Chapter 14: Lou's Turn

Loubouton: Dolche, Dolche, Dolche, you didn't think this bet was one-sided, did you?

Ravenno: Oh no...

Dolche: What are you trying to say?

Loubouton: Look, all I'm saying is you better defend yourself. I wanna have some fun too, you know.

*SHOO!*

Dolche: If it's a fight you're looking for, the-

*WOOSH!* *DOOM!*

Loubouton bolted towards Dolche in an instant, driving his right knee into his gut. Dolche gasps for air.

*BAM!* *BOOM!*

In midair, Loubouton kicks him away. Once Dolche, flew a few yards away, he immediately rushed over him and slammed him to the ground with another kick.

Then, Loubouton lifted Dolche up by his neck.

Loubouton: What did I tell you? I told you, you didn't want this work! And I'm not stopping  until you tap out!

Dolche: Hah... Hah... Heh, well I guess we-

*DOOM!*

Loubouton: Fuck ya catchphrase!

Loubouton let go of Dolche for a second and punted him up to the other side of the room.

*Boof!*

Luckily, Dolche was able to prevent himself from crashing into the wall by using his hands and feet to slide against it.

Dolche: Why do my sentences keep getting cut off? Let me talk, man!

*SHOO!*

Loubouton launched himself towards Dolche once again.

Dolche: Here he comes.

He grabs Dolche's neck and throws him back down to the ground.

Dolche: GAH! Shit!

He gets up but Loubouton lands back on the ground.

*BAM!* *BAM!*

Loubouton gives Dolche a powerful left right punch to the face, knocking him back down.

*DOOM!*

Dolche attempted to stand but Loubouton kicked him right back to the ground. At this point, Dolche struggles to get back up.

Loubouton: Chunky Lou, baby! Can't fuck with me!

Dolche: I'm not done!

Loubouton: Damn, bitch, you sure?

*FWOOSH!*

Dolche's aura explodes and he hops back on his feet. He puts fists up and charges towards Loubouton.

Dolche: Come on!

*WHAM!*

Loubouton separates Dolche's fists with a quick uppercut.

Loubouton: Better tighten your gut!

*BOOM!* x67

He rapidly punches Dolches mid region. Dolche's eyes lose some of its color.

*POW!* *CRASH!*

Loubouton's final punch sends him flying into the wall behind him. Dolche plops down onto the ground and lays there holding his stomach, grunting and breathing heavily.

Loubouton walks over to Dolche and looks down on him.

Loubouton: For someone who didn't know how powerful I really was, you didn't do bad, Dolche. Wasn't even a quarter of my power but you still did well.

Dolche: T-Thanks... This hurts so bad...

Loubouton: No worries, you're in my domain! We'll get you back in the game in no time!

Dolche: I-I hope so...

The crowd was still in shock after Loubouton's performance.

Loubouton: You know, guys, I would never work under anyone ever again. I love my spot at the top of the world.

Tommy: He said it! He said the title!

Mizuno: Tommy... Shut the fuck up.

Tommy: Aww... M-Make sure you v-vote on all the chapters...

Mizuno: Tommy, I swear to fucking god.

Tommy: My fault... Don't forget to follow the author...

ReRe: Hush! Shit!

Loubouton: Okay I'm gonna act like you guys didn't just break the fourth wall tremendously. Anyways, I wasn't gonna give up my spot at the top that easily, despite the bet I made with Dolche. However, I wouldn't mind having a right-hand man. And I mean "man" as a gender neutral term because this opportunity is open for everyone.

Ravenno: What opportunity are you referring to?

Loubouton: I'm so glad you asked! Starting tomorrow, at 12pm, I'll hold the Underground Palace Tournament!

Crowd: Huh?

Ravenno: A tournament?

Dolche: Tournament?

Loubouton: You heard me! It's very simple, you will all be matched up against someone and whoever taps out or is knocked out, advances. Whoever wins the tournament, gets to be my right-hand man. That means we will be equals. Everyone is under us and we give the orders together.

Lotto: Huh, I kinda like it.

Diadora: Yeah, that sounds great.

The rest of the crowd starts to agree with Loubouton's ideas.

Ravenno: Yeah, I'm really liking this...

Dolche: I have to win!

Loubouton: So, is everyone fighting in the tournament?

Everyone: Yes!

Loubouton: Great, because I already have the brackets set up!

Kassandra enters the room with a projector and turns it on.

The tournament bracket shows up perfectly on the wall. Everyone looks at their matchups.

Tommy: Look at that, Dolche, you and me!

Dolche: Man, I'll beat your ass.

Jordan: Oh yeahhh! You're done, Casio!

Casio: Yeah, alright, punk.

Yonex: Who the hell is Romulus again?

Romulus: That would be me.

Yonex: Hope you're ready to lose, cutie!

Romulus: Uh...

Lotto: Uh huh! We like to see that!

Diadora: Bitch, please, you'll blow your nuts out your nose, dumbass.

Lotto: Keep talkin' shit.

John: This should be fairly easy.

Addie: I don't know about that one, man.

Mizuno: You might as well forfeit right now, Mike.

Mike: Why, so you can still be in one piece?

Mizuno: Haha, that's hilarious, dude. I hope you trip over a singular grape.

Ravenno: Huh, just like old times.

Francis: I used to hurt you so bad.

Ravenno: Heh, nah that was all me.

Francis: We'll see.

ReRe: *Blushes* Woah, big man, don't hit me too hard!

Pius: Get a grip.

ReRe: A grip of what? That long, meaty, di-

Loubouton: Remember! Tournament starts tomorrow at 12pm! The first matchup will be Dolche VS Tommy!

Crowd: Alright!

Loubouton: I'll be in my office if you need me! Make sure you're at your best tomorrow. I'm gone!

Loubouton walks with Kassandra out of the room. They talk as they go up the stairs.

Kassandra: Looks like everything is going well, Lou.

Loubouton: Yes, indeed. I'm gonna be honest, I just used some bracket app and had it randomly assign matchups.

Kassandra: You didn't carefully pick the matchups yourself?

Loubouton: Hehe, hell no.

Kassandra: *Giggles* That's so you... You know, I've been missing a certain someone...

Loubouton: Who might that be?

Kassandra: Chunky Lou...

Loubouton: Oh yeah?

Kassandra: Yeah...

Loubouton: You know I'm using the chains this time, baby.

Kassandra: Ah, I can't wait...

Back at the training room...

Yonex: Yo, Dolche, how big do you think Loubouton's dick is? He's probably packin' a whole meat missile, right?

Dolche: Y-You did not just ask me that shit with a straight face.

Yonex: Well?

Dolche: Shut the fuck up, man.

It is currently 4:06pm at Rocky's boxing gym.

Felisha and Nanjo are still training together. Nanjo stands over Felisha as she's doing push-ups.

Nanjo: 996... 997... 998... Come on, you got this.

Felisha: Hah... Hah...

Nanjo: 999... 1,000! That was perfect!

*Plop!*

Felisha turns over and lays on her back.

Felisha: Phew...

Nanjo: Oh, man, even I couldn't get to 750! How do you do it?

Felisha: Hehe, grind never stops.

Nanjo: You can say that again. *Pause* So, what ya training for?

Felisha: Well, I've always wanted to be a strong woman. Ever since I was young, girls were always seen as weak and fragile. Especially me. Since then, I worked out frequently. I want to let everyone know how powerful women can really be.

Nanjo: I think that's beautiful, Felisha. I believe you're doing an amazing job and I admire you for that.

Felisha: *Blushes* Yeah, thanks. But lately, I've been more aggressive than usual.

Nanjo: Any reason why?

Felisha: I have a couple. One of them is that I'm training extra hard to win the TOTW.

Nanjo: You're gonna be in that tournament too!?

Felisha: You know about it!?

Nanjo: Yeah, I was the 4th pick!

Felisha: That's awesome! I'm happy for you!

Nanjo: Aw, thanks!

Felisha: Maybe you could be our 4th member!

Nanjo: There's more fighters in this town?

Felisha: Yeah! It's gonna be me and my friends Jahruno and Dionte!

Nanjo: Sure, I'll join! What are we fighting for?

Felisha: I decided I was just going to participate for the money but they had plans on changing the world so I want to join them as well. What are you fighting for?

Nanjo: I want to create a world full of hard workers. With everyone giving their all into everything they do, I believe we'll make wonderful advancements as a society.

Felisha: That's actually a wonderful idea. I'm very fond of it.

Nanjo: *Smiles* I appreciate that. But you had another reason for your intense training?

Felisha: Oh yeah, and another thing. Lately, I've been upset and I've just been working out to relieve my stress.

Nanjo: What's been on your mind?

Felisha: Well... it's about Jahruno...

Nanjo: Our teammate?

Felisha: Yeah... You see, I fell in love with him.

Nanjo (Thinking): Aw...

Nanjo: Well, what's the problem?

Felisha: I found he started dating my childhood friend, Mariya.

Nanjo: Damnnn...

Felisha: And don't get me wrong, I'm very happy for them and I'm glad he got with Mariya out of all people but I really wish it was me.

Nanjo: Hey, you aren't alone. I completely understand what you're going through. Is there any particular reason you love him?

Felisha: Well, I always thought he was really cute, even if I've said otherwise. He has a really intense, yet funny and caring personality. He's always been a nice friend to me and I appreciate him for that. But one event really did it all for me.

Nanjo: And what might that event be?

Felisha: It all started when, a month ago, my family fell into a great debt to a group of loan sharks. At first, we believed it was my mother's fault for not using the money properly but it didn't matter because we weren't allowed to speak about it for as long as we owed them.

Nanjo: Wait, how would they know whether or not you mentioned them?

Felisha: That's the weird part, I don't even know how.

Nanjo: Eh, maybe they were just trying to scare you.

Felisha: But I know that isn't the case. Their leader, Mrs. Thrax, used to call me every time I would try to talk about them. Well, except for the time Dionte and I beat her and her group up.

Nanjo: Huh, I think I got it.

Felisha: What's up?

Nanjo: She obviously didn't put a whole tracker in or on you, right?

Felisha: Nope, I would know.

Nanjo: It's possible she had some sort of complex ability that she attached to you without you knowing. And she probably couldn't contact you because you beat her up.

Felisha: That's... very possible. But yeah, we weren't allowed to talk about them. One day, I called Jahruno because I wanted to see what was wrong with Dionte since he wasn't answering the phone or showing up at school. When Jahruno answered, he was already with Dionte and that's when Dionte told me what he recently went through. Right after, Jahruno told me that Dionte told him about my situation. That's when Jahruno offered to pay back the debt for me so the loan sharks would leave our family alone. Later, after I got suspended from school, the group was outside of the school. I was hesitant but I let them know that Jahruno offered to pay back our debt. They called him and they arranged a meeting at the place he stays at. Once the sharks left, Jahruno texted me and told me to get my mom to tell the whole story.

Nanjo: What's the story?

Felisha: Basically, they gave my mother stolen money, drugged her, and encouraged her to spend it while she wasn't sober.

Nanjo: Hold on, if they stole the money, why wouldn't they just keep it?

Felisha: I have no idea. Maybe if they got caught, they could easily put the blame on my mom if they already handed her the money? Their goal was to make their own money from our family by giving us stolen money.

Nanjo: I mean... I guess it could work out.

Felisha: But after my mom explained everything, I called Jahruno back and explained the whole situation as I was on speaker in front of Jahruno, Dionte, and the sharks. Dionte assumed their motives and the moment they were going to attack, they were stopped by the undercover cops in the area. It turns out that Jahruno set up the entire operation and ended up saving my family. That right there is what truly made me fall in love with him.

Nanjo: Shit, I don't even blame you, Felisha. A close friend erases your family's false debt to a bunch of scums, who wouldn't fall in love?

Felisha: Hehe, yeah... Thank you for listening to my story.

Nanjo: Not a problem, I love hearing you talk.

Felisha blushes for a moment.

Nanjo: Even if he's dating someone else, a close friend like him will still be around regardless. You'll still be by his side and you'll support each other. So don't let it get you down, he isn't going anywhere.

Felisha: Yeah, you're right!

Her expression lightens up.

Nanjo: *Smiles* See? You get it!

Felisha hugs Nanjo firmly.

Felisha: I really appreciate this.

Nanjo: My pleasure. Don't train any less harder, though.

Felisha: Don't worry, I won't.

They eventually let go of each other.

Nanjo: Let's get back to it, shall we?

Felisha: Yeah!

*Creak*

Dionte and his mother, Bell, walk in the gym.

Dionte: Heyy!

Nanjo: Huh, who are these bozos?

Felisha: Uhh Nanjo...

Dionte: Bozos? That's my mom you're talking about, bitch.

Felisha: Guys!

Nanjo: *To Felisha* Hold on, I got this. *Back to Dionte* Man, I'll beat the fuck out of you.

Bell: Dionte, don't give in, okay?

Dionte: Come on, then!

Nanjo: Shoot, if you wanna walk out with your femur in your ass then get in the ring!

Dionte: I'll beat your ass so bad you'll cha cha slide into rural Guatemala, pussy!

Felisha: Fuck! Both of you, stop!

Dionte: Don't try to stop it, Felisha!

Nanjo: Yeah, it's best if you let it happen.

Felisha sighs and exits the ring. Once she leaves, Dionte jumps in.

*SHOOM!*

Nanjo's blue aura erupts.

Dionte: Purgatorio...

*FWOO!*

Dionte emits a gray aura.

Dionte: You can start whenever you're ready, bud. Looking at you now, I know you couldn't even scratch me. You're just a weak ass geek with a very tiny willy... Aww-

Nanjo: Shut up!

*ZOOM*

He rushed over to Dionte in an instant.

*WHAM!* x122

His barrage stopped but to his surprise, Dionte still stood there with a smirk, completely unscathed.

Dionte: Listen, if you stand on a toilet, you're high on pot. But if you sit on a toilet, you're on crack. See where I'm going with this?

Nanjo: W-What the fuck are you talking about?

Dionte: All I'm saying is that you can tune a guitar but you can't tuna fish.

Nanjo: Bitch-

*BOOM!* x70

Nanjo keeps trying to punch Dionte but his aura seems to be blocking the hits and creating shockwaves.

Dionte: Okay, you're gonna love this one! So a guy walks into a bar, right? He says to the barkeeper, "my ability, Purgatorio, makes me completely invulnerable to any outside attacks." Then, the barkeeper says, "Go fuck yourself".

Nanjo: Are you kidding me!? That's not fair!

Dionte: And it's my problem how?

Nanjo: Beca-

Dionte: Actually, I don't even care, shut up.

Nanjo: Why you...

*BOOM!* x55

Nanjo keeps trying to punch Dionte and eventually gets tired.

Dionte: You probably have more stamina than that, dude. But the fact that you aren't getting anywhere is screwing with you, is it?

Nanjo: Hah... I'm not...

Dionte: Here, bud, I'll call off the ability.

*Shoo!*

Dionte's aura disappears.

Dionte: And now, for my next trick.

*SNAP!*

Dionte snaps his fingers.

*Boom*

Nanjo hears a faint heartbeat before he suddenly goes blind.

Nanjo: Huh, what the hell!? I can't see!

Dionte: Inferno: Limbotic Blinding...

-Chapter 14 End-