Sensei Li had a zero-tolerance policy in regards to power potions. No one knew the specific reason as to why this was but it had been a rule since the academy first opened its doors. Whenever anyone would ask the Sensei for the reason he would say 'because that's the rules' and immediately change the topic of conversation. Chase was still underage and not legally allowed to take a power potion but there seemed to be a much deeper reason as to why Sensei Li took this strong stance with all of his fighters.
Chase felt hugely disappointed at Sensei Li's decision to kick him out of the fight academy but he felt in his heart that it was the right to do and that begging the Sensei would be a dead cause. As he grabbed his belongings and strutted towards the exit door he had to walk through a corridor of disappointed fighters all hurling abuse and cursing Chase for taking a potion. It was frowned upon within the academy due to the core ethical principles the Sensei had routed into his fighters.
As Chase reached the exit, Wiz was stood there waiting for him in anticipation. Wiz was around 6 foot 2 inches tall but he now looked more similar to Chase's height of 5 foot 10 inches as he no longer held that posture of superiority as he nervously awaited Chase's words. His whole demeanor had changed. Wiz was usually the most confident guy in the room, standing tall, with his blonde spiked locks of hair, chiseled body and witty charm. He was barely recognizable as he stuttered nervously to Chase "w..w…why did you take the blame? We both know it was my power potion, not yours".
Chase had a slight smile on his face, he felt a sense of pride and honor for taking the blame for Wiz.
"It was the least I could do after what I did to you, I thought I had killed you" Chase responded with confidence as he left the fight academy.
Wiz felt a great amount of shame as Chase left the fight academy. The fight academy was his life, years of hard work, sweat and tears. He could not afford to throw it away. It was his dream like many others to compete at the World Fight Championships one day in search for a better life and he knew the fight academy offered the best combat training in the city. But despite his dreams still being intact due to Chase's unselfishness and friendship, Wiz could not seem to knock the cloud of guilt which was lingering over his head.
It was a miserable day outside, the heavens opened and the rain fell ferociously. It was like the universe knew what had just happened to Chase and wanted to compound more on to his misery. Chase felt that he did the right thing in taking the blame for Wiz. After all, Wiz had been working all his life towards this fighting dream in comparison to Chase's one day. But he could not help but feel disappointed as he finally thought he had found his purpose in life.
Thunder and lightning now echoed in the background as Chase was making his way back to the orphanage. The sky was dark and the heavy rainfall made it difficult to see but Chase thought he could see a large group waiting in the distance. As Chase got closer, his heart rate increased as he came to the sudden realization that it was the gang who he had encountered the day before. As soon as he realized Chase turned around in to the other direction hoping he had not been spotted.
"Where do you think you are going boy?" The Gang leader shouted from distance.
Chase's body froze. They had spotted him. There was nothing he could do now. He was dead meat.
"Where is your boyfriend now? Not so tough now are we?" The gang leader mocked referring to the Sensei who rescued him last time.
Chase knew that his chances were slim if he took on the whole gang at the same time. He may fancy his chances against one or two but all five of them he would eventually get beaten. Chase felt threatened but he had a different aura to himself this time round. He had just come off the back of an impressive victory at the academy with the help of the power potion.
Chase questioned himself 'I wonder if I am still benefitting from the effects of the strength power potion I took earlier'. With this thought Chase's confidence grew. He knew if he did not defeat the gang in a fight, then the relentless bullying would never end. He needed to stand up to them and send a clear message.
"Bring it on, you hit like a girl anyway" Chase bravely taunted the gang.
With that the gang immediately lunged at Chase and got in to a big scuffle. A lot of limbs were being thrown but it was unclear as to who was getting the better of this fight. Ever so slowly members from the gang was dropping to the floor. They were left dazed in a starfish position on their backs as the fighting continued until it was only Chase and the gang leader left.
The gang leader was now suddenly not so tough, his confidence had been drained whilst watching the rest of his gang get beaten up by Chase.
"Forgive me" he begged.
Chase was not a malicious person and did not want to hurt anybody who was not asking for it. He felt that the message had been delivered and that these crooks would no longer bother him anymore. So he came out of his fighting stance, turned towards the other direction and began to continue his journey home.
Just as Chase had turned his back on the gang, he heard footsteps splashing in the heavy rain approaching him with great speed. It was the gang leader who had not finished with Chase. Asking for forgiveness was just a ploy to get Chase to lower his defense. Just as Chase could feel the presence of the gang leader right behind him, he heard a loud thud on the floor. He turned around to see the gang leader knocked out cold with his face planted deeply in a murky puddle.
"I guess that makes us even right?".
It was Wiz. Wiz had tackled the gang leader to the ground and knocked him out cold just before he could get at Chase. Wiz had ran after Chase once he left the academy to help clear his conscious.
"I didn't thank you for before, I wanted you to know that I am grateful for what you did back there, I guess that makes us brothers now" Wiz uttered whilst offering his hand out for a handshake.
Chase felt an overriding sense of joy, had he just made his first ever friend? he thought to himself. Chase had always been a loner since a young age and always struggled to fit into any social groups. Chase shook the hand of Wiz when he noticed that his fight bracelet had once again updated.
[Fighter: Chase]
[Power + 10 XP]
[Stamina + 10 XP]
[Teamwork + 5 XP]
[Specialized Skill: Unknown]
[Level 1 – 50% completed]
"Pretty cool right? You will be catching up with me soon" Wiz praised Chase.
What seemed like the perfect moment as this new brotherhood emerged between Chase and Wiz was soon about to be ruined as a police officer threw his hand cuffs on to both of the boys after seeing the carnage that they had left behind them with the gang members all still sprawled on the floor.