PERFECT GAMBLE
The stage has been set, and the fight has begun.
Scott and the simulation stood in a tense standoff, each analyzing the other, trying to predict their next move, their next step, their next strike.
Wham!
The Simulation attacked with a vicious front kick to the chin but Scott had predicted its movement and blocked it with his right arm.
He responded with a vertical punch straight at its face, the simulation ducked—moved back, creating distance between itself and Scott.
The simulation split its legs, dropped into a horse stance, prepared for its next attack.
With incomprehensible speed, it ran at Scott, and dropped an powerful axe kick that hit Scott on the shoulder.
Ahrgh!
Scott screamed in pain; he distanced him self from the simulation to recover, but it was ruthless.
It gave him no space to recover and closed the distance whenever Scott tried to run.
The cadets screamed with joy, mouths watering thinking about the amount of velrin they were about to win.
One of the cadets cheered.
"Kill him!"
Another added.
"Destroy him!"
"Ha, he thought it was that easy!?"
"Break his leg!"
Were some of the words the cadets screamed with joy as the simulation punished Scott.
John's face curled in horror; he saw Scott's face, bruised and battered.
From the way things looked Scott was sure to lose — the cadets hope started to surge.
"Yo! I wanna bet."
"Hey, me too," another replied.
"I wanna join." Another added.
Most of the cadets who previously had refused to bet, began to chime in.
The simulation launched a vertical upward strike to finish the job — but Scott, beaten and battered, responded with a strike of his own, an elbow strike.
Scott's elbow and the fist of the simulation smacked each other like meat hitting bone.
But since an elbow is alot harder than a fist, Scott won the bout.
It stepped back, examined its dislocated hand and with no emotion, slammed it into position.
It rushed at Scott and jumped, preparing for a jumping kick.
Scott responded with a back kick to its chest, sending it flying a few feet away.
It tried to recover, but Scott gave it no time. He shortened the distance with his overwhelming speed.
He performed a feint that fooled the simulation, that gave him the chance to land a vicious axe kick to it's head.
The simulation stumbled but quickly responded with a front kick.
Scott dodged, then.
BAM!
He landed a round house kick to the ribs.
"Noo!.."
The cadets screamed, their faces soured. Scott was about to win.
"Not again!"
"My money!"
John's face relaxed, he wasn't worried, Scott was winning.
"Wait—calm down!, It's not yet over."
Another cadet replied, still holding on to hope.
Scott aimed to finish it with a vertical punch, but the simulation blocked it with a palm strike.
"Oh..!"
"What did I tell you!."
The cadet screamed.
"Ye—yeah! There's still hope."
Another cadet replied.
The simulation stood quickly, creating distance between itself and Scott.
It then mustered all its strength and launched its final attack, going for the kill.
Scott observed, then shifted into combat stance. It launched a flying kick at Scott, but he dodged it easily.
It then did a back kick, but Scott blocked it.
It then stepped back to recover, but Scott didn't wait for it to regain its composure; he rushed forward.
This was his chance to end the fight, but it was a trap.
The simulation did a spinning kick, its leg moved at a dangerous speed straight at Scott's head.
The cadet's eyes widened in joy; they thought that the match was over.
But Scott had it all figured out, he increased his speed, closed the distance to reduced the potency of the kick.
He then spun and landed the spinning back fist to its nose.
The simulation staggered and before it could compose itself, Scott ran towards it.
He flattened his right hand and with unbelievable speed thrusted it right on the throat of the simulation.
(SPEAR HAND STRIKE!.)
It fell on the floor, holding its throat, gasping for air.
Scott looked at it, smiled and finished it off with an axe kick right on the head.
[SIMULATION OVER]
The cadets looked at the simulation, eyes wide and mouths open.
"We've been tricked."
"No! My money."
"You gotta be kidding me."
"Again!?"
John looked at the screen, smiling.
"Ha!, just as planned."
He thought, this was a plan created by Scott to rip off the cadets; they knew that the cadets wouldn't want to risk their money again due to what happened before.
But still Scott and john understood that gambling was all about stakes and if they put up a good enough offer the cadets couldn't refuse.
Even the supposed beating he took from the simulation was a plan to rouse more of the cadets to participate.
Scott came out of the simulation bleeding, he sat on the floor and covered his face with a towel.
John rushed towards him, screaming, "he's bleeding! Leave the way!."
The cadets gave way for Scott. A carrier was called, and he was placed on it.
John followed closely, and together they headed for the hospital.
The moment they left the training ground, they both burst out laughing.
"Haha!"
"That was brilliant, Scott."
John laughed, slapping his leg.
Scott stood up, towel still on his face. He asked.
"So, how much did we get?"
John stopped, smiled and showed Scott the amount.
Scott removed the towel from the face, stared at the numbers, with a big grin on his face.
It was 100 MILLION VELRIN, they had struck gold! But something was odd.. it was supposed to be bigger.
"Wait... did someone bet on us?" Scott said, confused.
"Yeah.." John replied, turning the hologram to his face
"It was Cherry Bomber and an that anonymous account."
His expression shifted "cherry again.., and.. this... anonymous."
He stared at the screen for a while, "hm... need to check that" he muttered.
"Man.. leave that shit.. we got tha money!..".
John shouted happily.
"Shi, shush, don't let them hear you," Scott warned, gambling is prohibited in protocol.
"Oh, that's right," John replied, rubbing his head.
"Ha ha, I've done it so much, it just feels normal now."
Scott side-eyed John and replied, " Yeah.. I'm sure it does."
They rested on the carrier listening to its tune as they cruised through protocol.
Scott finally let his body relax.
The adrenaline was fading fast, replaced by the heavy throb of exhaustion.
He closed his eyes, listening to the faint murmurs, then everything when dark.
Scott opened his eyes, "were.. am i" he said to himself.
He was in a room, lying on a white bed, with various tubes pierced into his skin.
He looked around the room, it was filled with different types of machines beeping, and remembered he was in the hospital.
"Ahrgh... did I pass out?"
Scott asked, confused.
TUNNN.
The hospital door beeped as it slid open. It was John and the doctor.
The doctor walked towards Scott, looked at him and said.
"You're ok. You're free to leave tomorrow, don't just stress yourself," before walking out of the room.
John stared at Scott, head to toe.
"Wow, I could hardly see your face after the match. Now look at you," he paused for a while.
"You look brand new."
Scott rolled his eyes. "Thank the god's for modern science, injuries like that are but a scratch." He replied smugly.
John chuckled. "Haha"
TUNNN.
The door slid open, and a man walked through.
It was the barracks chief, Maximus.
He stared at john and signaled him to leave.
He understood the signal and said, "uh.. Scott, I'll head.. to the restroom," and left swiftly.
Scott looked at Maximus for a while and asked curiously, "Why did you make him leave?"
Maximus sat on Scott's bed and replied, "Well.., I don't like it, when people listen to my private conversations, and to be clear I made everyone leave."
He paused for a second and continued, "he's not special," and turned to the beeping monitor, he continued.
"You know betting is a serious crime."
Scott felt like his soul had left. "Wha— do you mean, sir?" he replied tensed.
Maximus turned from the monitor and looked at Scott. He looked him in the eye for a while, then burst out into laughter.
"Ha ha!"
"But since you made me a whole bunch of money, we're even."
Scott's eyes bulged out, the barracks chief was the anonymous account!, the guy who bet on him twice!
Scott placed his hand on his head. "Aww, you took a lot of money from me."
Maximus stood up, arranged his clothes. He Said with as smirk,"You snooze you lose. Ok Scott, goodbye."
He headed towards the the exit about to leave the hospital when suddenly a familiar sound echoed through the room.
TUNN.
Scott turned toward the door, anxious because Maximus had supposedly banned anyone from entering the room.
The door slid open, and a silhouette walked through.
Scott eyes widened in surprise, and Maximus expression turned sour.
The person who walked through was Commander of the Special Forces and nano soldier, RICK JONES, and behind him were 002 Esosa Olu and 004 Faux Blunt.