Kingsman Return novel Chapter 11

Seeing the group make their way into the training room, Arran had to clamp down on the sense of foreboding that he was feeling. When they had all gotten to him Arran finally had a chance to get a good look at them all.

Apart from Rommel, who Arran recognized, the rest all gave Arran a mixture of various feelings. Arran was able to sense that all of them had very different opinions about him, chief of those being a strong dislike that Arran was feeling coming from the eyes of a particular well-muscled gorilla.

As the group reached Arran, beating Rommel to the chase, Stock wasted no time in saying, "boy come over here, we have a little test we want you to participate in."

Rommel, who was about to say something, shot a glare at Stock but ended up keeping his words to himself. It would not be good to look divided in front of an outsider who did not know of the rivalry that existed between them.

What he failed to realize was that Arran did not miss this particular detail.

Arran, knowing that he was under other people's roof, did not have any big reaction and instead asked.

"What is this test that you all want me to participate in?"

Stock replied, "it's very simple, you just have to spar with this recruit over here." Saying so, the group opened up and Stock pulled out a person who had been behind them all this time.

Arran looked at this person closely. He had actually seen him before, hanging behind the group but had quickly dismissed him as an unimportant person since his aura did not quite fit into the overall group.

Now Arran paid closer attention to this person.

At a glance, Arran was quickly amused. The person was for want of a better use of a word, unsuitable to be called a sparring partner.

He was a slightly freckled person of average appearance and he was still wearing a white lab coat which gave away his identity as one of the medical staff.

Seeing the look in Arran's eyes, Stock realized the situation and was slightly embarrassed. He shot a look of dissatisfaction at the person they brought for the test.

Brendell was a person who could be said to have great ambitions. He had grown up from humble beginnings and had put in a lot of effort to get to this place. Other than hard work he had prided himself on being able to spot various opportunities to attach himself to different pillars of strength.

He knew that he did not have the talent to become a warrior and instead had to use his smarts to develop as an intellectual instead.

That was why, when this group of bigshots came to the lab to asked for new recruits to perform a task for them, he was the first to rush up and offer himself in order to curry favor with them. Even if they were not from the same department, who knows, he might just impress them and they will, in turn, remember him. For him, that was enough.

That was until he got here and found out that the task was to spar with this person.

He had heard all of the rumors of a mortal that had recently been brought from the lower realms and upon sensing that there was not a shred of vital energy coming off of Arran, he was already very sure of his identity.

Feeling confident, he stepped forward and said loudly, "mortal I will be your opponent. But don't worry, I'll go easy on you."

Taking a quick look to the side and seeing the perplexed looks on the faces of the bigshots, Brendell felt that they were impressed with his attitude and this confirmed his resolve to put on a good show.

Arran was looking at the clown while sneering in disdain.

He had already figured out what kind of person he was, so without sparing him another glance, he turned to Stock and asked, "how am I supposed to spar when my opponent is stronger than me in the first place."

Stock, whose skin was sufficiently thick answered, "you don't have to worry. Since you don't have any attainment, he will suppress his in other to even the playing field."

He continued, "in case you say we are still being unfair, then you should know that your martial skills are much higher than his, so you should have enough confidence to not lose very badly.

Brendell frowned when he heard the bigshot say that the mortal's skills were better than his own. Sure, his martial skills were not his best achievements, but he did not think that he would lose to a mortal.

Arran did not care for Brendell's thought and immediately agreed.

Seeing that Arran had already agreed, the group made their way to the side to make way for Arran and Brendell to move to the ring at the center of the room.

Immediately they got onto the ring, Brendell's face turned hideous and he did not bother looking at Arran straight, instead choosing to do so with his nose up in the air.

He said to him, "mortal, it is your misfortune to be able to exchange blows with me. For me, it would not even take more than a single hand to defeat you even if I have to suppress myself."

Arran upon hearing this, was on the verge of laughing out loud because he had heard something similar from Kasack the other time. This situation was very amusing because Brendell in front of him did not even give him a tenth of the pressure that Kasack gave to him, so what gave him the courage to say those words to him.

Arran was enraged and was feeling murderous because he knew that he was being underestimated and his face held a wisp of killing intent.

To the side, Rommel and the group had the urge to beat Brendell senseless, but after feeling the killing intent coming from Arran, their expression changed and they were looking forward to the match even more.

Not wasting any time, Stock immediately said, "begin."

Immediately, Arran moved.

Arran's steps were steady as he made his way towards Bredell. Each stride that took him closer to Bredell increased his aura and momentum such that it gave one the impression that there was a dangerous beast lurking by the corner ready to pounce.

Stock and the rest nodded because they knew that this was an intimidation tactic that was used against a strong enemy in order to make them flustered and lose their cool, which will lead to them making mistakes.