15 Chapter 14 - Echoing Terror

The wind blew through the streets, Thong's hair flapping with it as he stood a block away from his home. His worries left his body as he reached into his pocket, pulling out his phone. Thong dialed a number he had been given by Mike, and after the phone rang for a bit, someone on the other side picked up.

Dianshi: Hello Thong. Is there something you need?

Thong: Hey, when's the soonest you think you can get me a fight?

Dianshi: …Thong, is Mike pressuring you into another one?

Thong: No, I just felt like getting some more money, that's all. I… I need to help some people with this.

Dianshi: I already know about your situation. Let me check.

Thong listened as he heard clicking on the other side of the phone. Thong reached into his pockets, looking at the wad of cash in his hand.

Dianshi: The soonest I can get you a match is in two days, against Babe Krush. If you need money, a job would be a lot more-

Thong: I… I don't feel like taking on a mission right now. I just need money. You said two days?

Dianshi: ...Yes. The fight's location will be near an abandoned office building downtown from you. I hope you are prepared.

Thong: That's a bit vague, but I'll find it. I'll see you in two days.

Thong hung up the phone, placing it in his pocket before placing a hand on his head.

Thong: That call felt strange. I hope I'm not getting addicted to this fight stuff… No, that's impossible. I'm doing this for my family. I'll get them away from the loan sharks if it's the last thing I do.

Thong placed his money back in his pocket, returning home to see the kitchen empty. Thong pulled out his money once again, placing the stack on the dining table before heading back to his room. As he entered his room, he looked at his bed, noticing the letter from earlier on there.

Thong's thoughts: That's the rest, right? I'll deposit it in my mother's account. I think she'll know what's best for it.

Thong moved the envelope onto his table, changing his clothes before falling into bed.

Thong's thoughts: Two days…

Thong's eyes closed as he laid on his bed, drifting off to sleep, his mind clearing of all his worries.

…

Thong let out a sigh as he walked downtown, for a tight feeling permeating through his chest. The two days had passed since he made his initial call, with his match starting in only twenty minutes. Wandering throughout the downtown for a short while, Thong eventually was able to find his way to the fight's location, and the same guard as usual was standing on the site entrance. Thong passed by the guard, and as he went by him, the guard did not bat an eye at Thong's appearance.

Thong's thoughts: I must be recognized by him now, huh?

As Thong walked into the empty grounds, Dianshi stood there waiting for him. Checking over his clipboard before looking up at Thong.

Dianshi: Good to see you're in good health. You were pretty beat up from your mission.

Thong: I made sure to take my week of recovery seriously. I think my meals have been slightly heavier and healthier, so I feel a lot better.

Dianshi: That's good news, but we're onto the important bit. Your match today is against Babe Krush. He is currently ranked 442.

Thong: That low? Isn't that even lower than Hugo?

Dianshi: Indeed, but that is beyond the point. You asked for a fight and I delivered it.

Thong: Alright… Can I have details of his fighting style?

Dianshi: I have been told I cannot tell you that information, as this is your first official fight as a member of the Eclipse.

Thong: The fight with Hugo doesn't count?

Dianshi: That was your initiation match, it only counts towards Hugo's record, not yours.

Thong: Alright then…

Thong turned away, looking around the location and noticing a specifically brighter area than the rest. Thong walked towards it, raising a hand above his eyes as he adjusted to the brighter room. He heard people talking all around him as he stood in the open area.

???: So you're my opponent.

Thong lowered his hand as he stared at the man across from him, looking to be in his late twenties. The man wore a long white shirt with baggy grey sweats, a red pair of headphones over his ears.

Thong's thoughts: That's Babe? He looks like a regular dude from the street. Well, I guess I look no different.

Thong watched as a referee walked between the two men. He looked up, Thong following his line of sight to notice the audience of people on the floor above looking down.

Referee: Ladies and gentlemen, today we have another match for the newcomer Thong Tran! He had raised some eyebrows during his initial match, so will he perform just as well here? Enough about him, let's welcome his opponent, "Echoing Terror," Babe Krush!

Babe let out a breath of air as he stared at Thong. His form relaxed as his right foot stepped out, his right arm reached out with an open palm.

Thong's thoughts: That form seems familiar… Is that Tai Chi?

Thong raised his fists as he stared at Babe, the referee giving the usual beginning speech, but Thong's mind was focused entirely on Babe.

Thong's thoughts: I just need to win quickly, that shouldn't be too hard.

Referee: If both sides are ready… BEGIN!

The referee swung his arm down, Thong immediately charging forward with a quick right jab. Babe's form snapped into action, his body rolling as he pushed Thong's punch away with a rollback block. Thong noticed how open his form was, but before he could step away, Babe's other hand shot forward, hitting Thong in the face with an open palm strike.

Dianshi's thoughts: That mistake was far too amateurish. After his battle with Hugo and that mission, shouldn't he have learned not to be so open? This style is more aggressive than he is used to.

Thong stumbled back, putting a hand over his mask as his eyes focused on Babe. Babe's stance was relaxed, and his eyes were calm. Thong let out a huff of air as he stared at Babe, who seemed unmoved by Thong's attempt. Thong took another charge in, leading with a chop aimed at Babe's neck. Babe's right hand quickly shot up, grabbing Thong's chop before leading in with a quick shot to the side of Thong's torso. Once the strike connected, Thong could feel the blow travel through his body and hit his liver. Thong briefly stumbled backwards before Babe kicked him back even further.

Dianshi's thoughts: That was a "strike the tiger" stance. He used the same momentum of the block for the strike, leaving Thong with little change to recover.

Thong reeled in pain, only to quickly notice Babe moving in. Thong snapped back to his normal stance, trying to ignore the pain of the liver shot. Babe unleashed several rapid strikes at Thong, Thong pushing them away with ease. Babe stared at Thong, noticing that his movements had slowly grown faster and faster.

Babe's thoughts: He's refining himself during the middle of the fight. He seems much less like a childish fighter than before, but he's on the defensive now. What is with his change of heart?

Thong could feel his heart rushing as he pushed Babe's strikes away, his eyes focusing on the path of each one as Babe increased his speed.

Thong's thoughts: I can see it. The path.

Thong's hand moved like a blur, and before the audience could notice, Babe fell back as he raised a hand to his throat. Dianshi looked closely as he noticed that Thong's hand had returned to the form of a chop.

Dianshi's thoughts: He struck at Babe's throat again, but he was able to move faster than Babe, faster than before. What's with that sudden change? Did Thong improve midfight?

Thong lowered his hand as the referee went to check on Babe. Babe tapped on the referee's shoulder twice, the referee nodding before waving his arms in the air.

Referee: Babe Krush has conceded, meaning the victory goes to "The Silent Point"!

Thong heard that name, realizing it was the one that he had filled in earlier.

Thong's thoughts: So they really refer to you by the name you fill in. Is that what the audience knows me as?

Thong walked out of the opening, meeting Dianshi at the entrance.

Dianshi: Your victory this time seemed much easier than before. You decided the match with a single move. Did something happen during your mission?

Thong: I fought some strong guys… I think their names were Pablo and Pedro. They just seemed harder compared to Babe.

Dianshi: Yet you were struggling at the beginning of the match.

Thong: I guess I just wasn't used to tai chi fighters. His movements were hard to read, they were sort of like…

Thong held his head as he tried to remember who he was thinking of. Dianshi let out a sigh before taking an envelope off of his clipboard.

Dianshi: Here's the amount you made from your victory over Babe.

Thong took the envelope from Dianshi, opening it.

Thong: This amount is rather… small.

Dianshi: You must have gotten something mixed up when you got the amount from your mission. Matches are much less dangerous, even when they can possibly lead to death. Unless you are fighting for a company, your income is much less compared to missions.

Thong: Even to the point of being ten thousand dollars less?

Dianshi: Precisely. Assassination missions are simply more dangerous, so the reward is higher for the tradeoff. Especially when most missions are commissioned by those with the money to afford it.

Thong: So jobs are the only way to get money quickly…

Dianshi: If you wish to get another mission, use this card and we'll get you whichever ones we have lined up.

Dianshi gave Thong a card before walking away. Thong looked down at the card, thought rushing through his mind before he closed his eyes.

Thong: …Anything for my family.