Chapter 154: The Duo Tournament [IV]

Kalon and Thea remained in the winners’ section as the next match of the Year One bracket was called.

Richard Red and Ruby Red walked out onto the Garden Arena floor from the east tunnel.

Their opponents were a mixed pair from the Academy of Systems’ outer rankings, a solid but unremarkable who both had an earth affinity.

On paper Richard and Ruby should have destroyed them. Richard had always relied on raw power and intimidation. Ruby’s speed and aggressive striking had made her well known.

Not to mention, Richard had a water affinity, which was super effective against earth.

The match began with the usual signal.

Richard went out hard, trying to overwhelm his opposite number with heavy blows augmented by water skills. Ruby flanked, looking for an opportunity to do some extra damage.

For the first twenty seconds it looked like their usual pressure game might work.

Then the gaps started to show.

Richard overcommitted on a straight and took a clean counter to the ribs. Ruby’s timing was a fraction late on the follow-up, and the opposing earth user caught her with a low sweep that put her on the floor.

The death-prevention field did not need to activate yet, but the point was obvious. They were being out-positioned.

The rest of the match followed the same pattern.

Richard’s water skills were impressive, but his decision-making under pressure was messy.

Ruby’s speed could not make up for the broken coordination between them.

Their opponents stayed patient, punished every mistake, and eventually defeated both siblings in less than a minute.

Richard and Ruby stood on the floor under the lights while the announcer confirmed the loss.

The reaction from the stands was not loud mockery at first. It was more of surprise and low whispers. Then the louder comments started.

Students who had watched the pair be egoistical for years did not stay quiet.

Laughter and mockery come down from several sections of the stands.

Richard’s face twisted in anger.

Ruby’s expression had gone stiff and pale.

The two of them left the field under the weight of the entire arena’s attention and disappeared into the backstage tunnel.

Kalon watched them go without any visible reaction.

I guess I won’t be getting to fight them...

...

A short time later he stood, told Thea he needed the toilet, and made his way down the internal corridor that led to the competitor facilities.

He was halfway down the corridor when a voice called out behind him.

"Manchester."

Kalon stopped and turned.

Ruby Red stood several metres away. Her ginger hair was still damp with sweat from the match. She had changed out of the main tournament gear into a white long sleeved shirt and tight black pants.

Her face showed upset and embarrassment.

Up close it was obvious she had been replaying the loss in her head since the moment the field had taken her.

"What?" Kalon asked.

Ruby took a step closer. Her hands were clenched at her sides.

"Train me."

Kalon raised an eyebrow and waited.

Ruby’s words came faster after that, as if she needed to get them out before she became too embarrassed to continue.

"I know how that sounds. I don’t care. You saw what happened out there. Everyone saw it. People who used to move out of my way are already talking shit. I’ve been hearing it since I walked off the floor. All the same people who stayed quiet when I was the one putting pressure on them. Now they’re happy to open their mouths."

She dragged a hand through her luscious ginger hair and sighed.

"I used to give you shit. I know that. Me and my brother both. I’m not going to stand here and pretend none of that happened. But sitting through that match and then listening to the stands on the way out made one thing obvious. The gap between me and someone who actually got stronger is bigger than I thought. I need to close it. You’re the clearest example of that gap right now. So I’m asking. Train me."

Kalon studied her in silence for a few seconds.

Ruby Red had been one of the main bullies that made his life hell in the past.

He couldn’t even remember all the things she had done to him.

Watching her lose in front of the entire arena and then come looking for him was a big change.

But it was not enough.

Kalon crossed his arms and looked down at the girl. With his new height, he was taller than her now.

He examined her body, as if he was measuring her worth.

She was one of those girls who had a nice structure to her body, but not overly erotic. For example, whilst she has that hourglass shape, her ass and tits weren’t exactly large, but were still more than a handful.

He had never looked at her in this way. He had never cared to.

But now that she was coming to him asking for favours after everything she had done, he decided that it was time to seeing things from a new angle.

Ruby noticed him staring at her body and folded her arms over her breasts. Her cheeks blushed a little bit, but her pride wouldn’t let her show it openly.

"What?" She said bluntly.

Kalon responded immediately.

"Beg."

The words hung in the air for a few moments.

Ruby stared at him as if she had not properly heard what he had said.

"Excuse me?"

"I said beg. Beg for me to train you, and I will."

"Don’t be like this Manchester... I just want help with—"

"And I just wanted to live my schools day normally, yet you and your friends made it hell for me. Did you care about what I wanted back then?"

Ruby gulped. Whatever she wanted to say wouldn’t leave her mouth.

"So if you want training, you will beg for it."

Kalon had expected the woman to walk away then. He knew that her pride would never allow her to do such a thing.

He was prepared to turn away and continue heading to the toilet, but then he heard something.

It was the sound of tears coming from Ruby.

She looked a mess and had her hands clasped together like she was praying. She pouted her lip like a child and pleaded Kalon.

"Please Manchester, I will do anything!"