Beyond Gods 84 Lou Lou

"Meat definitely doesn't agree with him," muttered Johan. "When I get some time, I'll definitely get him to stop eating it ... it was like Athelion level grossness all over again..."

"Ummm sir," said a familiar gentle female voice. As she uncomfortably cleared her throat.

Johan turn and was surprised to see Chronos looking down at her feet with her face red as a beet. Her puppy ears flopped down over her cheats. She wore a dark blue soldiers uniform. She looked exactly as she had 11 years ago.

"You!," gasped Johan.

Johan quickly realized that he was still stark naked.

Quickly he put on the clothes he had grabbed before leaving the room.

"I wanted to apologize for what you have been through," said Chronos. "I never meant for you to get thrown in the pit. But Armyka is my superior and ..."

"It's fine," said Johan. "I know none of this was your fault."

"My strength is sealed in this city," said Chronos tearful. "I reported the incident, but the higher ups said it was too trivial an matter to do anything about... I wanted to help but ..."

Johan understood the situation Chronos had been in. Not many people had the courage to take a stand against aggressive authority when doing so could result in a loss of their sole source of income and livelihood. Most people were too afraid to upset others of any status by saying the wrong thing when doing so could result in hurt feelings. Yet, despite this threat, Chronos with her timid personality had spoken up. She had asked Armyka not to hurt him and Neil.

Chronos wasnt responsible for Johan's past suffering, it had been Armyka that had pulled the trigger.

In the past Chronos had spoken up and Johan hadn't forgotten.

Plus, Chronos had dog like features and Johan loved dogs. So his heart quickly softened towards her.

"I wanted to warn you about your current situation," said Chronos. "Jade and Armyka have realized who you are. At first they had believed you passed during the training sessions with Kru Bu in the ruins. But after a quick background check of you after you confronted Armyka in the stadium, they realized their error."

Johan nodded, he had known that his guise of being bald wouldn't last long.

"It's okay," said Johan. "When enough people know you, there are going to be people that give you trouble and dislike you. I learnt this young."

"But this is different," said Chronos. "Armyka and Jade aren't just anybody. They have power in this city and a lot of influence."

"So what do you suggest I do?," asked Johan.

"Leave Looking Glass City," said Chronos. "They have less influence outside of it. Cut off your social connections with anyone in this city otherwise, she might use them to get to you. I have arranged a job and a place for you to stay in a lodge in a small town. It isn't much, but you will survive. It is the least I can do after being the one that brought you to Looking Glass City."

"Chronos," said Johan. "Did you hear what I said at the end of my first fight?"

"Ummm yes," said Chronos. "Although, I do not watch many of the fights. Your rambunctious behavior and confrontation was all over the news. They portrayed it as if you were kidding or it was a publicity stunt."

"It was not," said Johan. "I heard about it from multiple trustworthy sources. The city is going to be attacked. I planning to save the people of Looking Glass City and hopefully the city itself. Officials like Armyka, Silverblade and Jin are involved in plotting to attack it in order to investigate the source of what causes mana abilities to be interfered with in this area. It is now my home where the people I love live. I want to protect them."

Chronos let out a sigh.

"I am here to take you to your next fight," said Chronos. "But in your current situation you won't be fighting battles just in the ring but outside it too."

"I'm a man and not a coward," said Johan smiling softly thinking back to a lecture his father had once given him. "I pick my battles but won't run from a fight that matters. Even the fights I loose teach me something and the people I fight remember me. My situation hasn't changed, this is how it has been all my life ..."

"Let me take you to your next fight," said Chronos with a sigh. "I've done what I can and warned you. If you change your mind, and want to leave when things begin to escalate, I will find a way for you to reach out to me.

"Can you tell me about my opponent?," asked Johan. "Do you have advice?"

"I have never really enjoyed violence," said Chronos. "So unless I have to, I don't observe the fights beyond what I am told. But it is sports fighting day, so they'll probably make you fight in a boxing ring like they usually do."

Johan nodded.

Chronos turned and started walking.

Over her shoulder Chronos said, "I will see about opening an investigation regarding the officials you mentioned. But I can't guarantee anything since it might compromise my career. I need my job."

"It's fine," said Johan. "At least you tried ... you know what they say, when it rains, it pours ..."

Johan was now on Armyka's radar and Johan knew that from this point on things would get more complicated.

— @ —

Johan walked onto the stadium floor alone and his new opponent was a tall muscular bald white man covered in tribal tattoos who wore only a pair of grey shorts.

There were whispers amongst the crowd.

"Get ready!," yelled the announcer. "In lieu of the notorious Johan Flint beating some of this tournaments highly promising contenders, we searched for a candidate who we assessed would give an interesting fight. I introduce to you, Win Lou, a styleless contender from the tribe of the Lou Lou!"

"Disgusting," yelled a man from the crowd. "How can you allow subhuman inferior shit like that to set foot in our city!?"

"A blood criminal!?," yelled another observer. "Perhaps seeing two villains fight will be a good thing. This is man is of a group of criminals I support less than the notorious Johan! Hopefully, they will end each other!"

Johan raised his eyebrow curiously, he had never heard of the Lou Lou tribe.

"Leave all personal opinions aside!," yelled an announcer. "Despite your feelings, the Lou Lou people are accomplished warriors who rely not on mana abilities due to their natural ability to repress its use. Instead they use their unique hunting and fighting techniques for survival. This makes them the perfect opponents!"

The crowd began to boo.

Johan and Win Lou staired each other down.

"I would like to thank you my friend," said Win Lou. "Many of the other fighters refused to fight me because of my background. They would walk out apon seeing me, or go out of their way to cancel the fight even if it sets them back in the tournament."

"I'm here to fight, get stronger and win," said Johan. "Who you are doesn't matter, nor what others think."

Win Lou smiled at Johan and said, "Then I will give you a fight to remember. You stare at me without disgust or superiority and that in itself makes me think you are a likeable person."

In the middle of a stadium a boxing ring rose out of the sand.

"In celebration of sports fighting day," said the announcer. "We will use boxing rings for this match."

Johan stared at the ring surprised. This was unusual and unexpected. But it was his natural habitat, and he was fine with it. Johan jumped into the ring, and Win Lou followed.

Then and there, despite how Win Lou seemed like a nice opponent, Johan decided to end the match quickly.

Chapter end