MVR Round 2 P3

R7

2 years ago.

"Wing Chun, Shun Zhang."

"Wing Chun, Wen Zhang."

We entered our respective stances, our hands inches from each other, our eyes hyper focused.

I can do this.

I stepped in, pushing Wen's hand out of the way and went for a feint, but Wen had already predicted this and deflected my other hand before it could even land. Wen closed the distance and brought his hands up, shoving me back and unloading his Chain Punch, catching me on the chest and the side of my face as I instinctively stepped back.

His legs are open.

I launched a leg kick, but Wen was faster, deflecting my kick with the inside of his foot and kicked me in the side with the same leg.

I stumbled back and brought my hands up in my form again, stabilizing my balance.

Wen smiled as he brought his hands back up, assuming his stance.

"Are you really going to lose to the little brother, Shun?"

"What did you just say?!" I snapped, as I charged, launching a strike to his face, then his midsection, but both attacks were dodged. I launched another strike at Wen's side, but Wen managed to catch this one, and began snaking up my arm elegantly.

"Shit!" I yelped, as I tried to defend myself, but Wen had already grappled on to me.

"Augh!" I shouted, as Wen struck me in the side of my head, then my ribcage, then used my arm and threw me onto the ground, unloading another Chain Punch against the side of my face.

"I win." Wen said, as he cleanly got off me, brushing his clothes.

I stared at the ground.

"You-"

"Sorry, Shun. But I guess I get the savings. Have fun dealing with our psycho father."

I watched as Wen walked away. He had already taken my job from me. He had taken our savings too.

I had no money, no prospects.

I looked back at our run down house. Dad was yelling at Mom again, threatening to divorce and kill our pets to survive.

"Wen, please. Take me with you. Take me-"

"Sorry, Shun. But it's every brother for themselves. That's what it means to be human. That's what Dad drilled into our heads since the day we were born. You were just too soft to admit it. I'm not gonna waste another opportunity to escape from Dad and this family."

"And Ming? Yun? You're gonna leave our cats behind too?!"

A tear ran down Wen's cheek as he kept a stoic expression.

"That's just how harsh this world is. I'm leaving this family and all the shackles behind. Even if it means destroying the elder brother to do it. I can't live with Dad anymore. I can't live with the guilt. I'm leaving it all behind."

"What if it doesn't work out. You're gonna be all on your own. I'm not gonna be there with you anymore!"

"Maybe. But unlike you, I am a full Shaolin Warrior Monk. I have what it takes to be a Kung Fu Master and open my own school. With this money, I can. I have a whole future laid out for me once I become older and my skill becomes greater. You spent your days in the Temple procrastinating and skipping classes. All you had was a half assed background in the staff as a Shaolin Disciple. The only style you still remember is Wing Chun. And I still beat you with that style despite not even practicing it for years."

Wen called the coach as he stepped inside. I ran up to it, banging on the glass.

"Wen! WEN!"

Wen put his hand on the glass, right before mine.

"But don't get me wrong, Shun. I'm going to miss you. But as what Dad always said."

The driver began to start the cab as Wen drove away, leaving me with our crazy family.

"Mo ban fat. Shun. No choice."

After Wen had left, I dealt with Dad for another year. That's right. My father was abusive and psychotic. I found myself having to resist the urge to strike him, because if I did, I would end up doing something I would regret. I would spend the long days and long nights putting up with Dad's outbursts. Resisting the urge of violence as he threatened to throw away Ming and Yun. Mom defending him, telling me that Dad didn't mean the things he said.

Wen and I always had each other.

For the longest time.

Until that day Wen had left with all the savings and the job offer. Wen and I were disciples in the Shaolin Temple since the age of four. But despite being brothers, we had very different fortunes.

Wen was a skilled prodigy. Every kung fu style he learned, he perfected.

When Wen and I were in the temple, we picked up Wing Chun to try to impress the monks and get their attention. So we could learn from them.

Wen demonstrated his aptitude in Wing Chun, and his impressive speed amazed everyone in the temple. The monks said that Wen possessed the spirit of a true master. And many of our fellow Disciples said the same thing. Wen was acknowledged, and learned from many of the monks, his skill only ever kept increasing. He mastered the staff, bare hand. The dao. The spear.

Me on the other hand, I guess I just wasn't cut out for kung fu. Because no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't remember the forms. No matter how much I practiced, I kept forgetting. I was slow, and inflexible. I was clumsy.

But the one thing that I seemed to have going for me, was for some strange reason, I was built very differently from Wen. While Wen had an athletic build, my body grew muscles at a rapid pace. And with these muscles, the power of my strikes were far superior to the Disciples. I was able launch an entire training dummy across the room with a single punch. I was able to break concrete blocks with my bare hands. A single side kick was able to uproot trees.

My sheer strength was what allowed me to keep up with the others in the Temple. But it wasn't enough to appease the monks and get them to notice me.

Because kung fu wasn't just about pure power. And pure strength.

You needed to be precise. And you needed to have technique.

And technique was the one important thing that I didn't have.

At some point, Wen and I returned home from the temple. Wen had become a Warrior Monk, and I... well...

I was still a Disciple. In fact, it was so bad, that I was with the foreigners in China, because my skill was considered at their level. The Shaolin Disciples had given me a nickname.

"Gwai Jai Shun."

White Boy Shun.

Because I was always with the foreigners. Since day one. And even after all those years.

A few months later, Dad and Mom moved to my birthplace. Nara. We were staying, renting out a busted ass basement. We all had to sleep in one room. The bathroom was busted, and we ended up having to dig a huge hole out in the woods to piss or shit whenever we needed to go. And it always had to be done in secret.

Because like what Dad had always said.

Mo ban fat.

No choice.

"Damn it all." I muttered, as I kicked at the rocks along the pathway. It was night time.

"Shui jai! Go ahead and leave! I never wanted you for a son!" Dad shouted at me when I told Mom that I was going out for a walk.

"That old bastard." I growled to myself, as a couple of citizens yelped and backed away from me. I walked into the forest, as I stared at a nearby boulder.

I imagined the boulder had my Dad's face on it. I made a fist with one hand and wrapped it with my other, lifting it into the air and facing the boulder.

"Shaolin Wushu. Shun Zhang."

The boulder didn't respond. Thankfully.

My eyes widened as my vision turned red. I yelled a battlecry as I stomped forward, launching an open handed strike at the rock face. The boulder crushed from the sheer force of my strike. Cracks forming as I yelled, launching another strike. And another. And another. I wanted to destroy that face. I wanted to bust it open. I wanted to destroy him.

I spun around and fired off a back kick as the boulder exploded from the force, hurtling into the darkness as I yelled.

The face was gone from the boulder, but it was still there. On the ground.

"Piece of SHIT! I HATE YOU! I HATE YOU!" I screamed as I went low, punching the ground. Over and over again. My chain punch, bashing the ground. Dirt flying as I began to dig deeper and deeper.

"RRRRAAAAAGH!" I roared.

Kung Fu.

Was about precision. Controlling your breathing.

It was about learning to harness your emotions.

But right now, I was letting it all loose.

Suddenly, I stopped. Something was here. I felt it.

"What-"

Quiet. Boy. Your body is now mine. A voice said as I felt something evil swarm me. A red energy.

"Who are you-"

There is no need. You will cease to exist. Your body is truly amazing. Your strength is incredible. Your rage is immense. Your mental instability. Everything about you is perfect.

"Perfect? For what?" I stammered, as sweat poured down my face.

The yokai chuckled.

FOR POSSESSION.

R7

RING RING RING

I heard the rustling of sheets as Jack Flock woke up from the little bed of sheets he had made on the ground.

"Mmf. Morning guys." Flock muttered, as he trudged to the bathroom to get ready for the day.

I stared at the ceiling of the broken run down church that I was staying at. There were holes in the roof, with light leaking down from above like some holy covenant or something. There were no lights in this place, meaning the best way to gage whether or not it was morning was to see if I could make it from the fridge to the sheets without bumping into anything.

I flipped over to my side to see if that nasty drunk was still asleep.

"Mmmm. Piña colada...."

Vala threw the pillow over her head as she put her hand on her mouth.

"I'm gonna throw up."

Good for her. That's what she deserved. Divine punishment for wasting all the money she earned on the bar and getting absolutely wasted while Flock did everything. I guess I wasn't any better with the finances department for the Vala Legion, considering I spent all them money I earned on what Hiiro described to be mental fortitude training.

I closed my eyes to go back to sleep.

What seemed like five seconds later, I heard Flock rustling me awake.

"Shun! Shun! It's time to hit the dungeon!"

"Seven more minutes."

"You said that seven minutes ago! The dungeon isn't going to clear itself."

I covered my ears with the sheets.

"Then clear it yourself. I don't care about your stupid journey to become stronger or whatever. Calypso is your girl, why do I have to be involved?"

I slowly removed the sheets to see Flock pouting.

I guess maybe it was worth going with him today.

I sat up as Flock's face beamed with a smile.

"Thanks, Shun! You're the best! I'll see you at the guild at 2pm!"

Flock went up to Vala and bowed.

"I'm off, goddess!"

Vala turned to her side, smiling.

"Be back before sundown, Flock."

"I will!"

I watched Flock leave the church as he ran enthusiastically to the outside world.

"Man. I wish I had that kinda energy. I would have been main protagonist level status."

Vala rustled in her sheets on the bed. Mind you, it was only bed we had. My back ached from sleeping on the ground. And I was sure Flock's did too. He had a knack of pretending this stuff didn't bother him. Me on the other hand...

"You could always go with him, Shun." Vala said, as she tried to sit up, resisting the urge to impart divine vomit all over the bed.

"This is his journey. He wants to become strong to stand by Rosewald's side. I couldn't care less."

I propped myself against the wall.

"When are you going to reveal what you can really do, Shun? You could help Flock out. With your level-"

"I ain't about the public image, goddess. I prefer fighting and being strong for my own benefit. Besides, if word got out that one of the only two adventurers in the Vala Legion is a Level 9 I'd get stolen by other Legions instantly."

Vala left her bed and sat in front of a mirror, combing her bedhead.

"Speaking of that, it seems Rosewald and Lunaro's squad have managed to clear the 87th floor."

"Oh?" I said, as I drank some tea from the counter.

"Rosewald has hit Level 9."

I spat out my drink.

"What? For real?"

"Yes." Vala's drunk face suddenly turned serious.

"Apparently, the Queen of Knives killed the Floor Boss all on her own. Such power. Not even Oxar Uxas managed to do something like that, and he's the strongest Adventurer in Folia as a Level 10. I can see why Flock admires her so. Yet..." Vala began to grumbled, her eyebrows furrowing.

"Somebody's jealous." I joked, as I threw on my hoodie and headed out for the door.

"Shun." Vala said. I turned around.

"You're strong. You've kept it a secret for the longest time. But even your strength isn't enough for everything. Don't get cocky just because you're the only Level 9 adventurer that isn't in the Big Three Legions. I can continue to keep your true power a secret from the people of Folia, but that isn't enough to justify you slacking off. You can't keep being a background character forever. At some point, we will need your power. So please, train, and keep growing stronger."

I nodded grimly, as I headed out the door.

And now it had begun. The long awaited tribulation. The wait.

"You may now come in, Mister Zhang."

I bowed as I entered the office. The old man gestured at the chair.

"Take a seat."

I sat down.

"As you know, you are one of many candidates for this position. I will not be hiring you for trivial circumstances. I want to know what you can bring to the table to my company."

I managed a smile.

What was this tense interviewing process?! All I was going to do was manage a food stand!

The supervisor's head gleamed in the sunlight through the window.

And what company?

I took a deep breath. Steel your nerves, Zhang. You can do this. If you don't get this job, the Vala Legion was fucked. Flock could only do so much in the Dungeon, and because my true power couldn't be revealed, I was stuck at Level 2. My reputation in the guild was at an all time low every since word got leaked about a Vala Adventurer frequenting the nightclubs in the Pleasure Sector. I had tried explaining it was for mental fortitude training, just as Hiiro had explained it to me, but no one seemed to buy it. As for Vala, she always blew her paycheque on alcohol. There was no use getting her to deal with the bills.

"I've done a few jobs similar to this before." I said, as I began to fidget. I need this job man.

"Such as?"

"Well, I've dealt with clients before." I remembered that time I launched an open handed uppercut strike at a goon's jaw as per one client's request.

"I have a pretty clean record when it comes to service. I never leave a job undone." I said, as my memory flashed back to the time I fought twenty men in a rivalling gang for Boss Lok of the Red Circle Gang.

The old boss rubbed his knuckles.

"I see."

For the next few minutes, the boss interrogated me, asking me questions and scenarios where I would respond and talk about what I would do. Then he started asking me about my skills and everything.

The boss nodded, then gestured at the door.

"The exit is this way."

I flashed another smile as I hid my fist.

So that was another rejection. Great. So that would make... fifty six rejections? This week?

I walked down the street as I watched a bunch of people sell stuff. Damn. Being unemployed sucks.

In this town, there were many occupations. Being an adventurer was one of the many, and was by far the most popular. Since you got to be strong and have fans if you were one of the best. If you got picked by a popular Legion, such as the Apollo Legion, you would get girls fawning over you instantly.

Course for me, I ended up in the Vala Legion. Because no Legions wanted me.

I walked by a couple who was holding hands. The guy gave me a distasteful glance.

"Bum." He muttered.

I made my way to the guild. That was strange. Flock wasn't here. I was supposed to meet him at 2. I guess maybe he was preoccupied with something.

The adventurers were chatting up a storm, but the moment I entered the building, they moved to one side, looks of disgust plastered on their faces as I made my way to the front desk.

"Hi, I'd like to cash in on this week's earnings." I said, as I handed the lady my adventurer card and a bag of monster shards.

The woman operating the desk took my card and processed it, with little to no interest.

"Still Level 2, huh."

"Yep."

"Not even your stats changed."

"Yep."

"And this doesn't bother you at all?"

"Yep."

The lady threw the card back at me.

"You should be more like Flock. He sets the example for all adventurers to be. Kind. Nice. And he works hard-"

"I don't need a lecture, woman." I snapped, as I took my card and went to the entrance.

Of course I didn't need to know that. Flock was everything I wasn't. I didn't care about that. But the problem was, I needed to make a living. No one would hire me. No one would party with me. No one wanted me in their establishments. No matter how hard I tried. Being enthusiastic. Being skilled. Being overqualified. Being under qualified. Heart. Logic. Sympathetic. I tried it all. And I was still unemployed.

Vala had once told me.

"Humans are interesting. When it comes to getting a job, they can spew whatever nonsense about experience, skills, attitude, and all. But here in Folia, almost every candidate basically has the same schtick. The selection is random unless you've got something that really stands out. Like cleavage or something. What I'm saying is, it's all luck, Shun. So don't feel bad."

I leaned against the pillar as I watched the world around me go by. Everybody here seemed to have a place. A purpose. A job. And some kind of thing to contribute.

Except for me.

"Hey. Look. It's another one of that drunk goddess' followers." A group of adventurers were pointing at me and smirking.

"I heard this dude can't even make a living by adventuring."

"Isn't he that dude who got rejected from like over two hundred job openings."

I ignored them as I stared at the horizon.

"Hey. You." One adventurer walked up to my face.

"Get a job, why don'tcha? Sulking like that ain't gonna get you hired."

I tightened my grip on my forearms.

"I've been trying." I said, keeping my cool.

"If you were, you would be hired already. Quit playing that tragic victim card. It's pathetic. But then again, you are the follower of that drunk."

I snapped to my side, power welling in my body.

Shun-sama. A voice appeared in my head.

Control yourself. Breathe.

I took a deep breath and walked away, as the adventurers continued jeering at me.

Even if we struggle to find a place here, the peace is something we never would have had. It was peace or living with blood on our hands as a member of the Red Circle Gang.

"Thanks Hiiro. But times like these make me wish I was still back in China. At least if I killed, I could make an earning. I'm not getting anywhere here."