Fight

"Is this it?"

Gathered in front of a secluded alleyway, I turned back to Eren and Armin. This seemed like a place where ruffians usually gathered, much less small-time bullies.

Armin nodded slightly without a word. He still seemed reluctant to bring us here, but it's not like he had much of a choice.

"Both of you wait here." I said, as I walked forward, only to be pulled back by a tug. Turning back, both Eren and Armin were doing the same, albeit for different reasons.

"…Big bro, are you serious?" Eren asked calmly, to which I nodded in turn.

Armin can barely run, and if Eren were to face off against them right now, he'd only serve to become laughing stock and Mikasa was not here either.

Hence, the only logical option was for me to do it, alone. Not to mention I'm probably stronger than all of them combined.

At that, he pursed his lips, and flashed me with a look of determination. "If you're doing it, then count me in."

"You'd probably get beaten up." I said, ignoring the full display of the budding qualities of an anime protagonist. I'm really starting to wonder if it was hardwired or something…

"I won't know if I don't try." He smiled proudly stating a clichéd line. With a hunch that I wouldn't be able to stop him, I turned to Armin, who was still struck with fear.

"P-plea-se, let's j-just le-eave…" His shivering figure tried to convince us in vain. Sighing, I berated myself once again.

During this past week I noticed that the Armin right now is too timid. I had attributed it to the fact that we had met much later than in the canon, but even this is too much.

As of now, he completely lacks any shred of self-confidence, and always considers himself to be a burden to everyone around him. And, that's exactly what I needed to correct.

Without a doubt, he had been horribly scarred and it was my fault that I didn't realize it sooner. If only I had actively searched for him, maybe it wouldn't have come to this…

"Don't worry Armin." I said, reaching out to pat his head. He flinched at the touch, before quietly accepting it.

"I wouldn't be your friend if I didn't do this." I said, flashing him the best smile I could.

"Yep. Just believe in us! We'll make sure they'll piss in fear whenever they see us." Eren added with a wink.

Oh, it's inbuilt alright… If not, just how could he say such corny lines?!

Armin quietly observed us, nodding hesitantly, as he grew lost in his own thoughts. Finally, with enough pep-talk in our system, we strode towards our stage.

Eren gazed around the dim alley intently as Armin shuddered at every passing shadow. Meanwhile, I lead the group with the most stoic face I possibly could.

Soon enough, we found our unsuspecting targets, who were having the time of their lives. The three of them chattered loudly, unaware of our arrival.

"Hey losers, how're you doing." With a confident stride, I made my, a few meters before the kids. The three of them were quite tall and intimidating (more like ugly).

With a look of surprise, they turned towards us, only to burst into laughter.

"Oi look, it's the stupid heretic and his new friends." The shortest one, who was still half a head taller than me with black hair said, as he walked up with a sneer.

"Looking to get beaten, eh?" he taunted, laughing as he slammed his chubby fists together. The brown haired one egged him on as the other guy, who was more than a full head taller, didn't say anything.

"Eren look, the pig can talk!" I said quite loudly, ignoring the fatty's attempts to rile me up.

"But big bro, aren't they more like donkeys." He snickered, adding fuel to the fire.

"Hmm? Ah! You're right Eren. Thanks for correcting me there. Anyways, what were you donkeys saying, again?" I clapped as I sneered back.

Unable to come up with any retorts, he scowled as he turned towards the tallest one saying "Boss, please let me handle these shits!"

The tallest kid, simply nodded before turning to us with a look of disinterest.

'Oh my! What's a 'Young Master' doing in this world?!' I chuckled at the thought, which the fatty took as personal blow.

"Laugh at this, stupid ass!" the fatty screamed, charging towards me with his fist raised. He seemed more like an ugly chimpanzee up close, but I don't think anyone knows what that is.

Tilting my head, I dodged his sorry excuse of a punch, and with a quick motion, I thrust my knee into his fleshy abdomen, causing him to keel over in pain.

Wheezing for air, he staggered back, only for his chin to meet my fist. A quick uppercut later, and he was sprawled on the floor a few broken teeth and drops of blood adorning his ugly mug.

Everyone fell silent as I pummeled the idiot in just a few seconds. Armin and Eren had looks of shock and awe as the bullies were further enraged

"Now that was a nice warm-up. Any more volunteers?" I taunted brushing my palms. Wouldn't want any loser germs now, would we?

"Get him!" The brown haired kid said, running towards Eren and Armin. I'll call him Browny for now.

"Little shits! You're going to regret coming here!!" The tallest one, A.K.A Talley said, pulling out a metal rod. He charged towards me with a maniacal grin, as Armin shrieked at the sight.

'Surely these bastards didn't…?' I frowned at the realization. Well, well, well, guess who served themselves on a silver platter, ready for the taking.

Talley swung his metal rod in obviously wide arcs, seeming quite sure that I wouldn't last under his 'attacks'. But, to his dismay, I did just that.

"Left. Right. Up. Left. Up." I said, irking him even further, as I dodged them with ease. With my 15 points in agility, I could probably do this with a single leg.

"So much for that "Bow before this Young Master" attitude." I added, jumping back a few paces.

"Stop running like a rat!" He screamed as he raised the rod high, once again charging at me.

He bellowed with rage, bringing the rod down with full force. I sidestepped far enough to dodge the swing, as I elbowed him in the back, sending him to fall headfirst into the ground.

Moving on top his dusty out figure, I kicked the rod away from his hands and stomped his head flat on the floor a few times, as he squirmed to free himself.

Hearing a satisfying crack on the bloodied ground, followed by a blood curdling scream in quick succession, I followed up with another kick to side, sending him tumbling a few meters away.

"Damn bro! You can take a hit!" I whistled at his attempts to get on his feet. Kids' got balls, I'll give him that.

"Little bitch!" He staggered back up, leaning against the wall. He winced in pain, holding onto his broken nose as he coughed up more blood. Still, he refused to give up.(Not that I'd have forgiven him)

With a murderous expression, he charged at me with a uselessly wobbly punch.

"Fine, if that's how you want to go." I clenched my fist, waiting for him to come closer. Brushing off his silly tickle, I punched straight into his solar plexus, liberating every ounce of air from his lungs.

Crunch!

He slammed against the concrete wall, coughing up a fit of blood and broken teeth. He continued clawing at his throat and passed out soon enough.

Rubbing off the blood that now drenched most of my wrists, I admired my own handiwork.

'Those ribs must be toast by now.' I thought, yet I didn't regret what I had done in the slightest. Turning back, I could see a roughed up Browny, who was watching our little scuffle, slumped down with a horrified expression.

Just as our gazes met, I smiled at him, drenched solely in the blood of others, mostly Talley. His body trembled at the sight, as eyes fluttered with a single primal emotion, terror.

"Weren't you guys a load of gas?" I said, and to my surprise, he just passed out leaving a yellow puddle by his feet. I wonder if this is what Batman sees...

"I had him in the bag!" Eren said in an indignant tone. Well, he sure had thick skin, claiming that he would've won when he was more hurt instead…

Sighing at his antics, I turned to Armin, who had fallen on his ass long before our battle. His lips bobbed up and down as he tried to make sense of what was happening before his eyes.

Well, I can't blame him though. He just witnessed a pretty gruesome sight and him being a softie didn't help either.

"See, Armin. You don't have to worry about them any longer." I said, with a kind smile, slowly approaching the child. Instead, he scurried back, looking at me with those eyes. Those fearful eyes…

"Why-…?" I stopped in my tracks. I felt confused, but only for a second. Just a single look at my bloody hands and blood stained clothes would be enough to scare away adults, much less a kid.

And, single handedly taking down his tormentors must've had quite a big impact. Yeah, that must be why he…- anyway, this was still not over.

"Eren, go call dad here. Take Armin with you too." I said, quickly turning back. With enough tact, Eren quickly comforted Armin as they prepared to leave.

"What will you do?" He asked, holding the sunken and terrified Armin by the shoulder.

"Someone has to keep watch, right?" I said, as Eren eyed me suspiciously. Seeing that I wouldn't elaborate, he just left with Armin in tow.

'He's smart, so he should accept it soon, right…?' I thought, watching their leaving silhouettes, offering myself a little comfort.

Although, what Armin had was a reasonable reaction, it did sting a bit. Well, at least from now on, these idiots won't be a problem to him anymore.

"Isa, the quest still isn't complete, right?" I called out to my trusty System A.I., once the kids had gone far out of earshot.

[Yes. Bonus rewards shall be received only after the victims have been thoroughly tortured.]

"Let's get to it then!" I said, cracking my fingers. Only a single beating wouldn't suffice for what Armin suffered at their hands, right?

Therefore, the debts still remained as did the debtors' jewels...