Chapter 9：A New Idea (1/2)

The two boys standing next to Gary came forward. But as soon as they did he held out his hand to stop them.

”I can take him out on my own.” He said.

Gary removed the sword attached around his waist and threw it down onto the ground.

”No weapons.”

”Fine…” Ray replied.

Ray did the same as Gary. To be honest, he was delighted that Gary suggested that they would use no weapons. It was because he had made it his policy to never kill children. Children were innocent, blank slates for Ray. It was the adults that made them go down the wrong path.

”I should be able to do this.” Ray convinced himself. He had never won a match against his father, but this was the first time that he would be fighting against someone his age. This was a good chance to test himself.

Ray decided to attack first. He threw his fist towards Gary's face. Gary leaned back and avoided the punch. He then grabbed Ray's hand and pulled his body over to him.

His movements were so fluid that by the time Ray realised what just happened, Gary had already planted his knee in his face.

The two boys behind Gary started to laugh. Ray made a sidelong glance to Amy's direction and discovered that there was a saddened look on her face. She was blaming herself for what was happening, but she did nothing wrong.

All of this happened, because of human nature.

Gary was waiting for Ray to make another move.

He started to remind him of that damned training doll that he wanted to defeat.

The battle continued and Ray threw a feint.

Seeing this, Gary leaned back once more to avoid the punch, but since it was a feint…

Ray used the momentum of his punch to turn around and send a kick directly towards Gary.

Unfortunately, Gary lifting both his arms in a cross shape above his head blocked the kick with his forearms on time.

Then, he disappeared from Ray's view.

When he reappeared, Ray found himself staring at the sky.

Gary had moved beneath him and sent a sweeping kick across his ankles, making him lose his balance. The battle was then over right there and then.

Gary took his belongings and began to walk away with his friends and sister.

But before he could even go far away, he turned around and left some final words to Ray.

”You have your father's training and you're still this useless. You should stick to doing something you're already good at.”

Ray stayed there lying on the ground, the pain had gone away but he couldn't help but think about Gary's final words. Eventually, something clicked in Ray's head as he stood up, wanting to try his theories out straight away.

…

Gary and Amy arrived home safely, and Amy started to rant at her brother. She protested, saying that Ray had done nothing wrong and she was the one that approached him.

”I was just looking out for you, Amy... Nothing ever good comes out from someone who has that red curse.” Gary explained.

”I hate you…” Amy scoffed.

Amy cried and slammed the door behind her as she went into her room. inside his own room Gary started to take off his clothes. He was wearing a light set of leather armour. He noticed that something was strange around his forearms.