Episode 3

**How in the World Does That Thing Pass As an Elbow Guard?** (あんなので, まだ肘当てって言えんの?, *Anna no de, Mada Hijiatette Ien no?*) is the 3rd episode of *Levius*.

## Characters

* Bill Weinberg
* Zacks Cromwell
* Malcolm Eden
* Natalia Garnet
* Levius Cromwell
* Floyd Anderson
* Dr. Clown

## Synopsis

Malcolm Eden's last five bouts have all ended in his opponent's death. Zacks pleads with Levius to forfeit the upcoming fight, but Levius refuses.

## Summary

Zacks calls everyone and projects Malcolm's last fight. They see he breaking the rules multiple times, and Zacks explains that all five opponents he fought since his demotion to G3, ended up dead. Because of that, most of his opponents decline to fight him and Zacks expects they do the same, but Levius states he will fight him and train harder. Zacks refuses to let him fight, but knowing that Levius never listened to him and Levius telling him, he can do it with Zacks on his side, Zacks agrees for Levius to fight.

They start to look into Malcolm's gear and analyze it, along with his weaknesses and try forming a strategy for the fight. Natalia comments the fight will be over long before they realize they strategy and shows a quick street fighting in which she easily would have knocked Levius. Knowing that Malcolm will fight dirty, Zacks tells Natalia to spar with Levius using street fighting. Natalia easily overwhelms Levius in the fight and Zacks stop it, asking her to be in their corner for the fight and only after Levius requests it too, Natalia blushes and agrees. But to become a cornerman, she needs to pass an exam, so Bill starts teaching her the rules of metal boxing. He starts with how they discovered "water" that combined with blood, creates steam that can be controlled at the person's will. The metal boxing started as underground illegal gambling entertainment, but soon became popular and official. Since then there are more than 25000 fighter divided in ranks from G1 to G5 grade. Natalia was getting bored and sleepy, but she comments that the war happened because of the countries fighting for that water and Bill continues to explain the reasons and the events of that war, but as he sees Natalia had fallen asleep, he ends the lecture.

Zacks and Bill talk about the past and how Zacks had to retire for his eye condition, but thanks to that he avoided being drafted for the war, unlike his brother who volunteered and died in the war. Bill realizes that Zacks feels responsible for not stopping his brother, and tries to tell him to not blame himself, as even if he stopped him, he would have likely been drafted. Levius continues to train and spar with Natalia and in the end manages to overwhelm her at her street fighting.

On the day of the match, after the mandatory checkups, Malcolm tells Levius that the fights aren't games and using them as practice is insult to his opponent. Stepping on the ring moments before the fight, Malcolm tells Levius he will give him the honor of dying while fighting. The fight starts with Malcolm trying a cheap shot, but Levius avoids it. Malcolm continues to use dirty tricks and eventually manages to land his elbow trick, knocking Levius on the ground.