Father and son discuss philosophical viewpoints, the plan backfires.

Eifion assessed the grounds, walking slowly across the pavement, pacing as if he was slowly falling into madness. While Annex was on the school grounds, working on the new "upgrades", he was left Nen-less.

Sure, he had his basics and advanced techniques… but if Victor decided to show up on the school grounds, he had no way of transporting him off the grounds. He, himself, could still technically teleport, but at best, he was looking at a maximum of ten meters, plus… it was super taxing on his body.

Without the Nen field, he couldn't maximise that skill.

Not only that, there was no way to sufficiently track them on the grounds; he was out here, acting like bait on purpose.

Luca slapped his hands on the man's shoulder, stopping him from pacing.

The man stopped, but he still looked worried.

With a sigh, Luca spoke calmly, "Relax… nothing will go wrong."

"And if it does…?"

"Eifion the pessimist is back I see. You and Vastorie planned this out. The man is already working on the Inscription Sigil. I'm here to supply support, whether it's physical or emotional. You need to relax and think calmly. Plan what you'll need to do, if… Victor shows up. I'll pass the message along to the kids if he shows up. The longer we delay him here, the better chance we have to not only regroup with Vastorie but get them out of danger."

"You're right…" Eifion took a calm, deep breath. Stilling his figure, he looked towards the gate, the main entrance. If the man decides to come, believing he can step on the grounds, this would be the best spot to attack.

It'll also be the one place the Deacon would likely be.

Luca gave the man a peck on the cheek, "Good. Now do what you do best… plan for the worst possibility." Oh shit, I did that while the boys were in the background, watching us. I don't think they'll be disgusted by the action, but now I have to explain the situation to them… Eifion's definitely, not going to like this.

"Everyone dies…?"

"No… the man showing up."

"Right… optimistic thoughts… not pessimistic ones." He paused, looking over his friend's troubled features.

"Everything okay…?"

The man nodded, "I just thought of something really stupid…"

"Like…"

"What if someone saw me kissing you…?"

Eifion looked the man up and down, eyes flickering to his surroundings, "Doesn't look like anyone did. Please be more cautious, I don't want people thinking negatively of you."

The man smiled at the words, "Okay… that means a lot to me, that you care about me."

Eifion gave a nod in response to the words, eyes looking over the school. No matter what, he'll make sure everyone is safe.

"~"

Daniel and Killua watched from afar, the deacon yet to detect them. Looks like Luca was right, he was unable to detect them, like he first did when they encountered him. This was good news for them, considering Daniel's Zetsu wasn't exactly, perfect.

However, he was sure if he got too close, the man's En field would be able to detect them. They were trying to stay as far as possible, while still being close to the man. Although, the kiss Eifion had received from Luca was surprising.

Sure, the way Luca originally tried to argue they weren't close, made him suspicious, but the way Eifion reacted made them feel the relationship was one-sided. However, that wasn't their concern right now… it was making sure that if Victor did show up, they'll be able to access the situation and help when needed.

Daniel, however, had other ideas, "You think Eifion and Luca are in a relationship…?"

"Huh…?" The boy reacted in confusion. Daniel's raised eyebrow didn't help me in the slightest, "Oh, right… yeah… it's possible. But it seems one-sided to me. Why did you bring it up?"

"Just making small talk… we don't know if he who shall not be named is going to show up."

"Speaking his name doesn't summon him from the pits of hell. He's a monster… not Bloody Mary."

"Right…" Daniel chuckled at the suggestion "So why do you think it's one-sided?"

"Eifion doesn't react… like at all. Well, like how one would usually react with affection…"

"Like a blushing Tsundere…?"

Killua turned to face his partner "I'm not-" He stopped once he saw a sly smirk gracing his partner's cheeks. Of course, he'd fall for that trick. That's how Daniel saw him… and it was how he normally reacted to affection. But Eifion was… different.

He didn't react at all to the affection; in fact, he continued to act like his normal self, "It doesn't matter. It doesn't look like he's reacting to the affection."

"I think he reciprocates it…"

"What makes you believe that…?"

"I dunno… it's just a gut feeling." It wasn't so much a gut feeling to him, it's just he believes Eifion doesn't feel like he'll be the type to openly reciprocate those feelings. It could also be that because he's the Deacon, he acts more reserved on school grounds. He's trying to appear more composed, as opposed to his partner.

It also could be that's how Luca always treated behind closed doors.

Killua hummed at the answer, his eyes falling on the man deep in thought. Daniel tends to see the world differently to him. Maybe he's right… maybe Eifion just doesn't show affection physically, but rather through words. It's not like he could read their lips from that far, "Maybe you're right…"

"~"

Victor stood still, overlooking the school from afar. He could see the deacon with another man, standing out in the open. A while ago someone stepped onto the grounds, but nothing had fundamentally changed on the school grounds.

He had been given a tip, that something was going to change in the school. But he guessed today wasn't that day. Sighing, the man crossed his arms, annoyed at the situation. When are things going to change…?

Unless… was the person lying to him, getting his hopes up for nothing? For what purpose? The person has nothing to gain by lying to him… or what if they removed the manipulation, hoping to drive him mad with rage, luring him away from the school while they work on whatever they plan to do…?

Victor was suddenly forced to dodge, moving to the left as a rock sailed past his face, hitting the building in front of him. He turned, eyes narrowing, fingers sharping for the battle to come ahead.

Yet, he found himself stop, eyes meeting the man that had attacked him, his son… the one he has been trying to free from his duties, "Why are you here?"

Sitting comfortably, the man offered him a smirk and silence. He held another rock, prepared to launch it like a cannon. He offered no words, just a reason for the man to keep his attention glued to him.

"Ercole, why are you here…?"

"Can't a man visit his baby batter dispenser, helicopter parent… when he's standing outside a school under his protection? You may think you're looking out for me, but this school is a source of my income."

"So, you do care about your son…?"

"Care…? My son…?" Vastorie feinted ignorance, "Given the fact I had never mentioned his name at all, you're pulling quiet the assumption out of your ass… and you are one tight asshole." The man reacted with disgust. Good, maybe that'll get your undivided attention "Besides, wouldn't I have visited him instead, unless… you believe I care about you instead? I did after all go after the one, I care about… if I were to use your own, reasoning and words against you."

"If you truly cared about your father, you wouldn't act irrationally. You'd let me do my job."

"Well, I'm doing my job then… protecting my ass-ets. I built that school… I won't let you ruin it, for anyone."

"Built…" The man's eyes snapped towards the building "Anyone…?" Then the guy- He felt the rock sail past him, hitting the building in front of him, creating another crack. He grits his teeth in annoyance, frustrated at himself for not realising it sooner. The school was another object holding him back… just like that child…

"You shouldn't get distracted…"

"You don't need toys…" Victor slowly turned, facing his son once more, "They'll only break."

Vastorie only smirked at the response, "Your threat holds no sway against me. Leave this place or-" Forcing himself away from the spot, he felt a surge of aura rush past him, barely grazing his skin. His father tried to attack him with his ability, and while he wasn't about to tempt fate, he needed him distracted, away from that school for as long as possible, "Nice try… but my ability stops you from using against me. It clashes with the rules of my own, ability."

"The dead have no sway, against sleeping…"

"Sure, they do… you never heard of being dead tired?" He made a childish gesture, pretending as though he had hit some imaginary drums "Ba-dum-tss…" While it angered his father, he managed to keep the man's attention on him. This means, fighting him was the only way he'll keep his attention.

Vastorie shifted his position, charging his father. He started with an open palm strike, hitting the man hard in the chest. Aura surged towards his hand, building up for a pulse wave.

Instead, Victor swung his arms outward, pushing his son away. He sent out a surge of aura, this time washing his son with his Nen ability. He needed Ercole to sleep, so he can do his job without being postponed for longer than he needed.

Vastorie smirked, "Nice try, but you'll only activate the condition of my ability." Bringing out his hand, he gestured for his father to come at him. Even if the conditions do not hold, that his father could indeed put him to sleep… provided he's holding his father, he'll be dragged in as well.

Victor frowned, "You should be asleep by now…"

Vastorie took a step forward, challenging his father "You taught me to stay awake for long periods, of time… or did you forget, like what you did to mother…"

"She stepped out of line… If she hadn't…" The man stopped himself, "If she hadn't tried to run with you, she wouldn't have suffered the consequences."

Vastorie grit his teeth, "Well, if you're weren't a power-hungry, cocksucker…" He kicked his father in the chest, "She wouldn't be dead!" He brought up his knee, slamming it into the man's chin before punching him several times in the face, "You just couldn't let go of your masterpiece…"

Bringing his fist down, Victor caught it before hitting his son once more with a pulse of aura, "And if you didn't run away, I wouldn't have to kill so many people to make a point…"

Victor's extended hand was grabbed by his son, used to repeatedly punch himself in the face. He stumbled backwards on the last strike, "If you fell in line… I wouldn't have to take your toys away."

Vastorie swung his fist forward, stumbling forward in the process. His eyes widened at the prospect. He had gotten so lost in his blind rage, that Victor's ability was starting to take control of his body, forcing the tiredness to kick in. If he doesn't grab the man now, forcing his ability to activate, Eifion will be forced to hold the man back until he wakes up.

In a last-ditch effort, he tried to grapple his father, but the man promptly slapped his hand away, sending another wave of aura within his body. He dropped down to one knee, desperately trying to keep one eye open.

Even if he falls asleep now, he can cut his ability short… it'll just take him a few minutes to recover.

"Now be a good boy… while I clean up your mess."

"Over my dead body…"

Victor tilted his head slightly, confused at his son's statement. He needed him alive… his family was holding him back. Once they were out of the picture, he'll be able to become submissive again, to become the ruthless killer he was meant to be, "No…" The man stated calmly, turning his back to his son as he walked away.

Vastorie fell face-first onto the floor, vision fading. I need to recover soon… hold on Eifion… I'm coming back… When he closed his eyes, his vision faded to black.

"~"

Eifion felt his presence, long before he saw him. He shoved Luca away, nimbly moving his body out of the way of the incoming attack. Sharpened nails sliced past his cheek, cutting a thin line that trickled blood.

His eyes darted to the man, the person he'd have to defend the school from. However, now that he's on school grounds, he has only his physical strength to rely on. The last attack was nothing more than a fluke.

"Eifion?!"

"I'm fine… stay back, I'll deal with him."

"Give me the boy and I'll leave everyone alone…"

Shifting his feet, the deacon stepped calmly towards the enemy, "This is my school… and I'll defend it, no matter who's attacking it." Stopping meters away, he put up his guard. Even if he couldn't use Nen, the man was still a threat.

Vastorie was trained by this person from a young age…

While his mentor may have developed his own, fighting style after being detached from his father for years, this person was still a man who had a repository of experience, when compared to his trainer.

It wasn't going to be easy taking down Victor, but if he could hold out for long enough, he and Vastorie combined could take him down… or at worst, he'll need to survive long enough for the alterations to be made.

Then, he could send Victor off to another area like an ejector seat.

Victor lunged, dealing three rapid strikes against the man, each strike barely missing. He raised his foot, attempting to kick the man down, but the deacon caught his foot, twisting it to throw off his stance.

Eifion brought down his hand, attempting to shatter the man's leg, but the enemy swung his other foot around, attempting to pin his body down.

Like a slug, Eifion wiggled his way out, bringing his hands out to slam it into the man's chest. He scored a strike, but Victor had tanked it, sliding only a few feet away, "Damn-" He avoided another strike, but his open guard stopped him, from being able to stop the next attack, a palm hitting him on the underside of his chin.

Eifion returned the strike, slamming his fist into the man's face. He tried to use the action to create some distance, but like a man who had no fear of death… of losing, a fist connected with his face, stunning him momentarily.

Victor took the opportunity, finger poised for the man's neck, "One down…"

"~"

Vastorie woke from his slumber, checking his watch quickly, "Fuck! Five minutes have passed…" He left into action, heading straight for the school, calling the one person he needed to reach immediately.

The dial tone rang three times before it was picked up "I'm a little busy-"

"I don't care! Enable the teleportation aspect, NOW!"

"That would drain the power of-"

"I'll fucken charge it! Enable it, NOW! Everyone in the school is in danger."

"Alright, I'll work on it… it'll take some-"

"NOW!" He hung up, feeling bad for the sudden request, but Victor was too dangerous to leave alone with anyone. The havoc that man could cause in a few minutes, could be devastating to the lives he touches, even without the use of his Nen. He cycled through his numbers, making another call, "Knov, I have a request but you're not going to like it. Prep Ashiena's hospital, they… may have one or more patients coming in the next few minutes. I'll pass on the details when they come in… and whatever you do, don't tell Cheadle!"

"~"

"Time…" Vastorie had hung up before he could finish. While he likes the challenge, sometimes he feels like he's being forced against the wall by the man's incapacitating attitude. He knows lives are on the line, but the underlying issue, the one the man hinted at without saying outright…

He wanted his newest task done, at the same time as his current one.

It made his lips curl into a twisted smile, maniacal, in nature. Vastorie wants to shove him against the wall… he'll shove the man back. A challenge was just that, a task to be completed. No matter how taxing the task was to him, he'll get to smite Vastorie with the bill later.

The man will pay extra… he doesn't care about the funds.

But in the grand scheme of things, this was a task he's willing to complete, even without charging Vastorie extra.

After all, his life was on the line too. He was in the school, and whatever was freaking that man out, must be a powerful figure… If not in political power, at least in the Nen department. Bringing out his hand, aura curled into his palm, creating the outline of the one creature he knows could help him out in his task.

"Grand Scheme!"

The dragon appeared before his master, fluttering around the man as it spoke "Yes, master?"

"I want you to pull up the barrier for Xavier's school of the gifted. I need you to isolate the Sigil connected to the teleportation mechanical feature."

Shining brightly, the dragon's eyes projected a 3D image of fiery blue light. The section related to his request brightened while the other faded away. Using his free hand while he continued to work, he moved around the field, searching for the connection between that, and the entire system.

If he can sever the connection, he'll be able to turn on that feature while still having the one he's working on, continue to remain disabled. His eyes darted between both tasks, hands constantly gesturing to the marks he'll need to take out.

Crossing out the last line, he made his next request, "Can you snuff out these markings for me?"

"I want a treat…"

Annex stopped to look at his Chibi dragon, blinking rapidly, "What…?"

"I want a treat!"

The man let out a sigh, forgetting that his master helped bolster his ability, by developing the creature's personality, to a certain degree. To put it bluntly… it likes to randomly ask for small tasks on incrementing requests.

Just like its master, the Nen creature demands tasks in return for extra requests.

He looked back to his current task, smiling gleefully, "Would you like pats, to be pampered, or food…?"

"A pat…"

Stopping his task for a moment, he held the creature in a hug, gently brushing its head with his fingertips. The tiny dragon smiled gleefully, "Complete the task and I'll give you a second treat of your choosing."

"Yay!" It fluttered off into the distance. The man smiled before returning to his task. I swear… sometimes having these random fits can be quite fun to deal with…

"~"

Eifion prepared for the impact, surging aura around his body. He needed to teleport away from the individual. Sure, it was taxing and gave away that he could still teleport, but at least he'll be able to extend the battle… making Victor weary from the action.

But instead, he felt a pair of hands push him out of the way. Shoving him out of the line of attack. His eyes widened once they focused, drawn to the man that's cared for him most of his life.

Luca had taken the attack in his place, fingers slicing through his neck, blood pooling around his mouth as he tried to stop the bleeding.

He was in shock, eyes unable to tear away from the image. He felt like he was a teen all over again, feeling weak, as a powerful figure stood over his friend's body, neither angry nor sad at having failed to beat his original enemy.

All Eifion could do in the very moment, was what his mind allowed him to… to call out his best friend's name, the man who loved him for a long time "LUCA!"