Charles stood still, eyeing the two guys in front of him until a low chuckle slipped out, catching them both off guard.
The tall one, with the scar, frowned, confused.
"What's so funny, moron?" he growled, while the shorter one clenched his fists, clearly annoyed.
'I'm not letting you two beat me,' Charles thought, a grin spreading across his face that he couldn't hold back.
He was a gamer, after all. In video games, he always chased the win, no matter the odds.
These two were just generic grunts, and he wasn't about to back down like Rian had so many times.
The tall guy spat on the ground.
"Getting cocky now, huh, trash? We'll knock that attitude right out of you!"
Without warning, he threw a punch straight at Charles's face.
On instinct, Charles dodged to the side with a quick step, even though it was his first real fight ever.
The fist grazed his cheek, the air whistling with a soft "Whooosh!"
The short guy laughed, mocking him.
"What's wrong, Rian? Playing dodgeball now? Won't do you any good!"
As he taunted, the tall one spun and aimed a kick at Charles's ribs.
It was clumsy, slow, almost telegraphed. Charles sidestepped again, feeling the foot miss him by inches.
'Seriously… they're so slow,' he thought, almost disappointed.
Even in amateur-made games, enemies had faster attack patterns than this.
The static in Charles's hands started to build. The tall guy was off-balance after the botched kick, wide open and vulnerable.
Charles raised his fist, ready to strike back.
'Now!' he thought, picturing a perfect counter, but… his arm wouldn't budge.
"What…?" Charles mumbled, baffled.
He tried to swing again, but his body flat-out refused.
It was like an invisible wall held his fist in place.
The short guy seized the chance and threw a punch right at his face.
Pow!
The hit landed, and a sharp sting flared across Charles's cheek.
It wasn't as hard as he'd braced for, but it hurt enough to make him stagger back a step.
"Ha! What's the matter, Rian? Freeze up from fear?" the tall guy jeered, steadying himself.
He went for another punch, more confident this time. Charles dodged on reflex, twisting his head as the fist sailed by with a "Zing!"
The static in Charles's hands surged again, but when he tried to counter…
Nothing.
His arm locked up once more.
'What the hell's wrong with this body?' he thought, shooting a glance at the short guy.
Was he using some kind of power on him?
A paralysis trick?
But no—the short guy was too busy cackling to focus on anything like that.
Before Charles could figure it out, a heavy thud slammed into his back.
Bam!
The short guy had struck from behind while the tall one landed a punch to his gut.
Thump!
The air rushed out of Charles's lungs, and he dropped to his knees, gasping.
"Worn out already, Rian?" the tall guy said, crossing his arms with a smug grin.
The short one stepped closer, kicking the dirt near Charles's feet.
Charles struggled to his feet, backing toward the fountain.
Without him willing it, his arms started rising into a defensive stance—just like in that memory of Rian taking a beating.
"Damn it!" he growled under his breath.
It wasn't them.
It was Rian's body, acting on its own, stuck in some muscle-memory loop of getting pummeled!
Apparently, Rian was wired to take hits, not dish them out.
The guys started closing in, but time seemed to slow.
Charles could see every step, every awkward shift of their bodies. His mind raced a mile a minute.
No system to guide him, and now he couldn't even trust this body.
What could he do if he couldn't hit them?
Then, a wild idea popped into Charles's head.
He smirked, despite the ache in his face and stomach.
"If I can't hit them straight on…" he muttered, glancing at the fountain behind him.
Without overthinking it, he threw himself at it with all the strength he could muster.
Splash!
Charles crashed into the water, soaking everything around him. The cold drenched his tunic and splashed his face, but he didn't care.
"I'll make this work somehow!" he yelled, plunging his hands into the water, feeling the static in his fingers spread out slow and steady.
Charles shut his eyes and let that energy loose.
Crack!
A bright flash shot from his hands, ripping through the water like wild lightning. The electricity sparked outward, buzzing with a loud "Zzzzt!" that drowned out everything else.
The guys, drenched from the splash, screamed in unison:
"Aghhh!"
The water—perfect conductor that it was—channeled the current straight into them. Their legs wobbled, eyes bugged out, and they hit the ground with a solid "Thud!"—out cold.
Charles, still in the fountain, felt the tingle of electricity ripple through him.
It didn't hurt—it was… kinda fun, actually.
"Ow! Damn it…" Charles groaned, rubbing his forehead.
Sure, his plan worked, but diving headfirst into the fountain had banged him up a bit.
He hauled himself up, tunic clinging to his skin, water dripping everywhere. His heart was pounding, breath coming fast, but he couldn't help grinning.
Charles scanned the scene: the courtyard was a mess—puddles on the ground, the two guys sprawled out, and him standing there, soaked but victorious.
"It worked…" he mumbled, half in disbelief.
Charles had tapped into Rian's power—even if it was by accident.