Challenge.

After Kishi left his house Gaius began to prepare. He was both happy that Kishi would stop being a brat and a bit ashamed that he had lost his temper like that. It was however the truth that while Kishi had presented a genial mask he had held a lot of disdain for his fellows. It wasn't something easily seen but a few subtle moments showed it. How he disregarded the opinion of others, how he spoke as if he was the ultimate authority that was always right.

He didn't show it openly, he may not have even realised himself, but there was a sense of superiority in him because he had managed to get Touki. Doing that had inflated his ego which made it easier for him to be vulnerable to others being better than he was. Why are they better than me when they are lazy and don't train. They don't deserve this strength. He had these thoughts constantly and it made Gaius furious when he saw it.

Gaius didn't intervene when he saw that, he thought that maybe interaction with others would made him change. To a certain extent it did, he cared about others now, he just thought them inferior. For him they were pitiful children that were lovable but weren't to be taken seriously. Due to this arrogance and dismissal Gaius had lost his temper and the rest was history.

Gaius’ preparations were simple, he went to Sakae and bought some information. He then made some calls to several people to arrange transportation and protection. With all preparations done he went to bed so he could rise even earlier than usual.

The next morning he did his usual workout, but after that he went to the administrative building in order to receive permission for Endo and him to skip classes. Finally he went home and waited for Kishi to show up.

“Good morning, Master.” Kishi looked subdued, nearly afraid. As the night had kept going he had been thinking about their conversation and he felt progressively worse. The first thing he regretted was his callousness towards Gaius’ situation. The second was how he had downplayed the work he needed to achieve his power.

“Good morning brat.”

“Brat?”

“Until you have earned my respect back you shall be beat for me.” Gaius had chosen to do this not to hurt him, but to give him a goal to strive for. If it worked that is if not Gaius had other plans.

“I see.”

“Yes you see. Today we are going to show you how no matter how much strength you have you aren't better for it. And we will do so by confronting your past.”

“You can't mean?!”

“We are going to the Endo Clan.”

“But they will destroy us!”

“I have gotten permission from the Head, unless they want the association as an enemy they won't.”

“But what if-”

“Brat, are you logically worried or do you simply not want to confront your family?”

Kishi only mumbled beneath his breath.

“Speak clearly.”

“I promised not to return until I was strong enough.”

“That has only become an excuse for you to not confront your past. Exactly when will you be strong enough?”

“But-”

“No buts. Either you come with me or you don't want my teachings anymore.”

“Didn't you finish teaching us what you knew?”

“Being expelled from my class would be worse than just being left without lessons, you know?”

“What would happen?”

“The association would deem you untrustworthy. At minimum you'd be expelled, at maximum you'd be imprisoned.”

Gaius’ face was impassive, showing he wasn't joking. While Kishi wanted to say that was a bluff he wasn't sure and so he didn't speak.

“Then are you coming?”

“Yes.”

They left Gaius’ house and headed to the recreational district. There a balding middle aged man was waiting.

“Good morning. Am I right to presume you are Endo Kishi and Gaius Atiius?”

“That is correct. Are you then our transportation?”

“Indeed. If I recall correctly I am to guide you to some minor clan.”

He looked at his phone.

“The Endo clan, yes.” He suddenly understood something. “Uh, sorry for the minor part Endo.”

“My clan is minor?”

“Yes. The strongest person is Rank 6 and I remind you we have eight of those. The head is Rank 5. They are honestly weak.”

“That's-”

“The truth.” Intervened Gaius. “Let’s go, I have no intention of this stretching too long. Even if I can miss classes today I don't want to do it.”

“Very well. If you could take my hands.”

Gaius and Kishi grabbed one of the man's hands each. Immediately they felt a stretching followed by a twisting and then a contracting. It was honestly quite the bizarre feeling. It was effective though, for they had found themselves in front of a Japanese manor. Above the gate laid a signal saying Endo Manor.

“Thank you for your aid… Sorry, I just realised I do not know your name.” Asked Gaius.

“Enka Mamoru.”

“Thank you Enka.”

He nodded and waited outside the gate while Gaius and Kishi approached it. Once they were near it Gaius pressed a button.

“Yes?”

“I am Gaius, I have come because of an appointment I made yesterday.”

“Yes you are on the list. Please come in.”

The door opened and the two men entered the manor. A woman in a kimono received them and led them towards a room deep in the manor. There sat a man remarkably similar to Kishi. Once he saw him Kishi steeled himself.

“Father.” Said Kishi.

“I thought I repudiated you long ago Kishi. I am no longer your father, nor do I accept a weakling like you as a son. What do you want here? Has the poor baby managed to grow a backbone?”

He was about to continue when he felt a bit of dread and for the first time looked at Gaius.

“Who are you brat?”

“Curious you would say that. I am Kishi’s master and the one who established this appointment, Gaius Atiius Quadratus.”

“A kid is that weakling’s master?” He began to laugh. “How fitting that he would be taught by another-”

He was interrupted when a light beam hit him in the face. He was mostly uninjured but he couldn't help to stare at Gaius silently, unable to understand what had happened.

“I'd prefer if you stopped showing your worthlessness for a minute here. We have something to discuss.”

“And who are you to show me such disrespect?” Kishi’s father growled.

“Respect is earned and lost. You never had my respect and you lose more of it by the second. Is that any way to speak to someone that equals you in strength?”

“You equal me in strength?” His tone was mocking.

“Unlike the rumours you seem to be a Rank 4, like I am.”

“Rank 4?! You can't be Rank 4! You are too young! Kishi isn't good enough to even approach such an individual. Where are you from?”

“You didn't listen when your ancestor told you? We are from the Waning Moon Association.”

The asshole was startled.

“Waning Moon? Those idiots that accept anyone in their ranks?”

“Taking into account we have eight Rank 6 and you have one I'd say our methods are better than yours. It seems only stupid pride fills your brain and you can't see anything else. Do you truly care about strength as much as you say?”

The douche managed to calm himself and started anew.

“My apologies for my indiscretion. Seeing that worthless weakling coming here clouded my judgement. What do you want?”

“I want for Kishi to battle your younger generation. I am sure between his hard work and my teachings he far surpasses your clan, but the trauma you caused in him holds him back.”

“You overestimate him. His weakness is not of power but spirit. He was always stronger than his opponents but he hesitated too much and always lost. He may have grown stronger but his spirit is still weak.”

Kishi clenched his fists but remained silent. Gaius only smiled.

“Then what is the problem? Do you not accept?”

“Indeed I do! I will show you that you shouldn't waste your time with prey like Kishi. Let us start, shall we?”

“Very well.”

Gaius and Kishi were led to a waiting room while the clan prepared. There Kishi asked something to Gaius.

“Do you really think I can do this?”

“Yes you can.”

“But he is right I always hesitated when I fought.”

“Why did you do it?”

“Because I didn't want to fight. I didn't like fighting.”

“Do you still don't like fighting?”

“I no longer care.”

“Then what is the problem?”

Kishi fell silent unable to answer. Rationally he knew Gaius was right but he still felt incapable. They fell silent until a servant came to fetch them.

They were led to an arena in the middle of a garden. When he saw it Kishi felt his heart speed up. Here was where he was expelled from the clan.

“Welcome Gaius to our ancestral trial grounds. Here the young and old of our clan try their strength against it each other, to see who prevails and is the strongest.”

“Seems nice. Why aren't we already beginning?”

The fool took a deep breath. Never had he felt so disrespected, did he not know the greatness behind this clan? In his fury he gave the order to start the battles.

Gaius sat near him in the stands while Kishi went to the arena.

Once the battle began the imbecile turned to Gaius.

“I bet that the next time I look at the arena the battle will have ended.”

“How little confidence in the youths of your clan.”

“Use clever words all you want. This is a world of the survival of the fittest and Kishi is prey, he shall never surpass the predators of my clan.”

“I think you misunderstand Darwin. Also did you know that the main cause of injury and death for predators is due to prey fighting back? There is a reason predators tend to hunt a single prey in groups or with the advantage of terrain. So I think you don't really understand the beings you equate yourself to.”

“That may be true in the natural world but in the Hidden World only killers thrive. And the willingness and strength to kill are innate, they can't be learned. One is either born a winner, a predator, or a loser, prey.”

Gaius stared at him like he was looking at the most foolish person he'd ever met. Except it wasn't like, he had never met such a tool. However before he could answer the referee shouted.

“Winner Endo Kishi!”

“Impossible!” The delusional manchild turned to the arena, where Kishi stood above his opponent’s body.

The next battle began.

“Is it really impossible? Your philosophy has three holes. First you ignore that people change. Second, one doesn't need to be a murderer to be strong. Three, you are completely delusional. Do you really think the world works in such childish and edgy principles? Are you really that naive?”

The immature brat turned to Gaius.

“What do you know?! You say I am naive but in reality I know how the world works! People fight and murder each other for the slightest of advantages, it is dog eat dog out there!”

“Winner Endo Kishi!”

“What?!”

“Begin!”

“There are indeed people like that. But there are also people who care for others, who dedicate their lives to others.”

“Winner Endo Kishi!”

“The only reason there is a semblance of dog eat dog out there is because-”

“Begin!”

“Because of people like you. Without you there would be no dog eat dog.”

“Winner Endo Kishi!”

“How?! How is he winning so fast?! Why is he so strong?!”

“Begin!”

“At the beginning he still held onto his belief your kids were stronger than him. However he has now seen how weak they are, so he is no longer cautious. He fights to his fullest.”

“Winner Endo Kishi!”

“How can he be so strong! He was prey!”

“Begin!”

“People change. For the better or for the worse. Did you know he has Touki?”

At those words Kishi’s father lost his spirit and could only watch as his clan was beaten easily. He himself didn't have Touki.

Kishi kept winning until there were no members of his generation remaining. Once he was finished he went to the stands.

“Well? Do you have anything to say, clan head?” Asked Gaius.

“Yes, you were right.”

Kishi felt a bit of hope, he had heard everything his father had said. He felt disgusted by it. But now his father may have changed.

“Prey can become predator and predator prey. Listen well all of you! Kishi has returned and proved himself to be a predator above you prey! He is worthy of being part of the clan! He is above you worms!

What do you say Kishi?”

He stopped talking when he saw the expression on Kishi’s face.

“My whole life I have worked for your approval. But only now I realise I wasted my time. You would never love me, you only want strong people under you. You aren't approving of me but of my strength.”

“Strength is all that matters in this life son.”

Kishi sighed and looked at Gaius.

“You were right Master, I was wasting my life for nothing. Let us go.”

“It is good to see you see reason.”

They began to leave when Kishi's father got in their way.

“If you leave now is to never return Kishi.”

“You said I should never return years ago. I'm only following your orders.”

The father grunted and turned away.

“Then leave. One day you will have to accept that you are a killer, too not waste your time among sheep.”

“Goodbye.”

They left the manor and were brought back by the balding man. Gaius brought Kirgo to his house and served him tea.

“What have you learned, Kishi?”

“I am strong for my age. And I wasted my time all these years.”

“I wouldn't go so far. Your life has made you meet us. Isn't that good.”

”Yes, yes it is. I will follow your advice Master, I owe you that much at least.”

Gaius nodded and fell silent, enjoying his tea. As time passes Kirgo grew restless.

“How do you deal with doing nothing?”

“I actually enjoy peace and quiet. New exercise, until classes start we won't speak a word nor do anything.”

“Alright.”

A few seconds passed.

“How much do you usually train?”

“Seriously?”