" What did you say?!",
Sir Orion bellowed at Baileer. He bent down, leaning in as he turned his head towards her, moving his ear to her lips.
She tried to speak but it was caught in her throat.
" Tell me Bailer, what did you just say?!".
He spoke in a low tone but the danger behind it was ever more present.
" I em ",
She couldn't speak.
" I failed to stop the students from em ".
' Ah fuck it '.
" I freed the prisoner Sir Orion ", Baileer admitted with feigned conviction.
She is so fired.
She could see those massive veins of anger bulging under his strong jawline. It was clear he was upset. But luckily for Baileer, she knew the No.1 Sentinels weakness.
Slowly she put her palm to his massive chest. She only feels muscle.
He shook at her touch. Most people didn't know the only reason that Baileer was here to train the female students was because everyone knew Sir Orion would go easy on them. He was the epitome of an old soul.
A man who always saw women as weak on the forefronts of battle. Or maybe that was just a sophisticated way of saying he was a softie.
" What are you doing Baileer?"
Her eyes looked up to his. That sculpted face of his, always stern, always ready for anything. Now it looked confused.
" She was innocent Orion?", Baileer muttered softly.
He sighed tiredly. The conviction behind her eyes were clear. She'd do it again if given the chance.
His fierce sunken dark eyes fell.
He held her hand while it was still on his chest. Then he slowly pulled it off.
Offcourse none of the trainees knew the two of them were married. They always trained students as if they were merely just two heroes.
You'd think that when two of the most powerful heroes in the world got married, they'd be a power couple appearing everywhere on social media.
It just wasn't their style. They even had a child. A girl.
Now Baileer was telling Sir Orion that she had to free the girl. And not as his assistant instructor, but as his wife.
" Fine Baileer ".
His massive hands swung to her waist and pushed her closer. She looked up, her forearms fully pressed on him.
He whispered.
" It's all fine ".
Then they heard it.
A short boy with spiky purple hair. Same colour to his eyes. That ethereal purple, looking at them in bewilderment and confusion, he had a juice box in his small hands. A lollipop in his mouth. His eyes went to Baileer then to Sir Orion.
Back to Baileer. Then to Sir Orion again.
" The fuck is going on here?"
Sir Orion let go of his wife, reluctantly as he looked to Guile.
" What do you want boy?!"
That soft voice was gone that's for sure.
Guile was still lost for words. He was staring at one of the scariest and yet most unlikely couple ever.
When he saw Sir Orion's eyes listing their patience second by second, his tongue finally found it's use.
" Today is the match up day ".
" Indeed ", Baileer said a bit flushed and tingly. Clearly not wanting a minor interrupting...
" Alright ". Sir Orion said in that stern voice of his. He turned to Baileer.
There was silence for a while.
She rolled her eyes in frustration.
–Snap–
The students were gathered. Their faces sad, they had nightmares of the faces of the scared. They had nightmares of the Fiends. They had nightmares of Sir Orion and of Baileer.
Baileer didn't only teleport just herself, Sir Orion and Guile.
She teleported all the trainees to the tournament field.
A single platform. Half a cone put in the ground. Surrounded by grass. The concrete platform had to be at least 50 metres wide.
It was all swift. The students fought each other. There were no stops.
" Rules are simple ". Bellowed the rank one sentinel as he floated on air, the man didn't need a speaker.
It was a windy day. His cape and hair looked cooler than ever.
Baileer couldn't help but blush seeing her husband from afar.
" What are you blushing at Miss Baileer?", a young girl said teasingly. Clearly glad that even other heroes noticed how good looking Sir Orion was.
Baileer almost choked on air. Using her hands to cover her mouth.
Then she regained her cool. Or faked to regain her cool
Baileers eyes fell in a cold squint. Then she looked away folding her hands.
" Shut up kid ". She said trying to hide her shyness.
Mean while her husband went on with his explanation
" If you lose consciousness, you lose. If you are blown out of the ring, you lose ".
He went on as his body slowly weaved through the wind.
" You're allowed to use your Archaic dominion as you see fit Killing the opponent is not allowed ".
The other students couldn't help but notice that he said it as if he wished it was.
The first fight.
Then the second one
Then the third.
The fights wouldn't stop but go on till the tournament was over Anyone who was injured was healed right then and there by the stand by medical workers. There were no breaks. It took 2 whole days of spontaneous duels.
Ghazul won all his fights in a few seconds.
One guy even asked to forfeit but Sir Orion forced him to continue.
Guile simply threw all his opponents out the stage as gently as he could.
Now it was the final.
Everyone watched on.
It was Guile Vs Ghazul.
It was silent.
A young boy stepped up. His hair was purple. Murmurs went round in the grass field. Everyone knew who he was?
The kid with spiky purple hair and a lollipop always placed lazily on his tongue. The kid who made a name with his ridiculously powerful perception and scary destructive gravity dominion.
" I heard he could tell you when you die ".
" I heard he's an orphan ".
The words and rumors were flowing everywhere.
But Guile was just ready to get this spar over with. He knew he was strong but never expected they'd be someone so powerful as to challenge him. ' What are the chances that a person like Ghazul existed in this world ', he thought.
" Get that lollipop out of your mouth boy!", Sir Orion shouted from above, looking far to the horizon. He'd been flying for days.
He served as a reminder to power that would be unattainable for some. Only those whose lives were a mere tool to carve out their strength could dream of such power.
Guile glared with annoyance at the Rank 1 sentinel.
' How does a person even get that powerful '. He chewed on the sweet and let the stick part fall to the ground. Kicking it off the stage with his hands still in his pocket.
His arrogance was his only winning effort to go against the absolute dominance that Sir Orion exuded. I mean the man was sculpted like a cartoon drawing of a superhero by a 6 year old geek, posted on a fridge.
" Alright Ghazul Alexander ", Sir Orion shouted in his gruff deep as a pit voice.
It's like he didn't know what speaking regularly meant.
The second kid with dark hair and red eyes stepped up. A smile like a horror movie doll was pasted on his handsome face. He was clearly excited, as always. Ghazul had been savouring this moment.
And Guile too.
The crowd murmured again.
" Scary?"
" What a weirdo ".
If Ghazul was a bit more social and a whole lot less...well violence loving, he would have been popular. It's what made the other kids hate his wasted social potential.
This red eyes kid didn't look like he was going to lose. Guile was actually scared. Ghazul was oozing blood lust.
" You did hear the rules right. I mean it's just a spar ".
Ghazul started walking around. He entered a wide stance. His fist lowered and directed at Guile
" This is going to be real fun Comrade ".
In the blink of an eye faster than any of the other trainees could follow they connected fists.
Guile used his palm strikes to release repelling force in hopes of pushing Ghazul out.
Yet it was seeming pointless. It's like trying to uproot a tree whose roots went deeper than the earth's core.
Ghazul charged but he couldn't find any chance to attack. He kept getting pushed away by those force repelling palm strikes.
" Ahhhh come on ", Ghazul flew up and charged down with a punch.
It was too fast for Guile to counter so he blocked. That was a bad choice, he felt such a stinging pain running through his very innate bones on contact.
" So strong ".
To keep Ghazul away he launched a kick sending him just to the edge of the plat form.
" Close one ", Ghazul said making fun but little did he know he was seconds away from being eliminated.
Guile already launched another palm strike that connected straight to Ghazuls abdomen. Sending him off.
If only Ghazul didn't react so quickly.
He outstretched his hands and grabbed Guiles shoulder. The grip was so strong. Guile couldn't push him away. In a last ditch effort he used all his Arcane, infused his hands. His fist glowed a purple light. A meteor punch launched at Ghazuls face.
CONTACT
The hit broke Ghazuls nose instantly.
Ghazuls nostrils leaked out blood, as his face ricocheted from the force spraying blood from his mouth that stained Guiles face.
Yet his grip did not falter.
It just didn't.
His teeth were stained with his own blood as his grin widened. Then and there Guile felt what he thought was fear.
Ghazul drew him closer, easily. And held on to Guiles torso in a bear hug grip before proceeding to suplex him out of the platform.
All while Guile made his body heavier than a mountain with all the power he had left.
It just didn't matter.
Ghazul was just stronger than a mountain. He was an unstoppable force to which there was no immovable object.
Guile fell down and landed hard on the floor.
Rolling through the gravel.
He'd never been manhandled so easily.
He was eliminated. What a bummer
Ghazul fell down too. The meteor punch ( just a super heavy punch Guile calls the meteor punch. It doesn't carry the force of a meteor. Not yet at least )
But Ghazul landed on his feet. Smiling, nose broken but smiling.
He was triumphant.
" So that was the secret move?"
Guile asked weakly.
Ghazul took some time to catch his breath before pushing his nose back into place. The sound made the girls look away.
" Well I guess it's not a secret anymore ", Ghazul said catching his breath and helping Guile up.
Ghazul meanwhile was elated. He was this close to losing. He needed to have Guile in his life.
None of the other trainees knew what they just watched None of them could keep up with the speed.
It was a
That their power was never to reach that high.
" Hey Ghazul ", Guile said as they walked back to join the remaining trainees.
" Yeah?'
Guile removed a purple nylon bracelet and handed it to Ghazul. " Here ".
Ghazul wore it immediately in a smile.
" But what do I give you?"
" Nothing, I made a red one for myself. Whichever of us die first ", Guile looked down, " then he'll have both ".
Ghazuls smile only beamed. He had indeed found a friend and the best rival he could ask for
" I concur Comrade ".
At the end. Ghazul and Guile ended up becoming captains.
Guile met Elle 8 years later. She was doing ok.
Ghazul sadly passed in a battle with an Abyss Fiend. He was 32.