I stared at the boy at the opposite end of the arena as he rolled his shoulders with a cocky smirk.
He was a year older than me, but had just gotten his powers 5 days ago. So he had more time to prepare.
We both slowly floated a foot of the ground, though my flight was visibly more stable.
'Looks like he hasn't gotten the hang of flying. His parents probably weren't kind enough to teach him. Or is it just a matter of talent? '
As we both hovered, waiting for the battle to start, I caught the sight of one of the instructors raising her hand and then bringing it down.
"Begin! "
Instantly, my opponent, N40, rushed at me crazily, swinging his fists in erratic movements.
I dodged by using my flight to fly above him and then slamed down with a hammer fist, catching him on the back of his head.
A sickening *crunch* echoed in the arena as N40 ate dirt and then skipped on the ground like a small stone over water.
I didn't give him a break, instantly speeding over to him and pushing down against his back with my knee.
I brought my elbow up and then swung it down
Once
*boom*
Twice
*crack*
Thrice
*crunch*
As I winded up for the forth time, the boy screamed at the top of his voice and broke free from under me, hitting me with a spinning back fist that caught me on the jaw.
I slammed into the wall, creating a light crack on the structure behind me, but was able to catch myself mid fall with my flight.
I looked over to find my opponent stumbling around while holding his head. His nose was gushing blood and the back of his neck and head were also bathed red.
After a second to recover, we both charged simultaneously.
He acted first again, throwing a barrage of punches, yet I moved just barely out of his reach every time using my flight. I moved my head with the few punches that connected, minimizing the damage.
(Flashback)
I watched as my mother demonstrated her skills before me, crossing my legs and focusing as hard as I could.
"Flight is one of our best and most versatile abilities. Unlike most other species who fly using gadgets or simply moving through space, us viltrumites fly by creating leverage without having to actually come in contact with any surface or material. We do not need to push off or anything. We can create our own leverage.
Unlike traditional flight of other species, we can utilize this in many different ways. We no longer lose power when attacking from awkward angles since we can just push off of our own personal leverage with our flight.
We can also add power and speed to movements like evasion, punches, kicks and such. Watch. "
She punched once, without her flight.
*boom*
A massive crack appeared on the rock.
Then she punched once with flight.
*BOOM*
The entire mountain trembled as the the whole mountain peak was blown apart.
I could do nothing but gape as my mother turned to me and said.
"Remember son. There are only three things that can save you. Strength, innovation, and luck. Don't count on that last one. Try to be as creative as possible when you can, it will help you out. "
(Flashback over)
My flight enhanced fist slamed into N40's face, turning his already broken nose into a mush of flesh, cartilage and blood dripping of his face. The blood had splattered into his eyes, making it hard for him to see.
I moved forward with a savage grin as N40 stumbled back
I spun around, delivering a spinning back fast, then spun around again hitting him with a spin kick, both to the face.
By now he was thoroughly disoriented. Seeing doubles, no balance and completely confused on where he even was.
'Brain damage, one of the viltrumites greatest weaknesses. '
He desperately stumbled forward and wrapped his arms around my shoulder, attempting a pathetic attempt at a clinch that felt more like a hug.
He regretted that desicion as a created a bit a distance between us my pushing his shoulders with my hands and then reeling my back leg back.
Before he could react, my knee slammed into his liver and dug deep, breaking a few ribs as well. He immediately let go and collapsed into the ground, heaving and coughing.
As I saw him there, laying on the ground pathetic and weak, I prepared myself. I raised my foot over his head ready to squash his skull and be done with it. But of course, it would never be that easy.
Somewhere in my head, there was a small voice, questioning and guilty.
'Does he really deserve to die? A child just as young as I am?
What did he do wrong? Isn't he scared as well? Wasn't he forced into this as well?
Am I... really okay with this? '
'Don't be ridiculous. He is your enemy. He deserves to die. Kill him! '
'But why? Is this really right? '
'It's either you or him. Right or wrong doesn't matter. Survival comes first. Morality is a luxury for those who can choose to stop fighting. Not you. '
Steeling myself, I brought my foot down, but N40 took advantage of my hesitation to compose himself and dodged my foot by rolling away. After getting up, he blasted towards me, aiming a strike at my face.
And I could feel it. If that punch lands it would kill me. It would shatter my skull and reach my brain.
For a moment, my life flashed before my eyes, and all hesitation and thoughts flew out of my mind. I formed a spear with my hand and drove it forward.
His fist and my speard hand met, and my fingertips found the gap between his knuckles and I split his entire arm in half and skewered his head from side to side.
His brain matter coated my arms and dripped onto the floor as blood splurted everywhere like a fountain.
I stood frozen as I looked at the corpse attached to my arm. Someone I had no conversation, grudge or knowledge of until today.
Slowly, I pulled his body off of my body, just in time to look at the six instructors touching down next to me, all wearing neutral expressions and surrounding me.
The lead viltrumite, the one that signaled the start of the battle, stepped forward.
She was and older woman, standing tall at 6'3 and looking down on me as I were nothing.
She had a good built into her suit, marking her status as a politician and member of the Viltrum parliament.
"Good. You have passed the trial, with substantial results. You will now be assigned to an instructor who has yet to attain adult hood with six of your peers. Be sure to perform well, and raise the might of the empire
Failure will not be tolerated. Keep that in mind. "
I barely answered, dazed by what just happened.
"Y-yes, ma'am. "
Her gaze lingered on me for a second longer before she turned away.
"Get out. "
I didn't need to be told twice. Within the next two minutes, I was out of the building and flying back home.
__________
(Viltrumite academy) :
"So? What are you gonna name him? "
Vara, stood there for a second, her mind seemingly reminiscing about something, before giving a sigh and looking forward.
"Jaxon. His name will be Jaxon. "
The viltrumite writing down the names wrote down the names with a bored look and grunted. "Alright.Next! "
Vara flew out of the door and high into the sky.
As she gazed at the sight of the sun setting on the horizon, she couldn't help but fell as if a weight had been lifet off of her chest. As if a burden she had been carrying all these years had been lifeted, just a little.
She looked down to her son, now Jaxon, speeding towards his dorm, and gave chase with a smile on her face.