CHAPTER 44 — THREE AGAINST ONE

# THE FALLEN LIGHT — SEASON I

## CHAPTER 44 — THREE AGAINST ONE

Percy returned to the arena. The first person he saw was Clara. Then he saw Arthur. Then William. The three of them stood side by side. Percy stared at them for a moment. Then he turned to Elizabeth.

"Teacher."

Elizabeth:

"Yes, my student?"

"I don't think you like me very much."

Elizabeth smiled.

"You just became my student."

"Did you realize that already?"

Galahad burst out laughing. Eleanor smiled as well. Holar Jun crossed his arms.

Clara called out to Percy:

"If you're scared, you can forfeit."

Percy turned to her.

"Did YOU just say that to me?"

Clara:

"Yes."

Percy smirked.

"Remind me of that in five minutes."

Arthur chimed in:

"Last five minutes first."

William took a deep breath.

"Can both of you please shut up?"

Percy:

"No."

Arthur:

"No."

Clara:

"No."

William closed his eyes.

"Why do I even bother?"

Elizabeth stepped up into the center.

"Because today..."

"We aren't gauging Percy's strength."

Everyone looked at her.

"We are gauging their growth."

Percy's smile vanished.

Elizabeth continued:

"Percy is Advanced 2."

"He has the level advantage."

"He has the element advantage."

"He has **[Absolute Cancel]**."

Arthur raised his head.

"But?"

Elizabeth looked at the three of them.

"There are three of you."

William smiled faintly. Percy saw it.

"William."

"Yes?"

"Why are you smiling like that?"

"I'm calculating something."

Percy narrowed his eyes.

"That's exactly what I'm afraid of."

Galahad laughed out loud upon hearing that. Elizabeth raised her hand.

"Permanent damage is forbidden."

"Lethal attacks are forbidden."

"Aside from that, you are free to do as you wish."

Clara readied herself. Arthur clenched his fists. William took a few steps back. Percy didn't move an inch. Elizabeth's hand dropped down.

"BEGIN!"

Arthur charged forward. As expected. Percy already knew this. Arthur loved close-quarters combat. Especially against Percy. Percy was going to dodge to the right. His foot shifted. But he stopped. Clara was standing right there. She hadn't attacked yet. She was simply waiting. Percy veered left instead. No one was standing there either. However... William smiled. Percy stopped.

"Well, fuck me."

Galahad raised an eyebrow.

Eleanor:

"What happened?"

Galahad didn't answer. Percy leaped backward. Right at that split second... William's orb grazed past his breath. Arthur came from the front. Clara blocked off the right side. Percy jumped up into the air.

William shouted:

"NOW!"

Clara launched her orb upward. Percy twisted in midair. The orb passed right beside his shoulder. Arthur was waiting below. Percy couldn't land directly on the ground. He redirected himself toward another spot. Arthur changed directions too. Percy's eyes widened.

"I get it."

William:

"Too late."

Percy's feet touched the ground. Arthur threw a punch. Percy blocked it.

**BOOM!**

Percy slid backward. Clara attacked instantly. Percy ducked his head. Clara's kick swept right over him. Percy was about to counterattack. Clara pulled back. Percy paused. Clara smiled.

"You didn't bite."

Percy smiled back.

"Almost did."

The expression on Elizabeth's face had changed. Galahad noticed.

"Did you figure it out?"

Elizabeth looked at him.

"Figure out what?"

Galahad pointed at the arena.

"They're not running away."

Elizabeth looked again. Arthur was attacking. Clara was closing off openings. William was directing from afar. But that wasn't the point. When Percy attacked... None of them dodged out of mere reflex. They watched his shoulder. His hips. The angle of his foot. The direction of his gaze. The movement of his Orin. And before the attack even began... They were calculating the probabilities. Elizabeth's eyes widened.

"Wait a minute."

Eleanor had understood as well. Galahad smiled.

"Finally."

Holar Jun watched silently.

Elizabeth:

"We didn't teach them that."

Galahad:

"We did."

Elizabeth looked at him.

"When?"

Galahad replied:

"The scorpions."

Elizabeth fell silent. A smile formed on Eleanor's face.

Galahad continued:

"Thousands of scorpions were moving."

"They couldn't harm any of them."

"Nor could they step on them."

"They ran for hours."

"With every step, they made a choice."

"To the right?"

"To the left?"

"To jump?"

"To wait?"

"To speed up?"

"To slow down?"

Elizabeth looked back at the arena. Now she saw it. William's eyes were constantly moving. Arthur was no longer attacking blindly. Clara was reading Percy's body movements.

Galahad:

"At first, they were doing it consciously."

"Then they stopped thinking about it."

"Because their brains adapted."

Elizabeth:

"A probability tree."

Galahad nodded.

"A rudimentary version."

Holar Jun spoke for the first time:

"No."

The three of them looked at him. Holar pointed at Percy.

"It's not rudimentary anymore."

Percy raised his fist. Arthur didn't pull back. Percy noticed. He held the punch. Arthur smiled.

Percy:

"Sixty percent."

The smile vanished from Arthur's face. Percy looked to his left. Clara was there.

"Twenty-five percent."

Then he looked at William.

"Fifteen percent."

William's eyes widened. Percy spun around in an instant. Arthur attacked. Percy ducked. Clara arrived at the exact same moment. Percy pulled back. William's orb zipped past. Percy smiled.

"It shifted."

Arthur:

"What?"

Percy:

"Forty-two percent."

Clara's eyes widened. Percy dodged her attack.

"Thirty-eight percent."

William prepared a new orb. Percy looked at him.

"Twenty percent."

William:

"Are you calculating us?"

Percy:

"No."

William knit his brows. Percy smiled.

"We are calculating each other."

Elizabeth stepped forward.

"Did he..."

She didn't finish her sentence. Eleanor finished it for her:

"Calculate it?"

Elizabeth looked at her student. Percy was fighting three people at once. Yet a tiny smile rested on his face. Eleanor looked at Holar. Then at Percy.

"Of course he calculated it."

Elizabeth:

"How are you so sure?"

Eleanor pointed at Holar.

"He..."

Then pointed at Percy.

"...is that man's grandson."

Holar Jun raised an eyebrow. Galahad laughed.

"Any objections, Grandpa?"

Holar thought for a few seconds.

"None."

Eleanor:

"Surprising."

Holar:

"Because it's true."

Elizabeth nodded.

"A family of monsters."

Galahad jumped in immediately:

"I'm part of the family too."

Eleanor:

"You're a monster as well."

Galahad smiled proudly.

"Thank you."

Elizabeth:

"It wasn't a compliment."

Galahad:

"I took it as one."

The tempo in the arena escalated. Arthur was no longer just attacking. He was herding Percy. A punch. Percy moved right. Arthur intentionally left the second punch short. Percy moved left. Right where they wanted him. Clara struck.

**BOOM!**

Percy's barrier cracked.

William:

"THREE STEPS BACK!"

Arthur pulled back. Clara pulled back too. Percy was taken aback. Then he understood. William's orb slammed in.

BOOOOOOM!

Percy was hit dead-on. A cloud of dust flared up. Nathaniel jumped to his feet.

"THEY HIT HIM!"

Charlotte was stunned as well. Marcus watched intently. The dust settled. Percy was on one knee. There was a light burn on his arm. Arthur smiled.

"Advanced 2?"

Percy stood up. Clara immediately chimed in:

"Want me to remind you?"

Percy looked at her.

"Remind me of what?"

"What you said five minutes ago."

Percy:

"It hasn't been five minutes yet."

William:

"It has."

Percy:

"ARE YOU KEEPING TIME?!"

William:

"Of course."

Percy took a deep breath.

"You total nerd."

William:

"Thanks."

For the first time, Percy grew dead serious. His aura flared.

BOOOOM!

Arthur's feet slid back. Clara held her breath. William took a step back. Advanced Level 2. Now it was truly unleashed.

Nathaniel:

"Now they're fucked."

Charlotte:

"Not yet."

Arthur gritted his teeth.

"Don't scatter!"

Clara moved to the right. William pulled back further. Arthur remained in front. Percy vanished. Arthur caught only a shadow.

**BOOM!**

His barrier shattered. Arthur was blasted backward. Clara was right behind Percy. Percy ducked. Clara's punch struck air. Percy checked his elbow mid-movement. Stopping inches from Clara's face. Clara didn't even blink. Percy smiled.

"Nice."

A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

Clara smiled too.

"I know."

William:

"CLARA, DUCK!"

Clara ducked instantly. The orb rushed toward Percy. Percy dodged aside. But Arthur had already returned.

**BOOM!**

The punch connected cleanly with Percy's stomach. Percy slid back several meters.

Arthur shouted:

"IT'S WORKING!"

William:

"DON'T CELEBRATE, KEEP GOING!"

Arthur:

"Be happy for once in your life!"

William:

"LATER!"

Galahad was roaring with laughter. Elizabeth, however, wasn't laughing. She was completely focused on the fight.

"They've genuinely grown."

Eleanor nodded.

"This is what Percy wanted."

Elizabeth:

"But there's more to it."

Holar:

"Much more."

Elizabeth looked at him. Holar pointed at the students:

"Arthur used to attack out of anger."

"Now he attacks for the team."

"Clara used to think about her own openings."

"Now she covers Arthur's."

"William used to merely analyze."

"Now he shares his analysis."

Galahad:

"And Percy?"

Holar looked at his grandson. Percy was going on the offensive again. Holar smiled.

"Percy is watching them."

Elizabeth:

"His opponents."

Holar shook his head.

"No."

"His results."

Percy attacked Arthur. Arthur blocked. Percy prepared a follow-up attack. Arthur didn't run. Percy stopped. Because Clara was right behind Arthur. Arthur had intentionally left an opening. If Percy struck... Clara would counter. Percy chose a different angle. William closed off that vector. Percy shifted to a third angle. Arthur had already repositioned. Percy suddenly laughed out loud.

"There it is."

Arthur:

"What?"

Percy stopped attacking.

"This is what I wanted."

Clara:

"We are in the middle of a fight."

Percy:

"I know."

William:

"Then stop talking."

Percy:

"Alright, Mom."

William:

"Hit him, Arthur."

Arthur:

"With pleasure."

Arthur attacked. Percy blocked. Clara swept in. Percy dodged. William launched his orb. Percy ducked. The three of them attacked in tandem again. Percy was retreating. Yet he was smiling. Because now he saw it. The scorpions. The sand. The bleeding feet. The stone sacks. Carrying each other's loads. The final lap. Walking hand in hand. The piranhas. Forging ahead despite fear. Push-ups under oppressive aura. Persisting despite the pressure. Seventy-two hours of sleeplessness. Learning to pull their minds together. The waves. Balance. Orb training. Core growth. None of it had been isolated. All of it was right here, right now.

Elizabeth's eyes widened.

"He..."

Galahad looked at her.

Elizabeth continued:

"Everything from the camp..."

"They are utilizing in this fight."

Eleanor smiled.

"You finally noticed."

Elizabeth looked at her.

"Percy did this..."

Eleanor:

"Yes."

Elizabeth:

"From the very beginning?"

Eleanor was quiet for a few seconds. Then she looked at Percy.

"He probably didn't know every single detail."

Galahad nodded.

"But he knew the objective."

Holar added:

"Willpower."

"Courage."

"Decision-making."

"Teamwork."

"Pressure."

"Control."

"Preserving life."

Holar Jun's face softened.

"Now they are translating that into battle."

Elizabeth looked at her student. For the first time, a different emotion showed on her face. It wasn't just shock. It was pride.

"What kind of student did I take on?"

Eleanor answered instantly:

"Wrong question."

Elizabeth looked at her. Eleanor pointed at Holar.

"First look at him."

Holar:

"Why me again?"

Eleanor pointed at Percy.

"Then look at him."

Galahad started laughing.

Eleanor:

"He's that man's grandson."

Holar:

"I'm perfectly normal."

All three of them stared at him at once. Holar shut his mouth.

Galahad:

"Grandpa."

"251 thousand."

Holar:

"That was different."

Eleanor:

"Of course."

Elizabeth:

"Totally normal."

Holar took a deep breath.

"Watch the match."

Percy's breathing had become ragged. So had Arthur's. Clara was drenched in sweat. William's hands were trembling. Yet the three of them refused to give up.

William shouted:

"ARTHUR!"

Arthur stepped forward. Percy countered.

**BOOM!**

Arthur staggered backward.

"CLARA!"

Clara swept in. Percy spun around. Clara didn't attack. Percy's attention had shifted to her.

William shouted:

"NOW!"

Percy's eyes widened. Arthur had looped back around.

**BOOM!**

Percy was knocked sideways. Clara followed up immediately. Percy erected a barrier.

CRACK!

The barrier shattered. William's orb struck.

BOOOOOOM!

Percy fell to the ground. The arena went dead quiet. Arthur was gasping for air. Clara clenched her fists. William kept his eyes glued to Percy. Nathaniel stood up.

"No freaking way."

Charlotte whispered:

"They're winning."

Marcus:

"Not yet."

Percy lay on the ground. Clara took a step forward.

"Percy?"

Percy's finger twitched. William immediately shouted:

"DON'T GET CLOSE!"

Clara froze. Percy's shoulders trembled.

Arthur:

"Is he laughing?"

Yes. Percy was laughing. He slowly stood up. Wiped the blood from his lip. Looked at the three of them. And then... He applauded. Once. Twice. Thrice. Arthur knit his brows.

"What are you doing?"

Pride shone in Percy's eyes.

"It worked."

Clara:

"What worked?"

"It worked."

William understood. The expression on his face changed.

"Percy."

Percy looked at him.

William:

"Don't do anything stupid."

Percy smiled. Arthur looked at William.

"What?"

William backed away.

"It's starting now."

Percy took a deep breath.

"Arthur."

Arthur readied himself.

"Clara."

Clara's Orin flared.

"William."

William created an orb. Percy gave a light nod.

"Thank you."

Clara:

"Why?"

Percy's smile grew wider.

"Because now I know."

Arthur:

"Know what?"

Percy's eyes sparkled.

"Twelve people are ready."

Silence. Galahad's smile vanished. Then... It returned, far bigger.

"No way."

Eleanor looked at him.

"What?"

Galahad stood up.

"Don't do it, Percy."

Percy looked at him. Galahad's eyes were sparkling.

"Don't do it."

Percy smirked.

"Don't do what, big brother?"

Galahad opened his hands.

"How the hell should I know?!"

Percy:

"Liar."

Galahad burst out laughing. Elizabeth looked between the two of them.

"What's going on?"

Holar Jun had already understood. He shook his head.

"My grandson..."

Eleanor:

"What is he planning?"

Holar answered:

"Three people weren't enough."

Elizabeth's eyes widened.

"No."

Percy walked into the center of the arena. He looked at the other students. Charlotte. Marcus. Nathaniel. And the rest of their classmates. Then he turned back to the trio.

"Not today."

William exhaled in relief.

Percy continued:

"In a few days."

William's relief vanished. Percy addressed the whole class:

"Twelve people."

Arthur's eyes widened.

Charlotte:

"What?"

Nathaniel:

"Holy shit."

Percy pointed to himself.

"One person."

Silence. Clara stared at Percy.

"You are insane."

Percy nodded.

"Probably."

Galahad couldn't contain himself any longer. He took a deep breath. Eleanor whipped her head toward him instantly.

"DON'T YOU DARE."

Galahad covered his mouth. But his eyes gave him away. Nathaniel pointed at him.

"Say it, big bro!"

Eleanor:

"DON'T SAY IT!"

Galahad was practically vibrating. Percy looked at him. He smiled.

Galahad finally exploded:

"BOOOOOOOOOOW—"

Eleanor clamped her hand over his mouth.

"ENOUGH!"

Percy burst into laughter. Elizabeth held her forehead. Holar Jun sighed. Clara shook her head. Arthur smirked. William was staring at Percy. Because he had realized something. Against the three of them... Percy hadn't used **[Absolute Cancel]**. Nor had he... Truly used his Fire element yet.

William spoke quietly:

"Percy."

Percy looked at him.

William:

"Today isn't over."

Percy's eyes sparkled.

"No."

He raised his hand. A flame flared in his palm. Elizabeth snapped upright instantly. Clara stepped back. Arthur readied himself. William's eyes widened. Percy smiled.

"Now..."

The flame expanded.

"...to my teacher..."

Elizabeth perked her attention. The air around Percy shifted. A five-meter boundary manifested.

NATURE OF FIRE.

Elizabeth's eyes widened.

"Finally."

Percy looked at the three of them.

"Let's show off my new element."

THE BATTLE WAS NOT OVER YET.