Trash: Chapter 125 Team Duels (Patreon)

Chapter 125

Team Duels

The wind blew gently caressing my skin and providing a blessed moment to relax and feel the intense burning heat within me getting pulled away. It was a calming sensation, and one my mind grabbed hold of to instantly clear my mind.

With the wind’s guidance I was able to clear my mind of why I was suddenly here, wielding my apparent familial sword. Holding the giant and slightly blunted stone sword I felt a sense of calm rise in me as I directed its blade and intent towards the enemy, my foster family members.

Pierre was there, standing off to the side as the apparent referee, arbiter, and final decision maker for the outcome of this battle. Then as if reading something from my sidelong glance, Pierre chose that exact moment to break into his commentary.

“A matter of honor has been raised. Ithica Bloom, witnessed by her four aunts has taken umbrage with accusations made by Catarine Bloom, in regard to honored guests being housed on the Bloom estate,” Pierre began, essentially summarizing the complete setup of a scenario that I blatantly walked right into.

A power move that from what I gather was likely meant to make Luna and Lucia lose face in House Bloom, quickly pivoted when I entered to make me lose face as well. Accusations were made, and when Pierre came, while still carrying my sword from earlier in the day, listened to the arguments and offered this farce of competition to settle all grudges.

Though, I get the impression that Pierre is on my side, as he gave me a reassuring wink, when he had his back turned to Ithica and the elders. I also found myself asking how he conveniently had my sword right on hand when he came, and he just replied.

“I had not had time to put it away safely, what we might call a fortuitous condition, given what has come to pass,” Pierre replied, and left it at that. Hearing his words, I couldn’t help but think that my master Madame Bloom was somehow behind this, subtly orchestrating things from behind the scenes. An impressive task given that she was now well and truly at Bloom Park, making her direct intervention nearly impossible.

“An argument arose when Ithica Bloom was observed to have treated familial guests to the estate with what was believed to be less than due reverence. At which point Catarine Bloom spoke words that went against the honor of Ithica Bloom. Enraged by these claims, Ithica Bloom demanded a Trial by Combat to settle the matter. Once raised, Keira, Moira, Jolia, and Herra Bloom who were all in attendance of the matter sided with Ithica, forming a team. Then feeling indebted to Catarine Luna Paraisthisi and Lucia Dunamis both agreed to fight on behalf of Catarine, thus fulfilling the minimum needed for this, a Team versus Team, five on three, honor duel. The terms are simple, each person may use any weapons they feel comfortable with, or grab a training weapon from the side,” Pierre laid out how we got here, and then proceeded to point to the rows of real, but blunted, training weapons available.

Lucia and Luna already got their respective weapons, grabbing weighted spears each, and proceeded to flank me on both sides. This was good, and a common team tactic they apparently picked up from watching so many arena fights. Watching the two of them, I could see them slightly trembling with fear, and possibly anticipation, but one reassuring glance from me was enough to get them both to relax and flow easily into their forms. I assume they got some type of martial training at the arena. It would only make sense given how they all but grew up surrounded by experts in various forms of fighting.

Our opponents were also not lacking weapons, as they all conveniently held their own personal weapons on them as well. Ithica had a slightly longer dagger by her side that she held with a reverse-grip, blade pointing to the ground. She looked comfortable holding the blade, but otherwise seemed to move sluggishly with it, as if her body was not used to practicing her combat stances. As for the aunts, Keira, Moira, Jolia, and Herra they all also conveniently held weapons, one had a whip, as if this was some type of fetish exhibition, two had short swords, and one had a bow. They all looked like they had trained with the weapons extensively in their youths but were not fully used to the fact that they were now older, and their bodies had changed. Given time and effort, it was clear that they would likely be able to resort back to whatever level of mastery they had before, but they all looked too pampered.

I try to not minimize them, as I realize they are all opponents, but unless they are hiding something drastic, or severely limiting what they show me, a master class of deception, I get the feeling that this is not going to be that tough. Which only makes me feel slightly more anxious, for these were five people who went to an effort, provoking others for a reaction, and now seemed to have gotten that reaction. My only real saving grace is the fact that I know, I can heal almost from any wound received, barring the loss of a limb, or my complete incapacitation, I should be fine. Of course, no sooner do I have this thought I am stopped as Pierre continues.

“Being a Team versus Team battle, it will be an open free for all, where you are allowed to move about and attack as one team to another. Fighting will continue, until all members of one team have given up, or are unconscious,” Pierre stated.

For a moment, I almost wondered what makes the aunties and Ithica so confident in their success.

“We have the power of the Bloom bloodline pumping through our veins, there is no way those three can hurt us so much that it overwhelms all five of our innately superior bloodlines,” the orchestrator of this whole event Herra Bloom, the whip carrier, comments. Herra’s words are laced with a dark brown miasma, that my mind instantly associates with the use of a not-so-subtle influencing type Skill. At her words the other four straighten up just a bit, revealing that her Skill was apparently effective in motivating the others.  Seeing her response, I can’t help but let a faint smile fill my face as I feel the need to respond.

“Hear that girls,” I say, calling out from over my shoulder, making my voice purposefully loud enough for everyone to hear. “No need to hold back, as we can treat these hags like they are over inflated pin cushions.”

No signs of power rolled out from my voice, filling my words with added energy and force. But they did have their intended effect, as both Lucia and Luna seemed to gain a more confident pose, while I saw the calm that had settled over Icky’s group shift, ever so slightly.

Herra opened her mouth, and looked like she was about to comment, but was cut off by Pierre who chose that moment to cut in, with his management of this whole free-for-all fight.

“I will now ask both sides, if there is any chance to resolve this perceived sleight peacefully?” Pierre asked first to Herra’s group.

“No, this is a matter of honor for two generations of Bloom members to be treated so rudely in our home by invited guests, and delinquent foster children who do not know their place—” Herra began, it was clear that she was about to continue, but Pierre just cut her off with a cold and unimpressed tone to his words.

“Got it this will not be stopped, your honor has been too tarnished,” Pierre replied dryly, causing Herra to be instantly flustered with anger at the comment, but before she could reply, Pierre continued. “Now, is there anything you want as an outcome from this duel?”

Herra trembled slightly, as she had been essentially told to shut-it while Pierre tried to move this farce of an event along as quickly as possible. Finally, Herra spoke, “we want the foster brat, and the delinquent house guests to know their places, and to leave the room or choose an alternate path around or away, when they see any of us in the house.”

“Got it, these three are to avoid the five of you at all costs, within Bloom Estate,” Pierre summarized and then turned to face me. “Now, what are your terms and conditions.”

For a moment I think about being petty and copying their avoidance at all cost measures. But then, I realize that both shows a lack of creativity and is not nearly spiteful enough. That is why I go for the sugar is poison approach.

“All we want, is for anytime the three of us are in close proximity to any of the five opposing members, they are to come over to us, smile nicely for five seconds, and not make any rude or defamatory comments towards us.” I reply.

Pierre just looks at me and has to catch himself as I can see that he almost wants to laugh at the demand but quickly catches himself. Likely picking up on the fact that my reward will do the same thing as theirs would but also have a negative consequence if they fail to get out of our way fast enough.

“Very well, your group wishes to see your opponents smile and greet you warmly whenever you two shall meet,” Pierre again summarized our request.

Then there is a moment of pause as Pierre takes everything in, before nodding to himself.

“Very well, I will now count to three, only on three can you all move from your respective spots, any movement before the count is over will be considered a disqualification,” Pierre began.

As he spoke, I saw a faint gleam in Herra’s and the others’ eyes as they all seemed to be planning to move instantly. Almost as if they had the timing mapped out and were prepared to get as close to breaking the rules as possible.

“One,” Pierre called out as he raised his right hand in the air.

“Two,” Pierre continued, dropping his right hand slightly. By now Herra and the others were actively leaning forward ready to charge or move.

“Three,” Pierre called out quickly dropping his hand in a pace that seemed to be far faster than the others had expected as they were still standing and watching his hand. While I was already pumping energy into my legs, as I didn’t even have to think about activating my Life Reinforced Movements*, as my body activated the power instinctively, allowing me to dash forward at speeds I could have only dreamed of last week. Now though, now after so much training and preparation, I almost felt like I was going slow, and I was, as I was purposefully holding myself back, keeping an extra gear in reserve as I tried to anticipate how the others would react.

Swerving to my right, Icky’s left, I raised my blade. I targeted Icky first, one because she was taking point, and two I saw her as the least threat among the five, being the youngest she clearly had the least amount of time to practice, meaning she would be the one in the least position to counter my attacks. Also, I really wanted to hit her. Call it karma, divine justice or whatever, but I found this to be the most enticing reason for this fight to begin with, as legally being able to hit Icky again and again has been more than a passing fantasy of mine. Those are all the reasons why I targeted her first. Winding up, my hands gripped the sword hilt tight, as I wanted this attack to truly land with as much violent force as possible. I wasn’t aiming for the head, or her vital points, that would be too easy, instead, I wanted her to suffer, a bit. That is why my ultimate goal was to land a crippling blow to her wide-open left leg. A wound that I was fairly certain I could heal easily, if done just right, but also a blow that would take her out of the fight almost completely if I landed it successfully.

Moving with my powers fully activated, moving against people that didn’t have Mr. Yi’s incredible reaction speed felt odd. I felt like the world around me was moving in slow motion. My mind was already locking onto Icky and the others, tracking any and all threats. Yet, as I moved, I could see that my violent burst of movement caught them off guard, as they all appeared shocked, seemingly caught off guard by the fact that they had to track me, versus Pierre’s already dropped arms. All five of them slowly turning their gazes from Pierre, and only now seemed to recognize the threat that was right before them.

Then I made my move, as all Hell broke loose.