Chapter 5: Year 1: Training

- Five Years Later -

Takashi was running from zombies... He had failed. Botched it.

(A/N: Just Kidding :D Anyways, enjoy (◍•ᴗ•◍))

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"-it goes Reggie, Jay-Z, 2Pac and Biggie~ Andre from OutKast, Jada, Kurupt, Nas and then me~"

"97!"

"But in this industry, I'm the cause of a lot of envy~ So when I'm not put on this list, the shit does not offend me~"

"98!"

"That's why you see me walk 'round like nothing's bothering me~ Even though half you people got a fuckin' problem with me~"

"99!"

"You hate it but you know the respect you got to give me~ The press's wet dream like Bobby and Whitney, Nate, hit me~"

"100!"

"'Till the roof comes off, 'till the lights go out~ 'Till my legs give out, can't shut my mouth~

"Phew~ Finally!" A shirtless sweaty Takashi exclaimed as he got up dropping the heavy truck tire off his back. Standing in the middle of a mostly empty field, he walked towards the lone tree and settled himself against its trunk, resting his sore and aching muscles as he downed a bottle of water in large gulps. 

"'Till the smoke clears out, am I high? Perhaps~ I'ma rip this shit, 'till my bone collapse-" Turning the speaker off, Takashi smirked to himself in satisfaction as he felt his body starting to recover from the fatigue already. 

It has been six months since Takashi came to this world and started training for the future and four months since he took the second dose of the Refined Melange Stim and began his advanced training and so far everything has been going smooth for him. 

"Alright, then let's move on to the next part." Takashi muttered to himself as he stored the tire and the weights in his inventory. 

In six months Takashi has changed a lot. He was almost a head taller and his physique was a lot more robust compared to his peers. A lot of this development was thanks to the Stim. Besides physical and weight training, Takashi had enrolled into a Mix Martial Arts dojo but dropped out shortly after realising that physically he was too strong for anybody in his age group and those that could put up a decent fight against him were his seniors. He quit after he had acquired most of the skills that he wanted and decided to train on his own with help from his system. 

[Advance Training Dummy x 1 :

Created by an alien race called Sybrokiens, as the name suggests, it's a dummy. Advance, humanoid and mobile. Not only can it take a beating but it can also dish it back according to its settings; Idle, Mobile, Normal, Aggressive, Hunter, Lethal, Doom and Post-Doom. The ATD has a vast built-in training database that can be utilised to learn and train in all sorts of combat styles through practice and practical combat.

Note: Avoid the last three difficulty settings unless you are ready and willing to lose your life.]

Looking at the plain pale white, featureless humanoid dummy machine in front of him, Takashi was baffled when he saw the price that System demanded. But after reading the description and using it for almost three months, Takashi admitted that the half-a-million MP were well spent and could even be considered an easy bargain.

The simple-looking dummy was exactly as and more than how the system described it as. But what the system didn't describe was-

"Hello, shrimp." A monotonous robotic voice greeted Takashi as he already felt his blood boiling. "I hope you aren't going to pussy out and select Mobile again."

-that the dummy could talk and that it had a potty mouth.

"No, John." Takashi replied with a strained smile. "I'm choosing normal today."

(A/N: Let's be clear, the ATD while capable of expressing basic human such as fear, anger, serenity, etc as part of its analytic process doesn't have a conscious of its own. And while it loosely has free will, it's extremely limited and that to revolving around combat. For the sake of simplicity let's call it John.)

"Tch." Takashi was baffled as the faceless robot somehow managed to click his tongue. "I suppose. After all, it's fitting for a normie like you."

"Haha, I'm so gonna enjoy this day." Takashi replied cracking his knuckles. 

"We will be continuing where we left off yesterday. Arms up, bring them up enough so that you can see the attacks coming and guard your face." John instructed as Takashi followed. "Stay on your toes, attack with palm and deflected using your forearm and elbows as well as shins and knees. The setting is set to normal, what are the rules and winning conditions?"

"Strictly non-lethal blows to the upper body and grapples. The first one with his back against the ground loses."

"Roger. Are you ready?"

"Begin."

"Go!" 

The two approached each other with visible caution and as soon as they were within the sticking distance, John threw a straight jab which Takashi avoided leaning back, but what he did not expect was a spinning kick that followed out of nowhere. 

Still managing to react fast, Takashi brought his hand up and blocked the blow feeling his arms ache from the impact. Quickly wrapping his hands around the extended thigh, Takashi tried to trip him quickly but John proved to be an intelligent dummy as he lifted his free leg and kicked Takashi in the chest. 

Takashi let go of his leg stumbling back as John landed on his feet with a back flip.

"1-0. Clean hit." John boasted bringing his hands up in an orthodox stance as Takashi smirked, switching into a southpaw stance.

"No need to be so smug about it, no-face." Takashi said as he bobbed under a jab and weaved, sidestepping a hook, before he elbowed John in the chin after getting inside his guard. 

John quickly retaliated with a punch to the gut which Takashi was unable to dodge. Instead of pulling back, Takashi gritted through the pain and pushed John back with a palm strike. 

John rattled stepping back but Takashi was ready to capitalise on the retreat as landed a quick low kick at Johns's right knee rocking his balance, instead of bringing his left leg back he went from another strike. 

John covered his side to block the blow but Takashi simply tapped it before landing a kick to the right side of his face. John quickly ran backwards but Takashi pursued. 

Sensing and opening, John threw out a right haymaker exposing his left side completely and this is what Takashi was looking for. Stepping in Takashi spun to his left on his heel before raising his legs and landed a powerful spinning kick to John's face that upon contact hit like a thunderbolt. 

Takashi breathed out regaining his balance while John fell to the ground on his sides. 

"2-4. A perfect palm strike, a good follow-up combo. I'm impressed." John said getting up as Takashi resumed his stance and so did John. "But it isn't over yet."

"Of course, it isn't." Takashi smirked as he struck with an ugly overhead that connected with John's face. But John was ready this time as he pulled a step back, he lashed out with a right hook which connected with a devastating impact. 

The bout continued for an hour straight and by the time it was over, Takashi was on his back leaning and protecting his face as John lashed out with a body blow. 

"F-Fuck!" Takashi cursed in pain, as he felt his ribs almost crack. Breathing heavily, he still managed to smile through the pain as John became idle once again. 

"Training session over. Analysing data obtained... Determining results." John said in a monotonous voice as Takashi sat up groaning. "You did 3.6% better than yesterday. While it's not comparable to your first few days it's still acceptable. Though I believe your progress would be stagnant in a few months."

"Well, what do you suggest?"

"I suggest that we have you switch between different styles for a week each. With your comprehensive ability, you should be able to learn the basics in four days and most of the advance in three. I'll analyse which part you excel at and have you perfect it." John said as Takashi hummed scratching his chin. "This way in three years you'll have a fighting style tailor-made for you. The styles will also include armed combat. I recommend you prepare a shooting range or something similar to train your marksmanship."

"Alright. Goodnight, John." Takashi replied as he turned John off and stored him in his inventory. Takashi sighed in satisfaction as he looked up at the rising sun. The gentle morning breeze brushed past his swear-drenched skin, providing him with a momentary chill. 

Shaking his head, he put on his shirt and started running back home after cleaning up his busted face. Takashi took in the sight of the waking as he ran from the fields on the outskirts of the town. 

Neatly dressed men were ushered into public buses. Middle schoolers climb into their school bus chatting with their friends. Vegetable vendors set up their shops with bright smiles hoping for a good day. Stray dogs patrolling the alleys, stealing bread, cats curled up sleeping over the shop's roof. 

Life appeared hectic but somewhere in there, somehow there was a touch of serenity. 

A plead, a prayer for tranquillity and peace. 

But alas, this prayer wouldn't be answered. 

Takashi narrowed his eyes as he looked at the billboard with the red and white logo he was so familiar with. 

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Umbrella Pharmaceutical. 

It was exactly as Takashi had feared, the end of the world as they knew was already in plan and there was no stopping it. 

Takashi initially had thought that if he was able to train and gain power quickly, we would be able to stop Umbrella from releasing the T-Virus by foiling their plans prematurely. 

But always, it was already too late by the time he had arrived and it wasn't just Umbrella.

During Takashi's research, he found out that GRE was contracted by the American government to create a bio-weapon from an alien sample they had acquired. The research took place in Harran, a town in Turkey and just like first Dying Light, things went sideways but this time due to an accident. 

The internet was cut off, and all sorts of communications were barred by the American and Turkish governments who did their best to isolate the incident. Needless to say, it didn't work out too well and they had to bomb the city to kingdom come. 

The Harran incident took place over three years ago, since then the American government decommissioned GRE were blaming them and a group of 'terrorists' for the bombing incident. And Takashi wasn't surprised to find out that among the group of terrorists were Kyle Crane and Jade Aldemir being held in a maximum security prison in Istanbul, Turkey.

The remainder of the GRE is standing on their last legs fighting a losing battle against Umbrella Pharmaceutical which has taken over the pharmaceutical industry all over the world after being contracted by the American government for what Takashi assumed was to continue the research.

In what seemed like an awful coincidence, the heiress of the GRE Foundation happened to be his mother's childhood friend and she was coming over to meet them in a week or so.

There were a lot of ideas swirling inside Takashi's head but none seemed more plausible than-

"Fighting fire with fire."

To stand a chance at survival, he would inevitably have to stand against Umbrella and to stand against Umbrella he would need his own behemoth to back him up. 

GRE as it is right now nothing of its former shell, all of their HQs and plants were shut down except for one in Syberia. They were really weak as of now.

Weak, but not defeated. 

Takashi believed that he could help GRE, and invest in it but for him to do that he would have to convince the heiress first. 

Camilla Mitsubishi. 

"I'm home, mom." Takashi greeted as he closed the door behind him. 

"Takashi! You are back-your face! Again?!" Raya exclaimed in worry as Takashi just chuckled. Placing his boots into the shoe rack, Takashi kissed her on the cheek. 

In six months, Takashi had grown close with his mother. After talking their issues out, they managed to patch up their relationship. Raya had already apologized but she felt that it wasn't enough. After months of slow healing, both of them had a healthy relationship with each other.

"'Tis but a scratch." Takashi grinned replying in English as Raya frowned in worry. "Don't worry, mum. Just training."

"Are you sure?"

"Yep-"

"Did you pick a fight with someone on your way home?!"

"What? No-"

"*Gasp!* Did someone pick a fight with you?!"

"Mom! Just calm down." Takashi chuckled as he patted her cheeks. "Just relax. Trust me, it's just a small graze. I'll be better in no time."

"But... Well, hah... Alright. You need to be careful though!"

"I know. I'll try." Takashi smiled as Raya nodded. "I'll go take bath and get ready for school."

"Okay, honey. I'll set up the tables in the meanwhile." Raya nodded. "Also, you have to let me know if someone in your school tries to pick a fight with you or bullies you!"

"Nobody can bully me, mom, you already know that."

Takashi replied with a smirk and true to his words, nobody wanted to beef with him. Past six months if Takashi was known for anything besides his radical transformation from a nerdy, lanky kid to a strong, robust teen was his no-shit delinquent attitude. 

There were multiple occasions of Takashi beating up other kids who tried to strong-arm him often hospitalizing them but strangely he was always able to get away with it. 

Even when the school board investigated him, they could gather no evidence or procure any witness that would point toward Takashi's involvement in the beatdown. 

Instead, Takashi would have pictures and audio recordings to not only prove his innocence but also flip the whole matter back onto the one he beat up. 

No one could one-up him. On rare occasions, there were eyewitnesses, they wouldn't dare speak up against Takashi. 

The rumours surrounding him that hinted at his involvement with the Yakuza added more to the dear factor but it also brought him unwanted attention. 

So much so that Rei's father had to come to his school and meet with him personally. Their conversation wasn't civil, to say the least, and the senior officer left the room fuming. 

This incident strained Takashi and Rei's relationship further but Takashi could give one less fuck about it. He had a different and more important matter to worry about. 

Takashi nodded at the burly thug-looking men patrolling the streets as they subtly nodded back at him. Takashi's involvement with the Yakuza was nothing short of pure luck. Takashi had beaten up a guy from the Sawamura group who had tried to mug him.  

When their chief sent a few thugs to get revenge on Takashi, the teenager sent them to the hospital after breaking their hands. Instead of getting shot down, Takashi was invited to the Sawamura estate by cheif who expressed her interest in Takashi. Takashi of course joined the Yakuza, mainly for his protection but only partially, running various errands for Haruna Sawamura where he quickly made a name for himself.

(A/N: Bro, basically has been doing a lot of side quests. And yes, 'Sawamura' is a nod towards the Yakuza Video Game series. Though no original character will be included for the sake of simplicity.)

The street cred helped Takashi better than he had expected. Apparent by the fear in the eyes of his classmate which will never not be priceless to him. An audible hush settled in the classroom as the door slid open and Takashi set his foot in. He was fifteen minutes early like always, walking towards the far end corner as the crowd parted making way for him.  

Settling himself in the corner he set his head down, as the crowd continued with the chatter but in whispers this time. Takashi rested his body, ignoring the gossip before he was awakened by a tap on his shoulder. 

"Goodmorning, s-senior!" Kohta greeted Takashi with an enthusiastic smile. Takashi smiled back as he looked from his seat and waved at the boy. 

"Yo, gunner." Takashi greeted Kohta with a nickname he came up with considering the chubby kid's unhealthy obsession with the said weapons. "Hamado, I'm borrowing your seat."

"Hey-Ek! Yes! Please."

"Sit, Kohta." Takashi gestured as Kohta sat with a wry smile. 

Takashi's relationship with Kohta was one of a doting older brother and a kind younger brother. Kohta looked up to Takashi ever since he saved him from being bullied and especially when he stood up against Shido for his sake.

"Yesterday was super fun! Thank you for allowing me to play at your house!" Kohta thanked him as Takashi just waved it off. "I'm sorry even though you had errands to run I sat there playing for hours! I'm sorry it was really insensitive-"

"Relax, buddy. It doesn't bother me." Takashi just shrugged. "Anyways, so today..."

Takashi and Kohta chatted quietly about various things, games, girls, cracking jokes and so on before their quiet conversation was halted by a new arrival. 

"-man, I wish I was a badass like Big Boss, Snake-"

"Takashi, there you are!" A bratty, mildly obnoxious voice interrupted their conversation. Takashi smiled to himself as he turned toward the source of the voice. 

"Hello, Saya." Takashi waved at Saya, who just crossed her arms with an annoyed look on her face. "How was America?"

"Hello, Saya my ass!" Saya retorted back in English as Takashi's smile widened. "Hmph! It has been a year almost and the only thing I get from you is a lousy letter and a missed call?! Don't you have something to say to me-"

"I missed you, Saya." Takashi replied with an earnest smile as Saya froze up in her place. Her face lit up with a light blush as Takashi spread his arms. 

"Will a hug do for an apology?" 

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