Chapter 12: The World of Martial Arts and the match (Part 1)

Listening to what Lucia said, Zen and Anna looked towards the brat from the Pearson family ferociously. Zen was already fed up of these chickens, who first try to stir trouble and after getting spanked run towards others for help.

After leaving the classroom, they all started walking towards the gymnasium.

"No one can get lost on the way to gymnasium, huh?"

"Well they kind of overdid it, right? I mean, there was no need to inform the people the way to the gym through a fucking billboard."

Exactly. Things were as they said. After walking for like a minute, they came across a tall billboard, with literally nothing but 'GYMNASIUM' written on it along with a direction.

"Well, the previous vice director was a martial arts fanatic. So he thought it would be a good idea to promote the gym. Apparently, he theorized that more conspicuous the direction is, more the people will be encouraged to train." Lucia answered with a bit of embarrassment.

After walking for 10 more minutes, they finally reached a 7 floored building, spanning an area so big that even more than 20 football grounds wouldn't be able to fill it completely. The whole building looked like it came out of fantasy world. Resembling the Roman Colosseum, it was completely made up of glass fiber having dark blue color.

"Now this is just federation flexing its money, isn't it?" Zen commented after seeing the building.

They entered the building and immediately a few small cars stopped in front of them. They took the car and after a few minutes they entered an indoor field where a middle aged man was waiting for them.

"Welcome students! I am David Brown, a 6th inner ring martial artist. I will be your trainer."

He was short with about 5'7'' height. He had brown hairs and looked like a normal person from get go. But don't misunderstand, although he was still quiet a bit far from the students, his voice reverberated across the field.

"Can't you come near and then talk trainer David?" Lucia said with lines on her forehead.

"Y..yes professor L...Lucia! I...I will be t..there." He said while stuttering. His attitude was 180 degrees from what it was previously. He ran with his full speed and reached near the crowd. He showed his most handsome smile to the Lucia.

'That smile was... creepy? Yes, very creepy.' Zen thought, unaware that all the students had the same thought.

"Before we train, tutor David, four of the students have a match between them! You guys come in the front." Lucia said while glancing at the four of them.

Zen, Anna and the boy from Pearson family came out of the crowd at once. The fourth boy was actually with 3 girls, apparently enjoying his time. When he felt that the whole class was looking at him, he looked confused at first and sighed, "So the time came huh? Sigh, I wanted to enjoy a bit more but I have to show everyone here what class means. I hope you won't waste a lot of my time, I have to give some time to these girls. They deserve some of my time. Haah... it's hard being strong and handsome at the same time."

'What the fuck is this pothead talking about?' Everyone had same question in mind.

"Oh!" That boy looked at Anna, "Are you the one fighting me darling? Allow me to introduce myself, I am Ethan Norman from the great Norman family. I will gladly allow you to fight me. Ah, please don't fall for me, I don't associate with commoners much. But... seeing your beauty..." He scanned Anna from top to bottom, "I can allow you to serve me."

"..." Anna didn't even know where to start. But one thing was set in stone. This Norman brat will suffer. He will regret being born.

It was decided that Anna and Ethan will fight first. They both took their positions and the tutor stepped in as the referee.

"Will she be fine?" Tanya was clearly worried. She saw that Zen always stepped forward to protect Anna, so she wasn't sure that Anna could fight with a mutant.

In response, Zen just showed a small smile on his face.

"START" David shouted.

"I really don't want to fight a non-mutant. Being a highly talented mutant with peak level 1st outer ring mutation and fire bloodline...."

"Fuck you pothead!" Suddenly he saw that Anna was near him. While he was praising himself, Anna came near him and he didn't even realized. He was a true narcissist.

Anna kicked his face and he fell 2 meters away from where he was standing.

"Don't talk and fight stupid! I am sick of your rambling." Anna snorted.

"...Noooooooooo!!! My face... my beautiful faceee" Ethan became very angry.

Ethan's legs became of fire and he looked at Anna with fury in his eyes. The fire in his legs started spreading outside. Immediately after, Ethan disappeared from his spot and red fire was visible all over the area.

Anna wasn't able to figure out where Ethan was. She was trying to find out but was failing miserably. Suddenly she felt something coming from left, she tried to jump out of the way but the attack reached her earlier and...

|BOOM| There was a loud voice and Anna was thrown a few meters away.

"Hahaha. Is this all you got?"

She stood up with difficulty but |BOOM| she was hit again immediately. This time, she was hit on the legs and the injuries were substantial.

She somehow stood up but she was trembling. She looked at Zen. They looked at each other for a few seconds. Anna could clearly understand what Zen was implying.

'We Ashfords are not supposed to be be defeated by something of this level. Follow your instincts, for your instinct is your biggest weapon.' The lesson that their mother ingrained in them since their childhood.

Instincts. According to Elizabeth, instincts can be a martial artist most lethal weapon. If trained properly, even a normal human can avoid a bullet. She ingrained this lesson in her children through torture.... no training. A lot of training.

Anna understood what she was missing. She closed her eyes and isolated herself from the surrounding for a fraction of second. In that instant she could feel everything. From direction of wind to the breath of people around her.

Zen smiled after seeing this. He knew that her sister overcame a barrier. Anna focused completely on Ethan's heat. She knew that being a non-mutant, it would be very difficult for her to 'see' where Ethan is, so instead she tried to find a pattern in his movements.

She started rotating her head. Seeing this, Ethan was ecstatic. "Do you think you can find me? My first ability gives me a super boost to my legs. You will pay for hurting my beautiful face."

This time, Ethan viciously aimed for Anna's face. Anna was looking the other side so Ethan was sure that his punch will destroy Anna.

But.... it didn't go as he planned. Anna suddenly couched. Ethan was confused as he didn't feel the flesh hitting his fist. He looked down but immediately was pinned down my Anna. Surprised it took him a while to understand what was going on.

"Finally you are under my grasp." Anna said with cold smile and immediately folded Ethan's legs so he won't be able to channel fire into the legs. Ethan tried to move his legs but alas, everything was in vain.

"Motherfucker! Let me go! Release me this instant!" Ethan roared

"Yes! I will release you of course. But you gotta pay up for a lot of things." Anna had a very cold grin on her face.

'Shit!' Ethan thought.