6 Chapter 5 - Initiation (2)

Thong walked towards the audience, the people ahead of him stepping back, opening an entrance for him.

Mike: Make sure not to stress out too much. I know how you are.

Thong: I got this, don't worry.

Thong walked forward, Dianshi and Mike watching him as he stood in part of the open audience. The tall chain fences already made the area feel tight, but the circle of people made Thong feel claustrophobic. The referee stared as Thong entered the circle and looked over at who would be opposing him. People in the crowd started to move aside to reveal a fighter sitting on a fallen over garbage can. His hands were wrapped in bandages as he wore a pair of boxing shorts. Having long, disheveled black hair, the fighter stood up as he walked into the circle, facing Thong with a smug look on his face.

???: This guy is my opponent? Looks like an idiot.

Thong looked back at Dianshi as he pushed up his glasses before bringing that hand closer to his mouth.

Dianshi (shouting): Your opponent for today's match is fighter Hugo Fulboota, rank 420. He works for an elderly home despite his… interesting fear. He's an average fighter, but he will be the one that tests whether or not you'll be allowed into the Eclipse properly.

Thong: Thanks, that's all the information I needed…

Thong's thoughts: Wait, I didn't ask for his fighting style-

Referee: Today's match we have ourselves a special one, and will serve as the initiation match for our potential new fighter, Thong Tran! Thong's opponent for his debut match will be none other than the "Elder Avenger" Hugo Fulboota!

Thong could hear whispers amongst the audience as the fact that he was a newcomer to the matches made people more than intrigued. Mike tapped his foot as he looked at Dianshi.

Dianshi: I am well aware of your concern.

Mike: Yeah, these people don't often see new fighters join unless they already had a popular background or are part of a faction. So right now, Thong is the away party.

Dianshi: That's why we're testing if he's a fit for the organization. We can't have just anyone join.

Mike: I know…

Thong raised his hands, pointing them at Hugo. Hugo stood, his form entirely relaxed. Thong couldn't get a read on him at all.

Referee: For any new members here joining us today, I will go briefly over the rules. We don't have many, so matches are decided once one side forfeits, faints, or in any case, killed. The usage of weapons is allowed and there is no time limit! Now fighters… ARE YOU READY!

As the referee uttered these words Thong immediately focused his gaze on Hugo, noticing how he was nonchalantly wearing a smile on his face. Chattering amongst the crowd had now reached an all-time high until it was overpowered by one word shouted by the referee.

Referee: Begin!

The referee swung his arm down, marking the start of the match. The audience cheered as Hugo walked up to Thong. Thong continued to keep his focus locked on Hugo, but Hugo kept his natural stance the entire way. Suddenly, Thong flung up his arm as he pushed away Hugo's fist.

Thong's thoughts: I didn't see his attack coming at all. His attacks are fast and he barely gives any warning to them beforehand. I need to take him down quickly.

Thong immediately struck back at Hugo with a right vertical punch, only for Hugo to go limp and lean back, Thong's strike entirely missing its mark. Hugo immediately jumped back up, punching Thong on the chest, Thong staggering back from the sudden weight behind the attack.

Mike: So he's the Drunken Fu fighter.

Dianshi: Exactly, but he's a rather special one. Hugo has learned how to perform Drunken Fu without even needing to be drunk.

Mike: Wait… Doesn't that defeat the whole purpose of it?

Dianshi: If anything, it makes him more dangerous. Coordinated attacks combined with the limberness and unpredictability of Drunken Fu.

Mike: That sounds stupid.

Thong could feel a stinging in his chest from Hugo's blow. Hugo having the same proud look on his face.

Hugo: You're looking pretty scared, buddy. Put 'em up!

Hugo charged at Thong, swinging blow after blow as Thong proceeds to push them off again and again. Thong began to notice a pattern to Hugo's attacks.

Thong's thoughts: He's usually limber, but he's entirely focusing on strikes. What is this confusing style?

Hugo charged in for another strike, only for Thong to push the blow away one more time and swing under it with a quick straight punch to the chin.

Mike: He hit him with a simple Pak Da, timing his strike with Hugo's so that Hugo couldn't go limp fast enough.

Hugo stumbled back as he rubbed his chin.

Hugo: Good shot, but that isn't enough to stop me!

Hugo swung his arm at Thong, traveling faster than his regular punches. Thong immediately went to push the strike away, but it connected with his face, Thong stepping back as he felt the pain build up on his cheek.

Dianshi: Impressive. He recognizes that throwing a clenched punch is actually slower than throwing an unclenched punch. Since Drunken Fu has several strikes that don't involve clenched fists, he's just barely able to get around Thong's defenses.

Thong gritted his teeth as he noticed that Hugo was a stronger opponent than he thought.

Thong's thoughts: For rank 420, he's pretty damn strong.

Thong raised his arms in defense as Hugo widened his stance, getting closer to the ground than previously before. Thong stared as he tried to read Hugo's next move, only for Hugo to spring to life, swinging his unclenched fist at Thong again, impacting Thong's forearm with a heavy thud. Thong closed one of his eyes in pain, feeling a bruise appear on his arm from Hugo's blow.

Thong's thoughts: The strike isn't especially heavy. It lost some power when he stopped clenching his fist, but its speed is making up in that regard. These attacks are hitting harder in a different way!

Thong shot another fist outward, Hugo again leaning back to dodge the attack. Thong's glare tensed up as he immediately swung his arm lower, but as his fist got lower, Hugo began lying on the ground with Thong's blow now missing him entirely. As Thong hovered over Hugo, Hugo immediately used a sweeping kick to knock him off his balance. Thong was momentarily made airborne before slamming backside onto the ground. Thong let out a gasp as Hugo began to limberly stand back up, looking like a doll on strings.

Hugo: C'mon compadre, this the best you got? I've met…

Hugo shivered as he thought of his next words. He looked in the audience, noticing the amount of elderly business men and women that surrounded him. He shook his head and immediately looked back down at Thong.

Hugo: I'm gonna kick your ass!

Mike: Did he just…?

Dianshi: It's a long story, I'll fill you in the details later.

Hugo took another limber stance, his body seeming like even the bones were jello. Thong struggled to pick himself back up, clenching his teeth as pain shot through his back.

Thong's thoughts: I couldn't disperse the impact. But what was that movement? He was like a puppet cut from its strings when he fell to the ground like that.

Thong raised his fists, Hugo still smiling at him. Thong ran in, throwing a fist, only for Hugo to jump into a backflip, kicking Thong's chin before landing stomach first on the ground. Thong stumbled back, his vision being dazed.

The audience began to cheer Hugo's name as Thong was reeling, only to look at the other fighter closer, on his side, holding his stomach.

Hugo: Dammit, I forgot how much it hurts to land on concrete. What was I thinking?

Mike: This guy's an idiot!

Dianshi: An idiot that's pushing Thong back. Just look at your friend.

Mike glanced over at Thong, Thong holding his head as a loud pounding started to fill it up.

Thong's thoughts: Dad always stopped his blows before impact, but taking a kick like that… I need to stay on my feet, or I'm going to be knocked down…

Mike furrowed his brows as he looked at Thong's damaged state.

Mike's thoughts: Don't lose to this bastard of all people…