Pain

The turn of events Ike didn't expect to happen 'yet,' made him remember a memory in the past. Just like how Desmond and his group ambushed Ike, there were many times Ike got ambushed in his life. But there was this one particular ambush he would never forget.

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[ FLASHBACK ]

The sand under the scorching heat danced in the wind, creating a thick fog in the desert. Standing in the middle was Ike, covered with pelts that obviously didn't suit the tropical weather. He was in his search for an opponent and rumors had it that a certain man, strong enough to shake the desert, lived quietly in this place. But the people he crossed paths with so far were just a group of bandits and some deadly desert habitats… before these demons, who obviously came to ambush him.

"I see…" Ike rocked his head in understanding, glossing his eyes over the demons that were surrounding him. "... so the rumor…"

"Who would have thought that…" the demon couldn't finish his sentence as he felt a slight sting across his body.

"That I am gullible?" guessed Ike, standing behind the demon with his back facing the latter's back. "Is that what you're trying to say?"

He looked back, watching the demon split in half ever so slowly. "I won't call myself that, but rather, desperate to meet someone who can at least throw a punch."

"Don't run," he added when he felt the rest of the demons take a step back, casting them a nonchalant look. "Just a friendly advice."

But the demons didn't take that advice and fled, only for their limbs to fall apart. They didn't even run to a good distance before they all fell to the sand, butchered.

"These demons…" Ike shook his head in disbelief, clicking his tongue continuously. "... never learn their lesson, huh? No wonder the Demon Lord didn't have such long patience. His people were truly hard to disciple — he should've accepted my offer to put proper disciple and order in the demon realm."

At this point in his life, the ambush these lower demons had been doing through the years wasn't interesting enough to even call a pastime. Dealing with them wouldn't even take ten seconds if Ike wasn't in the mood to play. They were just becoming annoying, but then again, it was better than doing nothing.

"What a bother. They made me go this far just for a silly rumor." A helpless sigh escaped his nostrils, dejected that these crazy demons had lost their minds, and he fell for their tricks. "I should just continue walking this way."

Ike jumped slightly, pulling the heavy pelts covering him from head to toe. One would think Ike resorted to wearing these to avoid the heat, but his reason was simple and rather plain. He wanted to cross the desert with added weight while doubling the heat just so he would struggle for a bit.

He dragged his feet, continuing his journey as if he didn't encounter demons. But just as he took seven steps, he halted. Ike gazed down at the sand, furrowing his brows at the abnormal movements of the sand.

"Hmm?" Just before he could think of anything else, the soil moved like waves in the violent ocean while his feet quickly plunged into the heat of the sand. Followed by the abnormal movements of the sand was a loud roar, making his almost dead heart thud against his ribcage.

His irises dilated at the heart-pounding roar, turning his head in the sound's direction, only to see boulders rise from the deep sand. The boulders formed arms and torso, legs and feet, and then a head that was also a giant rock.

Its shadow stretched over Ike while the latter was gazing up. Sands fell from the stone titan, showering Ike with it. Another roar resounded in the desert, producing a powerful gust of wind that blew away the layers of pelts around Ike.

"Hah…" Joy slowly dominated Ike's face. His eyes were twinkling, feeling his heart race for the first time in a long time. "... finally, someone who can throw a punch."

In the presence of a legendary stone titan, one would naturally feel fear. Legends said their kind were strong and they might appear like boulders of rocks put together, but their fist and bodies were almost unbreakable.

When the stone titan gazed down at him, it released another scream. Ike's long hair floated back, crooking his finger, fixating his eyes on the challenge ahead.

"Come," he whispered, spreading his arms wide open. "Throw a punch."

The stone titan raised its gigantic fist up and, without further ado, threw it in Ike's direction. The latter didn't move a muscle, watching the gigantic fist that was almost ten times bigger than his entire body approach his face.

"I hope this will hurt," he muttered to himself, anticipating the painful sensation this punch would give him. "Do not disappoint me."

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Pain was only one among the many sensations Ike almost forgot. Not that he was a masochist, but having such emotion only meant his enemy was strong. And the stronger his enemy was, the more passionate he would be.

That battle with the stone titan was the last time Ike felt pain. Although his rebirth in this body made him experience other things and sensations he had almost forgotten, he still craved something more.

Everyone's jaw dropped, holding their breaths, wide-eyed. Desmond approached Ike like a bolt of lightning but watching him throw his fist felt like time slowed down. They even caught wind, forming around Desmond's fist before it landed straight in Ike's face.

THUD!

Gasped from the crowd echoed; some young ladies even covered their gaping mouths as they watched Ike fall on his back after inflicting a punch. It was a pin-drop silence, lowering their eyes on the seemingly unconscious Ike on the ground.

"Is he dead?"

"Oh, my god…"

"He was punched in the face. Considering Desmond added his wind element in that punch, it would be a miracle if that guy is still alive — let alone conscious."

Murmurs from the crowds grew louder and louder, and their genuine concern rose. Yet, no one made a move just yet because the referee was so stunned, he fell on his butt.

Meanwhile, on the third floor where Ashley and Bernis were watching, Bernis frowned. He was secretly intrigued by how this battle would play out, but it turned out to be a disappointment.

"Not yet." Suddenly, Ashley spoke with a rare solemn look. "Stay, Bernis. It's still not over… if anything, it was just starting."

Ashley fixated her eyes on Ike's figure. The distance they had was far and all she could see was Ike's tiny and unmoving figure. Yet, her gut feeling told her to stay, and thus, she would because her instinct never failed her — not even once.

*****

Ike had his eyes closed, not moving a muscle.

'It…' he slowly reopened his eyes, catching Desmond's back as the latter spread his arms while his lackeys were cheering. '... hurts.'

The corner of his lips stretched ever so slowly as his eyes revealed his insatiable desire for blood.