13 Chapter 12 - Berserker
----------------BERSERKER'S PERSPECTIVE----------------
The individuals in question proved to be disappointingly unremarkable adversaries, failing to present any significant challenge. Their lackluster performance rendered them almost inconsequential, barely warranting my attention. In a rather anticlimactic display of aggression, one of the lackeys made a feeble attempt to engage me, his sluggish movements betraying his lack of skill and agility. With effortless grace, I deftly evaded his clumsy assault, executing a seamless mid-air spin before delivering a decisive heel kick squarely to his countenance. The force of impact sent him careening towards the unforgiving ground, where he collided with a cacophony of metallic trash cans, punctuating the underwhelming encounter with a resounding clang.
As I fell to the ground, my eyes caught a glimpse of yet another reckless individual foolishly wielding a metal pipe in my direction. The predictability of his swing made it almost effortless to evade; a simple duck allowed the pipe to whoosh harmlessly above me. The would-be attacker's expression of astonishment at my nimble dodge was almost comical, considering the sluggishness of his assault – even in a weakened state, evading it would have been child's play. A surge of adrenaline fueled my retaliatory strike; my fist connected with his cheek with resounding force, sending him sprawling onto the ground beneath me. Approaching him deliberately, I delivered a decisive stomp to his chest, the sickening sound of cracking bones reverberating through the air. The aftermath suggested that I had inflicted significant damage, perhaps even fracturing his ribcage with that brutal blow.
In my disdainful assessment of his perceived lack of strength, I deemed him unworthy of consideration as a formidable opponent. Despite this judgment, I maintained an air of indifference towards his injuries, unmoved by his plight. Suddenly, the sound of footsteps drawing near caught my attention, prompting me to pivot around nonchalantly, displaying a detached demeanor towards the unfolding disturbance. Much to my astonishment, amidst the chaos, one of the figures was charging towards me; yet his movements appeared sluggish and posed no discernible threat in my eyes.
"You bastard! How dare you!" The aggressor's attempt to instigate a physical confrontation was met with a swift and almost effortless evasion on my part. Despite his efforts to land punches, my minimal head movements deftly avoided his strikes with almost disdainful ease. His movements seemed sluggish and predictable, resembling a frozen tableau rather than a dynamic attack. Seizing the opportunity, I swiftly took control by grasping his wrist, feeling the ominous crack of bones yielding under pressure as I effortlessly lifted him off the ground and forcefully propelled him into the unyielding surface of the nearby wall.
Nevertheless, in a brief lapse of attention, the final assailant seized the opportunity to deliver a forceful blow to my face. It was a momentary weakness on my part, a fleeting instance where vigilance wavered. Upon pivoting to confront the aggressor responsible for the unexpected strike, an intense glare pierced through his demeanor, visibly unsettling him. Reacting swiftly, I lunged forward with unwavering ferocity, unleashing a flurry of potent blows that seemed to contort his frame as if on the verge of collapse under their relentless impact. Despite the intensity of my assault, I maintained my grip on his collar, refusing to let him succumb to the ground beneath us. In that moment of triumph tinged with disdain, as I assessed his crumpled form with disdainful scrutiny, a wave of incredulity washed over me. Were these individuals truly worthy opponents? Their feeble resistance now appeared nothing more than a pitiful spectacle unworthy of serious consideration.
In my relentless pursuit of a worthy adversary, I had scoured far and wide only to be met with disappointment at every turn. The lackluster opponents that crossed my path failed to match my skill and prowess, leaving me disillusioned with the state of competition around me. As I stood over my latest challenger, contemplating their imminent defeat, a sense of apathy crept in, overshadowing the thrill of victory. With a casual flick of my hand poised for the final blow, an unexpected force halted its descent mid-air, freezing the moment in time.
As I twisted to face the unexpected obstruction, a figure materialized before me, having been the one to intercept my fist mid-air. This man, standing at a comparable height that edged slightly taller than mine, possessed an unkempt cascade of blond locks cascading down to his earlobes. His gaze bore into mine with an intensity reflected in his piercing blue eyes. Cloaked in an ensemble that piqued curiosity, he sported a combination of a pristine white shirt beneath a rugged black leather jacket. The contrast continued with the casual choice of blue jeans paired with vibrant red and white sneakers that seemed out of place yet somehow fitting for this enigmatic presence.
"Hey, they have had enough. Don't take it too far." The man's voice carried a subtle undercurrent of concern as I released my grip on the struggling individual, allowing their body to crumple to the unforgiving ground below. Initially dismissive of the man's apparent distress, I soon realized my predicament as his grasp tightened, restricting my freedom. Reacting on pure instinct, I lashed out with a swift punch, only to witness him effortlessly evade it by tilting his head deftly to the side. Undeterred, I followed up with a forceful kick that finally broke his hold, yet he astoundingly contorted himself backward in a graceful backflip, landing gracefully and regarding me with an unsettling blend of amusement and challenge in his gaze.
Maybe my initial assessment was off the mark. This seemingly daunting task could actually turn out to be quite an exhilarating challenge. As I made my way through the path of corpses, several unconscious bodies obstructed my path, I couldn't help but notice their inert forms careening into nearby trash receptacles and walls when I used my foot to kick them out of my path. A mischievous grin tinged with anticipation slowly spread across my face as I quickened my pace towards the man with the striking blond hair. My curiosity piqued, I was determined to ascertain his capabilities and assess whether he would indeed present a formidable challenge worth engaging with.
In the heat of the moment, I unleashed a rapid succession of instinctual and ferocious punches, each strike driven by primal impulse. Anticipating his response, I observed with grim satisfaction as he effortlessly parried and deflected my assaults, erroneously assuming that my true capabilities had not yet been unleashed. In a calculated move, I transitioned from punches to a swift kick, only to witness him evade it with a graceful backward lean. Unyielding and undeterred, I propelled myself into the air with an explosive leap, executing a mid-air twist to align my body for a relentless follow-up kick from my opposite leg. Despite his commendable defensive reflexes that successfully blocked this unexpected attack, I refused to relent. Momentum carrying me backward, I seamlessly transitioned into an agile flip before re-establishing footing on the ground. With unwavering determination fuelling my actions, I swiftly pushed off the earth's surface with newfound vigor and determination towards his position.
In that intense moment, my determination surged as I unleashed a relentless barrage of strikes upon my opponent with newfound speed and ferocity. Each blow, whether delivered with elbows, kicks, or knees, showcased the full extent of my combat skills. However, despite my relentless assault, the man effortlessly matched every move I made. The culmination of my attack—a forceful kick—was met with a counterattack of equal strength from him. The clash of our legs reverberated through the air until his overwhelming power prevailed, abruptly sending me crashing to the ground in an unexpected turn of events.
"Wow, you're good! But I can't tell what style you have studied. Whatever style it is, it's really unpredictable. It's a great style and would give most disciples a pretty hard time." His demeanor exuded a nonchalant confidence, as if the relentless barrage of attacks I had unleashed upon him barely registered. In the face of my intense and unyielding assault, he maintained an unnerving composure that left me questioning his true nature. Who was this enigmatic figure, seemingly impervious to my every effort to unsettle him?
"I haven't studied any style. I am a street fighter. I am not like those weak martial artists. But you are different than any opponent I have ever faced. I will enjoy wiping that smirk off your face!" In a surge of determination, I swiftly assumed my fighting stance, ready to charge at him with a fierce resolve. My sole intention was to pummel him relentlessly, even if it meant risking everything in the process. Yet, in a startling turn of events, he inexplicably disappeared into thin air.
I executed a swift pivot, propelling my leg backward in a determined kick, only to find it ensnared by the iron grip of the blond-haired adversary. Despite my attempts to wrench free, his hold remained relentless and unyielding. In a desperate move, I unleashed a forceful punch towards his visage, yet he deftly intercepted it in mid-flight. Faced with dwindling options, I resorted to leveraging my anchored leg as a springboard, catapulting myself skyward with raw intensity. With savage determination, I directed my knee towards his chin in a brutal and primal assault.
With calculated precision, he deftly evaded my knee strike, relinquishing his grasp on my limbs. Empowered by this sudden freedom, I propelled myself forward by pushing off a nearby wall, closing the distance between us in a swift and determined manner. Despite my attempt to seize him, he skillfully sidestepped my advance. In that fleeting moment as I darted past him, his subtle smile caught my attention. Did he find amusement in our confrontation? Was I merely a pawn in his game?
Frustrated and seething with anger, I slammed into the unforgiving ground, my fury bubbling over. In a burst of rage, I pivoted and launched a relentless series of kicks towards my target. Each strike carried the weight of my pent-up emotions, yet they met nothing but empty space. The sheer exasperation of failing to make contact fueled my assault as I channeled every ounce of speed and strength into my blows, craving just one solid connection amidst the chaos.
In a flurry of evasive maneuvers, his movements were swift and calculated, continuously dodging and weaving. Amidst this intense exchange, a momentary lapse on his end caught my keen eye. Capitalizing on this opening, I surged forward with unmatched speed, unleashing a forceful blow. However, to my astonishment and a tinge of dismay, he skillfully evaded my attack, causing my strike to barely skim past him, resulting in nothing more than a shallow graze on his cheek. As my fist whizzed by him in a blur of motion, he deftly intercepted it mid-flight, fixing me with an inquisitive gaze tinged with traces of admiration and intrigue.
"Hey, that wasn't bad. They called you Berserker right? Got to admit, that was a pretty nice punch you have there. But I think we are done here." With a smirk, he drew his fist back, a tangible threat hanging in the air. The impact of his blow crashed into my face, enveloping my world in an abyss of darkness as consciousness slipped away from me. The sheer brutality of the punch was overwhelming, plunging me into an unsettling state of unconsciousness.
