up and my grin widens. "You guys should have gone when you had the chance." I laugh. "Do you know death is around the corner? It is closer than you think."
"Yeah! For you!" Mike shouts.
Nick gestures for the both of them to run in their separate direction. He begins running towards me the moment the two boys run off.
'That's strange. I must not let my guard down.'
I run towards Nick and we both clash fists together, releasing a little wave.
'I must try fighting them, without my God blessed mode. I don't want to harm them.'
He tries to punch me, but I dodge, landing a strong punch to his jaw.
He staggers back. "Whoa! That's some cool punch you've got there, brother! Looks like you've been training!"
He rushes forward again and I try to punch him, but something hits me hard on my left ribs, causing me to groan in pain, loose focus and receive an extreme punch from Nick that sends me flying and landing to the ground.
I groan in pain and look up to see a huge boulder flying towards me. I manage and dodge it and stand up. 'Damn! I forgot about Sai and Mike!' I groan in pain.
Something like a suppressing and painful, yet gentle wave, passes through me and I block my ears, shouting. The wave stops and I fall to the ground on my knees, watching my blood drop to the ground, from my nose and mouth.
I manage and stand up, looking at the three boys. "I guess, this will be tougher than I expected." I mumble.
'Voice?! You there?!'
Silence.
The three of them begin running towards me at immense speed and finally reach me. I'm about to punch any of them, when suddenly, the same suppressing and painful wave passes through me again, stunning me, freezing me on the spot and releasing more blood from me.
They all rush forward and punch me together, sending me flying some distance away and landing to the ground.
I cough out some blood, kneeling up on my fours and groaning in pain. 'How am I going to fight them?!' I cough out more blood. 'Thank goodness I am a God blessed! I would have been dead by now! I need to make a pla...'
A powerful hit to the stomach, cuts me short and makes me gasp for air, sending me flying and landing on a tree with my back, breaking it and causing it to fall. I shout in pain before falling to the ground.
The ground below me rises, raising me up, with my back facing up and falling back down instantly, leaving me behind. I begin trying to balance myself in order to land with my feet, but get hit with something big from behind me, increasing my falling speed. Seconds away from the ground, the suppressing wave passes through me again from behind me, smashing me to the ground, shattering it, releasing a powerful wave and causing me to shout in pain and bleed more.
I manage to stand on my fours, bending my head and coughing out more blood. 'I can do this! I know I ca...'
Someone punches me hard on the face, sending me flying and landing on a tree, breaking it and causing it to fall. I fall to the ground, groaning in pain.
'How much more,,,?! How much more, do I have to take to defeat them?!'
Nick laughs aloud. "After all the threatening, he still is nothing!" He laughs more. "Just like I expected!"
'I must try! I fought with a God level magic, but that was because I was in God blessed mode! I can't use it on them! It'll kill them for sure! I just have to try without it!' I cough.
I shake my head and stand up. "I will try my best!" I shout as a tear runs down my face.
Nick's grin widens. "Very well then."
They all rush towards me and are in my front, almost in an instant.
I try to punch Nick, but he dodges it and punches me hard on the face, releasing a little wave. Mike immediately punches me hard on the stomach, releasing the wave through his hand, causing me to shout in pain, stunning me and releasing more blood from me. Sai immediately gives me his own powerful punch and I groan in pain, feeling like my face will explode.
I try to move, but my legs are stuck and I guess, Sai is holding me in place with his earth magic. In an instant a punching barrage begins and I feel my consciousness gradually leaving me.
'I need to think of a way to escape and separate them! Especially, Sai!'
I manage to get myself together and free myself, by breaking away from the earth hold and running off.
"Looks like the prey is fleeing!" Nick laughs maniacally. "But that's okay! I am the sort of predator that likes having some chasing-around-fun with my prey before killing it!"
I begin sweating profusely. 'Damn! This kid is insane!'
The three of them appear some few meters in front of me and I gasp in shock, but grin.
'This should be useful, if.... my plan will work.'
I begin breathing in and out, focusing and hoping my plan would work. My speed increases and in an instant, I appear in front of them, pulling Sai by the collar and dashing through the forest with him.
After running far enough, I finally stop and throw him to the ground, looking down at him. "I can kill you now, you know?" I say, my tone cold.
The look of horror on his face is clear. "You can't!" He shouts and stands up.
I groan in irritation. "Just give up man!" I shout, my anger rising. "I don't want to beat you up. Although you deserve it."
"No!" He shouts.
"You still wanna go on?!" My anger begins to rise quickly.
"Ye..." He bends his head. "No."
"Just like I thought. Now, I'm gonna knock you out cold."
"Whhaaatttt?!" He shouts as he raises his head.
"Come at me. I'll be gentle." I grin.
"But, you just said..."
"Shut up and come at me....! With full force! I don't want you going down without a fight, and I promise to be gentle with you! And besides, it would be an educative training. So...," I say with a grin.
He smiles. "Finally! Someone who understands me!"
"Huh?"
"I always go down without a fight. That's why I joined Nick and Mike.... So, I wouldn't be going down without a fight. They both taught me how not to go down without a fight, but... They were only teaching me and not understanding me or how I felt. They never gave me a chance to express myself or even encourage me, rather they'll just be beating me up and expecting me to fight them to almost death. It's like training a child on how to kill a rat, but not understanding how the child feels when they're about to kill it or when they've killed it. And then throwing a huge man sized rat at them." He laughs dryly. "If you notice, I always obey and I've never objected no matter what they say or do." He bends his head. "And that sounds foolish, right?"
"Yup. Very very." I say and he flinches.
"Thanks." He laughs and looks at me.
"So, you want to start gently and not rush things?" I ask, trying to hide the amusement in my voice.
He laughs. "Yeah. And now, one of the people I've always wanted to beat in studies, understands me!"
"Wait! Really?!" I ask in disbelief.
"Yes! I've always wanted to pass you, but somehow you always get third!"
'Sheesh. You don't have to say it like that.'
"What are you saying kid?! Are you for real?! You always carry first in your class!"
He laughs. "The third in your class is way higher than the first in mine! Third!" He laughs dryly. "And I need to pass you to reach the first and second in your class! And that's embarrassing!" He sighs. "I gave up without even putting much of a fight. That's my problem! I always give up easily. When I see the person is rising more, I give up! But...., Now you get me! I will go all out!"
"Damn! That's.... Weird?!" I laugh awkwardly. "But..., now we're talking! I'm still gonna knock you out cold though." I say with a grin. "But, let's not go too far, ok?"
"Yeah?! Good luck with that!" He laughs. "Let's see how far we'll go!"
We run towards each other and begin punching each other. He punches me hard on the face, releasing a wave and sending me flying and landing.
"Wow! That punch felt like I was smashed on the face with an iron." I say, rubbing my jaw and standing up. "Nice punch!" I shout.
'So much for gently.'
"Thanks!" He beams a smile.
I rush forward and try to punch him, but a big wall of earth rises up and blocks me. I punch the wall of earth, shattering it and releasing a wave.
My eyes widens in horror, as he isn't behind the wall of earth. "He's gone?!" I shout.
I sense something at my back and turn around to receive another powerful punch on the face, that sends me flying, crashing to the ground and creating a dust dome around me.
'He teleported?!'
I sense something behind me again and quickly tilt my head, dodging another powerful punch and feeling the force it releases.
I quickly turn around, but he isn't there. I sense something from the right and quickly move my head back, dodging another powerful punch, and attempting to grab his hands, but he quickly retreats it and goes into the ground in an instant, closing the ground behind him.
'Oh my God! What a genius!' I grin. 'But, now his secret is exposed. I have a chance! And I won't miss it!'
I begin breathing in and out slowly, but sharply, increasing it's slowness and it's force, and in an instant my sensing increases, and I begin feeling his movements in the ground.
He shoots up from behind and attempts to punch me, but I quickly dodge the punch and elbow his nose, receiving a groan from him and quickly turning around to land another, but he's back into the ground.
'Rrgh! I need to be faster!'
I close my eyes and increase my breathing. I begin sensing four presence, and quickly open my eyes, punching the wall of earth in front of me and staring at it in shock.
'He tricked me!'
A powerful punch from the right lands on my jaw instantly, sending me smashing through the wall of earth by my left side and sending me flying and landing hard to the ground and getting covered in a dust dome.
'I have to be faster!' I stand up and begin sensing four presence again, and they all shoot up in an instant.
Turning swiftly, I attempt to land a powerful punch on Sai's face, but he dodges it swiftly and smiles warmly at me.
"I see, you're getting higher than me as usual."
"Eh?! What do you mean?! You're the one throwing punches!" I shout.
"I'll use my 'Divine eye' then."
"Huh?! What's that?!" I ask, but finally see what he meant, feeling sick.
The black part of his eyes, if I'm not wrong; are the shape of a brain.
'That's some creepy magic!' I shudder.
"Now, let's try again, shall we?" He says still standing still.
"Aren't you gonna run?" I ask.
"Nah. That won't be a problem."
'Great! Multiple punches, would work perfectly!'
He laughs and I begin throwing very fast and powerful punches towards him, but he is dodging them, like they are nothing.
"What the....?"
He laughs. "Are you surprised?" He lands a powerful punch on my face, sending me flying.
I crash on something hard and cough out some blood, dropping to the ground.
I stand up and feel the earth behind me, quickly return back into the ground. The ground below me rises high up, taking me off guard and instantly retreats, leaving me high up in the air.
I increase my force and begin dropping down fast, but suddenly get hit by earth from the right, sending me flying as another hits me from the left, sending me flying back. A huge hand made from earth quickly grabs my legs and smashes me to the ground, shattering it, releasing a wave and leaving me in a dust dome.
I groan in pain. "He's so fast and good! What a prodigy! It's like he can predict my actions, before it happens, and stop it easily! Could it be the eyes?!" I manage and stand up.
I sense something behind me, quickly turning around and trying to punch the smiling Sai I see, but he dodges it.
He laughs. "You see, my Divine eye grants me the power to be one with my opponents mind. I can see everything in their mind, and everything they think of doing, before they do it, and then my speed makes it possible for me to dodge my opponents attacks, at the last second. So, it's futile for a smart person to win. Only disadvantage, is I can only use it for ten minutes and I can't use it on a dumb person." He laughs more. "Wow! I never thought this day will ever come! I am finally surpassing you! And maybe... Killing you, isn't a bad idea after all."
"Wha...! What are you saying?!" I ask in shock. "That isn't what we discussed!"
"Yeah! Plans have changed! Wouldn't it be great, if I can eliminate the one obstacle in my study life?!"
"That isn't....."
He tries to punch me, but I dodge it and move back.
I laugh aloud. "I guess I'll show you how mindless I can be then. What a fool! Telling your opponents your secret is pathetic!"
I rush forward and try to punch him with my left hand, but instantly switch to my right, but he dodges it.
"You'll have to be faster than that!" He shouts and rushes forward to punch me, but I dodge it and jump some distance away from him, landing with my feet and gasping for air.
'I won't think then.'
"You know that's not possible!" He shouts and laughs aloud.
"Prepare to be amazed!" I smirk.
'Lalalalalalalalalala.' I continue singing as I rush forward and attempt to punch his face, but quickly punch him hard on the guts, causing him to cough out hard.
I land another and another and another. Gathering enough strength in my fist, I land the tenth one, sending him flying and crashing hard to the ground.
"Your power is cool, but it doesn't work for people who can be as mindless as me!" I shout in pride and flinch.
'Did I just insult myself and feel proud about it?!' I cringe.
"That's cheating! How can you just lala around in your mind! You leave me no other choice! I just wanted to beat you! How hard could that be?!" He shouts and appears in front of me in an instant. "You're not a magic, yet you are better than me in both studies and in fighting!"
'He's fast!'
I try to punch him, but he dodges it and lands a powerful punch on my face, releasing a powerful wave, shattering the ground below us and sending me flying and crashing hard to the ground, covering me in a dust dome.
"His punch! It's stronger than before!" I mumble to myself as I manage to stand up, groaning in pain and feeling some of my blood exit through my nose and mouth. I walk out of the dust dome with my head bent.
He begins laughing and I look up at him, feeling horror at the sight of him.
"What a fool you've been! I never liked you from the start! I never even enjoyed being nice to you from the start! If to be sincere! I hated you more than Nick and Mike does from the start! Cos to me, you were just a giant human worm that is sucking what he doesn't deserve." Tears begins running down his face. "But you always seem to make me feel like I'm your family. Every time I remember how good or nice you are to me, after everything. It just... It just makes me hate you more. But...., It also makes me love you more, brother!" The tears stops. "And it is kinda killing me slowly. And now... I have to rely on this to win you!"
"What?! What the hell did you do to yourself?!" I shout in horror, not believing my eyes.
His eyes are red with the pupils still black and there are several black vains around his body.
"What have you done to yourself Sai?!" I ask, my voice shaky.
"Oh, this?!" He laughs and coughs out some blood, as blood begins streaming down his face from his eyes. "It's the price we all have to pay for signing a contract." He coughs out more blood. "Although we were warned, Nick and Mike didn't care, and so, they forced me to sign it too. Once we are done we would be cured. At least, that's what they said."
"Who?!" I shout, feeling my anger reaching its limit.
"That's none of your business! Don't pretend you care!" He shouts and coughs out more blood.
"But, you know I care! I always cared, that's why I treat you like a family! You are surprisingly, one of the magics I don't hate... Much! Because, you always come back to apologize! It might be fake! But it still means a lot to me!" I shout, feeling my anger overflowing.
He coughs out more blood. "Fine, then." He coughs. "It's just a simple dark magic contract." He coughs out more blood. "You, get? Contract for more power and a dark magic boosts. But I guess I'm not strong enough for it, and it will soon kill me." He coughs out more blood. "Now, where were we?! Ah! Yes!" He coughs. "We were in, how much I hate you and how I've been struggling, with you always tormenting me in my mind!" He coughs out more blood. "Every single time of being nice! Was all an act to get on good terms with you, in order to surpass you later! But somehow, you always make me feel horrible with your sickening kindness! Why does it have to be you who sees me and treats me as a family?! Why does it have to be you who shows me how family love and forgiveness feels like?! Why?! Why?! Why?! But, now...?!" He laughs and coughs out some blood. "My hardwork finally pays off. And now, I shall truly go all out!" He shouts and more blood begins streaming down his face. "Goodbye brother!" He laughs aloud. "It finally took over me. Too bad it's irreversible." He coughs more. "But at least I didn't go down without a good fight." He says and smiles a smile that makes tears gather in my eyes, then bends his head, not moving at all.
I bend my head. 'I feel like, this is the first time, he has smile genuinely.' The tears begins running down my face. 'How can he be so stupid?!' I clench my fist. 'How can they be so stupid?!' My jaw clenches. 'So, there is such a messed up thing?!' More tears runs down my face. 'How can such a messed up thing exist and people are actually doing it?!'
I look up and see him grinning a wide dark grin. Some part of his body is black and some of the veins are red and are leaking blood. His clothes are bloody and his face is almost pure black and creepy. His teeth are now longer and he is bleeding from his mouth.
"Sai?! Are... Are you still in there?!" I ask, feeling horror.
Silence.
"Sai?!"
He roars a very loud roar and appears in front of me in an instant, punching me hard, creating an explosion like effect and sending me flying. Another punch lands on my face, then another and another and another.
The fifteenth punch sends me flying off, smashing me to something strong. The thing shatters behind me, and I cough out some blood. I continue flying and finally land to the ground, groaning in pain as dust dome covers me.
I stand up, feeling my anger rising and inhaling the dust around me. "You're such an idiot! I never planned on killing you! But now, you've given me no other choice!" Tears begin running down my face. "If you were so jealous! You should have come to me! And I swear, I would have helped!" More tears runs down my face. "But... I guess that's no longer possible!" I bend my head, feeling something inside of me; dead. I look up sharply. "And now, you will die for such a stupid reason!" The flow of tears stops.
I sense a presence before me and catch the punch, releasing a powerful wave that clears the dust dome around me.
"I swear! I never wanted to!" I shout and land a powerful punch, shattering the ground below us, releasing a powerful wave and sending him flying. "I never wanted to!" I shout again and appear in front of him, landing another powerful punch that does another explosion like effect, sending him flying. "Why, you fool?! Why do you have to go this far?!" More tears runs down my face. "What of your loved ones?! You don't care, don't you?! And I was stupid enough to care for such an animal!"
I appear in front of him and begin raining punches on him, creating more explosion like effects and having a strong urge to release all my anger on him.
"Thank you. And make sure you win... As usual." He manages and say with his new smile.
The sight of him makes more tears run down my face. "I'm sorry it had to end like this!" I shout in anger.
'Voice?! Purple?! If both of you can solve this! Please help!'
Silence.
I clench my jaw and close my eyes, gathering more energy in my fist and landing the last punch on him. Something warm splashes on me and I quickly open my eyes to see the massive destruction I have done. The ground in front of me looks like it has been greatly reduced in height, stretching as far as the eyes can see, and all the trees are gone.
I vomit. "Did I just kill him and do all this?! With one punch?!" I shout in horror and vomit more. I bend my head as more tears runs down my face. "What have I done?!" More tears.
Someone begins clapping behind me. "Nice work, Nameless! You actually killed him before the contract did!" Mike shouts behind me. "And, whoa! You're very powerful!" He laughs. "But that's okay, as long as I don't get hit by you!"
A sudden presence arises behind me and I tilt my head, dodging the punch and turning around to catch another. I squeeze the hand, crushing it and enjoying his shout.
I look up, a wide dark grin on my face. "You should have run when you had the chance." I say, my tone cold. "Now, it's your turn." I smirk darkly, enjoying the look of horror on his face.