Garden Of The Abyss

"What's he talking about, Beatrice?"

Asking as she wiped away the sweat from her chin, Brahmi looked at the primordial sage with furrowed eyebrows.

"I didn't think it was important enough to mention, but one of the aspects of summons performed like this is that the summoned entity is passively acclimated to this world upon arrival. He knew coming in what type of situation would meet him upon being manifested here. In addition...magecraft works the same; just from witnessing it and experiencing its feel, he'll adapt his own magecraft."

Gasps followed this explanation from the sage as most of all, Brahmi could only smile at this news before shaking the blow off of her forearms.

"No kiddin', huh? Guess we don't have to train ya' after all. Just a little beating will give ya' the gist of it."

Cracking her knuckles, she began to move towards the center of the room once more, walking towards the gray-haired delinquent.

​ "Can it, will you? Just fight me already."

Slipping his hands back into his pockets, Kazuya didn't so much as look at the woman as he strolled to the center to meet her halfway.

There's a reason I chose you to be the one to greet him in combat, Brahmi. You both possess the same affinity; a Gaia affinity specializing in self-amplification. From you, he'll achieve the most potent growth, Beatrice thought.

"Cocky, arentcha'? I won't be gentle with ya' then, brat."

"Like I said…"

Closing the distance swiftly, Kazuya's quietly, calmly spoken response to her words met only on frozen ears as his speed was blinding.

It's not just speed...he's completely unpredictable. I can't sense any intent from him before he goes in for an attack! She thought.

"Can it."

Using a high kick placed from such a short distance, his swift attack hit its park directly against the chin of his foe. This time, the impact created a small, but noticeable shock wave.

I can feel it; his magical energy is rising higher and higher as he fights. I knew he'd be impressive, but this is something else, Donatien thought.

"Doing this against Brahmi on his first day here? Sheesh…"

Fai commented as a droplet of sweat trickled down his cheek as he held a nervous smile as if the happenings before his eyes were more of a dream than reality.

"It goes without saying that she's holding back, but even with that--she wouldn't allow herself to be a punching bag like this. No doubt about it, Kazuya Aibana is one hell of a guy."

Correcting the initial notion his ponytail-wearing comrade had, Donatien fiddled with his glasses a bit as he kept his hazel eyes on the battle, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Fai.

Attempting to counter the kick landed against her chin, Brahmi swung around into a fearsome roundhouse kick--which met with nothing besides air as the blonde-haired delinquent showcases not only his quick reactions, but his flexibility.

Squatting low to the ground as if taking a relaxed stance, the kick went right over his head before he rose back to his feet into an uppercut, missing by a hair as the professional fighter stumbled back from the close-call with her opponent's fist.

What the hell is with him?! I can't get a read on him at all! I obviously don't want to kill him, but I can't find the right amount of reinforcement to use...he's reading me like a book. How is this kid just some high schooler…? Brahmi thought.

Continuing his pursuit into the brawl at hand, Kazuya threw his bandage-wrapped fists wildly and without technique, yet each was dodged only narrowly by his opponent.

This time, a proper counter was thrown--Brahmi dug her fist into the boy's gut with visceral force, sending him back as a crack resounded in the air.

I'm not letting up this time; you need a proper beatdown, brat! She thought.

Bursting forward with incredible speed, she was above the young man before he could even fall onto the ground--crashing her foot down into a heavy stomp that caused his body to collide with the metallic floor below.

Taking a few breaths, she removed her heel from his gut before moving a few steps back, "Crap...did I overdo it?"

As she turned around with a sigh, disgusted by the thought of having accidentally killed a kid--her thoughts were washed away as a spike in magical energy reeled in her attention, quickly turning back around to witness Kazuya bring himself to his feet once more.

"...Is that all you've got?"

Wiping the saliva from the corner of his mouth, his eyes remained unmoving as he looked at the woman.

What is this...rise in aura? It's so potent now that I can visibly see his reinforcement! She thought.

"The hell? How much mana does this kid have?"

Fai leaned forward, blinking to make sure he was seeing things right; it was unmistakable; a verdant aura clung to his body, caressing his shape.

"In this case, it's not about quantity, but quality...that boy's mana is so rich that he can reach that type of reinforcement. This might be trouble for Brahmi; he's adapting way too quickly."

Letting out a sigh as he ruffled his own locks, Tristan muttered as he squinted before the bright verdancy brought into existence within the metallic chamber.

"This magic stuff...it's pretty handy."

Patting his own gut, Kazuya smiled for the first time since arriving--something for once, he and his opponent could share in.

"You're crazy, kid, I'll give you that," Brahmi lowered her fists, "this is enough, isn't it, Beatrice?"

Placing her hands on her bare hips, Brahmi brought her emerald gaze to the sage that had been spectating the mock bout. After a few moments of silence, Beatrice finally nodded her head with a certain slowness, "I suppose so. Kazuya Aibana, your ability to adapt to this world exceeds my calculations."

"Huh? But we're still fighting. I'm not satisfied yet."

"Eh?"

Simultaneously, everyone in the room held the same reaction to the nonchalant bloodlust of the short delinquent. Letting out a sigh and waving her hand in resignation, Brahmi started to walk away, "Sorry, kid, I just really don't feel like fighting you--"

Going in for a surprise attack in an attempt to reignite the fight, Kazuya threw a fist towards the resigning fighter before having it be caught by an intercepting third-party.

"If you're itching so badly for a fight, I'll be your opponent then."

Towering over the gray-haired boy by well over two heads at least, Noah looked down at him with his sable irises, holding his fist which was minuscule in comparison to his own.

"Who the hell are you?"

"Just call me Noah."

Introducing himself with a sly smile, the squint in the colossal man's eyes was something the boy experienced in years of brawling recognized--the glint of malicious intent. Even though he saw the punch coming, knowing it could only come from the man's right hand, guarding against it still left a sharp impact resounding through the marrow of his bones.

Just the strength behind the singular haymaker thrown against his arm caused Kazuya to slide to the side.

He's strong, Kazuya thought.

"Kazu."

"Huh?"

"That's what you can call me."

Taking a proper stance for a fight, raising his hands near his chin--Kazuya smiled at the prospect of battle with such a fearsome opponent.

Covered in seemingly head-to-toe in tattoos, those piercing on his lips and ears, the aura around him--this guy could've been one hell of a gangster, Kazuya smiled.

"Woah...Noah's actually fighting? Can't remember the last time I saw that. This is exciting!"

Holding a radiant, joyful smile, Fai's eyes glimmered as he spectated the bubbling situation before them.

"I'm more surprised he took any initiative at all...maybe watching Kazuya reignited something in that hollow heart of his."

"...That's a bit cruel."

Charlotte quietly muttered, listening in to Donatien and Fai's conversation as yet another battle seemed to be awakening.

It was well within the sage's satisfaction, witnessing just how adept the newly summoned Outlander was to battle; even if it came with a side of his troublesome nature.

He fits right in with the others. Though...I'm interested to see what kind of growth spurs from combat with Noah. With Brahmi, he was able to instantly grasp the feeling of magic because they both shared the same affinity--allowing him to replicate that same feeling with ease.

Noah is a different story, but his attitude should be a better fit for Kazuya as a whole. While Brahmi is a rambunctious one, she has her restraints when it comes to those she thinks are weaker than her.

Just how much longer will that be the case, I imagine? Beatrice thought.

"Bring it on, short-stuff!"

Taunting the delinquent with a "come at me" gesture of his fingers, Noah smiled from ear-to-ear without so much as taking a stance.

It's been forever since I've seen Noah like this...it almost feels nostalgic, Donatien smiled.

"Are you sure? You don't want to raise your fists?"

"I'll be fine."

It didn't take any more than that little confirmation to trigger the fight switch of the boy who wore his custom blazer around his shoulders, bursting forth with unnatural speed. Launching off the ground, it took a leap for the brawler to match the height of his towering, shirtless opponent before launching a kick aimed straight for the man's cheek.

"...Nice try, kid!"

Grabbing hold of the boy's ankle before it could make contact, Noah began to chuckle before spinning him like a rope, tossing him like a bag of potatoes.

He's a monster. This kind of strength is insane, Kazuya thought.

Before helplessly crashing against the floor, the delinquent caught himself on his hands, using the momentum to flip over onto his feet as he slid back against the smooth flooring, still being carried by the residual force of the throw.

Watching the beginning of this battle, Donatien polished his glasses with a breath before placing them back over his eyes with a small smile.

There is a case to be made that in peak condition, with proper motivation, Noah could be the strongest of us all. However, it is once in a blue moon that the oaf of a man takes anything seriously, Donatien thought.