*Boom!*

Luka crashed into Hina who moved to catch her.

“Ugh….You're heavy.”

“No, I'm not!”

She pointed at the person who sent her flying.

“Anyone would feel heavy if you were hit by that thing!”

She pointed at Aeon who was spinning a racket.

“Come on. We've been going at it for months and you guys haven't touched me since.”

He pointed the racket at them.

“Just to be clear, I won't let you out until you can make me bleed.”

The two of them frowned when they heard that.

Six months ago, shortly after Miko left for the Dragna Clan, this man Aeon appeared out of nowhere.

He made contact with Ace first and promised to teach him how to use [Boost Player] to the limit.

He then trapped Ace inside his [Time Palace] and made him fight against himself.

He then left Ace, appeared in front of Hina and Sora, and basically kidnapped them and threw them in the [Time Palace] as well.

He then attacked Fate and completely crushed them. They ended up in the [Time Palace] as well.

At first he split them in to teams and had them fight younger versions of himself, but when he saw that they were quickly adapting to his fighting style, he came up with an idea.

He mixed the two groups and made the two with the seemly worst compatibility team up and fight him.

The first group was Hina and Luka.

“You two are both quite talented and possesses unique abilities, but you're both lacking in many areas.”

He pointed at Hina.

“You can become much more powerful if you just hone your abilities. But your fear and disgust towards yourself is in the way.”

He then pointed at Luka.

“As Proxy you aren't bad. In fact you're talent is top-notch. Well, it pales in comparison to my own. Anyway, the point is you're too reliant on your talent and slack on the hard work. You believe that there's no need to work hard when you possess such a blessed bloodline.”

“What are you talking about? I've worked hard to gain the strength I have today.”

Said Luka.

“Not as much as Miko.”

Luka’s body shook when she heard that. Aeon continued.

“Unlike you who was groomed by Ouroboros and others, Miko groomed himself. He figured everything out mostly by himself.”

He smirked.

“But he still kicked your ass.”

Luka glared at him.

“Am I wrong? If your fight wasn't interrupted the one who would’ve die would've been you. Your demon form was strong but it didn't made you immortal. The same can be said for Miko's [Dragonite]. But [Dragonite] was far more durable than your demon body.”

Luka couldn't protest. Aeon was right, even though she was getting some hits in Miko's [Dragonite] form was truly powerful. Her body could only take another three hits before dying.

“A word of advice.”

He smirked at the two of them.

“If you don't work hard, the next time you see Miko you won't be able to stand on the same stage as him.”

He looked at Hina.

“Not as a friend.”

He looked at Luka.

“Not as a rival.”

He smiled.

“You may be discarded.”

“?!”

He ignored their shock expression and declared.

“If you don't want that to happen, then come at me with everything you got! Otherwise, you'll die!”

*Boom!*

Meanwhile, the real Aeon was sitting in the entertainment room.

“Aeon, you better not hurt those kids more than you need to.”

Said Sasha, who was also in the room with him.

“Don't worry, Auntie. I'm not going to kill them or anything.”

He waved his hand and an orb appeared before Sasha.

When she looked at it she could see inside [Time Palace].

She saw Hina and Luka desperately trying to fend off a teenage Aeon wielding a racket.

“Why the racket?”

“Just felt like it.”

She sighed and looked again.

She saw Ace and Saika struggling against another Aeon. Ace was blown away with his shirt torn. A six-sided star shape birthmark was visible on his chest.

“...Why do I feel like I've seen that birthmark before?”

Said Sasha.

“Really? Maybe you're mistaken?”

Said Aeon as he got up.

“Are you going out?”

“Yeah. I can't let the territory those kids own get taken away because of me.”

Aeon then multiplied. Each person had a different age.

Sasha then watched as all the Aeons appearances changed into that of Luka and the others.

“Then, Auntie. See you later.”

Saying that, the Aeons disappear like smoke leaving Sasha alone.

She stared at the ceiling and spoke with a lonely tone.

“I wonder if Miko's alright?”

Back at Primus World.

Kimiko appeared in front of the throne where Nova sat.

“Welcome back, mother.”

She looked around for a bit.

“Thanks. Where's your father?”

“Who knows. He's probably out playing around with some girl?”

As Nova spoke those words, he could feel the temperature in the room drop.

“I was just joking, mother.”

“Hm? I know you was joking.”

‘If so, why did it feel like you wanted summon an early winter in Xia?’

Nova thought.

“Junior, has Miko left the Illusionary Beast Valley yet?”

“Yeah. He’s currently training with Momo on how to control his Qi better.”

“I see. I wonder if I should give him some pointers. I might not be a Qi God like you and your father, but I'm still a Qi Legend.”

“Momo said she wanted to train him in Qi herself. I think you can leave it to her.”

“Is that so?”

Kimiko face and tone had a hint of disappointment. Nova noticed that and smiled mischievously.

“If you want to bond with your grandson, you don't need to think of an excuse like training you know.”

“I-I don't know what you're talking about.”

Kimiko instantly erased all traces of emotions from her face.

Nova-

“Oh, Miko. You're done with your training already?”

“?!”

Kimiko instantly turned around, but there was no one there.

“Hahahaha!”

She turned around and saw Nova laughing at her.

“Junior. What did I tell you about playing pranks on me?”

She spoke with a cold tone.

“Oh, come on mother. If you want to meet him go and meet him. He's your grandson, not your target.”

“…..I'll wait until he comes back.”

Saying so, she started walking out the room.

“I'll be in my room if you need me.”

“Okay.”

When he confirmed that she had left, he took out a phone and dial a number.

“Ah, Father. Yeah she just went to her room. How's the preparation coming along?.....Kroc? I see. Then I'll handle things here until you return.”

He then looked like he remembered something.

“Ah, yes. Miko's natural Qi type is Demonic. Just like you asked, I'll have him try to take control of the demon in his body when he's done training with Momo.”

*Boom!*

*Splash!*

“Haaaaaa!”

“Oh, come on. That's the tenth time you've fell in the lava today.”

Said Momo.

She was sitting on the ledge watching Miko melt in the sea of lava below her.

Standing beside her was the Miko clone, that she's been using as Miko's training partner. It had kicked Miko off the ledge and sent him falling in the lava.

Momo waved her hand and Miko appeared right next her with his flesh still intact.

“Again.”

At Momo's command the clone attacked Miko.

Miko leaped back and activated his Qi.

He watched as the clone shot towards him.

He aimed a kick. The clone slid under it and tried to trip Miko with a low kick.

Miko jumped over it and stomped down at his head.

The clone rolled out of the way and off the ledge. But his fingers this held on and prevented him from falling.

Miko aimed a stomped at the fingers, but the clone moved sideways and quickly pulled himself up.

He then attacked Miko with ultra fast punches. Miko tried to dodge them, but the clone suddenly moved faster than he originally thought.

All the punches connected.

The clone didn't waste anytime and pounce on Miko.

“You're getting annoying!”

Miko shot forward and kneed the clone in the face.

“Oh?”

This impressed Momo.

The clone stepped back and was punched in the stomach by Miko.

As if it got mad, the clone started to release a barrage of attacks on Miko.

Miko stood his ground and attacked in return. Their fists hit each other and their kicks slammed against the other.

Miko then suddenly ducked under a kick and gathered all of his Qi in fist.

“Fuckoff Punch!”

*BOOM!*

He slammed his fist in the clone’s chest and clone’s body burst like a balloon. It disappeared shortly after.

“Hah~. Hah~. Damn, bastard.”

Miko exhaustedly got on one knee and started breathing heavily.

And then-

*Bam!*

A clone appeared beside of him and kicked him off the ledge.

“Haaaaaaaah!”

He screamed out in agony as his skin melted off in the lava.

“How many times do I have tell you? Try to find ways to defeat your enemy without exhausting your Qi.”

“Haaaaaaaah!”

“Also, you need to figure out how to walk on lava using your Qi. If you can walk on lava, the other surfaces should be a piece of cake.”

She waved her hand and Miko appeared beside her in good health.

He fell to his knees.

“I'm so hungry.”

“If you're wasting Qi like that, of course you are. However, you gotta keep fighting until you can get the hang of using Qi. Until then, I won't remove the seal on your magic.”

She started clapping.

“Chop chop. Stand up, you still have two more rounds to go before you can eat.”

Miko sluggishly faced the clone.

Anyone could tell from his heavy breathing that he ran out of gas.

“Looks like you can't go on for much longer. Then let's do this.”

Another clone appeared near the one on the ledge.

“You'll fight them in pairs. This way you'll only have 10 rounds instead of 20. I'm pretty generous right?”

Momo smiled innocently.

“You're the fricking devil!”

Miko screamed as he rushed towards the clones.

*Bam!*

The two clones rushed and attacked in union.

Miko didn't last a minute as he was kicked and punched off the ledge.

“Fuck!”

*Splash!*

He landed in the lava again.

The Gold Continent.

Walking through a red desert, bracing against the scorching winds of a burning sand storm, was a cloaked figure.

No matter how hot the winds or the sand were, there was no lag in their steps. Every step they took was filled with confidence.

“Whoa, the weather is especially harsh today.”

The voice belonged to a woman.

She looked at the sand storm and smiled.

“I guess, I'll give it ago.”

She clasped her hands in front of her as if saying a prayer.

Her body then glowed a dark purple color. The glow spread and started deflecting the winds.

The woman then swung down her hand.

*Boom!*

The entire desert was divided when her hand came down as if it was moving out of her way.

The woman smiled and then continued her journey.

After walking for a long time, she spotted someone laying in the sand.

“There he is.”

She hurriedly walked towards the person who was laying on their stomach. Even though the face wasn't shown, the woman recognized the man’s muscular body.

“Rood.”

Said the woman.

“….Hm? Neo. What are you doing out here?”

The man, Fighting God Rood spoke while facing down in the sand.

“I came tell you that I'm going to take a leave from Pandora for a while.”

“….Why?”

“I finally got the opportunity to put an end to an old grudge.”

“Do you mean Nova?”

Neo nodded.

“That's right. Something big is about to go down surrounding him and Nero. It will probably be the most high prolific hunt in a while.”

“I see. Have fun. Just don't get yourself killed. Although I doubt you'll die so easily.”

“Sorry, for leaving with all the work even though we founded Pandora together.”

Rood raised his hand waved in response.

“Its fine. I was thinking of going back home for a change anyway.”

Neo nodded and turned around and left.

She ignored the snoring sounds coming from behind her.

Rood continued to sleep until he was lost in the sand once again.

“Prometheus, could you tell Hercules to make sure Rood properly return to the base and stick around? It would be a problem if he disappears on us while I'm out.”

(Alright, Neo.)

Neo, the Unyielding.

The only proxy to survive fighting against Nova over a hundred times.

She too was taking part in the big event in the near future.