Beyond Gods 75 Guang's Threa

He had remembered his promise to Luisa. He had told her that he would take her and her parents to the Labrynth for safety.

Johan said his goodbyes to his friends realizing that today, he wouldn't be able to convince them that there was danger in the near future.

Upon leaving the gym, to his surprise a mail delivery man walked up to him. The man had a mail bag slung over his shoulder.

"h.e.l.lo Sir," said the mail man, "are you by any chance Johan Flint?"

"Yes," said Johan. "That's me."

"My wife told me you had a great fight over the phone, unfortunately, I couldn't watch it myself because Of work," said the mail man. "She Mentioned how you were bald and had no eyebrows. I thought she was kidding till I saw you."

The mail man reached into his bag and pulled out an envelope and handed it to Johan.

The sender wasn't written on it and only Johan Flint was written on the envelope.

"Mr Guang, from Slum Gym, told me to give that to you," said the mail man. "Have a great day and goodbye."

Johan took the envelope and the mail man abruptly walked away.

Johan watched the mail man walk away. This was the first time he had received mail in Looking Gla.s.s City, and he hadn't realized they used mail men. He found it strange considering the fact that a transporter ball took all fighters to the fight arena and back to their homes.

Johan opened the envelope, and was surprised to see the contents of the letter:

———-

h.e.l.lo Mr Flint,

The tournament organizers are pleased to inform you that your fight lineup has been changed due to your superb performance at the fight today.

Next week, your fight lineup will be as follows:

Monday - Billy Bob

Tuesday - Jabber

Wednesday - Anastasia Yankova

Thursday - Bombaru Blonju

Friday - ??? - Will be determined

——-

"What!?," said Johan surprised.

The way it had started seemed like good news. But having seen them fight ...

The lineup ... three of the opponents were clear setups for disaster. Chances were that he would loose to them.

Johan glanced at the mail man. Hadn't he said the letter was from Slum Gym!?

Johan connected the dots and realized that this year, the Guang's were probably part of the tournament committee. They were clearly sending Johan a message.

[Ha! ha! Ha!,] laughed Hanuman, [what a great opportunity to rise to the occasion and get stronger.]

[Unfortunately,] thought Johan. [The fight will probably not happen.]

[Why not?,] asked Hanuman.

[Looking Gla.s.s City is going to be destroyed in a week,] said Johan. [Plus, I'd loose anyways.]

[Not with me in your corner,] said Hanuman. [I could train you ... and destroy this city? You are overly underestimating this place.]

Johan paused.

Pondered Hanuman's suggestion.

Johan's desire to get stronger overtime had been getting stronger. If he could match someone like Jabber in strength ... the thought was almost irresistible.

But then Luisa flashed through his mind.

His beloved Luisa.

[Maybe,] thought Johan. [But for now I must get Luisa to safety.]

— @ —

Following reading the letter, everything went as planned.

Johan took Brandy, Luisa and her parents to the Labyrinth. He took them to the ancient mall him and Neil had spent a long time together in. They were shocked and amazed as expected.

Lin and Sam went back to Rey's mansion. Lin was intent on joining up with Silverblade again, and Sam was devoted to Rey.

Johan had used the invisible interspatial ring Kwan had given him to store extra resources to make their stay in the Labyrinth more comfortable. He wasn't sure how long they would have to stay there if he was unable to stop the attack.

Everyone had questions, but Johan insisted that he would answer them when he returned.

There were others who had to be saved.

Then with a kiss to Luisa, Johan left them and returned to the surface, leaving the pits, and went back to Luisa's place.

When he was finally alone in the room his dad spoke up.

[Son,] said JD.

Johan's father was once again able to talk to him, Hanuman had given him back control.

[Hey dad,] thought Johan.

[Your girlfriend was beautiful,] said JD, [I approve.]

Johan smiled.

[She is great,] thought Johan.

[But,] said JD. [We have to talk. I wasn't away for nothing. I was following Armyka. Something seemed off. My suspicions were correct.]

[What did you see?,] thought Johan.

[Armyka and several other members who are part of a council of influential people from this city and outside it met. I am familiar with them because I was with Jade for quite some time. They were discussing in a secret meeting plans to cleanse the Looking Gla.s.s Realm of all life. But it seems as if you were somehow informed of this. How?]

[Yes,] said Johan. [Someone, I was previously a.s.sociated with warned me of this but didn't say exactly when it would happen. Did you hear?]

[It seems that they wanted the attack to occur during the final match of the fight,] said JD. [This would give select people time to escape or watch from a safe blimp without appearing suspicious.]

[Did you hear the name of the person who is to carry out the attack?]

[They called the leader of the group Silverblade,] said JD.

Johan gasped.

He had previously a.s.sumed that this was the case, but to hear his father confirm his suspicions felt like he was getting punched in the gut.

Silverblade had seemed so nice.

[What is his incentive?,] thought Johan.

[While most of the council thinks it is money,] said JD, [I followed Armyka, and found out her and another agreed secretly with Silverblade to give him and his sect access to studying the area, after it was destroyed. It seems this character values knowledge over money. The agreement was that any findings were kept secret and reported directly to Armyka and Jin. He signed a soul contract with them.]

[Jin!?,] thought Johan.

Of all people, Johan hadn't expected Jin considering how Jin had saved him during his fight from Armyka.

First Silverblade and now Jin!?

Jin had publicly confronted Armyka, but now, Johan suspected their conflict had all been an act. A clever cover to hide their dual involvement for the upcoming attack!

[This is overwhelming,] thought Johan. [I don't think I will be able to save everyone...]

[Son,] said JD. [You can only save those who want to be saved.]

[How will Silverblade destroy the city?,] thought Johan.

[They didn't say,] said JD. [But to remain safe they will watch the tournament from above in a blimp.]

Johan nodded.

[Maybe that is the key to saving the city,] thought Johan. [I'll crash the blimp so that the attack will be delayed. Then I'll win the tournament and use the wish to save everyone. The question is how ...]

[You get a wish?,] said JD. [Well my boy as long as you are fighting I'll support you because you are my son and that's what Flints do. Just don't die. You're a smart boy.]

[Thanks dad,] thought Johan. [I think we should call it a night.]

[Already?,] said JD. [But you haven't even told me of the Labyrinth and stuff that happened to you while I was away. It was a curious place ... it felt odd ...]

[Okay dad,] said Johan. [I'll tell you over dinner.]

Johan looked at a cabinet were he had hidden some Labyrinth food. He knew he had to heal his fight damage as quickly as possible and improve for his upcoming fights or everything would be for naught.

He had to win the tournament.

"Hanuman," whispered Johan. "I hope you are as great as you say ..."

Johan took out some food and decided that he would tell his father everything.

Then tomorrow he would start to train harder than he had in his entire life.