Martial Arts Worlds

"If it is not a genetic disorder, Weak Bloodline is not a real thing. You can go beyond Martial Soldier if you only have belief in yourself.

"Do you think your Martial Soul will grant you power with your pathetic self-loathing? Martial Soul wants to help you, but you must show it that you're worthy of that help."

Kiernan said and slowly approached Neal.

"How can I do that? I… don't think I can do it by myself."

Neal looked down at the ground and clenched both hands.

He wanted to be strong, and he wanted to stop the bullying while gaining enough confidence to talk to Katherina, but that felt like a distant, impossible dream.

Kiernan lifted his head to look directly into his eyes, then he reeled back his right fist, and while Neal's eyes widened to saucers, he punched towards his face.

"Eek!"

Neal closed his eyes and turned his head to the side so that the punch would land at his cheek and not at his nose.

However, the fist never made contact as it stopped right before hitting him.

"E-eh?"

Neal's eyes fluttered open, and he turned to look at Kiernan with shaky eyes, wondering why the hell he did that.

"Why did you close your eyes? How can you defend yourself if you don't see the attack heading your way?"

Kiernan asked.

"D-defend? That punch was coming so fast, and I wasn't ready for it. How in the world could I have defended myself?"

Neal stammered with a look of disbelief.

It seemed like the punch was coming his way as fast as a bullet, and in his opinion, an ordinary human wouldn't stand a chance against that!

He wasn't actually wrong with that theory.

Kiernan had already reached Martial Champion, and Neal was still Unranked child.

The difference between their ranks was as vast as the gap between Martial World and Dead World.

"It doesn't matter whether you're capable of defending yourself. You mustn't look away. If you look away, then you're as good as dead."

Kiernan said, formed a fist with his right hand, and reeled back his arm.

"I am about to punch you again. You're now ready, correct?"

"O-okay."

Neal awkwardly raised his arms, but only till his chin, and didn't properly protect his face.

With a deep breath, Kiernan swung his arm forward, and his fist appeared in front of Neal's face within an instant.

Neal's eyes forcefully closed, and he felt the wind coming from the fist breezing past his face, but the hit never came.

"Do you have a problem hearing? Do not close your eyes!"

Kiernan screamed at Neal.

"I-I am sorry…"

"Do not stutter? What the hell did I say to you?"

Kiernan grabbed him by the face and turned it so that he was looking him in the eye as he was again trying to look away.

"Look at me when I'm talking to you!"

"Seriously, what do you want from me? I don't get it! If this is some advanced bullying technique, just please beat me up already!"

Kiernan scoffed at his words, returned back to the folded pile of gym mats, and sat down with a thoughtful look.

'This is bad. I don't think I am fit to be a teacher. I tried being stern and authoritative, like my former teachers, but nothing I say goes through his head.

'I thought that since he has gotten used to bullying, he would listen to me if I screamed at him, but nothing.

'I didn't expect him to have given up already. Given up on martial arts and even on life. It is a really troublesome situation.'

Neal awkwardly stood still while scratching his arm till it started bleeding slightly.

Kiernan rubbed his chin, then remembered something that Neal mentioned, and thought of a way to get through his thick head.

"So, Katherina, huh? That's the one where your feelings are directed at?"

Neal's eyes widened in shock, and he wondered how the hell he knew about her, but then he also remembered that he happened to mention her once.

"Yeah… And so what?"

"She doesn't know the real Travis. He is tricking her into thinking he's someone he's not. Are you okay with that?"

Kiernan said.

"Of course not… She is a good one… I've seen her take care of the stray cats in the neighborhood, and she is caretaker of the school's garden…

"That piece of shit doesn't deserve her!"

Neal bit his lip with enough strength to spill blood, but he didn't care.

"They're going somewhere after the school. A date, perhaps, and who knows what will happen after that. Sixteen years old, alone, and vulnerable."

Kiernan rested his chin on top of his hands and saw Neal's face turn paler by the moment with the realization of what might happen.

"W-well, you're strong, aren't you? I can tell that you are very strong, so can't you help me? Stop him, please!"

Neal begged and fell down on his knees.

"You rely on others too much. You need to learn how to stand up for yourself, and I won't be helping you."

Neal gritted his teeth and looked at the clock in his wristwatch.

"The school will end in one hour… How can I do anything in that time frame?"

"Nothing. You will just get your ass kicked."

Kiernan said with a chuckle and tossed another mint candy into his mouth.

"Can you stop chuckling? This is really serious! Is there nothing I can do to stop Travis?"

"Of course there is."

Kiernan said with a confident smile.

"And that is?"

Neal raised an eyebrow.

"Do you know where Katherina lives?"

"Ah, yes, I do."

When Neal answered it, Kiernan looked at him with a suspicious gaze.

"Neal Yoxall, have you perhaps stalked her? I do not condone that, and if you have, I might have to rethink whether I should assist you."

"N-no, of course not! E-everyone knows where she lives, as her parents own the bakery down the street. They live right above it."

"It is close, good. What do you know about her parents?"

"Well… They visit church regularly and are very involved in the community. They're followers of the Abrahamic God."

"Hmm… Abrahamic God… I think that is good then. We should go snitch about her date to her parents, and maybe they'll ground her if we're lucky.

"That should give you enough time to make Travis choke on his own teeth."

Kiernan said and stood up with a smile on his face.

Neal's eyes brightened at the brilliant plan, but he then frowned and asked.

"I don't think they will ground her for long. They really love her, so I am sure they want to protect her, so they will ground her, but the question is for how long."

"One week is enough. At the end of the week, you'll participate in a ranked match against Travis and kick his fucking ass."

Kiernan said with a laugh.

"WHAT?!"