Virtual Combat Platform

And with that, both men went into the facility. People inside saw them coming in and heading for the VCP pods.

Wondering what was happening, many started turning their comms devices to the military grounds channel and logged on to the VCP community. They could all watch the match from the military's closed network if they wanted.

The next moment, both men appeared in a virtual replica of an old Earth monument, the Coliseum. Landon looked at Henry with a smile.

"Nice choice of venue, Calvert. Brings back memories, maybe?"

"Aha, shut it, Landon. We both know I'm not that old."

"Well, who knows? You might have seen this structure in your young time. I know I haven't."

"Are we going to fight, or are you gonna trash talk me to death?" Henry said with a cocky tone.

He knew Commander Landon was patient, but still wanted him to attack first.

"Okay then, but first, will you be armed, or are you going barefisted?" Landon asked.

"I'll be armed. Double kukri. There are a few tricks I would like to try on you."

"Hah! Then I'll go barefisted. I'm sure I don't need my weapons on you. You're still wet behind the ears, anyway."

Henry smiled. He wasn't going to go easy on him.

To him, it was a mistake on Landon's part to underestimate him.

"Hehe, don't regret it later, then."

And with that, the fight began.

Both men lunged at each other, their speed equal, as Landon had lowered his body's physique to have an honourable fight. Getting closer to each other, the Commander threw a punch at Henry's face at a speed still barely perceivable to the onlookers.

But before it hit, Henry had already shifted his body out of trajectory, as if he had never meant to go that way. Bringing his knife towards Landon's face, right before it hit, Henry arced the blade around his head.

At the same moment, Joseph had leapt back, resulting in Henry's wrist and blade forming a perfect V shape behind Landon's neck, latching on to him and following him in his jump.

While flying with Landon, Henry brought his other knife in a V opposite the first one. He also shifted his body to the side and plunged his right knee into Landon's side.

When Joseph landed, that momentum and positioning transformed into a spinning force, which flung Henry around Joseph, his knives latched onto his neck.

The head was hewn cleanly off Joseph's shoulders, flying into the distance. Henry spun another turn in the air and landed on his feet a few meters away.

The spectators were left speechless. Most of them thought it was a fluke.

Some with more experience thought it was little more than a lucky guess.

But things had gotten serious for Landon, who had reappeared in the center of the arena. He had seen the killing intent in Henry's eyes the second he had thrown his punch.

It was that look that had made him try to fall back. He had seen the knife coming, but had thought he could dodge it.

He understood Henry's true intention when he had unfolded his wrist and locked onto his nape. He had played right into his hands.

Now he was willing to go in with more focus. This had just awakened his intent to fight for real.

He was not going to fall for that twice.

"It seems I might have underestimated you, Agent Calvert. Do you mind if I also arm myself this time?"

"Sure thing, Commander. I was hoping you would take me seriously the first time, though," Henry answered with a faked tone of sadness.

"You should also fight with your actual strength," he added.

"Don't get ahead of yourself now, Calvert. I still have way more experience than you. It just simply wouldn't be fair." Landon said.

A pair of gloves with steel knuckles appeared on the Commander's hands. He also brought out a pistol, which he attached to his hip.

"I won't go easy on you this time, rookie."

"Oh? Do you mean I can get serious too?" Henry asked with a smirk.

"I guess I'll stop fooling around, then," he added.

Landon didn't let Henry finish his phrase. He dashed right at him, clenching his fists. 

The moment his fists were fully closed, electricity started streaking off the gloves. With shock, Henry's eyes opened wide.

Jumping back to dodge the lightning-covered fist coming straight for his face, he instantly realized he wasn't fast enough.

*BANG!*

Henry's head blew up in a messy red mist. It was now his turn to re-appear in the center of the arena.

Commander Landon didn't let Henry time to regain his composure. He landed, pivoted towards Henry, and dashed back at full speed.

Henry barely gasped for air and saw Landon coming right back at him. He understood that Joseph was trying to teach him a lesson.

But he wasn't ready to abandon just yet. Making a plasma rifle appear in his hands, he started firing at his adversary while backing away.

Trying to keep a safe distance from the Commander, he fired at him, taking strong side steps sideways and backwards.

A plan suddenly came to Henry's mind. Stopping right where he was, he continued firing on Landon, letting him get closer.

His rifle suddenly misfired.

*click click*

Landon wasted no time. Lunging on his foe, he cranked back his arm for another deadly punch.

Reaching his target, the fist was only a few centimetres away from colliding with Henry's face. But Henry suddenly dropped down, smiling at Landon.

However, Commander Landon had a lot of combat experience. He knew his opponent would try this kind of tactic.

He un-holstered the pistol from his hip and fired at Henry. The smile on Henry's face transformed into a grimace of pain. He took the hit in his left shoulder and crumpled to the ground.

Landon picked him up and brought him at face height.

"Seems like you still lack enough cunning to trick me. You don't have experience yet, Agent. Maybe in a few years," Landon said, smiling.

But his smile suddenly went sour. He heard a few clicking sounds and saw three metal pins drop to the ground.

Henry smiled, revealing a grenade belt strapped to his waist.

"WHAT THE?!"

*BOOOOM!*