Chapter 3: BOWEN VS YOHAN
Meanwhile, in a hospital room, Bowen was propped up on a bed, a bandage wrapped tightly around his head. Udo was seated next to him, concern evident in his eyes.
"How are you feeling?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
"What do you think?" Bowen retorted, his tone brimming with annoyance.
"Yeah... stupid question, my bad," Udo admitted, sinking back into his chair.
"Yeah, I mean, this was my one chance of getting Infamous Archer III at a discount, and I blew it for fuck's sake," Bowen lamented, his words filled with chagrin.
Udo's eyes widened in disbelief, struggling to grasp Bowen's skewed priorities.
"That's what you're worried about?" Udo stammered, his voice reflecting his bewilderment.
Bowen, momentarily puzzled by Udo's reaction, furrowed his brow. "Huh?"
Udo's eyes bore into Bowen's, sincerity evident in his tone. "You just barely escaped death a few moments ago, and you have a head injury...plus you have a final in a few days...doesn't that mean anything to you at all?"
Bowen shrugged nonchalantly. "Oh, right... It's just a little scratch anyway. Who cares? Plus I was saving people... so I'd say it was worth it."
Udo paused, digesting Bowen's response, then muttered, "Was it though..."
Before he could continue, the door swung open, revealing two figures.
Valeria Lopez, 32, donned glasses and a professional look, clutching a notepad. Meanwhile,
Bevan Wilson, a 39-year-old with dishevelled hair, casual sporty attire, and a nonchalant demeanour, held a cup of coffee in his hand.
"Mr Wilson!" Udo exclaimed in surprise.
"Dad!" Bowen chimed in, his voice echoing through the sterile room.
Later, Bevan sat on a folding chair turned the wrong way round, while Valeria stood beside him.
Across the room, Udo was leaning against a window, his expression a mixture of concern and bewilderment.
Valeria, her gaze shifting between the two men, inquired, "So, he faced them all alone?"
Bowen, reclining with a faint smirk, replied, "Piece of cake."
Bevan, sipping his coffee, raised an eyebrow, retorting, "Judging by your head, I can see that."
Nonchalantly waving it off, Bowen stated, "Yeah, yeah..."
Concerned, Valeria interjected, "But what about this weekend? You can't possibly compete in this condition."
Udo nodded in agreement, adding, "Mrs. Valeria's right. You're in no shape for a fight. You'll only make it worse."
Valeria turned to Bevan. "What's your take, Mr. Wilson?"
Bevan, finally folding his legs gracefully, weighed the predicament before offering his perspective, "Well, he can choose not to compete this weekend, but that's essentially him forfeiting."
Udo exclaimed in disbelief, "What!?"
Unfazed, Bevan continued, "Alternatively, he can compete. It's entirely up to him." He stood and pushed the chair back. "Bowen, what's your decision?"
Bowen's smirk widened. "What do you think?"
Amused, Bevan chuckled. "Well, that's settled then. Let's go, Valeria."
Udo protested, "Wait, are you serious?" But Bevan left, and after a brief exchange of glances with Valeria, Udo hurried after them.
In the hallway, Udo grabbed Bevan's arm. "Why are you making him do this? He's clearly not fit to compete!"
Bevan shook his head. "I'm not making him. It's his choice."
Udo, frustrated, said, "You knew he'd never accept forfeiting. He doesn't have to compete this weekend!"
Bevan retorted firmly, "Technically, he does. It's the rule."
Frustration etched on Udo's face, he argued, "You make those rules. You're the head of the academy!"
Bevan challenged, "Do you want me to bend the rules for my son?"
Udo stammered, "But—"
"He understands Dovanity," Bevan interrupted, voice softening. "His opponent doesn't."
Taken aback, Udo asked, "What do you mean?"
Bevan dismissed him, saying, "You wouldn't understand." Just then, Valeria approached them, concern on her face.
"Is everything okay?" she asked.
Bevan shook off Udo's hand. "We were just chatting. Let's go." He walked away with Valeria following him, leaving Udo standing there, filled with confusion and worry.
Udo muttered to himself, "What the hell are you thinking, Mr. Wilson...?" His thoughts swirled in a whirlwind of uncertainty.
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Inside the bustling Arene d'Eveil, the electrified crowd watched with bated breath as Bowen was sent flying across the arena, Yohan's yoyo connecting with his bandaged head with a sickening thud.
"Let's go!" the crowd cheered, their excitement reaching fever pitch. "Clobber him again!"
Amid the sea of spectators, Lilly stood on her tiptoes, cupping her hands around her mouth.
"Come on, Bowen!" she yelled, her voice strained with concern.
Beside her, Udo slumped in his seat, his heart heavy with dread. "This match needs to be stopped... he's going to die... someone stop the match," he murmured.
Painfully, Bowen picked himself off the ground, a wince etched on his face. In response, Yohan's grin widened. "Oh, you still haven't had enough?" he taunted. "You suicidal freak!"
In defiance, Bowen launched a volley of arrows from his crossbow. Yohan, however, danced around the projectiles effortlessly and returned fire with his yoyos, sending Bowen sprawling once again.
The crowd's excitement morphed into discomfort. "Stop the match!" they implored. "He's incapable of fighting back! End the match!"
Yohan's gaze shifted from Bowen to an impassive Bevan, who sat nonchalantly on the sidelines, a cup of coffee in hand. Yohan's laughter echoed through the arena. "Oh my God," he taunted
Bowen, "how does it feel to know your dad doesn't give a shit about what may happen to you by the end of this fight?"
Bowen, sprawled on the cold ground, gazed up at the blinding arena lights. "Hey Yohan," he called.
"Huh?" Yohan frowned, taken aback.
Bowen continued. "Earlier this week in the tram, you heard people screaming, right?"
Yohan blinked in confusion. "What?"
"We were on the tram together," Bowen explained, his voice steady despite the pain, "and suddenly heard people crying for help."
"I...I have no idea what you're talking about," Yohan stammered, clearly disoriented by the sudden shift in conversation.
"Oh, I think you do," Bowen retorted, his smirk widening. "You knew there was an Ira attack, and you didn't do anything to stop it, did you?"
Yohan's face hardened, his eyes glinting coldly. "So what?" he countered, his voice unnaturally calm. "So what if I heard their cries? So what if I ignored them? So what if I decided to preserve my health instead of uselessly sacrificing my body for the most important fight of my life? I'm not an idiot who craves attention and would jump at any chance I get to hog the spotlight. Look at you now. You confidently walked into this match with your head cracked open after playing the hero that day, and now... you're about to take the biggest loss of your life."
Bowen sighed heavily, his resolve unwavering despite the pained grimace on his face.
"You're wrong about two things," Bowen retorted, his voice firm. "First of all, that wasn't me 'playing hero'. That was me doing my job. Also..."
In a sudden burst of energy, Bowen executed a flawless kip-up, leaping to his feet. The crowd gasped in surprise.
"What the- wasn't he laid out a few seconds ago?" they whispered among themselves.
Yohan's confident grin dissolved into a hardened glare. "Pretending not to be hurt?" he scoffed.
"Don't make me laugh."
Bowen smirked, his eyes sparkling with defiance. "'Pretending'?" He peeled off his shirt, revealing a well-toned body devoid of any injuries, save for the bandage wrapped around his head. "Look at me. Apart from the injury on my head, do you see a single scratch?"
Yohan was rendered speechless, his eyes wide in disbelief.
Bowen clasped his hands together, a concentrated expression on his face. "Kalo: Blessed Arch," he intoned. A longbow made of a shimmering blue aura materialized in his hand, with a quiver appearing on his back.
The crowd gasped collectively.
Udo quickly rose to his feet, his eyes locked onto the spectacle. "What the..." he muttered under his breath.
"A Dove host who prioritizes himself over those he's supposed to protect could never graze me," Bowen declared, pulling an arrow from the quiver and notching it to his bow.
"You piece of shit, who the fuck do you think you are?" Yohan snapped, whirling his yoyos menacingly. "I'm gonna rip you apart."
With a burst of speed, Yohan charged at Bowen. Bowen, unfazed, smirked and released the arrow.
"One arrow? Don't kid yourself," Yohan mocked.
"Vibration Multiplication," Bowen uttered calmly.
In an instant, the single arrow multiplied into thirty, filling the air and causing Yohan to skid to a halt, his face drained of colour.
"What...the..." he stammered.
Udo echoed his sentiment, his eyes wide. "Fuck," he breathed.
Seated on the sidelines, Bevan allowed a smirk to creep onto his face.
Yohan dropped his yoyos, collapsing to his knees as the arrows swarmed towards him. "When did he learn..." he murmured, his eyes filled with defeat. "I quit."
Bowen smirked and clasped his hands together once more. "Release." The arrows froze mid-air, a hair's breadth from Yohan before they slowly faded into oblivion.
The arena fell into a stunned silence. Then, it erupted into cheers and applause. Lilly jumped with joy, a bright smile plastered on her face.
Udo exhaled deeply and slumped back into his seat. He couldn't help but break into a grin as he rose to his feet and joined the applause.
Bevan strolled over to the defeated Yohan. "Until you truly understand the meaning of Dovanity, you'll never beat him," he advised, his voice cold.
Yohan clenched his teeth but said nothing. Bevan then made his way to Bowen. He extended his hand, and Bowen took it.
"Congrats, Officer Wilson," Bevan congratulated him, a hint of pride in his voice.
Bowen's eyes lit up, a triumphant smile spreading across his face. Bevan grabbed his arm and hoisted it into the air, drawing another round of cheers from the crowd.
A hooded figure sitting in the stands observed the scene, their eyes hidden in the shadows of their hood. They then stood and made their way towards the exit, their identity still a mystery.
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Outside the Arene d'Eveil, Udo sought solace on a quiet bench. He relaxed, fixated on the full moon above, legs folded beneath him. Silence reigned until Bevan joined him.
"That was quite the surprise, wasn't it?" Bevan said, breaking the silence thoughtfully.
Udo shrugged, still gazing at the moon. "Yeah, you had a point, sort of..."
Bevan chuckled softly. "To those experienced in Dovanity, the winner was evident."
Intrigued, Udo asked, "What do you mean?"
Bevan's eyes grew serious as he stared into the distance. "Dovanity isn't just about skill, like vibration control or technique variety. It's about knowing your role as a Dove host, protecting the weak, and respecting God's word. Yohan, as talented as he is, lacks that understanding. That's why he lost."
The words lingered in the air, their weight palpable.
"Anyway, are you happy for your brother?" Bevan asked.
"Always good to see family win," Udo replied, his tone distant.
Bevan noticed Udo's trembling hand out of the corner of his eye. "This wasn't what you wanted, was it?"
An oppressive silence followed, heavy with unspoken words and fears.
"Why are you letting him do this?" Udo whispered.
"It's my duty. When I spot talent that can protect the kingdom, I can't ignore it," Bevan answered, never taking his eyes off the moonlit sky.
"But he's your son, Mr. Wilson. You know the Dove Corporation's risks. Aren't you scared for him?"
"Of course I am," Bevan admitted, a shadow crossing his face. "But the kingdom's safety comes first... even if it costs my son's life."
A profound silence hung between them. Udo shifted uncomfortably on the bench while Bevan remained lost in thought.
"I owe this to his mother. I used to be against him becoming a Dove Officer. Our whole family was. After my father died at the hands of those beasts, I couldn't bear losing another loved one.
But then I saw Bowen's mother sacrifice herself for the kingdom without hesitation. It made me realize how selfish I was. I put my feelings above the kingdom. Unlike me, she understood what it meant to be a Dove host. When I look at Bowen, I see her."
Bevan stood, leaving Udo pondering his words. As he walked away, he turned back, his eyes determined.
"I know how you feel, you've experienced the pain of losing your family once, and you're afraid of it happening all over again."
With a tender gesture, Bevan extended his hand and gently patted Udo's head, a silent reassurance in that simple touch.
"Don't worry," Bevan continued, his voice soothing and filled with sincerity. "We're not going anywhere. I promise."
Udo's voice stopped Bevan in his tracks. "Mr. Wilson..."
Bevan paused, facing Udo.
"I'll hold you to that."
A warm smile graced Bevan's face as he continued on his way.
Later, Udo rose from the bench, muscles aching. "I've been out here long enough. Time to see what those idiots are up to..."
As he turned to leave, an origami butterfly danced gracefully through the air. "Again...?"
This time, it landed gently in his open hand. "Huh...?"
Udo unfolded the paper, and his heart raced with unease. As he read the message, his blood ran cold.
"I know your little secret. Dämmerung Park, now."
He let the note slip from trembling hands, his mind consumed by terror.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone