After greeting his friends, Kai went back to his room. Though he was met with trouble because everyone was asking him where he had gone.

Kyoko had already left the room when Kai had arrived and had not met him.

...

Kanako's room

Kanako was laying down on her bed in deep thought.

The story her sister had told her had been etched into her heart. It all sounded too real, like it predicted what was gonna happen.

"Kuroshi.."

She muttered.

Knock knock

"Kanako, are you there?"

"Yes, I'll be right there!"

She stood up and opened the door.

"I heard that your friend returned, uninjured no less."

Kyoko sat down beside Kanako on her bed.

"Nn! I trusted him so of course he would come back!"

Kyoko rolled her eyes.

"Weren't you the one who was worried the most?"

Kanako avoided her gaze.

"N-no, I wasn't worried at all."

The side of Kyoko's mouth curved into a smile.

"Looks like you've made friends."

Kanako looked back at her.

"Back then, you'd always be alone. So negative in a corner and just training like every other person. Your talent far surpasses mine yet you did not train as vigorous as me."

Kyoko looked up.

"In a few years, you'll surpass me. If you keep training at the pace you're going now, you'll definitely do it. But if you do your best in training, it'll take only a year or two for you to catch up."

Kyoko gazed at Kanako, eyes lingering with care.

"That's why, I won't let harm come to you. Remember that, anything around you that I deem dangerous will be removed immediately."

Her eyes showed a glint of over-protection.

Kanako sighed.

"You care too much about me, onee-san. Just go and settle down with Kane."

Kyoko turned red.

"W-what are you talking about!?"

Kanako looked back at her with a smirk.

"Nobody may have noticed but I did, you only made him my bodyguard so that you can watch over me and be near him at the same time!"

Kyoko was shocked and embarassed at the same time.

Her personality went a complete one-eighty from back then!

"I would tease you with Kai but I can tell you aren't in love with him. Your eyes show respect, not what a woman sees when she looks at a man."

She changed the topic while making a serious face.

Kanako noticed yet said nothing.

She sprawled unto the bed.

"It's more like he's my guardian, I don't feel any love other than as friends."

Kyoko inched closer to Kanako and stroked her hair.

"You'll find someone one day, and when you do, I won't stop you unless he has ulterior motives. Whether he's poor and weak, rich and strong, valiant and brave, as long as he doesn't hurt you, I'm fine with it."

She leaned down and kissed Kanako's forehead.

"Goodnight."

"Night."

Kyoko stood up and left the room.

As she got out of the room, her expression switched.

Instead of going back to the lobby, she headed straight towards Kai's room.

Knock knock

"Yes?"

Kai stood up and opened the door.

"Kyoko-san?"

"May I come in?"

"Be my guest."

Kai stepped to the side and gestured for her to come in.

"I'll cut to chase, are you related to the strongest Attack Mage in this continent, Chikara Shiro?"

Kai was surprised momentarily but hid it and put on his best poker face.

"No. I have no relations to him."

They looked into each other's eyes for awhile in search of lies.

Kyoko sighed.

"I can't see if you're lying or not. You're good at hiding expressions. But whether or not you're related, as long as you have come in contact with him, I advise you to leave my sister out of it."

"Naturally."

She left Kai's room and headed into the lobby.

"Is he really a kid?"

...

Kai's room

As Kyoko left, Kai's expression turned serious.

"[Memory]?"

She has the same status as me.

"Something's wrong with this village."

Knock knock

"Yes?"

"Kai, it's me."

Kai opened the door as he was met with the sight of Aine.

"Come in."

She walked inside the room.

As they shut the door, Kai placed a [Sound Barrier].

"Did you come in contact with your grandfather?"

Kai shook his head.

"No, but it's confirmed, gramps is the head of the Crimson Arrow."

"How'd you find out?"

Aine questioned.

"Gai-san intercepted me."

Aine was wide-eyed.

"He...intercepted you..?"

Kai nodded.

"I was found out by one of the guards and we had a battle, my mana must've been sensed cause as soon as the battle ended, I was enveloped by a large pressure, I managed to escape by using [Teleport]. The aura belonged to Gai-san."

Aine pondered for a moment.

"But you have not seen any of them in person?"

Kai shook his head.

"I didn't want to be seen, if gramps caught word me sneaking around there, he'd detain me so that I wouldn't be involved in the war."

Aine grabbed Kai's shoulders.

"Kai, you're not thinking of joining the war are you..?"

Kai didn't answer.

"You can't! I won't allow it! That war involves Gods! Even if the God is one of the weakest out there, he's enough to wipe out this continent!"

"That's why I must fight!"

Aine was shaken.

"If this God has the power to destroy this continent, then once gramps is defeated, who else will stand up to him? I won't have time to get stronger!"

Aine was speechless.

"Then what information have you gotten?"

Kai thought for a moment then answered.

"They will launch a full-scale attack against the Dark Guild in approximately three months, just a month after the competition."

"But in ten days, they will commence a purge."

Aine furrowed her brows.

"A purge, you say?"

Kai nodded.

"They will begin by sweeping every branch of the Dark Guild, their members and accomplices are scattered all across the continent and will begin their purge at the same time. Once the reinforcements are out, they will regain some of their lost power and destroy the main branch."

"This war will last nearly four months.."

Aine sank into deep thought.

"Is that all you've acquired?"

Kai nodded.

"I didn't dig too deeply, if I had been a little stronger I could've snuck past gramps and his men but unfortunately I'm far too weak."

Aine looked helpless at Kai's remark. She knew he was right, even if Kai was still a child.

"So are you gonna meet your grandfather in the battlefield?"

Aine asked cautiously.

"No, I won't."

Aine still didn't settle down.

"Even if I did meet him, he'd probably do all he can to teleport me back."

Aine nodded.

"So..I'll just use a disguise."

Aine was shocked but the alarm in her heart didn't lessen a bit.

"Even if you did do that, you'd still be in harm's way! I won't stop you but know this, if you die, I will hate you forever."

Kai was happy, though his face did not show much.

She really has this roundabout way of saying 'Good luck, please come back.'

"Nn!"

....

The night ended peacefully as no other events occured. The trouble Kai stirred up by disappearing vanished.

Combat Area

"Ha!"

Two figures could be seen sparring with intensity, if one person went close without the proper amount of power, they'd definitely be flung.

"Take this!"

Kai's right fist aimed towards Kanako's fist.

Kanako smirked.

Her right leg that was positioned behind her twisted and launched forward simultaneously retracting her left fist.

Kai's face changed but not in shock, rather in joy.

"I expected that."

Kai's eyes flashed with light momentarily.

Kanako's left leg passed through Kai's right fist.

"Crap!"

Kai's whole body looked like it stopped and started fading.

"Grr."

Kanako retracted her left leg and stomped.

CRACKK

The ground cracked at Kanako's stomp.

Kanako twisted her body around with her left leg stationed at the floor causing her right leg to swing with force.

WHOOSH

But her leg met with nothing.

"Checkmate."

Kai's voice was heard as a shadow appeared above Kanako.

Kai swooped down with incredible speed.

With face heading down first, Kai's right fist retracted.

"[Eagle's Strike]!"

His right fist shot out as he reached Kanako.

"[Black Bear's Absolute Defense]!"

A dark-colored shield appeared surrounding Kanako.

The corner of Kai's mouth curved.

As his fist hit Kanako's shield, it didn't even last a second before cracks started to form, another second for the shield to break completely.

CRACK

It shattered like glass.

"Kyaaa!"

Kanako's scream was the only thing that could be heard next.

She had a small bump on her head.

"Ow ow ow ow."

Kai laughed.

"Hahahaha, sorry. I'll just heal you."

"[Heal]."

Kai's hand glew green for only an instant as Kanako's bump disappeared without a trace.

Kanako sighed.

"Kai, I think you should stop training with me. You've already taken my techniques from a week of training..."

Kai shook his head.

"I can't! If I don't train with someone, my skills in close-combat won't be enough."

Kanako rolled her eyes.

"You can just train with Kane."

Kai tilted his head.

"But isn't he busy?"

"Like hell he is!"

Kanako shouted which earned a surprised yelp from Kai.

"All he does is see if I'm doing anything that would harm myself and ...!"

Kanako kept going and going about how her sister had instructed Kane to be near her at all times and how he was quite annoying.

"I-I see."

Kai could do nothing but listen to Kanako's ranting.

Minutes pass as Kanako kept going with no ending in sight.

"H-hey, Kanako!"

Kanako stops.

"What?"

She asks in a cold voice.

"Don't you remember what I was supposed to do..?"

Kai asked unsure of himself.

Kanako balled her right hand to a fist and slammed it into her left hand to indicate she remembered.

"I remember!"

"Good for you, can I go now?"

Kanako nodded.

"He should be in his room at this time."

Kanako answered seemingly not caring about what she had said earlier.

Kai gave her a small nod and walked towards Kane's room.

Kai arrived in front of Kane's door but before he could knock, he heard sounds from inside.

"Kyoko, give me a chance!"

Hm?

Kai's hearing was sharp so he could hear the sounds inside.

"No! You couldn't even do the task, remember our deal?"

Kyoko's harsh voice reprimanded him.

"Our deal was that if I guard Kanako until she's able to protect herself, you'll go out with me with the intention of marriage!"

Kyoko turned red.

"No, not that one!"

Kyoko yelled with a hint of embarassment in her tone.

"The one where you won't involve yourself with the Crimson Arrow, specifically me during the operation!"

Kai was shaken.

"But all I did was send some support in the background! I couldn't stand that you were throwing yourself in danger by being one of their Captains!"

Kyoko glared at him.

"I also heard that you asked them to tail me and to find out if I was doing anything dangerous."

"How did you know?!"

Kane had a horrified face.

"I interrogated your little 'support'!"

Kane was pale.

"You didn't give them your 'special lesson' right..?"

Kyoko gave him a light smile filled with mischief.

She's so cute.. wait now's not the time for that!

Kane shook his head to get rid of his thoughts.

"A lover's quarrel.."

Kai murmured to himself.

Unfortunately for him, his murmur was caught by Kyoko's ears who had been carefully listening around the area.

"Who's there?!"

The door swung open with Kanako's power and they were met with the sight of Kai.

"..."

"..."

"..."

The three of them didn't move nor talk.

Kai was speechless because the scene in front of him was something that shouldn't be seen by others. Kyoko was sitting on Kane's bed with legs crossed over the other as Kane was on the floor with one knee down with hands holding Kyoko's hand.

"Proposal..?"

Kai said one word involuntarily and immediately closed his mouth with both his hands.

"W-w-w-w-wha?!"

Kyoko was as red as a tomato.

She has the same habit as Kanako with stuttering..

This thought ran through Kai's head first.

On the other hand, Kane was just staring at Kai before his eyes glistened with mischief.

"Kyoko, will you marry me?!"

He shouted enough for Kai to be shaken.

Of course the most shaken was Kyoko.

"Y-y-y-y-y-..."

'Yes?' Kai and Kane thought simultaneously.

"You idiot!"

Kyoko slapped Kane in embarassment sending him flying to other side of the room.

When Kai thought her face couldn't get any redder, after Kane's supposed proposal, she was steaming with a face already matching the deepest shade of red.

A few minutes pass in silence.

During that time, Kane took a seating position next to Kanako with a lowered head with Kanako glaring at him.

Kyoko coughed twice to catch Kai's attention.

"So what're you doing here, Kai?"

I should ask you the same.. A bead of sweat formed on Kai's forehead.

"I was gonna ask for close-combat training with Kane."

Kai revealed his true purpose.

"But seeing as you two are involved with the Crimson Arrow, I guess that can wait."

Kyoko and Kane's eyes widened.

"I'll cut to the chase. Since you two know about the war, and Kyoko is apparently one of their captains, I'll ask for your help."

Kyoko gestured for Kai to continue.

"I'm planning on joining the war against the main branch of the Dark Guild in three months."

"What, why?!"

Kane immediately questioned.

"I can't tell you guys the reason for now."

Kai waved his hand.

Kyoko who was pondering in thought finally spoke.

"What do you need?"

"A ticket to get in unnoticed."

Kai smiled.

Kyoko's expression was shaken when she saw Kai's smile that could hide a thousand secrets.

This boy is not as normal as I thought he'd be.

"Do you remember our discussion last night?"

Kyoko said with a cold voice.

"Of course, don't worry. I won't involve Kanako nor let her know I'm involved."

Kyoko inspected Kai's eyes for any signs of lying.

"I trust that you'll know what it means to fight against the Dark Guild?"

"Of course."

Kai answered with confidence in his tone.

"We're fighting a God here, an entity no Human can stand up against."

"I know."

Kyoko stared into Kai's eyes.

"Why are you trying to fight a God whose very being strikes fear into all?"

Kai smiled.

"Cause that God provoked me first."

Kai's expression turned fierce which caused Kyoko and Kane to shiver.

"But I won't involve myself in the purge."

Kai waved his hand.

"I'll have to use that time to train my senses."

Kyoko lowered her head with one hand supporting her chin.

"Do you have confidence of taking down that God?"

Kai gave a confident hmph.

"That God is child's play. I'm more worried about how the other Gods would react."

"Kai, what is your true identity?"

Kane finally spoke.

"Me?"

Kai pointed at himself.

"I'm just an average kid."

Kai grinned.

"Well, I'll be going now."

Kai began to walk out.

"Oh wait, I forgot. Kane, can you teach me close-quarters starting tomorrow?"

Kane nodded.

"No problem."

Kai bowed his head slightly and walked out while closing the door.

"That's two problems solved."

Now to test myself.

Kai walked back towards the Combat Area.

"She should've already left."

Instead of going to Kanako's private area, he went to the Sparring Area where he could fight anyone from the guild.

In the Sparring Area, there was a booth for challenging a specific person, of course you'd have to have both consents.

It's called the Challenge Booth, it doesn't allow killing.

The Grudge Booth, sometimes personal grudges are involved so this forces both players to fight. Of course the grudge has to be deep in order for this to happen.

Lastly, the Open Combat Area, it allows one person to make a challenge to everyone and anyone can fight him until the challenger passes out or forfeits on his own.

Out of all the booths, the only one that allows killing is the Grudge Booth, so mortal enemies make use of this and fight each other to the death. The other booths allow nothing more than a slightly serious injury like bone-breaking. Near-death isn't allowed and will be reprimanded immediately.

Kai went towards the Open Combat Area, people did not mind thinking he was there to watch. But when he walked towards the booth specifying he was there to challenge, he was eliciting gazes full of scorn.

"Does this kid think we're pushovers?"

"Tch, he thinks just because he got in here through that coward, he thinks he can take us?"

"Ryo must've put him up to it. Making us look bad."

"If we challenge him, it's like we're bullying him but look, he's the one challenging us."

"I guess we shouldn't hold back! Hahaha!"

There were countless comments like these hoping that Kai was truly challenging them. Not one person here didn't know that Kai got in through Ryo's invite.

"I'd like to issue a challenge to everyone."

Kai walked up to the booth and said. At first the guy inside the booth didn't notice due to Kai's small stature but after a few tries Kai finally got his attention.

"You want to challenge everyone..?"

The man narrowed his eyes.

"This challenge is mostly used for one to temper themselves. It's not the right place for kids."

Kai rolled his eyes causing the veins to show on the man's head.

"Fine!"

He walked out of the booth and rang a bell in his hand to gather everyones attention.

"Attention everyone! This little gentleman here is issuing an open challenge to everyone."

Everyone sneered at Kai.

"Tch. I knew it."

"His head is too big."

After a few minutes of nobody speaking up Kai got tired of waiting and decided to provoke them again.

"What's wrong? You're all too scared I see."

Everyone went mad.

"HUUUHH?! YOU THINK WE'RE SCARED OF YOU?!"

A man who had an easy temper yelled out.

Everyone would've mock that guy for challenging a brat but did nothing when they figured out who he was.

"Isn't that the Mad Bull?!"

"He was here all along?!"

Many people were surprised as they recognized the man.

Mad Bull?

Kai tilted his head.

I think I remember that title from one Kanako's reminders.

"There are seven people in this guild called the Seven Prodigies, me and my sister are two of them and the others are.."

Yeah, that's it. I heard about Mad Bull there.

"Out of all the Seven Prodigies, Mad Bull is often easy to provoke so do not threaten him or do anything to get on his bad side, he's vicious when he's mad."

I didn't really mind that warning back then seeing as I can take him with a flick of my finger.

Kai's hand pointed towards Mad Bull and he gestured for him to come in a mocking manner.

Mad Bull's face turned red as he grit his teeth and veins showed on his temple.

"YOU'RE AN ARROGANT KID AREN'T YOU?!"

Mad Bull stepped unto the stage as Kai followed.

"I'll let you go first."

This kid is crazy, provoking the already fuming Mad Bull everyone thought.

"HAAAA!"

Mad Bull roared with rage as he rushed towards Kai.

"He's using his special move right off the bat! Looks like he's really angry!"

"[MAD BULL'S CHARGE]!"

His head was lowered while charging forward just like a bull.

"I see where he got his name.."

Kai didn't move an inch.

"Ha! Look, the kid's scared out of his wits!"

These people are annoying..

Kai rolled his eyes as he waited for Mad Bull.

The stage they were on was at least fifty meters apart. When compared to other stages it was small since only Knights use this stage.

Most people with great physical ability or magic could clear that fifty meters in less than five seconds.

Just when Mad Bull was a feet away from Kai, his right knee shot up.

CRACK

That kid's bones probably cracked! Many thought with closed eyes. Even before Kai's movement, they already had closed eyes.

Everybody was already mourning for the overconfident kid except a few who opened their eyes.

But those few already had mouths agape and eyes as wide as an owl.

Thump

When those sounds were heard, the people who had closed eyes opened them imagining Kai on the floor.

When they opened their eyes, their faces were so amusing it made Kai want to laugh right then and there yet he remained a calm composure.

He turned his head around to the announcer.

"What's wrong? Announce my victory already."

"Uhh, right."

The announcer said blinking twice.

"Challenger, one! Challenged, zero!"

Nobody noticed the announcer as they were still staring at Mad Bull's limp body.

It was a complete knockout.

One person in the crowd who had his eyes closed before asked the man next to him.

"Did you see what happened?"

"No, I had my eyes closed thinking the kid would be broken in half.."

"I saw it."

A man behind the two said.

"Quick, tell us what happened!"

"Yeah!"

"I'm not sure if you want to hear it.. But I'll spill."

A few seconds earlier

Right as the audience closed their eyes, Mad Bull arrived in front of Kai and was about to hit him. But before Mad Bull's head came in contact with Kai's abdomen, his face met Kai's knee.

CRACK

His face was already black and blue from the hit but Kai wasn't done there. His right knee stretched and his right foot kicked Mad Bull's abdomen. When the kick made contact, Mad Bull flew across the stage landing ten meters away and hitting the floor.

His eyes already lost consciousness after the second hit, the first only made him suffer a concussion.

Present

"So he was defeated in an instant..!"

"How..?"

The man shrugged his shoulders.

"I don't know. I just told you what I saw. With just the power of his kicks, he made Mad Bull suffer a slightly-serious injury which was on the border of serious."

"Did he.. hold back? Mad Bull is one of the Seven Prodigies, I don't believe he'd be taken out just like that.."

"Mad Bull was probably caught off-guard!"

People around them refused to believe Kai didn't win by chance.

But everyone's conversations were halted when a confident voice was heard.

"You don't believe me?"

Kai was sitting on the floor with one leg down and one knee raised up with one hand over.

"Then, come at me."