Bad Born Blood

Translator: FenrirTL
Editor: Greedy
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< Chapter 14 >

Gabriel was in a pitiful state. Lying in bed, he was using his tongue to tap on the display, selecting an artificial spine product from the catalog. If he didn’t get proper treatment, he’d be crippled for life.

A doctor stood beside the bed.

“Ah, this model has a narrow signal bandwidth, so it won’t be compatible with your current cybernetic prosthetic. The one you’re using now has such a high energy output. Even if you force the connection, the performance won’t be the same as before. There might also be occasional malfunctions or paralysis issues. Hmm, I recommend Zeonic’s Hyper Lindel model number 9.”

The doctor skillfully navigated the catalog, showing an attitude that made it unclear whether he was a doctor or a salesperson. Well, in this field, they were pretty much one and the same.

“T-The latest model! How am I supposed to afford that? Are you trying to swindle me? You bastard! I see other guys walking around just fine with cheap stuff!”

Gabriel shouted in protest, but the doctor didn’t even blink.

“That’s because those people didn’t modify themselves as excessively as you have. If, at the very least, the arms and legs were from the same manufacturer or were compatible, the signal bandwidth would be consistent, so an older model would’ve been no problem.”

“At the time, I didn’t have any money, so I just attached whatever I could get.”

“In that case, I can purchase your current arms and legs and fit you with others that match the budget. Then, you shouldn’t have any mobility issues, even with an older spine.”

“At the very least, for combat use….”

Gabriel, who was usually so aggressive, was visibly intimidated. And it made sense—his fate rested in that doctor’s hands.

“What are you talking about? Forget combat use; I can’t even find a secondhand one for daily use. The one you’re using has so many modifications that no one would want it even if I sold it as used. You’d only get the value of the parts.”

For a brief moment, a glint of greed flashed in the doctor’s eyes. It was a lie.

“Do you even know how much this thing cost?”

“Come on, we’re the official supplier for the colosseum, so we’re at least doing business transparently. Anywhere else, they’d strip you down to the bone.”

Even if his aim was to make a profit, his reasoning was painfully true. Better to be scammed by a slightly more honest crook.

…And then, finally, Gabriel noticed me. His broken eyes filled with a blood-red rage, as if he might weep bloody tears.

“You bastard!”

Gabriel strained the veins in his neck. It looked like he still had some strength left, even though everything below his neck was paralyzed.

“What’s the point of shouting when you’re a cripple?”

I approached Gabriel and tapped his cheek lightly.

Crunch!

Gabriel tried to bite my fingers. I quickly pulled my hand back, pondering for a moment.

‘Kinuan told me not to make enemies…’

It wasn’t easy to show kindness to someone radiating hostility.

“I-I’ll kill you! I swear! I’ll kill you!”

“Stop talking and try it now, if you can.”

The moment I said it, I realized my mistake. A habitual taunt had slipped out.

If I got into a war of words with Gabriel, it would only lead to more insults. Ignoring him, I turned to the doctor.

“How much is that Hyper Lindel model number 9 you mentioned?”

“What?”

The doctor tilted his head, looking puzzled. He couldn’t grasp my intent, likely unable to imagine that I’d be paying for Gabriel’s treatment. No saint would exist in a place like this.

I practically shoved the dawdling doctor aside, snatching the catalog display.

“This should be enough.”

After confirming the price, I tossed a credit chip onto Gabriel’s chest.

Gabriel’s eyes went wide, glancing repeatedly between the credit chip and me, trying to make sense of it.

“W-What’s the meaning of this? Are you mocking me?”

“Can’t you see? I’m covering your treatment costs.”

“Why… would you?”

Gabriel’s pupils wavered. Gone was the fury; instead, he trembled, as if afraid I might change my mind.

“Remember this debt, Gabriel. I’ll come to collect it someday.”

Whether this would benefit me in the future or not, I couldn’t know. But, to borrow Kinuan’s words, I was planting a seed.

“Are you… really a good boy?”

“My name is Luka, idiot. You’d better finalize that payment before I change my mind.”

I said irritably. Gabriel hurriedly poked at the catalog with his tongue, prodding the doctor to complete the transaction.

“Good—uh, Luka…”

Gabriel looked at me after making the payment. His voice was calm, and his gaze softened. Hesitantly, he continued.

“…I don’t know what whim led you to do this, but if there’s ever a time you need my help, just say the word. I’ll help however I can.”

I stared at Gabriel, then nodded.

Not a bad feeling.

* * *

The experience in the colosseum had shaken the foundations of my combat skills. It felt as though everything I’d built had been distilled into a single, pure essence.

Vrrr.

I tossed aside the worn-out prosthetic limbs I used in the colosseum and heard a welcome sound. The limbs responded as I wanted, with power levels rising and falling as I wished.

But now, I don’t need to keep the energy output constantly high like before.

‘Even the enemy’s strength and the surrounding environment can become my weapons.’

I would make everything on the battlefield my own. As my perspective widened, I felt more at ease. In the heat of intense exchanges, I could almost see the flow of power as trails and lines.

“Ilay, today might be a little different.”

I murmured as I stepped in front of Ilay. He was an outstanding student, my rival for the top spot. Even though I might have the upper hand in martial arts, it wasn’t to an overwhelming degree.

Ilay aimed a kick at my head.

I deflected and pushed his kick aside. With the direction of force disrupted, Ilay lost his balance. I then extended my leg and struck his shin outward.

The direction of force leading Ilay split. His upper body leaned left, while his lower body leaned right. His attempt to stabilize himself was thrown off, rendering his highly-touted, high-powered prosthetics useless.

With minimal effort, I completely toppled Ilay.

“…Luka, what the hell did you just do?”

Ilay looked up at me from the ground, his expression one of disbelief. He’d been caught off guard by my maneuver with almost laughable ease.

‘Just by changing how I use force, it made such a difference.’

I looked quietly at the palm of my hand, which now held newfound strength. My mind was as clear as if a veil had been lifted. A pleasant chill ran down my spine.

‘I’ve gained strength without even upgrading to better prosthetics.’

It would be a lie to say I wasn’t exhilarated by my own power. In just over a month, I’d learned and gained this strength under Kinuan’s guidance.

‘My decision was right.’

Once again, I had proven myself, just as I had back at the orphanage.

“I learned this from Instructor Kinuan.”

There was no reason to hide it. It wasn’t some great secret.

“The martial arts instructor? But this doesn’t look like any martial arts from the standard manual…”

Being perceptive himself, Ilay caught on quickly. Arkies Combat Method differed fundamentally from the Empire’s standard method.

The Empire’s combat method was all about overwhelming with strength and speed. It was based on the assumption that I was stronger and faster than my opponent. Hence, it was straightforward and efficient. In favorable terms, it didn’t need any tricks.

I mentioned the Arkies Combat Method to Ilay.

“You’re kidding, right? Arkies?”

A predictable reaction came from Ilay. The Arkies Combat Method we knew was the exclusive domain of the gangs in the lower districts.

“It’s true.”

“Arkies… that’s just thug street-fighting, isn’t it? Like grabbing sand and throwing it when you fall, or shoving glass shards between your fingers to stab.”

The commonly known face of Arkies Combat Method was just a thin surface.

Use the environment and objects around you, respond flexibly to your enemy. In other words, ‘It’s fine to be dirty and underhanded as long as you win.’ Naturally, the gangs loved it.

“It’s hard for me to believe too, but the one who taught me called it Arkies Combat Method, so I just have to believe it.”

“Luka, let’s go one more time.”

Ilay was unusually fired up with a competitive spirit. Normally, he wasn’t all that enthusiastic in training. Even putting in moderate effort, he was talented enough to reach nearly the same level as me. In terms of raw talent, he was probably above me.

We both got back into position and clashed.

Vrrrm!

I raised my prosthetic’s energy output to maximum in an instant. Ilay was wary of my technique that could disrupt his balance.

But this time, I went in with a strong strike. My fist aimed for his side. Just barely, he lowered his elbow to block, and his body lifted slightly off the ground from the impact.

Boom!

Even in Arkies Combat Method, it wasn’t always about using weaker force to overcome stronger force. That was just one approach.

If you could use both techniques of strength and finesse, you alternated between them. Even the hardest metal could crack and break from a sudden change in temperature. Using two extreme methods in tandem could effectively bring an opponent down.

“Damn, this…”

Ilay looked visibly shaken.

I could sense his next move by reading his gaze and the preliminary motions of his combat reflexes. Just like when I fought Gabriel, I could anticipate what Ilay would do next.

‘It’s not that Ilay’s level is as low as Gabriel’s, making him predictable.’

I simply knew Ilay’s habits and combat style well, making his next move easy to foresee.

With the Empire’s standard combat method, the move here would be to preempt Ilay, completely blocking his attack. If you were faster and stronger, you could subdue him without giving him any opportunity to strike back.

But I lured in Ilay’s attack and struck back in the opening that followed.

Whoosh!

As soon as Ilay regained his balance, he thrust his right fist forward in a counterattack.

I dodged it and swung upward at his elbow from below. When you could read ahead, you could precisely target any weak point.

Crack!

Ilay’s elbow joint shattered. I’d broken it cleanly enough that an android repair should be able to fix it.

“…You’ve gotten stronger, Luka.”

Ilay, sitting where he’d fallen, spoke as he looked up at me. I reached out to help him up. Unlike usual, he hesitated before grabbing my hand. His reaction was oddly cool.

‘I made a mistake.’

Seeing Ilay’s reaction, I recalled the others who had been overtaken by me in the past. Their pride had been crushed right before my eyes.

Until now, even though Ilay and I had outperformed each other in specific areas, there had never been a stark, one-sided difference. Even though Ilay wasn’t the type to obsess over physical strength, today, his pride must have taken a serious blow.

‘I got too carried away. Acted like a damn kid.’

When you gain power, you want to use it. Honestly, this urge isn’t any different for adults or kids.

If I showed any sign of remorse here, it would only further wound Ilay’s pride. And we weren’t the kind of friends bound together by cheap pretense.

“…You sulked because you lost without a chance to fight back?”

I twisted one side of my lip as I spoke.

“Yeah, I’m sulked, you bastard.”

Ilay stood up, laughed, and smacked my chest with his elbow. I could feel a bruise blooming in my chest. Oof, looks like he was really upset.