The King and his guards, including Clover, took us to a big building behind the Royal Army headquarters. We passed through a narrow passage way before entering a giant Coliseum. The walls were decorated with paintings of soldiers laughing in triumph.
If it wasn't for the predicament we were in, I'd actually take the time to admire this place. It was bigger than any boxing arena I fought in or any football stadium I played in. Fighting in here would be one of my biggest achievements right next to beating my coach three times.
Clover took us to the center of the Coliseum where all the fighting was done. He ordered some of the royal guards to get something, and within a minute they came back with a table and a mass amount of weapons.
"What is the point of this?" Jade asked as the guards set up the weapons in rows. I think she already knew the answer though. Clover was probably going to make us fight one of the guards, or he was going have Levi take care of us.
"Pretty simple," Clover said. "All you have to do is defeat one of the guards."
Just as I predicted, Clover was as cunning as I was. Jade retreated behind me. On the other hand I couldn't help but smile. Is it because I am scared? Or was it something else? Anyway if we had to fight one of the guards I knew exactly who I was picking.
"Finally, here they come," Clover said as Levi came in with a bunch of soldiers. "There, pick your selection from one of them."
Levi removed himself from the group and all that were left there was a bunch of teenagers in gear. None of them looked like they could've be any much of a challenge. They looked ready though. In fact they was actually smirking that one of them might had to go up against a kid like me and Jade.
"They're our most promising recruits," Levi said. "I trained them all myself."
"Quick question," I said when I looked at the weapon table. None of them looked like my type. There were long swords, broadswords, weird looking swords, short swords, daggers, different assortments of spears, axes, and more that I wasn't sure about. "Who is stronger you or Clover?"
Levi looked shocked at the question, and from the looks of it everyone else was too. I looked at Levi again and waited for him to respond. He was a tall and build man, with many battle scars. While Clover was a grown man about my height and doesn't look like he been in that much battle. But something about him was making me uneasy and I had to find out.
"In terms of battle strength, Levi is," Clover answered. "I am more of a strategist."
"Stop playing innocent Clover," Levi growled. "Your leadership skills are the reason we're still standing, not to mention that you've never had a serious damage on the battle field even though you fight on the front lines."
"You are my right hand man after all," King Arpo said. Clover began to blush.
"And if you weren't stronger than me I'll be dammed if you remain first General of the Royal Army."
I watched as Jade picked up two daggers. I guess seeing the new recruits put some fight in her, but I still don't understand why she picked up two small kitchen knives. Either way I wasn't going to let her fight and get hurt. I was going to do it for the both of us.
"I made up my mind," I said while picking up a pair of biker gloves. I was surprised they have that here, but since I'm a boxer, this looked more up my category. My arm dropped as I put on the gloves. I wasn't prepared for them to be heavy although I was used to it. My coach used to make me do speed rounds with weights on.
"I want to fight Clover," I looked at him. "If I win promise me that Jade won't have to fight!"
"You really want to fight me with a pair of fire resistance gloves?" Clover laughed.
"Those gloves are made out of a special material that makes your whole arm and fingers resistance to fire. The material may look and feel like leather but it's as hard as iron. A perfect weapon for a close combat duel," the King said as he watched in the stands.
"Your Kingship can he really fight someone that's not on the list?" Clover asked.
"He's making it quite hard for you not to accept the challenge," Arpo replied back. "He doesn't want his lover to fight. That's why he challenged you instead of the new soldiers."
"We're not lovers!" Jade said a little embarrassed. "We barely even like each other."
I nodded my head in agreement. Then again I didn't know why I wanted to protect her so badly. Every time I looked at her she seemed so innocent.
"Why are you doing this for me?" Jade asked.
"Stop getting a big head!" I replied back. "I'm only doing this because there's something about Clover that I need to confirm. Besides it's basically your fault I'm in this messed up world instead of boxing."
"You're so hopeless," she yelled. "I don't need you to protect me!"
I ignored her and went straight to Clover. "Are you scared you might lose?"
"Fine. I accept your offer," Clover said. "Too bad your lover is going to fight because you're about to die."
I ignored him and went to the middle of the arena and started to stretch. When I'm serious about a fight I don't usually talk. I put all my concentration into it and that is why I've been the best in my weight class since I started boxing. I even did MMA on the side and a little Karate. There was no way I was going to lose to this guy.
He picked up a long sword and started swinging it with one arm. He placed it back down and picked up a different one. He advanced toward me and pointed the sword at my chest.
"Come on bump your fist against the edge of my sword," Clover said. "That's how we show respect here."
I did as he told me, and then he stabbed my knuckle with his sword. I heard a clank of metal as his sword hit my fist. He slowly backed up.
"The fight has begun!" King Arpo announced.
Clover was just as fast as I expected. I managed to dodge his swing, but he had his sword pointed directly at me. There was no way I could get close to him. He had more reach then me and he was using it to his advantage.
I grabbed the sword with my left hand and pulled it toward me. As expected it didn't hurt one bit. In fact, I couldn't feel a thing.
Just when I was about to go in for the punch with my right hand. Clover let go of the sword and kicked me in the stomach. I dropped the sword and gasped for breath. Before I knew it I felt a fist connecting to my face.
It was a powerful punch. I should have been knocked out, but it only made me stumble. I couldn't help but smile as blood came out of my mouth.
"Not bad," I spat out some blood. Clover picked up the sword and charged at me. He extended the sword in front of him and held it firm with both hands. What kind of fighting style was that? It was like he was using it as a horn. Weird thing was it looked like it had no weakness just that his back was exposed.
I grabbed the sword as he charged at me. He kept on pushing forward with all his strength. I had to think of a plan fast before he impaled his sword into my chest. I pushed the sword down and let go. The sword impaled the ground and got stuck.
I send three left jabs at him. Then a right hook directly to his face. He staggered backwards and was completely shocked at what just happened. Everyone was just as surprised as he was. I took this time to rush in and knee him in his stomach before connecting another right hook to his face.
I backed up a little bit and kept on dancing around him. If I would've kept on attacking like that he would've countered and knock me on the ground. I needed to keep my distance and rush him with a fury of attacks. Everything was fine as long as he don't get to the sword.
"You're better than expected," Clover said as he wiped some blood from his lips. I was completely surprised that he was still up after that. I thought that right hook would've knocked him out. Especially since my gloves were basically made out of metal. I jumped out the way as he charged and perfected a front flip. He picked up his sword and gave me a bloody smile.
"Now it's over," he said. He rushed at me with the same sword technique.
"Swing when he's about to dodge," Clover voice said directly in my head.
I sidestepped to the left and just as I did I found the sword slashed the skin off my left leg. The cut wasn't that deep, but it made me dropped to my knees. It stung like hell. Clover smirked and charged with another attack. This time the sword was slung over his shoulders.
"Time to end this once and for all. I'll end him with this last attack right for his head," it sounded like Clover's voice again. It felt as if it was coming directly into my head.
I stood up and block the attack with my left hand. Then punched him right in the eye. Where he dropped to his knees.
"What the? How did he manage to block that? He probably got lucky. There's no way he saw that attacked coming. So how the hell did he block my attack? Never mind that. I'll just aim for the ribs this time," Clover voice said again.
I leapt out of the way right as his sword swung where my ribs just were. He looked surprised. I took the opportunity and karate kicked him straight in the jaw where he suddenly dropped to the floor.
"No way I lost? How could this be? Is this kid really the chosen one?" Clover voice spoke again in my head.
I walked over to see him on the ground unconscious. How the hell was his voice in my head?
Jade ran up to me as if she was going give me a hug then stopped and retreated her arm. She only smiled at me. I would've smiled back but there was still blood in my mouth.
Soldiers rushed in and started examining Clover. All of them still looked surprised. I felt like Muhammad Ali after the fight against Sonny Liston. No one had expected me to win.
King Arpo walked up to me and smiled. "I'm so glad that you are the one. Now our prayers can be answered!"
"Everyone!" Arpo shouted. "Welcome the two new members of the Royal Army. They will be promoted to general rank!"
At first only King Arpo started clapping then everyone slowly followed a long.
"Come with me you two," he said. "Let us go freshen you up while you tell me about your strange fighting style and how you won."