Chapter 45 - Armor

Zachary: With the ring having barely been damaged from that last bout, let us move onto the next match!

The audience let out a roaring cheer as everyone focused on the ring. Jason stood on his own in one of the observation rooms, looking down at the ring. The door creaked behind him, Jason turning to see Xavier entering the room.

Xavier: I had a feeling I'd find you here.

Jason: Don't you have patients to deal with?

Xavier: Avi is taking care of it. He's more focused on the doctor job than I am.

Jason: I find that a little hard to believe. But he's been an interesting one from the few times I've spoken with him.

Xavier: You seemed pretty focused on this match, so I wanted to know what's going on in your mind.

Jason: I mean, can't you tell?

Xavier: Your new friend, right?

Jason: His history in the matches is small, but I can promise his strength.

Xavier: You don't need to tell me. I'm not exactly a fighter, but I can tell he isn't a pushover.

Jason: Yeah…

Zachary raised an arm into the air, a smile growing on his face as he looked out to the audience.

Zachary: THE FIRST CONTESTANT TO MAKE IT TO THE RING IS A FAMILIAR FACE! HE STANDS AS ONE OF THE MOST PROMISING FIGHTERS AT THE BECKONING CALL OF THE FALLEN DISPENSARY! HIS COOL DEMEANOR IS NO PLOY, AS HIS SKILLS SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES! HERE AS RANK 43 WITH 35 WINS AND 2 LOSSES, STANDING IN AT 185 CENTIMETERS AND 82 KILOGRAMS, HERE ENTERS "THE RADIANT," MASON CHORDATA!!

Mason casually walked into the ring, wearing a relaxed expression on his face. Tico, Cero, and Kammy headed closer to the ring from the hallway, watching Mason stand close to Zachary, with no pressure on his body.

Tico: He's basically wearing a suit out there. How can anyone fight like that?

Cero: Mason's attire has never hampered him. If anything, it helps throw off his opponents. Especially ones that don't do research on him.

Kammy: But you've seen that knight! He's friends with that Bellthorne, and I know for a fact he does his research!

Cero: Perhaps he does, but no research is truly perfect. Mason makes sure to keep most of his skills under wraps.

Kammy: T-true… He rarely shows everything in a match, that cocky bastard…

Tico: Let's see how good that does him.

Mason played with his messy blonde hair before facing the opposing entrance. Zachary turned his attention to the entrance as well.

Zachary: AND HIS OPPONENT IS THIS MAN HERE! HIS MATCHES BARELY SHOW HIS TRUE POTENTIAL! HIS FACE AND HISTORY ARE A MYSTERY! IS HE A MAN OR A BEAST?! ENTERING AT RANK 419 WITH 1 WIN AND 4 LOSSES, STANDING AT 191 CENTIMETERS AND 137 KILOGRAMS, HERE IS "THE KNIGHT OF FLOWERS," SER LORISIAN!!

Everyone watched on as the large knight entered the ring, whispering happening amongst them as he meets Mason and Zachary at the center of the ring. Zachary and Mason stared at him in confusion with Zachary pointing at Lorisian.

Zachary: Umm… Didn't you walk into the stadium with a sword? Don't you want to fight with that?

Mason: Yeah, I'm fine with my opponents using weapons, ya know.

Lorisian: Oh, t's fine. I like matching mine own opponents if 't be true they aren't cap-a-pe.

Mason: Did you catch what he said?

Zachary: I think he said he's willing to match you in an unarmed fight?

Mason: If that's true, then explain the armor. Isn't that against the rules or something?

Zachary: Uhhh… Well, we allow weapons to be used as long as they aren't firearms. Armor isn't that much more different in terms of usability, so I'm pretty sure it's fine.

Zachary's thoughts: Armor should slow down people too, so not like it makes too much of a difference either way.

Mason: Welp, not like it bothers me too much. This will just make the fight more fun for everyone to see, right?

Zachary nods before walking back, raising the mic to his mouth once more.

Zachary: Both fighters seem to have come to a bit of a consensus, so let us return to the proper fight!

The referee got between both fighters, staring both of them down as they both stared at each other. He lowered his arm as Mason opened his mouth.

Mason: You're a pretty big fella, huh? Well, I guess it's hard to tell with all that armor.

Lorisian: I'll has't thee knoweth that I keepeth myself in healthy condition.

Mason: Yeah, yeah. Let's just get this started. I've been pretty excited to get some action going.

Referee: BEGIIIIINN!!

The referee swung down his arm, marking the start of the match. Mason raised his fists as he immediately saw Lorisian charge at him. Mason let out a sigh before moving in slightly, grabbing onto Lorisian's wrist, and pivoting on his right heel before swinging the large Lorisian over his shoulder. The audience let out an audible gasp as they watched Mason's smaller frame swing the large Lorisian over his shoulder.

Zenzo: That has to be his hapkido! He's letting it loose!

Lorisian landed soundly on his feet as Mason patted down his hands, staring at Lorisian with content before wiping off his forehead.

Mason: Man, for as heavy as that armor is, you're pretty fast.

Lorisian: Why thank thee! I learn'd only from the most wondrous squire!

Mason: I wouldn't be surprised.

Mason and Lorisian charged at each other once more, locking hands as they entered a standstill, Mason staring into the darkness that laid behind Lorisian's helmet.

Mason's thoughts: I really can't see anything back there… Maybe he is a suit of armor controlled by a ghost.

Mason: Let's see if you can try this on for size…

Lorisian tilted his helmet slightly as Mason quickly undid his grasp, holding onto Lorisian's right hand with his left before wrapping his left arm over Lorisian's shoulder. With a quick pull on the hand and a push on the shoulder, Mason pushed Lorisian to the ground. Lorisian went down quickly, Xavier moving closer to the window as he saw that Lorisian was now being pinned down.

Xavier: Shouldn't we be worried?

Jason: For who?

Mason's lighthearted expression started to grow sweat on it as he made the hold on Lorisian tighter. Faint laughter could be heard reverberating from Lorisian's helmet. Mason shifted his gaze and looked in Lorisian's dark eye slits.

Mason: What's so funny?

Lorisian: Thy arts art quaint impressive! Allow me to showeth mine own off!

With an explosive burst of strength, Lorisian threw Mason across the ring, before standing back up and rotating his shoulder.

Lorisian's thoughts: He wast close to dislocating mine own shoulder. He truly is powerful. What a worthy opponent!

Mason jumped back onto his feet, letting out a sigh as he entered his hapkido stance.

Mason's thoughts: This guy is tricky. And that armor ain't making it any easier.

Cero watches as he sees the sweat on Mason's face begin to drip.

Cero's thoughts: You have a wall to overcome, Mason. Use all you need to and don't make simple mistakes.

Mason stared down Lorisian as a smile grew on his face.