Chapter 33: Reflection

In a dark abandoned building, men gathered in crowds. Each of them looked terrifying with huge bulging muscular muscles. Between them, Rewen felt like an ant between giants. He uncomfortably fiddled his way to reach a free space where he can breath normal oxygen and not oxygen mixed with the muscle energy.

"Hehe boy. You should leave before it starts. I'm sorry to say that this isn't a place for a young man like you. This is a place for real men."

"I am a real man! Try me!"

"You might be one among your peers but to us, nah."

"I'll show you, buff guy." Rewen snorted at the middle-aged short-haired rough-looking man and went to sit down at a bench.

'So the base requirement for entering the Club is performing well in this Club fight. Fair enough. They shouldn't take much time to wipe out but I'm positive that even though I can't estimate their strength, they shouldn't be stronger than Rank 1. With my [Freestyle Knights Combat] technique, it would make things easier but I'm not sure if I should show everything off. No. I definitely can't show off.

'I have to fulfill the criteria of performing well using my stats and martial arts. Although that would still be surprising, it won't be shocking.'

The reason he is trying to join the Club is not on a whim or "Who cares, I'll join". He had an actual reason for doing so. The Grand Ultine Kapile Club is, like the jumper guy said, the most influential Club in the Travil Town. The reason being, it is closely connected to the State Government. Rewen boldly wanted to be under the influence of the government, even wanted to become a government official if the opportunity presented itself.

'I couldn't be sure what she would do. I don't want to blindly believe in the law and order and leave everything to them.' Hardening his resolve, he stretched his arms and got up. "Looks like both the sides have already arrived." He muttered then moved forward to see what's cooking.

"How are we going to start this?"

"Send one from your side and we'll send one from ours."

"Good! Haha! A long battle must have a slow start. You! Yes, you. You are going first. We have already selected our one. What about yours, Damien?" The Leader of the newbie Club sent out a man from his side.

Damien, the selected Leader of the Club Fight from the side of the Grand Ultine Kapile Club was wondering who to choose from when he heard a young voice. "Big guy! Choose me!" It was Rewen raising his hand.

This would have originally been a knee-slapping funny incident but nobody laughed. Damien eyed him from top to bottom and asked in a deep voice. "Are you sure?"

"Hell ya!"

"You are going then."

Rewen smiled confidently and walked to him with long strides.

"He will be your opponent. Don't worry about getting in the hospital." Damien patted on his back while Rewen looked at his opponent. He was a similar giant. In fact, everyone here was similar in physique and size except for him.

"Come here, little guy. I won't hit yo- urkkukk!" As he was speaking, Rewen showed no mercy and punched the guy in his cheeks. His movement was unexpected and fast. While everyone was shocked about the sudden move, Rewen again punched his opponent's face.

*Jab*

*Jab*

*Jab*

He was now completely dominating the match. His opponent initially wanted to fight back but with Rewen's momentum and quick consecutive punches, he couldn't get a hold of his footing and eventually fell off.

But Rewen wasn't done. He dashed towards the Leader of the newbie Club and threw a kick at his torso.

It was blocked.

"You are good, but not enough." The Leader said so in a neutral expression and pulled it in for a punch in Rewen's face.

It was blocked. Not by Rewen, but by Damien. "You are forgetting us. Men! Fight commence!"

The brawl started.

***

An hour later.

Rewen sat down on the ground feeling his knees getting weak. His shirt was torn and his face was filled with bruises and cuts. "Damn… this felt real good." He looked at the men kissing the ground. Only a few people were able to remain standing and they were still staggering, finding it hard to remain static. It was a low-key bloodbath. Never had Rewen expected this level of fight when he decided he would participate in the Club fight.

'I don't know if my combat prowess increased or not but I hella enjoyed it.' Rewen smiled. He wasn't a battle crazy man but fighting with what he got not using the cheat technique. It let him find out his limits.

Damien came to him and helped him up. "Good job, champ! You did well. I'll report this to the Club and consider yourself a new member of the Grand Ultine Kapile Club."

"Haha… this was really tough. So when am I joining? And where do I have to come?"

"Come by to our meeting tomorrow. Give me your mail. I'll send you the address. Don't worry. It's not outside of the town."

"That's a relief."

Rewen talked with Damien and the others for a few minutes before leaving.

***

Travel Town. Klofar Residence. 2:08 a.m.

He took the bus and returned home. Nothing eventful happened along the way. He felt a bit sleepy in the bus but resisted. "It got really late." Looking at the time, he yawned.

*Ding*

He rang the doorbell.

*Ding*

...

*Ding*

...

"Who is it?"

After about a minute, Denny's voice sounded.

"It's me. Open the door."

She opened the door with a half-asleep look in her eyes. "Where were you?" Clearing her vision, she cried out. "Where were you!? What's with your clothes? What trouble did you brew up again!?"

"Oh… well. I have joined the Grand Ultine Kapile Club. Isn't that amazing?"

"Huh? What? Anyways, go and take a shower. You stink.��

Rewen stretched his hand towards her arm. Seeing the stinky hand approached, her body jerked away. "This. Isn't. Funny. Rewen."

Rewen laughed in a carefree manner and entered the bathroom. Moments later, he got out of the bathroom, went back to his room and changed into loose clothes.

*Knock*

"Rewen. We need to talk."

He opened the door.

"What is it?"

"What were you telling about Club?"

"I said I joined the Grand Ultine Kapile Club."

"Are you serious?"

"Why would I joke?"

"How did you join?"

"Don't you know of my prowess? There was this Club fight and it said if I perform well, I would be recruited. I performed fairly well and that's the whole story."

"Why did you suddenly decide to join the Club? Do you want to become a government official? For connections?"

"For both. Since I have this power at my disposal, why not make full use of it?"

"Indeed. That���s a good plan… Ah, it's… nevermind. Don't wake up late." Denny hesitated to say something but eventually didn't. "Good night." Saying so, she left the room.

Rewen locked the door and switched off the light before jumping on the bed. Then started reflecting on his actions. 'My pride will one day lead to my doom.' He bitterly smiled. He wasn't an idiot. He understood others quite well. He could say with a high degree of certainty that if he had agreed to the devil woman's deal, although he would still be a victim of her schemes, the outcome would be far less than what he had done by rejecting her deal. While talking with her, he understood from the very beginning that she herself didn't believe the bulls*it traitor-theory she had come up with. 'If I had accepted the deal, I would at most be a victim of a few games but now, I brought potential trouble to my family.'

Taking a deep breath, he closed his eyes. "I have to get stronger quicker."