Chapter 15: Gaspard-Part One

High above the thick forest trees, two individuals hovered in the sky—Ayame and the unknown boy in robes.

His attire looked a lot like a uniform. A bright yellow robe draped across his shoulders, white shirt, black trousers, and a matching-colored hat that sat atop his head—the kind that brings to mind a wizard or a witch.

On the left chest area of the robe, a symbol akin to an alto clef was embroidered into it.

Ayame while observing him, thought, Those clothes... Is he from the Magic Institute?

“Psionic Slash!” the boy yelled, swinging his twisted wooden staff in an arc. A crystalline gem embedded at its tip glowed fiercely as he struck.

A transparent arc cut through the air, shaving some flames off Ayame.

Tch! Looks like his magic is advanced, Ayame noted as she dodged a couple more of those slashes. But he sucks at controlling it.

Stretching out her right hand, she yelled, “Serpentine Volts!”

The flames on her hand receded and in its place, five bolts of lightning— resembling snakes—twisted and coiled toward her enemy.

CRACKLE!

They dispersed a few feet away from him, like they crashed into an invisible wall.

“Psionic Wall!” He flung his arms out making his robes to flutter in the wind.

“Oh Ayame, you are even more beautiful than I remember,” he said, staring at her feet...

“You’re from the Magic Institute, aren’t you?” Ayame scowled under her breath, disgusted by his lustful gaze. “More importantly... WHY DID YOU ATTACK MEISATSU?!”

Her flames grew into a hellish inferno surrounding her. For quite some time, Ayame had been training to “tone down” her power. She was worried that it might one day scare Meisatsu.

But today, she felt that restraint slipping...

“Because he is weak,” he replied, unfazed by Ayame’s threatening tone. “And yes, I am or... was a student at the institute, but I left after my other reason for living, the Director, deserted me. Then I remembered, I had you!”

Ayame was... uncharacteristically calm, and a shrewd smile slowly spread out across her face.

Yup... I’ll kill him! She glared at him through half open eyes, saying, “How dare you call Meisatsu weak...”

The flames burst out wildly, and the boy covered his eyes due to the scorching heat coming off her. “Now, where were we?”

CRASH!

The sound of a tree falling shook the forest. Meisatsu just dodged a devastating punch from Gaspard which connected to a tree that hurdled into the distance.

“Monsieur Hero!” Gaspard teased, “Surely you can do a lot more than that.”

Like hell I can!

“GUN MARTIAL ARTS: Rapid Bullet Punches!”

Meisatsu planted a foot forward, folding both his free left hand and his Glock holding right hand into tight fists.

“ORA! ORA! ORA! ORA! ORA! ORA! ORA! ORA!...”

In rapid succession, both hands delivered powerful punches to Gaspard’s mid-section, lifting him of the ground with each jab.

With his Glock hand winding back, Meisatsu yelled, “OOOOORAAAAAAAAA!!!”

He delivered a final punch that slammed Gaspard into a tree trunk behind him.

Don’t mess with a part-time Otaku, Meisatsu scoffed, adjusting imaginary glasses.

Like a man getting up from a nap, Gaspard rose from his brief slump, with a stagger, and a grin. “Magnifique! What a marvelous display!”

He got up from that?! Alright, I guess I have no choice...

Aiming at Gaspard’s right knee, pulling the trigger—

BANG!

Meisatsu felt confident that Gaspard won’t be moving after the shot.

He told himself, That’ll keep him down.

And yet...

“Oh my! What’s this?” Gaspard reached for the bullet that had squished flat against his knee, leaving only a small bruise once removed.

“I have to admit, I am a little disappointed Monsieur...” He flicked it to the ground as his muscles began to bulge unnaturally once more.

“Merci son!” Gaspard shouted, with a cupped hand around his mouth into the night sky.

His gaze shifted back to Meisatsu. “My son’s spell, STEROIDS is simply marvelous.”

He continued, “His spells are so refined. Well fitted for a High-Mage!”

High-Mage? Meisatsu had never heard of that term before. Also, I wouldn’t call a spell named “Steroids” refined...

“En garde!” Gaspard barked as he charged at Meisatsu, preparing a punch.

“Ack!” Meisatsu coughed in pain as the punch connected to his face.

Pain...? Does that mean he’s hitting harder than BULLETPROOF can handle?!

“There is more Monsieur,” Gaspard added as he prepared more blows...

“Elegantly Drunken Fist: Punching Spree!” Like the attack Meisatsu used before, Gaspard inflicted a series of devastating punches that shook Meisatsu to his core. They were wild and unguided, like those of a drunk’s...

The last hit had more power behind it, as it flung Meisatsu backwards.

With three well timed back-flips, Meisatsu finally skidded to a stop, wiping a trickle of blood from his lips.

Okay, this is bad! He started running deeper into the forest, thinking of a way out of his current situation. With Scope, I should have the advantage in the darker parts of the forest.

Meisatsu could hear Gaspard’s heavy footsteps behind him.

Crap! How’s he following me?

“Monsieur, if you think you can escape me, think again!” Gaspard bellowed, face flushed. “That marvelous spell of my son’s is a physical enhancement spell. I can hear you just fine.”

Gaspard’s crazed laugh rang through the forest. “I’ll make sure you stick to being a Hero forever. Not just you. The entire town, then the Kingdom, and then, the world!”

Suddenly, Gaspard stopped hearing Meisatsu’s footsteps.

“Monsieur Hero!” he called out in a singsong voice. “Where are you?”

RUSTLE!

“GUN MARTIAL ARTS: GLOCK LOCK!”

Meisatsu leapt out from one of those uncanny butt shaped thickets for a surprise attack in the dark.

From behind, he locked his legs around Gaspard’s waist and wrapped an arm firmly in a choke-hold around his neck—the muzzle pushing against his trachea, as they struggled on the ground.

If you can’t shoot ‘em, choke ‘em.

“Touché,” Gaspard said, straining his voice. “But...”

An elbow struck Meisatsu’s side, weakening his grip and Gaspard flipped off him. The hit was so powerful, it felt like all the air within him was pushed out—gagging for breath.

“See? None of this would have happened if you had simply taken the wine like those children,” Gaspard said, looking down at Meisatsu still trying to recover.

Then something clicked—

“Did you say, children? Kids...?” His mind went back to the ones he saw outside BON APPÉTIT...

“If I get them while they are young, I’ll make sure they never deviate from their destined paths.” As he spoke, self-righteousness coated every word that left his mouth. “Our goddess Lyrica would like such a thing, no?”

CHK-CHK!

“I don’t care about your dumb plans or whatever.” With Meisatsu’s hand still gripping the slide, he said, “But I won’t stand around, watching you force your shit on kids who have nothing to do with this!”

Gaspard laughed at Meisatsu’s declaration. “Yes! Show me your power Hero! Carry out your role splendidly!”