Chapter 87 - Rigged

Nupan smiled as Remy shivered in fear. Gonzalez crossed his arms as he stared down at the match.

Gonzalez: He's losing himself. Nupan took a small advantage and Remy is already cracking.

Abraham: It's a shame, as well. He looked confident no more than a few moments ago.

Gonzalez: Nupan is just that terrifying of an opponent. But I know Remy won't allow himself to lose.

Remy gripped his staff tightly before aiming it at Nupan. Nupan charged in, quick overhead strikes raining down on Remy. Remy continued to block with the staff, Nupan's face filled with confusion.

Nupan's thoughts: I'm hitting his staff fairly hard, so why isn't it cutting? Better yet… I haven't cut the flag he has hanging from his staff once. There's something off here… Is he holding something back?

Remy's staff is made of wood that is infused with ironwood and hickory. With the craftsmanship being that of a masterful level. The user will never get a single splinter from how smooth the wood was cut, and the staff will never be cut with how durable the wood is. Remy had received this staff as a gift from his fellow Brigade members, with it being said to have been made by a legendary craftsman somewhere in Scandinavia. As each of Nupan's strikes hit the staff, Nupan felt as if the staff was stone itself.

Nupan's thoughts: It's definitely not metal, and stone would be too heavy. This wood is something else…

Nupan changed his attack pattern, aiming around Remy's blocks to aim for his torso. Remy's eyes moved quickly as his staff followed. With a quick motion of his hands, Remy swept the staff under Nupan's legs, tripping Nupan up. Nupan's sword swung wildly as Nupan fell. One slash dug itself into Remy's side before Nupan hit the ground, Remy immediately followed with a series of quick strikes down on Nupan.

Nupan's thoughts: When this kid wants to be, he can combo and hit things really well. He's something else. Just what is he?

…

Over a decade ago, Remy's family used to have wealth that one could only imagine. They were considered to be a high ranking family within the Virtus Imperium. Until one day tragedy struck and a mafia had begun to run the family down for money. Remy's mother quickly figured out that her husband's riches had come from a shady deal with the mafia, forcing her and her family to run into hiding in a small quiet town in the eastern territory of Ameria. Remy began his life anew as his parents built their lives up again from nearly nothing.

A year had passed and Remy's family had finally begun adjusting to their new lives. Remy, however, was not as lucky. During a return trip to his home one day, a group of older children circled around Remy, having heard rumors of his previous life. In no time at all, they all began punching and kicking him. The largest kid amongst them kicked Remy hard in the stomach, sending him rolling back. Remy coughed up heavily from the pain, when out of the corner of his eye, he noticed something. A large branch had fallen from its tree, a branch large enough to act as a weapon. Without a moment of hesitation, he swung the branch around, the looks of the bullies having changed. They grew annoyed by Remy's last ditch effort, deciding to rush in together. Remy's movements felt natural to him as he took down the bullies with swift movements of the branch. The bullies ran away, Remy breathing heavily before looking down at the branch.

Remy: That was pretty cool. I hope I don't need to do that ever again.

Remy threw the branch behind him, rubbing his injured shoulder as something burned deep within him…

…

Remy continued with his attack, changing his attacks into a figure eight spin. Remy's swings were sharp enough to feel like a sword, Nupan immediately parrying them with his sword.

Nupan's thoughts: I see… He must be a natural with the staff. Even at his age, no one can master it like that. Nisham used the staff longer than this kid has, but he's nowhere near this level. I guess I just need to get serious.

Remy's eyes opened wide as he saw Nupan push away his strikes before his sword and arms seemed to multiply. Remy's eyes darted from sword to sword before a flurry of strikes rained down on him. Remy quickly spun his staff, Nupan's strikes bleeding through nonetheless. Remy intensified his grip, using a helicopter spin to cover all his sides, less and less of Nupan's strikes beginning to get through.

Zachary: Look at that! Remy's skill with the staff is truly showing off here! He's managed to stop Nupan's onslaught!

Zenzo: That's no easy task! Once Nupan gets started, he can't be stopped! Remy is really something else!

Nupan's thoughts: He's something alright.

Nupan glanced at his entrance, looking at Dianshi who tapped a pen on his shoulder.

…

Moments before the match…

Nupan: You want me to what?!

Dianshi: I need you to lose your match. Forfeit as soon as you enter.

Nupan: Like hell I'm going to do that! Do you know how long I've waited for this day? I've waited so damn long to be able to fight in a tournament with some of the biggest names! And you want to take that from me?

Dianshi: I've already spoken it over with your partner. Arthur said he'll partake in the search. There are invaders in this building, I can just feel it.

Nupan: Where's your proof?! I need damn proof if you expect me to believe this!

Dianshi: Nupan, you know I wouldn't interrupt your matches unless I was truly serious. Earlier, I thought I saw a ghost. I felt no presence. I heard no footsteps. Yet I caught the slightest of glimpses of someone in these halls.

Nupan: Are you sure that's not just your prescription failing you? What the hell does that have to do with me?!

Dianshi: You're the only one I can rely on. You and Arthur are amongst our strongest. If there truly are invaders, I need you to seek them out for me immediately. The sake of the whole Eclipse relies on this.

Nupan: Goddammit, Dianshi… You owe me big time…

Dianshi: I know I do. So please, do this for me…

…

Nupan snapped back to reality, Remy stopping his spinning to land a downward strike on him. Nupan narrowly avoided it, jumping back as he analyzed Remy.

Nupan's thoughts: If I'm supposed to lose… I'll do it with style!

Remy hesitated as he saw Nupan's footwork change, Nupan darting around the ring at fast intervals.

Remy's thoughts: This isn't anything like Shun! He isn't fast, he's just creating the illusion of it! But I can't figure it out!

Another cut formed on Remy's right shoulder as he spun his staff rapidly. The audience looked in shock as Remy's eyes opened wide. Nupan's sword moved just below Remy's staff, stabbing into Remy's left side.

Nupan: Checkmate.

Dianshi: Nupan!

Abraham & Carrie: Remy!

Nupan: This is as far as you go, you rat.

Remy shivered in fear, but he met Nupan with a nervous smile. Nupan's confident look filled with his own shock as he felt a heavy blow hit his jaw.

Nupan's thoughts: He spun his staff at that angle?! No way!

Nupan looked up as Remy held his staff overhead.

Remy's thoughts: You know some Kendo, right? Have some of this!

Remy swung down, Nupan fighting his urges as he took the strike straight to the head, collapsing to the ground and releasing his grip on his sword. His sword fell to the ground as well, Remy breathing heavily as he looked down at Nupan. The referee ran over to the fighters before signaling back to Zachary.

Zachary: I CANNOT BELIEVE! AFTER SUCH AN INTENSE EXCHANGE, THE WINNER OF THIS MATCH IS REMY JONESSSSS!!!!

The audience broke into a cheer, Carrie and Abraham wrapping one arm around each other's neck as they cried out in happiness. Gonzalez kept his arms crossed.

Gonzalez's thoughts: He could've easily dodged that. Why didn't he?

Remy used his staff to support his weight, letting out small laughs as he looked up to the ceiling.

Remy: M-man… This is bad, real bad. I won this match, but I have to go against Cero now. Man…. Am I going to die? Is this my death sentence? What was I thinking?!

Nupan: Are you serious? This is the guy I lost to?

Remy looked down in shock, seeing Nupan easily push himself back up and pat himself down.

Nupan: If this is the face of a winner, then I should've killed you. If you act nervous now, then what does that make me? Man up and act like a winner, dammit! God, people like you always get on my nerves!

Remy: W-what? How are you standing?

Nupan: It doesn't matter how I'm standing. I'm heading over to the infirmary. You should too, since we can both walk. You better win your next match, dammit. I don't want to know I had to lose to a coward of all people.

Nupan turned around, walking out of the ring, leaving Remy and the referee speechless. Remy let out a sigh before a weak smile grew on his face.

Remy's thoughts: I guess he's right, I need to act stronger to get stronger. I guess once you win, you carry your opponent's own goal with you. I'll try to win, just you wait, Nupan!