Cayden's Crusade

The Bully Was Defeated

We lost focus of our blocking moves as we try to do our best para makapasa sa CER exercise and the fact that our team is also scheduled to fight in the ring against the armies. We were the one of the last teams scheduled for the fight.

We were so torn kung saan kami mag focus. "Wala naman tayong makukuhang punishment kapag natalo tayo sa fighting exercise. So, I think dapat magfocus tayo sa CER", sabi ni Brick.

"Yeah, aside from the broken bones and bruises if we lose", sabi ni Aloutte.

"Ganito na lang", sabi ko. "Focus muna tayo sa fight since ngayong week na tayo sasabak sa ring. Once done, win or lose, pero syempre mas maganda kung panalo tayo, patuloy tayo sa CER. We still have one week after the fight para pagfocusan ang CER."

"Sounds good to me", sabi ni Holden na dala dala ang bagong luto niyang omelette.

Everyone agreed with it.

We practiced and focused para sa fighting exercise namin against the armies.
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Get up! I shouted inside my head as the cheers of the armies echoed throughout the training complex. It was Zinny's turn to fight a girl from the army. The blocking moves that we practiced work the first time. I was the first to fight inside the ring. I won without much difficulty and bruises. Aloutte was the second and she won too. Brick, Clovis, Nereus and the others na sumabak sa ring on the first day won as well. However, it seemed like the armies figured out that we have made moves that can counter their attacks and now, on the second day of the fight, they were using completely different moves. One that we have never seen before.

Zinny staggered back up. She's barely standing. She looked at her opponent with determination. She did not move but instead  waited for her opponent to attack her. The army girl prepared to give Zinny a kicked which she was able to dodge. And another kick again,  Zinny fell with a thud. She stood back up again. Her back is already on the ropes connecting the two posts of the boxing ring. She's leaning on it for support to stand up. Her face, filled with pain but still determined to win. The girl kicked again which Zinny was able to block. She was holding her opponent's leg. And with the last strength left on her body, she lifted the army girl and threw her outside the ring.

Zinny won. And the complex was filled with the Rangers' cheers.

The army girl lay down on the floor, defeated, receiving boos frm her fellow recruits.

Zinny went out of the boxing ring, her left leg limping. Aloutte and Myron who was done with the fight yesterday helped her go to the clinic to fix her leg.

I became worried of what might happen to the others. Then an idea came. I called those who were about to fight. "Look, they already know that we can block their usual moves so they're using different attacks now.  You have to win as early as possible or you'll suffer more than Zinny".

"Yeah, they looked really pissed now. If looks could kill, we've already died a thousand times", Chava said referring to the dagger looks the armies are throwing at us.

"Here's what to do", I told them. " So far, we only used the blocking moves against them. We were able to execute those moves effectively dahil nakopya natin yung mga nagamit nilang attack moves", I looked at each of them. Tumango sila. "This time, you use their attack moves against them. Take them by surprise, again".

They smiled. "You're a genius, Cayden", Holden said.

"Let's win this! ", I said as we placed our hands together on the circle we've formed.

They did listen and the plan worked! The armies did not expect that we'll use their own attacks against them. And it was satisfying to see them fall as my teammates defeated them one by one.

It was now the ranger's cheers that filled the complex. Some armies sulked in the corner who can not believe that they were defeated.

Lazslo was the last person to fight in the ring. He combined the defense and attack moves. And as a final attack, he jumped landing on his opponent's back. Then his knees wrapped the poor armies neck. He fell down as Lazslo jerked his body towards the ground. It was a move I've never seen before.

"That was amazing!", I said.

Brick told me that they learned that while they were still on the Circu. It was a difficult move so they did not teach it to us yet. "One of these days, we'll teach that to you".

Shouts and cheers filled the complex as the fight ended with the rangers winning. Rangers from the other team would come to our seats to congratulate or hug us. They shared our happiness of the armies defeat.

The voices died down as someone went up the boxing ring. It was one of the trainers. "Great fight, guys", he said though his voice shows no enthusiasm or happiness.

"Now, since all the armies was defeated, one of their best fighters wants to have another fight to bring back their honor. But, the question is, are you brave enough to accept the challenge? ", He said the last eight words with emphasis.

Whispers here and there. Nobody said anything. The best fighter that the trainer was referring to was Thanos. Who would ever want to fight him? The Ranger that he fought with last month nearly died. He beated him to a pulp. But the way that the trainer said the question means that if no one from the ranger agrees to fight Thanos, we are all cowards.

"They're trying to set us up", Chava said. Then she looked at me sternly, "Don't ever fall for that. We still need you for the CER."

" So, you're just gonna let that trainer call us cowards? ", I asked.

" Come on,  Cayden. That's just your pride. In the end,  we'll be fighting the dwellers not them", Naila said in which she have a point.

"So, no one is brave enough to fight him? ", the trainer said.

There were gasps as somebody, a ranger, went up the ring." I will fight him!"

Thanos smirked. It was Tarquin who went up the ring. We were all silent. What was he thinking? Even the trainer smiled evilly as he saw that it was just Tarquin.

"Did you miss my fist, new bean? ", Thanos sneered.

The whole army recruits laughed.
The trainer went out the ring and pulled the bell signaling the fight to start.

Nobody from the rangers said anything. As if, we all know the result.  Tarquin will either die or be beaten worse than the ranger that Thanos fought with.

But as I looked at Tarquin, he seemed different from the meek boy we saw at the pantry. He stood inside the ring confidently. Observing Thanos' every move as he circled him.

Thanos attacked him but he was able to deflect it. I'm sure of it now. Tarquin has changed completely. He's sure of his every move as if he can predict Thanos' movement. And before we can process what really happened, Thanos fell flat right to his face. He did not move, he was unconscious! A moment of silence filled the whole complex. The rangers, awed by what Taquin has done and the armies, unbelieving that the person they were bullying defeated their best fighter in less than a minute.

Then, we all cheered for Tarquin. Giving the armies constant boos. Tarquin smiled at someone behind us. When I looked at the direction he was looking, I saw her. I looked at Tarquin again. I was right. He was smiling at her. And she gave him a smile, a sincere smile that she never gave us, and a thumbs up before she walked out the complex.

I felt a pang of jealousy. For how many nights I was dreaming for those pale green eyea to look at me. My enthusiasm for our victory faded.

Everyone was on celebration mood. We won, Thanos the Great Bully was defeated and Zinny's leg was already fine after a few fix in the clinic. I should be happy, right? But it was her smiling face, looking at Tarquin, that made it all uncelebratory.

I laid down my bed as they took turns to tell Zinny, Myron and Alloutte how the fight went when they were in the clinic.

I closed my eyes, hoping to see her smiling at me and not at Tarquin.