"Are you," The Gator bent over and gave me a cold stare, "Mocking us?" He asked.
Mocking someone? That's not in line with my morals, and honestly, it's not something I'm even good at yet. But maybe it wouldn't hurt to switch things up once in a while. After all, if I want to change, I have to start by changing myself.
I grinned, eyes narrowing with mischief. "Mocking, you say? Remind me, what was your name again?" I looked up, pressing my forehead against his, my voice dropping to a whisper. "Wasn't it… Swamp Breath?"
The moment his right fist came toward my face, I leapt back and pushed off his massive, muscular body with my legs.
"Good dodge…" He lowered his sword into its leather sheath and raised his fists in an unorthodox stance. A slow smile spread across his face. "Guess you might be worth our time after all."
I heard people whispering on placing bets. Emilia stood just a few feet behind me as I edged away. I was scared, but this excitement fully outweighed that feeling. At this point, if I were to flee, the regret of that choice would haunt me to my dying breath.
"I have twenty copper on the Gator and Orca!"
"Are you crazy!? That kid looks like he's an awakened. I'll bet it all on him."
Now, the Orca and Gator smiled, facing each other.
"So…" The Orca now stepped in front, placing his sword in a leather sleeve as well. "What are your powers?" He asked.
I didn't have powers, not yet, anyway. Honestly, I only just came here to keep things fair. Besides, did my father ever need magic to crush men like these? Not like they existed back on Earth. I guess-
"He doesn't have powers!" Emilia screamed from behind. "He's a non-awakened! He's a silly little Cleaner!" She finished.
The whole guild erupted in laughter. But the Orca and Gator didn't flinch. They wanted this fight, maybe because they're similar to me. No powers, only pure strength and fighting techniques.
"And what?!" Both the Orca and Gator screamed. "We also have no powers, so what's your point?!"
I got slightly angry. Why's she interfering? I stared ahead, ready to fight, but decided Emilia needed to hear one more thing. Loud enough for her to catch from where she stood.
"Hey, Emilia," I called out. She let out a small, questioning hum. "Who gave you permission to speak… princess?"
She didn't say a word in return. Probably because her feelings were hurt. Nice going, Chris, another girl you managed to make cry. Some things just never change.
But I was ready, more ready to fight than I had ever been in my life. It felt like when I first received my amateur boxing license, the feeling of getting closer to becoming a policeman like my father. I felt it here now, more than ever.
"Fight! Fight! Fight!" The guild members roared in unison, their voices dripping with hunger. I pulled out my gun, or as they would call it, 'Joyburst.'
"Hands up!" I screamed, pointing the Joyburst towards them. "Don't make me shoot!"
Huh… why isn't anybody scared? The fear most people feel from a gun being pointed at them... it wasn't there. Instead, it started with soft giggles… then erupted into laughter. It's not like I would ever pull the trigger on a vital spot; I couldn't live with knowing I killed someone. My father drilled me on vital and non-vital points in the human body, but never once did he mention an animal. I only pointed the gun to see if they'd back down. And clearly…
They didn't.
"Shoot it!" Orca sneered, his voice dripping with mockery. Gator chuckled beside him. "Go on, we dare you."
What's so funny about a bullet that can pierce through your skull? I pointed the gun downwards, wanting to test it out for myself, just in case I hit one of their vitals. Here's the trigger and-
Bang!
Pink and Purple Birthday confetti came out… and just like that, the whole guild began laughing to tears. I smiled as they mocked me. This might just play to my advantage.
"Now," I said, my voice low and steady. "Enough talk… bring it on."
They nodded, and we took our first step towards each other. Slow at first, then a quick jog, and in an instant, a full-blown sprint. I could feel it. We were all excited for this. The look in their eyes said it all, and I knew mine matched. That's why they were grinning so wide while they held their fists back, ready for a hit.
"Bring it!" We roared together, voices blending like music.
Two against one? I couldn't fight like how I was normally taught in Muay Thai or Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Well, at least, not against those beasts. But, if I combine both of those arts into one… I can defend and attack on and off the floor.
As soon as I got close enough, I fired a Joyburst in their faces, which made them stop moving. A blast of confetti exploded, sparkles and plastic filling the air. While their eyes followed the shower, they continued swinging away the confetti. I ducked low and grabbed the Orca by the leg. Going for the Gator would've been risky; those spikes on his legs would've torn me apart. This way, I could move fast and stay unharmed.
The thing about the Joyburst is, it's way more useful than people think. Like Emilia said earlier, it was designed for kids; confetti was meant to distract them. That explains the heavy recoil. It sprays out in a wide burst so the glowing pattern fills their view, blocking out everything else around them. I'm already starting to like this more than a regular gun.
"Where'd he go!?" Both of them screamed as they continued swiping away the confetti.
One thing I love about Brazilian Jujutsu is that it relies heavily on leverage and technique. Having less weight, or being astronomically smaller, doesn't matter if your technique is sharp enough to turn that into an advantage.
"Under here," I said, as I entered an X-guard under the Orca's leg, confetti still rubbing on their eyes.
I hooked one leg around the back of his knee, slid under the Orca slightly to get beneath his hip, crossing my other leg to form an X. With the leverage, I pulled him down. This is why I love it so much…
The X-guard.
"AHHHHHH!" I screamed, pouring every ounce of strength into that moment, knowing the confetti would only last a second more.
Finally, the Orca bent forward. I tightened my hook and snatched his far ankle. Now, the fight was mine to control.
As I tightened my grip, I knew his muscle mass was too much to control fully. I reached for his hip and pushed, sweeping his leg forward. His balance shifted instantly, and he teetered.
Then… the Confetti attached itself to the wooden floor below. Now they had a clear sight of what was going on. But it's fine, because my plan was already set in place.
Creak!
I heard the wooden floor below snap right on top of the Orca.
"No… way. The Orca! He's down! The Orca's down!" All the other guild members began cheering for me… like I was the star of a puppet show.
But it wasn't over… nonetheless, I did nothing to the Orca but immobilize him for a couple of seconds.
"What's your name… young one." The Gator smiled at me, like he respected me.
I smiled back, "Chris," letting out a deep breath, "Jackson. Chris Jackson."
I could smell it; this was my victory. I actually have a chance. Even with the Gator's spikes protecting him from a tight guard, I could go around them, adapt, and make it work. I could really do this.
"Hahaha!" Gator chuckled. "How long are you going to keep playing dead… Orca?"
The Orca pushed himself up from the splintered wood. "Just wanted to see how he'd fare against you," he said, smiling.
"You're strong and knowledgeable, Chris." The Orca said calmly, as if I hadn't just locked him in a move well known on Earth through BJJ. "But unfortunately… there's only so much a non-awakened can do.
Then, suddenly, he appeared right in front of me, fist raised. I hadn't sensed him at all. When did he get this strong? They said they had no magical powers… so, what's this?
BANG!
A punch slammed into my left cheek, and I flew into one of the circular wooden tables at the corner of the guild. It hurt like hell, numbness spreading across my body. Behind me, I could hear the adventurers whispering.
"You know, if this world weren't ruled by strength, I might've taken a liking to him, too bad." That was definitely a woman's voice behind me. But it wasn't Emilia, some other girl.
This world or the last, people still don't respect me.
Was it over for me? I'd offered them a gold coin I didn't even have if they won. What comes next? I'm going to feel the same way I did back on Earth. Helpless against him, Lucius.
No, it wasn't over. Even without strength, I would do what had to be done. My whole body ached, every one of my vitals felt like it had been slammed with brutal force. Even though he'd only punched my face, the pain spread through my entire body.
But my soul... it didn't want to give in.
I smiled, struggling to rise from the half-broken table.
"Hey, Lady," I said, nodding to the voice I'd heard earlier, letting her know that just because strength rules the world, it didn't mean I couldn't change that. "Who said…"
I coughed up blood, forcing the words out. "Who said I was finished?"