Chapter 85

  A Villain Is Born

  Fluttering.

  My heart is fluttering wildly, and I don’t even know why. Well, I know why, as it is my stupid body reacting to what my mind already knows. Even having the memories from my past life have done little to curtail the painful response of endorphins on the mind, causing me to both feel simultaneously flustered and nervous about what I just did.

  What did I do? What is causing this involuntary reaction to cause my heart to beat wildly. Well to put it simply I winked. As my fellow nurses would have commented, I made my shot at a physically older, but mentally younger person.

  I winked at Luna, a gesture that at the time was my attempt to let her know that I would be able to heal her hand and face. A sort of gesture that she was next, only after I made the gesture and covered my face, did I realize that the gesture might be construed as an innuendo. An innuendo that seemed to add more layers to an already questionable last few moments. First there was the misunderstanding caused by my scanning people with Divine Sight that Luna to leave earlier. Second, a few moments ago, I successfully performed my first successful necrotic fungal removal operation. One that seemed clunky and left obvious indentions where the rot was allowed to rest and fester, but despite the clear blemish on his arm, the patient seems happy with the results. A fact that is clear as he is proudly displaying his blemished, but healed arm for the audience to see.

  Not wanting to seem stupid, or insensitive, my body’s natural reaction is to look away from Luna and watch the man excitedly running around the ring waving his arm and getting the crowd spun up by his newly healed limb.

  As he moves, I see the still unconscious form of his challenger, being fanned by referee Kam, who is swooshing his hand back and forth over his face in a clearly unhelpful way. Realizing that the still unconscious fighter likely has traumatic brain damage, well more brain damage due to my kick, I instantly go towards him trying to heal him.

  Before I move, my body moves on instinct, turning to take one last glance back at Luna, who seems flustered by my look as she quickly looks away. As she turns away, I begin to move, but not before my mind, aided by my now badged Eagle Eyed Skill, shows an imprint of her blushing face just before she turned. An imprint that let me relax ever so slightly, as I know that I didn’t just totally ruin this relationship between us.

  Moving forward, I am at the young blond fighter’s side in a second and instantly channeling healing energy into him. My Streamline Healing* Skill working double time as it is a Healing Skill that is activated by Healing attuned energy, making it so there is no wasted effort on my part. Every ounce of energy I generate gets directly converted towards healing my new patient. A patient that would have been completely fine, had he let go of his submission hold earlier. But he wanted to gloat, no, worse, he seemed to enjoy inflicting pain on his opponent.

  While I am beginning to understand the need for these arena matches, as they both prepare people for the dangers that await outside and allow for the testing of Skills in a live environment. I cannot stand people that seek to cause undue harm to others just because they can, as that reeks of sadism and I will not play part in any events that might seem to condone such behavior.

  I do my part as the sanctioned healer for these matches. I channel my energy into the cerebral cortex, allowing blood to flow easier, reducing swelling, and finally making sure all circulatory issues within the blond opponent’s brain are flowing freely.

  “Wha, huh?” The blond fighter begins, his eyes awakening to show two blue eyes that seem to be set clearly in a statue of bronze. Being this close, I can see the classic curl of the finger length blond hair that would give this fighter a clear surfer vibe, had he been alive in my past life. Here, he looked like a standard Bloom family progeny, one who clearly had no ties to the Bloom bloodline, otherwise his own body would have healed his injuries long before I got here. As I am pretty sure that is what the Bloom bloodline does, self-healing, even while unconscious. A great survival Skill, especially when it means that the healer can be knocked out and revive automatically, so long as their body has enough mana to deal with the trauma sustained.

  As for me, I don’t have that Skill, but I can’t deny that such a Skill would seem to have its uses. Even if it meant having to self-harm as a means of leveling the Skill faster. Mentally, I wonder how such a Skill would even exist, as I assume it would need to begin in the blood itself. At first, I thought it would need to be the heart, but that would limit the amount of healing that could take place, particularly if the heart suffered a commotio cordis condition event, meaning my heart stopped beating due to impact or agitation. Or worse, was pierced. No, as a bloodline Skill, it made sense that such a Skill would have to be carried out with the blood as the primary catalyst for storing the energy that would be used for emergency healing. I feel I am close to uncovering something, but that’s when everything goes sideways. The patient, this pretty boy with clear anger issues sits in my hands for a moment, muttering to himself, before he mutters, “you cheap shotting bastard!”

  Next thing I know, Kam and I are still kneeling where the prone body of the blond fighter had just been a moment ago. Only to see his body blur to life as he infused his body with blue speed energy, allowing him to rise up and immediately charge out towards the large fighter who was still waving his healed arm around getting the crowd riled up.

  All I could do was watch on in horror as the blond fighter went for an obvious cheap shot, apparently trying to take out the person who they thought knocked them out with their own cheap shot to the head. Fortunately, Mr. Yi and Markan were both near me and seemed ready to prevent any retaliatory strikes against me, which is why they looked dumbfounded by the streaking blond blur that charged straight at the bulkier fighter.

  I watched on in horror, aware that I could do nothing to stop what would happen next.

  ***

  (Howard “Lefty” Lowitski)

  A miracle happened. An event so monumental that he, like everyone, thought that a cure would be impossible to find.

  Had it not been for a cryptic message by the General herself, Anastasia Bloom, speaking of a possible treatment, Howard might have avoided coming at all. Yet, as everyone knew, when the General spoke, you listened, or you died. That was why he came, of everyone he ever met while in the military, it was only the General who spoke to him on his way out.

  From her appearance it was clear that she had done everything in her power to try to save Howard. The only remaining option was amputation, but even then, they couldn’t be certain if all of the rot would be removed. As all it would take is one tiny particle to be brought back by healing that would start the whole process over again.

  Also, despite everything, Howard really liked having two arms. Even in his time out, he had still not been able to adjust to being a true lefty, for his first reaction even now was to reach out and use his right hand for everything. Everything from writing, lifting, eating, and even opening doors his first and often only response was to use his right hand. It was just an ingrained action in his mind, that was why he held off with the surgery. Especially after seeing what happened to Vivienne Voyou, a.k.a. Death Machine, who went the amputation route only to find that a trace of corruption remained, even after the majority was removed. She too opted to just keep the stump, but it was clear that her quality of life was diminished by the choice. Secretly, she had confessed to him that had she known at the beginning that it wouldn’t have worked, she too would have kept the leg, rot and all.

  The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

  Of course, the General could regrow the limb once it was removed, but often that would just cause the rot to come back twice as powerful and even further entrenched in the affected body. That was why so many soldiers who got infected with the rot called it a death sentence.

  Now though, now he could move his right arm. Also, for the first time since the lingering infection struck, he could tell he was completely cured. How? Simple, the long dull cold ache that had always lingered in his arm just below the skin was now gone, replaced by warmth. Warmth and a deep sense of hope.

  Howard found himself so excited that he showed off his recently healed arm to the world, darting around the ring, showing the arm and pausing every so often as he tried to look past the polarized blast protective screens and find the one person who made this all possible.

  Finally seeing her, the General, Howard smiled brightly and shouted for all to hear, “I’m going to do it, I’m going to reenlist right now!”

  If asked, Howard couldn’t say why those words came out. Originally, he had intended to just tell the General thank you. But then he remembered his last days on the front lines. Days when his brothers and sisters in arms also got infected, but rather than peacefully retiring and searching for a cure, they did the exact opposite. He remembered how many charged recklessly into combat, not falling back when ordered, only to die on the battlefield before the infections fully took root and forced them to retire. A necrotically infected soldier is unable to stay in a barracks due to the highly infectious nature of such injuries. Especially before treatments are applied. People like the General had already made advancements where the infections wouldn’t spread to others, but you had to be treated by the General and those she personally trained.

  Now though, Howard had seen why she left the front lines. Yes, she was old, but that didn’t stop her from still contributing in any way she could. In fact, it had been the General who first introduced him to Sal, making this entire night possible. Sal who always bent over backwards to give any down and out veteran a meal and a chance to earn an honest living. Looking up at the lighting technicians, Howard showed off his arm to them especially, knowing that many of them were also disabled veterans who had similar injuries. It was also for Sal that he made the pitch, as part of how Sal continued to keep the lights on was from government kickbacks based on how many talented soldiers enlisted from his establishment. If he could help out that number, even with his own selfish want to go back to the front lines, then he had done his job, repaying the favor that had been paid to him so long ago.

  Just as Howard was letting the moment sink in, he felt the world begin to slow down around him. As his mind instantly identified an immediate threat, even though he was already too blinded by the lights. His mind was still active spinning at light speed thanks to his Battle Cognition Skill, a default Skill that activates whenever perceived danger is near. While it doesn’t necessarily speed him up, it does allow his mind to move at near the speed of Light, which is the affinity needed to fully activate the Skill. Once activated, the Skill is always on, which is why he felt the moment his Skill kicked in.

  The world slowed, as fans that had been cheering suddenly paused. He could see a number of people slowly reach out their arms and point behind him, their actions resembling the slowest imitation of a wave ever.

  “Beh-hind -yy-you!” Sal’s warning voice echoed out over the speakers, his words distorted as his mind and body were already moving. Even now he could feel the faint rumbling of the arena mat, a rumbling that was enhanced by springs and padding that always sent ripples throughout whenever anyone walked across the stage. Yet, this quick rumbling was exactly what his mind had first picked up on to trigger his Skill’s activation. Having just a moment to react, Howard tensed up, and circulated earth energy into his body and extremities as he activated his Earthen Body Skill. A Skill that let him plant his legs like tree trunks, and gave his body the solidity of an immovable boulder.

  Wham.

  What happened next was an application of physics, as an unstoppable force ran squarely into an immovable object. There was just one problem, the unstoppable force was not as unstoppable as it had been made out to be.

  Howard watched as his mind that had been slowing down time, long enough for him to react began to speed up, now that his response had been registered. This meant that his Battle Cognition Skill was on cool down, but hopefully he wouldn’t need it for the next two and a half minutes before the Skill finally recharged enough for him to reuse it.

  Once everything sped back up, Howard was surprised to see that the blur that had ran into him was none other than the same cocky fighter who had just caused him to tap out by exploiting his known weakness. Not illegal, but an act that was definitely frowned upon by the veterans. It was okay to make hits that accidentally strike at necrotically infected injuries but blatantly targeting them is seen as bad form. Howard had been more than happy to accept the events of the night, loss and all, especially as he had been healed.

  Before Howard could even react to what was unfolding around him, the blond fighter shook his head, before shooting up to his feet, before pointing a finger at Howard.

  “You cheap shotting bastard, I won and you knocked me out!” The self-righteous Adonis proclaimed as he pointed one bronzed finger directly at Howard.

  Thinking back, it was clear that this boy felt some kind of way about what had happened. It was clear that the crazed fighter thought that it was Howard who had somehow managed to knock him out, despite having tapped out and been in an otherwise impossible to win position. It only took a second to realize that the Adonis had placed the blame for the Healer’s attack on him. For a moment he thought about correcting the mistake, but instead he went the opposite direction and seeing that the boy was well and truly pissed. That’s when he decided to help out Sal once more, while also helping himself out in getting revenge, as he made a come-on gesture to Sal.

  Howard’s arm stretched out far to the left as he circled his pointer and middle fingers together in a come again or continue gesture, all while never taking his eyes away from the crazed Adonis. Sal immediately picking up on the gesture and seeing the opportunity took the moment for what it is.

  “Looks like we have some unfinished business in the ring,” Sal exclaimed.

  At these words referee Cam moved in separating Adonis from Howard, but it was clear that he was taking his cues from Sal.

  “Audience, do you want to see a rematch?” Sal’s voice echoed and boomed across the arena.

  “REMATCH, REMATCH!” The crowd started cheering wildly.

  “Well then, let’s see if our contestants are willing to give this another try. Adonis, your spot in the tournament is already sealed. You are going onto the next round, but do you want to wager your earnings and go double or nothing for your prize money?”

  “You mean I get paid twice as much for beating this old geezer? Yes, and double yes!” the bronze Adonis replied.

  “Lefty, do you want to put your pride on the line and exact revenge against Adonis?” Sal asked.

  The question was clear, if Howard won, he too would leave with only the losers purse. This was why most people never went for a second round, as only the winner would have something to gain and everything to lose. But in this case, Howard was feeling generous, also he wanted to see just how much work it would take him to get his right arm back into combat ready condition.

  “Heck yeah!” Howard exclaimed, causing the crowd to erupt with cheers. As they were about to see a second battle for free.

  “We will give you all two minutes to prepare. Betters, now is your chance to claim your prior winnings, or for those of you who bet on Adonis to win initially, you can just leave your betting slips in place and it will be assumed you wish to double down on your earnings.” Sal explained.

  With that, the healer and her entourage began to leave. For a moment, Howard found himself checking where he had been taken down, making a mental note to avoid any areas of the mat where his previously infected puss might have fallen. Only to look and realize the arena was clean. Not a speck of puss, or even sweat was visible. For a second he activated his Earthen Sight Skill, which cycled earth energy into his eyes and let him see differences that might otherwise go unnoticed. Yet, even with his sight activated, he didn’t notice any abnormalities, just one uniform mat, which should have been impossible.

  Only then did he truly look at the miracle healer and see the way that not only Markan, but the normally indifferent Mr. Yi seemed to be not just protective, but overly protective of the young healer. Looking around and seeing the stares that Luna and Lucia both were providing the healer, it was clear that they too had taken to her. By the slightly glowing blush on Luna’s face and the way she kept having to look away, it was clear that Luna had finally found someone that interested her.

  Seeing Luna’s reaction an involuntary protective reaction rose within Howard, as he almost wanted to read the Healer the riot act. As Howard had come, like many of the other regulars to see Lucia and especially Luna as additional daughters. Knowing that Luna at long last had finally started to show interest in someone other than Lucia, made Howard want to protect Luna. As even the relationship between Lucia and Luna was more of an older sister and younger sister type of relationship, with Lucia acting as the older protector.

  No, with Luna finally showing interest, Howard decided that this Healer didn’t seem all bad. He would let this go on, only threatening the healer within an inch of her life after anything became official. As for now, he would hold off on intervening, particularly as he hoped that the healer could do the same for Luna.

  As for now, Howard had other things to focus on.

  Turning his back away from Luna’s blatant attempts to steal glances at the healer, Howard turned and faced his opponent once again.

  “Easy money old man, easy money,” the brazen Adonis called out, clearly thinking the world of himself after how easily he managed to get a tap out last time.

  Seeing his cocky attitude Howard just smiled, and realized with the healer that was on hand, he didn’t feel the need to hold back.

  “The wagering period is now over, and we will begin with round two immediately! Fighters take your positions!” Sal’s voice called out, his words causing the rest of the world to fade away. The only thing remaining was the cocky smirk on Adonis’s bronzed face. A smirk that Howard was happy to adjust.

  “Ready! Begin!” Cam’s voice called out, and like that the world slowed to a crawl as Howard’s Battle Cognition Skill kicked in, giving him an unfair advantage. An advantage that he would use to its fullest this time, the impulse to go easy on a young opponent gone entirely from this match.

  Smiling, Howard raised his newly healed right fist and began to move.