The Unnamed Poet : Volume 1

Chapter 19 : Benedict Titterington

-Gina- «Surrender? Preposterous notion. One of my distinction would never dream of capitulating»
-Kumiko K- «Oh shut up you pompous bitch... I said I give up. Now shoo»
-Gina- «Surely you jest. To admit defeat in the face of adversity would be the height of ignominy»
-Kumiko K- «Fuck off. You piss me off and I barely understand you»
Gina looked at Kumiko with a shocked expression at first before she burst into laughter. Gina had her hand on her face before she suddenly went serious for her nails scratched her own face. She approached Kumiko and placed a hand on her collar.
-Gina- «I. Will. Fucking. End. You»
The intercom suddenly spoke up within the room.
-MD- «Miss Gina. Please refrain from using violence against fellow players»
Nii Gina let Kumiko go before she started walking away. Toru instinctively jumped to the side as Gina's road had Toru in front of it. Toru rushed to Kumiko immediately.
-Toru- «Kumi-cchi! Why did you do that! You could lose now!»
-Kumiko K- «Relax Toru. I hardly think I am part of the main competition anymore»
-Toru- «... w-what do you mean?»
-Kumiko K- «First up. The original contest had a ranking system. Which I was not a part of. Plus if I were to win here it'd be a similar result but rather I'd have a victory instead»
-Toru- «Isn't... is that not a good thing? (She sure is confident)»
-Kumiko K- «No. I would not get into the club I wanted to enter... I want to be the leader of the club that my friends are in... it would be better if I knew which club they were in...»
-Toru- «Hmmm... which people?»
-Kumiko K- «You don't know em... some guys I know. Shiro Shiro is one of them»
-Toru- «If you wanna know what club he's in why not ask?»
-Kumiko K- «... ask?»
-Toru- «Yeah. You do have one victory. You can expend the points you earned to find out where your friends are»
-Kumiko K- «... thanks Toru... I'll be doing that!»
-Toru- «No worries!»
-MD- «Miss Kobashigawa! Since everyone has left and you still need to finish a match. Please move towards those doors!»
MD said as two thick iron doors opened up, they were inviting her. Toru looked at her as if he was wishing her good luck as he waved at her. Kumiko waved back and left.
-MD- «Be sure miss Kumiko! This is a special challenge... so you get to add bets!»
-Kumiko K- «Yeah yeah... thanks MD... now. I wanna ask you a question»
Kumiko... walked through those doors.
Meanwhile at club 33, a few days remain for the elections to start. Shiro was sitting over the corpses of Shiro Tohru and Shiro Kira. He felt awful, he was supposed to be the leader of his clan and yet he let something like this happen. Matsuzaki Kame was now approaching to bring back these two to life.
-Kame- «You mope around far too much. Young Shiro, it shall be fine. I am here to help... but God... they look like an opened cocoon. As if something was living inside and now sprung outside leaving an empty husk. Their state is horrific. If it was not for me. They would never stand a chance»
-Shiro- «Why you!—»
Shiro about to burst into another outrage was stopped by a cold elegant hand on his shoulder, it was Kitamura Savanah. Kame did not even flinch.
-Savanah- «Shiro-Kun... please calm yourself... Mr. Matsuzaki will bring them back. I've worked with him before so I know he is not a liar. And... he's really capable too...»
-Shiro- «... I'm sorry. Savanah... it is just hard to believe that someone would kill over such trivial matters. That Benedict Titterington... I'll make sure I beat him up one day... I promise»
-Savanah- «It's in your best interest to not be hostile against him Shiro-Kun... he's much stronger than you. Even right now. We do not really stand a chance against him. Not in the state we are now... please remain calm. I do not want any more death...»
Shiro glanced at Savanah who teared up a bit at that thought. He kept to himself and did not continue. Shiro tried to keep himself composed. But then Kame's surprised face created a deafening silence.
-Kame- «I cannot revive them...»
-Shiro- «You can't revive them?! WHY?!»
Shiro started to grow more upset by the second as he grabbed Kame by the collar of his neck behind him. Kame slapped Shiro's hand away.
-Kame- «Do not touch me young Shiro! Listen up. Those two no longer possess the soul. I need one person's soul to bring them back otherwise it is impossible. So instead of getting upset, get the fact that they are dead through your thick skull okay?!»
Shiro almost snapped before a man spoke up, Archive Vinogradov was walking alongside Hagatsuma Kumiko and a familiar face, Sawa Koji.
-Archive- «That is enough... Shiro. You should leave, you need to rest»
-Shiro- «Hey Archive what the hell!—»
-Koji- «Shut up»
An intimidating gaze was coming from Koji's eyes. Shiro instantly stepped back as Koji glared into his very soul. He did not need to speak any longer. Koji lost his respect for Shiro. Shiro on the other hand, so overwhelmed by his emotion switched the placed of him and a woman in front of Benedict and stared into his eyes.
-Benedict- «... you're in the way, move it»
-Shiro- «I saw it in your eyes. You feared me. For a moment, did you not. Scum...»
Benedict looked into his eyes. Not a single sign of anger was coming out of them and instead he raised his arm that was filled with cracks.
-Benedict- «That's true. In order to be safe I will eliminate you right now and evade MD»
And as his arm was coming closer to the Shiro who just spoke without thinking of the consequences. Sawa Koji, Hagatsuma Kumiko, Archive Vinogradov, Kitamura Savanah, Toma Shig, Isobe Tamotsu, Ikeda Kiyomi and Bando Paghos appeared around Benedict about to attack him.
-Savanah- «Hey...»
-Paghos- «Move a single finger and...»
-Kumiko H- «We will kill you»
-Benedict- «Ah... I suppose like him I'm a parasite to you guys...»
-MD- «PLEASE NO VIOLENCE EVERYONE!»
-Shig- «Shit up stupid machine! We want this guy out of the club! Out! Out!»
Shig said and most of the club nodded. Mostly because of fear, it was then that MD said something interesting.
-MD- «You can do that after your club leader is chosen! If they agree along the majority of this club you can kick out anyone!»
Everyone in the room was surprised by the statement, Benedict aside. As everyone seemed to be surrounding Benedict. He teleported away from them to an empty space. But that was not the case. Benedict simply used an ability that he recently obtained. It's a time stopping ability that when he stops time he cannot attack nor harm anyone. It has a cooldown, once every three days.
-Benedict- «... I did not move a finger. So you cannot attack me, right?»
Not only was his statement pissing everyone off, it was true too, considering MD does not allow for violence... unless.
-Shig- «Shut up you fucking cunt. You tried to kill my friend there! I challenge you! I don't wanna wait for the elections! I challenge you! Whoever loses has to go into any club the winner picks!»
-Benedict- «You sure that's a good idea? I know the clubs better than you know your own hand»
-Shig- «Jokes on you I am a fucking idiot! I challenge you! Accept!»
-Benedict- «... it will be a five minute short battle. The winner is the one who is in better condition by the end of the five minutes, unless the opponent is knocked out. In that case the winner is the one still conscious. You agree on those terms?»
-Shig- «Yeah! Fight me you punk! You're built like a twig! I'd easily destroy you!»
-Benedict- «Yeah yeah. MD. The fight is certain and bets are places. We shall fight in this corner»
-MD- «UNDERSTOOD! EVERYONE KEEP YOUR DISTANCE! I will make sure of the crowds safety. So you two can go all out in that corner!»
Everyone was watching, Kumiko felt slightly worried and Archive was curious. Kame and Savanah were also staring at Shig who so recklessly challenged Benedict Titterington. It's a battle between the most infamous potential versus the most infamous fighter. Benedict Titterington VS Toma Shig.
-Shig- «You sure you want a corner? Fighting me in a one on one here is a lost cause»
-Benedict- «It will be fine»
-MD- «Five minutes start... NOW!»
Shig used a leopards legs for a quick acceleration and then two silverback gorillas to enhance the strength of his upper body. He threw an attack and Benedict effortlessly dodged.
-Benedict- «You are a terrible user of your ability. If I had it I'd be able to kill everyone here»
-Shig- «Shut up! All you do is use other people's abilities!»
Shig did the same attacking pattern to attack Benedict but this time he used a squirrels vision. He thought he would land this kick but Benedict stood there taking the hit to the head. But nothing happened.
-Benedict- «Newton's three law of motion : Third Law, removal of reaction»
Said Benedict as cracks started to move through Shig's legs. He jumped back and cut his own leg off. He then used all 5 of his animal forms to summon the regeneration of the axolotl. And due to Shig's sheer ability power, it started to regrow already.
-Benedict- «I see. So I don't have to harm your soul, but you can harm people's souls. Interesting. If you hit me well even once I'd die... that explains why my head is bleeding from that kick even though I used Geiichi's ability»
-Shig- «... you used that crying girls power to boost the durability of your soul even by a little did you not?»
-Benedict- «No, I cannot perceive the soul like you do. I used double boost to increase my likelihood of survival. Alongside danger sense I was able to react a bit too. In layman's terms, I used double boost to increase the durability of my hair. That added a small protective wall between your kick and my head, normally the hair would have been pushed but due to Geiichi's ability, my hair did not move. So I was able to save myself»
-Shig- «... what about the cracks... if they were on your head you would be dead»
-Benedict- «My ear. It was covered in the cracks but I hid it using my hair»
-MD- «ONE MINUTE HAS PASSED!»
Midori who was also watching from the crowd was getting increasingly scared. Geiichi's ability, he did not fight him but he heard a lot about him from Kumiko.
-Midori- «... newton's three law of motion... that's the ability that Otsumichi Geiichi possessed...»
Then Yukiko who was also watching next to Midori spoke up.
-Yukiko- «Yeah... that's weird is it not... you know. Now that I think about it, shouldn't Geiichi have joined this club if he survived?»
-Midori- «... Your point stands a bit but not much. But if what you say is indeed true, then Geiichi is... dead?»
Shig looked at Benedict who was fighting him right now. He was obviously going to be trouble. But what could he do? He had an idea.
-Shig- «Suck on that!»
He transformed two of his hands into several tentacles flying towards Benedict, these tentacles were also enhanced by the strength of three silverback gorillas plus alongside the vision of a squirrel he possessed, his attacks became faster and stronger than the previous ones. Not only that but he was using multiple attacks, that means newton's third law couldn't be used!
-Benedict- «Pathetic»
Benedict lifted his finger and a small water ball appeared.
-Benedict- «Miniature Water Ball. Scatter»
The small sphere of liquid burst, all of these went on Shig's tentacles, the moment the water droplets touches the tentacles they burst through them making holes in his tentacles.
-Benedict- «Newton's first law of motion, resistance to motion, inertia, defied + Double boost of the water's destructive range»
By that simple order, Benedict utilized such a weak ability of a miniature water ball into such a dangerous weapon. The tantacle Shig has summoned had larger holes than originally supposed to, that is all due to doubling their destructive range. Say it would make a 2cm hole. Now it would make a 4cm hole.
But Shig, even through that pain wanted to beat him up. So all of the tentacles kept moving and attacked him simultaneously.
-Benedict- «Ah... damn»
Benedict jumped in the air using double boost and the tentacles moved to wrap around him.
-Benedict- «That won't work. Toma Shig»
And so the tentacles, magically missed.
-Shig- «H-how?!»
-Benedict- «... The Lottery Paradox. If one is uncertain, he will not hit. I told you it would not work to create doubt in your mind. And therefore none of your attacks worked»
Or so did Benedict think. Shig had a secret tentacle that split from his body ready to attack behind him. But Benedict turned around immediately. There was on sound though...
-Benedict- «Echolocation + Danger Sense»
He would say before jumping upwards and slamming his foot on the tentacle spreading cracks all over it.
-MD- «TWO MINUTES PASSED!»
From the crowd Archive was staring at them.
-Archive- «... Kumiko»
-Kumiko H- «Yeah... that's the ability of that annoying cunt. That luck bastard. He died during our selection»
-Archive- «Ah Jurou died... I see... that Benedict. How many abilities do you think he has?»
-Kumiko H- «... no idea. He probably has dozens but. I can guess most of them are useless in this scenario»
-Archive- «Maybe...»
-Shig- «You asshole... how many cracks have you got saved up...»
-Benedict- «... a lot... now. Only you've been attacking. It would be rude if I were to not go at you too now. Your foot has healed too so... about time don't you agree?... Death Scope + True Sight»
Suddenly Benedict's eyes glowed and had target marks on them. Shiro was more shocked than anyone as he watched from the crowd.
-Shiro- «Those are... the abilities of Kira and Tohru...»
-Savanah- «For real?!»
Shig looked at him smiling as he withdrew the tentacles and covered his whole body in some sort of shell armor.
-Shig- «(Muffled) TRY AND HARM ME ASSHOLE!»
Suddenly he was already there and placed his hand on the shell.
-Benedict- «You know. If you die here, I won't be penalized... you fool... crevice»
And a few more cracks raised up to the shell to crack it open... but it was empty. Shig planned an attack from behind to catch Benedict off guard! As soon as he tried to attack him he saw the cracks from the broken shell traveled through the floor to his feet breaking one of them open as he managed to pull the other one behind. He still went for the hit but Benedict turned around his head.
-Benedict- «Surprise attacks don't work on me slowpoke»
Using Danger Sense, Echolocation and now his newfound sight he could see where Shig was. True Sights usually helps Benedict from illusions which weren't there but he wanted to use it just in care. Death scope on the other hand is able to find the weak spots of any living organism it sees. That shell did not have that... no it's more fair to call it a cocoon.
-Benedict- «Suffer»
Benedict stepped on the side as Shig stumbled a bit due to his missing leg. Benedict pulled his leg a bit and punched Shig a bit above the stomach, a place where he could stall his breathing if he hit. Death scope found the perfect weak spot for that moment. Plus Benedict used newton's first law of motion and double boost to harm Shig even more. That punch sent him to the wall in front of them. The distance was not large so the damage was even bigger. Every bone across Shig's chest was shattered.
-Benedict- «(It's over... he cannot move nor even breath... ill finish him off using newton's third law on his head and heart. If I just destroy his head there's a chance his body automatically regenerates it. So I'll also destroy the heart, the source of all energy an ability user needs to use their powers!)»
-MD- «THREE MINUTES HAVE PASSED!»
Savanah was too scared to respond. She did not know any of them all too well but she knew what Toma Shig was capable of. She heard what he did to Aoi's group at that time and that knowledge paralyzed her, for Benedict seemed to not have a lot of trouble.
-Shiro- «This is looking bad... Shig... you're strong. So I'm sure you can win»
A figure spoke up behind him. Savanah immediately recognized him and felt relieved. It was Matsuzaki Kame.
-Kame- «No. I'd say Benedict Titterington has a large advantage in this fight. I have been in more fights than you two ever will be. So I can tell who's going to win»
Those words were not very calming for Shiro and Savanah who were worried for Shig, but they kept watching. They had hope left inside of them.
Benedict charged for Shig who could barely focus right now. Aside from Benedict running straight at him he saw cracks moving through the ground. He could not speak to resign, so it seemed like it was over.
There are a number of animals who can eject parts of their body when threatened. So Shig used five seperate species of said animals to eject his chest, arms and head to fly. Benedict made a huge dent in the wall and then raised his head to Shig who already reached eleven meters in height. He seemed to be regenerating.
-Benedict- «You're a nuisance. Just die already»
He summoned that water ball again and scattered it. Double boost plus newton's first law of motion! They were all flying at Shig. Plus Benedict used death scope to ensure that this was indeed Shig. And then the moment he saw that. Shig used his most powerful tool in his arsenal. His ability nullification. Under these circumstances he could not have used it against Benedict for most of his abilities ignored durability or used more than one ability to strike. That was true for this attack too.
But Shig used a hard shell as armor from the flying droplets and as soon as they landed used his nullification on newton's first law. He could not use it on the droplet for the damage would have occurred anyways. So he used it on the law, the shell protected him from the rest of the strike.
Then as he fell he fully focused on his regeneration and crushed on the ground using his feet. They were ruined but he grew a pair of wings to fly.
-Shig- «Neat huh?»
-Benedict- «You're a pain. End yourself»
Benedict kept shooting droplets but Shig kept using that same tactic. Without newton's laws these attacks cannot stop his hard shell. Not only that but Benedict cannot add cracks to the liquid.
-MD- «FOUR MINUTES PASSED. ONE MROE MINUTE REMAINING!»
Koji did not speak a single word, instead he kept on watching. The people he had respect for, Kumiko and Archive were watching as the fight was unfolding and so he too believed that the fight must have been of high importance. So he watched alongside Bunko, they too were unsure of the outcome. But even these two thought Benedict was winning. They were probably denying it though.
-Benedict- «You heard it you animal. Let's end this»
-Shig- «Yeah. Let's!»
Shig started flying towards Benedict but then he noticed something. The damage they caused on the surrounding space that created very small pieces of metal rubble including parts of his body that were ripped off starting flying at him.
-Benedict- «Phantom's Triad from Hihashi Miki. Let the sharpest edge land»
All of these objects flew towards Shig at the same time and created exactly three holes around his body from fifty one objects thrown. Two of which were on his wings which caused Shig to start falling.
Benedict dashed over to where Shig would land and using double boost he jumped at Shig preparing a fist. Shig saw through that and hardened his body like usual, the punch using any newton's power would do nothing! The punch landed on Shig but it did not put any force at all. Shig went pale as Benedict spoke.
-Benedict- «... crevice manipulation»
He did not have time to eject many parts of his body this time.
-Shig- «(What's should I do?! Should I just shoot my heart out. That won't work no?! What am I supposed to do oh no oh no oh no!)»
The cracks traveled a lot until MD spoke.
-MD- «Battle is over!»
Benedict then landed on the floor as pieces of Shig's legs and arms fell down. The cracks did not spread more. He looked at Shig and saw his heart beating... outside his body. He was in pain and was on the verge of death. Kiyomi and Tamotsu started running to Shig to save him.
His body... Shig's body... he w as S missing everything under his waist, there were massive holes throughout his ribcage, his arms nowhere around his body and instead scattered across the room and his half his jaw was missing. His heart still beating outside, Shig was dying. If it was not for his ability he would already be dead.
And as Tamotsu was running towards Shig, he passed by Benedict who whispered.
-Benedict- «You're next... amplifier»
Tamotsu froze for a moment but Kiyomi yelled out to him.
-Kiyomi- «Tamotsu you idiot! Come here quick and help me save him!»
Tamotsu still worried turned around and ran towards Shig. He still as in a horrible state but not he would not die. Tamotsu continued by helping Shig regenerate. And even though he did, he was exhausted and had expended all his energy just to keep himself alive. He ejected his heart just a little bit outside his body so that the cracks would not reach it. Time saved him.
Kame had also approached to help Toma Shig, he used his ability to stabilize his souls. Right now Shig needed these three people alongside his own ability to survive. Finally he was able to speak again.
-MD- «Mr. Titterington! What club do you want Mr. Toma to go to!»
-Benedict- «... send him to Michi. I'm sure he will be more than pleased»
-MD- «ALRIGHT THEN! MR. TOMA WILL GO TO CLUB NUMBER FOUR!»
Even Shig was shocked to where he was being sent, but that's not what he wanted to know right now.
-Shig- «Asshole... how do you have this much energy for your ability...»
To which Benedict responded before he walked over to the staircase to go to his room.
-Benedict- «... I do not»
Benedict was gone and most people kept their distance but some people approached him, it was Shig's friends alongside Koji and Bunko.
Kumiko remained silent. It seemed to have pained her a lot that this had happened but she kept to herself. Archive took one good look at Kumiko before he looked down.
Shig finally got up, still in pain but his body was better now, he was handed a pair of shorts to wear. Archive then approached him and before Shig had the time to explain himself, Archive punched him across the face, to which Shig did not even try to resist.
-Shig- «H-hey... hey what was that for?!»
-Archive- «... do not do anything stupid like that again... it could hurt people»
Archive was referring to his fiancée. Only he could read her, he and only he. For that reason Shig did not understand who Archive was referring to, so he looked over at Shiro who seemed pretty upset, he was already emotionally overwhelmed so that made him tear up. Then looked over to the less sad Midori and Yukiko who were rather upset of this whole matter. Shig too teared up and bowed his head.
-Shig- «I'm sorry everyone! I'm sorry I'm so stupid! I'm sorry!»
He got a small light hit on his head by Kumiko.
-Kumiko H- «... you fought well Shig... and stop crying... it annoys me»
She said as she turned around to walk away. Archive saw it. A small tear escaped her eye so he followed her and wiped it off and hiding it as if he was caressing her cheek. He knows how much she hates appearing weak and did not want to make everyone see her cry. Kumiko kept up a tough and calm demeanor as she and Archive arrived at their room. Kumiko sat down on the bed with Archive next to her. She immediately started to cry.
-Kumiko H- «Archive... these feelings I had left behind are returning... I... I don't wanna feel like that again... not like that... I... I am weak... first Shig saved me from Geiichi... and now I cannot even save him like he saved me... I'm so weak...»
-Archive- «Can you shut up... you are not weak Kumiko... there was nothing you could've done»
She turned away from him as if she was embarrassed about how she felt.
-Archive- «Do not worry. I trust that you save me one day. Well you already have when we were in Yamanashi. You do not have to do everything in order to be strong»
-Kumiko H- «But... Archive...»
-Archive- «... honey... turn around»
And so she did and Archive gave her a soft kiss. He hugged her in his arms and she felt safe in his embrace... she felt... calm...
Now Benedict Titterington was alone in the quiet of his own room. He heard his phone ringing and he picked it up.
-Benedict- «Moshi Moshi.... Hello»
-Gina- «Benedict. We are cutting the crap, I have something I need you to do»
-Benedict- «No fancy talk? This must be serious. Speak up»
-Gina- «Once the elections begin... I want you to kill Archive Vinogradov»
-Bemedict- «... well that is sudden»