upIt was the day of the assessment. Ethan had just closed from school and was now riding in Hermes's car home. He was very nervous as he thought of what was waiting for him at the dojo. Just how strong was Mr.Twist? He asked himself. Before he had met Hermes, he would have said the old Janitor was just a weak, crazy old man. But after meeting the Protector, and then finding out that the old Janitor was his personal assistant, he just couldn't shake the feeling that he was going to get murdered at the assessment.
"Hermes, do you really think I'm ready for this assessment?" Ethan asked, a tinge of hesitation in his voice.
The Protector looked at the boy sitting beside him for a second before looking ahead again. "Yes, I believe you're ready. Your performance this morning during training has cleared all doubts in my mind. Why do you ask though?"
"I am kinda worried I am not. Training is different from real fighting. Plus, Mr.Twist is a demi-god. He's gonna kill me." Ethan made his insecurities known.
"Aaah...I see. So that's your worry. That you're still no match for Lucian. Well, you aren't. Not yet anyway. Lucian is a well-accomplished fighter and even though he doesn't know as many arts as me, he could still defeat you with both hands behind his back. But that won't happen today." Hermes assured the worried boy.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean, today's assessment isn't meant to be a full-blown fight. Not the first part anyway. I have already instructed Lucian to fight as if he were at your level so that things will be fair. For the first part. Also, the first part of the assessment which will be only fists is meant to test your ability to bypass an opponent's defenses. Lucian will only be defending during the first part of the fight. If you manage to bypass his defense and land at least five powerful punches on his body or head, then you win and we will move on to the next part of the fight."
"And what will the second part of the fight be?" Ethan inquired.
"The second part is meant to test everything you have learned these past two days. In order words, Lucian will be coming for you. He will be aiming to do some damage too. I intend for you to get hit as less as possible whiles delivering your own attack so your defense in this part of the fight is the main focus. Remember, Lucian will not be limited to only his fists during the second phase of the fight, but you will. Pass this test and we will move on to the next martial arts form." Hermes concluded.
Ethan's head was reeling as Hermes explained the task to him. The second phase of the assessment was what he was struggling to comprehend. It sounded almost impossible. Hit whiles not being hit. 'oh boy he thought.
"So what will be the next martial art form we will be doing after boxing?" Ethan asked. He was genuinely curious and wanted to know.
"We will be doing Judo. I intend for you to learn some takeovers and grappling techniques. Wrestling would have been the ideal thing but it never appealed to me much. Judo will do though." The Protector informed, just as the car pulled into the driveway of his house.
Ethan gulped hard as he saw the house. He prayed to any being out there that could answer prayers to give him strength as he opened the door and stepped out into the afternoon sun. He followed Hermes who was Infront of him. The Protector unlocked his door and they stepped into the room.
"Go do whatever you need to do, Ethan. I will be waiting for you inside the training hall. Hope you can get in by yourself?" The Protector asked to which Ethan nodded. "Good..I'll see you there in a few minutes," Hermes said and proceeded to head into his room.
"Don't worry Ethan. You can do this. I know Lucian. True, he's among the strongest demi-protectors but you have our power in you. Lucian will be no match at all."The goddess of love, Aphrodite informed Ethan in his heard. Ethan now knew all the voices of the Protectors in his head and their names so could pinpoint each and every single one of them by voice alone.
'i hope your right, Aphrodite. I don't wanna fail this assessment. I have a long way to go already. I can't afford to be pulled back.' Ethan replied the woman as he made his way into his room and threw his bag onto the bed before turning back to head to the dojo. He wanted to warm up a little before his fight started.
"Don't hope she's right. Prove she's right by winning. You can't lose with all our powers in you. That will be disgraceful!" Ethan sighed as he heard the very familiar angry voice yelling in his head.
'I hear you, Ares. I'll try my best to win.' Ethan assured the Protector who grumbled something in response. Ethan was now in the small library. He flipped the hidden switch that opened the entrance to the secret training room, entered, and made his way over to Hermes who was making finishing touches to his makeshift arena.
The Protector had lain a large red mat on the floor which contrasted highly with the brown tiles of the floor. On the mat, there was a double pair of MMA fighting gloves for both fighting parties and headgear for both parties. There was no body-protecting equipment and this worried Ethan.
"Er... Hermes. Aren't you forgetting something? Where's the body cushion?" Ethan asked.
"There's no body cushion. Your head is all that needs Protecting." The Protector answered.
"What, why?" Ethan asked in horror.
"Wimp" Ares taunted in Ethan's head.
"Because pain is a good factor for improvement. Get more pain, and you'll get more creative as to how to avoid and give more pain as well." Hermes said sadistically as Ethan just watched him opened mouthed. "You should change Ethan. Lucian is on his way. He'll be here very soon" the Protector announced.
"What do you mean he will be here soon? Didn't we just leave school? He won't be here until around 5:00 pm. He needs to clean the whole school, remember?" Ethan said with a look at Hermes. How could he forget his own assistant's schedule.
"Oh...guess I forget to tell you. Lucian is no longer a janitor at the school. He resigned today so he's probably here now as we speak. Please go and change." Hermes informed a surprised Ethan who only nodded and went on his way to change into his uniform.
When Ethan arrived, his heart leaped into his mouth as he saw the old janitor. Mr.Twist was in a similar uniform as Hermes. Red karate uniform with gold at the sides of the sleeves and the sides of the trousers. The old man had also tied a black belt around his waist and was standing with his legs apart on the mat whiles his arms were crossed behind his back. He looked hella intimidating.
"Please step unto the mat." Hermes prompted Ethan who complied.
As Ethan made his way forward, Mr. Twist never took his eyes off him. He glared at the boy as if they were enemies. His face, expressionless. Just as Ethan had made his way in Infront of the old man, a familiar sound that made his eyes widen sounded in his head.
DING!
[System Notification : New Quest Assigned]
[Quest Outline : First Fighting Assessment]
< A very powerful opponent has been detected. Defeat this opponent to move onto the next Martial arts lesson and also to unlock rewards.
[Quest Reward : LOCKED ]
As if he had seen the system message too. The corner of the old Janitor's lips lifted up slowly into a dangerous smirk that caused the boy to shiver. 'oh boy, I'm Soo dead', Ethan thought.