Chapter 126 - Replicator

Nearly forty years ago in an unruly environment, Daymond was born. His family was poor, and the town where they lived was the closest one could get to hell. This unnamed territory was an area of the states in America that the government had chosen to ignore. It was treated much like one would depict the Wild West. A lawless, hopeless territory. Daymond's mother died during his birth, and his father would soon die as well while Daymond was still at a young age. For as long as he could remember, he was alone. 

Despite his nature as a lonely child, he held his head high. He found an abandoned home in this territory, one that seemed stable enough to be lived in. At the age of seven years old, Daymond was attacked by a crazed junkie who had stumbled upon the home. His eyes quivered as the junkie swung his knife around, aiming to kill the young boy. Daymond grabbed a broken glass shard and similarly killed the junkie that the junkie had tried doing to him. 

At the age of nine, Daymond found a lowly restaurant. He watched the chef cook simple meals, the movements sticking in his mind. Soon after, he had attempted to make the same recipe with ingredients he had stolen from the restaurant. While it was lower in quality, Daymond's meal was still close to the chef's dish.

As he got to the age of twelve, Daymond realized that he was special. Each event he experienced, each he closely followed, he would soon learn to do. His body would make these experiences feel like they were part of his body all along. Word of his talent made its way through the unnamed territory, catching a certain group's interest. During one late night, Daymond had been abducted by several robed men. Men who would soon hold him down in front of a man with a raggedy red robe. The man held a burning branding tool. 

Robed Man: Young man, while you may not be aware of it, you are of a special breed. A breed me and my men praise dearly.

Daymond: Let go of me, you assholes! I'll kill you!

Robed Man: Fear not, young man. You are a breed known as a 'Replicator'. You surpass us in every way. Your ability to learn and grow is unlike anything any other person is capable of. Your parents' deaths were not in vain as they gave birth to a man who has the capability of forging his own destiny.

Daymond heard the man's words, his rage being overtaken by confusion. Before he could get any more words out, the robed man placed the brand on Daymond's forehead, burning a symbol upon it. He let out a shriek that could pierce anyone's ears. Yet the robed man seemed unaffected.

Robed Man: This symbol is given to each of your kind. The men who will become the kings of this world. Move forward, young man. Take the world and make it your own! 

Daymond eventually fell unconscious from the pain. The robed man's words were all he could echo in his mind. He had been branded a Replicator, the ones deemed to take the world…

…

Daymond widened his stance, watching Theodore closely. 

Daymond's thoughts: You truly are a fearsome foe. Forcing me to push myself like this… I truly could not ask for a better opponent.

Daymond charged forward, his body lower than it was before. Theodore raised his guard, taking Daymond's first punch. Daymond responded with a left overhead punch. Theodore blocked Daymond's strike with his gauntlet, kicking the head spider back. Daymond used Savestep, moving rapidly around Theodore. Using Flash, he charged directly at Theodore with a quick elbow. Theodore noticed this from the corner of his vision, immediately shifting his body in response. He struck with a right hook, noticing Daymond's footwork slowly changed. Daymond had entirely disappeared from his sight. The audience watched as Daymond appeared behind Theodore.

Yussuf: He's using Yokai Pace! 

Nupan: That sure explains the odd footwork… 

Arthur: He makes better use of the Raijin Style than you, haha.

Yussuf: Shut up! 

Daymond spun on his heel, building up momentum as he aimed the side of his hand at Theodore's neck. 

Daymond's thoughts: Bellthorne Style - 5th Form: Gladiolus.

Theodore swung around at frightening speeds, grabbing Daymond's arm and pulling it with the momentum of his turn.

Theodore's thoughts: Dark Wave

Daymond felt the strain of Theodore's pull on his arm, yet his mind couldn't recognize the pain. No, rather, it was he that forced his mind to ignore the pain. 

Jason: He's using Release, that's for sure. Theodore dishes out attacks that should be dropping him, yet he's moving without hardly flinching.

Nicholas: And he's proficient with the Bellthorne Style.

Jason: Man, from here, it looks like I'm the one fighting Theodore out there. Well, this will be useful to know if I ever do have to fight him.

Daymond forcibly yanked his arm out of Theodore's hold, jumping away as Theodore attempted to grab at him again. Daymond used Yokai Pace to move in an odd pattern, his footwork getting odder and odder. Theodore attempted to follow it closely, noticing its lack of discernible destination.

Theodore's thoughts: This footwork is meant to make foresight difficult to use. I recognize that much. Meaning I must react to every single movement he makes.

Daymond charged directly at Theodore. Theodore prepared to counter the approach when his eyes opened wide. Several Daymonds appeared at once, fully surrounding the king. 

Daymond's thoughts: Lightning Kata - Creeping Shadows

Each Daymond got closer and closer, preparing for a strike.

Theodore's thoughts: Interesting, he combined the previous footwork and this technique to try to throw me off… But I won't be overwhelmed.

Theodore immediately crouched, taking everyone by surprise. Daymond flew over Theodore, his attack missing its intended target. Daymond turned around only to be met with a quick right hook. 

Zachary: Despite Daymond's intense footwork, Theodore has still managed to land a hit! 

Zenzo: It looks like the King of the Virtus Imperium might walk away with this victory.

Daymond raised his guard, reeling from the previous strike. Theodore refused to let up on this opportunity, unleashing a flurry of rapid strikes across Daymond. 

Theodore's thoughts: Raging Tempest

With the speed of his attacks paired with the weight of the gauntlets, each of Theodore's strikes felt as if a cannonball connected with Daymond's skin. Yet despite all this damage, Daymond's mind was not overcome with pain. His mind was focused, thinking. His eyes shook as his body took the punishment from Theodore's onslaught. His body moved, finally parrying away one of Theodore's attacks. Daymond returned to his boxer stance, continuingly parrying Theodore's strikes. A thought entered his mind, forcing him to slam his arms together. Theodore's next strike sent Daymond flying back, a trail of dust flying in the air but his goal had been reached. Daymond reached into the wrapping around his waist, pulling out his book. Theodore charged at Daymond, looking like a rampaging elephant. His large frame and metal gauntlets made the king seem overwhelmingly invincible. Yet with fluid motions of his hand, Daymond pulled several objects that looked like bookmarks from his book. He flung them at Theodore, Theodore simply running into them. Theodore had been stopped in his tracks, hearing the sound of metal skidding past his gauntlets.

Theodore's thoughts: Are those…

Another bookmark flew past his bicep, cutting through his bodysuit and some of the flesh. Blood dripped from the small wound, but it had answered the one question on Theodore's mind. Daymond pulled three more from his book, throwing them with perfect precision.

Tolman: Would you look at that! His accuracy is like that of an archer! 

Alexia: That man is truly impressive.

Darsh: That's to be expected. He has the best record in the Eclipse. Something like throwing blades is no big deal.

Warrick: I agree. But to think he would turn simple bookmarks into deadly weapons.

Andy: He is the head of a dangerous organization, so he may be a tad bit paranoid. 

Theodore began to use Lunar Gaze, deflecting each of Daymond's bookmarks. No matter how accurate the head spider's throws were, the king continued to knock them away. 

Daymond's thoughts: I knew this approach would be useless, but it gave me a moment to rest my body. Using Release to numb the pain had definitely allowed me to push myself, but I need to acknowledge that my body can still wear down. I can't allow myself to get foolish.

Daymond flipped through his book, finding the page that listed Theodore. He scanned the page quickly before slamming it shut. He jumped back, avoiding a hammer punch from Theodore. He slid the book back into the wrappings, placing both hands up. Theodore moved his hands quickly, throwing strike after strike. Daymond blocked each hit with open hands, staring down the serious king. He struck away one of Theodore's left straights, bringing up his hand, and aimed for a downward chop to Theodore's neck. 

Theodore's thoughts: Roses of Sorrow

Theodore dodged Daymond's chop, immediately aiming for a low kick to Daymond's shin. Daymond dodged the kick, spun around, and aimed a spinning back kick at Theodore's head.

Tico: That was Sanda!

Bruna: Y-Y-You recognize i-i-it?

Tico: Yeah, it's a Chinese martial art. It was originally made for Chinese military use and incorporated kickboxing into its principles. Now it's a sport.

Kammy: So he even knows Chinese martial arts… What doesn't this guy know?

Cero: He knows my KenShinka Style, Yussuf and Shun's Raijin Style, Jason's Bellthorne Style. 

Bruna: So h-he must know D-D-Deacon's style too, ri-ri-right?

Cero: He doesn't. If he had, he'd have likely used a technique from it already.

Tico: Right… Deacon hid his techniques as much as possible. Even then, his array of techniques is terrifying. Can he be beaten?

Cero stared at the monitor, watching the match closely.

Cero's thoughts: It doesn't matter if he isn't, because I'll change that impossibility to reality.

Daymond's kick landed with a heavy thud, a shiver went up his body. He turned to see Theodore, now a step forward, with his gauntlet colliding with Daymond's foot.

Theodore's thoughts: Clash

Daymond pulled his foot back, throwing another quick kick aimed at Theodore's midsection. 

Theodore's thoughts: Down to Earth

Theodore spun his left gauntlet down, slamming into Daymond's kick and forcing it to crash into the ground. Daymond looked up, watching Theodore take a wide step forward before throwing a powerful right straight. Daymond flew off his feet, sliding across the ground as blood flew from his face, yet Theodore stumbled. Placing his left hand over his chest, feeling a pain spread.

Theodore's thoughts: He struck me just as he went flying back. Hitting me with a kick at the last moment… even when he's at a disadvantage, he's effective.

Theodore watched as Daymond got back to his feet, spitting out blood. His expression hardly noticed the pain that was visible on his face. He simply raised his fists and took a stance. Theodore stared Daymond down, his mind filled.

Theodore's thoughts: If he keeps fighting like this, he might die… But I refuse to lighten up on him. He is a man who fights with his life, so he'll do the most to protect it...

Theodore raised his arm, staring down Daymond past his gauntlet. 

Theodore's thoughts: …And I'll do the most to protect mine.