The Man with Diamond Fists

Finally, we cross the Arch and the corridor that follows it to arrive in a kind of open-air stadium where men and women fight on the ground, some with fake weapons and others with ordinary blades. The majority of the people who train seem to be rankless. I only notice a few dozen or so people dressed as if they belonged to an officer. The fighting is rough to say the least, some are thrown to the ground by blows from shields, while others try as best they can to ward off the blows from spears at human level. All this tells me nothing worthwhile, I've always hated violence, and even more than that it is useless. To say the least, I never even fought against Wistom when we were younger. I'm not even sure I would have the guts to hit someone.

-Gentlemen and ladies, welcome to the training centre. As you can see, here the cream of the military trains hard to reach a level sufficient to accomplish the missions given to them by the captains and colonels.

-Couldn't we take a little nap before starting anything? asks Hirion.

-Sorry but that is no longer my responsibility, I leave you with Captain Haka. Haka! I have people for you! Avoid damaging them too much, you have to be careful with them because they have just arrived.

At these words, two men stop fighting. I notice that one of them is without armour and bare hands whereas his adversary was in heavy armour, with a two-handed hammer.

-We'll resume training later Kinemon, for now work on your footwork and be careful because I can easily predict your movements.

The man coming towards us has a white kimono and is wearing a navy blue Hakama. He slowly picks up his kimono from the floor and puts it on his shoulders without putting it on. His face is rather nice and the military cap he has on his head seems to hide his baldness, on the side of his feet he wears getas. It's quite amusing to see an officer wearing them, I wouldn't have imagined that anyone other than my adoptive father could wear this kind of shoe, but hey, it's a good thing.

-Captain Haka doesn't look very imposing. Wistom murmurs.

Don't heat him up right away, he's still a high-ranking officer. I answer him.

-In any case, he's quite strong and he doesn't seem to be afraid to fight like that. Said Lyra.

Or maybe he has one less square to fight bare-handed against a guy with a gun and armour. Hirion laughs.

-So. This is my new seed of a champion. I hope to be impressed. Says the captain when he gets to our level.

-You may be disappointed because nobody here knows how to fight, Captain. Answer Zoe.

-Well, you learn everything. Well, there are six of you, so that should do it. Now before we start, you're all going to change in the changing rooms on your left, there's a women's section and a men's section. Each of you take a military outfit and come back to me when it's done. Is that understood?

-Yes captain!

-Good, then hurry up.

We obey then and we go to the changing rooms. When we arrive in front of the facade, a woman gives us each an outfit with black trousers and a brown jacket. We quickly change each of us on our side while Pold and Hirion grumble one for the colour and the other for the size he thinks is too big.

In the end, the six of us come out a little stressed by what awaits us.

-What do you think we're going to go through? Lyra asks a little worried.

-I think we will have to train with bokken so that he can evaluate our level. I answer.

-Well, he might be disappointed. The only thing that fits well in my hand is a feather. Pold says jokingly.

-But I don't want to hurt anyone. Zoe exclaims.

-Don't worry, I've thought about it. We'll both fight and pretend. That way we can make sure we don't hurt each other. Says Pold with a smile.

-You're too strong. That's a good idea. Zoe answers a little more reassured.

-Sorry to break the mood, but I don't think it will be that easy. I tell them.

Finally, we come face to face with Captain Haka who has brought weapons to his feet.

-Each of you will choose a weapon to fight with. Does he drop us with a smile?

-What? But we're going to get hurt. Shout Zoe.

-That's one of the risks in fighting. But don't worry about your comrades, it is not against them that you are going to fight.

-It's not? Who are you going to fight? Ask Wistom.

-Against you. All six of you at the same time.

-What? But it's you we're going to hurt. I tell him.

-Don't worry about me. The fight will stop as soon as one of you manages to hurt me even slightly. The six of you are together, so try to communicate and try to help each other to defeat me.

-Captain. Say Wistom.

-Yes?

-Can we use our powers? Ask for Wistom.

-Of course, let loose. I'd like to see what you're capable of. I'll give you thirty seconds to choose your weapon and come face me.

What the hell is this circus? Is he out of his mind? He seriously thinks he can take on all six of us at the same time. But thinking about it for two seconds, if he said yes so quickly to Wistom about using powers, it's because he must know how it works and maybe he even has one, who knows. But for now, the priority is to choose a weapon. There are all sorts of equipment in front of me, swords, katanas, hammers, flails, daggers, spears, bows and even guns. Let's think carefully and see what my friends take first. Wistom didn't even hesitate, he takes a katana. Pold on his side prefers a two-handed hammer, while Hirion takes a dagger. For the women, Zoe takes a bow with a quiver containing ten arrows and finally Lyra takes a one-handed sword. In view of the situation, I think I'll take a rifle. My physique doesn't allow me to fight easily with a sword and I don't see how he could avoid a bullet while facing my comrades. I will wait for an opening and then I will shoot at his legs so as not to hurt him too badly. This strategy seems to me to be the best.

-That's good. Now that everyone has chosen their weapon, I will ask everyone to leave the field. I don't want anyone in the arena during this fight. And he drops his jacket on the ground and goes barefoot.

All the soldiers who were fighting stop immediately and stay around the field on the floor and watch the scene. There's going to be sport, I can guarantee it.

-Go ahead and above all don't hold back your blows captain, I wouldn't like to win this fight too easily. Cris Wistom.

-Little braggart, I'm going to start with you after all.

Wistom, Pold and Lyra rush towards the captain, while Hirion, Zoe and I stay about twenty meters away from our target while going around to encircle him. Wistom is the first to make contact, he jumps into the air preparing his shot with all his strength. As he slices through the air with his blade, the captain lowers himself to the ground and gives him a powerful kick in the belly, which throws him backwards for several metres.

-No. Don't tell me that a single blow could destroy your morale as a kid.

It's Pold and Lyra's turn to take their chances, Pold tries to crush the captain while Lyra throws a stun kick. Unfortunately, he rolls forward, narrowly avoiding the hammer that sticks in the ground and ends up right on Lyra's right side, which he dodged at the same time. With the flat of his foot, he hits Lyra's ankle, which falls heavily to the ground, and at the same time punches Pold in the jaw, turning on himself and facing Hirion and Zoe who had gone around him.

-Only three more to go, it seems.

It's the moment, I don't even take the time to aim, at that distance there's no way he can dodge. The shot goes off, a deafening noise comes out of the barrel and echoes through the arena while the bullet inexorably follows its course and arrives in Captain Haka's lower back.

The bullet enters the kimono and ricochets off into the air. How is this possible? Is he wearing armour under his kimono? It's simply impossible, unless he only has armour at the waist level because we can see his torso from the front. Zoe also tries her luck from a distance and bows her bow while Hirion sprints towards the captain. I don't know what to do, he is agile and on top of that he manages to parry a ball, it doesn't make sense. The moment Hirion comes in contact with Haka, he dives forward to plant his dagger on him when he didn't even pay attention to the shot that hit him. Haka puts himself in profile and makes a wheel by leaning on Hirion's shoulder. At this very moment, Zoe decides to shoot her arrow. That's it, he can't dodge and this time the arrow is going to hit him in the chest while he is upside down. The arrow goes straight towards him and he doesn't even blink, he throws his fist forward. He will be able to say goodbye to his fingers, at this speed it is useless to try to stop an arrow. But just before the arrow hits him on the back of his hand and his fingers become shiny and flaky, like. Like diamonds! That's how he was able to parry my ball, he must have hardened his back. He managed to blow the arrow and land on his feet without any difficulty and he is not even tired. We have to try something else.

We have to try something else. The watch. I'm going to try to activate it like Shalpie told me. So I turn the dial of the watch to the left.

I see Wistom coming up to the captain's contact, it worked, fast.

-Stop it. Don't go near him. Our blows won't have any effect on him, he has the ability to turn his skin into a diamond. Moreover, contrary to appearances, he is very agile.

Everyone stops and Haka smiles while putting himself in fighting position.

-So, hothead, you don't have confidence in yourself anymore. You are starting to be afraid of me.

-Wait for me, I'm coming to unsolder you my man. Answer Wistom angrily.

-Don't give in to his provocations, he's only waiting for that. Says Lyra

-Myo, what do we do? You know what he can do. There's got to be a weak point. Ask for Hirion.

-I haven't seen a weak spot, but so far he has never completely transformed his body into a diamond. Maybe he can't do it, you'd have to try to deliver several blows at the same time. I said.

-If you tell me that it is impossible to wear one, how do you expect him to get several and at the same time more. Ask Wistom.

-Um... I know. First of all, you'd have to make as many Lyra bubbles appear as possible.

-I don't know if I can do that Myo. Answer Lyra.

-You have to.

-All right, I'll give it a try.

Lyra claps her hands and then instinctively puts them on the ground and hundreds of soap bubbles start to come out from under her feet and gradually invade the whole arena.

-Interesting, you want to prevent me from seeing you and thus being able to dodge your blows, clever boy. Maybe it's you I'll have to fear in the end.

-Hirion, you have to hinder his movements trying to grow brambles or roots. Any plant that will stop him from moving.

-I can do even better.

No sooner had he finished his sentence than his arms turned into roots and threw them to the ground to the captain's legs.

-I'm holding him, but I don't know for how long.

-Perfect, the bubbles should stop him from seeing us coming now, Wistom is summoning your companion, he won't be too much to attack him.

-Let's go for it. Wistom shouts as his samurai has just appeared.

The three of them rush towards the captain, on my side I arm the rifle and aim towards where Haka was. Just before they plunge into the bubble mist, I shoot and Zoe too to force her to turn her torso or her belly into a diamond to prevent her from parrying with her arms.

-Take that! Howl Pold with Wistom.

-Lyra makes your bubbles stop, we have to see what happens.

-All right.

Lyra claps her hands again and her bubbles start to burst and little by little we see the scene. Haka has his feet rooted while he adorns with his two forearms the three swords that fell on him. His two arms are totally transformed into diamonds while he seems to have lost his usual smile.

-The six of you are beginning to give me a hard time. I will even have to say seven now. Strange samurai that one. I'll have to start playing seriously if I don't want to lose.

-But who is this guy? He's got his arms turned into a diamond. Shouts Pold.

-He's a captain, so don't take this fight lightly. Say Lyra.

Pold, Wistom and his samurai disengage from Haka and get into position to restart an offensive.

-What do we do now? Our strategy hasn't worked. Say Wistom.

-I don't know yet, we must try to understand his power better. I tell them.

-We will try to attack it from a distance and you will all go together to find an opening. Suggests Zoe.

-All right, get ready.

-If you think I'm going to leave you two alone to chat and discuss strategy, you're mistaken. In a real fight, there's no time for chit-chat. So defend your lives, starting with you the strategist.

Haka rushes towards me without paying attention to Wistom and his samurai who blocks his way. Zoe shoots a new arrow that he avoids by spinning horizontally. My brother takes the opportunity to hit him on the shoulder while his samurai dives under him aiming at his abdomen.

-Not bad, but never forget that attacking with two blades is a risk to take one in return.

The samurai's blade shivers against his belly as he dives to Wistom's left side and resumes his frantic run. I aim at his legs and fire a first bullet that reaches his thigh. He stops his run cleanly after the bullet has been deflected. Hirion throws himself on his right flank while Lyra rushes into his back.

-I don't want to let me get near your group head.

-Better watch out for that! Hirion shouts as her two arms swing backwards and become two kinds of big thorny cactus.

The captain turns to face Hirion's blow, which he takes head-on. He is thrown backwards and Lyra, who does not budge, tries to stab him with her blade, aiming at his left shoulder which has not turned into a diamond unlike his arms and torso. The blade comes dangerously close as he seems to be cornered, he finds the strength to lean back and fall on his back so as not to be pierced by the blade.

This is strange. He dodged this attack when he could very well have turned his whole body into a diamond, but he didn't. He was able to dodge the attack. Why didn't he do it?

-Everybody, listen to me! I don't think he is able to turn his whole body into a diamond and besides, it seems that he needs a lapse of time to make the diamond appear on his skin in another place.

-And how much time do we have before he can transform again? asks Pold.

-I would say two to three seconds.

-How long? So little ! says Lyra.

-Might as well say nothing of the time. Let go of Hirion.

-Are you sure of yourself? asks Wistom.

-No, I'm not sure, but it's worth a try.

-At this rate, we'll be exhausted long before he is. Lyra says.

-You start to take the rhythm and you try to analyse me while fighting me, it's not bad. Underlines the captain.

-I have a question. Can he transform his whole body at the same time?

-There's only one way to find out. Zoe, aim for his head. I'm going to aim at his legs. You guys go around him while Wistom attacks him head-on, I know he's waiting for that.

-And not just a little big brother.

-Ok. I'm going to try a new technique on my own. Hirion says, turning his whole body into a bramble.

-It's still very weird, your Hirion power. Let go of Zoe.

-Oh it's ok Zoe. And you, we haven't seen you at work with Pold yet.

-I was going to keep the element of surprise, but given the situation, we're going to have to try something. No sooner had Zoe finished her sentence than big wasp wings grew on her back and started beating at an insane speed and making her rise into the air.

-Cool. Say Hirion.

-Like you're not the only Hirion monster. Ironise Wistom.

-Hey!

-Guys! Guys! Guys! We'll fight later. Right now we have to stick to Myo's plan.

-Okay. (chuckles)

Zoe then shoots an arrow just as I pull the trigger. His arrow breaks in his hand that he has thrown towards his left leg, while my bullet bursts against his face and the light smoke that has spread there is soon swept away by a light breeze that makes us discover half of his face covered with diamonds. Immediately, everyone rushes towards him. Wistom and his samurai first and the three of them exchange several blows, Haka adorns them all with his diamond fists while the samurai tries to aim at his head and wrists.

Lyra goes around them, while Hirion splits under Wistom's legs to grasp the captain's legs. When he notices Hirion on the ground like a bramble wave, he jumps back and kicks back to hit the samurai in the face. Unfortunately, he doesn't have time to dodge and takes him head-on.

I try my luck again by shooting again, but this time again he stops the ball by turning his whole torso into a diamond. Zoe doesn't give up and shoots two arrows at the same time that he dodges with difficulty by sliding to the side. He didn't notice that he had gotten closer to Lyra who had slid behind his back. This is the moment he never gets. Instead of hitting him with her sword, she throws it into his legs and points her pink hairpin at his ribs. The blow hits the spot, he won't have time to turn his leg and belly into a diamond, as he has just transformed his torso.

We've won, he can no longer dodge at that distance, let alone parry the blow. Everyone is holding their breath, even he doesn't seem to appreciate the situation.

The sword bounces against his thigh and he strikes Lyra in the face with the flat of his hand. She falls violently to the ground and her face is marked by the violence of the blow.

-You were almost there.

-The brooch is stuck captain, you lost.

The captain raises his left arm and with his right hand he takes out the brooch which is stuck in the Kimono. It is totally twisted. No. It's impossible, he couldn't see the blow coming and he didn't even have time to transform.

-When you theorise about your opponent, be very careful. Maybe he is giving you clues on purpose to make you believe a lie. I, for example, made you believe that I need a lapse of time before I can use my sight again. But that's not true. Nevertheless, we can stop there. It has been a pleasure fighting with all of you. I apologize for hitting you miss, but in a real fight, you don't have the manners.

Everybody gets up as best they can for some and we dust ourselves off a bit. What an exhausting fight. I have been sweating profusely and my heart is still beating a hundred times a second. The Wistom samurai slowly disappears as we approach the captain. The soldiers who have observed the battle seem to have enjoyed the show, some even applauding.

-Bravo, you are very well beaten for the first time. I am rather proud of this first training, few can boast of having forced me to give almost sixty percent.

-What? Weren't you a hundred percent there? asks Hirion.

-No, I wasn't. But don't worry, I'm here to help you progress and maybe one day, who knows, you'll be able to beat me one on one.

-I promise you that, Captain. In less than a year I will be able to beat you. Proclaims Wistom, aiming his fist at him.

-Ahahhahahah. Here's one who doesn't lose his way. I like that. As you may already know, you're going to be on two different teams. Lyra, Wistom, Hirion and Myo you will be led and coached by Captain Okata. While Zoe and Pold, you will be with two other people and you will be supervised by Commander Promethy.

-Can I make a small claim? asks Wistom.

-No. I know you would have liked to be all together but circumstances make it impossible. Anyway. You will be required to obey them. They will accompany you in the field and teach you how to control and develop your power.

-I hope that at least this captain is nice. Hirion whispers.

-We shall see. But behave yourself. Says Lyra.

-By the way, so that you are presentable in front of your boss, there are nursing towels in the changing rooms. Pass them over your blues and they will disappear quickly. On their side, your chiefs should not be long in coming.

So we obey and we wash ourselves with apple green towels that smell like raspberries, it's quite amazing. Lyra is beginning to feel no pain and her cheek is back to its natural colour, I am reassured, but I still prefer to ask her.

-Are you feeling better Lyra?

-A little better, thank you Myo. I thought for a moment that he was going to destroy my jaw.

-Don't worry, we were there to defend you. Said Wistom proudly.

-Anyway, he wasn't there to hurt us and he didn't even put any force in his gesture. Replies Hirion.

-You are a great help to me Hirion, next time, it is you who will be sent to the front line.

-Don't listen to him, since he is a plant, he has a heart like an artichoke.

This reply ends up making everyone laugh and finally allows us to expand. At last we are really breathing, after this more than trying fight. We don't have to stress each other any more and make sure that they don't get hurt or that we don't hurt them ourselves.