CHAPTER 5

"Workout"

Jean's interests were simple enough for a boy of his age and occupation Weapons, Anime, and Adventuring. Rey and Jean started off talking about the Animes in the world before moving on to a more serious subject, combat.

"I feel my trident is light enough to help me outmaneuver most adversaries and their attacks, but still packs punch." Rey gloated proudly

"Yeah, but my sword can be used one handed at all time, and keep the same performance through and through." Jean retorted.

"Yeah yeah yeah, but dude I can like pole vault and stuff and I look really cool!"

This conversation dragged on for an hour before Rey got a little ahead of himself.

"Let's spar!"

"What?"

"Yeah then we will see the awesomeness of both our weapons! It'll be fun, come on!"

"Uh…Well I guess fine lets go to the gym, I assume that's were you must go to spar."

The two began making their way to the gym/arena. Jean was a little ways ahead he didn't notice Rey talking to himself. "Rey this guy has a strange energy. Like really strange."

"Oh that's cool."

"Maybe you should stop while you are ahead of yourself.

"Eh me and ol' pointy stick can take him."

"Maybe I can come and play too."

"No Esteban! We cannot show your power. Not yet…"

The duo entered the Gym there was not a crowd just a few students bumming around. Rey found a mat to duel, while Jean got the non lethal supplies from the storage surplus. As Jean came back carrying those hefty boxes Rey simply gave him a smile and said.

"You ready to lose?" Rey then grabbed non lethal dust supplements and injected them into his scythe.

"I was going to ask you the same." Jean had loaded non lethal bullets to his rifle.

"Come at me LOSER!"

With the statements given the battle begun. Rey began with a reckless charge, Jean grinned as all of a sudden his body flew to the left. Rey quickly stopped and spun his trident around going for the stab, but his efforts were countered as Jean swept him off his feet. Rey landed on his ass before getting up. "Stop running Jeany-boy fight me like a man." Jean was on the other side of the mat with his rifle lined up with Rey's body. Rey began his charge but was hit in the knee with a stun round. Rey dropped sliding on the ground, however saw an opportunity. With the points out towards Jean, he grabbed the ivory lever of his trident. "Adios!" A blast of concentrated dust launched from the tips landing at Jean's feet. "Oh…" The dust ignited causing Jean to be launched high in the air, it took a second, but Jean recovered mid air. Jean's rifle shifted into a one-handed sword as he spun around, beginning his high velocity decent towards Rey. "Oh no!" Rey quickly used his trident to vault away from Jean's strike however with amazing reflexes Jean bounced off the ground and recoordinated his strike striking Rey in the abdomen. Rey hit the wall still gripping his Trident.

"Nice Reflexes… how did you correct yourself that fast?" Jean gave a cocky grin "Fights not over yet. Can't give away my secrets yet." Rey laughed. "Be that way then." That is when Rey pulled the lever of his trident again launching more dust, Jean this time brought his sword up to deflect. The shot exploded on impact launching Jean's sword away from him and knocking him on the floor face down. "Come on ya' let your guard down Jean!" Rey got up and made his was towards Jean. "I disarmed you, it's your loss now. I wi-" Before Rey could finish, Jean had turned really fast and with the momentum, slashed Rey in the face with… His fingers?

Rey fell over. "You let your guard down there Rey." Rey staggered up. "Did you slap me?" Jean nodded before pulling the sleeve up on his left arm. Rey's face lit up in shock. "WHAT!? WHERE IS YOUR ARM!?" Jean's arm was there, however it was not flesh and bone. What took it's place was the genius of a twelve year old boy and a blow torch. Of course modifications had been made over time. "What it's still there. It's just… more metal and stuff." By this time the sparring session had attracted a crowd. "Crap Jean! Are those blade fingers?"

"Uh yes. Well it's more of a claw, but yeah bladed fingers."

"That's actually kinda cool, but Holy shit you are a robot!"

"No just my arm, well actually I guess, I'm a robot… Wait weren't we fighting?"

"Nah you win. I loss fair and square man, you hit me more."

Jean nodded before helping Rey up.

"Man I've never seen such sloppy technique in my life!" A voice erupted from the crowd "You wonder why you lost sombrero man? Because you do not deserve to be a fighter." Out from the crowd came a Fanus boy, his posture quite regal and his attire very formal. "You only stood a chance because rust and bolts over here was almost as sloppy as you." Rey's general smug mood changed into anger.

"What did you say about me!?"

"I said you are sloppy and don't deserve to be here."

Jean stepped in between them. "Listen if you two are going to have a problem then settle it on the sparring mat."

"Puh-lease! Like I would waste my time!"

"You are just scarred because I would kick your tail."

"THAT IS RACIST!"

The two lunged at each other, and Jean shot back out of the way as the two boys did battle with their fists. Punches went both ways, and delivered devastating blows. They wouldn't have stopped until someone intervened.