On a bridge of green stood a capped lad, flared hair swung back and over the creases of woven fabric fitted to his head. By his side was another young man a head taller with thick arms the size of an average man’s legs.

  “You’ve already had your fill, eh Walli?” Gorilla asked.

  “Nope…” Walli replied, bringing his cap closer to his eyes.

  “Damn, how long is Ben gonna make us wait?”

  “I heard he'll bring along the brat who took out The Rock. Got no clue if that’s true or not.”

  “Well, let’s hope it's the case, after all, The Rock was the one who took us out last time.”

  “…” The wind told him, Walli could sense it in the air… They were here.

  “Urjo and Cherry have been kidnapped?” Eurig asked with as calm a facade he could muster.

  “Yup…”

  “Is this somehow related to Zodiac Palace?”

  “Yup…”

  “Then I’m not going…” Eurig crossed his arms and closed his eyes. He was here to skate, not to fight. What were they training for, if not just to have fun? “After Jaromir died… I want no part in that shit. Racing, prize money, a chance allowed into some cult… I don’t give a fuck ‘bout that. All I wanna do is skate.”

  “I know, like an angel, you don’t like to get into fights. It’s been fun, skating made me forget everything. And, don’t worry about Urjo and Cherry, we’ll manage.”

  “You’re…already going?” Eurig said with a tear in the eye.

  I can hear them calling, calling for me.

  Eurig looked down at the blood trail Otie left behind, straightening himself out, he said “fuck it…” Off he went, following suit.

  “I’m Ben Krow, though you could call me Lord… Doubt that would make much sense for you lot,” Krow said suavely.

  “You're the Avomen’s boss, ain’t ya? You’re famous, dude,” Urjohar exclaimed, sweat dripping down to his fingertips. If he weren’t so confident it was sweat, one would assume he had wet himself.

  “Doesn’t matter, what you can imagine is about right. Two of the guys you wasted were with us, and we’re gonna pay you back for that.” Krow said with a dry benevolence. “Your strong, your will is strong, your desire for the top is strong, everything you do is quite strong. Sadly here and now, you will fight all of us… Hopefully you don’t die.” That was seven including Ben Krow, unless Walli and Gorilla bail out. “Now I wouldn’t fault you too harshly for your long endeavor. As to my name, I am quite benevolent, a scratch is deserving in kind. An eye for an eye, as they say. The thing is, truly the only thing is…”

  Chapter 27.1

  “…you’re using a weapon; that, we can’t tolerate,” Krow said. “We could list 'em off, your victims. The Rock was just recently released from the hospital.

  Cherry looked yonder like a lost duck. Oh boy, this is gonna take longer than I thought.

  A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

  Gorilla began to ponder on how such a lad as Urjohar could take out so many, especially The Rock. Then he remembered, Ontiganel regional…

  “Listen up, Urjo definitely didn’t use a weapon in those fights,” Cherry declared. “And anyway, don’t you think it’s a bit funny that he’d go after number one, then eight, then three, instead of working it off one by one?”

  “Oh stop that bitch! He didn’t go after nine! He left out nine too!” Dewy, the young man who wore a durag, bottoms too big for his hips, and a white polo that didn’t match his rugged facade.

  “Shut it Dewy!” Nautilus, the overweight sweat ball said.

  “…”

  “There’s no nine, dumb-ass!”

  “Doesn’t matter,” Urjohar said. “I only went after those who’re gonna take part in the next Zodiac Palace. Hah, and you wouldn’t believe me, but I also wasted number seven Wakada; no baseball bat included. So whatever… This is basically a speed ramp to my hunt,” Urjohar announced with a smirk.

  Ben Krow didn’t shy from his discomfort. “Nautilus, it’s your turn, we’ve led him here, may as well begin.”

  “W-what? Sir, are you…sure?” The sweat ball shook as if he had never thrown a punch before. “Ah fuck it! I ain’t your pussy Ben! Don’t try to order me around!”

  “What you say?” Goatee—a friend of Ben Krow—shouted.

  “Wait…” Ben Krow put up an arm, blocking his compatriot.

  “This is ridiculous, tell me, Urjo, did you really defeat The Rock?” Gorilla asked. “Or perhaps, was it that friend of yours, what’s his name, Taiga?”

  “Tch, what’s all this fuss about The Rock for? Just ask him yourself if you really wanna know.” Urjohar said. With a swift step he threw a left straight at Gorilla. A calm tilt of his neck evaded Urjohar’s attack. Within the slipperiness of his sandals, Gorilla dragged against the dirt, his shoulder towering over Urjohar. Now within Urjohar’s space, Gorilla puffed his chest as he began to give clear directions to Urjohar.

  “Don’t put so much weight onto your straight…if you aren’t close enough yet.” Outside Urjohar’s guard Gorilla threw a jab that sent Urjohar flying; cracking his tooth and rocking his head back.

  Urjo… Cherry feared.

  Urjohar Mekaisto… Ben Krow dropped his shoulders, satisfaction to come.

  Chapter 27.2

  “This damn farce… Ben?” Gorilla scoffed.

  “You're just too strong, Gori. A wrestler on his way to the pros is far above our level,” Ben Krow said with a smirk.

  “Right,” stretching his back, Gorilla turned to be on his way. “I’m gonna get going, find some proper opponents, not children. Hey Walli, let’s get something to eat.”

  Still resting by the guardrails, Walli scratched his neck, and with a light chuckle he said, “nah, I’ll wait a bit. Who knows, maybe something interesting is about to come up.”

  “Whatever… I’ll be on my way now, tralalalalalala!” Gorilla strutted like an ape till his figure was no more.

  “What a poser!” Ben Krow’s friend announced. Squatting over Urjohar’s unconscious body, this friend tugged at his cheeks whilst Cherry watched overhead.

  My power… I still can’t feel the tug of the pillar. I understand he’s not dead yet, however… Hmm, this girl, she’s too composed. Incredible, without a peep… I thought the children of these lands weak, but perhaps I was wrong to some degree. She’s standing strong, as if waiting… Waiting, for whom?

  “Hahaha, yo Krow, what are we gonna do ‘bout this guy?”

  “We’ll—” Ben Krow felt the stirring of the wind. “Hold that thought…”

  The world was a buzzing white, a tapestry of cookies and milk. As pulled upon by a string, Urjohar stood up. His feet tripped over one another, the world a hazy mess, yet his hands did not touch the ground once.

  “Jaromir…” He muttered.

  A swift kick struck Urjohar’s arm, bending it sideways, he stumbled off. Urjohar’s feet dragging against pavement. Along the shoreline were three youths running to reach the hill to the bridge. Gorilla seemingly ignoring them, paused as the last lad walked by…

  “Taiga… Hey, your Taiga, no?”

  “Who are you?” Taiga responded.

  “Hahaha, that’s hell you're walking into,” Gorilla said with a gummy smile.

  “Ya, that’s the road we’re taking,” Taiga announced as he turned to face the Goliath once behind him.