Beyond Gods Chapter 34

Pedro and Neil sat on the side of the ring in Slum Gym .

They had just finished training for the day and Johan had told Pedro the story of what happened to him in the alley .

Pedro frowned and said, "You know, boxing is great . But for situations like that, sometimes it isn't enough . So some of the guys here go to learn from this man that teaches a martial art called Muay Boran . "

Johan searched the fragments of his memory for mention of Muay Boran but couldn't find them . From what he understood his previous self had focused mainly on boxing in the Looking Gla.s.s Realm and had only learn't other fighting styles in the higher realms once he finally got accepted into a sect .

"I've never heard of it," said Johan .

"Well," said Pedro, "it is like kickboxing, except they use elbows, headb.u.t.ts, grappling techniques, swords, joint locks and pressure point attacks . The owner integrated eye gouging and hair pulling into his unique style . It was created for warfare rather than simply sports fighting . Think of Thailand the country it originated from as a country whose entire culture revolves around battle . Even to this day, their national sport is Muay Thai, a toned down version of Muay Boran created for sports purposes . "

"So why are you telling me this?," asked Johan .

"Well," said Pedro, "while getting guns is near to impossible here . Swords are possible, especially if you are a licensed Muay Boran pract.i.tioner . The Muay Boran gym gives you a pair once you reach a certain level of training . But, because they teach you how to use weapons, if you are jumped by people with weapons, you'll be in a better position, if you strike preemptively . Even if it is a group of people . "

"I see," said Johan, "can you show me this place?"

"Sure," said Pedro, "we can go now if you'd like . "

"Yeah," said Johan, "I don't ever want to be in that position again . "

"Let me introduce you to my friend Sun," said Pedro, "he has been doing it for a while . "

-- Ø --

As they walked through the alleys to the Muay Boran gym, Sun told Johan stories of the martial art and its tightly intertwined history with the country of Thailand . Sun was a bald stumpy tall Thai man, who was a lot stronger than he looked .

"There was once a Thai prince," said Sun, "captured by the Burmese King . The king proposed that if the prince could defeat seven of his best warriors in a bare knuckle fight consecutively in a fight to the death, he'd let him go free . The Thai prince easily beat them and the Burmese King was left in awe and let the prince go free . "

"What makes this martial art so great compared to other martial arts?," asked Johan .

"Thailand," said Sun, "actively holds compet.i.tions that pit people against each other . Anyone, even foreigners can even walk on stage and compete using it . That is how confident they are in this martial art . People who use it in fight tournaments back on earth do very well with it against other martial arts, even though it is usually illegal to use all the Muay Thai techniques because it gets too dangerous . I am talking about Muay Thai alone, not Muay Boran which is much more deadly and powerful . Kung fu and Karate don't have as much existing proof of its efficiency as Muay Thai does . "

"I see," said Johan curiously .

"Most people only a.s.sociate Thailand with prost.i.tution," said Pedro with a laugh, "but in reality the Thais are a strong, proud and conservative bunch . "

"In ancient Thailand," said Sun, "they'd tie hemp rope around their hands, rather than wearing boxing gloves and fight with that in Muay Boran compet.i.tions . It protected their hands while allowing for them to deliver bone breaking blows . "

Johan couldn't help but feel excited to have the opportunity to add this art to his repertoire . He knew it would be an invaluable a.s.set in the upcoming fight tournament in eight months .

They reached the Muay Boran gym . On top of the door was a sign that said,

Lanna Muay Boran

Lit up by neon lights .

Sun guided them inside . They found themselves in a gym that looked much like Slum Gym boxing gym . Sun walked up to a skinny dark skinned Thai man with short black hair .

"This is Kru Bu," said Sun, "A master Muay Boran pract.i.tioner . "

Kru Bu smiled and said, "Come, join us if you'd like, our cla.s.s is just starting . "

-- Ø --

Johan finished the cla.s.s exhausted .

It had started with a warm up of jogging and stretching exercises for 15 minutes . Next they punched, kneed, kicked and elbowed boxing bags for a half hour . After this, they did soft sparring with each other, while the trainers circulated students and did pad work, where they presented and taught different striking combinations to the students . Then, they did a half hour of clinching and throws . Finally, they finished the cla.s.s with body weight exercises .

"Wow," said Johan, "that was more intense than any of the workouts I've done before . "

"This was just a regular Muay Thai conditioning cla.s.s," said Sun, "the Muay Boran cla.s.ses happen twice a week . "

"I prefer boxing," said Pedro, "I don't think I have the stamina to double up this and boxing . "

"I heard you want to get noticed by a sect at the tournament later this year," said Sun, "Kru Bu will help you get there, but only if you are dedicated enough . He will not waste time on undedicated people . Many sects have offered to take him in, but he chose to stay and teach . This is not about money for him . Its about creating a community that carries on his legacy . "

"I am interested," said Johan, "I can see the advantages of being able to spar every day, even if it is lightly . "

"Kru Bu has more success stories than most other gyms," said Sun, "many of his students have gotten into good sects, he has many connections because of all the people he has helped . Studying under him will do you good . "

-- Ø --

Johan continuously trained in MMA, boxing, and Muay Boran day after day diligently . Winning the fights that Guang Chong arranged were difficult, but he continuously managed to do it . Time seemed to pa.s.s faster and faster the harder he trained and he rapidly improved . But even then, he didn't feel like it was enough . But, he had done everything he could . Eventually, the day of tournament sign ups arrived .

"Hey," said Johan to Pedro one day while training at Slum Gym, "The fight tournament is next month, right? Guang Chong hasn't mentioned anything about it to me . "

Pedro raised an eyebrow thoughtfully and said, "You should try and enter it without his input . He makes too much money off gambling on your fights . He might not have entered you on purpose . "

"You think he'd do that?," said Johan .

"When money is involved people pull stuff man," said Pedro, "I'm going to enter today myself . Lets go together? We gotta be extra careful walking around this month, because people are trying to eliminate the compet.i.tion . So it is better to go in groups . "

"Yeah," said Johan with a wink, "I got my swords with me, just in case . "

-- Ø --

The lineup was long, emotions running high and fighters numerous . The lineup had at least a thousand people in front of Johan and Pedro . The army had deployed soldiers to keep the peace in case fighters started fighting while in line . The line moved slowly but they didn't want to leave it and come back later for fear of loosing their spot .

"This lineup is long," gasped Johan .

"This is how it is every year," said Pedro, "and this is actually pretty good . I've seen worse . "

"What would you do if we had to fight each other," said Johan thougthfully, "that would be weird . "

"They won't make us do that," said Pedro, "since we go to the same gym, they won't pit us against each other . One of the few rules I'm glad the government has . "

"Johan, is that you!?," yelled a voice .

Johan noticed Pedro turn noticeably pale, glancing behind his shoulder . Turning around Johan saw a tall skinny brown haired soldier standing with a brown skinned solider . They looked familiar, but Johan couldn't place where he'd seen them before .

"I am sorry Sirs if we did anything to offend you," stammered Pedro .

Hesitantly, Johan said, "Theris? Ryan?"

They soliders looked at each other and walked up to Johan .

"Its him," Ryan exclaimed, "you were right Theris . "

"You grown so much since I last saw you Theris," said Johan, "and you Ryan, you lost so much weight . Wow . You look great!"

"What happened to you and Neil?," asked Ryan, "we were worried sick, he went to show you and you both never come back . "

"Is Neil okay?," asked Theris concerned, "we were asking around about you two, but no one had answers . No one knew . We thought you were dead . "

"We got thrown in the pit by Armyka," said Johan darkly, "after we got out, we decided to split up and hide because we knew coming back would be an issue if Armyka eyed us again . "

"Director Armyka?," gasped Theris .

"Do you know where Neil is now?," asked Ryan .

"Sadly no," said Johan, "I haven't seen or heard from him since we left the pit . "

Ryan sighed, "He was like a brother to us, always there, always encouraging us for three years . He was a good guy, we were so worried . Its good to know he is alright at least . "

"Neil was a capable guy," said Johan, "he is probably doing better than all of us now . "

"What happened?," asked Theris, "Why did she throw you into the pit?"

"She was in a bad mood," said Johan .

Theris muttered, "We've heard stories about her moods . But she is so strong, no one questions her . She's crippled, killed and destroyed the careers of countless soldiers . . . on a whim . You were right to stay away . "

"We should catch up," said Ryan, "we can come by after the tournament . We were bunk mates after all and Neil said that made us family . So even if you were only there for less than a day, we'll take care of you . "

"Definitely," said Johan, "lets meet at Mama Earth Pizzeria the day after the tournament ends . "

"Sounds like a plan," said Ryan clasping Johan's shoulder, "its good to see you are alright, buddy . We thought you and Neil for dead . "

Theris looked around nervously, and said, "Ryan, we should get back to our post . Don't want to get in trouble . "

"Ya," said Ryan, "we will see you later, Johan . "

"Bye," said Johan as they walked away .

Pedro stared at Johan in disbelief, and gasped, "You were a solider?"

"Not really," said Johan, "I was sent to the barracks but was there less than a day before being thrown into the pits . "

"Man," said Pedro, "if you didn't get thrown in the pits you'd be living the good life now . If you work for the army for five years, admission into a sect becomes exponentially much easier . Makes you a much stronger candidate . No one wants to cultivate an inexperienced mediocre fighter that hasn't cultivated before . This is why so many fighters of all ages are still applying for this tournament to show off their skills . "

"I didn't know that," said Johan, "sounds like the same thing Neil said about hiring managers back on earth . "

"You got connections," said Pedro, "from the soliders and the Muay Boran gym, after all this is over use them . "

"Working for the army," said Johan with a sigh, "isn't as glorified as you think it is . Its abusive glorified slavery . "

"Better than being poor and weak," said Pedro, "I used to go through garbage cans for food back in home on earth when I was young, that is how poor my family was . Boxing got me money, but then, I became an anomaly . Fighting gets me an apartment, but if you join a sect or army, these fights, one of which can end your career and make you homeless . . . are over . You live good, only fight during war time, do civil easy jobs, and have superior training and healing resources . Better to be a privileged slave than what we are now . One average solider, with their mana techniques can easily defeat ten seasoned fighters from here because we don't have any techniques . "

Johan's expression dimmed as the reality of life for the average person in the Looking Gla.s.s Realm became clear to him .

"I guess it is a matter of picking your poison," muttered Johan .