As long as you are breathing

Ponhpaiboon

As soon as the gauntlet guy fell down the invisible ceiling, the old man slowly went back to a neutral stance to throw a glare at Kalil. Kalil glared back at the old man as he slowly stood up ready for battle.

His muscles weren’t expected to be recovered this soon. But the adrenalin rush across his veins couldn’t let him feel anything. His fight or flight response was at its peak.

“Seems the old man had to be the victorious one,” thought Kalil, “Well that sucks. Cause I could only find any weakness in the other guy.”

Even though he was thinking that he knows that deep inside he wanted the old man to win. Deep inside, he wanted a rematch.

“Come here, my boy,” said the old man.

Kalil hesitantly went towards him. The old man is too much of a warrior to use any cheap tricks to defeat Kalil.

The old man pointed downwards towards a giant hole-like structure. A lot of ribbon-like structures arose from it as if a huge about of headless snakes clumped together to make a forest by themselves.

“What is that?” asked Kalil.

“I have been observing you guys and a lot more things from up here. You can say that the game by far has been pretty luxurious to me,” the old man said, “There are a lot of interesting things I noticed here. That structure is among them.”

“Yeah, but what is that?” asked Kalil again.

“I am not so sure either. But I can tell you how it functions,” replied the old man.

“Well, how does it?” asked Kalil.

“Whenever someone went near a certain amount of distance, one of the vines or ribbons or snakes or whatever u want to call it will extend towards him and coil around him. It will tie him up and at the end will take him inside the cave,” answered the old man, “That’s all I noticed about this thing.”

“Oh, I see,” replied Kalil, “But why are you telling this to me?”

“Because…” said the old man as he pointed his hands towards another direction. Kalil shifted his vision there. Eight people were walking. Wait a minute, those are Khestri and the armies along with Spess’s team!

“They are there!” exclaimed Kalil as he immediately started to run. But the old man pulled him back by his arms.

“Understand the whole story first,” said the old man.

Kalil frowned but nodded his head. The old man is giving him valuable information after all.

“Why do you think I am showing you that weird pit?” asked the old man.

“Oh, why?” Kalil replied with another question.

“Because this is the enemy’s strategy. Seems they aren’t really the type who has any experience or courage in killing people,” said the old man, “So, they keep escorting their opponents to the pit and let those ribbons do the work.”

“Oh!” exclaimed Kalil, “I thought the military would be adapted in the killing.”

“I believe not,” answered the old man, “Killing with guns and killing with bare hands can’t be compared. Even killing with a knife isn’t the same as killing with hands.”

“I understand, thank you,” said Kalil but he was pulled again.

“Stop with the rush boy,” said the old man, “I am not done guiding.”

“You will go this way,” pointed the old man.

“Through that ice terrain?” asked Kalil.

“Yes. That’s the straightest way there is. The path others are taking involves climbing hills,” the old man answered.

“Thank you,” said Kalil.

“You have to reach there sooner,” said the old man.

“I will try,” answered Kalil.

“Then, you shall fight them and free the girl and the three others,” said the old man.

“Yes,” answered Kalil.

“After that, you shall go in that direction,” said the old man.

“Huh? Towards the volcano?” asked Kalil.

“Yes,” answered the old man.

“But why?” asked Kalil.

“Look,” the old man pointed at another person, “Because he is going that way.”

“Zahid!” exclaimed Kalil, “Thank you so much.”

“Umm… Why are you helping me this way?” asked Kalil.

“That’s the least I can do for my disciple’s disciple,” answered the old man.

“Wait, you are my master’s master!” exclaimed Kalil, “The legendary Ponhpaiboon?”

“Yes, indeed I am,” answered Ponhpaiboon, “Your style is too close to one of my disciple’s style for you to not be his student. He seems to be doing a good job teaching you the techniques of fighting.”

“Well, then, thank you for all the support,” said Kalil. He then started running again but was pulled off by Ponhpaiboon.

“But he didn’t teach you mentality yet. You forgot our match,” Ponhpaiboon said.

“What!” exclaimed Kalil, “I need to go help my friends.”

“That is the reason you should hurry up with this fight,” answered Ponhpaiboon.

“You!” exclaimed Kalil in anger, “I hate how you do things!”

Ponhpaiboon jumped in for a teep. Kalil sidestepped and then pivoted for a roundhouse. But Ponhpaiboon used his momentum from the jump to dash himself forward and thus evade Kalil’s attack.

He then sprung back towards for another teep which managed to land on Kalil throwing him a few feet backward. But Kalil kept his balance.

Kalil then dashed forward and started to throw a hard piston jab. Ponhpaiboon dodged each of them.

“Dammit, his reflex is next level,” thought Kalil.

“You are thinking about my fast reflex, aren’t you?” asked Ponhpaiboon.