Chapter 771 The Fortress Of Nature, Part 3

A crowd had gathered as the sun peeked out from its slumber. The crowd cheered as Lee Seng and six other guards moved through the ground course. They cheered as Lee Seng was the first to make it to the scalable wall. Lee Seng scaled it, leaping across and landing on the ground with ease.

James stepped out in uniform. He had heard loud noises getting ready and couldn't find the two guards at Lee Seng's door. He moved through the crowd, all greeting him as he continued forwards. James's eyes scanned and noticed Lee Seng was climbing the net portion of the course.

"Ah, Sergeant!" Jefferson greeted James with excitement. He glanced behind and shouted as one of the guards managed to pass Lee Seng. "Isn't he amazing! He can keep up with Ramirez!"

"Jefferson, what's going on? You were supposed to watch the Fox. Not let him run the course and bet your creds on him!" James demanded an answer from Jefferson. Tom shouted in joy as Lee Seng managed to pass Ramirez on the course. "Tom! Get over here!" Tom snapped out of it and turned, noticing James was there. His face turned pale as he scrambled over.

"S-Sergaent!" Tom stuttered. "Yo-you're up!"

"I thought I made it clear to not let him wander off anywhere. Why is he out here? Are you guys betting creds on him?" James pointed. Tom and Jefferson immediately hid the creds and smiled. James sighed and pushed past the two. "Do I gotta do everythin' myself?" James made his way to the front of the crowd. The other guards turned and realized who it was and gave James room.

James watched Lee Seng get to the last part of the course. It was a rope climb all the way up. Lee Seng grabbed the rope and began to pull himself with ease while Ramirez and the other five guards struggled to keep up.

"He smoked Faulkner, Benson and now Ramirez?!?" A guard member spoke loudly. "I bet 20K creds on him! I'm making double that after this bet!" The guard slapped his buddy on the shoulder who was a bit sour. It looks like a lot of the guards weren't convinced of Lee Seng's ability.

Lee Seng reached the top and practically boosted himself into the air before landing. He ran forward and slammed his hand on the button and the lights went off. The crowd went wild as James took a deep breath. Lee Seng turned and waved at the crowd before noticing James. His smile faded, slightly, but he waved at James and signed to him he'd be down shortly.

Lee Seng jumped off the platform and drifted to the ground with ease while the other guards continued their climb to the top. James moved into the course, perturbed by what was happening.

"Sir!" Lee Seng smiled, a bit out of breath. "I came out here to warm my body up. I'm ready to go whenever!" James came to a stop very close to Lee Seng and sighed.

"I told you to stay in your room. You were to only come out if you needed to use the restroom. How did you manage to convince my two finest night guards to let you on the course? What're you trying to do? Prove that you're friendly? How 'bout you prove it by doing your job?" James scolded Lee Seng. Lee Seng's smile faded, and he nodded. He wiped his sweat off with his shirt and bowed in front of James.

"Don't blame Tom and Jefferson for ignoring your orders. They continuously told me I can't, but I wanted to run the course. I couldn't sleep." Lee Seng lifted himself up and put on a reassuring face. "It's all my fault."

"Of course, it is, Fox." James said loudly. The crowd grew quiet as James turned. "This isn't some friend you can play around and bet creds on! You made a friend out of an enemy. You disobeyed the Druidess and my order! Since you're all eager to bet and run the course with this Fox, why don't you get to work without any food?!?"

The group scattered leaving Tom, Jefferson, James and Lee Seng. James turned and angrily shook his head at Lee Seng.

"Come on! I'm assuming you're good to go since you've been running the courses." James motioned. "You're burning your own time!"

Lee Seng showered quickly and dressed himself up in his gear. He had gotten them as a present from Lily's father. He gave one of his son's old armor sets to Lee Seng. It was leather and the symbol of Lily's family was on it. The armor was old but with some detailing and help from the leatherwork and runic smiths, it was as good as new!

Lee Seng popped out of the bathroom and noticed Tom and Jefferson were nowhere to be seen. The archer woman and axe woman were waiting for him with James not in sight.

"There he is." The axe woman smiled. "I heard you're the talk of the morning. Got everyone bettin' creds on you." The archer lady pushed off the wall and led the way. The axe woman kept pace with Lee Seng, noticing the intricate leatherwork and runic carvings on Lee Seng's armor. "I don't recognize this type of work. Where'd you get it? The city?"

"The city wouldn't have something as intricate as that." The archer lady answered. "He's a Fox… He's probably not even from here."

"The archer is right about that." Lee Seng pointed. "It's made by my people… It feels weird to say it like that."

"You agree on the separation others are using on you?" The archer asked. They turned the corner and cut through the cafeteria. People were eating and lining up for food. They looked up at them and quickly went back to whatever they were doing.

"No." Lee Seng answered. "I don't, but it's hard to explain."

"How so?" The axe woman asked. "You aren't Biohuman like us. Your powers work within our dampeners. You are something entirely new and we are…"

"Fuck." The archer answered. She stopped as five large guys stepped in front of her. They glared at the archer who wasn't backing up.

"Well, well, well, if it ain't Kiara and Jane. What brings you girls here?" The largest guy in the middle asked. He was fat but had muscle definition on him. He had a large two-handed axe on his back as his puny eyes landed on Lee Seng. "Oh! The rumors were true! Your Sergeant or whatever caught this one, no? And now you guys get to suicide into the forest North?" The group bellowed into a laugh as the axe woman narrowed her eyes.

"Back of Yusuf. We're needed elsewhere." The axe woman snarled.

"Oh, on time? Oh no, I'm blocking you?" Yusuf sarcastically empathized with the girl. He smiled a shit eating grin and laughed. "Fuck off Jane. Let me handle my problem with Kiki here and you can go on your merry way." Jane started to move past Lee Seng when Kiara stuck her hand out.

"Don't. They aren't worth your time. Let's just go another way. There's more than one way to get out of this pig sty." Kiara stared daggers at Yusuf. The boys behind Yusuf began to 'oo' at that as Kiara turned and started back the way they came.

"That's what the ex-right hand bitch would say, hm?" Yusuf asked. Kiara stopped next to Lee Seng. Lee Seng could tell Yusuf's insults were getting to her.

"Shouldn't you be throwing insults at me?" Lee Seng strolled up to Yusuf. "I mean, aren't I a much better punching bag? I got a pretty face." Yusuf's eyes went straight to Lee Seng and a snarl escaped Yusuf's lips. Jane looked at Kiara who was turning. Lee Seng tilted his head and smiled. He stuck his hand out. "I'm sorry. I haven't shook another Biohuman's hand in years. Where are my manners? My name's Lee Seng. What was yours again? Yusuf?"

"Are you dumb?" Yusuf's lackey 1 asked. "You're gonna shake this guy's hand?" They laughed as eyes drew onto them.

"Jane, we need to get him out of here asap." Kiara whispered. "Before yusuf snaps him in half."

"Nice to meet you, Leaky Sink. I'm Yusuf." Yusuf lifted his large hand out and the two shook hands. Yusuf began to squeeze, and Lee Seng didn't react. "Oho! Pretty boy can take some heat! How about this hmm?" Yusuf squeezed hard enough for the noise to be heard in the cafeteria. Lee Seng still didn't react.

"That feels nice. Squeeze harder. I'm a bit sore after running the course." Lee Seng smiled. Yusuf's face grew red as Lee Seng started to squeeze. Yusuf's red face instantly released as a loud crack was heard. Yusuf screamed in pain as Lee Seng threw Yusuf's hand back at him.

"Ahhh, fuck! My hand! What the hell are you playin' at, freak?!?" Yusuf cried. "You think this is a game?"

"Oh, I misunderstood?" Lee Seng asked. He took a step forward, letting out a little bit of his pent-up frustration. "You weren't playing around when you blocked Miss Kiara from taking me where Sergeant James is waiting? You weren't tryin' to be an ass?"