"...We try to emulate their ferocity, their agility, and their… well, their tendency to throw poop when they're angry. Though we generally advise against the last one in formal combat situations."
A ripple of nervous laughter went through the crowd. Reina herself didn't crack a smile, maintaining a stoic expression that only added to her intimidating presence. She launched into a demonstration of the Black Ape Fist, a whirlwind of punches, kicks, and acrobatic maneuvers that left the students breathless.
Everyone started talking about the Black Ape Dojo the moment she finished, some are tempted to join while many were still hesitating.
They know that most martial art establishments recruit new members in order to just pass the requirement that the federation has passed.
After all, if they fail to achieve the standard for three times, the owner is banned on creating another establishment for ten years, not to mention, they would pay a hefty fine and majority of the members are forced to conscription. It was a well-known secret that many dojos were more interested in filling quotas than nurturing talent.
Meaning, the new members aren't even taken care much and they would waste money on paying to join the establishment. It was basically a martial arts pyramid scheme.
"Tch! How high-end of the dojo to actually send their beloved 'Princess' to showcase their most common technique to us," Kevin said. "It's like sending Beyoncé to sing 'Twinkle Twinkle Little Star' at a kindergarten graduation. Impressive, but ultimately kind of pointless."
His friend snickers as most students are actually talking about this.
"I am going to join their dojo," Sean suddenly said, his voice cutting through Kevin's sarcasm.
His friend was shocked, he looked at him with disbelief. "Wait! Have your heart finally bloomed? Do you wish to court the maiden of the Black Ape Dojo!? Are you hoping to impress her with your… uh… monkey-wrestling skills?"
His friend's words instantly caused those near them to focus on Sean. A few snickers erupted, and Sean could feel the heat of embarrassment creeping up his neck.
He smacks his friend's head. "What the hell are you talking about!? How can someone of my status even dare to think of courting someone like her? I think that is more like courting death! Besides, I'm pretty sure she's got a restraining order against anyone who's ever worn a construction helmet."
Everyone around them agrees with their words. It was a harsh reality, but a well-understood one.
This is the reason why people like Reina would preach their martial arts in their school, it's because they are a public establishment meant for poor people. They are considered one of the lowest ranking type of people in their society.
Dreaming of courting beauties that were born in a much more noble background would be equivalent of courting death. It was like trying to catch a falling star with a butterfly net.
His friend smiles wryly as news about deaths of people of their ranking happens too often and many of those cases were done by their own fellow human. It was a grim reminder of the social hierarchy that permeated their world.
"Then why waste time and money?" Kevin asked, his brow furrowed in confusion. "You know those dojos are just looking for warm bodies to fill their ranks. You'd be better off spending your money on… I don't know… a lifetime supply of instant noodles?"
His friend is confused, after all, he knows that Sean isn't stupid. Usually.
"I feel like that the Black Ape Fist is actually in sync with my physique," Sean said, lowering his voice. "When she was performing on stage, I actually feel myself drawn to her series of action. It's like… the technique was calling to me. Or maybe it was just the after-effects of that questionable chicken I had for lunch. I don't know."
"What!?" His friend exclaimed.
He starts looking around and sees that no one is paying attention to them. "Is what you said true!" His friend whispered.
What everyone was looking for a martial art is quality and compatibility. It was like finding the perfect pair of shoes – comfortable, stylish, and capable of kicking some serious butt.
If what Sean had said is true, then, there's a chance that he is compatible with the Black Ape Fist. It was a long shot, but it was a shot nonetheless.
He pats his chest. "Yes, once I reach the Vital Force Realm, I will immediately save enough money to buy one from the pet shop I'm working in. I'll get a Black Ape, train it, and become the ultimate Black Ape Fist master! Or, you know, I'll end up scooping its poop for the rest of my life. Either way, it's a win-win!"
The two of them daydream about their future. Sean imagined himself as a powerful martial artist, wielding the Black Ape Fist with unmatched skill. Kevin imagined himself as Sean's loyal sidekick, providing witty commentary and moral support (and maybe occasionally borrowing some money).
They spent the rest of the class duration on training their martial art.
Students of this world have some free time, after all, the majority of them needs to train and they can't do that if school takes the majority of their time. It was a delicate balance between education and physical prowess, a constant juggling act between textbooks and training dummies.
Sean immediately went to the Pet Shop he's working in.
Following him were his group of buddy.
"I still can't believe that you managed to actually obtain a job here," One of his friend, nicknamed fat Bert, says with envy. "It's like you've got some kind of cheat code for life. What's your secret? Do you have a fairy godmother? Did you make a deal with the devil? Spill the beans, man!"
"Hahaha! Guess that I'm quite lucky!" He brags. "Or maybe it's because I'm just naturally awesome. Yeah, that's probably it."
He then recalls a memory from two months ago, when he saved a little girl from being run over by a car. It was a classic hero moment, straight out of a cheesy action movie.
Turns out the little girl was actually the granddaughter of one of the higher-ups of this pet shop. Talk about a lucky break.
In order to thank him, they offer him different types of rewards, including giving him a mystique creature but he decline and instead asked for a job in their pet shop. He figured a steady paycheck was better than a potentially dangerous pet.
He has been working here for more than a month and his job isn't complex, only a bit tiring. It mostly involved cleaning up after the mystique creatures, which was exactly as glamorous as it sounds.
"Good afternoon, Sean, are you going to clock in?"
A guard wearing a full plated armour asks. He looked like a medieval knight who had accidentally wandered into the 21st century.
Sean nods. "Yes, I might even take miss Priscel job. You know, trade in my poop-scooping duties for a bit of… uh… princess-sitting." He joked.
The guard chuckled and let them in. He'd heard worse jokes from the customers.
The recipient seeing him immediately beams, her smile was so radiant that it made the group of students behind him become dazed. It was like staring directly into the sun, but in a good way.
"Good afternoon, Sean, miss Flowery is already waiting for you."
She is the face of their shop, even though she isn't a true martial artist, her beauty is quite appreciated by both the workers and customers. She was the kind of woman who could sell ice to an Eskimo.
She is actually quite distant most of the time, professional in her conduct, she's only truly ever smile to people she consider friends.
Sean was one of them, unlike everyone else, she treats her with respect not because she was the recipient of this establishment but because of her capabilities. He was one of the few people who didn't treat her like a delicate flower, which she apparently appreciated.
"Good afternoon Dorothy." Sean smiles wryly after hearing her words. "Is she going to make me dress up as a giant monkey again?"
Dorothy chuckles, Flowery is the daughter of the owner of this pet shop. She was basically the princess of the primate kingdom.
She would visit this shop often to play with Sean and the latter would have to spend the entire day playing with her. It was like being a professional babysitter for a tiny, demanding, and occasionally dangerous human being.
He has become an effective caretaker to the point that the owner is willing to increase his wage just because of this. He was basically the Mary Poppins of mystique creatures.
"It seems that I won't be able to guide you guys, I have a very important task at this moment," Sean said to his friends, giving them an apologetic shrug. "Wish me luck. I'm going to need it."
He can only apologize to his buddies and went inside to change. He traded in his school uniform for a pair of sturdy overalls and a pair of rubber boots. It wasn't exactly high fashion, but it was practical.
He passed by a woman with a purple hair, she has a bombshell of a body and exudes a lazy and seductive vibe. She looked like she'd just rolled out of bed, but in a way that was somehow incredibly alluring.
Seeing him, her eyes lights up and she quickly runs him before hugging his body. "Finally! You're here!" She cries pitifully. "I've been waiting all day! Those monkeys are driving me crazy!"
Sean can only stand still while trying to reign in the dragon in his pants. This seductive beauty might look harmless but she is a true martial artist, even a dozen of him would be a far cry match against her. He knew better than to underestimate her.
Seeing her reaction, he immediately knew what happened. Priscel, the shop's resident monkey whisperer, was having a bad day. And when Priscel had a bad day, everyone had a bad day.
"Eh? Big brother!" A young voice appears and a little girl runs up to him and hugs his waist. It was Flowery, the aforementioned princess of the primate kingdom.
This cute little girl is exactly the daughter of the owner of this shop and also the granddaughter of the person that gave him his job. She was basically his boss's boss's granddaughter. The pressure was immense.
"I found a very interesting monkey in the shop," Flowery announced, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "It's got a tail that's longer than my arm and it keeps stealing my snacks!"
Hearing her words, he immediately thought of a mischievous golden monkey that he had been taking extra care of. It was a troublemaker, but it was his troublemaker.
"Miss Priscel, some customers are waiting for you at the entrance," Dorothy said, appearing seemingly out of nowhere. She was like a ninja, always there when you needed her, and always ready with a perfectly timed interruption.
Feeling a hand entering his clothes, he immediately shudder and quickly speaks. He knew that the purple haired girl was reminding him of her predicament. He was her only hope.
The little girl might be a beloved daughter and granddaughter but for the workers here, she's a mischievous imp that causes chaos and headaches. She was basically a tiny, adorable, and incredibly destructive force of nature.
He was the only one that managed to control her destructive behavior and even teaches her some knowledge that he learned from books and school. He was basically her personal tutor, therapist, and punching bag all rolled into one.
That is why he became so popular in this shop. He was the glue that held everything together.
But this also caused some problem, just as they were walking to the enclosure of the interesting monkey she spoke about, they passed through a group of people. They are also workers of this shop but unlike him, they can be considered as Tamer Trainee.
Tamers are considered quite a popular occupation that directly involves study of mystique creatures. They were basically the scientists of the mystique world.
Unfortunately, one needed to have quite a high talent to become a bonafide one. It wasn't enough to just love animals; you had to have a natural affinity for them.
To become a trainee, one must have connections and money. It was a pay-to-win system, basically.
That's why this group of people were smiling with flattery towards Flowery but looks at him with disgust and disdain. They were jealous of his natural talent and his good relationship with both Dorothy and Priscel.
All of them are jealous of his good relationship with both Dorothy and Priscel. They saw him as an outsider, an interloper who had somehow managed to worm his way into their inner circle.
They take their impotent rage on him, causing some minor trouble to him. They'd hide his tools, spread rumors about him, and generally make his life as difficult as possible.
He ignores them as he feels that he would only be caught up with something troublesome. He knew that engaging with them would only make things worse.
The two might have a good relationship with him but that's just as friends and nothing more. He wasn't under any illusions about their feelings for him.
He isn't some sort of self-indulgent person that thinks that all the pretty girls should belong to him. He was a realist, not a delusional romantic.
He's quite clear-headed in this matter as his looks is actually quite ordinary. He wasn't exactly Brad Pitt, but he wasn't Quasimodo either. He was just… average.
"Mischievous monkey, I'm here!" Suddenly, the little girl shouted.
Her voice caused all the mystique creatures inside the large forest-like enclosure to react in panic. It was like a dinner bell for chaos.
Other than the powerful and dangerous mystique creatures, the rest are pranked, experimented and bullied by the little girl. She was basically a tiny, adorable tyrant.
With the protectors prioritizing her safety, they were incapable of getting revenge or even escaping. They were trapped in a never-ending cycle of torment.
Suddenly, amongst the red and brown monkeys, a yellow monkey looks at the little girl with trepidation as it was trembling in fear. It was the golden monkey he'd been taking care of, and it looked like it had seen a ghost.
Seeing this, Sean chuckles.
He remember this monkey, it was one of the new mystique creatures in this shop, it's also one of the troublemakers amongst the mystique creatures. It was basically the Dennis the Menace of the monkey world.
He had given extra care to it because it was quite obedient to him after he beat it up. He quickly rephrased that thought in his mind. He had given extra care to it because it responded well to positive reinforcement.
Now that it had evolved into becoming a bonafide mystique creature, he's no longer a match for it. At least, not without a weapon.
"Grab that monkey!" Flowery shouted as one of the martial artists guarding the enclosure approaches. The guard looked like he was regretting every life choice that had led him to this moment.
"Wait for a minute, let me talk to it, the two of us are going to perform for our little princess," Sean said, flashing his most charming smile. "We're going to do the monkey dance! It's a real crowd-pleaser."
He chuckles as he rubs her head and approaches the yellow monkey. He was basically a walking, talking distraction.
Seeing the guard stop and him approaching, the monkey was relieved. It knew that Sean was its only hope.
It then jumps into his shoulder and starts screeching as it points at Flowery, looking quite aggrieved. It was basically telling Sean, "Save me from this tiny terror!"
Sean can't help but laugh out loud seeing it's antics, he rubs it's head. "Don't worry, little guy. I'll protect you. Just try not to bite anyone, okay?"
Suddenly a series of notification in front of him. He blinked, wondering if he was hallucinating from exhaustion.
[A mystique creature has reached the minimum affinity towards the host.]
[Spiritual Tamer template can now be unlocked. Requirement; Sign a contract with a mystique creature.]
[Gluttonous Monkey has enough affinity to sign a contract, proceed?]
Reading this, he had to take a deep breath to calm himself down. This was it. This was his chance to finally make something of himself in this crazy world.
He smiles at Flowery and then claps his hand. "Let us do the monkey dance!"
He shouts before dancing in a funny manner. He started doing a ridiculous jig, flailing his arms and legs like a puppet on strings.
In sync with him was the yellow monkey, the two of them are dancing in front of the other monkeys, the guard and Flowery. It was a bizarre and hilarious spectacle.
The little girl starts giggling but she is drawn on just how in sync they are. She'd never seen anything so silly in her life.
"The two of you really deserves each other, why don't I ask mom to give you this mischievous fellow?" Flowery said, clapping her hands with delight. "You'd be the perfect team!"
Hearing this, he hesitated, this is the first time that he was tempted to agree with her ridiculous gift. He'd always resisted her attempts to shower him with presents, but this was different. This was a chance to change his destiny.
"I concur, I think that this little fellow is perfect for you," Suddenly, a woman with a pair of large bosom walks inside. She exuded an aura of power and confidence that made everyone around her stand a little straighter.
"Greetings, Lady Flower!" Both him and the guard bows their heads. It was Lady Flower, the owner of the pet shop and Flowery's mother. She was basically the queen of the primate kingdom.
She waves her hand, signalling the two to raise their head. "You may leave."
The guard immediately went outside, her orders are absolute in this shop. No one dared to disobey Lady Flower.
"I agree with my daughter, this little fellow is now yours," She gave him a mystique creature without any care. It was like giving away a spare keychain.
For someone of her status, such a low ranking mystique creature isn't worth that much. She could buy a hundred of them without even blinking an eye.
In fact, even if Sean request for a rarer mystique creature, she is high likely to agree. She was known for her generosity, especially towards those she liked.