In response to Suzuki's challenge, the soldier-class drew its rifle. It trained the gun at the opposing gladiator,and then squeezed the trigger. Faced with the impending onslaught, Suzuki rapidly took stock of his surroundings.

Small room, no cover. The maimed sentinel-class and the destroyed soldier-class were the only things in the room aside from Suzuki and the gladiator class. Suzuki looked at the gun. Without cover, he could not afford to allow the soldier to seize the momentum.

Bang! Rat-ta-ta-ta!

Suzuki kicked up the destroyed soldier's torso just as the first bullet exited the chamber. He grabbed the corpse, and then charged, holding it in his front like a shield. Bullets tore into the makeshift shield, the impact threatening to push Suzuki back. However, the young man pushed ahead, even as the shield began crumbling to pieces.

The soldier's eyes flashed. It pointed the gun towards Suzuki's feet .

Boom!

But just then, as if sensing their intentions, Suzuki kicked hard against the ground. He folded himself into a ball as he leaped into the air, greatly reducing his possible hit areas. The soldier, in retaliation, sprayed non-stop, perhaps hoping to decimate the shield before Suzuki landed.

Warning! Suddenly, the soldier stopped shooting as it perceived a major threat. Suzuki's trajectory currently ended right behind it. If it continued like this, Suzuki might just land a sneak attack!

"Too late!" Suzuki spun in the air and then flung the tattered shield. This forced the soldier to block the projectile. Suzuki took advantage of this to explode past the soldier with his thrusters. The second his feet hit the the floor, he spun around and then swung at the soldier's exposed back.

Boom! The soldier smartly blasted forward, barely dodging the most fatal of blows. Clang! But not before Suzuki's blade severed the assault rifle still on its back. The blade travelled further, but was rebuffed by the soldier's broadsword.

Suzuki did not fight the recoil. He spun with the blade, and then once again burst forward. He chased after the retreating soldier and swung down, aiming to slice it two from the head down.

The soldier, in response, turned to face Suzuki. It then raised its assault rifle above its head just as the blade came crashing down. BANG! The katana crashed into the rifle. The blade cut deep, but before its cut all the way through, the soldier bent the rifle at and incline and then let go.

The incline forced Suzuki wide, which then bought the soldier time to retreat even further. Once again Suzuki chose not to fight the new path. He allowed the blade the travel downward, then spun in place as he brought the momentum to a slow stop.

Suzuki did not mind surrendering the momentum he had built up as he had achieved his primary objective in that exchange. Suzuki's street fights against dishonourable hoodlums had built up his fighting ethos. First, always aim to get rid of long-range projectiles even if you suffer a small loss. A broken finger or busted eye was a good price to pay for getting rid of someone's throwing knives or some other asshole flinging bottles or broken glass from afar.

Suzuki watched the soldier as he shook the blade loose of the rifle. The young man then slowly raised the sword as the gladiator across drew its buster sword. Another thing Suzuki learned. What to do when faced with an opponent physically and technically stronger than you?

Steam leaked from Suzuki's mouth, as he simulated slowly breathing out.

Boom! The soldier suddenly burst forward, and then swung its blade at Suzuki's midriff. It had learned from the previous one's mistake. Suzuki's horizontal draw was too quick. Suzuki, would definitely cut it in half, if it went for a typical overhead swing. This time, it too opted for a horizontal swipe. Suzuki had to either dodge or block. This should prevent him from counter-attacking.

'If this were my real body, maybe.' Rather than block, Suzuki jumped backward, just an inch behind the sword's reach. Immediately the sword swung past, 'Now!' Suzuki's thrusters blasted him forward. He made to pierce the soldier's head, but he suddenly stopped as he sensed something wrong.

Suzuki glanced to his side. Sure enough, the soldier's swinging arm had suddenly stopped. 'Ah, that's right. They're robots.' By the time Suzuki recalled this fact that allowed brakes to be installed in the gladiators' joints, the buster sword was already on its way back.

Suzuki jumped and placed the katana beside him, using his second hand to hold the blade in place. 'BANG!' A terrible force travelled through Suzuki's blade into the gladiator. Luckily, Suzuki's feet were off the ground. So, a large portion of the force was lost to sending the young man flying backwards.

Once Suzuki kicked off to the side immediately he landed. BOOM! He looked at the soldier who had just crashed his sword into the ground where Suzuki once stood. Despite flying to the side, Suzuki had a thought. 'I'm a robot. I do not fear recoil.' Just as Suzuki thought that, the thrusters activated. Not only did he stop, but he charged even faster toward the soldier who had yet to rise. This was the difference between a robot and a human. Humans could not handle rapid acceleration and deceleration. The g-forces were far too deadly for most.

Suzuki's katana pierced for the soldier's head. 'Clang!' The soldier's right arm shot up at the last second. It deftly knocked Suzuki's blade to the side, and then pulled out the buster sword with its left. The soldier then whirled and swung at Suzuki with a merciless glare.

The soldier swung at Suzuki, but he parried with the katana. The soldier did not let up however, and followed through with an unrelenting barriage. Suzuki faced the inferno with a calm gaze. The young man gently parried each strike, patiently awaiting his opportunity.

This was Suzuki. A young man who could weather all kinds of storms, patiently waiting for his opportunity. This was what he learned fighting on the streets. When facing a stronger opponent, do not be afraid to surrender momentum.

The opponent might be stronger and faster, but as long as you could shoulder the pain, an opportunity would arose, eventually. When you got that chance...

Suzuki continued to weather the soldier's barrage. The soldier's attacks increasingly grew wilder and stronger, akin to natural disasters. Suzuki's defence meanwhile, was like water. Sometimes, soft. Sometimes, hard. Suzuki's free flowing parries prevented the soldier from gaining an overwhelming advantage. At the same time, he kept the soldier honest by unleashing devastating counters between parries. The soldier was forced to keep alert as every single one of those attacks, if they landed, would have ended it.

Clang! Clang!

Suzuki's heartbeat quickened as the battle intensified. Flying sparks from the clashing blades lit a sleeping bonfire in the young man's heart. Yes. This. This was it! This was the feeling! The soldier's rapidly improving attacks caused Suzuki to unintentionally shout. "Haha! Yes!"

Suddenly, Suzuki felt stifled. Virtual connection was not good enough. He wanted to feel this battle with his real flesh and blood. Feel the fatigue from the tiring attacks. The pain in his limbs as the sword gradually grew heavier. The loud booming in his ears as his heart rapidly pumped blood through his veins.

Ah, Suzuki wanted to feel it. Suzuki fought to suppress the growing desire within his heart. The one thing he could not allow himself to feel. But try as he might, he could not push that feeling down. Each time he tried, Razznik's image as he beat down Kashi resurfaced. "Goddamnit." Suzuki cursed. He then uttered the words he had tried to bury deep. "I want to fight him."

BANG! Suddenly, the soldier tripped and then fell over. The stunned gladiator quickly scanned its feet, and only then realized what had tripped it. The mangled 'shield' Suzuki threw earlier. It had tripped over it when it tried to dodge Suzuki's last attack.

Clang! It looked at the katana that rested on its shoulder.

"Good fight. But you're not him." Suzuki retrieved his katana. The young man released a disappointed 'sigh'. "Your entire body is a weapon. The ground is a weapon. The world itself is a weapon. Only when you understand this can you begin to call yourself a warrior. Razznik would never lose track of what's around him, no matter how hectic the fight."

To Suzuki's surprise, the soldier returned its sword to its holster, and then bowed. It did not say anything, but Suzuki somehow understood. It was acknowledging its loss, and expressing gratitude for the lesson. Suzuki mentally frowned. Did he just assist the machine overlords in their eventual take-down of humanity? He pondered for all of three seconds and then threw the thought to the back of his mind.

If Genaco were stupid enough to allow true, self-aware A.Is into the real world, then the world deserved to end. That was neither his problem nor his cross to bear. With these thoughts, the young man logged out of the gladiator.

Seconds later, Suzuki opened his eyes in the Gladiator Combat Room. He got out of the capsule, but then paused when he noticed a man looking at him. The man revealed a lackadaisical smile as he observed Suzuki's wary gaze.

"Bit paranoid, aren't you?" Tsukoden Kimuri, leader of the gladiator team, Nature's Vanguard gazed at the teenager. He had watched Suzuki's fight and had to acknowledge this kid as the real deal. "Saw your fight. You're pretty good, kid."

Suzuki frowned. Kimuri's smile did not sit right with him. It was too relaxed. Like everything in this world was within his control. "Were you following me?"

"What?" Kimuri stared at Suzuki, mouth agape. This kid was serious! "Why in the hell would I do something so stressful? I would more likely hire someone to do that for me."

"Did you do that?"

"What?"

"Hire someone."

Kimuri took out his cigar and then snuffed it in a case he carried. He fixed Suzuki with a hard glare as he cautioned, "Listen, kid. If I wanted to follow you or have you followed, you would not have a clue."

"So, you are not denying you have the skill to do so."

"No? I―"

"Good to know." Suzuki shook his head and then made for the door.

Kimuri watched the young man, shock and awe evident in his wide eyes. Did this kid just play him for information? Him? Tsukoden Kimuri? Kabuki's Gray Fox? His eyes narrowed. "Hey, kid."

Kimuri burst forward immediately Suzuki turned around, with what could only be described as inhuman speed. His right leg suddenly shot up, and then arced down. The motion drew a beautiful but deadly picture as his feet made a collision course for Suzuki's face.

BANG!

Kimuri paled. He only wanted to scare the kid, and so, perfectly judged the kick. He could not have struck Suzuki unless the kid willingly brought his face to Kimuri's boot. A moment later, though, Kimuri's face got even whiter, but from pain. Only then did he notice that his boot did not impact Suzuki's face, but rather, had been grabbed.

"What do you think you're doing?" Suzuki was livid. His cold eyes glared at Kimuri as if wishing to tear the man into pieces. However, beneath the anger was a little excitement. That kick had been extremely painful. Suzuki might have blocked it, but the aftershocks that travelled through his body almost made him cough up blood. Anyone who could injure his strengthened body was definitely abnormal.

Kimuri had a similar thought process. He knew just how powerful his kick was. Only a freak could, not only block his kick, but also catch his leg without serious injuries. His gaze narrowed as he observed the youth. "...You too?"

Suzuki frowned, but then released Kimuri's leg. Might as well ask, since he was here. "Are you stronger than normal?"

"Ah. So, you found out." Kimuri suddenly grinned. "You must be pretty strong in-game for you to have blocked my legs. I'm pretty proud of them, you know."

Suzuki ignored the final sentence. "What do you mean in-game?"

Kimuri chuckled as he admired the young man's frustrated eyes. "In-game? Did I say that? Well, you'll just have to find out, won't you?" He then made to leave the room, but Suzuki interrupted him.

"Where are you going?" Suzuki's, fierce cold gaze regarded Kimuri.

Kimuri shrugged. "Going to my room, of course."

"Didn't you come to use the Gladiator Room? You're leaving without even using it?"

Kimuri took out a fresh cigarette and then lit it. He took a drag, and then delightfully exhaled. "Nope. I got what I came for."

Suzuki's eyes narrowed. "So, you were following me?"

"Not exactly. I went for a jog, and just so happened to spot you." Kimuri's benign smile pissed Suzuki off. "Not the same, I would argue." Kimuri stuffed his hands in his pockets, and then made his way out of the room. "See you at the prelims, kid. I'm looking forward to it."

Suzuki snorted. He almost walked out, but then remembered he would have to share an elevator with the chain smoker. So, instead, he waited a few minutes, and then made his way back to his room.

Suzuki checked the time when he finally got back. 2:12 a.m. It was just under three hours since Kashi logged out. Suzuki made his way to the capsule, but then suddenly stopped. His brows creased in a frown. "Are you saying that because of what Razznik said? Don't worry about that fake. Nothing will come of me staying out here. You know I'll just waste time sleeping and watching anime. So, do us both a favour. Shut up and live your life without worrying about me. I'll let you know if I need any time for myself."

There was a pause, and then Suzuki sighed. "Fine. Okay. Sure. You can logout once a day. Not that it'll do any good. Happy?"

Suzuki shook his head. Grumbling, he climbed into the capsule. "Ah, really. I really want to smack him, just once."

Whoosh!