63 RUCKUS IN THE RING (1/2)

Streets of all sizes and shapes cut through the miles of the room-packed deck, rendezvoused at various junctions and eventually came together at the test hall like rivers seeking an ocean.

Any new entry would likely marvel at the hazards they would encounter along their way to the test hall, for sometimes these journeys resulted in disfiguring injuries or disabling of limbs. Men weren't always the culprits, for even some street animals posed an adequate danger, especially when in groups.

Over the years, these travels have strewn seamless lines of men with broken bones and withering wills as tokens to trace the way to the test hall.

Sometimes, special skills were required to navigate through the maze-like roads and reach the hall, all the while avoiding the streets which had gone rogue. But the general belief among most hollows was different, for according to them, even the worst of the trial's dangers could be sweetened by exercising common sense, which included relying on the guidance of a hollow. Still and all, to avoid unnecessary troubles, many entries preferred to travel slowly but surely, with some even resting along the way. However, no matter how careful one was, men with a notorious reputation would now and then come looking for new entries, carrying the smell of hell around them.

A man, named Russell the Red Viper, attempted to hammer his superiority on five new entries on their way to the test hall; howbeit, at the end of their short exchange of attacks, Russell got thrashed with his own thorny belt. Though there was a thirty silver bounty on his head, the five entries didn't bother about him anymore and instead hurried themselves to the hall.

They encountered a few more troubles along their way, but the tasks weren't even taxing enough for them to shed sweat, yet the continuous running made them sweat substantially, and they ultimately reached the test hall.

As their ten gorilla-sized feet stepped foot into the hall, murmurs were escalating inside, but their sizes right away caught the attention of many eyes.

”Who the hell are those hippos?” some men wondered as they grew vigilant.

However, some others recognized the five men right away. ”T-They are Hardy Brothers!”

”What?” Many of them were greatly surprised to hear that. Even the vendors circulating in the hall with trays of mildly sweetened bread on their heads had to stop and take a look.

”Ah, it took forever to find this little hell—just like the time when we had to find this ship,” Divas rubbed the sweat off his forehead, ”but we are finally here!” His eyes scanned across the hall, ”I wonder if that black sheep and his friends are still here.”

”The sooner we find them, the better it is for them,” Aziz pumped his fists and got his breath under control.

”All the running made me thirsty,” Betts licked his own sweat in an attempt to curb his thirst but ended up spitting it right out, ”Pfft, salty as a grandma's shawl.”

”For Hector's sake,” Centry frustratingly said, rubbing his back with great effort, ”did someone plan against us and mix something in that ice dumpster or what? I've scratched myself into a red bottle gourd, but still, this itching won't go.” He looked at his brothers in disbelief and disapproval, ”why aren't you four not feeling any itching? It's unfair!”

”I'm very happy for you, brother,” Fimbry said, his eyes swimming with tears.

”It's sorry, not happy!” Divas soon corrected Fimbry.

”Right, right, I'm very sorry for you, Brother Century,” Fimbry said again, tears running down his cheeks.

”Never mind,” Centry and Divas shook their heads and sighed together.

”Wooo, look at their eyes,” Betts said, for most men in the hall had their eyes glued to the brothers. ”Aren't we getting an extra bit of attention, today?”

”It's nothing new,” Aziz stepped ahead, wearing a firm look on his face, ”let's quickly finish what we've come here for.”

”Want to warm up on these beta wolves?” Betts glanced at Centry.

”On these noobs? Nay,” Centry replied straight away, still scratching his back.

Their bold words insulted the crowd, or at least whoever had heard them. Though the five brothers were bigger in stature than the rest, there still were a little over a hundred people in the hall. If they all were to jump at them, there was no telling what the result would be.

As the brothers reached the betting counter, they ignored the line and went straight to Jehez. Centry audaciously asked for the tickets for the next five rounds as his eyes took a once-over at the nearby men.

Seeing how none of the men in the line didn't step forward to stop them, Centry couldn't help but snicker, ”That's right, fear us alphas for the betas that you're.”

Centry's words further stirred the anger dwelling deep down their stomachs.

”Didn't you hear me?” Centry hardened his voice as his eyes were now back on the referee, ”Give me the tickets.”

Jehez paused a moment as he recollected the times when he had heard about Hardy Brothers. Since when the news had spread that the five brothers would likely remain on the eleventh deck and not climb further, Jehez stopped from keeping himself updated on the news regarding the brothers. Now, with the five brothers standing outside the betting counter, Jehez, with his insufficient knowledge, didn't know how to handle them. Smiling politely, he gave the tickets, ”I wish you all the luck.”

Centry and Jehez exchanged cold stares before Centry just smiled it off even though he could sense the sarcasticness behind the referee's tone.

The five brothers no longer cared about the referee and sauntered in the direction of the cat ring. Except for Aziz, the other four brothers went off in different directions lured by the food items that other men had. They had to intimidate some men, and for some others, they didn't even have to do that.

Centry snatched popcorn packets from a plump-lipped guy and flicked a copper coin to him. Even though the popcorn wouldn't cost a copper in the outside world, it still enraged the fellow that he got treated poorly. ”This should do for the time others spend in the ring,” Centry mused to himself.

Betts, on the other hand, was browbeating a thin guy who was holding a packet of jackfruit. ”Oi, if you don't give me all those pods, you won't have teeth to eat another one of those.” His words worked wonders, and the thin man gave his food away.

Fimbry, though, had forgotten about food and found himself chatting with a cherry-nosed fellow. Divas was also with him. ”Haha, so you have already failed the test two times.”

”No, I've already passed it two times,” the cherry-nosed man said, his eyes gleaming an inner light.

”Then what are you still here for?” Divas asked with a bit of intrigue surfacing on his face.

”I want to win every deck test three times,” he resolutely said, looking at them both directly in the eye.

”Isn't it a waste of time?”

”I learn a thing or two every time. So...”

”Oh, then—” As he was speaking, Divas farted, startling the cherry-nosed man, and it forced him to shut his nose in haste. The short but raucous fart was a hunger-killing one.

”Haha, I don't think it's that smelly,” Divas said while rubbing the back of his neck, ”or is it?”

”Don't ask me!” the cherry-nosed man upbraided, his nose still closed.

Divas leaned forward, ”You act like it's your first time hearing someone break the wind down their bum.”

”Yes,” the cherry-nosed man rebuked, ”So what?”

”Don't lie,” Divas placed his forearm on the cherry-nosed man's shoulder. ”No adult's ever too far from a fart.”

Fimbry laughed aloud. ”You spoke the lie, brother.”

”It's the truth,” Divas aired his grievance, backed by another fart that caught the cherry-nosed man by surprise, for he had just unblocked his nose. He had to shut his nose again, but the presence of the two brothers began to work him up.

As they discussed, a boy was speeding through the nearby crowds, seemingly escaping from a man.

”Wait, give me the cat!” the assistant referee called out for the boy.

”Hell, no! Give me five minutes, and I'll bring it back!” The boy, Lirzod, said.

”I won't even give you five seconds!”

”Best of bad luck catching me then!” Lirzod crowed and ran around with his upper body bent forward, which helped him blend well in the crowd.

”Mikey! What the hell are you doing?” Jehez's voice stopped the assistant referee in his tracks. Mikey, the assistant referee, frowned for a moment before heading back toward the cat home.

”Whew…” Lirzod felt relieved for having escaped him; however, he suddenly got pushed forward and almost fell forward. ”Hey, look where you are—” As Lirzod turned back to mouth off the one who pushed him, he was surprised from seeing a familiar face, the fourth brother who turned to face Lirzod. ”Oh, it's you! So you guys made it here,” Lirzod's visage glowed a bit. ”Good for you. I wish you good luck with the test.”

Divas turned back to Lirzod and laughed in recognition. ”Wish you the same, kiddo.”

”I'm Lirzod, not a kiddo, and I've already passed the test,” Lirzod said.

”Oh,” Divas looked at Lirzod's skin, which was replete with thin scars to show for his victory, ”then I wish you good luck in the future.” He scratched his chin and glanced around to observe different men. (It looks like most people here have already passed the test. Then why are they all still meandering here? It can't be that they all wish to participate in the test again, or do they?)

”Thanks again,” Lirzod said, stroking the cat on its spine, ”I got to go. I have to show this feline some places.”

”Sure, sure, go on,” Divas smiled and turned over to join the conversation that Fimbry and the cherry-nosed man was having. As seconds passed, Divas' eyes enlarged, ”Wait,” he swiveled back and locked his eyes on Lirzod. ”Hey, you!”

Lirzod and many other men turned their heads toward Divas.

”I almost couldn't recognize you with all the blood on your face, Lirzod,” Divas leaked out a half-smile.

Fimbry, who just turned back, was surprised from seeing Lirzod. ”Brother, it's Divas!”

”Divas is here, you idiotic brother,” Divas said, pointing his finger toward himself.

”Right, right,” Fimbry hurriedly asked, ”then what's his name?”

”Find out yourself,” Divas said and smiled before narrowing his eyes, ”and then tell me.”

”Right. I will do it for myself and for you, too, brother!” Fimbry dashed ahead, startling everyone in the vicinity. ”Tell me your name, sheep!” He closed in the distance and slashed his arm at Lirzod with full force. ”Fimbry Chop!”

”W-Wait,” Lirzod jumped back, with Leggy still in his arms, but he barely managed to dodge Fimbry's hand, and then endeavored to move further away.

”You've failed to escape my chop,” Fimbry took a wide stance, ”not bad,” he spread his arms out as if they were blades attached to his arm and lunged at Lirzod, swinging his arms rhythmically, not giving any time for Lirzod to reason. ”Fimbry's Dream Chop Series!”

Each chop was a club that came crashing down at Lirzod from the front, left, right, and above. One hit at a critical spot and all things could very well come to an end. All Lirzod could do was keep moving rearward. ”Wait, you'll hurt the cat,” he kept saying aloud.