Ryuzio rounded a corner, finally finding a door in this empty building. What could all the people Ryuzio took out be hiding in here? He reached for the doorknob to find the answer—
His ears twitched as he caught onto the voice speaking inside the room.
"…There's not a single possibility for him to win this fight," the masculine voice beyond the door was saying. "If you beat him, he loses, but if he somehow manages to get anywhere near beating you…
"I'll expose the truth about Hitryel Hystryk to the whole world! He'll end up as a criminal, and the skyguards will take him away! And then…Tryst Bracken will be framed as his accomplice, ending up behind bars as well! He'll see the tears of all those kids that he burned his money on! You're victory is assured…
"Maxvil—!"
Ryuzio burst through the door, finding two men inside the room. The door slammed against the wall, closing behind Ryuzio.
The man wearing a pair of gold-rimmed glasses stood from his chair behind the desk in front of him. "Who the fluck are you?"
Ryuzio recognized his voice as the same one that was speaking just now. Wait… This was the guy that—Benji had told Ryuzio—was the President of ABC! The same guy who was holding the oversized belt beside the champ guy after his fight just now!
The man he was talking to was wearing a richly suit… Wait… This was the same guy who beat the heavy guy! The one who wiped his eyes with a stack of cash before the match!
"I have no idea how you got here," said the super heavy guy, rising from his seat. "And even if you did not hear a word, just that possibility makes it hard for me to let you go."
"I'm not going anywhere!" Ryuzio announced with a straight face. "And I won't let you touch the heavy guy!"
"You Tryst fans really get on my nerves," said the super heavy guy, removing his coat and tie, revealing the vest underneath it. "I need to teach at least one of you a lesson."
"Heh?" Ryuzio said, picking his nose with a pinky. "Fan?"
"Why else would you be willing to fight for him?" asked the super heavy guy, standing tall. He was taller than even Tryst by a finger or two.
"Because he said he's going to give me food."
"Huh?" the president blurted, head cocking back. "Are you even serious? What kind of an idiot would fight for someone just for some food?"
Ryuzio pointed at the president guy. "I don't like trick questions!"
"You're about to question your decision to come here!" Maxvil shouted, rushing at Ryuzio.
Ryuzio smiled, firing up his Ether. "Bring it!"
Maxvil's eyes widened, his rush slowing down. "Wh—?"
The door behind Ryuzio creaked open.
"Why are all the guards sleeping on the floor?" the newcomer asked. "Guess they're doing just as good of a job in keeping their promise as you, Filep…" He trailed off, witnessing the situation inside the room.
Ryuzio turned around, immediately recognizing the young man. "Champ guy!" Ryuzio said with a smile. "So you WERE here!" Seeing him this close, Ryuzio found the champ guy to be just an inch or two shorter than Tryst. That unbothered expression of his was also much closer now, his blue eyes unimpressed just as they'd been on the screens.
"Huh?" said the newcomer—the dark-skinned brawler. "Who're you—?"
Ryuzio smiled at him. "Join my squad!"
Filep gaped widely. "Squad? Who do you think you are?"
"That explains a lot," Maxvil commented. "The kid really is insane."
The champ guy walked past Ryuzio, sitting on the chair on the opposite side of the president. "Where's the contract, Filep?"
Ryuzio turned around. "I was talking to you! Don't ignore me!"
"Get out of here," Hitryel said without looking back. "I have nothing to do with you. I'm here to defeat this guy, after which, I'll be gone."
Maxvil turned to the champ guy with an angry look. "This guy? I think you meant 'Champion' Kartur, kid."
Hitryel rolled his eyes to the side to give Maxvil a relaxed stare. "You thought wrong." He raised his chin to Filep, leaning back comfortably in his chair. "So, when's the fight?"
"How can you assume that there's even going to be a fight between you and Maxvil?" Filep asked with a smirk. "I only said 'maybe' in the Nonagon."
"I'm not assuming smoke," Hitryel said flatly. "I know for sure that this fight is going to happen soon. And I also know that I'm going to win and become the strongest—"
Ryuzio walked over to him, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Don't take this fight."
"Huh?" Hitryel faced Ryuzio with annoyance. "Who in the smoke are you to order me around—?"
"These guys were talking about telling your truth to the whole world," Ryuzio said simply. "They also said that it would put the Tryst guy and you behind bars. I don't want that to happen. Those kids really need the heavy guy—"
Hitryel brushed off Ryuzio's hand from his shoulder, turning to Filep. "You want me to trust you?" he said with a scoff. "I don't even know who you are. But I do know Filep. He's a greedy old bastard who'd never do anything like that. He knows I make him money. He can't afford to tell the truth. Isn't that right, Filep?"
Ryuzio stared blankly at Hitryel, lips shut tight.
Filep sat on his cushioned chair. "The sentiment is there," he said with a smile, "underneath that crude choice of words you always use. But THIS…" He slipped a paper that was atop the desk away from him. "This is going to bring in more revenue than all of your fights…COMBINED! The skyweb is going to crash when this brawl goes live!"
Hitryel picked a pen from the desk in front of him, signing the bottom right of the paper. "This is the first time you've been this quick, Filep," he said, putting the pen down. "I mean, it hasn't even been 15 minutes since my fight with Geraal, and you've already put together this contract."
"I'll take that as a compliment," Filep said, bringing together his hands, tips of the fingers of either hand touching each other. "The date of the fight is also mentioned in it. Did you read it?"
Hitryel sunk back in his chair. "It's tomorrow."
Filep smirked. "Do you think it's unfair? This is going to be the biggest fight of your whole life! Do you think you need more time to prepare—?"
"Nah!" Hitryel said dryly. "I can fight this guy even right now."
"Well then forget it!" Filep said, chuckling. "If you want more time, then you can't have this fight—!" He bit his lips, only to lean forward with a gulp. "W-What did you just say? Did I hear you right?"
Hitryel rose. "I hope that was it. I'm really hungry, so I'm going now." He turned to Maxvil. "See you tomorrow in the cage. Don't let me down like your friend."
A nerve throbbed in Maxvil's forehead. "Don't talk big if you can't back it up, boy."
"I haven't talked big in my whole life," Hitryel said, meeting Maxvil's eyes. "I only say what I can do. And I've said this before, and I'll say this again: I'll beat the smoke out of you, Maxvil Kartur."
Maxvil tore the sleeve of his right forearm. "Don't try your luck, kid—"
Filep clapped thrice, giving Maxvil a look with a smile. "Let's save that for tomorrow, gentlemen." He kept his eyes on Maxvil as his smile faded. "If we need it, that is."
"Tsk!" Maxvil turned away in annoyance. "As you wish, Boss."
"Another reason why you won't ever be able to defeat me," Hitryel said, walking to the door—
Ryuzio gave him an innocent smile from the side. "Are you ready to join my squad now?"
"Huh?" Hityrel said, eyebrows furrowing in annoyance and confusion. "Didn't you hear anything of anything? I'm not joining your smoking squad!"
"But I waited for you to finish talking with the president guy!" Ryuzio said, leaning toward him. "Now join my squad!"
Hitryel reached for the doorknob, eyeing Ryuzio. "Make me." He opened the door and left the room.
"Can I at least use it on the kid?" Maxvil asked Filep.
Filep simply shook his head. "Not the time to reveal it."
Maxvil put his coat onto his shoulders. "What're we doing with the kid, then?"
"I've called for skyguards," Filep said calmly. "They'll take the intruder."
Ryuzio was already out the room before they noticed, walking behind Hitryel.
"What do you think you're doing, huh?" Hitryel said through gritted teeth.
Ryuzio kept walking with a smile. "Making you join my squad."
Hitryel kept walking without looking back. "How many members do you have?"
"I'm the only one right now," Ryuzio said, nodding to himself. "So that makes you my first squadmate."
"Forget about it," Hitryel said, upping his pace. "You don't have what it takes to survive in the Skies. They say only the strong can fly there."
"That's why I'm a Volant," Ryuzio said without skipping a beat. "I'll soar through the Eight Skies with my own squad. They have everything in this world. Join me."
Hitryel glanced over his shoulder. "You're persistent, that's for sure," he said lightly. "But I have different plans for my future. After this, I'll go to Nova Zephpolis to challenge the strongest fighter in all of Nova Labyrinth."
"Is it far?" Ryuzio asked sincerely.
Hitryel snorted softly. "It is."
"Then I'll be going there too," Ryuzio said. "So join me."
Hitryel walked outside the gate, meeting Ryuzio's eyes. "That's not how it's meant to be," he said as if stating a fact. "Now don't follow me, or I'll have to beat the smoke out of you too."
Ryuzio stood facing the taller young man as he smiled, pointing at Hitryel. "Just watch me! You'll be my first squadmate!"
Hitryel waved as he walked away. "Sure. Whatever makes you feel good, I suppose."
"Ryuzio!"
Ryuzio turned toward the voice calling him. It was Ben, jogging toward him along with Tryst.
"We've been waiting for you," Benji said with a faint smile. "Where have you been?"
Ryuzio shrugged. "Just finding the champ guy."
Benji gulped. "Really? That's great." He laughed nervously. "You didn't happen to…" He trailed off, seeing Tryst interfere.
Tryst looked down on Ryuzio with a flat expression. "Now I want you to be honest with me, young man. Were you the intruder who beat up all those security guards inside?"
Ryuzio rolled his eyes away. "What's a…security guard?"
Tryst sighed, putting a hand over his face. "My goodness. So you weren't kidding about the Volant part, it seems." He grabbed Ryuzio by his shoulders. "They don't get paid enough to get beat around like that, you understand? They have kids to feed too."
"But they were in my way!" Ryuzio said in protest. "It's not like I hurt them or anything. I just knocked them out!"
Tryst exhaled harshly. "If only I knew you wanted to talk to Hitryel this bad… No… It's my mistake to underestimate your foolhardiness. I thought the idea of you wanting to make Hitryel your squadmate was nothing but a wild thought. You're something else, kid…"
Ryuzio flicked up Benji's glasses, poking him in the eyes, laughing afterward. "So, you got recruited, Ben?"
Benji let Ryuzio's fingers sink into his crying eyes. "No. They said they were only looking to recruit brawlers. Strong people."
"Lame," Ryuzio said simply. "What're you gonna do about it?"
"I'm going to try again."
Ryuzio smiled widely, pulling his hand back. "Awesome!"
Tryst gently planted his fist on Ryuzio's head. "Were you even listening to me?"
Ryuzio stuck out his tongue, closing his eyes as Tryst's fist hit him softly on the head. "Nope."
Tryst sighed. "Let's get going, then. You two must be hungry."
Ryuzio jumped with his arms and legs outstretched. "Let's go!"
"No running, please," Benji said with a nervous chuckle. "Guys? GUYS!"
###
"Heh?" Ryuzio blinked. "You?" He pointed ahead.
Hitryel sat opposite from him on the table, a confused look over his face as he pointed back at Ryuzio.
"What're YOU doing here?" they both said in unison.
"I asked first!" Ryuzio said.
"Huh?" Hitryel said, annoyed. "This is where I've been staying for the past3 years now! How in the smoke did you follow me all the way here?"
Tryst patted a fist on both their heads, placing a bowl of stew on the table. "No talking while eating."
"Why didn't you tell me that you know him?" Ryuzio said to Tryst. "You even know where he lives."
"Of course he knows where Hitryel lives, Ryuzio," Benji whispered loudly into his ear. "He's Hitryel's trainer after all."
"Huh?" Hitryel said in that threatening tone of his. "What's that?"
Benji shut his mouth, shrinking as he faced the table with a forced smile. "The…food…smells so good…"
Tryst sat down, joining his hands. "Thank you for the food."
Hitryel and Benji did the same, so Ryuzio copied them, joining his hands as well.
"I didn't want Hitryel to lose focus," Tryst said sincerely, facing Ryuzio. "That's why I didn't let you near him. But if I knew you'd go so far to meet him, I'd have happily linked you two."
Ryuzio nodded to himself, before turning to Hitryel. "Join my squad."
"No," Hitryel said dryly.
Tryst sighed harshly.
"I'm eating with the greatest heavyweight in the history of ABC Imperos," Benji said softly, eating with delight. "Nothing surprises me anymore. But maybe surprises are good. Life can't get any better."
Ryuzio dug into his food with urgency, fattening his cheeks as he filled his mouth. "Just watch me! I'll make you join my squad after I fill myself up."
Hitryel kept his eyes on his own food, keeping his mouth shut.
###
Just like the previous day, Ryuzio entered the arena with Benji and Tryst.
"Today's the day I'll make the champ guy my squadmate," Ryuzio said with a resolute smile. "He ran away before I woke up, now I'll meet him after his fight."
Tryst sighed, shaking his head. "You've been going on about that the entire way here…"
Ryuzio smiled, looking at Benji. "You'll try too, yeah?"
Benji gulped. "Yes."
The light dimmed and heavy music started playing throughout the arena, marking the appearance of the first fighter.