“Fight me,” he said, staring down at them.

Diavolo of course, was left confused. “Huh?”

Astonished, Hannah stood between them. “Hey, hold on! What’s this all of a sudden?!”

“Shut up and get out of the way, sis. I have business with him.”

“Marvin… you dare talk to your sister like that?” it started to get on her nerves.

“Sorry, but I’m not moving from this spot even if you hit me with all your might right now,” he said with a straight face. Hannah retracted back, noticing how determined he was and that he wasn’t fooling around.

“It’s alright, I don’t mind. It’d be nice to spar with a new opponent once in awhile,” Diavolo agreed.

“If you say so, then,” then turning to the culprit, Hannah asked, “But why, Marvin?”

“He stopped Gramps’ test strike.”

A spark of astonishment pierced through her head.

“Test strike?” Diavolo tilted his head.

“Yeah. As you know, that technique is—”

“Master Marvin, the dojo has been cleaned up and prepared,” informed Stanley approaching from the side.

“Hm,” Marvin nodded, “Let’s go, then,” and he immediately turned around. Shrugging, the boys followed him, accompanied by a slightly worried Hannah.

[Claude POV]

The three were on their way home in Nicolas’ car.

“Hahah! Can’t believe they bought my generous acting! See? Lover boy isn’t the only one who can act here!”

“Keep your mouth shut. You’re suffocating us. You stink,” said Nicolas in a monotone, turning the steering wheel.

“It’s your fault for having such a small car in the first place!”

“Don’t blame it on the car. That’s just how bad your breath is. You stink.”

“Fucking cunt! You picking a fight?!”

“That’s enough, you two. Nic, keep your eyes on the road.”

“Understood.”

“Fine. But why does he get to drive, anyway? It’s so annoying!”

“But still, those three…” Claude accidently let his thoughts slip.

“Hm? You mean the newbies? Don’t worry about them, bro. They’re just like the others. They won’t last long. Just sit tight and relax. The most they might be able to do is keep their shit together for the month.”

“No, things might just be different this time. They might be newbies, but it looks like they have ‘some’ experience with Natura. Don’t forget that they got admitted to Sector-B on their own. That too as second years.” (Claude)

“Even after considering that, it doesn’t explain why we should be concerned about them. You’re the most skillful student in our entire batch. Even Prez is having problems giving her all against you.” (Nicolas)

“That’s right! Even if they pass the exams, they’ll still be second rate! There’s nobody who can even entertain you, let alone beat you! You won’t even have to break a sweat!” (Garth)

“Can’t even entertain me, huh...”

“However, there’s one thing I’m afraid that will never change.” (Nicolas)

“What?” (Garth)

“You stink.”

“Shut up!”

[Diavolo POV]

“You even have your own dojo. Why am I not surprised?” (Shin)

“Is the size okay, Master Signore?” (Stanley)

“Yeah, it’s fine. And hey, I know we’re guests, but skip the formalities. It kinda feels weird,” he said putting on the training robe Stanley had handed him.

“Understood.”

“Ahem, if you’re ready, I’d like to continue. Gramps’ test strike is like a mine. You won’t see it coming and it hits hard. I don’t know how he does it, but he says he lowers his presence just before he attacks. The main thing is that the attack is strong enough to dent an iron wall. However, just before he makes contact with his target, he immediately lowers his strength to a minimum. Knowing that you stood in between him and Yukio bro, you must’ve taken its full force. And yet, you managed to stay unharmed. How?”

“I can choose any sword I like, right?”

“Yes,” Stanley nodded.

“Hey, listen to me when I’m talking, dammit! This involves you, you know!!”

“Yeah, I got it. So you’re basically saying I’m just that much stronger than you, right?”

“No, that’s not it!! For your information, before you, Stanley was the only one to have blocked that attack! Don’t go thinking you’re all high and mighty, got it?!”

“Oh, really? Man, I’d definitely want to fight you someday, Stanley.”

“I am humbled. As a butler of the Rose household, this is but a mere necessity.”

“Ho~! You sure have it rough–”

“Enough!” Marvin interrupted, “Let’s fight!”

“You sure are restless,” Diavolo sighed, “Why don’t we set up some match rules first, eh?”

“Huh?”

“If I can disarm you of your three swords, then I win. Same goes for you,” he grabbed a wooden sword, “If you can make this slip out of my hand, then you win. Doesn’t this sound better than ending up in bruises?”

“Sorry, but it sounds like you’re giving me a ridiculous handicap,” Marvin replied with a deep voice.

“Ridiculous? Very well then. In that case, as we fight, before you are disarmed of your last sword, you may pick up your previously dropped swords. Does that sound like a better handicap for you?”

“Tch! You cocky bastard…! I don’t need your handicaps! Now prepare yourself!”

“Ah well,” Diavolo took a fighting stance, “I was hoping to give you a better chance, but nothing to do.”

“Ready…” (Hannah)

During those few seconds, the two competitors stared at each other trying to predict each other’s first move. But just as Marvin’s anger was swelling up, his will to fight shot down completely. Because, at that very moment, Diavolo, from his cheerful cocky look, gave him the same glare he had given William the previous day.

“W-what with this immense pressure? Is this how Gramps felt when he confronted him? I think my legs froze a little. It almost makes me want to…run away—no, I mustn’t! If I back away now, I won’t even deserve to train with Sis anymore!” and sweat droplets appeared on his forehead.

"Fight!”

“HAAAAA!!!” Marvin charged at him recklessly.

He swung his first sword with both hands. Watching carefully from the very beginning, Diavolo ducked, tilting to his right. With his sword on his left hand, waist level, Diavolo pointed it upwards and aligned it carefully to a point that was most likely in making Marvin lose his grip.

Without a second thought, he thrusted it upwards; its tip colliding full force at the wrist of the hand with Marvin’s sword, forcing him to lose grip. Then quickly swishing it around, Diavolo brought Marvin’s sword to slide across its blade, thus launching it away from him with a quick swing.

This occurred...within a span of two seconds.

With eyes wide with fear and tension, Marvin once again faced Diavolo and immediately grabbed his second sword (with right hand) from his right waist and swung it hard at his face. About just a palm’s width away from his cheek, Diavolo blocked it.

Thinking that his second sword was keeping Diavolo’s only weapon at bay, Marvin instantaneously grabbed his third and final sword and also swung that at his face. Diavolo effortlessly grabbed it in its path using his only free hand. “Too slow,” and he thrusted it down, breaking it with his right knee.

Just as his foot landed back on the ground, he sweep kicked Marvin’s legs, making him fall. Continuing the momentum with a second revolution, he stood over Marvin’s lying body and plunged his sword down with both hands. It pierced through the wooden floor right beside Marvin’s head.

Bout duration: 5 seconds.

Staring down at him, Diavolo spoke out, “You haven’t lost yet. Still wanna continue?”

With merely those words, Marvin led go of his only remaining sword. The *clank* noise it made as it touched the floor, finalized the outcome of this duel.

Total bout duration: 11 seconds. That was all it took.

The result now being inevitable, Diavolo moved away, letting Marvin get up. “I’m pretty sure that I don’t even need to say this, but you were too reckless and aggressive. You left yourself full of openings and—”

“I know!! I know that, so...you don’t have to tell me! ...Dammit!” he punched the ground while grinding his teeth.

“Getting upset over a battle you had no chance in winning in the first place. How pathetic. Grow up. Losses happen a lot, but you need to learn from them. I’m always open if you want to challenge me, but if you can’t even make me drop my weapon,” he peered at him from the corner of his eye “you’re not worth my time.”

Without a word, Marvin stood up, walked out of the dojo and slammed the sliding door behind him.

“Marvin…” thought the worried Hannah.

“Master Hannah, I’ll take care of Master Marvin. Please carry out your planned schedule.”

“Y-Yeah,” she said as he left.

An awkward silence loomed over the room. “U-Um, sorry about that. Marvin is really stubborn when he wants to fight someone. He’s been through a lot, you see, and—”

“Huh? Why’re you saying that? What happened, happened. I don’t mind at all,” Diavolo interrupted.

“That’s right! There’s nothing to be sorry about when two men duel! It’s all in the genes! Don’t worry about it!” Shin added in with a cheerful tone.

“And besides, you have to teach us about Natura right now, right?” Yukio concluded.

“... Yeah, you’re right,” she said affirming that no awkwardness remained, “Let’s begin then.”

Once everybody was comfortably seated, Hannah began explaining:

“As you already know, raw body strength isn’t everything in this world. Real power is when you can control the different aspects of nature. The key...is right here,” she pointed at her head, “Everything, down to the basic building blocks have information, in the form of energy, within them. If it’s information, then they can be manipulated by a series of simple commands.

Your brain, as the command center of your body, too is capable of sending out signals to command the energy around you.”

Not even half her explanations were done, and the three, actually only Shin and Diavolo, already seemed confused.

“I bet this sounds quite complicated when you boys would like to train as soon as possible, but rest assured. This is merely the theoretical description for how it works. In a practical sense, you merely need to settle down and focus your mind. Feel your surroundings and will the energy to obey you. You don’t need to think too deeply about the absolute fundamentals when actually using Natura.

In other words, good news for you, it’s all in your guts!”

“Uwoh! Now that’s what I’m talking about!” Shin expressed relief, “But, one question. Doesn’t that mean that someone can easily become the strongest man in the world by being able to control more Natura?”

“Well, as tempting as it may sound, Natura isn’t that convenient. A Natura user is limited by how much energy the environment can actually provide, without disrupting the structure of objects from which energy is being taken from.

For example, this board behind me. I could use it as a source for Natura, but I can’t take more than it can provide. You would automatically come to a stop as trying to draw out more would break down the wood. If fact, if you try to force it, you would actually end up using more energy than u gain from it. So there’s no point.

Other than that, there’s also the user’s own limits, so yeah, there you have it.”

“Tch! There goes my idea of surpassing Diav easily.”

“For now, I’ll teach you what you missed since you weren’t in the first year. There are primarily two types of Natura. Pure Natura is Natura in its simplest form. It can be used to do things like enhancing your own bodily functions, healing yourself and others etc. This is what Garth used against Shin this morning.

The second type deals with slightly more complex commands, adding elemental properties to the energy, Material Natura. This is where people don’t simply control Natura, but the object relating to that Natura as well. You have yet to see the effects of Material Natura, so let’s just leave it at that for now.

There’s also Variant Natura, but you’ll get to know about that in school later on. I just know a little bit about it from Grandpa. Regardless, the main thing you need to keep in mi—”

“So when do we start?” [Diavolo]

“... Are you for real?! It hasn’t even been a day and you expect to just bring it out like that?! People have to go through weeks of training just to get the feel of it! Although my lineage made it easier for me, but the case is different for others. You guys need to follow my instructions exactly if you’re gonna have any chance of suc—”

*ZZZZZ* Shin was sitting asleep with a nose-bubble. Diavolo lay flat on the ground. Yukio was staring up and playing with a butterfly on his finger.

“HEY! LISTEN TO ME!! AND YUKIO, WHY ARE YOU PLAYING WITH A BUTTERFLY?!”

“Huh? But it flew in through the window.”

“THAT’S NOT WHAT I’M ASKING! Honestly, you three are such blockheads.”

“We understand your consideration, Hannah, and really appreciate your dedication in teaching,” Yukio stated with a smile, “But I think you’re underestimating your pupils. I’m no expert in teaching, but shouldn’t you take a test to see how much your students actually know before starting to teach?”

“As expected of Yu! Now it’s time for the Cosmic Island’s best hunter to show his skills!” Shin stood up with pride.

“Okay fine, then. Let’s see what you guys can do. But only after we freshen up. I feel like a sweat sack here.”

Even among all this, Diavolo was still snoring.

“Huh?” Hannah slowly walked up to him and observed. Raging, “WAKE UP ALREADY!!” and she kicked him to an end of the dojo.

“Argh! Dammit, that hurt!!!”

“IT’S YOUR FAULT FOR FALLING ASLEEP!!”

“Oh, I did? Apologies…” he formally said and bowed, which was odd and out of character, until, “I have a bad habit of falling asleep when I get bored, hehe~!”

Hannah got irritated a little and clenched her fist. Oh, by little, actually quite a lot, “Oh? I’m not sure whether you’re trying to be modest or trying to insult me. I’ll let you off with a warning this time.”

“Nope!” he said with a straight face, “I was actually trying to insult you.”

Shin lightly slapped his head, “No, you don't need to be so honest here.”

Hannah was left dumbfounded and her jaw dropped.

[William POV]

William was just entering the main gates from the hills and witnessed a peculiar scene playing out:

“SORRY! I’M SORRY!!” shouted Shin as he pushed Diavolo in front of him while running as fast he could.

“Why are you apologizing, though?” asked Diavolo as his feet skidded across the ground.

“SHUT UP! THIS IS ALL YOUR FAULT!!!”

“HEY, GET BACK HERE!!!” shouted Hannah as she chased Diavolo & Shin with an iron club in her hands.

“Listen, Hannah! I apologize on his behalf! He didn’t mean that! But why a club? Wasn’t your fists bad enough?”

“Can anyone tell me why I’m running as well?” asked Yukio.

“Shut up, Yu!”

That moment, Hannah appeared like a giant behind them with an ominous smile. “I’ll smash your faces in, hehehe~!”

Shin and Yukio’s eyes stretch out in fear while Diavolo simply has a poker face enjoying the fun, as if he didn’t have a care in the world. The gang rushed inside the mansion leaving William standing confused.

He tilted his head, “What are those kids up to?”

[Suzume POV]

She was taking a bath. Relaxing in her warm bathtub, she thought to herself, “Diavolo Signore, huh?”

[Claude POV]

He was practicing punches in his room. Thinking back at Garth’s words, “Don’t worry about them, bro. They won’t last long…” he turned his face towards his study desk.

“Hmm…” and looked at a coin.

[Hannah POV]

“Alright then. Let’s begin. First up is Yukio.”

Yukio sat in a meditative position and closed his eyes.

“Listen Yukio. Just calm down and relax. As you breathe focus on the energy circulating through you.”

Yukio inhaled and exhaled and moments later, slowly, a white, translucent energy started flowing around him just over his skin.

“What marvelous aura! Although it’s pretty weak, the fluidity is well defined. I’m quite surprised. It seems I really did underestimate you.”

Yukio exhaled and the energy went away. “Hehee!” he smiled and gave an ‘aww shucks’ pose.

“Next up, Shin.”

Shin sat similarly.

“Listen, just do the same as Yukio. Relax and concentrate.”

And so he did. But no matter how relaxed he was trying to get, he couldn’t bring out the energy; and the very thought of it made him restless. His eyes were twitching.

“You’re forcing yourself. You’re not going to get any results like this. Calm down a bit.”

But it didn’t do much good. He became even more restless and at some point, a tremendous electrical spark shot between his fingertips, flinging him backwards.

“...What…was that?” he asked, confused.

“Well you weren’t able to gather Natura properly, that’s what,” she replied.

“Dammit!”

“But just because you couldn’t bring about it like Yukio doesn’t mean you fail. Your result was just different. Don’t worry, you pass.”

“Really? Woohoo!”

But Shin didn’t have a clue what he had actually done. “That spark. So it really wasn’t a fluke after all. He’s capable of using Material Natura, skipping over the Pure one. He really is gifted. But I’m not going to tell you that so you get cocky all of sudden,” thought Hannah, “Okay, next!”

Diavolo stood in front of her.

“Hmm? You’re not going to sit?”

“Nah, I’m fine as it is.”

[Suzume POV]

Suzume got out of the bathroom.

“Hey, Suzu~! I’ve been called! Remember what we talked about, okay?” said a womanly voice from another room.

“Understood, onee-chan!”

[Claude POV]

He took the coin on his palm and rested it on his thumb.

“Heads” he declared and flicked it in the air. Catching it as it fell, he slowly opened his palm.

Claude smiled deviously, “Interesting…”

[Hannah POV]

“W-what is this?!”

She stared with astounded eyes at Diavolo. Sweat dripping down her cheek, she couldn’t bring out any words. After all, it was the first time she’d ever seen such fierce, blazing aura.

“I’ve never seen such coarse Natura before! Such sharpness! So—”

“Well?” Diavolo asked for an opinion.

“Y-yeah, you pass,” was what all Hannah could say. What else could she say after witnessing something like that?

He thus ceased energy manipulation.

“Alright! With this all of us pass, right?” said Shin as Diavolo walked towards them. As they giggled and chatted on their own, Hannah was left in her own thoughts

“How can they be so calm? It’s like they have no idea what they have achieved! Who are these people?!”

And so the next day.

At school, beside the classroom entrance, Nicolas stood leaning on the wall, waiting for the three Cosmic dwellers. As they entered, “Oh? So you really did show up. I was hoping you three would chicken out.”

“Us? Chicken out?! Don’t be silly! Listen you—”

“Shin. Don’t cause a ruckus. Say what you need to say and go to your seat,” (Hannah)

“Y-yeah. Listen, I don’t care how many tricks you pull, but it’s pointless! We’ll always come out on top! We’ll show you how good we are the next time we compete, you got that?! Tch, losers…” he exaggerated his movements.

Diavolo and Hannah passed him without a care. Although, Yukio, “Sorry for that, Nicolas. I hope we get along next time…” and he went to his seat.

Nicolas got pissed and started grinding his teeth and clenching his fist.

Garth, who was sitting next to Claude said, “What, they seem pretty energetic.”

“Of course they are,” Claude smiled, “They passed their first trial, after all.”

“First trial?” he tilted his head, unaware of what he was referring to.

And so, Diavolo sat in his seat. He glanced at Suzume, who was, as usual, staring outside the window. Seeing that she hadn’t noticed him yet, he let it go and sat normally, “Give me all you’ve got, Twinsoul Academy…”