Duo Halfbreeds
Chapter Eleven: A Resistant Struggle
As Taurus sat in his quarters, he noticed Khang, Keylo, and two others enter with expressions of frustration and concern. He turned his seat to face them as they approached.
Curious, Taurus inquired, "What brings the four of you here?"
Keylo stepped forward and replied, "We're worried about the situation with the brat, sir." Taurus's demeanor shifted to one of irritation."Why didn't you eliminate him? He's bound to cause us issues."
"I have my reasons for not eliminating him," Taurus answered sternly, his tone brooking no argument. "Your job isn't to second-guess my decisions. It's to follow my orders without question. Is that clear?"
Keylo gave a quiet grunt, still unconvinced. "But sir, we're concerned about the risks he poses. He's a loose cannon and could jeopardize our plans."
Taurus's expression hardened. "Enough, Keylo. Your concerns have been noted, but I am the one in charge here. Your job is to carry out my orders, not to question them. If you can't handle that, then perhaps you're not cut out for this line of work." He replied. "From now on, I'll be handing the brat his tasks, is that clear?"
Keylo sighed angrily, his frustration evident. "Yes, sir," he muttered, his displeasure palpable.
Taurus's gaze lingered on Keylo for a moment longer before turning to the rest of the group. "As for the rest of you," he said, his voice low and menacing. "I expect complete loyalty and obedience. Anything less will not be tolerated."
The others nodded in unison, clearly intimidated by Taurus's unwavering authority. Satisfied that he had made his point, Taurus rose from his seat and dismissed the group with a curt wave of his hand.
As Gohan's fight approached, Priamus knew that his training needed some final touches to make him ready for the challenge ahead. The morning of the fight was relatively quiet, with only a few inmates in the prison yard.
Priamus took a deep breath and approached Gohan. "To truly test how far you've come, we need to have you spar," He said.
Gohan's face scrunched up in confusion. "Spar? But I don't even know how to fight yet," He replied.
Priamus smiled and placed his hand on Gohan's shoulder. "Ah, but you already know how to fight." He reassured.
Gohan looked even more puzzled than before. "I do?"
Priamus nodded. "Yes, fighting is not just about knowing the techniques. It's about experience and principles," He explained. "No amount of technique could replace real-life experience and the best way through that is sparring." Gohan nodded as he understood somewhat to a degree.
Gohan's nerves kicked in immediately. "Who am I sparring with? You?" he asked, looking at Priamus.
Priamus gestured towards Daiz, indicating that Gohan would be sparring with him. "No, I think it'll be better for you to fight Daiz." He said as Daiz moved forward.
Gohan swallowed, feeling a bit unsure. "A-Are you sure?" he asked.
Priamus nodded. "Yes. Just think of it as training with the training dummies," he said, attempting to calm Gohan's nerves.
"Okay." Gohan smiled. Priamus moved away to give space to the two. Gohan was nervous and slightly fearful, as much as he tried to make himself think it was only the training dummy, it didn't really work. Of course, Daiz was a friend, well sort of…. Actually, now that Gohan had thought about it, he hadn't really had the chance to talk with them.
Well they were friends of Priamus, so at the very least Gohan hoped that Daiz would go easy on him. Priamus was quick to notice Gohan's tension. "Take a deep breath, Gohan. You can do this, you'll be fine."
Gohan's eyes moved to Priamus for a split second then back as he took a deep breath. "Okay..Okay…I..I can do this." He tried to encourage himself but once Daiz took the first move, Gohan panicked, he froze for a second before cowering and giving a short scream.
Daiz came to a sudden stop and let out a frustrated sigh as he shook his head. He took a few steps back. "I told you this wasn't going to work, Priamus."
Priamus approached Gohan, who had halted in his tracks as well. Priamus knelt down to Gohan's level. "What's wrong?" He asked. "Why did you stop?"
Gohan looked nervous and unsure, biting his lips as he struggled to find the right words.. "I-I..I don't know, I panicked." He answered.
"Why did you panic?" Priamus probed gently.
Gohan looked uncertain for a second. "Because I got scared."
Priamus furrowed his brow, trying to understand the root of Gohan's fear. "Why were you scared?" he pressed.
Gohan's eyes darted around uncertainly before he finally spoke up. "Because I don't want to get hurt," he admitted.
Priamus let out a short laugh, as if amused by Gohan's statement. "Gohan, if you want to fight, you need to accept that pain is an inevitable part of the process. You can't let fear hold you back. Embrace the pain and use it to overcome your fears. Fear is just an illusion, a distraction that will only cause you more harm in the long run."
He rose to his feet and took a step back.. "Let's give it another go, alright?"
Gohan nodded and took a deep breath, adjusting his gaze on Daiz. Daiz assumed a stance and awaited the signal to commence. As soon as the signal was given, he charged forward, albeit at a slightly slower pace, preparing to strike. But once again, Gohan panicked and leaped back, trembling.
Upon realizing this, Daiz stopped and let out a sigh. "This is not getting us anywhere," He remarked, placing his right hand on his forehead.
Gohan frowned and repositioned himself. "I'm sorry, I couldn't help it," he muttered.
"It's okay, we'll try again. Practice makes perfect," Priamus encouraged him. "Remember why you're fighting." Gohan nodded and swallowed hard, redirecting his gaze back to Daiz, who had once again taken his stance. Daiz seemed exasperated as he awaited the signal once more.
"I'm fighting because…because…" Gohan's heart started to race and his pulse became heavier. He couldn't think of the words, his nerves started to flare up and he began to panic as Daiz moved forward. He shook his head and jumped back, trying to clear his mind. "BECAUSE I WANT TO GO HOME!"
Daiz threw another fist and Gohan jumped to the side, his feet sliding a foot as he landed. Daiz cocked his head, giving a surprised look and then moved to Gohan, hurling his next fist. Out of a slight panic, Gohan jumped again.
It was at this point, Daiz decided to step a notch up, to see if he could force Gohan to do something more than dodge. Daiz rushed forward and hurled his leg, Gohan's eyes widened as he narrowly ducked.
Daiz retracted his leg, preparing his next attack. "Come on! Is that the best you can do?" he shouted. "Show me some ferocity!" He charged forward, making it impossible for Gohan to respond, and threw several more attacks, which Gohan continued to dodge.
Daiz hurled another fist as he leaned closer to Gohan. Gohan's eyes went wide as he narrowly jumped above Daiz's hand.
Daiz let out a mocking scoff as he watched Gohan hesitate. "Show some determination! Go on the offensive!" He shouted. Gohan struggled to build up the courage to throw an attack, his thoughts and mind freezing at the idea of launching an attack. It left him in a panic, with the only instinct to avoid the attack.
Daiz, on the other hand, moved with lightning-fast speed, leaving Gohan with no time to react. Dodging each of Daiz's swift attacks, Gohan could feel his frustration mounting. "Man, I'm not even trying!" Daiz taunted, his voice dripping with arrogance.
"I-I can't…you're moving too fast and I can barely see you move!" Gohan replied. Daiz thrusted his foot forward much quicker than the last time, leaving Gohan unable to avoid it. Gohan landed hard, nearly twenty feet away from his opponent, dazed and disoriented.
"Gohan, you cannot look for his movements, you have to feel it." Priamus advised.
Gohan looked at Priamus with the most perplexed look. "Feel it? That doesn't even make any sense."
Priamus approached Gohan. "If you want to be able to see your opponent's incredible speeds, you need to be able to sense it, feel it." He clarified. "Visually tracking it is practically impossible alone."
Gohan's look remained confused. "How am I supposed to do that?"
"By sparring, you'll be able to hone your combat skills and your ability to sense movement." Priamus answered. "Up until two hours before your fight, you'll spar, until you start to pick up that sixth sense." Moving away, he signaled to the two to get in position for it to reset.
Daiz sighed exasperatedly, still doubtful as he got in position to start again. When the signal was given, Daiz made the first advance, hurling his fist, which Gohan was unable to dodge, instead he instinctively moved his arms to block it but failed.
"If you're gonna block, cross your arms in front of you." Daiz pointed out as he approached Gohan again. He hurled his fist again, aimed at Gohan's chest, but Gohan moved off to the side, stumbling and falling back as he did.
Taurus came over around noon time, several hours later, with a routine check of the prison yard, the other prisoners, as well the training yard. As he made his way through the facilities, he spotted Gohan in the distance and approached him to assign his daily tasks.
"I need you to clean the cafeteria!" he barked. Gohan hesitated, unsure of what to do next. Taurus noticed his hesitation and gestured for Gohan to follow him, his tone leaving no room for argument. "Now," he repeated firmly.
Gohan reluctantly followed Taurus to the cafeteria, feeling a sense of dread as he anticipated the unpleasant task ahead. As he donned his cleaning gloves and picked up a mop, Gohan couldn't help but wonder how he had ended up in this situation. He had made a mistake, and now he was paying the price.
As Gohan began wiping down the tables and chairs, he felt a sense of disgust at the filth that had accumulated over time. Food scraps, spilled drinks, and grime had left the surfaces sticky and stained. He worked methodically, making sure to get every last bit of dirt off the furniture.
As he moved on to the floors, Gohan picked up a broom and started sweeping up debris. He was surprised by how much dirt and dust had accumulated in such a short time. But he kept at it, determined to make the space as clean as possible. He followed up with a thorough mopping, using a solution of hot water and detergent to scrub the floors until they shone.
After finishing his previous task, Gohan returned to the yard, expecting Taurus to give him further instructions. However, Taurus was nowhere to be found. Puzzled, Gohan met up with Priamus who wasted no time in addressing the imminent fight.
"Given that your fight is coming up shortly, I think it's best if we start preparing your mind," Priamus said.
Gohan looked at him quizzically. "Preparing my mind?"
Priamus nodded. "It is good to always prepare your mind before a fight, and although we can only prepare so much before a first fight, it doesn't hurt." He explained. "Firstly, take off your weighted clothing."
Gohan's surprise was evident in his facial expression as he turned to Priamus. "Are you sure you want me to take off my weighted clothing?" he asked, unsure if he had heard him correctly.
Priamus confirmed his request with a nod, explaining that although he usually instructed Gohan to keep the weights on during training, the current situation warranted a change in approach. "We'll start with stretching your muscles now that the weights are off," he added.
Gohan agreed, beginning the process of removing his weighted gear. He started with the wristbands and ankle bands, unstrapping them one by one, before finally unclasping his vest. As he pulled it off, he felt a sudden sense of lightness that was almost disorienting.
Gohan stumbled, taken aback by the sudden change. "W-Woah."
"Feel different?" Priamus asked.
Gohan nodded. "It's like there's zero gravity here!" He gasped.
Priamus chuckled. "That was only a few days, imagine if we had more time." He said. "Jump."
"Jump?" Gohan repeated in confusion.
Priamus nodded. "Yes, go on. Jump, see how high you can jump now."
With a hint of hesitation, Gohan crouched down and readied himself to leap as high as he possibly could. He pushed off with all his might, his legs stretching out as he soared upward, effortlessly reaching a height of over fifty feet. His eyes widened in shock as he marveled at his achievement. However, the realization of how high he was quickly set in, causing him to panic and let out a short scream as he aimed for the ground.
Although a bit scuffed, the impact on the ground left minor damage to him. He felt overall okay after standing back up.
"There isn't much time for you to get comfortable with these newfound abilities, but we could at least prepare your mind." Priamus said. With a calm gesture, he invited Gohan to sit down beside him. "I want you to take a few deep breaths with me ok?" Gohan nodded in response.
Priamus took a breath first, with Gohan following along, and after a few breaths they finished. Priamus moved to sit in front of Gohan. "When you go in there, inevitably, you will freeze." He said, bluntly. "We can't fully prevent that but again we can prepare your mind to lessen the effect."
With a solemn expression, Priamus continued. "Fear and doubt can be a fighter's greatest weaknesses, they cloud your judgment and hinder your ability to fight." He explained. "But one can alleviate it by preparing their mental state and keeping their emotions under control."
Gohan tilted his head. "But how do breathing exercises help in combat?" He asked.
Priamus smiled. "When we take deep breaths, our bodies automatically begin to relax," he explained. "This is because breathing deeply sends a signal to our brains to calm down and release tension. It's a simple yet powerful way to prepare yourself for battle."
Gohan nodded, intrigued. "But what if it's hard to stay calm in the heat of the moment?" he asked.
Priamus nodded in understanding. "It can be challenging to stay focused when adrenaline is pumping through your veins," he agreed. "But that's why you need to remember why you're there in the first place and to remain calm. If you can keep that in mind, it may help you focus."
He raised an index finger. "Another important thing to remember is your training," Priamus continued. "I may have not taught you many techniques but all I have taught you is the basics and the basics are often what we look back to when we build our foundations."
"Even the most skilled fighters rely on their fundamentals." Priamus said. "Master any complex technique in the world but without your foundations like a house you will crumble. These will build your fighting style as you progress."
Priamus looked at Gohan. "Are you ready for some more breathing exercises?" He asked. Gohan nodded in response.
Gohan had been exercising his breathing for about twenty minutes when a prison guard approached him. "Come, runt," the guard said brusquely. Gohan looked up at him, taken aback by the guard's rudeness. "I said come!" the guard barked.
As Gohan was escorted to the train station, Daiz and Kukmop caught sight of him as they approached Priamus's side. "Oh, Kid's gonna fight now?" Daiz asked, a smirk on his face. Priamus nodded in response. "Well, he's a goner, I bet he won't make it out."
Kukmop eagerly accepted the challenge with a covetous grin "I'll take that bet!"
Priamus, on the other hand, was unimpressed with their attitude and rolled his eyes. "Are you seriously going to bet against the kid like that?" He scolded them.
Kukmop shook his head. "What? Nah, I'm not betting against him, Daiz is!" He chuckled.
As he boarded the train and made his way to the arena, he felt a sense of trepidation and worry. Gohan swallowed hard and reassured himself that he'll be fine, taking a deep breath. It helped a bit but he couldn't shake the feeling off.
Gohan arrived behind the towering gates of one side of the Colosseum, just as the roar of the crowd became deafening. He could hear their bloodthirsty excitement, the cheers for the impending spectacle that was about to unfold. The air was thick with anticipation and the smell of sweat and fear.
As he made his way towards the arena, Gohan could feel his heart beating faster and faster. His hands were clammy, and he felt a pit in his stomach. Despite all of his training, he couldn't shake off the fear that had gripped him.
As he stepped into the bright sunlight, the noise of the crowd hit him like a wave. Gohan was momentarily stunned by the sea of faces in front of him, all eager for bloodshed. He swallowed hard, feeling his fear getting the better of him.
He took a deep breath, trying to calm his nerves, but his mind was racing with doubts. What if he wasn't good enough? What if he failed? What if he got hurt? He shook his head and thought to himself that NO! He can't fail, he needs to return home, he needs to win this!
Try as he did, he still had that pit of fear resonating in the back of his mind. It wasn't long before Gohan's opponent revealed himself at the end and as always it had to be some gnarly wicked looking dude. This only made Gohan even more frightened. Again he took a breath to reassure himself, slightly suppressing the fear.
The crowd roared as the announcer's voice boomed through the arena. "Ladies and gentlemen, do you remember Nexon? The fan favorite cyborg from a couple of months ago? Well, he's back and better than ever!" The cameras zoomed in on a distant figure, sleek and streamlined with a metallic exterior. Nexon's pointed cybernetic head glinted under the bright lights of the arena, and his piercing green eyes radiated a powerful, otherworldly energy.
Despite the metallic appearance, Nexon still retained some of his organic features. The area around both of his forearms and his lower legs were still flesh and bone, adding a unique touch to his formidable appearance.
"And as for our next fighter," the announcer continued, "we have another fan favorite returning after just a week since his last fight. Give it up for Gohan!" The cameras shifted to focus on Gohan, who was met with mixed reactions from the crowd. While some cheered, others booed, indicating that he had some criticism to overcome from his previous fights.
"It appears we have some skeptics in the audience due to Gohan's past performances," the announcer acknowledged. "But don't worry! He'll learn!" A wicked and evil smirk formed across his face. It was clear what they were referring to and that only made Gohan further worried.
Gohan paused to recall Priamus' teachings, taking a deep breath as he tried to steady his nerves. Despite his lingering fear, he managed to compose himself somewhat. However, as soon as the signal to begin the fight sounded, Gohan found himself freezing up. Nexon wasted no time, landing a powerful blow to Gohan's cheek with a fierce punch.
The impact was so forceful that it sent Gohan hurtling through the air, crashing into the nearest wall. A deep hole was left in the wall from the impact, and Gohan slumped against it. The crowd fell silent, a bit shocked to say the least.
"Did you see that? He was knocked out with just one hit!" shouted one spectator. "I think he might even be dead!"
A hush fell over the crowd for a few more seconds, until Gohan slowly slid off the wall and back onto the ground. Still feeling dizzy and disoriented, he narrowly dodged Nexon's fist as he regained consciousness. By the hairs on his arms, Gohan managed to avoid the incoming attack.
Nexon was quick to throw another attack, swinging his foot which Gohan ducked. There Gohan could see opportunity, he knew there was a clear shot, and could see it bright as day but he froze at the thought of throwing a punch.
As Gohan struggled to regain his bearings, Nexon seized the opportunity to deliver another crushing blow. He swung his heel down hard against Gohan's head, causing a searing, blunt pain to shoot through the top of Gohan's skull. The impact sent Gohan lurching forward, tumbling headfirst onto the unforgiving ground.
But Nexon was far from finished. With a cruel grin, he swung his foot once more, this time connecting squarely with the side of Gohan's head. The force of the blow sent Gohan hurtling through the air like a rag doll, his body flying several feet away before crashing down on the ground.
The pain was excruciating, but somehow Gohan found the strength to push himself up to his knees. His vision was swimming, the world a blurry haze around him. Nexon was already upon him, launching another vicious attack. The side of his right fist slammed brutally into Gohan's already-injured cheek, sending a fresh wave of pain rippling through his body.
Gohan's head was spinning as he struggled to stay on his feet, his body battered and bruised from the relentless assault by Nexon. Each blow seemed to hit harder than the last, and Gohan could feel his consciousness slipping away with each passing moment. The crowd watched in stunned silence as Nexon unleashed a flurry of attacks, each one more vicious than the last.
As Gohan tried to steady himself, Nexon launched a knee into his gut, causing Gohan to double over in agony. Before he could even catch his breath, Nexon jabbed his foot into the joint between Gohan's left foot and leg, causing a searing pain to shoot through his body. Gohan screamed in agony, his body convulsing with the force of the blow.
But Nexon was not finished yet. He drew back his fist and delivered a powerful blow to Gohan's face, the impact sending Gohan hurtling through the air. He flew about ten feet away and six feet in the air before crashing down hard on the unforgiving ground below.
As Gohan struggled to regain his senses, he realized that he had barely any time to think or to focus. Nexon was coming quickly after him but this time Gohan managed to get enough ground to make a narrow avoidance and as he avoided, he remembered something Priamus said to him.
"Stay light on your feet!" Gohan shook his head to snap back into reality as Nexon threw another attack and Gohan jumped back. Nexon had a speck of surprise but brushed it off and swung another attack but Gohan jumped to the side.
In a swift motion, Nexon realized the urgency of the situation and launched a punch towards Gohan's abdomen, causing him to hunch over in pain. Without wasting a moment, Nexon followed up by driving his knee into Gohan's face before seizing his arm and executing a full turn, flinging Gohan a staggering twenty yards away.
Nexon was taken aback when Gohan rose to his feet once again, blood trickling from his mouth. Despite his best efforts, Gohan found himself unable to recall anything Priamus had taught him, his mind stubbornly blank.
Overwhelmed by fear, Gohan was defenseless against Nexon's next attack. Nexon landed a spinning back kick on Gohan's lower chest, sending him hurtling six feet away and crashing into the wall with great force.
The impact was so powerful that it left a noticeable dent in the wall behind Gohan as he fell to the ground. When Nexon walked up to Gohan, he was surprised again by Gohan's resilience.
"You still breathe? I underestimated you." Nexon's voice was cold and partially robotic. "I figured you are weak given your youthfulness but I see there is more than meets the eye. Too bad you, I will have to kill you here."
Gohan's eyes widened. "K-Kill? N-No, I can't die, I..I need help! Somebody help!" He panicked in thought. He instantly realized that no one will come to help, no one ever has before, how could he forget…except Priamus did. Nexon grabbed Gohan by the collar of his shirt and charged his fist.
"Perhaps you will do better in the otherworld." Nexon said.
An overwhelming sense of dread and fear sunk quickly into Gohan as he feared the worst. "N-No! NO! PLEASE!" He tried to utter the words himself but he left his own mouth hung open. As Nexon's fist came towards Gohan, his own life flashed before his very eyes.
"When you are unable to find yourself concentrated, remind yourself why you are fighting."
"I'm fighting…because…BECAUSE I WANT TO GO HOME!"
"What is it that you hear beneath the layers of the Waterfall and what is it that makes a waterfall?"
Gohan snapped, his aura raged ferociously as he deflected Nexon's incoming fist and broke away from Nexon's grip. Gohan launched back and Nexon, as well as the audience were all taken aback.
"I supposed this means round two?" Nexon said, an excited smirk forming on his face. He took a stance and charged forward simultaneously as Gohan did. Gohan hurled his fist which Nexon blocked with his right arm.
Nexon launched a powerful punch with his left fist, aimed at Gohan's head, but he dropped to the ground in a split second, avoiding the attack. Gohan swiftly moved on all fours towards Nexon, determined to get the upper hand in the fight. However, the cybernetic fighter was ready for Gohan's advance and quickly raised his knee, intending to strike Gohan in the gut.
But Gohan was not one to be caught off guard. With lightning-fast reflexes, he adapted to the situation by pressing his hands firmly against Nexon's knee, using it as a springboard to launch himself higher in the air.
The maneuver caught Nexon off guard, allowing Gohan to evade the attack and gain the upper hand in the battle. The two fighters continued to clash, each one determined to emerge victorious in this intense and electrifying combat.
"Be like the water, adapt to your surroundings."
In the midst of a heated combat, Gohan executed a swift kick towards Nexon's head with the intention of taking him down. However, Nexon, with his agile reflexes, dodged the attack by swiftly leaping to the side. Not giving Gohan a moment's respite, Nexon immediately countered with a forceful kick of his own as Gohan landed on the ground.
Anticipating the attack, Gohan reacted quickly and performed a graceful flip, using both arms to defend against the incoming strike. The sound of the clash reverberated through the air as the two warriors engaged in a fierce battle of strength and skill.
"Cross your arms to block an attack if you can't dodge."
The crowd cheered excitedly, soon bets were placed on both fighters to see who would win, now that it was unclear.
As Gohan charged forward with determination, Nexon remained calm and composed, calculating his next move. With a swift sidestep, he easily avoided Gohan's attempted kick, causing the warrior's foot to collide with the wall instead. However, Gohan quickly adapted to the situation, using the wall as a propelling force to launch himself back into the fight and throw another attack at Nexon.
The cybernetic fighter was not to be caught off guard this time. As Gohan's foot came crashing towards him, Nexon swiftly ducked to evade the attack. However, to his surprise, Gohan quickly followed up by slamming his heel forcefully into the back of Nexon's skull, copying his earlier move. The impact sent Nexon reeling forward, stunned by the sheer force of the blow.
Nexon quickly recovered, distanced himself over thirty yards then rushed back to Gohan. Gohan prepared himself for Nexon but as Nexon approached, he vanished. Suddenly, he could only see bits and pieces of dirt being kicked in various spots.
"W-Where'd he go?" Gohan wondered. A strike was sent to his right cheek, causing Gohan to stumble a bit, then another strike against his other cheek was sent, causing Gohan to fall back. "I..I can't see hi-." Gohan stopped, instantly remembering another thing Priamus had told him.
"Don't look for your opponent, feel their movements."
Gohan took a deep breath and focused, his eyes moved to the areas where he heard a piece of dirt kicked up. "Come on…" Taking another deep breath, Gohan relaxed his body, preparing for any imminent attacks. In an instant, his head darted to the right as he spotted Nexon approaching him from eight feet away.
Without hesitation, Gohan sprang into action, leaping high into the air and using the wall behind him as a platform to propel himself even further. But Nexon was not one to be caught off guard. As Gohan soared through the air, Nexon quickly turned and unleashed a powerful energy blast in his direction. The blast streaked towards Gohan, threatening to engulf him in a blazing inferno.
Dodging the initial energy blast, Gohan swiftly descended to the ground, but he was soon confronted by another blast hurtling towards him. He attempted to evade it by leaping to the side, but unfortunately, the blast struck him before he could escape, propelling him 20 feet away and leaving a stinging, burning sensation on his skin.
Gohan grimaced in agony, his hand instinctively reaching up to his cheek as he struggled to rise to his feet. However, before he could regain his bearings, Nexon charged towards him with unparalleled speed and unleashed a powerful punch, landing squarely on Gohan's right cheek with a sickening thud. The sheer force of the blow sent Gohan hurtling through the air, spinning uncontrollably as he sailed a staggering fifty feet away before finally crashing to the ground in a heap.
Gasping for breath and wincing in pain, Gohan struggled to make sense of what had just happened. He could feel the throbbing pain in his cheek and a dull ache in his ribs. Before he knew it, Nexon made another advance, slamming his knee into Gohan's gut yet again, causing Gohan to double over again.
Nexon leveled a harsh critique at Gohan. "Your lack of experience is evident. You leave yourself open, which makes it easy for me to strike you in the stomach," he stated bluntly. He continued, "I think it's time to end this."
With that, Nexon lunged forward and thrust his foot into Gohan's chest, causing another rib to crack under the force of the blow. Gohan was launched off the ground, flying a foot above the surface for a distance of twenty yards before finally skidding to a halt. Dazed and gasping for breath, Gohan panicked at the thought of being finished off by Nexon.
Summoning all his willpower, Gohan struggled to his feet, determined to defend himself. But before he could even raise his arms, Nexon delivered a powerful punch to the side of Gohan's face, causing him to stumble and fall back to the ground.
Nexon's hand was enveloped in a sinister reddish energy, giving it an artificial appearance. He formed a chop with his fingers straight, and a wave of fear washed over Gohan as he watched him approach.
Desperately, Gohan attempted to rise to his feet, but his legs were unresponsive, and he found himself struggling to even stand. His mind raced as he searched for a way out of this dangerous situation, but it seemed as though Nexon had the upper hand, and there was nothing he could do to stop him.
The air crackled with energy as Nexon closed in on Gohan, his chop aimed squarely at his vulnerable form. As Nexon's hand made but an inch of distance between it and Gohan, something inside Gohan snapped.
With lightning-fast reflexes, Gohan sprang to his feet, narrowly evading Nexon's chop. Reacting instinctively, he deflected the blow with his right hand and then immediately began to gather an immense amount of energy in his left hand.
The energy swirled and coalesced, gradually forming into a massive, pulsating sphere of raw power. Gohan could feel the energy coursing through his veins, and his heart raced with excitement as he prepared to unleash his devastating attack.
Without hesitation, Gohan thrust his charged hand forward, aiming directly for Nexon's gut. The sphere of energy erupted from his hand, unleashing a colossal wave of force that engulfed Nexon in a blinding explosion of light and sound.
As the smoke and dust settled, the arena fell silent once again, the only sound the soft rustle of debris settling. Slowly, the haze began to dissipate, revealing Nexon on the ground, his cybernetic enhancements visibly damaged. His legplates were scorched and burnt to the wires, and his upper right shoulder had partially melted.
Gohan, on the other hand, was barely standing, panting heavily and disoriented. His mind was clouded, and he struggled to make sense of what had just happened. It was as if he had experienced some form of short-term amnesia, leaving him confused and bewildered.
Despite his condition, it was clear that Gohan had emerged victorious. The crowd erupted into a mix of cheers and jeers, some ecstatic that their chosen fighter had won, while others were furious at having lost their bets.
The announcer's voice boomed across the arena, cutting through the noise. "Can you believe it folks? In some kind of miraculous victory, Gohan has won! But wait...there's one thing left for him to do, and that is to FINISH HIM!"
The crowd began to chant for Gohan to finish Nexon once and for all, their voices thundering through the stadium. But for Gohan, the pressure was almost unbearable. His heart pounded in his chest as fear and panic gripped him.
"K-Kill him? I...I can't!" He stammered in thought, his mind racing. Suddenly, a sharp pain shot through his head, and he collapsed to his knees, his hands clutching at his temples.
Memories flooded his mind, memories of his earlier battle with Balegar.
"N-No. I can't! I can't!" Gohan muttered. Again the crowd chanted louder and louder. Gohan shook his head, his mind instinctively resorting to the one thing it could rely on, and that was his father. He stood up again and clenched his fist. "No!"
The spectators in the arena wore expressions of sadistic pleasure as they watched the scene unfold. Gohan struggled to regain his balance after the guard's punch, but before he could do so, he was hit with a powerful surge of electricity. He fell to the ground, convulsing and gasping for breath as his body writhed in pain.
The guard stood tall and intimidating. "Either finish him or you'll suffer severe punishment!" He yelled. Gohan spat the blood out of his mouth onto the ground, a frown formed on his face and when he faced the guard it became an angry smirk.
"No! Never!" Gohan yelled. "I won't become murderers like you guys!"
The guard chuckled wickedly, his eyes glinting with sadistic pleasure. "You want to be defiant, fine!" he snarled, pulling out a trident from a sheath on his back. The trident crackled with electricity as the guard aimed it at Gohan.
Stopping an inch away from Gohan, a powerful voltage coursed through his body, making him scream in agony and causing his muscles to convulse uncontrollably. After five excruciating seconds, the guard let up, waiting to see Gohan's condition.
To his surprise, Gohan was still conscious, albeit barely. The guard sneered and amped up the trident's voltage. "A resilient one, huh?" he jeered, throwing the trident at Gohan once again. This time, the voltage was too much for Gohan to handle. His body trembled uncontrollably, and not even a scream could escape his lips as he fell unconscious, seconds after the guard stopped the attack.
To be continued…
A/N: I forgot to update the document in my doc manager, my bad. Anyways don't forget to check out the casting call for the audiodrama if u want.