“Three, Two, One, Fight!”

AAAAAAAAAAAAAA

Take this!

Swinging my stick attempting to take out Otto’s legs is not easy.

His legs are constantly moving.

I’m making a point to strike at his shins as anyone hit there is basically game over or at least giving me enough time to take advantage.

But I can’t ignore his attacks either.

I’m barely avoiding his attacks.

He’s like a wild boar, while normally easily avoided, he compensates by swinging so hard so many times that it only takes one attack to end it all.

This berserker strategy would usually end when they run out of energy and fall from exhaustion, but not Otto apparently.

This beast has energy for days.

But I don’t.

I to think of a new plan fast or else I’m going to slow down and die.

This is our first day practicing like this together with Nora as our teacher.

The plan is since she learned from experience, we would do the same under her watch so she could comment on it and give tips.

She’s an experienced fighter, so she would know what to seEEEE!!!

OW

OW

OW

My side!

He hit my right on my side!

I think I felt my ribcage crack!

Fuck.

I’mdon’tuching!

If I don’t do something he’s gonna kill me!

Would Nora even stop him?

I don’t want to find out that answer!

Ok, Bell you have a few microseconds to do something to change the tide here.

Can you see anything that can help?

Ah-ha!

A rock!

Taking the rock I bash it into his leg!

“AAAHHHHH!”

Heh, all according to plan.

Alright,t, phase two, I don’t have all that much energy so I have to bring him down in a single strike!

“Not so fast!”

Huh?

Ah fuck dirt in my eye!

Where’d he get that idea from!?

I can’t see!

Fine then take this!

Uh oh

He’s berserking it with his stick again.

I have no hope of taking him on strength-wise, he’s significantly better than me with that.

So my only choice is this!

He’s jumping?

He’s jumping!

He’s trying some final move slash!

Duck and roll!

Duck and roll!

I can only keep moving I guess.

It failed!

Too slow, bozo!

WAAaHH!

He comes back so fast!

Were trading blow for blow.

Our staffs are striking each other at a speed I can barely keep up.

Why is he smiling like a psycho?

Is he some kind of battle maniac?

Murder hobos are never fun to play with.

I need to throw him off somehow.

Shoot!

I’m on the defense.

A really bad defense.

He’s the only one attacking now.

I’m forced to focus on making sure he doesn’t hit my face.

Ok, Bell think if he’s focusing on attacking me what is he not focusing on?

His legs!

I have a plan.

Move my legs so fast he can’t notice.

Bingo I tripped him!

Now for my final strike!

BAM!

I hit him right on the back.

I don’t wanna kill him ok?

“Ugh…”

“We have a winner!”

I would expect a crowd of people cheering my triumphant victory, but I don’t think id be able to handle that crowd just yet. Also, no one’s here to watch us. Ari, Konni, and Kaia went out exploring for unknown plants and animals, Dustin’s sleeping, Medici and Pike as you can guess went with the VIP at a different campsite since Sizeof stubbed his toe or something stupid like that.

Sacha apparently went to train out in the wild alone like a Tarzan, what a weirdo.

“I think I understand how you two fight. Otto, you are like a raging bull when you fight! Your way too eager to get yourself hurt! You gotta make sure to slow down or else you’ll lose your balance! Bell, you take too long to move. It’s like you don’t even believe in your own movement and you don’t put enough energy into them. You guys are entirely opposites!”

So that’s my problem? I just need to find a way to decrease my thinking time then. I’ve always been the strategy guy of my team-based games, that’s my strength and I want to capitalize on that. Besides, ill never have the durability of that beastman Otto.

“WOO! That was a fun fight! YOu know you should’ve hit my head right? That’s the way you take someone out.”

What? Was I wrong to not try to kill you? Better yet, how are you back up so fast! You really are a monster! So scary!

“If you hesitate to kill something Bell, you may get you or someone you care about hurt. Every moment matters.”

“Were back!”

Huh is that Ari’s voice?

“We’re back from the forest! Look at all this plant we found!”

Konni is carrying some plant.

“In all my studies, I’ve never encountered a fruit like this before. This plant was completely undiscovered before now! I’m a real explorer!”

“Ooo! Ooo! Does that mean I get to name it? I want to name it Ari!”

“I...I mean I was hoping that... An Ari fruit?”

“Ari sounds like a good name for a fruit.”

“Yeah”

“Yep”

“No disagreements here”

“Awww.”

Someone, please stick up for Konni!

“What does it look like?”

“Here take a look!”

Honestly, the fruit itself doesn’t look that great. On the surface it has a green shell rocket-shaped shell, but you can see on the inside it looks like there’s a white liquid inside like a coconut. It’s a giant green nipple really.

“But who cares about the name. What does it taste like? I’m so so tired of mush!”

“Noo... But my research..”

“Someone take out the cups I brought!”

Man, Nora really is responsible. I’d feel bad for Konni but… I gotta agree with Ari.

“You got it, mam!”

Otto screams before he runs off to the storage carriage.

I might as well take a stroll around the camp while he goes through that whole thing.

Huh, what’s that over there?

Walking on the corner of the campsite I see Venus with her map I guess patrolling?

Here’s my chance!

My moment to finally meet a Neko catgirl!

Uh, ahem I mean a discussion over the direction of the expedition and the mission at large.

Also to get closer to my teammates.

Yes! I’m just getting to know my leaders better. It’s purely business, nothing shady about it.

Here I go!

“Hel-”

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?”

What’s that voice?

Who is pulling on my shirt!?

Oh shit.

Its Nigel.

Standing at a pretty intimidating height above me, staring into my soul with cold eyes and a face that can only be described as sickly.

“Bell, I’m in a good mood today, I suggest you fuck off from here and go play in the forest a bit.”

Oh man, not this again.

Not the memories.

I can still remember their laughs.

I still remember the day it began. I was never a popular kid, I always said that if you didn’t have to worry about finding a seat at lunch, you were not a loner. But then one lunch period I was sitting at a table alone when it happened. They taunted me, targeting me because I was alone. Laughed at me for simply existing. I was a literal joke to them. Soon enough even the few people I considered friends left me, either because they dint want to join me in my suffering or that they soon saw me as a joke too. I was all alone.

I guess that’s just my fate no matter what world I’m in. No matter what God tells me I’m special it doesn’t matter. I’ll always be Bell the joke. Bell the weirdo. Bell the loner.

Ari...

Otto…

Nora...

Soon enough no one will want to be with me here either.

I can’t go through that again!

Agh!

It hurts to even think about it!

I’d rather kill myself than go through that again!

If I don’t fight back now I might as well get lost in the forest and die!

Running to the carriage as fast as possible I grab my spear and come back.

I aim the spear at Nigel.

“What are you doing Bell? You really think you can take me?”

To be honest I have no idea if I can.

This is the first actual fight I’ve ever had.

Not just physical but really any conflict ever.

I have no confidence here.

But I have to try anyway.

I have to draw the line somewhere.

If I’m somehow a god I gotta hold some pride right?

Besides, there’s no going back at this point.

Readying my spear I take position.

“Bahaha! You’re actually serious about this!? You?! Bell!? Fine.”

He unsheaths his own sword from his side.

“Woah what’s going on here?”

Nora?

“OOO Are you guys about to fight?!”

Ari?

“Are you guys fighting! Go get ‘em Bell!”

Otto?

“This doesn’t look like a practice fight.”

Sansa?

I can’t embarrass myself in front of you guys, my friends.

I will not hesitate.