Time to fight! Bertholdt vs Jean time to see if Annie's training paid off. I also wanna thank everyone who's read, reviewed and followed. The support for this story has been amazing. Especially from Lyria Sprinkles and Kuchel2077! Anyway read on and enjoy!
Bertholdt eyed up his opponent and raised his fists just the way Annie had drilled into him.
He doesn't look that tough… Bertholdt thought to himself as the bell sounded.
"You gonna make the first move big guy?" Jean cooed as he beckoned with his finger. Bertholdt bit his tongue and focused on what Annie taught him. Don't let him get to you, Bertholdt told himself. He's baiting me. "Fine," Jean growled. "I'll go first."
Before Bertholdt could react Jean darted forward and struck his calf against Bertholdt's. Bertholdt cried out in pain and fell to one knee, holding his quickly bruising leg.
Jean threw his arms into the air, much to the adornment of the crowd who started to chant his name.
"Come on Bertholdt! Get up!" Reiner roared from the sidelines.
Taking a deep breath Bertholdt stood to his full height, ignoring the burning pain firing up his leg. "Annie kicks way harder than that." Bertholdt groaned as he raised his fists once again.
Jean thoroughly annoyed that his gloating had been interrupted turned to face his opponent. "Want another one?" He jested before charging Bertholdt again. Once again he swung his calf in a tight arc aiming this time for the other leg.
Bertholdt however saw him coming, as Jean approached he took a deep breath, moments before Jean's leg collided with his Bertholdt stepped to the side and brought his knee up with as much force as he could muster.
Jean could only gasp as Bertholdt drove his knee into his abdomen forcing the air out of his lungs. Jean fell to the ground, silencing the audience.
Knowing that Jean wasn't yet beaten Bertholdt took a step back and readied his stance.
"N-nice moves lanky," Jean coughed as he stood. "Guess I'll have to fight you properly." Without giving Bertholdt enough time to even acknowledge his words Jean sent his entire leg around towards Bertholdt's side.
Jean's strike caught Bertholdt in the ribs sending pain flooding through his chest but Bertholdt didn't fall. Doing his best to ignore the throbbing that Jean's kick had caused Bertholdt gritted teeth and wrapped his arm around Jean's leg. With all the strength he could muster Bertholdt brought his elbow crashing down on his opponent's leg.
With each hammer like strike Jean roared in pain, Bertholdt's steel like grip prevented Jean from freeing his leg. Knowing that if this were to continue he wouldn't able to walk, let alone fight Jean let his free leg drop causing him to fall and Bertholdt to topple.
When he tried to stand Jean clutched his leg and gritted his teeth. "You sure hit hard." He growled.
Bertholdt stood to his full dizzying height and looked down at Jean with his fists raised as Annie had taught him. Jean stood on his uninjured leg, resting his already bruising leg on his toes.
Taking a sharp breath Jean darted forward and launched a fist towards Bertholdt's shoulder.
If you hit hard I'll take out your arms. Jean thought to himself. When he dodges I'll trip him then I can go for a pin.
Jean only had a second to realise that Bertholdt wasn't dodging, he wasn't leaning to the left or right. He was moving into the punch. Jean's fist connected with Bertholdt's shoulder as he turned into the punch. Bone crunched against bone as Jean pulled his fist back only to have Bertholdt drive his fist into his stomach.
Coughing violently Jean took several steps back to catch his breath. Bertholdt took the opportunity to look into the crowd, the sea of fans had gone silent, they had never seen Jean struggle so hard against an opponent. Reiner on the other hand had a large grin spanning from cheek to cheek, yet as his eyes darted between the crowds Bertholdt couldn't see Annie.
Where is sh- Jean didn't give Bertholdt the time to finish his thought before he rushed forward and sent his calf into the side of Bertholdt's head.
The tall boy came falling to his knees, with what little strength he had Bertholdt rested against the metal fence trying to get a bearing on Jean. As his eyes focused on Jean a dizzying blow that seemingly came out of nowhere struck him on the side of his head. This time Bertholdt crumpled to the floor with Jean standing over him.
Bertholdt groaned in pain as he opened his eyes. Panic flooded his veins as he realised he couldn't see out of his left eye, reaching to his eye he sighed in relief as he felt blood trickling from a cut above his eye.
At least I'm not blind. Bertholdt thought to himself as he wiped the blood from his eye. Jean watched and sighed as Bertholdt slowly got to his feet.
"I looked you up before the fight. You're a nobody," Jean said as he stepped towards Bertholdt. "You know you can't win yet you're still fighting. Why?"
Still dizzy from the strikes to his head Bertholdt stumbled to his feet and raised his fists. "I-I don't care about winning. I just need to… to get stronger."
Jean clutched his sides as he threw his head back laughing. "You're using this as a work out? You're pathetic. This time… stay down."
Bertholdt's eyes were still trying to focus on Jean as he weaved his way in and out of his blind spot. He preemptively raised his guard and prepared for Jean's strike.
Seconds later bertholdt felt a tremendous force strike his raised fists, not wanting to give Jean a chance to attack again Bertholdt dropped his defences and launched his open hand to the one thing he could see.
Jean's throat.
Bertholdt's hand clasped shut around Jean's neck, his eyes widened in shock as Bertholdt lifted him off the ground. With all the strength he could muster Bertholdt threw Jean into the floor with a thunderous boom.
"This time…" Bertholdt huffed as blood dripped from above his eye. "Stay down."
Jean's response came in the form a quiet, pain filled moan.
As the referee checked Jean weather Jean was conscious or not Bertholdt fell to his knees.
"The winner of the second round… Bertholdt Hoover!"