Raldon city was rather calm as usual. People carried on with their businesses peacefully trying to make sales and what not in the town's square.
Two men putting on the signature attire of wizards - dark cloaks - with the hood over their heads were taking a stroll about the city. They found their way to the town's square.
"Raldon does look a whole lot different than last time." One of them whistled looking around.
"It wasn't even called 'Raldon' then," said the second man.
They couldn't help but notice the uproar coming from a gathering of young ones.
"Kids these days, I wonder what they're up to." One of them said taking a sneak peek at what they were doing. He caught sight of two boys on a small platform.
"Would you look at that, this makes me reminisce about the past." The other man said.
"Why am I not surprised that those two are here?"
With a smile, they walked past.
On the platform, Raten looked down at Jarett as he slowly staggered back to his feet. He spat up the blood that had filled his mouth.
"How does this person hit like that? It feels as though rocks are being thrown at me...hard." Jarett slowly rose to his feet.
They stared intensely at each other. Standing at full height, Jarett was at least a foot taller than Raten was. His physique made him look even more intimidating and less his age.
"Yeah! Go Jarett!"
"Make him pay!"
"Knock him off already!"
The audience kept chanting.
"Is no one going to ask how they're still standing?" Lecter said, pulling on his hair.
Kiyan just watched quietly.
Jarett staggered a bit trying to maintain his balance. Raten could barely see properly and there was throbbing pain from the centre of his face while his injuries continually bled.
*Drip drip...
Blood dropped from their wounded flesh onto the floor.
Jarett pulled out a chain from his pockets and tied it around his right fist. They both lunged in. Drawing their fists back, ready to deliver a blow.
Raten swung his fist forward as he neared, but Jarett caught it. The force had pushed jarett's wrist back almost snapping it.
Soon after getting a grip of Raten's fist, Jarett punched Raten with his chained fist to the gut.
Raten bent forward. The hit was so strong spit began dripping from his mouth, soon it was followed by blood.
Jarett wasted no time. He drew back his fist and punched again. This time, he hit nothing but air. Raten had bent backwards causing Jarett's fist to completely go over him.
"That would have completely mangled my face," Raten thought, seeing the arm a few inches away from his face.
Even beneath it, he could feel the force behind it.
With his fist still in Jarett's hold, he twisted to the side and kicked Jarett in the ribs.
Jarett was pushed to the side, the force and pain causing him to release his opponent's arm. A rib or two, maybe more than a few broke on impact and he coughed up blood with his hand over the broken part.
Still coming to terms with the pain, his opponent was on the move and Jarett was punched in the torso. As he crouched a bit, his head was grabbed by Raten who collided Jarett's face with his knee.. devastatingly hard.
"How do you like it?" Raten said and let go of his head. His assault didn't stop there though.
Jarett's face was now a bloody mess and he was down to his knees looking barely conscious.
"He is bleeding as much as I am, but still looks and moves fine. What sort of person is this?" Jarett wondered. The smile he had on never leaving his face.
He saw Raten's fist coming and caught it with one hand. He aimed to deliver a punch with the chained fist.
"I won't let you use that." Raten said.
He slapped Jarett's arm away and punched him on the other side of his face. Jarett fell to the side.
"Dammit! I can't even keep going," Jarett inwardly cursed. "Even if I try to, he'd still..." A kick to his midsection sent him almost sliding off the platform and stopped him in his trail of thought.
Raten took easy steps towards Jarett who struggled till he staggered back to his feet. He was done, he knew. But he wouldn't just stay lying down.
Raten leapt forward as he neared and punched Jarett in the face.
*Crack...
The sound of bones breaking resounded through Jarett's ears as Raten's fist collided with his face.
"It's not happening, is it?"
"The newcomer just..."
"No way.. Jarett!"
The audience watched as he fell back slowly. Raten stood in front of him.
"Jarett C'briel, I win." He stated.
Jarett fell back and out of the platform.
*Thud..
Jarett landed on the bare floor completely knocked out.
The audience at first were in shock, but then cheered in amazement. The little announcer ran up the stage and asked,
"What's your name?" He whispered.
"Raten," he answered plainly.
"Lads and lassies, we have our winner! The newcomer, Raten!" He announced and the audience went wild, clapping and whistling.
"Good one, mate." He whispered and slapped Raten's shoulders. Obviously he had enjoyed it as well.
"I am just going to acknowledge that every single person here is crazy," Lecter said wiping the sweat off his forehead.
A certain boy stood there with clenched fists watching as everyone cheered for Raten.
"I have never pushed Jarett this far before. Just who the heck..?" He hurriedly climbed up the stage and stared down at Raten who was about to step down from the platform.
"Hey, I don't know what sort of strength you had to fight like that, be bleeding this much and still stand here just fine." The boy said.
"It would be dishonorable to ask you for a fight now, but when you're in better shape, please give me the honour of fight..."
"Hold it!"
The boy's request was cut short by another voice. Kiyan slowly made his way up the platform. He walked past Raten and stood in front of the boy named Chandrel.
Unlike Jarett, this one was about the same height as them. He had long blonde hair tied up at the back in a bun. His skin was freckled. He looked at Kiyan through his icy blue eyes.
"If you want a fight, I'll be your opponent." Kiyan said, looking directly at him with a smile.