Varic's pale red eyes raked over the large group before resting on his offender.
As he sized up his looks, an inscrutable glint flashed past his eyes.
He strode over in front of Nein, his arms flailing around in rage, with hot air puffing out of his nostrils, he took the latter from his collar and hissed out of his mouth, "You wanna die, you lout?"
Nein sized up this haughty mannerism, no doubt partly amused deep inside, and hurriedly shook his head, "You've got it wrong."
"Wrong your sorry mum!" Varic cussed, and his already bristled red hair stood further on edge.
Spit hurled out of his mouth and landed upon Nein as he screamed, "That settles it, you're gonna duel me!"
Nein, already lost in his thoughts, just ended up chuckling at this absurdity, 'The heck's happening?'
Rua, after mulling long and hard, shakily stepped up and spoke, "W-Wait up! Y--"
"Huh?" The latter's heavy voice instantly shunned him down, "You said anything? No, no! Don't distract me." He heavily reprimanded him and motioned Rua to tag along.
"You ladies, come and watch me make him puck his guts." He tapped on their shoulders before striding away.
Nein speechlessly gazed at Jenny who couldn't lift his head before glancing at the girls reluctantly chasing after him.
'Guess, it's worth a shot.' With a casual shrug, he began descending the stairs behind Varic.
They didn't need to leave the mall, the taped-off area that he had been wondering about earlier revealed itself to him, it was a field for just a thing as theirs.
Varic paid the fee and jumped past the tapes and onto the circular stone platform.
"Um, how much?" Nein asked, wondering if his allies would lend him some change.
"He paid." The watchman motioned toward Varic with his thumb. His eyes pitied Nein, "Maybe you can try groveling and he might forgive you."
Nein looked at the watchman in surprise before genuinely thanking him for the advice. "I will consider that."
Strolling over, he pinched the platform alleviated to his waist with his hand and propelled himself over.
Varic, with priority, glanced to make sure the girls were there before continuing further.
He hadn't noticed it earlier due to Nein's intrinsic slouching way of standing but the lout was ginormous. "Not bad kid, what's your name?" Varic, standing at 6.1 feet barely reached his chest. So he had to look up to glance him in the eyes.
"I believe I told you earlier, Nein." Nein chuckled.
"Oh! Slipped my mind. I'm Varic. Let's get this drama started." He flashed his ugly teeth.
Seeing the cavities and the thick yellow substance over them, the two girls yelped and muttered in their hearts and cheered for Nein, 'Save us.'
Spectators had gathered around them, some ate popcorn on the second floor. Whilst more gathered down below to get a better look.
"Now then, here I come!" Varic's fist tightened as he charged over.
'I should probably dodge the fir—' Nein's eyes widened, his lax body turning tense, 'Wow! Such deft footwork. His appearance betrays his skill.'
His eyes peeled down to his feet as they slithered around, playing with his sight, if one of his feet placed forward, his other placed behind.
If one foot turned right, the other leapt left. It would be difficult for a trained professional to guess his moves, much less Nein.
'Fool, I thought he would be a good opponent. But he's just an uncouth bastard. His looks are wasted on him.' Varic scoffed, 'He's diverted his full attention to my footwork, he won't get anywhere like this.'
Varic closed in suddenly and jabbed toward his chin.
Nein's sixth sense tingled, 'Shi— Wait!' His eyes glinted, at the last moment, his head tilted to the side. The punch flew past him, barely grazing his ear.
"Shit! That Nobel is so skilled." Haien bit her lip.
"Isn't it all your team's fault?" Mika frowned deeply.
The tension grew between the two, a clear distance divided them.
As the two contestants froze in their position for a few seconds, the audience grew wry, "Did that Nobel cast a mind-related craft or what?"
As if rejecting that theory, the two parted with a backward jump, "Not bad, though you lack grace, you still have some foresight."
"I must say I am not pleased." Nein smiled wearily.
Varic's expression tensed up, he mumbled something to himself before rapidly advancing toward Nein.
This time, despite Nein's utmost efforts, Varic's punch landed crisply into his chest.
'What kind of muscles is he packing underneath?' Varic's face turned lived, realizing well that not an ounce of his strength had pierced through his muscular armor.
"Prepare yourself!" Varic's knuckled popped crisply. The air around him changed.
'He's serious this time.' Nein focused, his muscles tightened in response to the upcoming move.
Halting his breath, Varic's eyes popped wide, one after another, he clobbered his fists into Nein's muscles.
But despite his best attempts, Nein didn't move a single step back. 'His punches are strong.' Nein could feel his power, 'But,' A smile crept atop his face, 'I have more strength.'
Gripping his fist, he pulled back and let loose a wild punch at Varic's skull.
'Shit!' Varic's hair bristled in response to the danger, he didn't even have to do anything, his body instinctively whirled back behind Nein. Watching, stunned, as the fist came to a stop while whirling the air beneath it in turmoil.
The stirred air moved in whorls. Ruffling Nein's and Varic's clothing.
Both of them again froze in their places for a few seconds, doing nothing, puzzling the audience.
Before with large jumps, the two distanced from each other.
"You have a knack for this." Varic relented.
"I don't think so." Nein straightened up and flashed his palm wide.
"Don't push your luck kiddo." Varic scoffed.
With a forced sigh, Nein took down one finger.
Varic chuckled, "It's time for round three I think."
With a stern face, Nein took another finger down and forced out of his mouth, "I think so too."
Looking at the three fingers and Nein's expression, Varic relented, "Alright! You want to eat dirt a little too much."
Stomping the ground, Varic blasted toward Nein, but this time, his punch swiftly landed atop Nein's nose without a moment for him to think.
'Fast!' His feet staggered back. He brushed his numb nose, his voice rose sharply in anger, "NOW YOU'VE DONE IT!"
His eyes glared fiercely at Varic like a predator, glowing ever so menacingly. With a large stride, and using his tall length to its fullest, his punch split through the air hindering its advance toward Varic, "GO DOW—"
Before Nein could complete his words, Varic's palm opened wide in front of Nein's face.
And instantaneously, his four fingers closed down, leaving only his thumb protruding in front of Nein.
The latter's eyes flickered. His body froze in its track. One could argue it somewhat resembled a thumbs-up.
"Move backwards." Varic allowed his haughty manner to take over, with his ironic tone, he shooed Nein off with his hand.
Like a good kid, Nein slowly, one step at a time, moved backward, until the stage ended beneath him and he collapsed down.
"Huh!?" He pushed himself up, startled, "W-What happened?"
The guy beside him, flashing a sarcastic smirk, replied, "That Nobel probably used a Craft on you."
"Un-Unbelievable!" Nein got up to his feet, watching in awe as a smug grin took over Varic's face.
He shoved his hands in his pockets and began walking toward the sallow-faced girls. With a stately aura surrounding him, he beckoned in authority for all to hear, "Think twice before trying to play a hero in front of a true hero!"
The audience stirred and allowed a thunderous applause to congratulate him.
With a shitty smile, he feigned coolness in front of the girl and moved his hand to ruffle his hair.
As he touched his hair, something sticky stuck to his palm, and instantly, his eyes turned pallid.
'I forgot to take it off.' Just as the thought crossed his mind, from his bushy, unkempt hair, a cone fell at the girls' feet.
"Hero!" The girls muttered, flashing their teeth with force, trying hard to please him.
The audience around nodded, "The Cone Hero!"
The audience's unbiased praise sung loud again, Varic, showered in their admiration turned livid hearing their unified voice, "The Cone Hero! The Cone Hero!"
'Which motherfucker called me Cone Hero?' Veins bulged out of his forehead as he heard the titters mixed in with the chant.
"I will fucking murder you!"
The girls trembled hearing his muffled voice and tried hard to suppress their smirks.