You Started It You Bastard

"Let's fight like real men, with our bare fists.

What do you say?" Vaan questioned with a big smile on his face.

Karl started thinking, a battle with Instant Spells or a Battle using Fists…

The choice was simple.

He couldn't get into the Battle of Resources against Vaan. Both of them may be a part of the Vesta Family, but in truth, his 'family' was actually nothing, his father just inherited the Vesta Family name because he was an excellent mage, it may sound all grand and exciting, but in truth, they were nothing but subordinates,

Vaan, on the other hand, was the true leader, the son of the Family Head, there was no way someone like him could defeat Vaan in the battle of resources.

A Fistfight was countless times better.

"Let's do it,

I believe this would be the best way for me to get my revenge."

Karl spoke as he looked into Vaan's eyes.

Vaan smiled as he extended his hand. Karl shook his hand, the two mages stood 10 meters away from each other.

The Host had no clue what to do, this was the first time something like this had happened in a Magic Duel. The Rules have been changed unofficially.

He didn't know how he was supposed to react.

"Start the fight," Vaan ordered.

In the end, the Host just gave up and did what he was told,

"The fight between Vaan Astra Vesta and Karl Vesta,

Start!"

"You are dead you trash bastard!"

Karl, his jaw clenched, launched himself at Vaan with a furious right hook. But Vaan's reflexes were lightning quick; he smoothly ducked under the punch and countered with a sharp jab to Karl's side, causing him to stagger back.

"The Fuck? A punch can be that weak? I mean, I get that you have been practicing magic your entire life, but what's with that sissy-ass punch? Is that all you've got?" Vaan taunted, a cocky grin playing on his lips.

Karl's face reddened with a mix of anger and frustration.

"Aaahhhhh!" He lunged forward again, his fists aiming for Vaan's midsection. However, Vaan simply sidestepped, allowing Karl's punches to whiff through the air. With a swift pivot, Vaan landed a solid blow to Karl's back, sending him stumbling forward.

"You are honestly the weakest man I have seen, I mean, holy shit you are weak," Vaan commented.

This time, he was genuinely surprised. He wasn't expecting much from a bunch of nerds who have stuck their noses into books their entire lives, but this was nightmarish. How was Karl this weak? He didn't know shit about fighting, he was just randomly swinging his punch, heck he doesn't even keep his eyes open when he does that.

"You fucking bastard!"

Gritting his teeth, Karl spun around, fury blazing in his eyes. He swung a sweeping left hook, but Vaan seized the opportunity to demonstrate his agility. He ducked under the punch, his body moving fluidly, and countered with a well-timed uppercut that connected with Karl's chin.

"Ugghhh!"

The force of the blow stunned Karl, causing him to stagger a step back. Vaan didn't let up; he seized Karl's arm, using his momentum against him, and sent him crashing to the ground with a controlled throw.

"Aagghhh!!" Karl grunted as he arched his back in pain and gritted his teeth.

Vaan stood over him, an air of superiority radiating from him. "Come on, Punchbag, you've got to put more effort into it than that," he mocked, his tone laced with condescension.

"You are dead!"

Karl's frustration flared as he got back on his feet, his knuckles scraped and bloodied. He charged at Vaan with a renewed determination, his fists a blur as he unleashed a flurry of punches. Yet, Vaan's movements were like water, effortlessly evading each strike. He danced around Karl, his footwork precise and his reactions lightning-fast.

"Is this really all you've got? I thought you wanted revenge?

Did you really just tell yourself that you lost that day because I took you by surprise? Did that allow you to sleep at night? Oh wait, you didn't need anything to sleep, the pain from my punches should have been enough." Vaan's laughter echoed through, showing his sheer confidence in his skills.

He wasn't taking this seriously at all.

Karl's patience wore thin, his anger propelling him forward. He threw a fierce punch, aiming directly for Vaan's face, but Vaan's grin only widened. In a breathtaking display of agility, Vaan swayed to the side, the punch grazing past his cheek. In the same motion, he delivered a swift kick to the back of Karl's knee, sending him tumbling to the ground once more.

"Aggh!"

Gasping for breath, Karl struggled to get up, his frustration now mingled with a growing sense of humiliation. He couldn't understand how Vaan was so effortlessly outmatching him. It was as if he was playing a game, toying with Karl's efforts.

Vaan's laughter pierced the air again, sharp and cutting. "You want me to close my eyes or something?" he said, his voice dripping with superiority. "Meh, I might fail to control my strength if I do that. That would be the end for a sissy like you.

I must say it though, this look of you kneeling on the ground, it suits you quite a lot.

You look exactly like the bitch you are.

Now start barking, the louder you bark, the less painful I'll make it."

"You son of a bitc- Uggghhhhh!!" Karl was about to curse out loud, but Vaan kicked the back of his hand with a roundhouse kick.

Karl fell down. Vaan then stepped over him and, "You should know when to shut up, Punchbag."

Then, Vaan made himself comfortable as he sat on Karl's chest and cracked his knuckles.

"How about we repeat what happened that way,

We even have a larger crowd this time."

"Wha-Ugghh!"

*Bam* *Bam* *Bam*

The Thrashing started.

Vaan continued to rain punches, aiming at Karl's face without mercy. Karl's face was already bloodied, the impact of Vaan's punches was heavy, each punch felt like a huge boulder was thrown at him, he was losing consciousness and there was nothing he could do to try and defend himself since his hands stuck down.

Karl could only helplessly take on these merciless punches or surrender.

Or…

Karl thought of another idea.

In anger, he glared at Vaan,

"Oh? You still have the balls to look at me with those eyes? Once I am done with you, your face will be so swollen that you won't even be able to open your eyes. I'll turn you into a Chinese Shit!"

Vaan shouted as he directly punched Karl's right eye.

"Uggghhh!!" Karl groaned in pain, with this punch, he had decided. Gritting his teeth in anger, his hand moved toward his pocket, he took something out, his Mana moved and,

*Buzz*

"AAGGGggGGGHhHHH!!!"

Time seemed to slow as the electric shock jolted through Vaan's body. His muscles tensed uncontrollably, and a searing pain coursed from his fingertips to his core. The sensation was like nothing he had ever experienced – a mix of intense burning and uncontrollable tremors.

Vaan's vision blurred, and he felt as if he were suspended in

a void of agony. The world around him became a blur of swirling colors. Karl

had used an Instant Spell, Lightning Blitz. 

Vaan continued to scream in agony as his body convulsed, a puppet to the whims of the electricity that surged within him. Every fiber of his being screamed for release, for relief from the tormenting currents that held him captive. He wanted to cry out, to beg for mercy, but the electricity seemed to have stolen his voice.

And then, as suddenly as it began, the shock ended. Vaan collapsed to his knees, gasping for air, his body weak and trembling.

A wide grin appeared on Karl's face, he pushed Vaan's body away as he slowly stood up.

"That bastard!"

Orion, who saw this was enraged, he was about to rush towards the stage to end the battle and disqualify Karl since he went against the rules, but before he could do that, Astra grabbed his arm.

"What are you doing!? Unhand me this instant!"

Orion glared at Astra in anger.

"The battle isn't over."

Astra commented. There was no expression on her face, but that just made her even scarier.

Orion felt a strange jolt rushing through his body, he could feel it, his wife was enraged. Those black eyes as she observed the stage…

Orion's anger instantly flushed out as he gulped.

He simply sat down as he held Astra's hand and glanced at the stage. His eyes fell on his son's golden eyes.

Those eyes hadn't lost yet.

"Hahaha! What? Down with just one spell? Weren't you the one acting all mighty, bragging about how Instant Spells were allowed in the battle!? Why are you lying on the ground now huh!? C'mon, get up! I am a fair man, I'll give you a chance to get up!"

Karl laughed.

"You started it you bastard."

"Huh? What did you say?" Karl frowned.

But Vaan had already activated his Instant Spell.