Chapter 18: Decisive Punch

"Hey, get up!" Mono snapped as he kick Aruta's stomach.

Aruta coughing up blood and was sent flying after Mono's kick hit his stomach. Aruta try to lift himself with his hands, but his arms and legs were trembling, unable to get up. When Aruta turn his head, he see Mono already standing close to him.

"Get up!" Mono shouted, kicking Aruta's stomach again. Aruta was sent flying once more and collaps to the ground. But Mono didn't stop and approach Aruta again, delivering another kick.

"Get up! Get up I said! Quick, you morron!" Mono keep kicking Aruta until he was bruised all over.

After Aruta was battered, Mono step closer and begin stomping on Aruta's body. From his torso to his head, every part of him was trample by Mono.

"Do you think you can protect others if you're this weak?" Mono said, continuing to stomp on Aruta. Aruta lay face down on the ground, feeling completely weak and unable to move even a little.

"We exist because we have the ability to use LYNK magic. Aren't you ashamed to be so powerless in front of someone who doesn't even have LYNK magic? Or even being saved by them?" LYNK energy flare up on Mono's right leg, and he kicked Aruta so hard that he was sent flying and crashed into a tree at the edge of the field.

"I didn't expect Mr. Kuroto to recruit someone as weak as you," Mono said, turning around and walking toward the exit of the field. The LYNK energy covering parts of his body fade away.

"Hey!" someone call out from behind Mono.

Mono turn and see Aruta standing. Aruta spread his legs wide and stood hunched, with his arms hanging in front of his body.

"Can you stop underestimating me?" Aruta asked with a sharp gaze and blood covering his face.

"What kind of expression is that?" Mono muttered, his eyes widening slightly.

"You can still stand huh?" Mono said, taking a fighting stance.

Aruta dash forward with incredible speed and aim a punch at Mono's face. However, Mono, with his extraordinary reflexes, catch Aruta's arm with both hands. Holding onto Aruta's arm, Mono twist his body and slam Aruta hard into the ground. Mono then jump back after throwing Aruta down.

"Come on! If you can't even use basic techniques, you won't be able to hurt me," Mono said, taking another stance as his hands were once again covered in LYNK energy.

Quickly, Aruta stand up and dashing toward Mono. He try to land another punch on Mono's face with his right hand. But Mono swiftly catch and gripped Aruta's wrist with his left hand, preventing Aruta from pulling back. Mono then land a powerful punch with his right hand on Aruta's cheek. Blood immediately flowing from Aruta's nose and mouth.

But suddenly, Aruta grab Mono's right hand with his left. Using his left hand, which was being hold by Mono, and his right hand, which was holding Mono's hand, as leverage, Aruta launch his head toward Mono's. Mono was shocked, but he couldn't avoid Aruta's headbutt. A large bruise from the headbutt was clearly visible on Mono's forehead.

"Damn you!!" Mono shouted, and suddenly, the bruise on his forehead was covered in blazing LYNK energy. Mono immediately headbutt Aruta back with tremendous force, thanks to the LYNK energy covering his forehead. At the same time, Mono release his grip, causing Aruta to lose balance and fall, slightly thrown back by the headbutt.

Without delay, Mono covering his leg with LYNK energy and kick Aruta with immense force. Aruta was sent flying again, but this time, he manage to land perfectly. Aruta immediately dash toward Mono and retaliated with a kick aim at Mono's head. However, Mono block the kick with his left hand. But Mono was surprise by the force of Aruta's kick. He quickly refocuse and push Aruta's leg away.

Aruta didn't stop and begin landing a barrage of punches on Mono. Seeing that, Mono counter with his own barrage of punches, blocking each of Aruta's strikes. Sweat begin to soak Mono's body, and his breathing grew heavier. Mono didn't want to drag it out and eventually caught both of Aruta's hands, delivering a powerful kick to Aruta's stomach. Mono release his grip, and Aruta was sent flying once more. But it didn't take long for Aruta to stand up again, despite the blood and bruises covering his body.

"His physical endurance is terrifying. He's been beaten to a pulp, yet he can still stand. And that kick felt different from a normal one," Mono muttered.

"You're right," Aruta said.

"Huh?"

"I need to become stronger. The stronger I am, the more I can protect. I have to get stronger!" Aruta declared loudly.

Aruta take a stance and take a deep breath. After exhaling, his gaze focused sharply on Mono. His stare is so intense it feel like he was looking straight into Mono's soul. Mono begin to feel the flow of LYNK energy in Aruta's body.

"Is he... starting to control his LYNK energy?" Mono muttered.

"Is this what i think is it? Yes, it seems like it... I can feel it... I can feel it!!"

In an instant, Aruta's legs were envelope in LYNK energy, and he dashing forward with incredible speed. Aruta moving so fast that in just a few seconds, he was behind Mono.

"?! So quick!" Mono muttered in surprise, turning toward Aruta, who was now behind him.

Aruta clench his right fist tightly, and blazing LYNK energy cover it. He jump and punch Mono's cheek with tremendous force. Not stopping there, Aruta continue to push his fist until Mono fall, his head pin between Aruta's hand and the ground. Aruta keep forcing his punch, and the LYNK energy in his right hand grow brighter. Mono groan in pain, and soon after, the LYNK energy in Aruta's hand explode right on Mono's cheek.

"Argh, it feels like my sister's punch," Mono said, collapsing to the ground after the attack.

Aruta is also throw back by the explosion. He fall to the ground and try to sit up. But when he see Mono lying unconscious, Aruta drop to the ground and breathing heavily.

Clap clap clap Suddenly, there was the sound of clapping, and when Aruta turn, he see Kuroto applauding. Kuroto approaching Aruta, accompanied by Mona.

"It seems you managed to defeat Mono. Your duel took quite a while," Kuroto said.

"Even Mono ended up like that," Mona said, looking at Mono, who was still unconscious.

"Hehe, thank you," Aruta said, smiling as he couldn't hold back his grin after the praise. Aruta look at Mona and notice a bump on her head.

"Hey, what's that bump-" Before Aruta could finish, he hear someone's voice.

"You learn fast, huh?" someone said.

Aruta look toward the voice, which came from the entrance of the field, and see Wise, Gren, and Haruki approaching.

"Your strength is impressive," Gren said, closing the book in his right hand and tucking it under his arm.

"It seems you truly belong here," Wise said in his deep, authoritative voice.

"Uh? Hehe, thank you, everyone," Aruta said, his face slightly red.

"WOAAHH!! Turns out Aruta is really strong!!" a female voice come from behind Aruta.

Aruta turn and see Bela walking toward him. Bela stop in front of Aruta.

"You're really beaten up. And Mono got knocked out with just one punch," Bela said, looking at Mono.

"Wait, the entrance is over there. Did you come into the field from the forest?" Aruta asked.

"Yup. I was looking for a junoi earlier. You never know, maybe I can keep one as a pet," Bela said.

"The hell, keeping a junoi as a pet," Aruta muttered. He turn back to Mona and said, "By the way, Sis Mona. Why is there a bump on your head?"

Before Mona could open her mouth, Kuroto quickly said, "She was running too fast earlier and slipped. She ended up crashing into a trash can so hard that it shattered. Luckily, it was empty." Kuroto said it smoothly without any hesitation.

"Hey, don't say it so loudly!" Mona exclaimed, her face turning red.

Kuroto chuckled at Mona and looked around. Oliver, Raven, and Zaka were nowhere to be seen.

Kuroto look around and asked, "Where are those three kids?"

Haruki, who was near Kuroto, answered, "You mean Oliver, Zaka, and Raven? Oliver already went home. He said he still had schoolwork to do. Zaka is eating cake inside. Raven is sleeping next to him."

"I see," Kuroto said. He turn to Aruta and reach into his pocket. "Well, it seems it's time." Kuroto began walking toward Aruta.

"It seems you truly deserve to be one of us," Kuroto said, pulling out a pin from his pocket. The pin was silver with a dark red flame pattern on it.

"Huh? A pin?" Aruta asked.

"Yes. Use this when you're on a mission," Kuroto said, handing the pin to Aruta.

"Huh? Wait. Does this mean... is this for real?" Aruta asked, slapping his own cheek and wincing from the pain of hitting himself too hard.

"Yup. You're one of us now," Kuroto replied.

Everyone there took out their Juntoshi witch pins and showed them to Aruta. Aruta took the pin from Kuroto's hand, and with that, he officially became a Juntoshi witch. Overjoyed, Aruta immediately pinned it to his clothes.

"W-w-w-w-woah, this is so cool!!" Aruta exclaimed.

"Ahaha, you're so excited. Aren't your injuries hurting at all?" Kuroto asked.

"Yay, our group has one more member. Mono must be happy to have a new friend, right?" Bela asked, and at the same time, Mono regain consciousness and began to sit up.

Mono hold his head, still feeling the intense pain.

"Hehe, it seems you have a new friend," Mona said, approaching Mono and wrapping her right arm around him.

"Huh?" Mono was confuse by what was happening.

"Ahahaha, oh yeah, I almost forgot." Kuroto reach into his pocket again and pull out a necklace. The pendant was a dark blue gem that emitted a faint blue light.

"Take it," Kuroto said, handing the necklace to Aruta.

"A necklace?" Aruta asked, accepting it.

"Just consider it a gift from me for joining the Juntoshi Mages," Kuroto said.