Chapter 40 Layla vs Eric[Part-1]
This was the second day of me practicing my shooting. Right now, Eric was standing in front of me about two hundred yards away, positioned before a large cardboard dummy with a target mark on its forehead.
Standing beside me was Professor Claude, grinning from ear to ear. After learning about my upcoming gun duel from someone in the clan, he crawled out of his basement and began assisting with my training.
“Hit the target. If you miss, he dies,” the professor said with a smirk, pointing at Eric.
“B-But I’m using an old, rusty Glock!” I protested. Professor Claude refused to let me use any of his weapons and only allowed me to train with this rusty Glock. Hitting a target from this distance was practically impossible.
“I didn’t train you to become a pussy, Layla! You used to hit targets from even farther away!” the professor said in an annoyed tone, rubbing his forehead. He was right. The old me was skilled—bred to kill. Everything changed after Rudy stabbed me back then.
Now that I think about it, I shouldn’t be lax like before. There might not be a second chance this time. It’s time to stop giving a fuck. I need to focus.
I let out a long breath and steadied my mind.
“Yes! That’s the spirit! My old Layla is finally coming back!” Professor Claude exclaimed, giggling like a child when he saw my resolved expression.
“B-Boss, please don’t miss. I have a family back home. I love my daughter,” Eric said through the earpiece connected to mine. I could almost hear his heartbeat and the silent prayers he was making. Since Professor Claude ordered him to stand in front of the target, he didn’t dare refute it.
Professor Claude was a huge figure within the clan.
I stretched my arm, raising it high, closed one eye, and heaved heavily as I squeezed the trigger.
BANG!
The bullet shot out of the muzzle, the recoil shaking me slightly. When I looked closely, I realized I had hit the target, dead center.
“I knew you could do it! My baby girl is back!” Professor Claude pumped his fists like a kid, and I couldn’t help but laugh.
Feeling my confidence returning, I raised the gun again.
BANG!
BANG!
BANG!
BANG!
I fired in quick succession, and every bullet hit its mark.
“I knew it! You didn’t lose your edge!” Professor Claude grinned, almost tearing up with joy, causing Anna, standing behind me to chuckle at his reaction.
Eric began walking toward us, and as he got closer, I noticed his face was flushed red, tears streaming down his cheeks and mucus dripping from his nose. He dropped to his knees in front of me, crying like a baby.
“I—I thought I was going to die, boss! Did you really have to shoot four more times? I wasn’t expecting that! My life was literally on the line!” Eric cried out, tears pouring as everyone burst into laughter.
“Come on, boy. Don’t be a pussy. The bullets aren’t even real. If one hit you, the worst you’d get is a flesh wound. You’re a Mafia member, you should know you can die any fucking time. Don’t be a cunt, son,” Professor Claude said, patting Eric’s shoulder before grabbing his hand and helping him up.
Eric’s face flushed with embarrassment as he scratched the back of his head, realizing the bullets weren’t real. A silly smile replaced his earlier panic.
“Layla, since you’ve passed the first phase, I want to test something else. I want to test your combat capability. Even though it may not be used in the duel, you never know what might happen. I want you to face Eric—no weapons. And Eric, I want you to go all out,” Professor Claude said, turning to Eric with a smirk after addressing me.
“Professor! How do you expect me to fight without weapons or tech against a Quirk user?” I protested, wondering what the old man was planning this time.
“Don’t get mad at this old man, Layla. It’s for your own good. You’ve been losing your touch, and I was right all along. I promised your father I’d pass all my knowledge and experience to you. You don’t want to know how many Quirk users have died by these hands, the hands of a Quirkless monkey,” Professor Claude said, staring at his wrinkled palms with a nostalgic smile.
A chill crawled up my spine, reminding me how dangerous Professor Claude truly was, dangerous enough to be acknowledged by my father as a formidable opponent. Even though I’d never seen him fight, my father had told me countless times how feared Claude was in his prime.
“So… am I the guinea pig today?” Eric muttered, his face twisting like he was about to cry again.
“Sorry, lad. You’re just the perfect pig to sharpen Layla’s touch,” Professor Claude replied as he stepped back, signaling the start of the spar.
I moved backward, not too far. When dealing with Quirk users, especially those with assault-type abilities like fire manipulation, it was best not to stay too close or too far.
“Begin!” Professor Claude’s voice rang out, and without giving me a moment to breathe, Eric thrust both palms forward. A burst of fire shot out like a flamethrower, nearly hitting my face, but I rolled to the side just in time.
Damn. He’s really going all out.