Kuroshi Clan. Early Winter.

Laughter could be heard in the Kuroshi Clan as many of the children went out to play in the snow. Yoko and Akane were sitting in Kai's house enjoying the warmth of the fire. Snow rarely happened, it only happens once a decade or so. But strangely, snow fell down in eight years this time.

A knock could be heard on the door as Erina stepped in the house. Unlike Akane and Yoko who had thick clothes, Erina wore her normal clothes.

"...Aren't you cold in that?"

Akane asked first, unable to hide her curiosity.

"I manipulate ice far colder than snow, I won't feel cold by something of this degree."

Erina answered.

"But still, it's amazing. You've already been here for a year yet you show no signs of leaving yet."

Erina's family had been staying in the Kuroshi Clan for a year. A duke isn't allowed to stay out of the palace for that long but there are probably certain circumstances.

"I guess so, we're staying here for at least another year or at least that's what I've heard."

Erina informed them. Right now, Akemi and Juro were already doing their daily routine, Juro took care of the household chores while Akemi held Emi. In the past, Akemi would clean while Juro would laze about then work. But ever since Emi had been born, the hierarchy of this house reversed and Juro was now at the bottom.

Erina sat by Akane and Yoko and began conversing. During this year, they had become the best of friends. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that they'd risk their lives for each other.

Erina suddenly fell silent during their conversation and looked out the door.

"What is it?"

Yoko asked.

"It's been a year since I last saw him, huh?"

Everyone in the house fell silent for a moment before continuing their former roles.

Sounds of footsteps on thick snow was heard amidst the silence outside of the clan. There was a figure of a man who had nothing other than a bag hanging behind him. He wore thick fur clothes made from bear fur and continued towards the clan's entrance.

Even during this time of festivities, the gate was still quite guarded and there were four guards on patrol.

"Who goes there?!"

One of the guards stood up and readied his spear, visitors weren't allowed in the clan.

"It's me."

The man raised his hood and revealed his face to the guards.

The guards simply opened their mouths in shock and let him in. Shortly after he passed, the guards suddenly began speaking amongst each other.

"Oi, what's he doing here?!"

"I don't know but this is awesome!"

"Last I've heard was that he hadn't been in the clan since the last snowfall."

"Yeah, that's true. We only know his face from the poster and statue of him in the clan but I'd never thought that I would actually be able to see him in person! The Kuroshi Clan's hero, the strongest person in the clan, former patriarch Kuroshi Tatsuo!"

That's right, the figure that had passed by the guards was the former patriarch, he was very old and was nearing a hundred years of age. But his fame had spread far and wide even outside the clan. He took the title of patriarch at the age of sixteen, became the strongest at age eighteen, and fought in wars without losing a single one!

He was a brilliant strategist and strong soldier, he had a righteous attitude and forgave no evil. And his magic rank is... B-class with a body of A-class or so it was tens of years ago. But the snow fell once more and it had been a few dozen years and so people expect that the next time he appeared, he would have reached S-class on all of his ranks.

The current patriarch couldn't even hold a candle to the achievements of the former. The torch of the patriarch was passed down to him because the former patriarch had wanted to travel to other places without being limited.

Kuroshi Tatsuo walked and slid into a place with no guards or people and used his magic to make sure.

"Boy, is this far enough?"

There was no one to talk to but Tatsuo asked a question.

"Yeah, thanks."

Tatsuo's shadow suddenly took form into the figure of a boy above the average height.

And a few seconds after forming, the shadow took color and what appeared was Kai. The air around him was special, it was as if he was a different person.

"I'm going now."

Kai bowed to Tatsuo and disappeared in a direction. The snow provided Kai with sufficient cover, many in the clan already knew what happened in the past and so he wanted to avoid contact with the adults.

"Sheesh, that kid is terrifyingly strong for his age."

Tatsuo shook his head and proceeded for the mansion.

"I wonder if most of the kids in this generation are like that?"

Tatsuo shuddered at the thought and decided to place that thought in the back of his head.

(A/N: I fiddled with the buttons here for a bit and actually found out I can do this horizontal line. Guess I don't have to do that multiple = anymore.)

A day later, the patriarch had suddenly called for everyone even though the snow was still quite thick.

"As some of you have heard, the former patriarch, Kuroshi Tatsuo has arrived at our clan yesterday even though the snow fell earlier than planned."

The patriarch stood atop the stage for the mock tournament arena and stepped aside to show the man in a cloak beside him.

The man took off his hood and showed his face.

The crowd immediately reacted by either shouting in excitement or whispering amongst themselves.

"And I know this may be sudden but we will hold a mock battle between the top two of the triennial tournament."

Yoko's ears suddenly perked up.

The crowd began roaring, everyone who was previously whispering also roared. There were some here who couldn't see the match and now they had a chance. And for the ones who saw the match, they were even more excited. If this was anything like the previous match, it'd be quite thrilling to watch again.

Akane held Yoko's hands.

"Do your best!"

Right now, Erina was right next to Akane and Yoko. Her father, the duke was not present as this wasn't a formal event.

Erina actually had a seat reserved for her above the arena, right next to the patriarch and the head elder but she chose to sit beside Akane and Yoko. Everyone in the clan knew that Erina, Yoko, and Akane were best friends and so were used to it. But the seats around them were empty, the daughter of a duke was still quite the high-up existence.

Yoko waved Erina and Akane goodbye then began to head towards the stage. Ichiro and Yoko stood in front of each other.

"We're going to show the progress of the most talented youths in our clan to the former patriarch!"

The patriarch said so and began to walk towards their seats. The spot of the patriarch, Mikado was taken by the former patriarch, Tatsuo. And the spot of the head elder was taken by Mikado.

The head elder stood at a different vantage point to survey the match.

"Are both sides ready?"

The head elder had a smile on his face as he said that. They were definitely trying to gain Tatsuo's favor by showing the top talents.

Yoko had a robe on and threw it to the side once the elder asked. Yoko's clothes revealed her weapons. She had daggers on both sides of her waist and another dagger attached to her leg.

Her armor was very easy to move in, it covered most of her body but kept the parts like her armpits, and the crook of her knees and elbows free enough to move in, it was the standard rogue armor. She wore cloth just below her shoulder to her wrists and wore gloves with the back of the hand being metal, it was certainly standard rogue armor.

On the other hand, Ichiro wore full metal armor. He held a great sword and so that was proper but Yoko was clearly at a disadvantage.

Ichiro removed most of his armor but kept the breastplate and shoulder pads seeing as it would be a huge advantage on his part to wear the full set.

Naturally, Yoko had allowed him to. Yoko's armor was only for avoiding light wounds and it wouldn't do much to defend against a great sword and so didn't hold it against him that he underestimated her.

"Then, competitors start!"

Just before they leaped forward, a shadow suddenly dashed through and arrived at the middle of the stage.

Yoko and Ichiro immediately stopped moving and prepared their weapons.

"Who are you?!"

The head elder yelled from above.

"You two, fight me now."

The figure was wearing a black hood and a white mask that covered his face.

"You bastard, you interrupt a battle while hiding your identity and challenge us?!"

Ichiro was furious. Yoko was also angry but had more caution.

This guy is dangerous!

Yoko furrowed her brows.

"Ichiro, do as he says. We have to work together, this guy is seriously bad news!"

Ichiro looked at Yoko then back at the hooded man. Tatsuo and Mikado seemed to have no intentions on joining the fight but the head elder definitely looked like he was about to jump in.

Ichiro then faced Yoko once more.

"Let's do this!"

"Yeah!"

Ichiro and Yoko leaped forward at the same time. Ichiro went for an overhead strike while Yoko was going for a strike from behind.

"HAAAAA!"

Ichiro roared as his great sword swung down. Yoko arrived at the same time with her speed and thrust her dagger towards the hooded man's back.

Many felt like they were seeing double, the hooded man's hands felt like they had afterimages. The great sword landed on Kai's hand and the dagger from behind stopped in place.

"Wha-?!"

"How?!"

Ichiro and Yoko respectively yelled out just before retreating.

"[Dark Breeze]!"

"[Dark Beam]!"

A lot of power was focused in front of the hooded man he made a fist and punched as both attacks shattered.

"AHHHH, [ROBUR: RELEASE]!"

Ichiro used the technique to unseal his Enchanted Gear. He had become stronger than before and could use this without a backlash but maintaining it was different.

Yoko immediately used all of her power on another attack.

"'[Twin Dragons]!"

Two snake-like dragons appeared behind Yoko as she charged forward.

"[Robur: Mountain Crushing Bash]!"

Ichiro once more went ahead with an overhead strike while emitting very strong pressure.

"...Quite the amount of power."

Even with the attacks heading for him, the hooded man did not panic in the least.

"Then, I'll respond with a power greater than that."

The hooded man placed his fist on his palm and chanted.

"[Heaven-rending Palm]."

As both attacks were only a foot away, the hooded man's palm met the attacks.

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM

Everyone fell silent. There was a huge line on the stage, it was obliterated. The attack stopped just before reaching the audience but that only proved to scare the audience more. One man's palm was enough to destroy that much of the stage and he hadn't even channeled that much magic.

Ichiro and Yoko were standing there speechless. Ichiro's release had already worn off and they held their positions during attacking.

Mikado stood up while Tatsuo had a smirk on his face.

Yoko fell on her behind while Ichiro fell on his knees. Their eyes were as if they had died but they were certainly alive.

"Sorry about that, I just wanted to display my power with an exhibition match but that would take a while and so I hijacked your match. Sorry, Yoko and... you."

The hooded man pointed at Yoko then at Ichiro.

"...Do I know you?"

Yoko asked after a moment's hesitation.

"Ah, my bad. I forgot to take off this hood and mask."

The hooded man removed his mask and hood.

"...Kai?!"

"It's been awhile, Yoko."

Kai had a huge grin on his face.