(CHAPTER 8)TRUE TEST OF STRENGTH

<p>Neon could feel his heart pumping out of his chest. He started to sweat uncontrollably as he got up from his seat to feel that his legs felt sluggish and weak. Neon gulped "I.....I....I can do this right....?" He couldnt help but stammer as the words came vomiting out his mouth. He saw others glaring at him piercing his very soul. He and they knew what he felt in that moment.<br/><br/>"Is he scared?" "It looks like he's gonna puke" "I don't blame the guy if he chickens out, I mean the fights are too brutal." "It ain't worth the risk of dying thats for sure." Hearing these comments about him, Neon felt his self esteem and confidence melt and be eaten away just as quick as fire eating away at wood. The crowd, the tension in the air, the whole exam itself was too overwhelming for Neon to bare, he no longer could move. His body wasn't responding to him anymore. The situation he was in affected him so much so, that his body felt as heavy as 100 mountains. Even the simplest movements now like just wanting to run away was somehow impossible for him. He had lost all hope. Until suddenly, a loud voice of hope was heard throughout the colloseum.....<br/><br/>KID....WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING....GET IN THERE, OR HAVE YOU NOT GOT WHAT IT TAKES...? Neon looked frantically to see Pain who still didn't give up on him. Pains words snapped Neon out of whatever fear or dark abyss he was in, all of a sudden he was ready. The fact that Pain believed in Neon with all his heart even after seeing that incredible battle, gave Him the strength he needed to take the step that would potentially change his life. He felt his adrenaline rushing throughout his body. It was like an electrical sensation that was felt in every fibre of his body making him feel invincible, like he could do anything he wanted. This was his chance to show what he was really made of. If he really had what it takes to get to the top.<br/><br/>He then could be able to move, it was like the doubts in his mind was weighing him down, but now he felt as light as a feather. Neon then made it to the centre of the colloseum where he could see the opponent he was going to face. He grinned to see that his opponent was his enemy of hatred. A person who he despised.<br/><br/>It was Nate, who was wearing lvl 7 gear top to bottom including his gloves which seemed to be fire proof. Neon could see all of this with his sunglasses and could see that it would take a considerable amount of power as well as willpower to beat him as all his stats were increased by 15 percent. Neon, was only wearing lvl 3 gear for the upper body and lvl 2 gear for his lower body and had a lvl 3 sword. As you could tell, there was a major power gap between the two fighters. He had very low gear because he wasn't exactly very rich as he couldnt get much money, so he didn't have much of a chance of beating Nate but this didn't seem to faze Neon in the slightest. He just couldn't wait to get his hands on him for what happened in the morning. As he was thinking this, Nate also had similar things in mind as he also had a grin on his face, but it was a grin that only emitted pure evil. In this very moment, the tension only grew more and more intense until it choked the whole battlefield. Everyone was craving and itching for this battle to start. As the countdown hit zero the battle begun. Nate was the first to initiate sprinting from where he was, to go towards his target in a flash; Nate also created fire from the palms of his hands increasing his momentum, making him move as fast as lightning. Neon was shocked to the core by how quick Nate was and leapt to the side as fast as he could just dodging his charge of attack by the skin of his teeth. He picked himself of the ground to look to Nates side to feel a rush of pain on the right side of his body. Neon and the audience alike was stunned to the bone at what just took place. It looked like his right arm and leg was slightly burnt from Nates devastating attack. He screamed in shock and pain as the realisation of the situation hit him. "But how, I could have sworn that I dodged his attack, or was the heat alone so unbearably hot, that my skin almost burnt to a crisp?" Neon complained in disbelief, he couldn't believe Nate was this strong, but thanks to his unusual super healing, the wounds patched themselves up. Nate had an ability called explosion, making things highly flammable or exploding anything he touches, but for only 30 seconds. Neon needed some serious training If he even wanted to become close to his power. "Just face it third string, you cant beat me and you know it. So why don't you come to your senses for once and quit right now while you have the chance." Neon's hands were trembling and he was finding it hard to breathe. But he knew that it was just the doubts again coming back to haunt him, so he thought of the one person who would give the strength he needed to prevail. "Pain , give me the strength I need to overcome that which is my weakness" Neon closed his eyes, concentrating as hard as he could till suddenly, the electrical power up came back making him feel invincible once again. His body then calmed down and his hands stopped trembling. He opened his eyes slowly looking at Nate, staring into his soul taking him to the abyss. Nate looked at him feeling immense red and black energy coming of Neon. "What the hell is this unusual aura coming from this dweeb, I've... I've never felt ANYTHING like it before In my life." Nate thought as he could feel something within Neon, as if there was a presence within him, ingulfing him and surrounding him with shadows of power. <br/><br/>Neon could feel a sudden change within himself too. Like there was something reassuring him and reinforcing him with absolute power, which was capable of defeating what was in front of him. Still staring towards Nate , Neon this time was the one initiating the fight. With his abnormal strength, he pushed himself of the ground as hard as he could leaving the audience to see nothing but dust. He was now rushing towards Nate at an alarming rate but Nate stood his ground and didn't move, he knew Neon was nothing but a weakling but his gut was telling him to play it safe. So he cautiously followed his movements till an opening was showed. Neon was ready to attack and lifted his sword upwards ready for a downward slash attack but leaving his stomach wide open. Nate instantly saw the opening and immediately rushed to attack without holding back anything. Nate was going for a fatal punch to the stomach. As his attack was traveling to him with tremendous speed, Nate smirked thinking the match was over but little did he know that Neon was baiting him for the attack which seemed to work. The electrical sensation Neon was feeling surging through his body as well as his immense concentration, allowed him to follow his movements to keep up with him, but now he had little energy left so he could only follow Nate for a short while, but this was all the time he needed to finish him once and for all. Neon used his inhumane strength and fizique to pull himself around Nate with amazing speed going behind him now looking to slash at him horizontally, Nate was speechless. He had such an expression on his face which indicated fear. The reality had now hit him. He was In critical danger and wasn't quick enough to turn himself to look towards Neon. With all the strength Neon could possibly muster, he swung his sword with such devastating force cutting through the wind. "WIND CUT...!!!" Neon yelled at the top of his lungs....<br/><br/>*SLASH!!!* *BANG!!!!!*<br/><br/>The whole audiences ears was greeted by a slash and also a loud roaring bang which was so terrifyingly strong, the wind created by the attack almost sent them flying out the colloseum. Everyone's jaw was wide open and shocked at what they just witnessed. They didn't know Neon carried such power within himself. "Did he win!" "Who the hell is this kid!" "Did he really just defeat Nate!" The battlefield was covered in smoke and both the competitors were nowhere to be seen. <br/><br/> Suddenly, a small figure which could hardly be caught by the eye was seen that looked to be in a still motion. "Wait, I see someone lying on the ground!" "But which of the two fighters is it...?"<br/>"Hey there's one that's standing too" The figure that was lying down became more and more visible to the eyes of the audiences. Neon could barely breathe, let alone move after the powerful attack he performed. "Damn it....I cant move after that attack, did I even win?" The smoke then started to clear and when it did, everyone including Neon was surprised and stunned to what was revealed before them. Nate somehow, was standing on his own two feet. But seemed to be looking in such a state of agitation. He had bloodshot eyes and his face was all veiny and filled with anger. "If I didnt dodge that attack, I would have been a goner for sure, but how and when the hell did he even get this sudden change in power! THAT BRAT!" Nate said as he held his head in embarrassment and disbelief. Just before Neons attack was close enough to cause critical damage to Nate. He, just in time, created a explosion from, the heels of his boots, shooting away from the attack which was why the loud bang was also heard after the slash attack. This caused Nate to just about avoid Neons attack to make him safe from getting fatally wounded. <br/><br/>Nate who was now grabbing and pulling on his hair, was consumed and overtaken by rage and revenge. "How dare you put your filthy hands on me, I'll kill you if it's the last think I do. That attack was a flook, yes a flook!" Neon couldn't believe his eyes, although he still had a large cut on his waist, he still seemed to be standing like it didn't even faze him. "How did he survive that attack, he should have been done for. If only I had better gear, I would have fully connected with wind cut and won right then and there. Now what should I do" Thought Neon as he had lost all hope of winning. Nate couldn't accept this level of humiliation any further and charged towards Neon with full strength. Neon tried to dodge but couldn't even lift his body of the ground to dodge or defend himself. <br/><br/>Almost immediately after the second Nate charged at him, he felt a sudden rush of excruciating pain as he felt Nates knee smash into and crush his ribs, but the attack didn't stop there, Nate made it so that whatever he touches exploded, so as soon as he made contact with Neons ribs, a huge explosion was triggered and a loud bang was heard. <br/><br/>The powerful attack sent him flying to the other side of the battlefield causing catastrophic damage to Neons body.....</p>