Chapter Five: The old man fights back

Luis Firendis was more than just a a gorilla with powerful limbs. In a terrible decision, his father had decided to make his son someone capable of violence and so he had paid classes of tae kwondo for him. The idiot had shown some kind of talent for it and he had advanced some levels in the ranking. For someone his age and for someone untrained his moves would have look amazingly fast and certainly his kicks were very strong. I still remember my past life when Kori 's kicks were so fast I could not follow and was constantly knocked out only to be woke up with cold water and continue to suffer his attacks. He looked so big and intimidating that I just stood there paralyzed in fear.

- "I'll let you have the first move"- Kori said with a tone full of confidence- "Am I not generous?"

He obviously wanted me to charge like a mad bull to be countered immediately. Now that my mind is clear I can see lots of things in Kori's stance which shocked me. In simple words… he sucked! His guard was low and open and his posture is not firm and steady… There were too many openings.

- "Is he pretending to be open so he can counter attacked me?"- I wondered since I had fallen for such tricks in the past- "I suppose I will have to test his guard to see if this is a trap!"

I decided to take the initiative and I moved forward with a slide technique I learned from a master which taught me how to enter the defense range of my opponent. Kori seemed to be surprised, but I do not take any chances and immediately sent a jab dirtectly to his nose.

- "Damn it!"- I clicked my tongue in disappointment since my attack was simply too weak and the form was simply horrible. My distance was not enough and due to this I had to over extend my arm for the punch which caused it to lose potency.

I immediately jumped back to take distance as I raise my arms to block any opunter attack. However, to my surprise, there is no hit at all and what is more, Kori was now on his knees while grabbing his nose.

- "Eh? Are you serious?"- I claimed as I saw the nemesis of my childhood who had brought so many nightmares and trauma to my life sobbing in pain as he tried to stop the bleeding.

- "You fuck! You broke my nose!"- he yelled in fury as he had tears running down his cheeks- "I'll kill you!"

Wait, so was he not pretending? Wasn't he too weak? I mean my attack was pretty bad and the hit was not a clean as I wanted to. What's more… was not Kori trained in fighting? He should have received pain tolerance exercises, right? I have no more time to think about that since Kori threw himself at me and furiously started to send kicks aimed to my head.

- "Don't get cocky just for taking me by surprise!"- shouted Kori as he continued suing kicks in different angles to break my defense.

I must say the kicks are good… for a beginner. The lack of technique spoke volumes of his indiscipline and laziness in training. I simply block most kicks by using a trick I learned during my fights in the End. The kicks normally had an effective range and they explode whe they extert the maximum extension so to reduce their efficiency, I simply advance a little and block them when they had not reach their maximum extension. I still receive some damage, but it is not as effective and there is a chance I might even break the posture of my opponent. However, after some attacks, I noticed that I wouldn't receive a lot of damage from Kori even If I received the kicks at their top power.

- "Your master must be crying right now!"- I thought as I just evaded the kicks since they are pretty obvious and telegraphed.

The power in kicks not only depended in the legs, but the back and hips rotational momentum. If you do not use them as it is supposed to, your kick would lose even a 70% of potency. Kori's technique was a mess and I was sure his master would lecture and punish him for showing such terrible show of Tae-Kwondo. Another thing that surprised me was that Kori did not use any other things except his legs. He did not use his hands or elbows or knees. He was just too focused in using his legs while jumping and trying to use feints. The feints were ok, but once again when he wanted to put power, it was telegraphed and when he wants to be faster, he simply lost potency. There was no equilibrium and so I decided to use minimum moves to evade his attacks and let him burn his fuel. It seemed he had not been taught that kicking so much was a huge physical burden which would burn his stamina in matter of minutes. In my case, I would just evade and save energy preparing for my counter attack.

- "Stop jumping around like a monkey and fight like a man!"- he yelled at me frustrated of not being able to connect any good kick.

He started to use more feints. This was very typical in tae-kwondo and when ued correctly it could be extremely deceptive, but in Kori's case it was just too obvious. I mean, do not get me wrong, if he were fighting against someon in his category or even someone around his age, they would definitely be effective. However, I am sorry kid, you got to cross me and you will have to pay the price. He twisted his body in situ pretending to throw a spin- hook kick to make my guard go up and then use the momentum to connect a side kick directly on my unprotected belly. I simply entered in close range and give an elbow strike directly on his open middle section as he gave me his back..

- "Gehoo!"- he made a funny sound as I connect on his right side breaking his stance due to the pain. I immediately follow with a hook which was aimed directly to his jaw, but due to my miscalculation it ended in the cheek. Though badly aimed, the attack made him stagger back some meters.

I clicked my tongue once again. This body was extremely uncomfortable to fight with. My arms and legs were too short and it was messing with my distance and power. The stamina was also a problem since it had only been 3 minutes and I was already gasping for air. Even so, I was even more shocked to the lack of technique of the so-called trained Kori. He seemed to have practiced how to kick but he had completely neglected the use of his arms to protect himself as he did so. Every time he threw a kick he left himself open as if he expected his opponent to just ignore the openings he was creating. If he were a master, I would expect him to create these on purpose to bait his enemies to attack. However, in the case of Kori, this was obviously not the case. He was a stupid kid who had put everything into offensive but has ignored his defense to the point that I wanted to hit myself. Why? Because I had let this stupid and weak brat leave a trauma that had haunted me for years.

- "All for this?"- I felt the anger rise in my chest and I did not know if laugh or cry to this reality- "I let this to affect me for some many years? I should let him kick me some times to punish myself for being such an idiot!"

Many times in nightmares, I remembered these beatings and my childish memory portrayed Kori as an invincible giant with kicks like lightning and the power of a bulldozer. Now that I could see it with the eyes of someone who knew how to fight, he was just a pathetic worm with no technique nor talent. I felt angry at my past self for being so useless, weak and pathetic. I know I as being too harsh though. My past self did not know how to fight and had the naïve idea that every person had a some good insideand that he should only find the correct words and actions to make them shine. I was too innocent for my own goodandI was lucky to have suffered enough to realize that some people would never learn no matter how many opportunities and good they are given. I had to fight tow and nail in the most brutal environment a person could imagine, a place where you had to use every single dirty and immoral trick if you wanted to survive. I had learned that even though humans can be a very compassionate and fair creature, it can also become the cruelest and shrewdest monster in the universe. This young Cristian did not know, he could not imagine, but now I was here, with the experience of a previous life decided not to make the same mistakes again.

- "Die!!!"- Kori charged again with a front kick that I easily dogded by reflex.

I noticed that the intensity of his icks are diminishing. He was already tired and it was time for me to counter attack. Even with this untrained body I know I could kill this kid if I wanted. Even now, I could see eight places which could be considered vital points that I could attack. If I did, I could even cripple him, an idea which was very tempting. However, I had to remind myself that this was not the End where you could kill anyone with no repercussions. I could put myself and more importantly, my mother in trouble if I were to cross the line, and also the mission I had received in the note had specifically forbid me from doing so. I suppsed they knew my fighting capabilities.

- "End him, Kori!"

- "Show him who is the boss!"

- "Stop playing and kill him! I wanna see blood like in the TV!"

These brats were shouting as if this were a WWE show which was very popular by this time. They had no idea of the problem Kori was in and thought he was simply toying around with me to make the fight more interesting. This made Kroi eve more furious and after giving them an angry look, he found a second air of energy and attacked me again with renewed spirits. He knows that if he cannot give me a single hit, his reputation would be damaged. I decided that it is enough since my own stamina is starting to suffer and a long battle will go against me.

- "I accept you have guts… but I was just warming up before!"- he said trying to appear strong and confident, but his sweaty face and gasping voice did not give him much credibility- "prepare… yourself… I'm serious… now…"

He jumped to me with a low round kick, but I can see that he is tired and the leg just has no strength anymore. I use my own foot and stomped on the shin putting all my weight on it. The impact make the lag rebound and Kori screams in pain. I did not break it… I hope. I sincerely cannot measure my strength in this body but I supposed Kori at least had bone and muscle reinforcement training. I did not stop though, and using the momentum I spinned and gave him an elbow strike on the face. He managed to avoid falling to the floor and tried to sucker punched me. It was to easy to read and I blocked the puched while throwing another jab to his nose which was aklready bleeding. Immediately I used a chop strike on the joint of the inner elbow.

-"Ahhh! Damn you!"- Kori tried to put distance with me as he felt his arm stopped responding to him.

Hitting pressure point to immobilize limbs was something I had learned very early on and it was a skill that had saved me countless times. It was also very effective to restrain someone you did not want to kill. There were many missions like that so it was a must to know these techniques. Nothing permanent of course, he just would not be able to use that arm for the next 15 minutes or so.

- "I'm gonna kill ya!"- he shouted with a mix of fury, frustration and worry.

I am really sorry, lad. You will not be able to do that even in a thousand years. However, I noticed the underlings surrounding us and they may have started to notice something was not ok. I would definitely find myself in a pickle if they decided to help their leader so I must end this quickly and destroy their spirits to avoid trouble in the future. In simple words, let's engrave the same fear they put into me in my past life.

- "If you really mean to kill me, then the things change…"- I say and I let my bloodthirsty emotions out. In my mind I convinced myself that I will kill this kid with no doubt whatsoever- "I will have to kill you…"

My voice is cold and my aura is absolutely confident. Kori stepped back in fear and I can only imagine the mental struggle this kid must have been experiencing right now. Every living creature had a very powerful survival instinct which alerted you when you were in danger and made you run if necessary. However, there were times in which that same instinct could paralyze you without any chance to react. Just think in the last time you met someone who was intimidating. You immediately knew that was better not to have any problem with him or her and you'd better keep your distance. Now imagine that same person glared at you and started to approach to your position with a clear animosity. Most would simply get confused and terrified and would not even try to escape. You would think it was futile to even try anyway. With practice, in real violence of course, it was possible to provoke this reaction in others, and this is what one called "killing intent." I have killed my fair share of people, so letting out these threatening pressure is like breathing for me.

- "I obviously do not plan to kill Kori, but the poor kid has no way to know that"- I started to walk decisively and without any trace of doubt about what I am about to do to him- "in this moment Kori must be feeling the pressure of all my aggression and my absolute resolution to end his life. How many kids in their teens ore ven adults would be able to bear this situation?"

To my surprise, Kori shouted as if getting courage and threw himself at me with a mad look in his eyes. I suppose I underestimated the level of threat the son of a gangster must experience. However, he was definitely shaken and tired. And easily block and avoid his attacks while counter attack him. I must say that I did not contain myself and even I must admit that it was not very mature from me to do so. However, for some reason all the memories of his beating returned to me and I simply had the overwhelming desire to return the favor with interest. I pummeled the poor so until my knuckles bled and and my could not feel my arm. At the beginning I could hear his pleas for mercy, but they did nothing more than fed my thirst for revenge. After a while I noticed he is silent and that made me react. I checked him and made sure he is still alive. He was knocked out but he was still breathing. I passed my hand over my mouth and noticed the blood in hand and I also realized thatI am grinning like a madman. This felt just so much good. I used this moment to look at the underlings who looked at me with an absolute terror in their faces. I my grinning expression combined with blood is a horror movie look.

- "You! Bring water!"- I said poiting at one of the most terrified and he immediately nodded and brought aa bucket which he filled from a source there was close. They had sone this many times to him when he had fainted to continue the punishment.

I made the guy dose the water on Kori and he immediately reacted and started to moan due to the pain. I pushed the underling out of the way and kicked Kori forcing him to lie on his back and then I stepped on his chest putting all my weight on him. He looked at me with terror on his eyes.

- "Tell me Kori, what do you want me to break first…"- I said with a calm voice which made the kid squirm even more- "the hand, your teeth, or the rest of your nose?"

I made the offer as if it were the most natural thing in the world and being honest I am considering breaking some things… I mean, as long as it is not permanent, I would not be going against the requirements of the note.

- "Please… don't do it…"- he begged with a whisper.

- "Why shouldn't I? You have done worse things, haven't you? Like…"- I started saying the names of all the classmates that he had bullied in the past- "Didn't they beg you like you do now? Dind't they cry and ask for mercy? Did you show them any huh?"

I kicked his face and then stomped in his plexus. The pain and lack of oxygen made him shake and cough in desperation. I waited for him to recover and then I kneel next to him as I grabbed his hair and forced his face up.

- "I Think I should just end you here and avoid future complications"- I whispered on his ear- "I wouldn't want you to return for revenge… maybe I should break your spine and make you ride a wheelchair for the rest of your life"

- "NO! Please no!!!!"- he screamed in aginy as he started to cry. Furthermore, I detected a nasty smell coming from his pants- "Please, I will do anything… just forgive me!"

I suppose I had scared him enough so I let go of his hair and moved in front of him with a cold smile.

- "Listen… today I'm in a good mood"- I said and he looked at me with full attention hoping that he had a way to save his skin- "just because of that, I will stop here and let that broken nose as a reminder of what I can do. You are nothing to me! I can destroy you any moment I want. So you'd better behave from today onwards. If you cross me again, or try something against me or my brother, I will not look for you… I will ask you little sister, Sofia for compensation…"

Kori's eyes opened in horror when I meantioned this name and I can see that he was shaking even more than before. It seemed he really cared for his sister. He looked at me as if I were a demon. Of course I would never hurt a little girl, but Kori does not need to know that.

- "It would be a shame that Little Sofia had to pay for your mistakes… you know what I mean, right?"- I said and showed him the nastiest grin I can produce.

- "I understand… so please leave her out of this…"

- "All depends on you, Luis"- I said while using his name to cement my dominion on him.

I stood up and turned to go. The underlings of Kori also have terrified faces and many of them evade my eyes. I walked to them and they get out of the way and I felt like Moses opening the Red Sea. As I went out the abandoned lot, I felt as if I had left a huge burden behind. I felt like I could move faster and jump higher. This beating was supposed to be the first of many failures and tragedies in my life, but now it would become the foundation of nothing more than victories.

- "I'm back"- I greeted as I arrived to my house and I see my little brother smiling at me.

- "Welcome!"- he said as he showed me his toys- "let's play, let's play!"

- "Ok, Hello Francis"- I greeted our maid- "was he a good boy?"

- "I was a good boy!"- shouted my brother as he also looked at Francis with a look full of conviction- "tell him tell him!"

Francis smiled and then looked at Joseph and me with playful eyes as if asking "what should I say?," however, when seeing the "serious" look my brother had, she simply laughed and nodded.

- "Young Joseph has behaved very well and is as usual a gentleman"- said Francis and my brother looked at me with a smug face while inflating his chest in pride.

- "In that case, he deserves a reward"- I said as I took out his favorite chocolate bar.

He took the bar as he started jumping in happiness like a little bunny. I smiled at this scene and swore that this time I would have a better relationship with him.

- "Young Cristian… what happened with your hand?"- asked Francis with horror as she got close and grabs my hand to examin it.

I had hoped she did not noticed, but she had the eyes of a hawk. My knuckles were torn and even though I had washed my face and my hands before coming in a near park, the wounds were not pretty.

- "Are you ok?"- asked my brother with tears in his eyes.

- "This is nothing…"- I said as I smiled to reassured Joseph- "I fell and scratched my hand… I did not notice it was this deep though…"

- "I will bring the first aid kit" – said Francis and she rushed to bring it.

- "Stop crying, Joseph"- I said to my brother- "the tears of a man are diamonds… you shouldn't be dropping them so easily… and it looks worse than it is… it doesn't hurt."

- "Really?"- he said as he cleaned his tears.

- "Yeah, you will also have wounds like these, but you must be brave, ok?"- I told him remembering the scars Joseph managed to get later in life.

- "Ok!"

- "That's my little brother!"- I said scratching his hair- "we'll play after Francis treats this, ok?"

After that, Francis gave me some treatment, but later my Aunt Zulema, who is a doctor treated me more carefully. She noticed these were not the wounds of a simple fall and demanded the truth from me. I told her the truth and she was angry I had had a fight.

- "However, it is good you defended yourself"- she said as she put some bandages on my knuckles- "however, try to use your head more than your hands, please. I don't want to be having to treat your wounds or worse, you hear me?"

- "Loud and clear, Aunt"- I said and then I asked her for a favor- "about my mom…"

- "I won't tell her, but I think it's better to be honest with this."

- "She has sufficient problems"- I said with a serious tone- "I won't be a burden for her."

- "That's good"- said my aunt and for some reason she showed me a content smile- "a man should be able to suffer in silence. Be a column that can support your mom and the family."

I nodded with decisiveness and my aunt kissed me in the cheek before sending me on my way.

- "Just you wait, aunt"- I said feeling my chest filled with passion and power- "I will become a column so strong and steady that I will make sure all the family thrives even during the End!"