BATTLE NETWORK CYBERSYSTEM: The Manic Saga
Volume 2: Pokerface
Chapter 12: The Quest and the Trials
The netbattlers invited to the Bandit's Cove Tournament had all met in the ACDC Park, however, one was missing.
"Hey, where's Manic?" Ryuu asked. Shinzuka was there to watch as her brother, Joseph, and the other three invited Iron-Fisted Few stood there to wait.
"He wasn't in his apartment when I was leaving," Kinzoku said in response, "so I thought he was here already."
"Maybe he went to get something?" Miyuu responded.
"Hey, sorry to butt in," Joseph said, with reassuring nods from the present elites, "but why don't we just start training and he can show up when he shows up?"
"Good idea, we had better not waste any more time," Ryuu said in response as he reached for his cyberband.
As Kinzoku reached behind his neck to attach his cyberband, a hand came between Kinzoku's neck and the cyberband. Kinzoku's fighter instinct immediately kicked in and made an unsuccessful grab for the hand and pivoted to see who it was.
"You children honestly think the Bandit's Cove is about a netbattle?" the man said. He had long, red hair with cobalt eyes that seemed to pierce the soul. He appeared to be in his late twenties, and showed scars and wounds from fights from long ago. He also dressed in a sleeveless black vest over a black tanktop and wore baggy shorts covered in chains.
"Who are you?" Ryuu and Joseph said at the same time. Jet had stepped ahead of Derek and Taichi to seem more threatening, due to his tall stature. However, the man did not seem to be phased at all by them.
"Doesn't matter right now," the man said, his eyes unmoving and fixed on Ryuu, who took a small step backwards to defend himself if there were an attack coming. "but from the looks of it, none of you have even heard of Bandit's Cove."
"Well, then," Shinzuka said while she took a step forward, "why not tell us what it's about?"
The man immediately focused his glare on Shinzuka, who tried her best to equally match his. "Fine, little girl. But I don't remember seeing a second woman's name on the entry list." Shinzuka's glare immediately vanished and she took a step backwards, shocked that he knew who was accepted into the tournament already.
"How did you--" Joseph started in defense, but was cut off by the man.
"Do you want to know what it's about, or do you want to focus on the unimportant things all day?" the man snapped back. "Bandit's Cove takes place in the real world, meaning that whatever you have in terms of power in the internet, it's useless. Any weapon is allowed into the contest, though, so make sure you're good at using it."
"This sounds fairly dangerous to the untrained..." Kinzoku said aloud in thought.
"...an easy way to kill us off... do you know who invited us to the tournament?" Ryuu asked the man. The man, however, merely rolled his eyes in irritation.
"No, I don't know, and I don't really give a damn who did," the man snarled back, "Like I was saying, you'll need more training in the real world if you want to stand a chance in Hell of surviving this contest."
"Is that why you're here? To train us?" Derek uttered as he and Taichi stepped forward and to the side of Jet.
"No, I'm here just to tell you that you're all going to die," the man said as he rolled his eyes.
"So when does the training start?" Taichi asked.
"Right now. Follow me." the man said, and he turned around and walked towards the exit of the park.
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*Why are we climbing a mountain again?* Manic asked as he almost lost his footing on the steep hill. He was carrying a small backpack and walking against a fairly strong wind uphill.
*Because I know about Bandit's Cove,* Infernos responded, *So we're going to see a good friend of mine... even though I don't need the training, you sure as Hell do...*
*Training in what?" Manic asked as he almost reached the top of the hill. However, there were two more hills to cross, and he was starting to lose his breath in this altitude.
*Training in whatever I think you need training in for the tournament,* Infernos replied simply, *Besides, most of the stuff you learn from this guy is invaluable. You'll love me for it.*
*I just hope we're not on a wild goose chase...* Manic replied as he started downhill a short ways and the up the second hill. It took about half an hour to climb the hill, but the final hill was now in sight, and Manic could barely make out a small house-like building on top of it. Manic finally started to climb the hill. It was the steepest hill he had encountered yet, but if Infernos said was correct, it would be worth it.
*Man, I haven't seen the guy in forever...* Infernos said, wondering about the person they were going to see, *that guy must be older than dirt...*
*How do you know he hasn't died from old age yet?* Manic asked as he climbed the hill.
*Just a hunch... just a hunch...* Infernos said.
Finally, Manic was nearing the top of the mountain. He walked more calmly, due to the atmosphere, and towards the building. It now looked more and more like a dojo of sorts with open doors into it. Once Manic was nearer, he could see an old man sitting cross-legged in the middle of the dojo, a small bowl to the side of him, burning incense.
"Ah, a visitor..." the old man said as he fiddled with the incense.
"Good to see you again, old man," Infernos said through Manic's voice.
*Why'd you say that?* Manic said mentally, *I've never met him in my life! He won't even know who I am!*
However, the man immediately stopped tending the incense and slowly looked towards Manic.
"...yes, it has been a long time, Tetsujin, how do you fare?" the old man said. As Infernos walked closer towards the dojo, Manic could see that the old man had a lot of muscle, even for his age.
"Name's Infernos, now," Infernos said as he kicked off Manic's shoes and set them and the backpack outside the dojo and walked inside slowly. However, just as Infernos set a foot onto the bamboo mat, a small dart shot straight at him. However, Infernos quickly leaned to the side and caught the dart between his two fingers.
"You may have a new name," the old man said with a smile as Infernos controlled Manic's body to walk towards the man and sit on the mat, dropping the remaining piece of incense from his fingers, "but your reflexes haven't dulled at all..."
"Koro," Infernos started, "What say we get down to business?"
"Indeed, my friend," Koro started. However, before he could talk, Manic regained control of his voice to ask a question.
"I'm sorry to interrupt, but who are you and why am I here?" Manic asked abruptly. Koro laughed a bit.
"It's an honest question, young lad, and I'd be happy to answer. Your friend Te...Infernos and I go back a long time. No doubt, Infernos brought you here to train under me."
"That brings up another question..." Manic started, "How did you know who Infernos was?"
Koro laughed, as well as Infernos. "Well, a long time ago, I was chosen by the deity of earth, like you are the chosen for the deity of fire, Infernos. My full name is Tanekai Koronenbu, and my deity was the deity of earth, Genki. He named himself after what brought me the most joy at the time, my faithful dog."
"He's Gaius now," Infernos said.
"Oh, his name has changed as well," Koro said with a small laugh.
"All of our names have changed to fit our hosts," Infernos replied.
"Except yours, of course," Koro said jokingly.
"What do you mean?" Manic asked, still a bit confused.
"Well, to aid with integration, the deities choose the name of that which calms their host the best, mostly for a faster integration..." Koro explained.
"Except for me," Infernos said proudly, "Because if you can integrate with me, you deserve it."
Koro laughed. "Yes, Infernos has always been like that. He's also had a special affinity for the name Ifrit."
"Gah!" Infernos replied while both Koro and Manic laughed.
"Ok, when you two are done laughing, we have work to do," Infernos said. Immediately, Koro stopped laughing, Manic stopping a moment later.
"Yes, you are correct..." Koro said. "What, may I ask, is the occassion this time?"
"Bandit's Cove," Infernos stated. Koro's gaze immediately turned serious.
"Then we have no time to waste. Follow me." Koro then stood up quickly, despite his body mass, and walked to the side of the dojo. Manic quickly followed. Koro had slid a door to the side to reveal an entire collection of melee weapons.
"Choose one for now, and we will train with it until I feel you have mastered it," Koro said as he took a step backwards, "This will teach you to better work with Infernos when the time arises."
Manic looked through the arsenal. Broadswords almost as tall as he was, nunchaku, katana, shuriken, and countless other weapons. However, one weapon seemed a bit out of place; a long-barrelled semi-automatic handgun. Manic shoved the thought out of his mind for now and carefully grabbed a katana.
"Wise choice for the beginner," Koro said as he reached behind him and took out a pair of nunchaku and spun them around his arms for a second, then readied against Manic.
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Kinzoku's body smashed through another crate.
"Get up, we still have more to do!" the man yelled at him. Kinzoku was slowly getting used to combat again, although the pain still seared through his body.
Slowly, they were all learning how to take damage from attacks, and how to deal to their opponents. At the beginning, they all learned basic hand-to-hand combat, Ryuu did well at this, then went to swordfighting, of which Miyuu, Joseph and Kinzoku excelled above the rest at, due to their real-life experiences with the blade. Then they all moved on to dodging gunfire and how to determine the opponent's next attack and plan of action. Signs of weariness started to show on all their faces, as they had not stopped for rest in an entire day. However, they all had been in that warehouse training for well over a week by now. However, it would only be a matter of time until they would have to be ready for the greatest fights of their lives. The fights for their very lives.
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V2 chapter 12 finished! Please read and review? Thanks a lot! ^_^