An idiot and terrible, just like everyone else. Rats knew better than to butt their heads where it didn’t belong. They stayed within their neatly cut cubes, too afraid to even look outside. Only kids were brave enough to not worry about the consequences.

Goon V caught up soon after, which was to be expected. Goon V might have been an adult, but the difference in body size, age, and gender was usually rendered obsolete with a single Rank Up—it was why short people tended to be better Hunters but worst duelers. Same speed with lower weight and less to hit, but less distance. The Physique increase of a Rank Up was a flat increase, not a percentage. Beyond how pretty they were, muscles were largely obsolete. The added weight was something only Vanguards wanted.

The reason why Rank V Goon caught up was the same as it always is—losing 25% of your body messed things up, especially when it came to something as complex as the sprinting form. Running faster with one arm than someone with two wasn’t a thing. Their bodies just didn’t work that way. They were Rats, not ostriches.

Consequences can’t be avoided, Nico thought, unlatching his cloak, but they sure hell can be worked around. It flew back onto the face of Goon V, sending him into panic. He swung randomly.

By the time he realized what it was and pulled it down, Nico’s axe smashed his face. For a split moment the alleyway was lit up in yellow. He collapsed mid run, getting tangled up in his and Nico’s cloak. He stumbled to his feet during his tumble. He waved his axe at Nico as he panted. His arm was shaking.

Nico stood with his axe by his side, waiting. Hitting an opponent when they were down was bad manners.

“Bunch of cheesy tricks,” he said, sucking a breath. Even though there was a decent distance between them, he kept his axe pointed at Nico. “And now you’re really out.”

“Yeah…you don’t look, sound, or smell particularly confident,” Nico said, looking at his form as he walked towards Nico. His body was tight. He was exhausting himself for no reason.

When he stepped into distance, Nico took on his stance. One foot was forward, his foot aiming towards the Goon, while the other was a bit behind it, aiming slightly towards the left side. His knees were bent low. Because of their enhanced bodies, their legs acted like powerful springs. The more bent their knees were, the more distance a single step could carry them for—that was a major difference between short and tall people. Short people were agile with quick movements, while tall people travelled a good distance with a single step.

Goon V stepped into Nico’s distance and swung his axe down.

“Oh wow,” Nico said, pushing off his front foot. It sent him back out of distance without unbending his knees. The axe went past him. Goon V curved the axe tightly when it was low and brought it up. Nico took another step back and it passed him again. “Single intention attacks— I remember practicing those when I was 10.”

Distance and speed were the two most important techniques in fighting. Distance referred to both the range in which you can strike or be struck by your opponent, while speed referred to the time it took to make an action—things such as whether you’re in the air, whether you’re caught flat footed, or whether your knees are bent low and ready, and where your weapon is positioned, increases or decreases speed.

To hit an opponent, you had to be in the right distance of your attack, but your attack also needed to be faster than their defending move. Together these two things were called tempo. It was how openings were made and how duels were won and lost.

Goon V lunged after Nico. His back foot was straight, and his front foot was off the ground. Nico had the speed to just step out of its range again. The axe passed him.

But while Nico was outside of the Goon’s distance, the Goon was in Nico’s distance with both of his knees bent low and his weapon in the wrong position, further lowering his speed.

Nico pushed off with his backfoot at full power. The Goon couldn’t step back. He tried to dodge sideways, but Nico swung sideways. He couldn’t block because his weapon was still recovering.

The axe whacked the Goon across the chin. His Life Shield shattered and he fell back on his stomach, surrounded by fading yellow glass.

Before he stood up Nico caught the back of his head and smashed it against the ground. He lifted his face up. His nose was bleeding and his eyes weren’t focused.