The Greatest Mecha-Chapter 55: Pride and Duty

Without much to object Kram took up Alto’s place in the duel with Kendall the one who had beaten him in their first fight. To Kram he found this as an opportunity to beat the one who bested him, Amy had chosen herself to be the one to fight in the duel but Kram had planned from start to be the one to fight in the duel. His reason was simple, he did not want to see Alto fight since he was a weakling and him losing would bring shame to his face, he did not want Amy to fight in his stead since he could not let a woman fight a man so he chose to fight.

Kendall took it upon himself to fight as a sense of duty in order to uphold the general’s honour. Truthfully he did not want to fight Alto, on seeing Kram he became excited that he would at least get a satisfactory sport.

The fight started at the command of a whistle and Kram was the first to sprint forward as he always did, when he met with Kendall who stood motionless he prepared for his powerful kick he was most proud of but instead Kendall surprised him by darting forward with an explosion of power and throwing a blow instead.

Kram was quick to react as he received the blow with one of his own, their fists collided both their knuckles cracking at the collision. Their eyes exploded with excitement, Kendall tilted a little to the right to allow him to throw another of his strong kicks right at Kram, he wanted to end the fight as soon as he could.

The kick came down for Kram’s neck and he was more than prepared for it, he took hold of Kendall’s leg before it reached him and moved with the momentum. The pulled on the leg and threw Kendall to the side with little effort, Kendall’s face went white with shock as he was sent flying and tumbling on the floor. He had never expected that one of his strong kicks could be used against him.

Kram laughed as he looked at Kendall with pleasure in his eyes. "Are you surprised I beat you like that? After our first fight I had to come up with a way to handle your kicks, so I learnt grappling. I’m sure it took you by surprise."

Kendall grinned, "Who says you’ve won, from now on I will take it seriously."

The both charged at each other this time, Kendall kicking and Kram weaking dodging and throwing blows of his own. Kendall tried to avoid Kram from taking hold of his leg while also trying to land even more powerful kicks on Kram, a few seconds after this explosion a strong kick impacted the side of Kram causing him to stagger backwards and lose his momentum. The sound of ribs shattering filled the air, the split second of delay was enough for Kendall to capitalize upon. He landed another kick on Kram’s face sending him down to the fall, Kendall’s longer reach and muscular build made him more chances to win the fight and Kram it seemed was ill prepared for the fight despite his claims.

Kendall looked very disappointed in Kram. "I thought you said you would beat me you brute. Pure strength can never beat technique learn this."

Kram groaned as his mouth was filled with the metallic taste of blood, he put his hands under him and pushed himself up to his feet. He raised his hand and wiped the blood from his lips, his eyes set back on Kendall. "Who fucking gives a damn, I’ll be in a mech anyway. Now where were we, oh right. I’ll be kicking your butt now."

Kendall raised a hand to stop Kram before he would charge in again. "What relationship do you have with Alto?"

"What’s it to you?" Kram barked.

Kendall continued. "I don’t see why you would want to fight on his behalf even if it is that you want to fight me."

Kram chuckled, "Who is he to me? Simple, he’s the excuse I get to use to kill you." He charged forward with renewed strength, his rips threatening to fall apart at any moment. He let out a great battle cry as he blocked another of Kendall’s blow at the expense of the bones in his hands almost shattering.

From the side lines Amy stood with her mates, her eyes and mind entirely fixated on the battle. "There’s no way he’s that strong. He has to be on something."

"Well, maybe he is." Said professor Alberta who stood next to Amy at the time. "Being the son of a high ranking officer must have it’s perks."

Amy replied without looking in her direction. "You’re saying his genetically enhanced." But she kept her tone low so only both if them could hear.

"I’m not saying anything but will your friend be okay, he’s really starting to look like a wall art no one ever looks at." Alberta said blankly.

Amy grimaced. "He’d better win."

Kram stumbled backwards, his face bloody and messy, his body worn out and broken his opponent looked far better than he did with only a little blood dripping from his forehead. It was clear that the unique was beating strength at the moment.

"Give up and stop shaming yourself." Kendall said with a bit of recognition in his voice.

Kram chuckled and winced from the pain his face felt from the motion. "And bore you no, I was just getting the feeling of things."

This time Kendall sprinted forwards and kicked Kram on the face but the kick cut throught thin air, everyone was taken by surprise by what Kram had done. He had kept a several feet in the air and planted a strong kick on Kendall’s face shattering his nose with the attack, he then swiftly disappear behind Kendall while he was still taken over by the pain. He threw his arm around Kendall’s neck and held him slammed him on the ground, before Kendall knew it he was in a choke hold he could not break out from.

Kram smiled proudly, "So it seems I won’t be breaking your leg today but this will do just fine. Would you like to give up and stop shaming yourself them?"

The general grimaced at the sight he was witnessing, one of his most promising cadets was being beaten by something he would like to call an unknown quantity. Kram held Kendall in the choke hold position till he was declared the winner. It was a live he had bet the entire fight on, he knew Kendall was more superior than he was in all aspects but he had managed to shock everyone by showing that he was not the brute they thought he was. If anything he was dangerous and calculating. And he had won with that mindset.

"Next time to pick with one of us." Kram said as he was being escorted by a cacophony of screams. Though not as flashy or as interesting as mech duel it was good to the mech division to see that they had created a win and now a lose. If they had lost on their own home ground it would have been very disgraceful.

Professor Alberta approached the fuming General Duncan and said. "I trust that this is settled then."

The general still fumed inside but he swallowed his pride. "My word is my bond, it is settled. But I will not forget this day, permit me to ask what your relationship with that boy is."

Professor Alberta hissed, "It’s none of your business general, and if I catch word of you slandering my name again you will have me to deal with and you don’t want that."

General Duncan glared at her but all he could do was just stare daggers at her with no real effect. He nodded in understanding, "Well leave tomorrow, I appreciate you for your help."

"Hey now, I think I should be the one being thanked here." Officer Shirley Sanderson appeared from behind them as he approached slowly, he was the one incharge of the mech division overseeing all of its matters. "So how do you see my new bloods? He did well against a prodigy."

General Duncan felt it torturous to try to recall the memory of him losing to the officer. "Do you mock me Shirley?"

Officer Shirley chuckled. "How dare I mock someone as mighty as you? I know why you really came so you can keep your pleasantries to yourself."

The general smiled before turning to walk away, "This place is not that bad but it’s too bad it will be shut down."

Officer Shirley winked at Professional Alberta before following the general. "Why don’t I see you out then?"

She watched them leave and sighed, her mind went back to Alto who was still asleep in the med bay, her mind still unsettled on the matter. "The general really won’t let this sit, there only one way I can protect you and that is left to your talents."

Author’s Note: I apologize for the late release and the pacing. I’m currently improving in the the direction of the story. Thank you for understanding.