"Man, Fuck this." Yuri was in a foul mood, hunched over, wiping sweat from his brow. The boy was clearly exhausted from the day's activities. Still wanting to fight someone. Him and his friends.
"I'm leaving." He said, turning to leave. He and the two boys; to them this was far from what being a part of guild was about. "This is fucking stupid; we are being made to play with animals."
"I didn't think you were a bunch of quitters." Eren spoke as they walked past. His eyes were cold, staring at the boys as they passed. Yuri gave the man a glare, but continued to walk.
"Come now boys; you are nearly there. Don't stop now-" The kind words of Emiko were cut off by a vulgar yell from Yuri.
"SHUT IT, YOU OLD HAG!" Yuri screamed at her, turning back around. Emiko was dumbstruck by such an aggressive attitude, her mouth agape.
"Hey! You don't speak to your elders like that!" John, the big man, took a heavy step forward. His arms flexing as if they were ready to pummel the boy into the ground.
Instead Eren put his arm up. Stopping the black man from moving any closer. "It's fine." He spoke, his voice cold, eyes dark and narrowed. There was more than one way to tame a wild child.
"Oh well, it's time to move onto the 'COMBAT ROUND.'" Eren's voice echoed through the air like a clap of thunder. The boys stopped in their tracks.
There entire reason for being here was to fight, to test their strength and see if they were worthy of joining a powerful guild, hook line and sinker. Slowly, the boys returned to the group, heads low; as to escape the gaze of Eren.
"Excuse me? You quit, didn't you? Why should I let you back into my challenge?"
"Because I want in to your fucking guild."
Eren saw firsthand what the bandits did to these boys. They needed a chance to break free, to be good men.
"Where... sorry..." Yuri's voice low, almost whispering.
"Look at me when you speak!"
"I'M SORRY!" The young man's voice echoed through the woods. His two friends did likewise, bowing deeply.
"And..." Eren waited for something else.
"What? We said sorry." The boy said, still in a bow. The buzz cut boy gave a slight tap; looking at Emiko.
"We are sorry for calling you an Old Hag." Buzz cut spoke first.
"Yeah. Sorry... For calling you a hag." Ducktail spoke next. Yuri looked at them both, then to the ground, then at Emiko. He took a breath in.
"Sorry."
Emiko gave a smile to Eren; who returned her a satisfied nod. "It's alright boys. Let's put this whole thing behind us, yeah?"
With apologies done the crowd began to move to the final area.
"Are you a teacher?" Emiko asked, walking by Eren.
"In another life, I would have been one." He answered her. In truth, that was what he was doing. The same principles he had learned in university were the same he used now, albeit with the added element of physical confrontation. A way to discipline, to teach.
"Well, the world certainly lost a talented one."
"Yeah..." Those words hurt more than a blade or burn could ever.
The final trial, a battle royal.
Eren would use his 'disguised' knights to battle the recruits. A test to see their abilities in combat.
As well as the use of his Homunculus the main 'Villain' to defeat. Although it would be all his abilities, the guild will think the homunculus was a real man.
First, he needed to get rid of prying eyes. Not wanting to risk exposure to the police.
"Luca Romano. Come here." The group looked at each other with curious expressions, wondering why someone in their ranks was being singled out. Luca stepped forward, giving a confused look.
"Yes sir?" He said, with respect in tone.
"I can't believe you lived as long as you did without a rank. Please leave." That answer made the crowd even more bewildered. Wondering why the man would be allowed in, only to be told to leave.
"What do you mean, sir? I have no rank?"
"You are a police officer with the RCU. Luca Romano. You were discovered when you arrived at the gates. I'll only ask once more, Leave." More force was put into that last word. The man's expression changed, from confused to that of concern, like a deer in headlights.
"I am-"
"Fuck off, pig." A likely unhealthy hate for the police, inherited from his mothers' teachings. The group were a little offended for Luca. The boys, glad they didn't poke the bear any further than they had.
Luca left with his head down, Haruto escorting him to the portal. An unwanted guest during the recruitment round. Eventually Haruto returned. The last little problem had been sorted.
"Your goal. Is to kill mirror man and his mirror men." Eren's voice commanded attention. Pointing down a hill to a dirt pit. There, stood one mirrored wrapped up in black. Around them were 20 more mirror men, in kind his shadow knights' characteristics hidden under a disguise.
"They will fight back; they will not hold back. Destroy the mirror on their heads to stop them. You are only allowed to use the equipment you have with you, nothing else. Go."
The crowd rushed down the hill, charging at the knights. Ready to take on the challenge. Each with their own weapons drawn, swords, spears, and other such instruments of battle.
John pulled an AR from thin air. Emiko brought forth an oversized hammer.
*Bang* *Crack* *BOOM*
*Bam* *BANG*
The sounds of fighting filled the dirt arena. The crowd were putting up a good fight. Yet his soldiers were well drilled with little training they had been given.
The three boys, Yuri, and friends, were relishing the chance to fight, showing off their talents. Yuri's speed, buzz cuts strength and duck tails precision with the knife. All three were dancing around the knights. A well-trained group, they worked together like a seasoned trio.
Emiko, the elder lady, was a one-woman wrecking crew. With a swing of her mighty hammer a mirror man cracked its mirror in half, sending it to the floor. "Oh my. Sorry dear." She apologized to the knight, as it was turned to black smoke, and disappeared into nothingness.
John the marine, was holding his own. His aim with the rifle was deadly, shattering the mirrors with a well-placed bullet. "Come at me!" He called, another bullet, shattering yet another.
A little over two thirds remained; all the while the main mirror man, twirled and danced through the crowd, evading any strike or bullet that came at them.
The group had not yet realized the true test was the mirrored man, the one that was avoiding all forms of attacks. "Is that a human?" John asked, as the man leaped over a sword swipe, like an Olympic gymnast.
*Lands with grace* *Double thumbs*
"Go for the quick one!" Eren yelled from behind, hoping someone would finally start attacking the right target. Yuri heard the call and rushed in; the mirrored man leaping overhead of the young boy.
*Slam*
"FUCK!" His face met the solid dirt ground. He was quick but not quick enough, mirror man was faster. Continuing with its interpretive dance. Like water it flowed through the crowd.
He had no mouth for he must dance.
"Stop fucking moving!" Yuri was getting angry. Charging again, only for the mirror man to do a double flip over the boy, landing beside Emiko. The old woman swung her hammer, sending a powerful gust of wind towards the homunculus.
Who side stepped the attack with a pirouette. Dodging yet another, and another and another.
"Eren." Baelor's voice called low from behind. Turning to face the elf, who had returned, half his face covered in bandages. Minami too, her arms in bandages.
"What happened?" Eren's eyes went wide at the sight. Wondering if they had fought someone.
"We had business with Captain Matsuo. He demanded tribute for allowing a guild to operate in this ward. Tribute or violence was the offer. We choose the latter."
"They did that to you? Both of you?" His blood ran out with each pump of the heart. Rage filled every fibre of his body. Without the mask; he couldn't quell the influence of the ring.
*slash* *Slash* *SLASH*
Feeding off their master's rage; the knights struck harder and harder with each strike. Faster and more aggressive. The fighting intensified. Cuts began to form on the bodies of the recruits. Swords slicing deep into flesh.
"Eren, they seem to be really aggressive now." Haruto called from across the arena. He had seen them go from docile to aggressive in the blink of an eye.
"What happened?" Jun asked the elf, seeing the wounds on the two of them.
"A business arrangement gone awry, don't worry. Both of us will recover in due time." Baelor spoke, noticing the change in the white-haired man's demeanour.
Eren began to control his breathing; in-and-out, in-and-out. Calming the fire that raged in the pit of his stomach. The knights began to slow, becoming more docile. Still combat ready but not as fierce. His emotions could not be allowed to control the knights, nor his actions. He was better than that. Better than what the ring wanted.
*Crack* *Smash* *BAM*
The fighting continued; the mirrored men began to dwindle down. One by one, they were shattered and turned to ash, like dust in the wind. Yet the mirrored man remained. Moving with great speed and precision, weaving in and out of battle like a dancer, leaping and twirling. All the while Yuri was in pursuit, trying desperately to grab hold of the man.
Finally, the buzz cut boy made a quick decision. Taking a heavy swing, aiming for the mirrored man's legs. He was not as nimble as the others nor did he have their speed. His strength was unparalleled within their group, and a single strike would surely down the target.
*CRACK* *SMASH*
Mirror man had nowhere to run, trapped in a corner. Yuri rushed in with fists raised, a lightning quick hit to mirror man's head.
*Crack*
The glass shattered into a million pieces, leaving only the hooded figure in black.
"YEAH! FUCK YEAH!" Yuri roared in victory. Arms raised in the air, as if he was the only winner of the round. Buzz cut and duck tail carried Yuri up on their shoulders, chanting victory cries.
"Good work everyone. Bring your friends, we will return home." Eren ordered, the remaining competitors were ecstatic, they were all going to be members of a guild.
***
"We in?" Duck tail asked Eren, but the man gave away nothing. The group circled him back on Earth. Awaiting the results.
"Well done. You all passed. Welcome to the guild." An announcement that lacked enthusiasm. He wanted the quest to end so quickly.
"Eren." Like a disappointed father Baelor spoke. He took the reins to the final part.
"My name is Baelor. The founder and head of this guild. I welcome you to our halls. We will sort you into fitting roles, and begin your training. Please." Baelor gestured towards the guild hall. John and Emiko, led the victors.
All except Yuri and his friends, who stood by Minami as she waited for the crowd to clear.
"Eren." She spoke, waiting for the last of the crowd to leave.
"Yeah?"
"We can't accept minors into the guild." She stated bluntly.
"What?!" Yuri and his friends were stunned.
"Well, why the fuck didn't you say so in the first place?" Yuri's voice was filled with rage, but it fell on deaf ears.
"Because you didn't ask." Minami responded coldly.
"But... We-"
"No." Her voice analytical went straight to the point. The three young men, who were just a moment ago on top of the world, now they came crushing down.
Heads down; defeated in spirit, they walked away without another word.
"Eren we can't let them go. Not like this." Jun spoke up. His voice was soft, almost a whisper. He knew these kids; and they needed someone. Someone that would watch over them. Keep them from a life of crime and death. A life that was all too common in what had become of ward 4.
"I know. I'll speak to Baelor." Despite his success with the recruitment, a sour taste lingered in Eren's mouth. Everything that those boys had learnt was all for naught. Their excitement, their hope, all of it was gone. The disappointment on their faces was a bitter reminder of the harsh reality of their world.