Fight Club

That night just as Zack told him, Yamato rode his bike to the flower shop and arrived before eight o'clock. Parking the bicycle under the light the bulb inside the shop casted on the pavement, he walked in.

It was not the chubby man that manned the counter this time, but one of the two muscular men that chased him away earlier. The man also recognized him judging from the menacing glare he gave him. "You have guts to return here brat," the man said.

Yamato shrugged. "I want to talk to Mr Leonard,"

"You want what?"

"Tell him it's Yamato that wants to exchange for Zack,"

The big man furrowed his brows. "You are Yamato Armor?"

Yamato didn't expect the man to know him and was pleasantly surprise. He grinned. "You can ask Mr Leonard, we have met,"

The big man gave him a suspicious look then took out his phone and made a call. "Hello boss, a kid here that calls himself Yamato Armor says he's here to exchange for Zack.... Okay sure,"

The big man hung off the call then turned his phone and took a picture of Yamato. He ignored Yamato's curious look and sent the picture. A moment later he grunted and pocketed the phone. "You said you want to exchange for his fighter? My name is Ralph Leonard loyal Fighter, come with me,"

"Okay,"

Yamato expected them to go deeper into the shop to some hidden basement where the arena is, but the big man, Ralph instead walked past him and headed to the entrance. "Hey Russ I am gonna be out, man the register!" He shouted.

"Sure," A voice came from a room in the back. Yamato looked at the direction curiously but saw only closed door. He turned around and followed the big man outside.

"Bring your bicycle along," Ralph said. More confused Yamato pushed his bicycle and followed along. They crossed the street to a red car packed in the parking lot of a mall a few buildings away. He opened the trunk and told Yamato to put the bike inside then walked to the front.

Yamato finally understood that they were going elsewhere.

After putting the bike inside the trunk, Yamato walked to the front. He opened the door and sat in the passenger seat then the car pulled out into the street. "Where are we going?" Yamato asked.

"You'll see," Ralph said.

As they drove through the street Yamato thought back to the conversation he had with his Master before coming to the flower shop.

Earlier...

After finishing his preparation for the coming fight, which involves a brief meditation and warm up. He sat on the step outside the door lacing his shoes when Katrina appeared from the house. "You said you have to cover for a friend." She said. "Is he alright?"

"Yeah, he's fine. He just has to be somewhere else," Yamato replied.

"And you are used to these fights?"

"Yes, I fight in the street all the time,"

"Yet nothing like this one right?"

Yamato turned to her. He stared at her with a serious expression for some time then nodded.

Katrina smiled. "I can feel your emotions you know. I know you are nervous!"

"Is that an Alrer's thing?"

"It's just my thing, you racist," she said playfully. "Tell me,"

"Okay I guess I am a little out of my depth. I have only fought in the street so far, this time it is more official. People pay to watch underground fights unlike street fights so the pressure is bigger..." Yamato paused then continued. "People are going to place bets on whether I win or lose. It's going to matter if I win or lose,"

Honestly he could say anything about how reluctant he's to do this fight but it's the biggest fight of his life yet. He quickly finished lacing his shoes then rose to his feet. He started walking to the bicycle he left beside the house when Katrina spoke. "Are you afraid of your opponent or are you afraid of the crowd?"

Yamato looked back at her stunned by her question. "I am not afraid of anyone,"

"You sound like you are, which is wise. I don't know much about fighting for an audience but I know someone who does. Veish didn't fear his opponents, but was particular attentive to the crowd. The crowd's mood could destroy or make you he said,"

Yamato gave her his full attention. She paused briefly then continued, "He told me as a fighter you are more than just fighting, you are also performing. You must make it entertaining for the crowd. Do you also feel like that?"

"I guess,"

"Well it's better to be the guy the crowd loves than the one they hate. But personally I say fuck it. Quit those silly fantasies if you want to climb to the top of the world kid. If you want to become the best fighter you must always only concentrate on your opponent, hundred percent. A moment of distraction could make you lose!"

Katrina chuckled bitterly. "You can of course choose to end up like Veish too I guess. At the Royal arena nine years ago, and in this courtyard two months ago, he lost because he was not thinking about winning the fight in front of him."

"You mean...?"

"I mean if Veish was serious that day your Realm Knight would not stand a chance. But he was thinking of me and Tila's safety first. He sacrificed himself so we could live, and I hate him for that!

"So as you go to your fight Yamato, think about which kind of fighter you want to be; the one that wants to destroy his opponent or the one that is distracted, reluctant and ready to lose,"

Saying that his Master walked back into the house. "Show up in time tomorrow," she added then closed the door with a muted bang.

xxx

Back in the car heading to the underground fight, Yamato smiled as he remembered his Master's words. His nervousness hasn't totally disappeared but he felt more confident. More importantly he knew what he must do.

After twenty minutes Ralph told Yamato they have reached their destination. Surprisingly the car drove into the ports. The ports being what they are is hardly visited by anyone these days so shady people had taking over it. Yamato looked out the window as the car drove between the containers.

The car drove into an open space filled by a crowd both on the ground and atop the containers. They were whooping and cheering at a fight happening in the cage in the center of the place. The car stopped at the edge of the crowd and Ralph walked out.

Yamato came out too and looked around at the raucous crowd feeling a little dazed. Sure as hell this might be the biggest crowd he'd fought in front of.

"Come on," the Ralph told him.

Yamato broke out of his daze and quickly followed the man. Ralph didn't go towards the crowd but moved to the side then climbed up a ladder to the top of a container. A half dozen men were standing there. Mr Leonard was among them, he looked to their direction as they climbed up, then leaned forward and whispered something to the fat man beside him.

The fat man was dressed in overcoat with furry collars. His balding hair was brown like Mr Leonard's and he held a thick cigarette in one hand and a glass of alcohol in the other. Yamato and Ralph walked to them.

"Welcome Ralph," Mr Leonard said to the big man. Then he turned to Yamato. "Yamato Armor, I did not think we'll meet so soon,"

"Me too," Yamato replied.

"This is my boss, the leader of the Axel guild Charles," Mr Leonard gestured at the fat man and said.

Charles beckoned Yamato over. "I have heard a lot about you from Leo. Come and stand over here boy,"

Yamato stood beside the man and looked down at the pit. For that was what the cage surrounded; a shallow hole were two fighters battled on the sand. A brief glance into the stands - atop the containers - showed the signs of people taking and placing bets.

"This is underground fight?" Yamato asked feeling that it was somewhat underwhelming.

"Fight Club," Charles corrected. "Your first time?"

"Yeah..."

"Well that's not surprising. Fight clubs are well hidden and mostly carters to wealthy costumers that pay well to watch a real fight," Charles explained. "You see those two down there? They are gonna fight to the death; nowhere do fighters fight till death only in the Cosmic arena." He chuckled.

Yamato looked down at the fighters as the fight heated up. One was a muscular man wielding an axe while the other was a woman in all black robe and cloak, with the of the robe hood pulled down over her face. Her Astral weapon is a silver colored scythe dusted in red runes. The tip of the scythe glowed red.

There said some Astral weapons has some strange quirks but Yamato has never seen one until now. He barely traced the movement of the fighters. In fact if it was before his training with Katrina they'd just be blurs in his eyes from how fast they were moving, but now he could at least track the fighters of this level with his eyes.

"Do I fight to death too?" Yamato asked suddenly.

"No need. You are junior division after all," Charles shook his head. "Of course if you are bold enough too it is a different matter,"

Yamato nodded in understanding then looked at the crowd again. "Why are some looking at their phones? Is the fight of this level too boring for them?"

"It isn't because they are boring young man," Mr Leonard chuckled at the side.

"Those are devices made specifically to watch the fights. They are meant to give a better view of the ring. From this angle many normal people can't see much after all," Charles said.

"Want to try it? Here's one," Mr Leonard handed Yamato one of the phone like device.

Yamato gave it a brief inspection, realizing he could really see the fighters more closely in the screen and much slower that real time so even a normal person can follow the action. "No need," he said handing it back.

"Well Yamato won't need it since you are a young hero," Mr Leonard chuckled.

Something about how he said that annoyed Yamato but he said nothing and looked down at the cage as the cheering grew louder.

Turns out he looked down in time to see the axe wielder knock the woman to her knees and chop her head off. More than half the crowd went wild in celebration while others groaned in despair and started cursing.

Yamato couldn't take his eyes away from the beheaded woman. He'd seen people die a few times in the street but never this fast. The fear he felt was also because he'd be stepping into that ring tonight too.

"What do you think boy?" Charles asked him.

"It's ruthless," Yamato said.

The problem was despite Charles's promise that Yamato doesn't have to fight to the death, how is Yamato sure his opponent wouldn't be out to kill him? Maybe Yamato was being paranoid but just couldn't bring himself to trust this man's words.

Charles watched the headless woman's body collapse to the ground with a thud then lifted the side of his mouth in a cruel smirk. "Yes it is," he said.

[[]]]

Author Note; Still asking for support...