Another in between chapter featuring Serph and a reformed certain person. Still working on planning the next arc, but it's a bunch of small details about minor characters that are dragging me down.

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Serph woke up to an unusual sight this morning. As he opened the door, there was a young man in West Wind Academy's robes kowtowing in front of his door. "Who are you?" Serph asked.

The young man looked up. He had burns on his cheek and his arms. It was Haman. "I'm here to ask for forgiveness," said Haman.

"What for?" asked Serph.

"I tried to kill you and Akiza more than once," said Haman. "I am here to apologize for it and I am not leaving until you accept it."

"Well, the one you need to convince is not me, but rather Akiza," said Serph. "Though I would like you to convince your uncle to not try to kill Akiza."

"I have already convinced Master Saki to let me fight Akiza in his place," said Haman.

"Is it for revenge?" asked Serph.

"No," said Haman. "I believe that is the only way Akiza would agree to see me."

"Why are you doing this?" asked Serph.

"I saw what my uncle was like," said Haman. "Even though he trained me, he was doing it for revenge against Master Cixi. Master Saki felt humiliated when I was defeated and Akiza was saved by Master Cixi. A younger Master had intervened and Master Pai Mei took the side of the younger Master as well."

Serph looked at Haman's arms. Even though the burns left by Akiza were still visible, there were other kinds of injuries present. There were recent bruises. Even if it was just training, it was sever. The wounds look like they were caused intentionally as well. "What kind of person do you want to be?" asked Serph.

"I want to be the greatest," said Haman. "What I was earning before was not respect, it was fear. People got out of my way because they feared me, not because they respected me. I want to be known the greatest, but I want to be respected, not feared."

"I will forgive you if you apologize to Akiza," said Serph.

"Where is she by the way?" asked Haman.

"She left with Master Cixi to train at Labyrinthos," said Serph. "I doubt you will see her for a while."

"Then there's nothing I can do," said Haman.

"You can show me that you truly wish to apologize," said Serph.

"How can I do that?" asked Haman.

"I want to see how you fight," said Serph.

"I know I cannot defeat you though," said Haman.

"It isn't about winning," said Serph. "You won't be able to win every fight, but I care about what you do when you are in a fight you cannot win. If I see that you truly have changed, then I will help you."

The two headed to the Training Grounds. A few spectators gathered. Both Serph and Haman were at the Emperor Stage now and it was rare to see two people at that level of development fight.

Serph activated his Armatization and covered himself from head to toe in his armor. Behind him floated his four swords and he carried a fifth in his hand. Haman activated his armatization. The sword in his hand had a hint of green and a poisonous fog began to spread from his body. The ground underneath Haman turned into a small green pool of liquid. It was most likely poisonous as well.

"Whenever you're ready," said Serph.

The spectators backed away from the poisonous fog. It was Haman's Domain. However, Serph was protected by his own Domain and since Haman's was spread far and thin, there was no way for it to actually penetrate Serph's defenses.

Haman dashed forward and slashed with his sword. Serph used his own to parry it. CLING. Serph's sword began to turn green in color as he backed away. His sword was melting from the poison. "That's my new ability," said Haman.

"I see, but that won't be a problem for me," said Serph. He materialized another sword in his hand.

"Incredible," said Haman. "In the past, I would have been jealous of such an ability, now I marvel at its wonder."

Serph kept an eye on Haman's hands. Haman was known for throwing dirt from his hands as a sneak attack in the past. There was a chance he would do the same.

Haman pulled out a fan of daggers from his sleeves. He closed his eyes as each one began to be tinted green. He was spreading his poison along the daggers. "I can't use more than one sword, but I can do this!" he said. He now held five throwing daggers in one hand and a sword in another. It was his solution to being unable to wield two swords.

Serph noticed that the poison on the ground was spreading. The pool of green had gotten wider. It was slow, but Haman had created a time limit. If Serph did not finish Haman off, the pool of green poison would cover the entire stage. Serph instantly closed the distance. "Sonic Rush!" He charged forward with his bare hands.

"I got you!" said Haman as he swung his sword. CLING. His sword clashed against one of the swords from Serph's back. Haman was smiling. It was a very familiar grin that he had when he thought he had won. However, Serph's sword was not melting. "How can it stand against my poison?!?" shouted Haman.

"These swords and my armor are all special," said Serph. He had enhanced it with Divine Energy. Haman could not sense it yet, so he could not tell. The extra Divine Energy made it impossible for Haman to cut through it. BOOM. Serph punched Haman in the stomach.

In the spot that Serph had it, Haman had turned it green as well. It was coated with poison. Serph looked at the armor on his hand and it had a little of the poison on him. If he did not had the armor, he would have been affected by it. But, Haman's power had one great weakness. The strength of a Domain is influenced by how far you spread it. Haman's poison always spread outwards from him, resulting in a much weaker Domain than another person at the Emperor Stage.

"I concede," said Haman.

"Are you sure?" asked Serph.

"I cannot break your armor the way I am now," said Haman. "I know I have lost."

"You give up too easily," said Serph. "If you concentrated your Domain, you might be able to do it."

"Concentrate Domain?" said Haman. "What is that?"

"It's when you focus your Domain, in your case, your poisonous fog, into a very small area," said Serph. "It is more effective for offense and defense. Didn't Master Saki teach you this?"

"No," said Haman. "He only made me focus on gathering Internal Energy to become stronger."

"I see," said Serph. "But, you didn't use any dirty tricks this time, which is good in a fight like this."

"I'm trying to change," said Haman.

"But in the real world, it is okay to use tricks like that," said Serph.

"Why is it okay out there?" asked Haman.

"When you are fighting another to test your abilities, tricks are used for distraction and manipulation," said Serph. "When fighting out in the real world, it is for survival, and you do what you must to survive. There's a difference."

"I see," said Haman. "Thank you for the pointers," said Haman as he bowed.

"For now, I will believe that you are trying to change," said Serph. "But you are not out of the dog house yet, I will keep an eye on you to make sure, but if you want to spar with me again, I will accept."

"Thank you Master Serph," said Haman.

"You don't have to call me that, I turned down that position," said Serph.

"Why?" asked Haman.

"A position gives you prestige and fame, but that isn't the only thing to be going after," said Serph. "It works for someone like you who wants to be known and respected, but it does not for me."

"May I ask what are you after?" asked Haman.

"Much like you, I do want some respect, but only from my father," explained Serph. "I don't care much about what most other people think of me."

"Then why are you still here at West Wind?" asked Haman. "You should be strong enough."

"That's because the Grandmaster has entrusted me with a task," said Serph. "Until I accomplish it, I will put my own goals aside."

"Isn't that against your own goals?" asked Haman. "Why are you doing such a thing?"

"Sometimes, in order to be respected by someone, you have to do things that may conflict with your original goals," said Serph. "In the long run through, there is importance. We often judge what we get from doing something based on what happens immediately after and we fail to consider long term."

"Is that why you are doing this?" asked Haman.

"Yes, someone saved me, and I owe it to them to save them," explained Serph.