20 Exchange of Blows! (1/2)
Arthur's rising regret increased the closer he got to the ring. It looked like a square and each corner had a pole and all poles were connected with red blue ropes to each other. He swallowed down another mouthful of saliva while staring at the big stage. Coupled with the sound of hits and shouts from the background in the hall his mood turned grim.
He had never been an aggressive kind of guy or someone who liked fighting with others. He liked watching Pokemon battle each other on TV but him being in a situation now where he had to fight for his own interests made him feel threatened and gave him a heavy feeling in his body.
He was definitely sure he would lose the fight anyway, it's not like he wanted to admit he was weak but it was a fact that he was a noob when it came to fighting. Rico on the other hand seemed much more experienced than him. Arthur could imagine that Rico would try and make him look as weak and dumb as possible while avoiding all of his hits and attempts.
On the other hand his own priorities lied in maintaining his safety and physical conditions. It would be the worst case if somehow he came back home with bruises and cuts on his face and his mother asked how those came to be. He still hadn't told her about the Sniebel so he didn't want to add another issue on to the list of troubles and explanations he owed her.
”What's up amigo, did you get cold feet? I mean I can understand that you might have overestimated yourself back there. We can still stop this if you admit your wrongdoing and apologize!”, Rico told him from behind his back.
”You wish!”, Arthur answered with gnashed teeth. He was here because of this guy in the first place and now he suddenly became a samaritan and left him a way out for an apology? It might be just useless pride but Arthur couldn't allow himself to be played around with by this guy. Even if he only got one hit he would make it count!
”You heard him Zoe, this guy just doesn't want to listen, I even gave him a choice!”, Rico smiled at Zoe innocently and shrugged his shoulders helplessly,
”You can change your clothes within the cabins, I will lend you mine we should be about the same size after all. Don't worry about the equipment, everything is ready for us. Any questions?”
”Rico! Do you even think about the consequences?!”, Zoe interrupted him,
”Arthur isn't even a real member here. He isn't allowed to do anything right now!”
”What is there to consider Zoe? He is here to train anyway, right? He is basically a member with a free trial period and I am just showing him some fighting tips as a more experienced member. I am a platinum member and you are the daughter of the dojo master, there is nothing wrong with us handling this and at worst I will take the blame, haha.”, he assured her laughingly.
Arthur felt a warm feeling in his heart when he heard her speak up for him. He could also feel the underlying concern she had for him within her voice. It was weird but even though he had lost his memories about her he understood why they would be friends together. And maybe after this they could be again. He smiled and looked back at her:
”It's ok Zoe, nothing to worry about. It's not like anything is written in stone yet.”
”Yes, yes! Nothing is written in stone yet amigo, that's the spirit! I couldn't have said it better”, Rico agreed loudly with Arthur, but it was clear that he was suppressing his laughter at the same time.
Zoe didn't seem to have calmed down more than before.
After both boys had finished changing into the right clothing and put on the gloves and head protectives they went on to the stage to begin. All the while a small crowd had formed around the ring with various people talking and anticipating the imminent match.
”Hey what's going on here?”, a passerby asked someone in the crowd.
”It's a match between two youths.”, another person told him.
”What's so exciting about that? It's just two kids.”
”What if I told you one of them was a member of the House of Nevarrez!”
”Nevarrez? You can't be talking about ... that famous international arms dealer Nevar Corp.? Right?!”
”Of course who else?”
”I have heard they were recently working on weapons based off of Infinity Energy and autonomous A.I robots, what are they doing here in Viridian City?”
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”Don't you know? The vice principle of the branch Trainer Academy is a member of the Nevarrez family! Maybe that boy is here to enrol and enter the academy!”
”Ahh, that makes sense. Then, who is his opponent?”
”Don't know, a nobody I guess. He doesn't look strong either, I hope he puts up a decent fight at least.”
...
The boys stood opposite to each other and Rico looked at Arthur with fierce eyes and told him:
”Let's talk plainly for a moment. I don't know what kind of relationship you have with Zoe but from now on amigo you better stay away from her. People of your standard shouldn't mingle with people like us.”
”People like you? What rubbish are you spouting again?”
”If you don't want to understand I will make you then!”
”Less trash-talking and more fist-talking.”
”Hehe, you won't better regret this.”
”Dito.”
Arthur had enough of talking with that brainless guy and just wanted to start and finish the fight already. He took a stance that he remembered from movies and concentrated on Rico's movements. As they had agreed he would have the first hit on him and only then would the timer which Zoe held onto start.
Rico took on a stance of his own and had a playful wicked smile on his face. In his mind Arthur was nothing more than easy prey delivered on a plate. He didn't believe for a moment he could lose any of those rounds. Instead his idea was to humiliate him in front of Zoe so that he would never dare show his face again in her presence.
Arthur stepped closer towards Rico while holding up his guard all the time. He wasn't good or fast enough for any feint tactics. He should better focus on defense and attack only when necessary. It might be a bit shameful but right now enduring until the time ran out was the best strategy he could use to come out unscathed.
When Arthur felt close and secure enough to Rico he let out a fast punch toward his body and quickly retreated into a safe position and stance.
Rico on the other hand easily dodged that move and stood there as if nothing had happened. When he saw Arthur retreating he mocked him:
”Hey, are you a man or a rabbit? You are so fast, I can't see the difference haha”, it was loud enough for the crowd to hear and some even laughed in response. Zoe just shot him angry looks and worriedly turned back to Arthur. She knew Rico was just playing with him but that didn't reduce her concern in the slightest way.
Arthur felt indignation as well as some embarrassment. He could understand how ridiculous he must have looked but he endured it and prepared himself for the worst.
But Rico had something else prepared for him:
”Hey you know Arthur, if I were to take this serious I would end this in a matter of seconds but that would be too boring right? I think the match still isn't balanced enough, so I will say this. Hit me as much as you want, I won't hit back till the last couple of seconds, ok? This should make everything fair and leave you some bits of hope to cling onto right, hahaha.”
When Arthur heard this he wanted to punch Rico directly into his face but that wasn't possible right now:
”Well, if he said so, he wouldn't take back his words I guess.”, he chose to believe him and approached Rico again. If he was lying while considering his strength, that would be just pathetic and pitiful. Rico didn't seem like that type in Arthur's opinion. For now at least.
When he was within his reach again, he tested it out again with a quick punch and surely, Rico dodged but didn't hit back. Arthur took that as a confirmation and attempted another hit, and then another. Both were dodged and hit pure air.
”Come on man. I am giving you a free ticket to hit me, I can't make it easier than this ok? Hahaha!”, Rico still had enough breath left to coninue mocking Arthur while dodging and avoiding the punches thrown at him. To him they moved with 'mad snail' speed and he wasn't even doing it consciously.
Arthur's rage quickly built up after all his talk and his hits became faster and faster yet his defense also began showing more and wider gaps. And just when the time for the round was running out, Rico side stepped a punch and hit Arthur back, right into the abdomen!
It was a clean hit at the spot that wasn't protected by his ribs and his stomach felt like turning inside out. He had neglected his defense so much so as to let Rico finish him easily.
Arthur's knees went weak but Rico propped him up and he whispered into his ears:
”You should have disappeared the very moment I told you so. Now this is what you get for being ignorant.”, afterwards he patted Arthur on his shoulder and asked audibly and innocent,
”Hey amigo! Are you ok?! I guess I hit you a bit too hard. I am sorry for that. I will try to go easier on you in the next round all right?”