--
Tang!
The resounding clash of metal sounded out. It came from the confrontation of two people.
Two males, about the same age as the other. They wore training clothes and could almost be mistaken as twins. The only major difference is that one had a face and was wielding an estoc, while the other was faceless and was using a sword.
The one with the face and using an estoc was none other than TJ. As for the one he's fighting, he doesn't have a name; it's an unnamed dream echo.
Yes, after a few days, TJ was finally back here.
He couldn't stay away for long, after all. He had completely recovered and improved since the last time; therefore, he wasn't as nervous anymore.
TJ didn't fight the Fusion Class Dream Echo, though.
It's still too early for that. He wasn't in a hurry to experience the pain of loss again. Instead, he picked another warrior just like him. One that he knew he could handle. And it's going great so far.
Clang!
With a swift maneuver of his blade, TJ deflected another slash. He then deftly moved to step into the personal space of his enemy with his sharp weapon aimed and ready to strike.
His opponent dodged by moving his torso aside, but TJ saw this coming and was a step ahead of him; he forcibly changed where he was aiming, causing the sharp edge of his estoc to pierce the enemy's shoulder.
Even though his opponent was merely a dream echo, the sensation of stabbing flesh felt real for TJ. However, this isn't the way to unravel that sensation. He must focus.
The stab disabled the non-dominant arm of the enemy. While it has no immediate effect, an injury like this could still prove fatal. TJ also knows that, like him, this dream echo knows how to shoot. The difference is that TJ uses a blunderbuss while the dream echo uses a crossbow.
Well, having only one arm available to continue fighting surely won't stop the dream echo from firing the crossbow, but at the very least, this will slow him down and make him predictable.
Of course, that's also under the assumption that TJ was ending his advantage here.
Spoilers: he's not.
Because after disabling the arm of the dream echo, TJ's eyes lit up. He decided to go all in and capitalize on this opportunity.
With a surprising burst of speed, TJ went low and ran, rushing closer to his opponent. He got the reaction that he wanted: panic.
TJ punished that by going for a feint; he half-committed to another stab, which made his opponent raise his sword in panic to defend only to realize that he made a mistake. TJ pulled his arm back and dashed to the back of the dream echo.
Then, he spun, performing a round slash with his estoc. His blade sliced the hamstrings of Dream Echo, causing the opponent to lose the ability to remain standing.
TJ then stood, looming over the fallen dream echo, who's showing real signs of terror and fear, just without a voice. Then, with a final stab to the heart, TJ ended the battle.
Dug dug dug!
TJ could hear his heartbeat pulsing in his ears because of the rush. He also felt a little nauseous as he recalled how his blade easily pierced through the chest of his enemy.
Even though it's only a dream echo, it still felt real to him. He even saw how blood flowed out of the wound and the way his opponent died.
This wasn't his first time slaying a dream echo. The difference between now and the first time was that TJ wasn't really paying attention before. He was more concerned about finally experiencing the Dream Echo Battlefield, even more so when he discovered that his innate boon also worked in here too. The cherry on top was the unforeseen reward after defeating the dream echo.
Of course, there's also his defeat at the hands of the Fusion Class dream echo, but that's not really important right now.
Now, TJ was no longer anticipating and was fully focused on the fight. He was taking everything in and applying what he learned from Mr. Eden's lessons.
Killing is one of the things all combat professionals will experience at some point. It's something that they have to deal with, and sometimes, it could bring surprising changes to one's mentality.
Actually, TJ was way ahead of his class. Typically, when the school's staff sends their students to their first blood baptism, there will be psychologists on standby.
As Mr. Eden said, the school wants to raise combat professionals, not serial killers. Therefore, every student must talk to a licensed psychologist after experiencing their first kill.
TJ skipped this part because of his boon. And since he couldn't be expected to report his boons to them, they have no way of knowing that this could happen to him.
But even if this wasn't the case, and TJ were to speak to a psychologist after his first kill, they'd be surprised to learn that, for the most part, TJ was doing just fine.
He feels queasy, yes, but he didn't hesitate because the situation calls for it. His heart and mind were at an okay place.
Alas, this isn't really the reason why the kills left and sensations left an impression on him.
'How does it feel? Doing the stabbing compared to being stabbed? '
'Yes, yes! How does it feel? '
'You were strapped down in the bed before.'
'They stole from you.'
'The next time you see her, she's going to ask more of you. Are you ready for that? '
"Shut the fuck up," TJ hissed, feeling his head throbbing due to the voices.
He took several deep breaths just to clear his mind of it, or at least, as best as he could.
Were the voices even real? Or was he starting to go nuts like them? Sometimes, he just couldn't tell anymore. He has had this affliction for so long now that the line has blurred at some point.
Even though they shouldn't be able to reach him here, he could still hear them.
**
Clang!!!
At some place within District 13, another uneven match-up was happening.
Despite it being past midnight, when everybody should be sleeping soundly and getting ready for what tomorrow brings, some people remained restless.
In particular, at the Kepler Household, the patriarch and his youngest son clashed using their spears.
William, despite knowing that he's completely outclassed and outskilled, still held his spear tightly. He gritted his teeth, fighting the urge to collapse on the floor and give up. He knows that he can't; otherwise, who knows what his father might do to him?
Clang!!
"Ugh!" William felt a heavy force slamming onto him, one that was strong enough to knock him back to the nearest wall.
The pain he felt upon receiving the blow caused him to groan, even more so when he felt his bare back slamming on the concrete walls because his mad father didn't allow him to wear any protective gear in this match.
William tried to stand back up but failed miserably. His strength was completely drained. His consciousness had gone blurry, and he couldn't even hold his spear anymore. He felt too weak to even get up.
"Better. Still pathetic, but you're improving," Feridinan commented off-handedly. He then put his spear in his inventory and began walking away. "Go back to your room and rest. We will do this again tomorrow; don't you dare to be late."
Hearing that almost made William cry. It's nearly 1am. His father was expecting him to get up and be ready before the sun even peeked over the horizon, which is about 5am in the morning.
He's only giving him 4 hours to rest and sleep after torturing him this much. For a 16-year-old boy like him, this was certainly cruel.
However, instead of blaming his father, William put the blame on TJ instead.
If that commoner didn't exist, this wouldn't have happened. He could've been the biggest and strongest warrior in the camp, earning the admiration of his peers, praise from his father, and the bitter jealousy of his older brother.
Alas, the defeats he suffered were too severe, not physically, but to the ego of a budding professional clan like theirs.
'Fucking commoner! I hate you so much! '
'I goddamn wish you were never born.'
'I wish you never existed.'
'You ruined everything I've worked so hard for! '
'Die! Die! Die! '
William repeatedly cursed TJ to death as he did his best to regain enough energy to return to his room.
Unbeknownst to him, and also Ferdinand, the seed of hatred forming in William's heart was in full display to someone else's gaze of interest and amusement.
The owner of this gaze was nowhere to be seen. Even Ferdinand couldn't sense their presence.
'Oh me, oh my! ' The person sing-songed inwardly while wearing a creepy grin.
'I didn't expect to find a good seed this time.'
'I don't know what or who the source of your hatred is, but hopefully, this little thing can help.'
And so, without William knowing, he inhaled some kind of gas that the stalker left for him.
It seems that only time can tell whether this was dangerous or not.