"Come on, dude! HARDER! HARDER! HARDER! Give me all you've got!" I shout.
"Are you sure?" Josh asks me, looking worried.
"Yes! I want more!" I say, feeling impatient.
"But... You just finished five rounds. Are you sure you still want to continue? Think it over man."
I smirk. "I can handle more than five rounds! Give me your best shot! NO! Surprise me!" I smirk again. "Or are you scared?!" I ask in a teasing tone. "Are you scared of relieving me of my emotional stress right now?!" I ask and begin laughing.
Something hard lands on my belly, cutting my laughter short and knocking out the air in me. I fall on my knees, my hands on my belly, coughing and groaning in pain.
He chuckles. "Now, how's that, PUNK?!" He shouts and laughs.
"I think you went too far quickly!" I say weakly, struggling to breathe. "But, this is it! This is exactly what I need! It is perfect!" I say and get up.
He smiles. "Are you sure?! Cos I am going all out!" He laughs.
"Yes!" I say with all seriousness, causing his expression to change to one of shock.
He places his left hand on my left shoulder and sighs tiredly. "Come on, tell me, what's wrong?" He asks calmly. "Is everything alright?"
I fake a wide smile. "Yes! Why?!"
He looks at me intensely for some seconds, his expression changing into a blank one. "Because, no kid in his right mind would wake up on a beautiful day like this, freshen up and come to the gym to be receiving heavy punches!" He shouts, a hint of irritation in his voice.
Lila comes to us, standing behind Josh. "What's going on people?" She asks, a lovely smile on her face.
"Uhm..."
"Ma'am, I'm going through a lot of emotional stress right now, and I need some relief! But Josh just gave up on the twenty-sixth one!" I say, feeling down.
Her smile widens and she comes to my front, leaving only a few inches gap. "Should I swap with Josh?" She asks nicely.
I look at Josh behind her. He is shaking his head sideways. Then he starts acting the slitting of someone's throat and then, the person holding their throat, gasping for air. In short: Death.
A wide smile appears on my face. "Yes ma'am! How bad can it be?!"
Everyone in the gym, including Lila bursts into laughter.
"Are you sure boy?!" She asks calmly, but there is a hint of excitement in her tone. "It isn't bad. But, good...? Let's just say it's far from it."
"Ok! I'll do it!" I say, a wide smile on my face.
"Before we start, I must warn you that; you will be hospitalised. Josh who is the highest, received ten and was rushed to the hospital for serious treatment. John, the second highest, collapsed on the fifth one." She says and instantly, everyone except John and including; I, bursts into an uncontrollable laughter.
I stop laughing. 'GOD! THIS IS DANGEROUS! But, I'm not like them. Yes! I have a huge advantage over them!'
I sigh in relief. "I'll..."
"Josh is a protection magic, being able to protect himself and his environment from danger with his magic. That is why he is the highest. But, he is still weak. A true protection magic is meant to atleast block my first form punch. But, his magic broke and he fainted, with a lot of internal injuries." She sighs. "So are you sure?! You might look like a man, but I know you're a kid." She says calmly.
I gulp hard. 'THIS IS INSANE! I'M NOT DOING THIS!'
"Yes ma'am. I am ready!" I say with a fake wide smile.
"Good." She says and everyone in the gym gasps.
"Don't do it!" Some of them including John shouts.
I close my eyes. 'I know this is a suicide training. But... I have serious advantage now. And I can't run away from a strong woman's punch. I'm literally going to face worst people. And even purple. So this shouldn't scare me.'
I open my eyes. "Go on, ma'am!" I shout, expecting nothing but pain.
"This young man has been dumped." I hear one of the men say.
"Yup. He must have loved the girl badly." Another says and they both laugh.
"Shut up, FOOLS! He is just being stupid! He doesn't even look like someone in a relationship!" A different voice says, angrily.
'Ok, the last one stings, badly.'
"Hey!" Lila calls, drawing my attention back. "Don't worry, I'll handle them." She turns around. "Boys, can you do fifty, please?" She says like an old lady who needs helps.
Three, among the men, if I'm not wrong: Luke, Liam and Anthony look horrified.
"But ma'am..."
"FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, CAN YOU STOP CALLING ME MA'AM!" She shouts and turns to face me. "Especially you, pretty boy." She says and turns back to them.
'PRETTY BOY?!'
"Yes, Lila!" The three of them say, looking miserable.
"Good. NOW GET TO WORK!"
"But, Lila. This morning... One hundred!" Is all they say, before going to start their fifty.
She turns back to me. "Shall we begin?" She asks.
Although I'm horrified by the thousands of nightmarish imagination that are passing through my mind, I inhale and exhale calmly. "Yes ma... I mean Lila." I laugh awkwardly.
"Good. I'll start from form one to form three. If you're able to withstand the twenty punches, I'll pay you one million magians. And if you're able to enter my forth form and fifth form, I'll pay you three million magians. Agree?"
'YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! WHO WOULD REJECT SUCH AN OFFER?!'
"YES! YES!" I shout in excitement.
"Ok. Position yourself."
I position myself.
"This is your last chance to choose. Once we start, I won't stop till you collapse. I don't train last-second runners." She says calmly. But to me; it seemed like it is a threat.
"Yes ma'am. I MEAN, LILA!"
"Ok. This is form one."
She lands a punch to my stomach, knocking out the air in me and sending me flying and landing hard, some few meters away from her on the gym floor.
I begin groaning in pain. My belly feels like it have been opened. 'OH GOD! SHE SAID THAT'S FORM ONE?! NO WONDER SHE'S PAYING SUCH HUGE AMOUNT! I MIGHT DIE BEFORE GETTING THE REWARD! I'll just pretend I've collapsed.'
I close my eyes but can't stop groaning.
"Get up!" She says in a calm but commanding tone.
I find myself quickly getting up.
'It's okay. Just be breathing. Maybe, this will teach me how to use my breathing properly.'
I sigh and walk to her, stopping in front of her.
Some of the men begin whispering to each other, but I'm too focused to care.
I begin breathing slowly but intensely. Decreasing the speed, but increasing the pressure.
She lands another punch, knocking out the air in me and sending me flying and landing hard on the floor.
My groaning intensifies as I struggle to breathe. 'HOW WILL I MATCH HER NOW?! She can easily Knock out the air in me! Guess I'll have to try harder! God, it hurts badly!'
"Lila, don't you think it's enough?!" Josh says calmly, a hint of fear in his tone.
"No. Do you have any problem with that?!" She asks dryly, still looking at me.
"NO! Sorry!" He says and moves back in fear.
"Get up!" Lila says in her commanding tone and I get up instantly.
I begin breathing slowly and steadily, the pain I'm feeling gradually reducing. I walk towards her, stopping in front of her.
She smiles warmly. "Good. I know you can do it. My special blow-jabbs might be painful. But it's training, isn't it?"
I nod in agreement and instantly receive another punch, knocking out the air in me and sending me flying and landing, some few meters away from her.
My eyes are wide in pain as I turn on the floor, clutching my belly. 'This... This is insane! Is she a magic or is she a non-magic like me?! No... Ngh... She's definitely a magic! But what sort of magic is she using?!'
"Get up!" She commands again.
I manage and stand up, groaning in pain and looking at the faces that are looking at me in pity.
"You can do this! You've survived three! Push harder!" She says in an encouraging tone and it reminds me of Mr. Mike and Leonardo.
FLASHBACK...
I and Leonardo were running in the forest. Mr. Mike who was the catcher, was chasing us, but we were faster. Obviously because he wanted to make us believe we were. Mrs. Silvia wasn't able to join us because of her work.
While we were running at full speed, we both tripped on a huge tree root, the root almost as thick as our leg. We both fell, landing hard on another thick root with our bellies. The force was so extreme that we lay there gasping for air and groaning in pain.
"Huh?! What's all this?! Tired already?!" Mr. Mike asked in a teasing tone as a mischievous grin appeared on his lips.
"No, dad." Leonardo said and gasped, obviously from the pain he felt while talking. "It's because we fell on this thick root and damn did it hurt!" He said and gasped again.
"Get up! It isn't bad!" Mr. Mike said in a commanding tone.
"What?!" I and Leonardo shouted together.
"You heard me! You can get up! Just push yourselves."
"But we can't...!"
"Enough!" Mr. Mike said, a hint of irritation in his tone and cutting Leonardo short. "Don't just let this...! This...! Root spoil the fun!" He laughed lightly. "Come on, you guys are fourteen! I experienced worst at your age. And besides, I believe you both are bigger than this!" He walked to the root and kicked it.
Our eyes widened in horror as the root broke off and is sent flying.
"I guess, he's right?" Leonardo said weakly.
"Guess?!" Mr. Mike scoffed. "I am right! I am always right!" He said and began laughing, but stops instantly, his facial expression very serious. "No, serious boys, get up." He said and we both managed and got up.
He smiled warmly. "GOOD JOB! Now who's hungry?! Or who wants some ice cream and some tasty treats." He asked and I laughed while Leonardo groaned. "What did I do?" He asked in total confusion.
"It's the irony, dad. Our stomachs hurts badly and you're not helping. But of course. Who would reject such an offer?" Leonardo said in an 'it's-obvious' sort way and we both chuckled mischievously.
"Silly kids." He said and laughed. "Come on, let's go. Wouldn't wanna make mum upset." He said and shuddered, while I and Leonardo were chuckling behind him as we followed him home.
.....END OF FLASHBACK.
I begin concentrating on my breathing, more than before, and the pain begins reducing faster than before, although not too fast.
'I CAN'T BE A LOSER WHEN I WAS POWERLESS AND STILL BE A LOSER, NOW THAT I AM STRONGER! I WILL GROW STRONGER! NO MATTER WHAT, I'LL BE STRONGER THAN PURPLE AND ALL WHO USE THEIR POWERS FOR BAD! I MIGHT BE WEAK NOW, BUT I WILL NEVER GIVE UP AND I WILL MAKE DAD AND MUM( MR MIKE AND MRS SILVIA) AND LEONARDO PROUD!'
I walk to her and stop in front of her. "Go on." I say in a commanding tone and she smiles.
"That's the spirit!" She says and lands another punch on my belly.
I slide back, groaning in pain, but feeling less pain than before.
Gasps and murmurs full the gym, some sensible, some dumb and some making you question if it's possible to be born without brains.
I look at Lila and her expression is surprisingly blank. I walk to her, stopping in her front. "Four. Go on!"
She beams a wide smile. " That's impressive." She laughs lightly and lands another.
I slide back in pain, groaning, but not wanting to give up. At least, now she isn't knocking out the air in me. Which means I have mastered her form one punch... Maybe a little?
I walk to her front. "Five. Go on!"
She lands another and I slide back again, groaning in pain, but maintaining my breathing.
I walk to her front. "Six. Go on!"
She lands another and I slide back still groaning in pain and feeling pain.
I walk to her front. "Seven. Go on."
The gasping and murmuring in the gym have become very loud and annoying.
She lands another, I move back, groan in pain and walk back to her front.
'I can do this!'
"Eight. Go on!"
She lands another, I move back groan in pain and walk back to her front.
All my body, especially my belly is screaming for me to stop, but I ignore, not wanting to give up yet.
"Nine. Go on!" She lands the last and I cough out, sliding back and groaning in pain. I wait for some seconds, trying to regain my breath.
Finally regaining my breathe, I walk towards her. "Ten. GO ON!"
Her eyes widens in shock, everyone eyes widens in shock and the gasps and murmuring becomes too much.
She smiles and begins laughing. "You're the best protection magic I've ever seen!" She says as tears, maybe of joy? Begins running down her face.
"I'm not a magic." I say weakly and this time, it feels like the gasping and murmuring couldn't get louder.
Lila is staring at me in shock. "You joking, right?! You're not a non-magic, right?" She asks calmly, in disbelief.
"I am a non-magic?!" I manage and force a little laugh. "Slip of the tongue!"
"Ok...? So which magic are you."
'OH GOD! I DIDN'T PLAN FOR THIS PART! I'LL JUST LIE! But, if I say protection, I might be tested. So...'
"Uh... I don't know it yet... I think it's... Uh... What's it again?!" I ask, pretending to be confused and laughing awkwardly.
"An inherit magic or a timed magic?" Lila asks, looking amused. (Time magics; are magics that their powers manifests at a time later than normal. Atimes inherit magics are timed magic. Just like Leonardo)
"YEAH! Exactly that! Thank you for reminding me!" I say and fake a wide smile.
"Sure. Welcome." She smiles warmly. "So, you don't know it, yes?"
"Yes."
"Ok. Playtime is over. Let's go on." She says.
The pain I'm feeling, though very bad, has reduced much, due to my breathing that's starting to hurt a little.
"Ok." I say.
"Let's go outside." She says calmly. "I believe you can handle form two." She says and begins walking to the exit/entrance door, me following her behind.
Everyone is looking at me with surprised expression, some turning into admiration (GOT MESELF SOME FANS!), some turning into blank expression (SHEESH!), while some turning into anger, irritation and jealousy (LIKE I CARE! THE PAIN IS MORE THAN THEIR UGLY FACES!).
We leave the gym and head to her wide field.
She stops instantly. "Come to my front and face me." She commands and I obey.
I stand, looking at her face and wondering how form two will be.
"If you think form one was bad...." She scoffs. "Trust me, form two is deadlier. And form three? It's.... You'll see. But, trust me four and five are extreme. So, that won't be for today." She says and I gulp.
'I can't stop now! I must go on!'
She walks and stops right in front of me. "You see, I am a boost magic, having the ability to boost myself and even those around me. Each form is higher than the last. So, this will be more than form one."
"I know. You don't have to say it twice or more times." I say in dread.
She lands a punch to my belly, releasing a wave, causing me to cough out blood and sending me flying.
I land hard to the ground, groaning in pain as dust covers me.
'THIS... THIS IS FORM TWO?!' I cough out some blood. 'The gap... Ngh... Is insane!'
"Sorry!" Lila says beside me and carries me out of the dust, dropping me to the ground, once we are out of the dust. "For the sake of being a kid..." She sighs. "I'll let you go this time. Guess you're now the highest." She says a hint of happiness in her tone.
"NO! NO! P... NGH... PLEA... PLEASE GIVE ME MORE CHANCES! NGH." I manage and say, trying to breathe and reduce the pain, but the pain isn't giving me chance to breathe properly. I look up at her, a pleading expression on my face.
"ARE YOU FOR REAL, KID?!" She shouts in shock. "DO YOU WANT TO DIE?!"
I manage and stand up, still feeling so much pain. "PLEASE! I NEED THIS FOR FUTURE SAKE!"
She sighs tiredly. "Okay. But... I want to ask you something." She says calmly.
"Yes?" I manage and say in pain.
"Should I rush it? Or should I do it slowly?" She asks. "In rushing; I won't stop, till you're done with all the form twos. But in slowly; I will be punching you one after another.
'They're both definitely DEADLY! BUT I'LL GO FOR...!'
"RUSH IT!" I shout and she looks at me with a mixture of admiration, shock and surprise.
'I need this for future fights! Most people prefer rushing their opponents! So, this will be helpful!'
I cough out some blood.
"Wow!" She says, sounding amused and looking amused. "Aren't you pushing yourself too hard?" She asks, a hint of concern in her tone.
"I MIGHT BE! BUT THIS IS FOR MY FUTURE'S SAKE!" I groan in pain and cough out some blood. "SO...! ELEVEN! GO ON!"
She lands another punch, releasing a wave, causing me to cough out blood and sending me flying. She appears in front of me and lands another, causing me to cough out more blood.
'I feel very weak and in serious pain... But... I must go on!'
She keeps on appearing in front of me, punching me and causing me to lose more blood.
"Eighteen." I say weakly and the last punch lands on me, sending me flying. I sigh in satisfaction. "Nineteen at last."
I land hard to the ground, dust covering me and groaning in pain. My belly hurts very badly.
I could hear people shouting and guess they are watching us.
"I... I... Ngh... Can... Ah... Do this. Ngh." I say, regulating my breathing. "Just... Ngh... Need to breathe. Ngh."
I can feel the pain reducing little by little, but it's still much. I manage and stand on my fours, blood rushes out of my mouth and I laugh dryly, regretting it and groaning in pain.
'I wonder if my blood too, regenerates.'
I manage and drag myself up and walk out of the dust.
The look of shock on Lila's face would definitely be a master piece for horror movies.
I smile weakly at her. "My... Ngh... Last punch... Ngh... Please? Ngh." I say weakly, trying my best not to touch my belly.
The look of shock intensifies, turning to a mixture of horror and shock.
"What are you?!" She asks, her voice shaky. "This is the first time someone surpassed Josh. And not only did you surpass him, you also finished form two." Tears begins running down her face as a smile? Appears on her lips. "So, what are you?! You're not like one of us, are you?! You... You're different from us, yes?!" She asks with a cracking voice.
I cough out some blood. "I am..."
'OH MAN! Ngh. I've got... Ngh... No special name!'
"I am... JACK STEVENS!" I shout aloud in pride, but regret it immediately as my stomach complains and I cough out some blood.
The pain I'm feeling is beginning to drop almost at normal pace and my breathing is getting more stable, although it's starting to hurt more, for reasons I don't God damn know!
"NOW... NGH... MY LAST... NGH... PUNCH! REMEMBER YOU PROMISED! NGH." I shout, regretting, groaning more and coughing out more blood.
She appears in front of me instantly, causing my eyes to widen in shock.
'SHE'S FAST!'
She sighs tiredly. "Fine. If you say so." She says, a hint of happiness and sadness in her tone. "But, are you sure? I'm feeling kinda guilty."
I nod in agreement. "I am sure and it's okay. I am the one who asked for it. I sure owe you. Maybe, you'll be giving me special trainings like this everyday." I say with a wide grin.
She looks at me in disbelief and begins laughing aloud. "You sure are an idiot. But also a special kind of magic, as I can tell. You are unique and different. And it will be an honour to train you till you're able to master form one to three and enter form four and five." She laughs and stops, smiling warmly. "As for your payment, you'll meet my husband; Ben."
"WHAT?! HUSBAND?! BEN?! BUT HE NEVER TOLD ME!" I shout in disbelief.
She laughs. "Shhh. He hasn't told anyone. Consider it a bonus. He wants it to be a surprise once I've given birth to my child." She says and rubs her stomach. "It is unofficial! SO, DON'T TELL ANYONE OR I'LL BREAK YOU!" She says sternly and I gulp, nodding in agreement. "Good. Now..." She readies herself and moves her fist towards my belly.
"STOOPPPP!" A voice shouts.
But, it's too late, as the punch lands to my belly, releasing a powerful wave, shattering the ground below us and creating a big hole in it and sending me flying with blood rushing out of my nose and mouth.
I turn my head to see a blurry vision of someone with long blue hair running towards my direction.
"Aqua?" I say weakly, landing hard to the ground and being covered with a big dust dome. "This is it!" I say weakly and instantly everything goes pitch black.