When I was younger, I was bullied often. It was quite rare for young girls to have white hair like mine, so I was usually made an outcast by all the other kids. So many kids said that I was going to die soon because of the color of my hair. It was truly at its worst whenever I was at the park, trying to have fun on the swings when one boy pushed me off.
Boy 1: Hey, how about you leave the swings to us actual kids, yeah?
Boy 2: We don't need your old people hair touching it!
I just felt like running away and crying. No matter where I went, it seemed that the kids would never stop bullying me. That was until…
Boy 1: Ow!
Boy: What the heck, man?
There stood another boy. He held two sticks in his hand as he proceeded to hit the other kids with them.
???: Hey, it's not nice to bully a girl like that!
Boy 2: So what? She has white hair, not like she's going to live for long!
???: Why should I care? If you want to hurt her, you'll need to get through me first!
I looked up at the boy, who had just become my hero. The other boys ran away, this new boy walked over to me and helped pick me up.
???: Hey, my name is Alexander. I was passing through when I happened to see you getting bullied, are you okay?
Alexander seemed like an angel to me. He walked me back home and became the only person I felt truly comfortable around. Alexander Night, my only hero.
…
Joan looked longingly at Alexander, Thong glancing at her with a smile before cheering for Alexander. Alexander charges towards Daniel at full speed, thrusting his sword forward with impeccable skill.
Hugo: What's that he's using?
Li: It looks like fencing to me.
Joan: It's more than just fencing, it's a style that Alexander has trained for only himself to use.
Daniel avoids each thrust, only for another to follow quickly after. Alexander looked truly in his element. Thrust after thrust, swing after swing, Alexander's swords seemed to cut the gap closer and closer.
Alexander has combined the arts of classical fencing and Iaido. Classical fencing is different from modern-day fencing that most people are aware of. Classical fencing teaches one to understand the discipline and technique that comes from a form of fencing that holds no rules. A style that focuses on fencing's use of footwork, distance, and timing. Iaido, on the other hand, is a sword-based martial art that teaches one about awareness, the quick drawing of a sword, and most importantly, the ability to respond to sudden attacks.
Alexander's feet moved only when they needed to, his weapons keeping Daniel at bay. The audience watched in anticipation as Daniel was forced back, Alexander keeping the flow of the match in his favor.
Zenzo: It's like the momentum has completely changed! Alexander was originally at Daniel's mercy, but it seems that Daniel can't get close!
Zachary: But even then, not a single strike has hit Daniel! How long can this song and dance go on for?
Alexander focused his gaze before thrusting both swords forward, narrowly avoiding the neck as Daniel jumped back once more. Daniel smiled before opening his hands like claws, Alexander staring at Daniel's sharp teeth, witnessing the face of a mighty tiger. Daniel lunged forward, Alexander thrusting forward before Daniel swayed to the side, aiming directly for Alexander's neck. Alexander pivoted on his heel, causing Daniel's strike to narrowly miss his throat as the audience cheered. Daniel jumped like a feral beast, the distance that Alexander had created was entirely gone.
Alexander's thoughts: What the hell is this? It's like I'm really up against an actual animal! Who is this guy?
Theodore, Theresa, and Ziyad watched the match from Daniel's entrance, Theodore wore a proud smile on his face.
Theodore's thoughts: Daniel's style is something almost entirely original to him and him alone. His style, Chimera Will, is unlike anything I've ever witnessed.
Chimera Will is a type of martial art created by Daniel. His innate ability of being able to replicate and perfectly imitate things he's witnessed firsthand while having some understanding of is the core foundation of the martial art. His life had been filled with hardship, but that hardship has led to his greatest asset: his unpredictability as a fighter.
Daniel continued on his assault, keeping Alexander cornered before Alexander swept both of his swords wide, forcing Daniel to jump back.
Daniel: Hehehe, your swords funny. They like toothpicks.
Alexander: Then I'm going to get rid of the annoyance that you are with 'em.
Daniel: Big words… me no understand.
Alexander closed his eyes, Daniel sticking his tongue out before getting on all fours. The audience all saw it, the form of a great wolf circling around its prey as Alexander stood in the center, focusing his breathing. Daniel lept into action, like a predator pouncing on its prey, but Alexander's eyes shot open, holding his blades out as he spun in a circle. Daniel jumped back, Alexander coming to a stop, glancing at Daniel from the corner of his eye. A smile grew on his face as he watched the blood drip from Daniel's arm.
Zachary: What's this?! Alexander has just successfully landed a masterful cut against Daniel!
Zenzo: The cut looks like it could be deep. How is Daniel going to respond?
Joan grew a warm smile on her face, the trio standing next to her cheering widely.
Hugo: I thought that guy was going to have his ass handed to him, but he might just pull it off!
Li: Yeah, he's doing better than you did against Moll.
Hugo: Shut up, will you!
Alexander wasted no time, charging directly at Daniel once again, thrusting his swords and following Daniel's every movement, however, Daniel's smile didn't disappear. His eyes followed the swords closely. Alexander thrusts his swords forward in a close x-shaped fashion, leaving the gap between the tips of the blades too small for Daniel to slip just short of the blades themselves.
Alexander's thoughts: See ya, kiddo!
Alexander's eyes showed him yet another sight. Behind Daniel seemed to be a giant crocodile, as there is one truth about Daniel: he possesses one of the strongest bite forces in the world. Daniel's teeth bit down on Alexander's swords before completely breaking through them. The audience stared in shock, Daniel pulling his head back with bits and pieces of the two swords poking out from between his teeth. Joan's happy expression turned grim as she watched Alexander step back, he stared blankly at his swords before staring back at Daniel.
Alexander's thoughts: Is… is this guy a monster?
Daniel spits the points of the blades out of his mouth and onto the floor, his eyes looking crazed. Alexander felt an odd sensation fill his body.
Alexander's thoughts: I need to beat this monster…
Alexander gripped onto the hilts of his blades closely, gritting his teeth before charging forward at full speed, sidestepping and thrusting his right blade forward. Daniel dug his fingers and feet into the ground before launching himself forward, past Alexander's sword, his mouth opened wide before a tearing sound could be heard throughout the ring. No one could acknowledge it at first, but it all became clear once blood began spurting out of Alexander's neck. He dropped his blades as he clenched his throat, blood quickly seeping from between his fingers. He looked around, seeing Daniel turn back around to look at him. He reached forward, his left hand covered in his own blood. Daniel spat out the meat of Alexander's throat, the audience letting out a horrified scream as they finally recognized what had happened. Alexander fell to his knees, looking back at his entrance, his gaze focused entirely on Joan before he eventually collapsed to the ground.
Woman 1: Oh my god!
Woman 2: I think I'm gonna hurl…
Carrie: Still think he's cute? That guy is an absolute monster.
Joan stared in shock, her eyes bulging before tears began to fall. She dropped her clipboard before walking into the ring, the referee quickly waved his arms as the sound of paramedics ran into the ring. Zachary and Zenzo moved from the announcer's table to the referee and paramedics that crowded the ring. Joan held Alexander's head on her lap, looking at him intensely as one of the paramedics shook their head at the announcers, Zachary and Zenzo growing saddened looks on their faces.
Zachary: A tragedy has struck the ring. Alexander Night has just been confirmed to be dead…
Zenzo: This has to be a foul! This is straight murder!
Zachary: Despite how horrific this murder is… it isn't against the rules… Meaning the winner of this match is Daniel Oneiroi.
Daniel smiled widely, the audience filled with screams. Theodore and Ziyad ran into the ring while Theresa stood at the entrance, holding a hand over her mouth as she watched on. Daniel turned to Ziyad and Theodore, both seeing that his mouth was covered in the blood of Alexander.
Daniel: Papa, me won! Daniel is winner!
Theodore grabbed Daniel by the inside of his gi, pulling him up and looking at him with a stern face.
Theodore: You just did something terrible, Daniel. We're going to have to punish you after I yell at you, do you understand?!
Daniel's proud expression disappeared, now looking to the side with a sad face.
Daniel: Yes papa…
Ziyad: I told you, this boy is an animal! Why would you think he's fit for this sport?!
Theodore: That's enough, Ziyad. Let's go.
Theodore carried Daniel out of the ring, followed by Ziyad. Thong, Li, and Hugo stared at the ring in disbelief. Hugo covered his mouth before walking into the hall, finding the nearest trash can before throwing up into it.
Li: What…?
Thong: Did that just…?
Thong and Li turned away from the ring, shutting their eyes tight as they heard the panicked screams of the audience.