REMATCH

(What does the old man have planned I wonder.)

After having stood in the same spot for over 5 minutes I finally saw the Lord coming back.

Lord Xuth: "My boy, sorry for the inconvenience, but we're all ready for you now."

Alcaeus: "What do you mean?"

Lord Xuth: "Well, I know we've kept you on ice for some time already, therefore I've seen to the arrangements. We'll be conducting your very first fitness survey, so to speak."

I had no idea my capabilities were in question, moreover by someone in such a state as this geezer before me.

Alcaeus: "Is my fitness in doubt?"

Lord Xuth: "Oh, Heavens no. This is simply so we can measure them more effectively."

I hadn't the energy to waste on mistrusting the old man, he'd given me no reason to doubt him before so I decided to play along with his little game.

He led me to the experiment chambers, afterward, we came upon an underground entrance. It seemed to lead to an arena.

Lord Xuth: "Here we are then, we'll be watching you from above. Oh, and don't worry about damaging the facility, this particular station was designed for combat."

It was a duel then, interested I entered the arena. I saw the shadow of someone already standing on the field. Their face seemed familiar, I remembered them from somewhere.

Alcaeus: "That's right, you're the commandant."

Commandant Calli: "Oh? I thought you'd have forgotten that memory with the others."

Her surprise was almost insulting, did she think I was malfunctioning?

Alcaeus: "You were one of the first mortals I saw when I woke, I wouldn't forget someone in a situation like that. No matter how insignificant."

Her face showed obvious displeasure with my answer, was she trying to taunt me after all?

The commandant began cracking her neck, she'd been stretching this whole time.

(I should've known the Lord wouldn't have left even a single memory. He wasn't prone to mistakes.)

Commandant Calli: "Aha, so I'm a mortal now, am I?"

Alcaeus: "Don't worry too much, I'll be sure to hold back."

Commandant Calli: "Then I won't."

(His eyes were different, even approaching battle they were calm and cold. The fire in them had all but disappeared.)

She proceeded to take on some stance. It made no difference, she could even use weaponry as a handicap if it were up to me. It still wouldn't level the playing field.

(He's underestimating me. It seems at least one aspect of his former self remains. He was still just as prideful as ever.)

The commandant engaged, leaping across the arena, this time fully prepared for resistance.

(She's fast.)

The commandant slammed into me in less than a second, there was nearly a yard between us if not more.

Commandant Calli: "…Hah."

The commandant had come in anticipating a block, but all she was met with was an equally unyielding charge.

She expected me to falter, her strategy is becoming apparent.

I held her fist firmly in place, she was on the ground for all but an instant before she leaped up again.

(A kick this time, to my elbow. She'll have to use her opposing leg.)

Her leg came in, but instead of a kick, it suddenly wrapped around the arm holding onto her, and after a quick turn her knee flew under my jaw.

Alcaeus: "K-eh…!"

If I'd defended any later with my hand, the force behind her knee would've surely stunned me.

Commandant: "Ahah, you're not too bad it seems. Well, had enough of a break yet?"

Alcaeus: "My turn then."

I rushed in, speeding towards her, but just as I came to a foot's distance between us, I struck the floor. The momentum flipped me completely, putting my other leg in position for an overhead kick.

(He stopped mid-advance…!)

(I can't dodge it, he's too close.)

I saw her physique change, my kick was supposed to be unblockable. The strike pushed her to the ground, cracking cement, but she still held her guard firmly. I had to disengage.

Alcaeus: "Damn it."

Commandant Calli: "A-augh, hahah, not bad, young blood."

There were bruises on her arms, even if I hadn't broken bone, she'd surely be sluggish from now on.

Another attack and I'll win.

We charged each other at the same time.

She'll step back right when I strike, and counter with a kick, it's her best option. Then all I have to do is just not strike first. Even if we impact I'll come out on top, I'm stronger and by now faster too, I can see her fatigue setting in.

Battle Analysis: It was inlaid in Alcaeus along with other motor function enhancements. Not only did it substantially increase his reaction speed from normalcy, but it gave him the potential to factor in the likely movements and strikes of his opponent midbattle.

There was one obvious weakness, however. He couldn't anticipate a move that would be deemed illogical.

Seconds before impact the commandant shot out a gut strike with her left arm.

An unfortunate move, although she didn't have many options before her in truth. After blocking the strike, a twist would be most advantageous to cripple her right then, dislocating an elbow would be the end of this match.

But just as Alcaeus made the turn the commandant flew up and twisted it herself, dislocating the arm entirely. And that momentum put her in the perfect position to execute a triangle choke. After the unexpected abandonment of self-preservation, coupled with the fact that she was out of view now, Alcaeus had no sense of her next move. She perfectly encircled his neck with a figure-four chokehold, leaving no room for an escape.

(That's right, you may have been turned into a weapon, but I was born one.)

The commandant had sacrificed her arm as easily as she would've let go of a weapon. In truth, that's all she saw it as.

Alcaeus: "Augh! Damn… You-!"

I cannot lose to a mortal.

There was one thing, however, that the commandant had failed to take into consideration. Alcaeus didn't have the anatomy of a regular human.

"K-RUK"

Commandant Calli: "…What the-!"

It was too late for a counter. He had firmly snapped his own neck backward, leaving just enough room for the arm she had between his neck to slip down, exposing it. Alcaeus grabbed it immediately, he pulled her down with enough force that it disjointed the shoulder itself. Following the motion, the commandant bent forward, setting herself in reach. After grabbing her neck in between his forearm and bicep, Alcaeus drove the commandant headfirst into the floor.

The following shockwave affected even the higher level from which the Lord was watching over them.

Alcaeus: "Good match."

Snapping my neck back in place I look up at the man watching from above. He opened the microphone, his voice rang out from it.

Lord Xuth: "That will be all Alcaeus, my thanks for your participation."

I started to walk out of the arena, but before I exited I gave the fallen one a last glance. She was in a pitiful state, both of her arms were gravely injured and I'd most likely fractured her neck with my last move. Or at least given her a serious… concussion…?

Alcaeus suddenly fell to his knees, seemingly overcome with pain. The misplaced memory was itching the back of his brain, the delirium it caused him was unbearable.

Lord Xuth: "Alcaeus? Alcaeus!"

"Phrosyne, quickly call the medics in."

Alcaeus was now on his side, writhing on the ground while clutching at his hair.

(Damn… What is this-?!)

He kept on convulsing until the medics arrived. Only after sedating him could they proceed with loading him onto the stretcher.

Lord Xuth: "It would seem this little death match put our most valuable resource straight into the hospital."

The Lord spoke aloud while chuckling under his breath. Then turning to Phrosyne he added.

Lord Xuth: "But it was quite a fine research sample wouldn't you say?"

Phrosyne: "Indeed, we have rarely seen the commandant go all out in any battle. This new data will be immensely valuable for Alcaeus's future modifications."

She spoke while still dotting something down on a clipboard, she seemed to carry it around everywhere. The Lord was delighted, with each passing day he came closer still to his ultimate goal.

Lord Xuth: "…It won't be much longer now."

†††: "Your engineers are quite impressive. He's grown by leaps and bounds in combat efficiency."

Lord Xuth: "Oh, commandant! I didn't expect you to be up so soon. Well, to be frank, it is mostly thanks to you that we've gotten as far as we have with Alcaeus."

The Lord let out an alarmed sigh after finishing his sentence in one breath.

Commandant Calli: "I hope you hadn't already considered me a goner just because of a little head trauma."

Lord Xuth: "Ah true, but this is the first time we've seen you recover from that many grave injuries."

Commandant Calli: "It was nothing."

Lord Xuth: "I imagine so! The thrill of the battle must be quite an intoxicating thing, wouldn't you say?"

The commandant chose to ignore the Lord's contorted grin, instead noticing that Alcaeus had already left.

Commandant Calli: "And what of Alcaeus, did you return him to his quarters already?"

Lord Xuth: "… Not entirely. Speaking of, commandant, did you say anything… Well, how do I put it?"

"…Compromising to Alcaeus before your match?"

The memories leading up to the battle suddenly flooded into her head. Had he remembered after all?

Commandant Calli: "I can't say I even know how 'compromising' a little smack talk could've been. Why? Did he cry over it while I was out?"

Lord Xuth: "Hah! No, no, it's nothing never mind me."

The Lord laughed with his eyes almost closed, yet he never stopped eyeing the commandant.

Lord Xuth: "You'd best retire for now as well, commandant. We need you in top form for tomorrow."

Commandant Calli: "Yes, sir."

The commandant bowed briefly as she proceeded to take her leave of the chamber.

Lord Xuth spoke one last time to his assistant before exiting himself.

Lord Xuth: "Increase her surveillance detail."