V2Ch135 New Hunt

Our faces traded expressions. I formed a smile while he made a confused frown. I felt his fist attempt to retract again. This time I held on, refusing to let go. If he can't throw a punch, can he still use whatever power or technique he has?

He threw his other fist at me. I leaned away and caught his wrist. I still felt a slice through my skin, curving from my neck down to my shoulder blade. I leaned back and lifted up my right leg. I thrust my foot forward but I was intercepted by his foot.

I pulled both of his arms as far back as I could, compressing him as close to my body as I could. I let go of both of his arms at the same time and harshly kicked forward. I was hoping to send him flying out of the ring, but he pushed off of my foot with his at the last second, sending most of his momentum upwards.

He landed gracefully near the far edge of the ring. Realizing I had basically put him in the advantage, I started running at him to close the gap.

'Lake! Jump back and to your left! Now!'

I heeded Mother's words and hopped back to the side. A spiraling gash emerged on the floor of the ring. It may not have been a deadly strike for me, but it would have revealed my immortality. That fact could potentially disqualify me from this competition.

'How did you know, Mother?'

'Rage showed me how to see through your eyes. I can see his attacks as if they were in slow motion.'

'Are you forcing my powers to activate? I don't want you to...'

'No. This is just the way I see things. Be it through your eyes or mine. Let me help you.'

'I guess. I don't see why not. Though, it kinda feels like cheating.'

'If I was one of the spectators in the stands, would you still heed me? Would that be cheating?'

'I don't know. Maybe not? I don't get why you are so adamant about helping me. It's not like I'm in any real danger.'

'Dodge to your right and duck down.'

Once again, a dire blow was avoided.

'You carry many burdons. If you really could gain a method for knowing where lesser spirits are or are not, then maybe you could truly relax and enjoy yourself once in a while. For that reason alone, I wish to help you.'

"Fine. Thank you, Mother."

I whispered aloud.

"Hmm, hmm, hahahah! I love it when my opponents finally realize the difference in skill. Calling out for your mother?"

'So he heard one word and started to assume some things about me. Let's show him what it means to assume!'

'Right!'

Mother responded. I steeled myself and ignored the outside world. The only things I could hear were Mother's voice and the sound of my footsteps. I followed her instructions to the T. I ducked, dodged and danced to the right and the left. Each step was closer and closer to my opponent. Each step closer, it was obvious that he was becoming more and more panicked.

A few steps away from him, he tried to run to the left when I dodged to my right. A quick but light hop was all it took to stand face to face with him. I feigned a punch, only to dodge his weak block and grab him by the jacket. I lifted him up and reached forward before setting him down, just outside the ring.

"OUT!"

Cried out the nearest referee.

"OH NO! IS THIS A FATALITY!"

I suddenly heard the loud announcer once more. I looked up to the other ring. An all-black wolf beast-man was savagely tearing at his opponent's throat while three referees were trying to remove him.

Without thinking, I leaped over to the next ring landing near the commotion. I grabbed the black beast-man by the loose skin at the back of his neck and lifted him up. His glare shifted to mine. Claws stopped millimeters away from my eyes. I never stopped looking into his.

I don't know what stopped him, but he stood up and swatted my hand away. He began walking back toward the B-group while being yelled at by the referees. His fur was matted and wild. He only wore dark brown shorts. His stature and shape made me think of a werewolf more than a beast-man. He stopped for a single moment to lock eyes with me once more. He pointed at me and motioned for the removal of my head with his thumb.

"The newcomer not only won his match peacefully, but he also made a new enemy out of The Black Hunt. A deadly competitor as we all know!"

I kneeled down, ignoring the announcer again. I started to reach out to the motionless man on the ground. I was stopped by the referee that stayed here instead of verbally abusing The Black Hunt. He shook his head. The man was dead from too much blood loss.

"Thank you for helping. In the future, I would suggest against it. You could be disqualified as an interference if the fight is still going."

I wanted to say something back to him. I guess he is just trying to look out for me but, what if a life can be saved by my interference?

I returned to the A-group and found my seat once again.

"Contestants. Numbers four and thirteen. Please follow me."

Yet another official. Not once has the same official called up fighters on more than one occasion. Is this also a way to deter fixed fights? There must have been some serious fixing going on if they had to take these kinds of measures.

"You pissed off The Black Hunt? How stupid are you?"

Contestant A-8 had decided to sit next to me and start chatting. Not that I mind that much, but I was enjoying being lost in my own mind for a while.

He was a fae that looked very athletic and tall. Most fae I've seen were about my height at the tallest. This fae was roughly seven feet tall. My best guess is some kind of mixed blood. He had pale red hair with sparkly ocean-colored wings. His voice was almost as energetic as Durt's.

"Well, I am the newcomer. Not familiar with the do's and don'ts when it comes to rivalries around here."

"Haha. A calm response. Anyone who's seen what The Black Hunt has done in the past would be pissing their pants right about now."

"Really? I think he should be afraid of me. I don't like what he did out there."

The fae went quiet. I heard him gulp.

"Eh-heh. I'd hate to be your opponent if you can back up those words."

He seemed to hesitate for a moment before holding out an open hand to shake.

"I'm Itagi."

I wasn't feeling too friendly after what had happened. Though, Itagi wasn't being rude to me or anything. I gave in to my better judgment and shook his hand.

"Lake."