Chapter 43 - The Titan

Titus cracked his fingers and stretched in the air, loosening up his muscles in preparation for the duel. He looked at me, slightly confused.

"Yukio? That's you, eh? Well, if you don't know the rules of a duel, you'd better listen in."

Titus then went on to explain how duels work, as well as their rules. Despite not being in the Hero Camp, he seemed to have extensive knowledge on many aspects of fighting.

"Duels are one-on-one combat initiations between two parties and are to be treated as official matches, tests of strength, or friendly competitions. Duels are not to be used as an outlet to settle disputes, or prove one's superiority over the other."

"In any duel, both parties must agree to initiate in combat, and must agree not to do significant harm to the other, fighting only with the intent to disarm, not hurt/kill. It is also optional to wager something in a duel, such as a rank, or an item, as long as both parties agree."

"When the duel begins, either party may choose to strike first. All weapons and abilities are allowed, so long as they are used for the purposes of disarming your opponent or defending yourself. You must suppress all superpowers that are known to cause significant damage or death to monsters."

"The duel ends when one party resigns, or when they are no longer able to fight, as determined by the judges of the duel. The winner receives whatever was wagered if something was put on the line beforehand."

"If you believe your life to be in danger, resign immediately. Otherwise, you could face accidental injury or death upon failure to do so. If severe injury or death occurs, both parties will be permanently banned from the Hero Camp, and in the case of death, one party will await trial."

The rules seemed simple enough. Wager something if you wanted to, fight fairly, don't kill your opponent, and don't cripple them either. In terms of superpowers, as long as you didn't kill the person or severely injure them, anything was allowed.

"Man in silver, do you agree to these terms? Will you initiate in combat with me?" asked Titus. Hero simply walked forward and took his stance in the field.

"Sure, let's get it rolling. Initiate the duel, Titus! Hey, Ambrosia, you be the judge, okay?" said Hero, smiling.

"Uh, sure, I'll do that. But if you lose, I'm going to be so disappointed in you!"

Titus then took a fighting stance and formally requested the duel to take place. There was a proper way to initiate combat, used inside and outside of the Hero Camp.

"I, Titus Ferrier, of Camp Omega, unenlisted in the Hero Camp, request a duel!"

"I, Hero, of Camp Omega, enlisted in the Hero Camp, humbly accept your challenge!"

The duel was now officially initiated. The spectators were Yukio, Mayumi, and a few other people lingering around the western gate. Ambrosia was the judge. Hero and Titus were about to fight...

"Heh, good luck, man in silver..." said Titus, before charging at Hero at breakneck speed. The speed he traveled for his size was horrifying. He lifted his fist in the air in preparation to strike first. As he swung his fist at Hero, he slid to the left and dodged.

Titus turned around, and Hero rushed at him. He lifted his fist as well and propelled it at Titus. Titus lifted his fist in defense, and the two collided. The sound of the impact their fists made was incredible. A shockwave traveled through Titus's body, but he...took the hit...

*BANG*

"Whoa, that's a crazy strong punch you've got there! I'm sure you've felled thousands of monsters with those hands!"

"Heh, thanks! Though, I wouldn't say thousands..." said Hero, leaping backward, landing gracefully. Titus shook his hand off and prepared it once more.

"Here, let's see how you handle one of these!" he yelled, leaping in a zig-zag toward Hero, his body phasing in-between steps, re-appearing each time he took one.

When Titus arrived at Hero, he quickly struck him on the top of the shoulder, but Hero was unaffected, he simply stood there, and took the hit. Titus's eyes widened, as he lifted his leg. He swung it across the ground, sweeping Hero off of his feet, before punching him in the gut, sending him flying across the grass.

"Whoa, AH-!" yelled Hero, being flung across the field.

"Ah, HAHA! How was that, Hero? It's one of my special techniques that I call, the mid-air strike!"

Hero came to his feet and brushed himself off, before smiling at Titus. He seemed to be gathering information about him, rather than focusing on the fight itself. He was allowing himself to be hit intentionally...

"I see, it's a very tactical move indeed, as your opponent has nowhere to escape to when they're suspended in the air! Nice one! I guess it's my turn now."

Hero then blinked, and his eyes changed color from lavender to silver, I had never seen this one before, I wondered what kind of ability it was referencing. I quickly got my answer, when Hero teleported in front of Titus, fist in the air.

"Here, try out this technique I call, BOO!" yelled Hero, appearing in front of Titus, startling him, before immediately lifting his fist, and punching him. As he drove his fist into his body, Titus's eyes widened, and he choked on the air.

"Oh my, so you really can teleport..." I said, remembering what Cyprus told me back in Camp Theta. He said that Hero's teleportation hadn't been documented before. His teleporting seemed to work differently than Ambrosia's as well...

"OOF!" yelled Titus, taking yet another hit from Hero. Despite how powerful Hero was, Titus seemed to be eating his hits with ease, managing to stay on his feet. But it was clear to me that Hero was holding back.

"Damn, that's strong, *ack*, oh, the pain lingers... ahhaha, just you wait, I'll rock your world!" yelled Titus, doing a backflip, and landing, before immediately charging at Hero.

Hero tried calculating his movement, expecting a direct hit from Titus, but instead, upon his arrival, Titus feinted, striking the air next to Hero, before ducking and moving swiftly to the right. He tricked him!

Hero blocked the air but was immediately struck from behind by Titus, who propelled his foot into Hero's back with all of his strength. Hero flew a few feet forward, hitting the ground hard. He had just taken a legitimate hit...

*TCH-!* *Boom*

"Ah, damn, he actually got a good hit on me. That...actually hurt..." said Hero, gritting his teeth, a bruise appearing on his side.

He came to his feet once more and turned around to look at Titus, who was holding the side of his torso. His eyes were locked onto Hero's, as the two of them stared at each other. Hero thought to himself.

"Damn, this guy's the real deal. I've been holding back on him to gauge his strength, but he's legitimately powerful... if he were in the Hero Camp, he'd have no problems beating up monsters... he's like a titan...that'd be his name... The Titan."

Titus then spoke up, still gazing at Hero, who simply stood there, analyzing what's come of the battle thus far, and thinking of how to proceed.

"You're quite the opponent. Both of us have formidable strength, landing these hits on each other... but only one can win... from what I heard, you're the best hero in Etheria, right? What gives? This battle isn't challenging at all!"

"...oh, I see..."

Ambrosia's face turned white, and she started sweating bullets.

"What's wrong Ambrosia? Are you worried about Hero?" I asked.

"No, you idiot, did you hear what Titus just said? I'm worried about his life now!"

Hero's smile was immediately wiped from his face... if there was one thing Hero hated above all else, it was patronization. He had worked hard, for nearly 16 years, 2 with a monk, and 14 with the Hero Camp, to get where he is today. For Titus to say something like that, was like a slap in the face to Hero.

"Well then, perhaps you might be worth focusing on now..."

"What do you mean?" asked Titus. Hero then shifted his eye color to gold, his strength color... immediately, the air grew cold around us, and everybody's attitude shifted...no...the entire Camp's atmosphere shifted...

"...do you want me to show you why I'm the best hero in Etheria?" asked Hero. Titus was slightly confused.

"Isn't that what this whole duel was for? I wanted to experience firsthand just how strong you are, to see if you're anything like what I've heard! If this is the real you, then I'd say you're nothing too special!"

Hero smirked, before making his way towards Titus. Ambrosia was shivering, her eyes wider than they had ever been. She was truly terrified...

"Ambrosia, calm down, Hero understands that this is a duel right?"

"I-I mean yeah, he does, b-b-but...Titus doesn't r-realize what he's just done! It's OVER..."

Mayumi, standing next to us, seemed to be greatly interested in the battle, watching the two intently.

"You know, to me, they seem pretty equally matched. Titus is pretty strong!" she said, fixing her glasses on her face.

"That's because Hero's been messing around! He's not even 1% serious!" replied Ambrosia. Mayumi then looked at the ground, and her mouth slightly opened.

"Oh...I see...how strong is he at 100%? Do you even know?"

"Not a clue. But if I had to guess, I'd say he could eradicate the monster species by himself if he had the time and resources..."

"Damn...he's one hell of a hero..." said Mayumi, returning her attention to the battle.

Hero stopped in front of Titus. Titus narrowed his eyes, and lifted his fist into the air, preparing to punch Hero.

"I'm not finished yet. I haven't even used my most powerful attack yet. Prepare yourself Hero, this is gonna hurt..."

Hero simply stood there, ready to take whatever attack Titus sent flying at him. Titus's fist began to glow blue, as he let out a battle cry.

"HEEEYAAAAAHHH!"

"...!!!"

*BOOM*

He tried to punch Hero, but before his fist could make contact with him, Hero lifted his own hand, blocking the punch. Titus's fist collided with Hero's hand once more, creating another powerful shockwave...

"W-WHAT, you blocked my most powerful attack that easily? Something changed...who the hell are you!?"

Hero dropped his hand and looked into Titus's eyes. I could tell he was focused now... the energy from the air around was, quite literally, being sucked dry and transferred into Hero's body!

"I'm Hero, first seat in the Hero Camp Top Ten. Let us conclude this duel..." said Hero, lifting his own fist. It began to glow gold as it rose into the air.

"Well then, go ahead and show me what you're made of!" yelled Titus, preparing to be punched by Hero...

Hero's fist flew at lightspeed towards Titus and made contact with his chest. Instantly, Titus's face went white, and his eyes rolled back in his head, as his body went limp.

*B A N G*

"...holy shit..." said Titus, falling.

The field went silent, as Titus fell to the ground, nearly knocked unconscious by the sheer force of the impact. It was like he was hit by a train... his eyes were white, and he was incredibly dazed...

Nobody said a word... with a singular punch, Hero dropped Titus like a sack of potatoes. The only person who said anything, was Titus himself, reacting to the attack.

"...oh...I think I understand now...yeah...you win...I can't go on..." said Titus.

"Are you okay? I didn't mean to hurt you if I did," said Hero, checking on Titus's condition. His expression changed drastically from confidence to submission after Hero had punched him. Ambrosia ran over, slapping Hero across the face.

"Ow! Ambie, what the hell was that for?"

"You could have killed the man! Take it easy next time, alright? You still have to duel me next, don't wear yourself out!"

Titus, still laying on the ground, grabbed Ambrosia's ankle, gazing up at her.

"Please...don't duel him. You're not going to win. This guy...he's a lunatic..."

"Oh, I know! I lost 80 times in a row to him already, but I'll win in a few minutes, just watch!"

"...excuse me? YOU FOUGHT HIM 80 TIMES!?"

"Yeah! I sure did! I may not look it, but I'm actually the 2nd highest ranked hero in Etheria. Ambrosia Heroux! My hero name is Esper Witch!"

"Now then, Hero... is it my turn...?" asked Ambrosia, as a yellow glow began to emit itself around her body...