Chances to Another Life

14. That Psychopathic Brat

The bad news: I didn't die or break any bones after being thrown from the 50th floor, but I was stabbed with a dagger.

I could hear the cadets' panicked tweets, but they turned to cheers when Rey pulled the dagger out and I was still standing. Don't ask, I don't know how that happened either.

I pressed my stabbed stomach as hard as I could to stop the bleeding. The pain radiated throughout my body and I began to breathe heavily.

But it turned out that the pain wasn't that bad. It wasn't the kind of pain that would make me scream or feel like I was dying. I looked down at my stomach to confirm that I had indeed been stabbed, my blood was still oozing, and there was a stab wound.

Then I took a deep breath. Is this the so-called power fantasy I used to read about in novels?

I wasn't invulnerable, but my tolerance for pain was growing. Was I also immortal? But I don't want to try anything with my life. The point is, whatever it is, I'm already very grateful for my current condition.

Rey's expression was one of disbelief, but it quickly changed to one of mockery. He was no different from Max. The psycho then cleaned his dagger blade with his T-shirt.

"That was great!" he exclaimed.

Without further ado, I threw a fist at his stomach. Rey sat up, holding the spot where my fist hit him, and coughing for a moment. Don't get me wrong, I had a grudge too.

While he was trying to get up, I quickly picked up a piece of wire that was scattered near the fence. No doubt, my hand was also injured from grabbing the sharp object, but I would have no chance of winning with my bare hands.

"Rancid brat, don't mess with me," I warned. I then aimed to kick him in the chest, but my stomach immediately twisted. Rey retaliated and I fell to the ground.

I almost forgot that I was injured, even though I could still move, I couldn't put any weight on my lower body and the stab wound widened. Where I stood, I was already making an impromptu puddle with my blood.

"Ow, ow!" the cadets said as they pointed at my blood splatter. However, more than a few of them started betting on who would win.

I noticed that Rasen was coming closer to where we were fighting - he usually sat in the shady perimeter, blocked from the sun by trees. Maybe he was afraid I would die suddenly and my family would blame him (but then I had no family).

I took too long to catch my breath and before I knew it, Rey was standing in front of me with his crazy grin and his dagger. I managed to dodge just as he was about to plunge it in the same place.

After that, there was no great heroic action on my part other than being cornered and bleeding because Rey wouldn't give me the slightest opening. I'm sure the skin on my face was covered in scratches that would take years to heal. My hopes of becoming an action actor were dashed.

In the end, I managed to elbow him so hard in the face that he staggered. We faced off breathlessly, both of us exhausted.

I didn't even see my chances of winning this fight, in fact, I was already afraid of losing blood - because wherever I dodged, another pool of blood was created.

However, I didn't want to give up. I wasn't going to let two psychopathic brats have the material to make fun of me.

"Honestly, what kind of power do you have?"

My movements stopped for a moment as I was shocked by this remark, as well as Rey who was already close to me. I was sure that he was in front of me a second ago.

Does he have supernatural powers?

"Nonsense," I replied.

Rey brought his dagger down on my shoulder, but I was able to block it and kicked him hard in the shin. My wounds sent back pain.

I had to end it now because I wasn't sure if this fight would just stop.

With a decisive move, I wrapped the wire noose around his neck until we both fell to the ground. Rey struggled, pointing his dagger in all directions, but I quickly tightened the noose.

Blood began to ooze from Rey's neck, but I had no intention of letting go, for Rasen would have stopped us at the slightest hint that we were going to die.

"I didn't expect you to survive," Rey said between breaths, I'm sure he was referring to the day in the library. Even now he had a grin on his face, as if this was fun for him.

My palm was already pierced by the wire as I tightened it around her neck.

"Die! Die!" A voice rang out among the cadets. It was enough to provoke the others to say the same.

Immediately, the situation was noisy, my name being shouted loudly, as well as the name of that wayward boy.

Rey began to make squeaking noises like a rodent. For some reason, I didn't feel sorry for him. Let him know the cruelty of this man, whose life failed, who had to be sent to another world by an unknown being.

Suddenly, Rey raised his hand and let go of the dagger.

"S-surrender," He said in an unclear and stuttering voice.

Rasen and the medics immediately separated us. Rey looked at me while holding his neck, which was almost torn apart. If this was in my world, he would be dead already. Rey smiled meaningfully before he was taken away by the medical team.

As for me, I was forcibly placed on a stretcher because I insisted on walking. Before going to the infirmary, I took the time to look at the crowd of cadets.

"The winner is Joe! What a fight to the death!" Rasen exclaimed. Applause erupted, and my fellow cadets shouted hysterically, their faces filled with emotion. Meanwhile, the officers brought buckets to clean up my blood.

Of course, not everyone would be happy with our achievement, and that person was Max. The look on his face was now terrible.

***

I could still hear the cacophony of battle from the infirmary. I was also shocked by the fact that people in this world have supernatural powers!

From the window, I could catch a glimpse of someone who could summon crows to fight his opponent. There were also those who were so powerful that their fists could crack the court.

I was convinced that Rey had some kind of power, that's why he could move at lightning speed.

"Your stamina is very good. You don't have any pain or fever, even though the stab wound was very severe," a nurse said as she wrapped a bandage around the wounded area.

"Yes, I'm lucky," I said quietly.

"Have you been eating or drinking anything?" she asked.

I frowned as I looked at the woman. She was about my height, with short black curls and a sweet face. She gave the impression of an authoritarian older sister who liked to tell her younger sibling what to do.

Seeing my confusion, the woman whose name tag read Kimberly narrowed her eyes at me.

"Judging by your reaction, you don't know anything about this, do you?" she guessed. I nodded. "They say there's a plant that can give immortality," she continued.

"Just like in a fairy tale," I said reflexively. I never had the feeling that I was eating strange food. So far, the food served by the royal chef was all quite normal. If it's true that they mixed something, are the other royal families in the same condition as me?

I don't know, but if that's the case, why would they serve the same food to commoners like me?

Kimberly chuckled. "Exactly, just like in a fairy tale. I'm skeptical about that too, maybe you're really lucky," she replied.

I wondered if it was just luck or if Solace had given me something? I've almost died twice already, is there a symbolic limit before this luck runs out?

"Looking at your condition, you don't seem to need intensive care. But rest here for now, I'll bring you some medicine." Kimberly left my room.

I leaned against the bed and closed my eyes. Luckily I was in a different room than Rey. This barracks had two buildings for medical purposes, and I was grateful that he was in the other one. Maybe the military thought that if we were put together we would try to kill each other again.

I opened my eyes and raised both of my hands, which were fully bandaged. I could still move normally, although it hurt a little. This was the most reckless experience I had ever had in my life. Even though I won, I didn't feel happy because Rey had given up.

I was about to lie down when I heard the curtain open next to me.

"Joe, I didn't know you were that good," Willem said. His right leg was in a cast and his face was bandaged, but he still managed to grin at me.

"Ah, no, really. I'm badly hurt too," I replied, pointing at my stomach, my hands, and the antiseptic swabs on both cheeks that had been scratched by daggers.

"That's okay, at least you got Rey to surrender! Normally his opponent would be in a coma for at least three days!" Willem replied with such enthusiasm that I was afraid his brain would be concussed by Max's fist.

"Rey, she seems just as scary as that Max guy?" I asked.

Willem immediately confirmed it. "They are cruel beasts. If Max is always fiery and easily angered, then Rey is the opposite. However, their powers are both amazing, well, even if their personalities are so bad!"

Apparently, Rey and Max are cousins and have committed many crimes together, according to Willem's story. I wouldn't be surprised if they share the same blood.

The two of them were also notorious at the Academy (I think it was some kind of high school, they were all much younger than me) for being bullies. Willem didn't even dare pass in front of their class.

"Months ago, I heard the news that they were going to join the army, and there was a rumor that the king had ordered them to do so. Even though their attitude is not at all suitable for defending this kingdom."

I was immediately interested to hear that the king was involved in this. That's probably why they went to the library and read military books.

"Oh, yeah? They're the king's cousins, right?" I asked.

"That's right, they come from a high noble family. Nobles who have dedicated themselves to the royal family. But, well, they're arrogant," he said.

I regretted not asking Adellia about her family tree.

"Rey's family has always been at the forefront of the battlefield and has always been the military commander. That's why he is expected to replace the current Military Commander."

"Oh, really?" I asked in shock.

"Yes, the Swaltz family has teleportation abilities that benefit the kingdom. They are even more noble than the nobles! Rumor has it that the previous king was subservient to this family," Willem concluded with the exact expression of a mother after sharing gossip.

No wonder! Apparently, that's Rey's power!