Chapter 91 - Midori's Student
In life, most people can only dream of being the best at something. Being the smartest kid in school, becoming an undisputed champion, or in the case of Vector Haste, proving he was the fastest. Ever since he was born, Vector always had an attunement with running. He broke his school's records, obtained marathon times that nobody had ever seen, but yet this never satisfied him. Vector wanted more than just knowing he was fast, he wanted to know he was the fastest. Encountering money problems, he joined up with the Eclipse to make some easy cash. It was there, after his 6th victory that he started to hear that name.
Referee: A one-hit KO, the winner is Vector Haste!
Man 1: This guy's fast, he may even give Jason a run for his money.
Vector's thoughts: Who?
Man 2: Haven't seen that guy around in a while though but yeah that would be a great fight.
Vector's thoughts: Who's this Jason?
Man 3: Jason is far too much for this guy, now that man is that fastest.
Vector's thoughts: Somebody in The Eclipse is faster than me?
Crowd: Jason, Jason, Jason, the fastest, Jason, Bellthorne Style, Jason, Jason, unmatched in speed, Jason, Jason, Jason, Jason.
Vector: AHHH SHUT UP WITH THAT NAME!! NO WAY THIS GUY I'VE NEVER SEEN BEFORE IS FASTER THAN ME. AND I WILL PROVE THAT WHEN I GET THE CHANCE TO FIGHT THIS, JASON!!!
…
Vector once again took an extremely low charging stance. In response to this, Jason uncrossed his arms and lifted up both his hands open-palmed.
Jason's thoughts: So his speed isn't just for nothing. At the last moment, he shifted his vitals just enough for the blow not to be finishing.
A few seconds passed with neither fighter taking action. Suddenly, Vector charged forward once more and moved at an even faster pace than his initial dash. Vector vanish, and at the moment before he landed his strike, Jason utilized his foresight to grab the outstretched arm. Jason flung Vector with another shoulder throw, but this time Vector planted both of his feet onto the ground, stopping the slam from finishing. Pulling his arm away, Vector made as much distance as possible from Jason once again.
Vector's thoughts: I am the fastest. I can… become faster!
When Vector made his next move, nobody could see him, not even Jason. However, the moment Vector decided to dash, Jason dashed forward as well. For less than a fraction of a second, the ring occupied by the two speedsters became empty. In the middle of Vector's charge, he could feel a fist connect to the bottom of his jaw.
Vector's thoughts: He wasn't preparing to throw me again?!?
Jason: Good spirit.
A clinking sound echoed through the arena. Jason's swift uppercut hit Vector with enough force to break his jaw upon impact. Flying into the air, Vector's eyes rolled into the back of his head as he crashed to the ground one last time. The final thing Vector saw as he blacked out was Jason turning his back and walking back towards the entrance he came from.
Jason: You know, I'd like to have a serious race against you one day.
Vector's thoughts: So this is what it means to be the fastest… I never… had a chance…
Zachary: AND A WINNER HAS BEEN DECIDED!! IN THE FASTEST MATCH THIS TOURNAMENT HAS SEEN THE WINNER IS JASON BELLLTHOORNEE!!!
Zenzo: Can we even call that a match? It was so fast I missed most of it.
Zachary: Once again we have been shown the power of our top 10 fighters.
Zenzo: They really are all monsters.
A medical team ran into the arena to escort Vector away. Among the doctors was Xavier Patch, who stopped for a brief moment and smiled as he passed by his friend.
Jason: Sorry, I made your job a bit harder.
Xavier: It was never meant to be easy.
…
Shun: I don't think I could finish Vector off that fast even if I tried.
Daymond: Jason gave a phenomenal performance. The real interesting part about his strength though is what he didn't show off.
Yussuf: What do you mean by that?
Shizu: The Bellthorne Style. He took Vector out without even using it once.
Magnus: And I thought his foresight was scary.
Simon: Doesn't matter to me though, for now, I'm just gonna worry about the match ahead of me.
Daymond: I wish you luck and be careful. He is one of Moll's people after all.
Simon: All the more reason I must win
…
Standing outside of the infirmary, Moll and Midori looked on at a widescreen tv that was streaming the match. Moll rested his hands behind his head as he looked at it closely.
Moll: So this is the power of your student. That youngster may even give me a run for my money.
Midori: It would be quite a pleasant surprise if my old rival and my student got to face off in the finals of this tournament. Maybe even settle an old score.
Moll: Hey maybe we won't need to wait that long, one of my boys is up in the next fight and that young one is a boxer that would put Ali to shame.
Midori: Then for this fight, I shall wish him luck. But if he should win you know that my allegiances must change.
Moll: Speaking of that, why him? Your own family is filled with plenty of powerful youth. One of them just gave the current head of this organization a fight that hundreds of combatants couldn't match. So why choose him as your student?
Midori clasped his hands together and looked Moll directly in the eyes.
Midori: Not many people can see it, but everyone gives off an aura. This aura is not only pressure, but also potential. I have lived a long life, and in this world, the only people who had auras that surpassed old farts like ourselves are people too close to or past their primes. Then I met Jason, and immediately when I looked at him I knew he was the one.
Moll: The one what?
Midori: The youngest one, far from his prime, who has that potential.
…
A group of older businessmen surround a younger man, their conversation quite lively.
Man 1: That fight was hardly a show! There was hardly anything to witness!
Man 2: These fighters take these bouts too seriously! I may have won my share, but it was the most boring victory ever!
Man 3: I'll bid more for the following match to make up for this boring show.
???: Men, men. What are you all crying about? We made our money's worth by tricking those schmucks to bid on Vector.
Man 4: Gerald Azufield, only you would be entirely uninterested in a good show. We followed your lead, but that removed the rush of the unknown prior to this match.
Gerald stood up, cracking his neck before walking away from the group.
Gerald: You may find the show boring, but that's my cousin's husband or something. So I won't go around bidding on losing battles. Oh, and one more thing, these shows are more fun on a deeper level. And I'm going to go meet one of my favorite "characters." He'll liven up this show.
Gerald disappeared into the audience, the men looking on before focusing back on their phones.
Man 1: There he goes again, blabbing about what doesn't matter. These tournaments are all about the show!
Man 2: He mentioned meeting his favorite character. Does he intend to interact with one of the fighters? I'd assume Cero is his favorite.
Man 3: His rash decision-making will likely get him killed, but not like that's any of our concern. We've got our money's worth, so let's bid on the next victor immediately!
Man 4: Ah! My winnings! Where are they?!
Man 1: Mine are gone as well!
Man 2: That bastard must've done something to our devices!
Gerald looked back up to the rowdy crowd before heading down the steps.
Gerald: I wasn't going to let those idiots get the money that's mine. Now, where is that mentally troubled boy?