I wormed my way into the kitchen… like a snake I slither to my goal. I reach out to claim my prize. But then my hands are slapped away and they were so close I could almost feel the heat coming off the top.

But this was all part of the plan!

I turn to face Noah as Zoe slinks in behind him.

“ Mason… no food until it’s ready.”

“ Come on Noah.”

“ No… were eating together you were the one that taught me these rules.”

Hahahahaha I think that was me.

“What how could I teach you this. No I must have been high it's the only explanation as to why I would put stuff like this in your head.”

“ Shut the fuck up and sit the fuck down. Or I will make you sit the fuck down.”

I desperately struggle to not look at Zoe as she climbs the wall of the apartment as she pleases and like and like spiderman makes her eay up to the roof and then attempts to lower herself over the prize only for Noah to slap her hand out of the way.

“ I meant what I said Zoe. Don’t try and fuck me with my back turned go sit the fuck down the both of you. Go on get!”

A defeated Zoe and me walk backwards out of the kitchen. We make our way back to the couch and sit down. I turn to Zoe “ How have you been since last time.”

Zoe turns to me “ Hhhhhhhhhhhhh I have nearly got your roof into something that could sustain me and I been working on these fermented fruits I want to make into something alcoholic but that's not been going so well also I going to lay off the shrooms for a while. It's been nice eating my own stuff although I miss meat.”

“ Knowing Noah you won’t be tomorrow.”

“ Right did you see all that stuff it all looked great… so how have you been? You look like you haven’t seen the light of day in awhile you need to go out more you know. Hey the seas right their right so I have been thinking… we should make a boat.”

“ A boat? You know how to make a boat?”

“ No, not really but how hardcore could it be and if all else fails we will just look it up on the internet. Also stop and think about it I could use my magic on a tree and bang.”

“ So what type of boat are we talking about. A big one with sails and a yew months work or like one we can knock out in a day.”

“ We will see on the day… you know see what where up to and shit. Although it might be nice to do both I think.”

“Yeah you think so.”

“ Mason listen to me… I know so man.”

“ Ok, Ok we going to get Noah in on this or just the two of us?”

“ Yeah, Noah could come but he's been so busy with his next fight and he's also taking some time to teach Vex some things. Hey you need to come in to the gym more it's a weird thing when people point me out and it’s creepy when its big muscular men. But if you rocked up. Then we will see the look on their faces.”

“Nah no one know me anymore.”

“ Maybe not the new one but I bet their isn’t a single mainstream fighter in the arena that don’t know your name or face.”

“ Yeah… I don’t think so.”

“ I am telling you. People know you. Remember that fight with that guy… ah he called himself the snake king.”

“ oh yeah if I remember correctly-“

“ You stole hid rocks in your lungs so he broke his hand punching you in the chest.”

“ Yeah I spent the hole game holding my breath hahahaha”

“ Oh that other time were you stole his ‘snake first’ technique. Oh what was the thing you did against the old haymaker again.”

I was the one that comprehended his technique and taught you how to use it you don’t know quarter magic. You barely know anything other than alchemy and alteration.”

“ I would use alchemy mid fight and managed to turn his bone in his left arm to hot tar. Burned right through and got on me.”

“ Yeah that was fucking scary. Oh remember the kingpin. You didn’t even try to think of a strategy you just set yourself on fire and hugged it out Hahahahahahahahaha!”

“ Oh what about your with Andy you used the apple seeds in his stomach. Your fighters would go weeks wouldn’t eating in case you did to them.”

“ Oh fuck I forget about that shit! Hahahahaha” zoe laughter echoed out and then Noah called out from the kitchen.

“ Yeah they were good times that was my childhood… you guys hear that they are going to make another tournament for sword users but the price is that they won’t be allowed as mainstream fighters.”

“ Yeah they were always fun to fight.” I have fond memories of sword users.

“ Ha for you because your like the perfect sword counter but me… na it was scary man. You lost to that guy remember bet you weren’t laughing then.”

Well it's not that they cannot cut me its…

That cutting you does nothing but excites you more.

How did that fight go again?

Flower boys win.

“ What the hell! Flower boy bested me with that scam god dammit. And he totally stole that from you!”

“ hahahahaha yeah but it was so funny when you realized he placed termites in you… that must have hurt but you did nothing but stare him down and he was pissing himself until the match was over.” Zoe said

“ Oh remember that one match… ah man can’t remember that chicks name but damn she was strong booted me right out of the arena!”

“ Hahahahaha that's right oh she was obliterated in the next match tho so I never got to fight her.”

“ Well she punched like a jet but walked like a rock. It's very similar to Noah's style. I Noah will let my muscles do the talking remember when he said that!” I remember.

“ Hahahahaha! That was the best line he has ever said I will never let him live that down.”

“Yeah… oh yeah remember hawk.”

“ Oh god I will never forget that second fight you two had dam it. When you counted his punch at then ended it with a choke out after he fell over.”

“ There's no way in hell they would let someone fight like us nowadays. Right didn’t they release a new rule book recently? I should probably get one… sad.”

“ Times change. Me and you… we came for the thrill of blood… nowadays its for fame or wealth no ones in their just to fight. Well few are in there for that still but.”

“ Yeah…”

“ They kick us out because we failed the psychology evaluation… should have seen where the sport was going when they didn’t let you fight. But it took them twenty more years to get to me.”

“ Crazy barsteds we were”

“ Crazy barsteds we are, Mason.”

I wonder if anyone will realize that was filler?

That wasn’t filler it was character… building!

Hahaha oh you're serious.

Then Noah walk to the couch, food in hand… at first he was going to put it on the operating table but pulled back when he say my tray of bloody tools… I should probably clean those they look like something a serial killer would use… no has used.

It's a big bloody roast… lamb? Seasoned in something green. Why does this guy feel the need to cook something every time he's over. He always has this self righteous face whenever he does it to, also you know that… or theirs chips and potatoes as well… you don’t need to prepare a feast right? Actually how do you expect three people to eat all that? Oh my he’s going back and… are those nachos?... why man. Oh he's gone back to get something else. Pasta this time and enough that he can hid behind it when he's carrying it.

A bucket of… broccoli. A whole fucking bucket and a few cokes. Oh wait this is a fantasy world… okes. Yeah okes. This isn’t Earth. But for conveyances its soda.

A few soda… a Fucking bucket? Like? What? Oh he’s going back… a chicken this time.

Damn it is that fish… two fish each… what species is it? I don’t eat fish I don’t know what that means?

Well… if there is something the three of us oddly get its never waste food. Me because I have gone years without it at some point and Zoe because of her own past experience. As for Noah it’s because I beat it in to him. And I beat it into you.

Yeah that too.

And don’t you fucking forget it.

The three of us sat with the food between us. First to was the fish. Then the lamb. Then the pasta.

Oh by the way Noah are half the things here by himself. And I ate half of what Zoe ate and I was shoveling it into my face from beginning to end. The broccoli was all for Noah to build on something to help in his training or something about requiring the energy. It looked like he was torturing himself to me but whatever you need to do to win.

You would forget you had a match then freak out as you were walking onto the stage then make your plan when the fight had begun or… you would come up with something absolutely stupid like filling your lungs with rocks.

Hahahahaha… well it's not like it matters to us.

Its STILL HURTS YOU FUCK!

Yeah me. Not you.

What!... maybe I can turn it off but that's not me… we are I. Suffer together. Bleed together. Fuck together.

Is that what you are after?

Ask Zoe if you wanna fuck right now. Lets see what she says.

It would be a no. And besides Zoe is… a friend.

Don’t you dare self friend zone yourself.

Friendships between men and women don’t exist!

Then what are we? Answer that one.

You think if I had a vagina we wouldn’t fuck! We would fuck like rabbits! No… dolphins.

Why dolphins?

Ok then what species do you want to fuck like? Rats… we could breed a wave of vermin. Imagine it from an outsider perspective it would be like an alien crashed down on planet ‘not’ earth and a swarm of humanity was released.

What the fuck are you talking about.

Well look at it like this take every baby being born and put it on a screen imagine how fucking many that would be! Don’t you think that's fucking creepy.

Once more I don’t get what your saying… you mean humans are vermin and we would what? Double the human population? That was a roundabout way of saying it.

No! It made perfect sense this is just a case of you being to stupid to get it.

“ Ok so lets see how the younger ones did.”

Noah… he turns 40 this year.

He's getting old. You think that's why he has started to take interest in those that will come after him?

No he is still going strong.

He is not like us. Time must be weighing down on him. Also it takes a certain level of madness to do what he does.

Yeah.

Come on you don’t think he is going to retire like you did? And we both know that you could have continued to fight but choose not to. Zoe was kick out for breaking a rule but I am sure she to was getting old and a bit sick of it herself. You said it yourself we are not the powerhouse we used to be. You can’t even throw a proper punch but what about Zoe? Even if shes a high elf she still much older than most of them. How old do you think she is? Couple thousand? Older?

Well. I too am interested in the next generation to carry the titles we made.

You were a first generation and went on until the third generation.

Zoe was a second generation and when on until third as well.

Noah started at third generation right when you were getting out and you became his coach with Zoe coming in to help while Noah was fighting in the fourth generation. Now the fifth generation is about to begin and we are seeing a lot of people getting out. Think about it in another term all the people who challenged you or you challenged in the first generation have died of old age or worst… are stuck in a retirement home.

I could feel the fear in your voice.

Each generation goes for twenty years and most mainstream fighters last about one generation. Noah came in at the end of the third generation but he has still fought for about 25 years… I can’t see him fighting more than thirty.

I agree but five years is a long time. Anyway let's watch the new generation and see how this Vex does.

“ Hey Noah.”

Noah head bobs as he eats broccoli.

“ What type is Vex. What type of fighter.”

There are hundreds of different fighting styles and magic fields some even go pure science builds. I used alchemy and alteration spells I also am a mid class heighten this means I was relatively strong and fast if one add a few alteration spells then I had a body that could be competitive although I couldn’t overpower many with it. But I could also use alteration and alchemy on others.

Alchemy is the process of changing matter to my will.

Alteration is the process of adding effects to the universe to better suit my desire… it sounds more amazing then it is.

And there was few to none who could replicate my fighting style because alteration has destructive effects on the body.

Take the simple alteration spell double speed. You move at twice the speed you usually do.

Ok all seems good on the surface but there are many problems hiding under the surface.

You bleed at double the speed. You’re mind runs at double the speed and often breaks down if maintained for too long You have twice the momentum and half the control this will lead to even the smallest mistake destroying you joints. Heat will enter you twice as fast as it leaves so randomly catching fire and being covered in burns is to be expected as the heat energy is also affected. Light will also be affected by this spell and often distorts it can be as bad as a minor inconvenience to full blindness depending on the spell caster. You become the perfect incubator for diseases It's a bitch to maintain under all these effects The mana cost it also stupid because you are efficiently the entire universe! The field was made by me. It requires some preparation before use.

Number 10 is the worst one.

And that is basically spell a safe spell in alteration magic. The spells I use have at least 50 negatives.

That’s a bit much.

As for alchemy. I don’t think I have ever seen someone else use it or be capable of using it for reasons.

Mana cost. It would probably be easier to cast the highest level alteration spells which are harder then the spells in any other known spells.

Also you have me inside you to do the calculations for you since you can’t do them yourself.

In other words you abuse your immortality and me because you would be lost on your own.

Well… it works doesn't it.

Why don’t you remind me why you wanted to take these two again.

Well there is this alteration spell that allows someone to become twice as big as they were.

But the problem is.

There mass doesn't change si the spell is useless but with alchemy! I could double my mass and grow to be the size of a skyscraper AND THEN I WOULD USE MY MAGIC ON A LIZARD AND FIGHT GODZILLA!

Or at least that was the plan.

Sorry did you ask why I don’t use my alchemy to make piles of gold? Did you say that this power is an obvious plot hole… ok then the last time I use my alchemy on gold the market crashed! Their now shut the fuck up!

You also cannot make much at a time and there are a few other side effects that we haven’t mentioned. Such as the required calculations needed to create even the smallest amount of matter then to rise it up to the desired material.

Right so this isn’t a answer all problems solution your wrong!

“ She’s an elemental mage striking specialist or at least that's what they would call her. No will call her when she hits the mainstream in a few years. At the moment she’s just a local rookie on the state level but when she wins her next match she will be able to aim for the national level.”

“ You seem confident.” I could only add it's not often Noah gives people a thumbs up. Or says they have potential. But it does happen.

“ Well you will she this kid born was fight. She is also a mid heighten like you … well some abilities can hinder growth or are down right unhelpful. But then there is the thing you taught her.” Zoe add.

“ A mid heighten only? Does she have a trick? I guess that is the thing I taught her but don’t remember”

“No, unfortunately she’s not one for strategy… you will like her she’s a bit like you with how obsessed she is with victory.” Noah added some more but I just couldn’t see it. A mid ok so if we take her training into account she could probably match a upper class but she probably won’t ever get like Noah who is considered above the rank of upper.

Oh by the way if your confused theirs is rankings for heighten which is low, mid, high, upper, class.

In my sixty years of fighting I met one class and four uppers. Most are high or mid. Although this means absolutely nothing to someone who is training like hell.

Well it’s not good to focus entirely on that stuff some of the strongest people we have ever encountered were not even heightened but were either mages or the blessed.

The blessed are people like me with an inbuilt ability.

There is this one guy who started out as a low heighten and was able to over power some uppers… although he never made class. But I won’t lie it's much easier for someone to reach higher levels of strength if they start higher.

In my peak I was an upper but just couldn’t equal that class but I started as a mid and now that I haven’t been training in the last forty years I am a mid again.

But that class guy who I fought was the nicest person I have ever meet. He was just there for the money he rave about how much he hated violence whenever I got him drunk. He would go on about sending the right message to the kids and things like that.

He shattered someones head the next day and went through a lot of trouble for killing nearly faced jail time but was able to get the court's approval because it was a fighting competition.

He never fought again as he was traumatised by the event.

He killed another and was sent to jail a few years later. He purposely became more brutal because he wanted the feeling of control killing gave him as he had just lost his house in a bad divorce and was homeless.

Yeah… he was a big softy. Until he died of cancer unable to pay the medical bills because he lost all his money being sued by his own son.

The only three who came to his funeral was us and his daughter who now lives down stairs and sells her body to make a living.

She’s behind on rent. And she doesn't just sell her body.

Your right she also hacks credit cards and places scanners on debit only vending machines to steal that as well. Let's not be so hard on her.

I’m not were the ones who talk her how to hide bodys remember? She drugged a dude but the drugs were bad and he died.

Oh that’s right where did we hide the body again?

We dumped it in the flooded part of town… after we nailed Vicky's hair to his back.

Hey… am I a bad guy?

… Look Mason a puppy!

Where! Oh. Wait a second… she’s behind on rent!

We don’t charge her rent because we knew her father.

Well we need money so we should!

If the soft hearted Mason is willing then you do it.

But on the other hand wasn’t she a upper? And like really strong?

Oh yeah she could probably throttle us to dead… she might even be able to fuck us to death!

Sef? The fuck is wrong with you some times. Also please stop yelling.

Forty fucking years Mason!