Hatsu had his doubts, just like Sam and (probably) the others. But for him, impending battles with superior opponents had been an everyday thing for years, and running wasn't always an option. You either fought and survived, or you died trying: that was just a fact to him. And he'd seen countless street rats like himself fall to a knife or a gun. But at least their deaths were quicker than the ones who starved or caught ill.<br/><br/>"We can beat him," he said with somewhat irrational confidence. "I've seen underdogs win life-or-death fights; it can be done. But we need every advantage we can get. That starts with exploiting our strengths and his weaknesses. Instead of worrying ourselves sick over the chance of failure, we should focus on how we can win. That's why we're here, recovering after facing our first challenge."<br/><br/>----------------------<br/><br/>Vaan thought he was going to cry when Merle started talking and moving a bit again. "Woah! Careful," he said softly when she tried to sit up and failed. "You lost a lot of blood. You'll be weak for a while." The ex-silencer frowned a bit at her next question. "You're alive because now we know how bad the Reverend sucks ass." He paused a moment before continuing more seriously. "I got a little help from that hero group Death's leading. We patched you up."<span style="font-style: italic">"For a price,"</span>Abaddon muttered in his head. Vaan knew something had clicked in his brain from forcing himself to use a dangerous technique he wasn't ready for, but he didn't know what, and he didn't know if it had clicked into or out of place. "Your body will be fine, but you have to rest until all your blood regenerates."