*Sorry for the long wait. I've have had at first a few rough months and things haven't been going well at first but now things are getting better and I'm back! Enjoyed the weather in Croatia and now I am finally here! Enjoy this chapter and once again: I'm sorry for the long wait.*
Chapter 55———FODDER
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The next day came and it was already time to fight opponents and become winners.
Ryoji had the third match today. Tsurugi went before him and won against a Class C-1, and felt good about it since the stigmata that he endured from some of the more radical members still traumatized him. They picked on him for having different feelings, so he had a negative reception from C-1.
So, Tsurugi sat alone in a locker room after the match. He was left contemplating himself, staring at his hand the entire time as he wondered why he was born like this. "I swear, being a cyborg is a lot better than being made completely of flesh." A voice made the cyborg more vigilant, only it was Regis.
"It gets better over time having flesh than metal." Tsurugi acknowledged Regis with a statement. "It makes the remaining organic parts feel the best thing about me."
"Like your forearms?"
"In a way," Tsurugi chuckled a bit. "Yeah."
Regis had the first match and only lasted a minute before he was finished. Then, he read a book from Somnus and carried on with his life as Ryoji was fighting now. Regis found it interesting as his indigo hair was finally messed up after a fight, not that he cared. So, their paths met once more and Regis could feel his pain. Even trying his best to console the cyborg.
"In Somnus, you don't have to worry about what lies in your heart. You only have to worry about nothing."
Unluckily for Regis, Tsurugi could see right through the Teenager Prince.
"I remember when Somnus had slaves, and there was a problem with some bugs too." He said, seeing how anxiety was corrupting Regis. The Prince gulped as he continued. "With all due respect, Prince Regis...." Tsurugi stood up before finishing his sentence. "If your home is better than ours, then why are you still here even if you have all the spectral weapons? I thought you were dying to go back home. Or has Somnus become something more than a hellhole for those that aren't Somnui?" He asked before repeating to himself as he walked away from Regis.
For a few seconds, Regis still had his composure and sat down on a bench. Everything was peaceful until he exploded in an unspeakable fury. Weapons of his destroyed the locker room and turned everything around into scrap metal.
"DAMN IT! DAMN IT ALL!"
His yelling was practically unheard in the locker room. Cecilia saw his meltdown from hiding, keeping herself in the shadows as she witnessed a shocking revelation: Everyone has a boiling point, and his kettle has reached it. "...damn everyone and everything." He sputtered angrily.
I guess we all have demons in our bottles... She thought as Regis was losing it, cradling himself in a fetal position.
He repeated himself. "I want to go home. I want to go home. I want to go home." Regis reminded Cecilia of her home. She also felt that way, wanting to tell him that she sympathizes with him. I feel your pain, Regis. I do. Stay strong, Prince. Cecilia thought while hiding from Regis.
Ryoji was fighting a student from Class C-1 without much help from Igneus, who was on strike since he wanted to drink kombucha before this fight. This decision was quite detrimental, as his opponent almost knocked him out a few times.
"Jebi ga!" Ryoji cursed under his breath
" Sorry, Fire Boy!" The boy yelled out in a language that made him open his mouth. "Water is always super effective against Fire!" The boy spoke to him in Croatian.
Krešimir Kostić.
His name was extremely Croatian, to say the least.
Ryoji flipped a few times away from him before he stopped with his acrobatics.
"Wow...It seems that the two fighters have stopped fighting." New Glory pointed out as Chun-Chun Peach added while tilting her head in confusion. "It seems as if Stomatopod had calmed down a bit!"
Oh, he did. New Glory thought as the rest of the crowd was confused.
"You're...Croatian??" Ryoji asked the boy in Croatian.
Ryoji was naturally happy to meet another of his kind from outside the Guild and Croatia, much less so where the boy didn't seem Croatian.
The boy was human at all with a face like his being blue and his eyes were weird and grey. The boy also had a buzz cut and his teeth were roughly sharpened, but his arms were inhuman. Powerful and bulky, his forearms were massive for his age and armored with red accents on them. There was no need for a mask if he was inhuman like a Mantis Shrimp. Besides, he knew he was
"Hell yeah, brother," The boy answered back gleefully in his mother's tongue. "We're everywhere, man." Then he proceeded to continue with his punches. A competition was still a competition where one had to win to go to the next round.
"Enough with the formalities! I just wanna fight!!" Krešimir shouted in English and proceeded to destroy Ryoji's defense.
He was too fast for Ryoji, even in his Bonded Forme
His punches felt to him like the world was collapsing on him. Ryoji couldn't do anything as the boxer from Class C-1. He was the hardest-hitting person that he ever met.
His defense was incredibly good, but Ryoji was not unshakable. Slowly but surely, his defense was toppling away as Stomatopod was on the winning side. Surely, was there a plan to stop him? Ryoji must have had some sort of grand plan, correct?
Not in the slightest. Ryoji had to be spontaneous and quick with himself. This guy was unbelievably faster than him.
"Come on..." Akina murmured to herself, watching as Sebastian was sitting with her and Beri.
Beri and Sebastian were enjoying themselves. "Yep. Krešimir has one hell of a punch. Just a little punch could rupture some organs."
Beri was becoming worried as Ryoji was the toughest guy we knew and he was getting pummeled.
One more punch and he's done for! Krešimir exulted inside as Ryoji simply dodged it with his flaming scarf intact.
One ember fell on his arm and decided to extinguish the ember fats enough.
Crud! His fire can burn me like that?! Krešimir panicked. A plan developed inside Ryoji's warped yet intelligent mind. He took his panicking as an advantage.
Suddenly, a fire around him made the Seaborne Croatian sweat furiously.
Dehydration. That's your weakness! Of course. You're an arthropod! Then let me turn UP the heat!
That's a lot of fire! Krešimir was sweating as he slowed down a bit. He was getting delusional and was punching the air as Peach pointed out.
"STOMATOPOD IS SWEATING BUCKETS OUT THERE!!!"
Krešimir wanted to prove that lady wrong. He wanted to, but the sweat dripping down his eyes was getting to him.
To keep that arrogant kid persona, Ryoji began to trash-talk his opponent while throwing balls of searing fire at him.
"What's the matter? You're turning bright red." Ryoji provoked his opponent as he threw more fireballs
"Don't get so cocky!" Krešimir shouted back as he nearly caved his head in with a charged haymaker.
Nearly.
You fell for it...Ryoji smirked, demonstrating that his reflexes were too good for a boy his age.
He grabbed him with such finesse, as an excellent defense was essential in the art of battle. A one little Judo hip toss did the trick and threw Krešimir out of bounds.
"STOMATOPOD IS OUT OF BOUNDS! DRAKONIČ WINS!!" C.C.P announced as she was cheerful about the kid's win.
Drakonič...That's different. New Glory thought, stroking his beard as he watched good sportsmanship from the two Croatians.
"I'll see you around, Stomatopod," Ryoji said as he panted. He used a bit of Aether, then.
Ryoji pulled up Krešimir and shook his hand.
"We...Need to hang out sometime...And the name...The name is Krešimir Kostić. You got some....good wavelengths, brother."
"You too."
Perhaps we should. Ryoji thought as a small smile lit up on his face. This boy intrigued me a bit.
The two
"Give me another fight." Ryoji requested New Glory and Chun-Chun Peach for another fight.
Jesus, kid. New Glory murmured in astonishment while Chun-Chun Peach shook her head as she thought his request a bit disturbing.
Do you want another fight? There you go. New Glory reluctantly
"DRAKONIČ WILL GO UP AGAINST SNOWFEATHER!!"
The crowd erupted in excitement as
"Goddamn." Seb marveled as he sat right next to Akina and Beri
He's a monster. Akina thought, dreading that she would have to go up against her friend in this tournament.
"Right. I am up soon. Wish me luck!" Beri was called up with Armando Ayala to go up against Noelle Adelsdorfer.
~~~Meanwhile~~~
There were other skirmishes for the crowd.
Su-Jin had lost against Jordyn after exploiting her weakness or aversion to fire. Jordyn wasn't above exploiting weakness. She smiled at the camera for those who were watching the Skirmish.
Marcus managed to win against Kadoku by paralysis. Kadoku wasn't too sour about it and was glad since he thought the tournament to be completely dumb.
Turned out that Kadoku was allergic to bee pollen. Marcus always brought the pollen with him just in case.
Takeo fought Trevor Hirsch and it lasted a good while before Takeo won by incapacitating Trevor.
Ice Manipulation is far superior as a superpower to horns that can morph into anything Trevor desires.
Takeo was simply too good at it.
Kori Gideon took out Masaru Nagata in less than a minute without the need for his power. The crowd booed him and he was not fazed one bit about it.
~~~Rubbah Boi & Miracleberry Vs Nuclea, otherwise known by Noelle Adelsdorfer~~~
As Beri had his mask, Armando didn't want his on. They both didn't want to fight this chick.
Noelle Adelsdorfer.
She was approximately 5 foot and two inches tall, but she was a firecracker in terms of personality.
Her hair was a hazel brown and silky smooth, but she always had it in a braid. She stood tall and never slouched over or had bad posture.
She adorned rose gold jewelry as she believed it to be more elegant than normal gold and silver. She had three beautiful rose gold rings on three of her fingers on her left hand and fisticuffs on her right hand. Her attire was an ivory-color poncho and and nicely ironed suit.
Her mask was a simple, white domino mask.
"LET THE SKIRMISH BEGIN!!!!!!" Chun-Chun Peach announced and the battle commenced as Noelle threw her hands together to expel a large shockwave which made Beri lose his footing on the ground a bit before being captured by his teammate.
"She's tough, man!!!
Beri replied rather hasty and wanted to strategize quickly so that Noelle couldn't intercept their minds in time. "Yeah. She is, so what can we do to counter her?"
"Uh...By not losing?" Armando genuinely answered his question by adding a shrug in between.
Great. I'm with Mr. Shōnen Protagonist over here. What's next? You're gonna eat Ramen 24/7? Going to find One Piece?
Beri couldn't stand Armando; yet he understood the objective of completing this challenge instilled by Surwick. Obstacles were made to be overcome, and Beri knew this.
What's up with him? Why is he so damn uptight? Armando asked himself in his brain.
Armando might be a tad weird for Beri, but Beri pushed his personal feelings aside.
Whatever. Let's try to win this.
"No fair!" Beri yelled out as he ran for cover but Armando didn't.
"What are you doing?!" Beri yelled at his teammate as Armando's hand expanded thrice folding its normal size. Beri had felt as if Armando wasn't taking this Festival seriously. And he also felt that Noelle shouldn't be underestimated.
"I'm going to whoop her-"
———Fifty-Seven Seconds Later———
Armando lay there beyond the white line while Beri's hand was over the line and his back was against the sand. Oh…Not again… Beri grimaced about the eventual realization of his sound defeat.
"I was even-matched this time around!" Noelle half-lied to them: She brutalized them in combat. In under a minute, they lost against her and the whole N.U.S.N watched this defeat. How did she win?
With some of her might, she telekinetically pushed them to the line rather simply.
As Beri tried to get up, Noelle stood in front of him. "You two did extremely well. I'm sorry that this is going over this fast." She apologized as she had her hand out to reach him.
"Me too." Beri accepted his loss as Armando got up as well
For a Griffon Girl, she's pretty chill for one. I thought that the majority of them were prissy, egotistical brats...I guess she's one of the cool ones.
Beri thought while wiping his ass for dust.
She's nice too…Beri added it to her thoughts.
Armando thought highly of her as he looked at her happily. Psychics are so cool! I wish I had that as a superpower instead of having these rubber powers.
They both wondered what was going to
Ohmygodtheysaidimcoolandchill!!!!
She exploded in mental glee as her composure remained intact.
Noelle was going forward while the other two were upset with one another. Teamwork makes the dream work, yet their teamwork was a nightmare.
"NUCLEA WILL GO TO THE NEXT ROUND!!!
She was met with appraisal and fanfare as Chun-Chun Peach announced to the entirety of the N.U.S.N.
———In A Girl's Locker Room———
Cecilia was to be called upon before Akina, Cecilia was preparing for this fight between her and Ryoji. She didn't want to fight him not because he was strong, but because she was scared of what would happen if things got too far for her.
What would happen if I lost control? I don't want to lose control again... Cecilia dreaded if the day would come as she looked at her nails and the memories came rushing before she shutting them away.
What would happen if she went berserk on him?
The air was suddenly cold in the locker room.
"...This, barging inside a girl's locker room, is beneath you. Eerikki." Cecilia stated, her brother's chilling presence was felt in the room.
He appeared out of thin air. "Nothing that I do is beneath me."
"Even disciplining us to where our knees were soaked in blood?" Cecilia seethed, her eyes glowed a bloodshot red. She was tremendously angry at him. She could never forgive him or her family for what they had done. "Even as our eyes were wet with tears and our bodies being destroyed?"
It was a low blow, but Eerikki ignored her statement with another statement.
"They are all fodder. You know that. There are only a few key players that you need to watch for: The two Heart-Bonds, Berunji's child, and that mind-reader from the other class, Lenora Fuentes. Not much else."
Not even mentioning Willoby was extremely stressful for her as she saw what she could do, and Akina was still young.
He wanted her to lose control.
"Give in your true, feral instincts. When was the last time you gave in? Sure, killing some scum helps alleviate the pain, yet it is only temporary." Eerikki said before proposing with his arms opened to her. "Join the Pale Family and I will treat you the kindness you deserve all those years ago. It is long past time you've done so."
"Your actions are muddling your judgment. Do you wish to be good? Do you wish to change? You wish to be normal like the rest of us?" Eerikki questioned his younger sister rather harshly, coming closer toward her.
Cecilia started to panic as his footsteps played with her emotions.
"I care not for your preference, whoever that is your heart is of no concern to me. You experimented before with boys and they were okay, we're
"What does that matter-"
"Interrupt me again and I shall reawaken those dreadful memories again," Eerikki said coldly as he raised his arm and she flinched.
Predictable. Do you think that I would do it now? You have gone feeble-minded... Eerikki said mentally to her, disgusted by how she was showing weakness.
"And that girl you admire so much, the one who constantly invades your dreams. The one you want to make you whole. Soft. Weak. I'm aware of her strength. But I am aware..." He paused as he tried to get closer to his sister but to no avail.
"She will be your downfall," Eerikki warned his baby sister.
She was silent as painful memories entered her head. Memories of her pinned to the wall, painful memories that she couldn't bring to remember.
"I will never be like you. If I ever have children, I will treat them with respect. I will love them unconditionally." She stood up to him.
"I will kill you. Not today. Not tomorrow. Not overmorrow. But I will kill you when the time is right." She threatened him coldly. "Out of the Family, I'm the only one who can kill you and you know it."
Her brother was silent for a moment to recollect
...Very well. Eerikki thought as his skull was high up in the air.
"You know where to find me." Her oldest brother told her before chuckling loudly at her declaration.
"After all, you are one what you are one." That was his way of saying goodbye to his sister in his twisted way.
You will always be known as a monster. Even when you change for her sake, let it be known that she will hate you for what you truly are.
The icy wind evanesced from the locker room,
Upon exiting the locker room, Cecilia trembled afterward. Her instincts almost kicked in and she was beyond scared.
Damn you, Eerikki! She thought before the trumpet called for her arrival. She readied herself and calmed herself before
The fire burned brightly and memories were starting to flood her mind. Unlike Ryoji, she was capable of fear.
And she was afraid of what could happen…
She took one step into the ring and saw the determination on Ryoji's face. Cecilia knew that he was different from everyone else, not that he was a Heart-Bond, but he had a different physiology than a normal human.
She just had a feeling of uneasiness in her stomach. If she fought him, would she lose control?
Or would she prove her brother wrong?
She couldn't take a risk. Ryoji was different than the others, but she didn't want to hurt him.
"No," Cecilia said quietly before speaking loudly for the crowd. "I WILL NOT FIGHT HIM. I FORFEIT."
She...Forfeited the match?! New Glory gasped while Chun-Chun Peach wasn't expecting that from the girl. Hell, she was impressed by this revelation.
Ryoji bared his teeth as he wanted to have a challenge. Why the hell wasn't this girl giving him what he wanted?
He wanted to prove himself to the world of his capabilities. He wanted to show them that he was a future protector of the world. If you think that I am weak, you are sorely mistaken…
His flames became fiery and circled her. He commanded her as he pointed to her with fierce tenacity.
"FIGHT ME, DAMN IT!"
"No." Her voice grew higher, yet devilish.
Her eyes glowed a fearsome red and shocked the audience.
Her eyes...Red as roses and that voice...She's one of them that can walk under the sunlight... Ryoji thought as he backed off and let her walk away.
He stumbled as he let her forfeit their match. It was for the best, as he would not be prepared to face her without his full arsenal. He didn't have his stakes with him around.
~~Prelude to Akina Vs Kori~~
A match that will begin in twenty-seven minutes and Akina was sweating tanks of how she should proceed. Kori Gideon was extremely tough
I haven't come up with a plan to win against him.
I don't want to lose to him! Then she pondered about it. She began to pace back and forth where she was stressing about this oncoming fight.
"Hey, listen, Akina," Cecilia began to speak, as her wings ruffled rather profusely.
Akina kept quiet, knowing that every word that Cecilia said meant the world to her since she wasn't a person who liked other people. She took every word of Cecilia's word to heart.
The two wanted unity through heroism—One believed that everyone needs saving, no matter how depraved they are. The other; those that want to be saved need to be pure-hearted or not have any malicious intentions.
"Kick his ass for me. Please. Kori Gideon thinks he's hot shit, but show him that you're the A-Bomb, Akina. Do that for me." Cecilia requested her
"I...I will...For you." Akina strained her voice so that she wouldn't stutter in front of the girl. Doing this was hard for her.
The girl with the snow-white wings smiled with her eyes, a rare sight had occurred as Akina became more flustered and hid her face before realizing what she did and didn't look back.
Cecilia was also blushing red hot. "Just kick his ass!"
"Yep!" Akina accepted her mission as she walked
Her determination went through the roof.
Her nervousness became no longer a weakness, it was going to be used as positive energy.
Akina was ready to win for her class.
And so was Kori.
———Track 55 Ended———
CHARACTER PROFILE:
SURWICK STUDENT: KREŠIMIR KOSTIĆ (14)
ONE HELL OF A PUNCH
BIRTHDAY: 2/6
HEIGHT: 5'1"
LIKES: Short Stature (gives him an advantage when fighting), The Adriatic Sea, training
DISLIKES: Bacon or Pigs (Lived near a butcher shop turned nearly him into a pescatarian), Kori and Trevor
Krešimir Kostić was once bullied for being different than everyone else, so he trained before his powers manifested and his punch is far stronger than the strongest boxer there is.
He hates Kori and his goons with a fiery blue passion, seeing C-2 as actual people who all seem cool to hang out with. Not to mention, Krešimir sees them as badasses, given their previous encounters with the Shinra Empire and Reapers.
He just wishes that he was in the same class as them.
CHARACTER PROFILE:
SURWICK STUDENT: NOELLE ADELSDORFER (14)
THE PSI-USER THAT LINO NEVER HAD IN HIS POCKET
BIRTHDAY: 11/7
HEIGHT: 5'2
LIKES: The symbolism of White, Rose Gold Jewelry
DISLIKES: Constant Mind-Reading, Hanianna Cortes
As Kori Gideon is the man who has nothing but pure enmity towards the students of C-2, Noelle Adelsdorfer has nothing but admiration for her fellow peers. She wishes to arrange picnics and get-togethers with them to ensure euphoria and peace within the two classes, and she wants to be the chosen leader of Class C-1.
Had Lino not taken Ryoji under his wing and Noelle a tad dumber than she is, Noelle would have been under his pocket.
However, Noelle's perception has shown her that Surwick isn't what it seems to be.
Time for some hero names!
Akina Willoby: AKI
An abbreviation of her name, which was painfully evident. Akina was never really good when it came to being original.
Beri Alliyma Sosa: Miracleberry
He is a miracle to his mother and it is a miracle to be living. So, he chose that name as his hero name.
Or it could also be a Pokemon reference. The world will never know.
Cecilia Harmaajärvi: Snowfeather
Her feathers are of a snowy white color and she adores the winter. She also didn't want to be a part of her family, so Pale Swan wasn't going to cut it.
Krešimir Kostić: Stomatopod
His powers are akin to that of a Mantis Shrimp, but thought that Stomatopod would be a unique Hero name. Besides, Mantis Shrimp would have been a bit little redundant.
Armando Ayala: Rubbah Boi
He made a few spelling errors before entering his Hero Name. Don't hate on him.
Noelle Adelsdorfer: Nuclea
Short for Nucleus, or the caudate nucleus that is responsible for various higher neurological functions, and being a PSI user requires that. Some people could become PSI-Users because an extremely powerful caudate nucleus is needed to produce such psychic energy.
*Let's Go and find out more on who will win the Skirmish Festival!!*