False Enemies, Fake Friends

After Alice and Biba defeated Baba Yaga and Glaseon so magnificently, most of the fighters quit the tournament and went out, because they have determined that the tournament isn't any longer fair as Alice and Biba can easily crush them and they don't want any major career-threatening injury at such early stages of their careers. The only remaining fighters were Alice, Biba, Isabella, Sasha and Chloe. Chloe is not actually a professional fighter, but a nurse in the medical team of Tyson Lee who was just trying to win the tournament and use the prize money to cure his brother who is suffering from paralysis and heart issues. She wasn't trained in any kind of martial arts, but she was a good observer and fast learner and with some help from a fellow female fighting coach whom she helped once, she managed to keep herself striving in the tournament.

Tyson Lee was not happy with the results and with less fighters in the tournament, the TRP was decreasing day by day at an alarming rate. Tyson Lee wanted to encourage the youth fighting class, but he surely didn't want to sacrifice his monetary value and make himself a pauper. Tyson Lee was constantly pressuring the other sponsors in making their contribution larger, but this kind of behaviour only made his sponsors less in numbers than before. Mr. Watwell and only two sponsors were still in the tournament as they had some ulterior motives involved in the tournament. Mr. Watwell very cleverly bought the other two sponsors and now only he and Tyson Lee were managing the tournament. Mr. Watwell wanted Isabella to win very badly and therefore called a meeting with Tyson Lee and the other two sponsors so that he could subtly force Tyson Lee to make arrangements for Isabella to win the tournament. Mr. Watwell was looking for a double victory here with both nabbing the prize money and giving Isabella a contract in Tyson Lee's new fighting championship. Tyson Lee, on the hand considered Isabella just an average teenager trying her luck in the tournament. Of course, she has some talent in her, but after what Alice showed in her last two fights, Isabella's fame has subsided way too low.

Tyson Lee however is quite angry with Alice as she both benefitted and damaged the tournament with her fight with Baba Yaga. Not even one person bet in her favor and all their money was on Baba Yaga. Baba Yaga lost not only the match but also made thousands of his fans lose their valuable money too. But, again it was beneficial for Tyson Lee as he got all the money in the form of tickets, food and beverages and the merchandise which sold like crazy in just one week. But, Tyson Lee also lost thousands of audience as the tournament became one-sided and lost its interest value. Tyson Lee perfectly knows what Mr. Watwell is planning in his nefarious mind, but he has lost his voice value too with the losses. He sat on the seat and looked at Mr. Watwell who was looking at him with a devious smile.

He stood up and said, "As you all know that we are currently going through some very hard times, especially after what happened a week ago. I don't want to sound negative, but we are surely slowly drowning into the sea of bankruptcy and if we don't do anything quick, we all will become paupers in no time. I'm a businessman and might somehow keep myself striving, but you guys are sports enthusiasts and barely know anything about the cruel market out there ready to devour any weak guy."

Tyson Lee asked, "Can you be more clearer, Mr. Watwell?" Mr. Watwell smiled, "To be more basic and simple, the mere words that I will say is that the audience makes the show popular or flop, no matter how good the show might be. We are losing the audience and slowly but surely, our show is going to be a flop and flops are very expensive baggage that bends its bearer's back beyond repair. Tyson Lee, as we all know has made his whole career in the fighting ring and has evolved into a man who can proudly say that whatever he did in the ring, was not some hoax nor some trickery, but honest hard work and determination. His audience didn't just support him, but stayed with him like a family member. And he returned that love with creating a safe and fair fighting championship where everyone is welcome to come and fulfill his or her dream of being like Tyson Lee, but without going through the same mental trauma and difficulties that he faced during his career. But, unfortunately I see those dreams succumbing pitifully and I fear we can't stop it, at least not by sitting idly."

Tyson Lee said, "Then, tell us what you are so subtly implying." Mr. Watwell said, "I'm not implying anything subtly. In fact, my words are crystal clear and full of facts. If we don't have enough revenue at the end of the upcoming week, then we will have to terminate our sponsorship contract with you and end the tournament for good." Tyson Lee said, "Don't worry about the tournament, Mr. Watwell. If the scarcity of fighters is your problem, then I will bring in new fighters by the end of Monday and soon our tournament will be collecting revenue as before and in fact, the revenue will be much larger this time." Mr. Watwell smiled, "I know optimism is good. But, this is utter foolishness. Why would fighters join the tournament when they have already seen Alice sidelining their hopes of victory by a large margin. Your plan doesn't seem much hopeful and we are afraid that your false hopes will make us lose whatever money we still have in this tournament." Tyson Lee stood up and said, "If I cannot bring sixteen new fighters till Monday, then I will personally eliminate the tournament and pay all your losses with my personal money." He stormed out of the room. Mr. Watwell looked at him going and sighed, "Very well, then. Mr. Tyson Lee. If you want to end yourself like this. Be my guest."

Tyson Lee was very worried as he knows that whatever he said in the meeting in a fit of rage was definitely not going to happen at all. Even with all his popularity and fame, he cannot bring sixteen new fighters in the tournament as finding elite fighters isn't two days of work. First, he has to contact the scouts and then after they find the fighters with potential, they will inform their coaches who will have to sit down with Tyson Lee to negotiate and only if they come to terms with him, the further process will proceed.

Then, there is training equipment, bus fares, hotel reservations, food costs and then they will have to do an audition for the judges of the tournament who will have to select them on the basis of their audition. Then, there will be an introduction ceremony, new fixtures will have to be made and finally the fight will happen. So, all these processes won't be going to happen in just two days and Tyson Lee is pretty much fucked up right now. Tyson Lee looked at the drawer and took out his pistol from it. He put it on his temple and was about to press the trigger, when a voice came from behind, "Stop. What are you doing?" Tyson Lee looked behind and saw him standing there. He asked in a startled state, "Who are you? And why do you look like me?" The doppelganger smiled, "I'm your conscience. I have come to stop you from killing yourself and taint your image." Tyson Lee said, "My image is going to die in two days anyway. What's there to save?" The doppelganger smiled, "Personality is more valuable than popularity, Tyson Lee. Remember what your sensei told you. He told you that "We are the ones who create or destroy ourselves.

No one else can. Not even God." If you commit suicide and die a cowardly death, your legacy and the inspiration that you had on the young minds will tarnish in an instant." Tyson Lee said, "If you are really my conscience, then you are very well familiar with the problem that I'm suffering from. If I don't bring sixteen new fighters by Monday, then all these will fade away like dust and that unscrupulous Watwell will win the game." The doppelganger said, "Have faith in your conscience, brother. Everything will come right and everything will be in your favour. Your all enemies will lose and you will be ever victorious. Because, the guy who knows patience can conquer the whole world." Tyson Lee said, "You don't feel like my conscience at all." The doppelganger smiled, "Yes. Acting isn't my best talent." He clapped his hands and soon Tyson Lee fell asleep. He took Tyson Lee and transported him to the Monastery.

The doppelganger smiled and then transformed into Bayu. Kayuba appeared and Bayu looked at him and smiled, "You were right. Mortals have become much dumber than before." Kayuba asked, "What do you have in mind?" Bayu smiled, "Tyson Lee has just given me a very good idea to take the spear from Alice, without any unnecessary violence. In fact, Alice will herself bring the spear to us." Kayuba asked, "What do you mean?" Bayu said, "Stop asking useless questions and just follow me." Kayuba asked, "Where are we going?" Bayu smiled, "The time to wake up my old friends has come." Bayu and Kayuba disappeared in blue smoke.

They landed on a gloomy and scary graveyard where many small and broken tombstones were lying here and there. Kayuba asked, "What is this place?" Bayu said grimly, "You should know it better, Kayuba. It is the place where all my friends and companions are buried who helped me in fighting the war against Bacca and Xao Chang.

All their bodies are here, rotting and perishing slowly into dust. Here, is my head general, Ludwig Hoffmann, a serial killer who was executed ninety-nine years ago and was the chief of my army. Here, lies Joseph "Small eye" Roberts, a mafia boss renowned for his ridiculously small eyes and here, lies my beautiful darling, Miss. Elizabeth Mayers, a con-woman and love of my life. My brief sprint in the mortal world made me fall with her. She was mercilessly slaughtered by Kenchi after he raped her. But, now it's time to wake all my friends who have been sleeping here for ages and are waiting for the day to get their revenge." Bayu chanted a special mantra and whistled. Slowly, the soil started to break and soon dark souls raised from it and crouched before Bayu. Bayu looked around and asked, "Where is Elizabeth?" Ludwig replied, "That bastard Kenchi burned her body and made her soul trapped in the eternal cage of damnation."

Bayu said angrily, "I should have known that bastard Kenchi would do something like this. He is going to pay for all his crimes along with my old master, Assayah once I take the spear from Alice." Ludwig asked, "Huh?" Bayu updated all with the story and the plan of how to take the spear from Alice. John Bakker, one of Bayu's old crew asked, "You mean we have to disguise ourselves as fighters and let Alice win the tournament so that she starts to trust us and then, we will secretly take the spear from her?" Bayu smiled, "That's pretty much the plan. But, there is a slight change in the plan. After we win her confidence, I will make her fall in love with me and then I will make her give the spear to me.

Then, I will sacrifice her and bring my Elizabeth in her body and then I will destroy the whole Monastery, killing all the ones who carried out injustice on me." Kayuba mumbled, "Looks like I have made a mistake by releasing Bayu from his prison. I have to talk with Assayah about this matter." He smiled, "Okay. Good plan, Bayu. I hope you will succeed this time. I should go and see if all the things are in the right place or not." He was about to leave when Bayu said, "There's no need for you to do such hard work. My friends are more than capable of keeping an eye on any unwanted intruders." Kayuba smiled, "No, I think it should be done by me." Bayu snapped his fingers and Kayuba got trapped into a periwinkle bubble. Bayu smiled, "I can read minds, Kayuba. Your loyalty towards me has tainted and I don't like disloyal servants." He snapped his fingers and the bubble slowly drowned inside the soil. Bayu said, "Keep an eye on this idiot. I don't want my master to know about my release just yet." He laughed and disappeared in periwinkle smoke.....