Chapter 21: Who Gets Hit Never Forgets (III)
Still seated, the Recruit remained calm.
"Another crazy guy with stupid ideas."
"Ah, old man. I know what you're doing." The young man took the spear and swung it forward, creating a spark. "You want to get the three wins to make it onto the list, right?"
Standing up, Dante looked him over and then raised his hands, confused.
"What list are you talking about?"
"Stop playing dumb. You're a Recruit, right? And you're a Foreigner. I looked into your history. You came from a village in the middle of nowhere, thinking you'd have a place here. But I have no idea how they let an old man in. I can show them they were wrong to pass you in the Test Field."
One word caught Dante's attention.
"Foreigner? Why does it sound like an insult coming from you?"
"Because you're just like those Ballooners. You think that just because you came from outside the Capital, you deserve respect. This isn't your place, it never will be, old man. That's why," the spear was swung again, "showing everyone is my mission. Making you bleed and whine. Don't compare me to the last two who came before, I won't lose so easily."
"Don't you think Ballooners are important, boy? Do you have any idea what they sacrifice to wander from one place to another?" Dante's voice grew firmer. "Do you know how much they leave behind to be flying?"
"And why should I care about people like them?"
Dante took the cigar from his mouth and extinguished it. He tucked it into his pocket and ran his hand over his chest and belly, wiping off the dust that had accumulated.
"I'm not going to explain why, boy." Dante's first step caused the ground to tremble. His eyes narrowed, and his Cosmic Energy flared purple around his body. "I just hope you know that the beating I'm going to give you is very personal."
"Go ahead…"
I
Dimitri's coin pouch jingled. He held it tightly in the middle of the stands, thinking about what materials he could buy to forge a new item. Maybe a sword or spear, perhaps a shield to put in front of his shop.
He needed a draw for the warriors who kept the defense up during external missions. It was just as important as a good sword with a sharp blade.
His last bet. Three fights. That's what he had arranged with Dante so that he could make it to the important fights and reach Rubbem. While he handed the silver to the bettors around, he noticed that no one was speaking anymore, they were all watching the screen in fascination.
Dimitri did the same, wanting to know what was happening.
It was Dante, jumping from side to side, spinning to the ground and lifting in twirls to escape the dancing spear of Radius Mignamoto, one of the most prestigious Sergeants of the past year. The young man had defeated a Felroz, and they said he did it alone.
The Mignamoto family was large, full of members with ranks ranging from Sergeant to Lieutenant, but none of them had become Officers. As far as Dimitri remembered, Radius was the clearest chance to change that horrible karma.
"He's not hitting."
Dimitri heard one of the merchants speak with fascination.
The tip and shaft of the blade couldn't touch Dante at all. The young man was fast, skilled, punctual, and precise. His two arms coordinated in a way that his defense wouldn't break when a lateral attack came.
On the other hand, Dante dodged with such lightness that it didn't even seem like he was walking on the grass. His speed stunned the spectators. If Radius attacked with precision, Dante's feet were twice as fast.
Dimitri saw some Soldiers gather near the ring, one of them being Rubbem. His former disciple noticed his gaze but showed no emotion upon seeing him. Still, the sword he had stolen was at his waist.
Dimitri's face turned red with anger. He's here to mock me.
"Radius is friends with Rubbem."
The voice came from behind him. Rutteo passed by the side of the stands and sat beside him. The Officer wore the brown clothes that civilians usually had around the city. And a very dirty and shabby hat covered most of his face.
"I looked into why he doesn't want to return your weapon, Dimitri," Rutteo said. "He can't. It seems the Command evaluated the weapon. They said it's worth more than any made in the last semester. Congratulations, your blacksmithing skills are still very high."
"Stop the nonsense. Even so, why does it seem like Dante is upset? Even though he's friends with Rubbem, he shouldn't be acting like this."
Rutteo raised his hat, his eyes shining at the screen.
"As far as I know, Radius isn't as open-minded as the rest of his family. He has a certain prejudice against 'Foreigners.'" He casually pointed. "And he made that clear to Dante."
The old man was simply crushing Radius with punches. The first hit his stomach before Radius flew back. Dante grabbed him by the wrist, headbutted him, kneed him, and twisted his arm to the point of almost breaking it. When the Sergeant fell on his back, he saw Dante's foot come down and spin to the side. The grass was devastated for at least thirty centimeters around.
The spear tried to penetrate Dante's face, but he only dodged with his head, grabbed the weapon, and pulled it back. Before Radius could join his hands to activate his ability, the tip of the blade pierced his right arm, dragging him along until it hit a large stone.
The young man howled in pain. Even though it was a simulation, the pain was real. He had been pierced in such a way that it was impossible to pull his arm out. He tried twice, but the pain was immense.
"Dante is going to finish him," Rutteo said. "Better not be here when it's over. The Command is watching. Micael and Hermes. Dalia is still out of the Capital, don't let those two get into the old man's head, understood?"
"Why are you telling me this?"
Rutteo looked at him.
"Just like you, they both lost to Dalia once. And there's a popular saying in the Capital, one that's been decimated for almost two hundred years." He stood up. Dante advanced and punched Radius in the chest. The sound of the bone cracking was audible to everyone. "And Dante himself knows it. Who gets hit never forgets."
Radius let out a scream that sent chills down everyone's spine. He kept screaming until Dante grabbed him by the neck and lifted him.
"You're lucky, boy. Keep your prejudice to yourself, and if I hear you say that again, I'll make you pay."
He shoved him against the wall, forcing Radius to turn white. As Dante pressed him against the rock, the more white he became. In the end, Radius turned into a whitish filament and disappeared. Dante lowered his arm and did the same.
It no longer made sense to battle when his goal was the top three. After this, he would look for Rubbem in the next duels. And he wouldn't hold back.
When Dante left the ring, he went down the opposite side from the other fighters. Yet, when Dimitri approached him and started talking about the bets and money, Dante looked across the hall.
Rubbem was there, staring at him.
And Dante smiled, putting the cigar back in his mouth, lit.
"Dimitri," he said, cutting him off. "Has he ever called you a Foreigner?"
"Ah, Dante. Please, everyone who comes from outside is called that. Don't get upset over small things."
"It's not small to me. Where I came from, that's one of the worst insults. And if they treat people like that, then they have a problem with me. So," Dante stared at Dimitri, "has that kid ever insulted you like that?"