Chapter 33 - Feeble God
Everyone in the room dispersed, Thong walking out with Hugo. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Mike and Li bickering as they got closer, Thong stopped until they were caught up.
Mike: When will it get through your thick skull that we're not buddies?
Thong: Mike, what's with you all of a sudden? I've never seen you this mad over a person before.
Mike: People like him that take things too lightly always get on my nerves.
Hugo: Yeah, only people with skill like me and Tanner here are capable of winning this tournament. Right, best student?
Thong: You still think I'm your student…
Mike: You're still hanging around with this idiot? He's worse than Li here!
Li: I haven't done anything yet…
Mike: But I can sure tell that you will!
Hugo: Hey, who are you calling worse?
The group of four walked through the halls, Thong being surrounded by Mike arguing with Li and Hugo. They entered the dining hall once again, with only a fraction of the fighters having returned back here. The first table Thong passed by held two people. The one that stood out the most to him was Alexander Night, his spiky white hair standing on its end as he wore a black t-shirt and grey sweatpants. Next to him sat a woman with long white hair. She wore a long, dark blue dress. Her lips were a bright red with her eyelashes curling at the corners.
Thong's thoughts: Well she looks pretty sophisticated…
Alexander: Joan, what can you tell me about my opponent?
Joan: Your opponent is quite animalistic looking at his history. Play it smart and you should have a high chance at victory.
Alexander: That's all I needed to hear. Now, how about some drinks?
Joan: Certainly, I will get them right away.
Joan stood up and walked away from the table, Alexander's gaze meeting Thong's.
Alexander: You must be new. I've never heard of you unlike those others behind you.
Thong stared at Alexander.
Alexander: Hugo is likely the fighter with the worst track record amongst us, he likely got here on pure luck. Li is very balanced with his win-to-loss ratio. Mike is a very impressive combatant. I wonder where in the spectrum of those three you will fall into this tournament.
Thong turned away from Alexander as Joan returned, placing two glasses on the table.
Joan: Has he piqued your interest?
Alexander: I've never heard of him, so I can't help but be interested.
Joan: His name was Thong Tran on the board, with him having only two matches under his belt: one against Hugo Fulboota and the other against Babe Krush. He has won both.
Alexander: A blank slate to have won against low rankers.
Joan: Sir… You're not very high yourself. You're even below the likes of Li.
Alexander: Shut it! I'll show this tournament what it's up against.
Joan: If you say so, sir.
Thong walked to one of the further corners of the room with the group, they all sat down around a table as Thong watched.
Thong: You know, for hating them so much, you're making yourself pretty comfy with them.
Mike: I am not. I'm just trying to make the best of a bad situation.
Thong: I'll catch up with you later, then. I'm going outside to train a bit.
Mike: You're going to leave me with these two? I could bear them if they were you and Tiana, but these two are the worst possible combo!
Li: Do you think a snail thinks we're gods when we walk past them? We seemingly do the impossible at speeds much faster than them.
Hugo: That's a good question… We are snail gods!
Mike: Do you hear them?!
Thong: I understand, Mike. You're free to join me if you wish, but I can't just continue sitting around. There are only a few days before the tournament begins, and I'm not even fully certain of my own abilities.
Mike stared at Thong, as if he wanted to say something. He gritted his teeth and turned around in his chair.
Mike: I wish you luck, then. You'll need all the help you can get if you have no faith in yourself. This tournament won't pity the weak.
Thong: Thanks. I'll meet up with you later.
Thong left the dining hall and the building. He walked into the woods, entering his usual fighting stance. He threw a punch at a tree, small pieces of bark flying off of it.
Thong's thoughts: This place doesn't pity the weak… Then will I have a chance?
Minh: Of course we will.
Thong's thoughts: Stay out of this!
Minh: Right as we're about to reach our peak? This tournament is big stuff, not something you can handle without me.
Thong started swinging his arms harder at the tree. He had walked quite a distance from the building, in hopes that no one would hear him.
Minh: Your power is lacking. Trust me, I will win this tournament!
Thong: Shut up…
Thong landed a powerful vertical punched at the tree, carving out a portion to have it topple it over. Thong stared as the tree landed loudly on the ground, his breath quickening.
Minh: Your skills and drive are too unrefined. You almost lost to our weakling of a father. Do you truly think you're able to win this tournament?
Thong's thoughts: Then I'll train my ass off in the few days up to the tournament… I'll train like my life depends on it.
Minh: Then what? Lose to Mike as you hold back against him too? You have the power but fail to release it. That won't fly against a tournament of professionals.
Thong entered his stance once again, focusing his sights on a squirrel he sees moving through the trees.
Thong's thoughts: Even if it is Mike… I need to win…
Thong dashed forward, running past the squirrel as he picked it off the forest floor. The squirrel moved in his hand wildly before he placed it onto a tree.
Minh: Your weakness is showing. Do you think this lackluster training will bring out the best in us?
Thong's thoughts: I'll push myself harder than I ever have. I'm not fighting for myself anymore, I'm fighting for my family.
Minh: I hope your motivation is strong enough to save that family of yours. The Kaisuto Group is most definitely in this organization, so you better get revenge, or I will…
Thong stood still in the forest as Minh's voice faded from his mind. Thong entered his stance once again, letting out a heavy breath as he focused on the tree ahead of him. He clenched his fist as he charged forward.
???: With those movements, you're putting more energy into the build-up than into the actual attack.
Thong stopped in his tracks before whipping around. He saw a figure move through the trees before coming up to him with an open book.
Daymond: Care to join me?