14 August 2024

2:55 P.M PDT

Kearney Park, Fresno, California

Stanislav grumbles towards Shu. Both stood at each other ten meters apart. All of the other tribunes, alongside Asami, Niya, and Lucius. Observing what was about to happen between the two from benches under shade several meters away. The winds that day even avoiding Kearney Park.

"This is going to be interesting… How Shu deals with Stanislav." Jaraslav said.

He crossed his legs on the stone table. Where he, Zelislav, and Niya brought themselves to. But in communicable distance from the others and Shu and Stanislav.

Niya raised her voice, "Why is that, mister umm…"

"Lukazuk. And it's the environmental conditions of this. He, as well as my other comrades, have had time to acclimate to the climate."

"Jara-ji! You're forgetting, Greece was about as hot as here!" Zelislav said as well.

"Where Shu's probably from or worked with is more humid. However, environmental circumstances probably won't play too much of a role."

"Stanislav, Shu, are you two ready!?" Drahoslav shouts!

Both nod.

"Three… Two… One!"

Drahoslav proceeds to point his left hand into the sky.

"Activate Level Two Command, Dante."

A moderately sized fireball shot into the sky. Pointing his right hand in a finger gun position when he then said another command.

"Activate Command, Infernite."

A brief flame beam came from it, being like a laser as it collided with Dante and spreads the flames and lead to a popping noise for a split moment, similar to a gun.

As the signal began, Shu immediately ran towards Stanislav while his opponent didn't rush and took his time. Shaking his head before throwing a right jab aimed at the head. Seeing a blur from where Stanislav stood. Quickly twisting to his right to do a full punch with his left at the same person.

Stanislav simply leaned away from where the punch would be. Another blur in Shu's perception. Pushing his hand forward at the same level of speed before he could bring a knee strike to bear. Pushing Shu several meters away from him with a slight gain of altitude.

Shu said to himself, "He's fast."

He lands on his feet, quickly adjusting his posture to be more like a wall. Met only by Stanislav walking towards him like before. However, didn't turn offensive again while watching the distance vanish gradually. No actions, only a disinterested stare from Stanislav. Throwing a few punches at Stanislav's upper body out of the tension.

The first blow grazes his shoulder from Shu's left fist. The second blow from the right attempts to hit the center of his chest, causing him to step away. The third attempted to take advantage of it with his left again. A downwards fist that managed to connect, pegging him to the ground.

A fourth try for the solar plexus, without any hint of him being hurt despite it being a clear hit.

Stanislav grasps Shu's leg and pushes him off to the side as effortless to move a giant beach ball.

"Tsk," Shu got up while leaned down slightly. "I should've known a CRU was gonna be necessary. Not after noticing Niya struggling against one of your friends..."

Stanislav got back up as well, staring at Shu. "I'll wait… But, what are the conditions…"

"Every option is allowed. Victory by KO."

"Alright…" Stanislav closes his eyes to think. "What's with this CRU he talks about?"

Until things came to an abrupt end.

"Wait! I forgot some things!"

Stanislav tilts his head. "Really..? We're supposed to be fighting…"

"Give me a moment, then we can get it back on."

Stanislav turns around, watching Shu arrive towards his comrades during the time-out he called. Observing the conversion between him, Shu, and Asami.

"Asami!" Shu shouts. "I need my CRU."

"You can just use mine."

"True… But…"

Upon the chance to interject, Jaraslav did, "You don't have your combat wiring suit with you."

"Oh yeah, that. I underestimated him, and now I don't know if I can win without a CRU."

"If only the AST accepted more boys than girls into their ranks, as a real military force would.".

Drahoslav walked over, staring at Shu. "You're surrendering a fight you provoked because you forgot a stupid piece of equipment?"

"Doesn't mean I'm an idiot."

"Oh yeah? You've just displayed us your arrogance, hypocrisy, and cowardice. This would've been simpler if you-"

"Draho! Draho! Cool yourself! We may need him in case Kurumi shows-"

"He's useless without that device from this so-called AST. Much like what they were presented in that spirit story you talked about last year, Jaraslav."

"We're not too far off from the AST in terms of dependence. We need technology to do our job as tribunes. Much like they need their combat writing suits and Combat Realiser Units to do their job, to kill Spirits-"

Stanislav finally approached them, his head faced down, "Why are you saying that word so much!"

Shu's head obtusely shifts. "You do have a problem with that word and not seiriei."

"Shu! Don't say it! I mean it!"

"Don't push yourself, Stanislav! You know what happens when you get angry-"

"He's pushing me!"

"I am not doing so, Stanislav!"

"Then… Why are you still saying the word Spirit!"

From the table of the bench, Shu's reader began to beep like a metal detector. Quickly forcing Asami's hand as she points it directly at Stanislav, gasping as a genuine number shows up.

"Two twenty…"

"What is this suppose to mean?"

Shu's face quickly firms. "That explains it. He is…"

"A Spirit…" Jaraslav finishes, standing up with a closing hand, "For the longest time, I had to prevent people from finding out, to protect him from Élisée..."

The silence broke the shock. No words came out of anyone's mouth, but Stanislav unleashed a stare towards his comrades, a slightly faint aura surrounding him.

"You WHAT!?"

"If we discussed this like normal people, we'll come to an agree-"

"There won't be any agreements, Jaraslav… This is what you guys did! Treated me like a tribune, yet also spoke down on me like I'm inferior!"

Jaraslav storms up to Stanislav, snuffing his nose upwards, "Listen to me!"

"I won't listen to your lies!"

"If you continue, Stanislav… You might as well bring Kurumi right to us!"

Lucius came towards the growing situation with earnest words. "Kong explicitly said something about her being interested in a particular tribune… This must be the person in truth."

Stanislav swiftly closes the distance, gripping Lucius on the throat with an impossible lift, "Say that again… Bitch..."

"Kurumi is after you…" he coughs a bit of blood off his mouth, "Specifically…"

He lets go. Watching as the place goes silent, only for the sound of several claps and a particular voice.

"Ara ara-"