Code Zulu Alpha: Nerd in the Apocalypse!

I first thought that I'd be able to fight Ilya after these knockout rounds but turns out we're gonna have a little break. I wore all of my equipment back for the moment but I had to wipe down my body first. It took me a few minutes amidst the shouting, cheering, and curses raining down on the other contestants.

"OH~ SHITTTT~ THE GOLIATH STRIKES AGAIN~!!!" the announcer was getting pumped up beyond reason.

The large guy I saw earlier took out another contestant with a single slap to the face. The only problem with him is that he's too simple and he's taking a few hits before he manages to get his strike in. It doesn't matter if you can take the damage, it still means you're taking some. Sooner or later, it would all pile up and give you problems when you least expect it.

While I'm busy on the fights I made Edd do a little something with Ben. It's another source of income aside from the prizes we would be receiving later. Ben was already familiar with it so I asked him to help Edd for a bit.

It's the betting area for the people watching. The house is managing the odds for each participant and the returns are based on the amount of people betting on each participant. They're obviously getting a small cut from these because their security is so tight, no one would mess with them. Having a lot of small cuts from different people would in the end make them having the largest cut when it's all over.

"I might do something like this in our place after we're done with the important stuff. Mr. Cuervo is lucky he's been doing this a long time." I thought to myself.

All the equipment and other miscellaneous items that we won earlier besides the body armor we bought from the house was placed on me in the first game as betting chips. I don't know how much we've won based on the odds but Edd said it was more than double. When the second game started, the first game winnings were divided into two and placed on me and Ilya. It's because I already made an impression on the first game so a lot of people would be betting on me as well as the other winners.

Ilya on the other hand also made an impression before the games started but people were disappointed when they learned that he wasn't gonna play when it started. It was a last minute thing he did, joining late and not a lot of people knew about him since I made him stop early on before the other people came in. Less people are betting on him to win and the return if he does would be substantial.

I was kinda ticked off when he bought himself in but in the end, it was my fault for taunting him earlier about beating his other team members.

I lastly wore my gloves and I sat down next to Kaley.

Kaley is not speaking at all and she's just looking at me with a solemn expression.

"Something on your mind?" I asked.

She shook her head but she whispered, "Later."

"I know this is stupid but why did you have to break that guy's arm?" Irene said.

"That's too much eh? Want my real answer?" I looked at Irene, the same as the others.

She nodded.

"It's a lot of things. I guess in the world where someone has a big stick, you need to have a bigger stick." I started.

"Did he say something to you? Your eyes changed earlier..." Kaley quietly said.

"Yeah, just think of someone that has a history of doing time behind bars again and again would say to a man with a beautiful wife. I know it's different for me to react the way I did but I chose to do it nonetheless. It's extreme to do that to someone who is not a grave threat to me at the time but people like that have done a lot worse when they're outside. Besides, I'll gladly take the insult if it's towards me but it's a different story if he involves other people, especially you." I replied.

"You forgot to mention you saved a lot of energy by fighting only two people. I might do the same thing you did if we're doing something similar." Tatiana chuckled.

"Well, that too I guess..." I replied as I scratched my nose.

"I see, but doing could create trouble for us and Irene's group. They might get back at us when we go outside." Kaley said.

"Hmm, I don't think so." I replied.

"You sure about that bro? I can see a few of them glancing at our direction sometimes." Jared interjected.

"This place is built from fear, respect, rules, and strength. Unless the rest of his group is pretty fucking stupid, they won't do anything after this. Isn't that right Jerry?" I replied.

"Ya got that right. Those people already know the rules." Jerry nodded.

"See? Let's just keep our eyes open for anything. Good thing we have a backer here, heh." I chuckled.

"Woah there, wait a second. Who's your backer now? Did I hear that right?" Jerry turned around and looked at me.

"Jerry, I'm gonna make you an offer you can't refuse. All I need you to do for me once this is all over is to vouch for me and my group." I replied, still watching the matches.

"I dunno about that. You won't need me vouching for you if you win the games. That's about all I could tell you." Jerry said, lighting up another smoke.

"All right, just tell me if you want to hear what I want to offer you. Things might change though." I replied.

"Sure, but please stop referencing that Mafia Boss. I fucking love that movie. It's weird coming out from someone looking like he's from a Triad and not the Mafia, heh. Wait- it's Yakuza, right? Having a samurai and all..." Jerry puffed after trailing.

"It's called a katana, not a samurai, Mr. Jerry." Kaley interjected.

"Oh, is that right? Well it's rare to see two katanas-" but Tatiana was the one to interrupt him now.

"Jerry, the shorter one is called a wakizashi. Before you say anything else, what I have is a bastard sword, correct?" Tatiana looked at me for confirmation and I was just smiling like an idiot.

"What? Just let me be! I don't have the energy to remember such things." he gave a look of confusion.

"Well having one of these doesn't mean I'm Yakuza. That's about all I could tell you." I used his own words to explain with a smile.

My attempt to get him interested in my offer even if he didn't hear about it was denied. But even so, I learned from that conversation is that what he's receiving from Mr. Cuervo is substantial and still ongoing. Not only that, he's satisfied with it and he's not looking around for any other offers which means his loyalty can't be easily bought.

"Well that's good in a way." I thought to myself.

Ilya has eight more people to fight but we're not sure if some of them would quit or not. Ilya's new opponent was introduced but he was quickly knocked out by a high right kick to the head. His fists are balled up to deliver a follow-up but it wasn't needed. I can see him controlling his breathing while his eyes are in focus. He's trying to end his fights as fast as possible and the way he handled his opponent made two more people forfeit.

Half an hour quickly passed and eventually, all of the fights were concluded. Everyone who's left standing in their own cages weren't left unscathed. It's either they're starting to accumulate fatigue or there's a couple of injuries that needs to be treated immediately. Mr. Cuervo's medical staff didn't disappoint and they took care of them. Ilya went in the same direction to get treated as well but he just went there for the free bandages, rubbing alcohol, gauze, and a few doses of Ibuprofen. However, he didn't only come back with those but with a few vouchers that were also given to me.

Ilya came back to us with a huge smirk on his face, holding the free supplies as he removed the bandages I placed on him by himself. It was bloody but most of it came from his other opponents. His injuries are mostly bruises located on his face and arms due to receiving and blocking attacks. Kaley patched him up and now he's just wiping his body for any dirt and blood from the fights.

"Do you have a clean knife or a blade?" Ilya asked Kaley.

"Hmm? What for?" Kaley replied.

"Need to cut my hair. One of them managed to grab me earlier and it sucked." Ilya stated.

Kaley gave him a pair of scissors and a clean razor then Ilya handed it over to Eddy. Turns out, Eddy is the resident barber. Ilya went for a skin head while Tatiana started to stretch her body. She started to bend her body in impossible angles while a few near us caught their attention.

"ALRIGHT FOLKS~ HAVING FUN~? BEFORE THE LADIES' TURN IS A LITTLE INTERMISSION~!!! IT'S WHAT EVERYONE'S BEEN WAITING FOR~!!! GIVE IT UP~!!! FOR~!!! RICARDOOOOOOOOOO~!!!" the announcer bellowed at the top of his lungs.

Smoke billowed from the stage and I started to saw the silhouette. The moment he came into view, Jared started to die laughing.

The huge majestic figure came out in all his glory wearing a red bandanna and an underwear with the pattern of the stars and stripes. I don't know why he's body is oiled and glistening but when he started to move with his backup dancers, the whole place was glued from his performance.

"BROOOOOO~~!!! IS THAT- IS THAT- WHAT THE FUCK?! WHY IS HE- HOW DID- WHAT?!" Jared managed to recover for a short moment before he resumed dying once more.

"Now that is one fine specimen." Tatiana was surprised.

I looked back at Jerry and he's puking blood.

"Well, he's not for everyone. Great dancer though, heh." I thought to myself laughing inwardly.