Three Spheres

Chapter 24 - Circle

_ Good afternoon, Johan. Let's have fun, shall we? _ Deodoro says while adjusting his gloves _ However, I will not take it easy on you. I promised Nayla.

_ Yes, please. _ Johan's eyes shine _ I also won't hold back.

Johan is positioned a few meters from the target. Lavigne hands him a blunt metal bar and then begins the challenge. At the same moment, the boy moves forward. With a lateral jump, he attacks Deodoro, but the Veneficus effortlessly defends himself with a barrier... What surprises him, is that it also bulges. Johan slides back, but soon hits the barrier in a new direction. With a jump, he delivers a powerful vertical blow.

Deodoro defends again and, with a strong breeze, drives his opponent just a few centimeters away. Johan picks up momentum and, turning his torso, hits the baton against the barrier again, until... the weapon breaks.

_ Ah! _ Deodoro exclaims _ Mrs. H-...!

But he is interrupted by a punch from Johan that approaches at high speed. Instantly, the Veneficus turns away and, with the tip of his fingers, touches Johan's ribs. Almost muttering, he pronounces:

_ Pulse.

Johan flies away, but lands easily and soon approaches again. "I think I'm going to have to attack too. Just defending will be difficult...", Deodoro thinks, with a smile, while conjuring up a giant ice stalactite. Johan deflects and hits the icy formation with his elbows. The large fragment that breaks he hurls towards Deodoro.

He defends himself by destroying the block in midair. However, among the fragments, Johan's silhouette approaches like an arrow. Deodoro builds a stone wall around himself, but it breaks with the impact of a kick.

Finally, Johan stops. He shows a painful expression while squeezing his dislocated knee. With a merciless jerk, he returns the joints in position. Deodoro feels a deep empathic pain, but Johan's gaze does not let him feel any mercy. It doesn't take long before the Aberration strikes again, with a series of punches from different directions. Deodoro remains astonished.

As Johan's hands get closer, Deodoro forms a barrier after the other. Until, suddenly, Johan pass his hands through the converging margins. Deodoro hesitates and the barrier breaks down. Finally, Johan hits him, but he manages to stay inside the circle using a strong gush of air. Taking advantage of the momentum, he delivers a flaming kick.

Johan swerves and steps back. He says:

_ You use several of these "high energy" spells... Aren't you tired?

_ It takes much more than this to overload me, Johan. _ Deodoro says, relieved to have a second of rest.

_ So Amadeo's really weak... Hmph. _ He massages one of his wrists.

_ Not quite. He's just inexperienced. _ Deodoro bends down _ You are too.

With those words, he pulls up a set of enchanted chains that rise from the ground. Johan jumps to dodge, but soon catches one with his hands. He pulls it strongly and Deodoro almost loses his balance. The dust lifts.

A tug of war is established, but Deodoro does not cease his attacks with the other chain. Johan takes the blows without losing his posture and approaches running. He slides across the floor and, leaning on both hands, rises with a twist. His kicks hit the Veneficus and his feet almost touch the edges of the circle. A new sequence of punches begins, but Deodoro cannot understand how they are getting stronger and stronger.

Johan's hands are covered with the titanic carapace and he is no longer inhibited by the pain of his own blows. "He has an overwhelming presence. With that speed and strength... He doesn't give me a break", Deodoro thinks, already having difficulty blocking all the attacks. "How tiring...", he concludes.

Suddenly, a huge long-handled axe comes flying from the mezzanine and falls in front of the combatants. The two stop and look back, facing Emília with a furious expression. She screams:

_ You WEAKLINGS! Get it over with!!

Lavigne yells at Emília not to interfere. At the same time, Johan takes the axe with one hand, while Deodoro smiles at the woman. The young man takes advantage of the small distraction to swing the weapon close to the ground. Deodoro jumps and lands on the blade, making a downward motion with both hands. Johan feels an absurd weight that prevents him from continuing the attack. The axe touches the ground and starts to sink when Deodoro says:

_ Gravity.

Johan fights against the pressure and, supporting the handle against his shoulder, he manages to lift Deodoro, who falls, still inside the circle. He gets up at the same time as Johan prepares another blow. While the movements are orchestrated, Emília shouts:

_ Ohh! Johan! You're a monster, aren't you?!

He hesitates.

Deodoro uses the chance to start a new spell. Touching Johan's forehead, he says:

_ Slumber...

Johan's eyes close slowly and the axe falls as soon as his body starts to hanging down... However, before falling, he grabs Deodoro's collar, bringing him along to the ground... outside of the circle.

_ Ah, my goodness... _ Deodoro says as he gets up _ Mrs. Hu?

Lavigne looks at the other evaluators. After a few whispers, they say:

_ The fight is over, but we need to decide on the result. By tomorrow morning, we will inform the tutors of this... boy...

_ Did you do it on purpose, Emília? _ Deodoro says, removing his gloves _ You knew Johan would hesitate...

He tosses his vest on the double bed and Emília sits in front of the tea table.

_ Yes. _ She says, crossing her arms _ During a workout, Nayla shouted something similar and he froze. He was all sad at the time, but then Nayla apologized and they made up. I wanted to confirm this "complex"... _ She grits her teeth, irritated _ And I didn't approve this assessment! He's not ready to be a Prima-Ordinis! _ She slams her hands on the table _ And you, dear, should have stopped them! But noooo! You were even participating! I was betrayed by literally ALL of you! _ She snorts.

_ Come on, calm down... You're just mad because you were not there to watch from the beginning, I know you. Also, you know that Johan is ready to pass the level. Apologize to him later, will you? _ He smiles and takes her hand; her expression softens _ I'm glad you're back, Emília... But...

_ But?

_ About 6 days ago, we received a subpoena. From the Midnight City. The District members reported the appearance of several sporadic medium-sized creatures on the outskirts of the city. Grade 3 threat. For now, they've everything under control, but they asked us to be ready at any time.

_ What type the Fabulare? _ Emília asks, frowning.

_ That is the problem: They have not yet been able to identify it. _ Deodoro sighs _ This morning, I received another letter. It looks like they're troubling time there. The subpoena asks for our presence or at least two pairs of our recommendation.

Emília gets up and starts unbuttoning her shirt, heading to the wardrobe. She says:

_ We're bogged down to the neck with the tutoring papers, the Minoris guidelines, the reform of the ACU... We can't go on this mission. _ She turns her head back _ Thankfully, as of today you have a new favorite pair, right?!

_ Yes, maybe. It is not yet official, though. _ Deodoro smiles.