Wild Guardian: Issue 1 Chapter 5
By: jungleboy69

Chapter 5: Dodgeball


“RRRRRIIIIINNNNNGGGGG!!!!!!” the bell rang and the students went over and sat down on the bleachers. Suddenly, the floor began to tremble and the coach, a large burly, muscular man appears. Max was astounded by the mere size and strength the man.


“ATTENTION, CADETS!” commanded the coach. “FALL IN!” All the students came forward. “Listen up, troops!” he began “The name’s Fist! Coach Fist! And Coach Fist doesn’t want to hear any crying or cheering unless I say so!” With that, he whipped out a large, rubber ball. “DOGDEBALL TIME!”


“Oh d-d-d-dear.” Whimpered Bean. “Uh sir, can I drop out? I don’t like such games that involved getting hit.” “Oh, you want to drop out, little bean-bag?” asked Fist sarcastically. “Well, too bad!” he yelled “You’re in Coach Fist’s class now! And Couch Fist does not like fraidy-cats!”


“Mother..” Bean whimpered again. “For that, you get to be the first volunteer in today’s lesson.” “HIT THE SHRIMP, BOYS!” Poor Bean turned pale while all the other students shook their heads at Bean’s fate.


With that, a round of dodgeball begins, with Bean running around in panic, frantically trying to avoid getting hit by the balls.


“Come on, cuz!” encouraged Mikey. “You always want to get stronger, right?” “Mikey’s right, Bean!” added Jenny. “It’s great exercise.”


“Yeah!” answered Bean “I want to get stronger, but not like this!” Sadly, poor Bean kept on getting hit on the chest, rear, stomach but worst of all, the crotch.


Coach Fist walked over to Bean, who was lying on the floor, groaning in pain. Shaking his head, Coach Fist exclaimed. “Fist’s seen London. Fist’s seen France.” “BUT, COACH FIST’S JUST SEEN YOUR UNDERPANTS! GIVE ME 20 LAPS, ON THE DOUBLE!” “Yes, sir!” said Bean, in fright before running around the gym.


Meanwhile, Jake was in a one on one match with David, the latter throwing dodgeballs at Jake but he was able to dodge them with ease. “Not bad, Jakey” David smiled. “You’ve got skill.”


“Thanks, bro.” smirked Jake. “But, I’ve got more tricks up my sleeves” “Oh really?” With that, David threw two balls at him, only for Jake to dodge them. “Ha! You missed!” Jake pulled a raspberry, only for one of the balls to bounce from a wall and conked him on the head, knocking him out of the game.


“Yep, still got it.” David laughed, before he got struck in the stomach by a ball, courtesy of Jenny. “Sorry, David, but he who laughs first, laughs last!” laughed Jenny, with a coy smile. “Hey, Jen!” the latter turned to see Bruce. “Surprise!” he cried, before throwing a ball at her.


“Uh oh!” Jenny cursed, fortunately for her, Max ran in and shoved her out of the way. “Jenny, are you alright?” Max asked. Jenny was so amazed at Max’s speed and she noticed his bright blue eyes, causing her cheeks to turn slightly red. “Yeah, I’m alright.” She said while blushing.


For Max’s case, he was able to dodge the balls with ease while grabbing some and throwing back at the other students, carrying one as a shield.


The game went on, until only Max was left with Shun and Louis, while the other students watched from the stand.


“Looks like you’re the only one left.” Sneered Shun. “We’ve got you now! You might as well give up!” added Louis with a smug grin. “Bring it on!” Max cried out.


“You can do it, Max!” cheered Jenny. “Yeah!” Mikey cheered as well. “Show em what you’re made off!”


Bruce threw a ball at Max and nearly got him if Max hadn’t jumped out of the way. Max grabbed another ball and threw it back at him only for Louis to block him with other balls. “You don’t stand a chance against us.” Taunted Louis. “We’re the best jocks in the entire school.”


Max reached for another ball, before he realized he was all out. “Uh oh” Max whimpered before Shun and Louis lobbed more balls at him. Max narrowly missed them all, with one ball touching by the hair.


“This is hopeless” thought Max “It’s two against one, and there’re both stronger than me. How can I top that?” Suddenly, he remembered an experience that he witnessed in the jungle, when he was much younger.


(Flashback)

A 5 year old Max, wearing nothing but a loincloth, running through the jungle on all fours, while laughing all the way. “Ooh ooh aah aah!” the monkeys screeched above and multi coloured parrots flew overhead. Max paused and happily waved at them.


“Grummble!” Max looked down at his stomach. He was starting to get hungry. He looked up at the trees, hoping to find any fruits or nut trees. He sniffed the air, hoping to catch the scent of a small creature he could hunt. “Rustle” the rustling of bushes caught his attention.


Max brought out his hunting knife, before a brown rat scampered out of the undergrowth. Max’s blue eyes turned gold and licked his lips. “Rrrowww!” he growled, like a panther cub, and pounced at it, only for the rat to scamper away, before he could catch it.


Max followed the rat’s scent and could hear it scampering in the bushes. He could almost taste the delicious tibit in his mouth. Soon, the scent got stronger and he quickened his steps, hoping to catch it.


Finally, he caught it at a small clearing. He was just about to pounce when, “Hisssss-sssssss~~~”, his sharp ears picked up a low hissing sound. Max looked up in fright and frantically looked around. Then, he saw it, thanks to his sharp vision.


Coiled in the leaf litter was a big black snake, and not just any snake, a cobra. Max’s eyes widened, he knew cobras were one the most dangerous of all the jungle’s creatures due to their toxic venom. However, he also knew that cobras, like all creatures, should be respected.


The cobra stayed absolutely still, watching the rat sniffing around. Slowly, the rat took a few small steps forward, unaware of the danger it was in. Closer and closer it got until, it was merely inches from the serpent. Seeing it’s chance, the serpent struck, the poor rat didn’t knew what hit it. It tried to scamper away, but soon it started to slow and went limp.


Max could only watch in shocked silence as the cobra uncoiled itself and slithered towards it’s lunch. He took a small step forward. All at once, the serpent turned towards his direction, it’s head raised and hood spread. Max froze, knowing any sudden movement would mean his death. He watched the cobra sway it’s head from side to side slowly, staring at him with black coal eyes.


Suddenly, it opened its mouth, revealing two sharp and poisonous fangs and a forked tongue licking out. Max didn’t dare move a muscle, he hardly even dared to breathe. They stared into each other's eyes. “Hissss-ssssss…” Max quietly spoke, remembering the language of the snakes, meaning the cobra no harm. Immediately, the cobra lowered it’s hood and bowed it’s head slightly before turning back to its meal.


Max immediately turned and ran in the other direction, instantly forgetting about his hunger. He had witnessed first-hand, the power of one of the greatest hunters in the jungle. The image of the cobra swaying it’s head with its hood raised was still fresh in his mind. It was one experience he would never forget.

(Flashback end…)


“Go with the flow” Max thought before taking a deep breath. “Be as calm as a serpent” he thought as he felt more relaxed and stable.


“What’s he doing?” asked Bean, confused at Max’s behaviour. “I don’t know” said Jenny, who was also confused. “He’s a lot calmer now.” “That’s what they say about cobras before they strike.” Jake pointed out. Unknown to him, Max heard his comment and smiled.


Shun threw a ball at Max, but the latter ducked his head down and dodged side to side. “Get him!” shouted Louis, as he and Shun threw more balls at Max, who slowly but skillfully dodged him and kept a clear mind, until he saw an opening. As Louis threw another ball, Max dodged to the side before throwing a ball straight at his knee.


“You’re out!” Coach Fist exclaimed. “Hey, no fair!” argued Louis. “He cheated!”, much to Max’s annoyance and his friends anger. "Yeah!" shouted Harold. "No one can do that technique!" “Coach Fist didn’t see any cheating! Now, take a seat or it’s 50 laps for the both of you!” warned Coach Fist. Louis and Harold scowled at Max before the former walked to the bleachers


“You just got lucky, jungle savage.” Growled Shun. “Now, it’s just you and me.” With that, he threw some balls in the air, did several spin kicks and kicked the balls at Max, who managed to narrowly dodge them, while blocking most of them with two balls he used as shields. Shun started to get tired and impatient. “You just don’t give up, do you?!” he yelled.


In reply, Max glared at him, much to Shun’s surprise. “You know something…” he growled. “There’s a lot of thing you don’t know about me, such as this.” Unknown to him, Max’s blue eyes turned bright gold and his pupils dilated, like a wild animal. Shun’s eyes widened in shock at the sight.


All of a sudden, Max jumped in the air and to the shock of everyone, he ripped off his sports singlet, exposing his bare muscular chest. Everyone gasped, while Jenny in particular, stared in wonder at Max’s chest, with a bright blush in her cheeks. What got everyone’s attention was the strange totem around his neck.


Max dropped on all fours before standing up right, cracking his knuckles. “Come on” he taunted, his eyes seemed to be glowing. “Hit me with your best shot.”


Shun snapped out of his stupor and hurled one last ball at him, who, much to everyone’s amazement, caught it. Suddenly, in his subconscious state, Max spun like a tornado and launched the dodgeball straight at him. Shun tried to block it but it was so strong that it sent him launching back and crashed into the bleaches.


Louis ran to his side “Shun, are you alright?!” he asked worriedly, helping him up. “Urgh, my head…” Shun groaned, clutching the side of his head.


Max’s friends gathered around him. “Dude, that was amazing!” exclaimed Jake. “Yeah, you’re like a goddamn beast!” added David. Max shook his head and his eyes returned to normal. “Uh, what happened?” he asked.


“What happened?” “What happened?!” Bean asked in disbelief “You just kicked the snot out of Shun, that’s what happened!” “Yeah, it was incredible!” added Mikey. Max was astonished to see some of the bleached damaged and Shun looking as if he had been run over by a car. “How did I do that?” he wondered


“Max….” Jenny said. Max turned to see Jenny staring at him, her eyes wide and cheeks red. “I can see your…” Max blinked before looking at his bare chest. “Oh…” All of Max’s friends turned their attention to Max’s chest, more notably the huge scar. “Woah” whispered Mikey in amazement.


“Dude, how’ve you get that scar?” Before Max could answer, Coach Fist blew his whistle and all of the students gathered in single file. “Well, troops! From today’s performance, Coach’s Fist seen better!” “However, on the bright side, Coach’s Fist seen some great potentials in some of you!” He continued, eying at Max, David, Mikey, Jake and some others.


“That’s all for today, troops! Gym dismissed!” Everyone went to the changing rooms, Max’s friends gathered around him again. “Dude, I didn’t realise how strong you are!” Bean said excitedly. “Yeah, you’re really strong.” Added Jenny, with a blush “Especially, with that scar.”


“Thanks guys.” Max smiled. This day was getting better and better. However, he was secretly worried. He didn’t know what happened to him with Shun and was a little confused that he couldn’t remember.

Little did he know, Harold was watching Max from a distance. He too was shocked by Max's skills but for some strange reason, it bothered him greatly and felt a strong sense of jealously inside him.