Daniel was definitely enjoying this. He had met a crazy person today. Was this it, he ran out of luck so quickly?
Vincent couldn't even bring himself to look at the faces of the bystanders right now. He was too ashamed too.
But still, it wasn't like he had lost…
He feinted with an uppercut, luring Daniel then unleashed a spinning backfist.
[You are using Spinning Serpent Strike(C)]
Daniel raised his arm to block, but Vincent's blow glanced off it, still connecting solidly with his cheek.
The king's head snapped to the side, surprise flashing in his eyes. In that moment of distraction, Vincent followed up with a swift uppercut, putting all his strength behind it.
[You are using Uppercut(D)]
Daniel's head jerked back as the punch crunched into his chin.
"Who said you can't fall for the attack twice!" Vincent cried bestially as Daniel stumbled backward.
He was definitely surprised and impressed from the quick succession of combos displayed by Vincent. A sanguine spark danced in his eyes.
He let out a bark of laughter. "Not bad," he said, wiping blood from his lip. "But you'll need more than that to defeat me."
He exploded forward again, lithe as a red panther. Vincent barely had time to react as a vicious combination of blows battered his guard.
Elbows, knees, fists - they came from all angles, relentless and uncompromising.
Vincent desperately tried to counter, throwing out a quick jab automatically using [Swift Serpent Strike].
But Daniel slipped it with contemptuous ease, smashing an elbow into Vincent's jaw. Vincent's head spun as he staggered back.
Daniel pressed his advantage, lashing out with a roundhouse kick.
Vincent managed to get his arm up just in time, blocking the kick. But the force of the blow numbed his arm.
Before he could recover, Daniel followed up with a brutal straight punch. Vincent tried to roll with it, but the impact sent him sprawling.
Bleeding and battered, Vincent struggled to his feet. Daniel gave him no respite, attacking with blurring speed. Vincent guarded as best he could, trying to weather the onslaught.
He knew he couldn't keep this up much longer, he had used all the skills in his arsenal, none worked. And those he had not used, Daniel was just too fast and did not give him a chance.
If he wanted to change the tide of the battle, he had to do something drastic.
As Daniel closed in for another attack, Vincent suddenly dropped down and threw a sweeping kick at his legs. Caught by surprise,
Daniel had no time to react as his legs were knocked out from under him. He hit the ground hard.
Seeing his chance, Vincent pounced, attempting to pin the king down.
But Daniel recovered quickly, grappling fiercely as they rolled and struggled across the ground. Vincent fought to gain an advantage, but Daniel's strength and skill were too much.
With a heave, Daniel flipped them over, locking Vincent in an inescapable hold. Vincent struggled furiously, but he was trapped. Daniel leaned in close, his eyes cold and hard.
Daniel tightened his hold, shifting his weight to put more pressure on Vincent's neck and shoulders.
Vincent gasped for breath, his face reddening as the blood flow was cut off. He thrashed violently trying to throw Daniel off, but the king's position was rock solid.
"Give up yet?" Daniel growled, his forearm crushing Vincent's windpipe.
Vincent choked, unable to draw breath to respond. Spots danced before his eyes. Just as his struggles grew feeble, Daniel released him.
Vincent rolled to the side coughing and heaving for air. But a second later, Daniel's boot smashed into his ribs, flipping him onto his back with a sickening crack.
Vincent howled in pain, curling into a ball by instinct. Daniel loomed over him, looking almost bored.
"Get up," he commanded. "I'm not letting you off that easy."
Clutching his side, Vincent struggled to rise. But before he made it halfway, Daniel lashed out with a vicious kick to his jaw that sent him sprawling again.
Vincent landed hard, blood gushing from his split lips. He started trying to get up once more, but Daniel stamped down on his back, grinding his face into the floor.
At this point, the others that thought they could stand tall with hope, clutch onto it and carve a path for themselves were instantly destroyed.
They shook and cowered back with fear including Levi, all of them had horror telling a tale on their faces.
Daniel threw a glance at them, knowing he had successfully taught them a lesson when he saw their eyes. He turned to Vincent who was on the ground, eyes gleaming for a second.
'...this guy. He has never learnt boxing yet was able to put up a reasonable fight with me. I can't even count the amount of my blows he withstood. Maybe he has a strong tenacity like me and is a combat genius.'
From a young age, ever since Daniel saw a boxing match on TV, he had longed for it. It was love at first Sight.
He began to follow boxing as a sport, mimicking every punch throw, until he became an amateur boxer.
His passion plunged higher than he could control and even though he knew his father would be against it, when he was in middle school he enrolled in a gym and declared that you wanted to become a lightweight champion at least once.
Sadly, he was unable to do so before his father caught up with him.
He looked down at Vincent who helplessly lay on the ground, an interested grin parted his lips. He took his leg off him and bent down.
"Hey… how about we make a deal."
Vincent was unresponsive, he stared at Daniel with a deep frown etched on his face.
"I understand that I've been a jerk but I have never had a fight like that one in school. I really enjoyed it… and I don't want it to end like that."
His countenance fell as he spoke.
Vincent's frown could be seen becoming even darker at a point.
'What kind of madness is this? He didn't want it to end? You want to turn me to your punching bag?'
Seeing the look on Vincent's face, Daniel could make out what he was thinking, he quickly shook his head:
"Don't look at me like that. I'm not trying to turn you into my punching bag. You have the makings of a king. I want to make you my protégé and have you lead the Alliance of Mereung."
A fat smile parted Daniel's lips.
"How's that for an offer?"
Vincent slowly propped himself up and sat still for a few seconds before replying him with a grim expression overlaying his wounded face.
"No. I'm not interested in leading a gang of bullies."
Daniel's face became serious, putting a palpable air of tension on everyone around, mostly Vincent.
He said with a cold tone:
"Did I look like I was asking. Don't be pompous. I want to teach you boxing proper. One thing you lacked even though it seemed like you've learned a few fancy moves on TV is basics. It is because of your lack of basics that you had no idea of how to pave way through your defenses for a counter. You don't know which skill… seems you could luckily pull a feint which had me surprise but trust me, it won't work a third time."
Vincent looked at him, sparks of hatred dancing in his battered eyes.
Looking at him, Daniel breathed and continued with a low tone:
"Why don't you drop the pride for now. You want to protect these guys, don't you? Then accept my offer. Learn properly under my tutelage and a month later, let's have a rematch. If you beat me, I will leave you alone and never disturb you, in fact to spice it up, I will serve you. But if I beat you, you will become a member of Mereung Alliance."
Daniel waited a few seconds of silence, Vincent still had the tough look on his face so he tapped his shoulder.
"I'll be expecting a reply later… I'll come around tomorrow for one."
He stood up, gave Vincent one last pitiful look and pocketed his hands as he walked away. Leaving a wake of cold silence.
All of them stared at the now gone King and looked at Vincent, their eyes gleaming with stars of resolve.
Fatty was the first to speak up. He raised his hand and shouted:
"Vincent!!! You are my hero!!!"
He quickly went to help the battered boy up. Vincent looked at the rest of them with a bitter smile on his face.
"Guys, I'm sorry… I said so much about standing up for yourself. And yet… here I am." He lowered his head.
Levi looked at him. "Are you kidding?! Did you see the way you moved woosh woosh, you gave him an uppercut bam! And he want oh oh… man, you were good enough for him to acknowledge you!"
Vincent looked away for a moment. He didn't know what to think, whether this bastard was just a hype man or he was being sincere.
Slowly, he brought his eyes back to Levi, sincerity shone like a sun on his round face.
Vincent smiled, "Thank you…"
"Y-you m-might not have beaten the King… but for us. You are a hero. You are a hope that we too can take fate into our hands."
Vincent looked at all eight of them whose eyes were burning with flames of hope.
He suddenly felt bitter inside, knowing fully well that he had deceived them to a large extent. They don't have the system, what could these poor ones do with hope but furtherly destroy themselves.
That emotion he felt caused him to make a rash decision.
"Guys… don't worry, as long as I'm around… no one will touch you."
Immediately, as if waiting Blu responded:
[You have failed main quest]
[You will randomly lose a card]
[MAIN QUEST HAS BEEN UPDATED]
[YOU HAVE RECEIVED A SIDE QUEST]