Follow The Rhythm

In a scoff, Azathoth says, "Hey, hey, I only suggest you pay more attention to detail here."

The question is, how long did I have this?

"Well, you've had it since birth. Up until recently, it was suppressed." That's a reasonable statement. But why wasn't I aware of this? And how did you know?

"Do you not expect someone as talented as I wouldn't notice? I simply never told you because I wanted to see you suffer a bit in battle. Quite amusing." I'm determined to beat the ever-living fuck out of you whenever I see you.

"Don't need to be so hostile, sheesh."

Pow!

"Down with Dante the Kicker! Down for the count! The winner of this round is Bon the Boxer!"

Minutes passed, rounds proceeded, and I watched every fight with accurate predictions until it was my turn to fight.

Azathoth, what should I do? I go down the stairs and into the ring with some random guy who seems to be a boxer. Feeling nervous about the whole thing.

"Just follow the rhythm and flow. Experiment. Improve and improvise. Remember, this is bare-fisted, and almost anything is allowed. And most importantly of all, dance with your synesthesia." What a motivational speech! Now I'm confident about fighting.

"3, 2, 1, fight!" The king enthusiastically said, with the crowd repeating what he said.

The boxer's stance was the same as that Bon guy. But he's slower. Then again, his body is skinnier than him. Out of shape, even.

He threw a jab, then another, then a hook. All were avoided in seconds.

I countered with a check hook after he jabbed again. Knocking him out clean. Securing a win and moving on to the next round.

I left the stadium with only questions to experiment with.

Minutes turn into hours as I win all my battles easily. With only basic boxing as a means to win. This was the case until I faced a difficult, lanky-looking opponent in my semi-finals.

"Ready, fight!" says the king, along with the excited crowd waiting to see who wins.

I-I can't see. He's using his long arms to distort my vision!

Pow!

I got jabbed. I didn't react in time!

Wham!

A cross follows suit. His punches hurt like hell!

Boom!

"A devastating right hook onto Polyphormes! Will he get up in the ten-second timer?" I could only hear the king in a muffled voice. Starting a countdown.

"10!"

"9!"

"8!"

I slowly get up.

"7"

"6"

"And he's up!" The king orders the referee to check if I can continue as Azathoth speaks to me.

"Polyphormes! Get up! I know what—"

Shut it, Goddess; it's getting good.

My heartbeat races and I become hot. My vision feels improved. I feel an adrenaline rush kick me right in the core.

"Ready! Continue!" announced the king.

Experiment.

In keeping his distance and distorting my vision, the boxer seemed to keep the same strategy.

"How annoying…"

This enraged the boxer, and he threw a jab, which I redirected and grabbed.

Experiment.

He lost his balance and center of gravity. Good.

Experiment.

I pushed his elbow as I pulled on his wrist.

Snap!

The boxer called it quits. Leaving the stadium with a bent elbow. He's probably heading to the clinic to fix what I did.

"I— The winner is Polyphormes! Onto the final round!" Announced the king, along with many shocked and concerned faces in the crowd. But they cheered nonetheless.

I leave the stadium and go to the usual viewing place I go to. To watch that hell of a boxer face another person. Theorize, predict, and think of countermeasures.

Man. Fighting is… Amazing!

"Yeah, yeah, fighting bare-fisted is amazing and all. But wait until you mix magic into it. A chemical made for each other." Azathoth slyly says.

I look at my bow, Vijaya, and take it, whispering that it'll be over soon. I just have to do the dirty work more. And promising to be the most ideal master to Vijaya.

"And the winner is Bon, with a clean knockout! Onto the final round, Polyphormes against Bon!" Announced the excited king, happy with the outcome.

"That's my cue; I'll be back, Vijaya."

I walk down the stairs and prepare to fight as I enter the stadium. Watching Bon enter, noticing a clear muscle difference.

Experiment. Dance.

That's all I'm thinking about right now.

"This is the final round! Ready fighters? Fight!"

Experiment. Dance.

I can't avoid his punches! They're too fast. They're too strong!

I raised my arms like a turtle. Wondering what to do? Blow after blow.

Wait…

I see the same rhythm and note again...

"We got our first blood and first hit in the match! Polyphormes head-butted Bon on the nose, resulting in him bleeding!"

Experiment. Dance.

"Polyphormes is now on the offensive, with a whole new set of moves he's using! He kicks from left to right, along with punching to complete the combo! All while dancing! Shuffling his feet and swaying unorganized!"

Experiment. Dance.

"Oh! He kicked a roundhouse high to the chest, but Bon grabbed—"

Bam!

"WHAT AM I WITNESSING? BON IS DOWN, I REPEAT, BON IS DOWN. POLYPHORMES JUMPS AND TWISTS HIMSELF UP, BOTH FREEING HIMSELF FROM BON AND COUNTERACTING WITH HIM BY HEEL-KICKING HIM ON THE TEMPLE!"

As the crowd cheers me on, I pant in awe before I say—

"What a beautiful tone~"