Ey.

Chapter 31.

Now this Chapter, it turned out far longer than what I expected. One time you try to quickly insert something 'new' in a story and you end up polishing that scene until it takes a quarter of the Chapter...Sigh

Anyway, finally time for some more 'self-reflection' as well as some more information regarding our OC over here. Might seem a little cringe in some places, but then again, 'that' is not my forte at all.

With that said, hope you enjoy the read.

Kay bye.

XXX

"[What do you think, Young Master?]" The tall if somehow unremarkable individual to his side asked after the fight had commenced.

Fuzen for his part stood motionlessly, watching the fight unfold with interest.

A couple more Kobolds were still alive, not demotivated at all at the Magic Stones on the ground which indicated just how many others of their kind died in this very spot.

One of the Monsters began to sprint, his target the smallest member of the group of six. She noticed it from the corner of her eye, ducking low to avoid a sweeping claw attack. From her low position she jumped towards the Monster's exposed chest, pushing her short-sword inside his flesh.

But she lacked the proper knowledge and thus missed the Magic Stone's location. The Kobold cried in pain but anger quickly took over. It opened it's jaw, no doubt trying to bite the woman's head off.

Just then the head of a spear was pushed through the back of it's head, all the way to the inside of it's mouth. The Kobold quickly dispersed into ash. The two fighters exchanged a quick nod before breaking off to reinforce the sides which were getting overrun.

What do I think, he asks…Well, they are no Lightning Sword Style Initiates, but…

"[They...are doing good.]" He finally decided on his words as he continued to watch them fight. "[It seems you trained them good.]"

In truth, when Fuzen tasked Kato to build him a web of information by selecting individuals he believed to be suited for the task of serving him after paying for his prosthetic arm at the Dian Cecht Pharmacy, he mostly gave the man liberty in order to see how he would try to betray him.

He had wanted to see the man's true side, and yet...he didn't expect him to drag this out so long. After all, Kato alone trained those six individuals Fuzen planned to task with the protection of the East District. The man also managed to build a web of information which spread over all of Orario, using both his connections he built over the years he lived in Orario as well as the influence of his new Familia to expand said web until it covered all of Orario.

No insults or threats at Fuzen or the East District as a whole would go unnoticed by Kato anymore.

I guess...This means that either these people are really good at acting, or they really don't want to betray me? Hmm...

"[Thank you, Young Master!]" The man replied with a deep bow of his head, happy that his achievements were to Fuzen's liking.

"[The fastest Level Up to date has been my Familia's Wallenstein in one year. How fast can you get them to Level 2?]" Fuzen asked as the fight had almost come to an end, barely four Kobolds left. His people would dispatch them soon.

Kato would have desired to say that as long as Fuzen wished it, he would get them to Level 2 within the week. But, as much as he loved praise from his Master he was also a very realistic person who did not enjoy giving false hope. "[...Hard to say, Young Master. Their loyalty to you proved to be what allowed those otherwise weak individuals to survive my training regime and go beyond the human limits, but...A Falna cares little for such things. Their Stats need to first rise to D Rank or above, and they need to perform feats remarkable enough...I think expecting them to Level Up any sooner than one and a half year would be foolish.]"

How the hell am I involved in anything? I barely talked to them three times until now…

Confused as he was at the man's words, Fuzen simply nodded. "[Mhm. Good enough. See to it, then. I am an Adventurer and as such, I will not always be present when threats to the East District appear. Dealing with those threats when the time comes falls to you and to them.]"

Kato bowed his head low, his voice at least three times louder than before. "[Yes, Young Master!]"

This guy's mood swings are no joke…

Noticing the fight had come to an end, Fuzen raised an arm. "[To me.]" Within the next five seconds the six individuals were gathered before him in two rows of three, all taking a knee before their Master.

This is so weird...Ugh…

Holding himself back from wincing, Fuzen dropped his arm to the side and took a moment to scan his people: none had received any injuries from their fight just now. "[Though you were blessed with a Falna just a short while ago, it seems you managed to avoid getting injured and fought off the Monsters with efficiency while looking out for each other. That is good.]" Immediately he noticed their stares on him intensify. It was not a pleasant feeling. "[With that said, you have reached but the start of the line. This is not the limit of what you are capable of.]"

A collective bow followed next, one so disciplined Fuzen believed for a second that they were all connected with strings. "[We shall strive to meet your expectations, Young Master!]"

Like...you don't need to shout...Heavens, I'll need to have a talk with them soon about their behaviour…

"[M-Mhm. Good. Then, as your new Deity has agreed to update your Status once every month, your task will be to grow as much as possible until that time comes. Kato, do you still have enough budget left to last you the month?]"

"[...I will inform you in case we run out, Young Master. However, I believe our current monthly budget will suffice until our group grows stronger.]"

"[Acceptable. Then go. You have a lot of work ahead of you until you are capable enough.]" Fuzen voiced as he made a hand gesture for them to rise and go train. However, the group of six before him looked uneasy for a long moment, their eyes staring at the ground. "[...What is it?]"

"[There is...one thing, Young Master.]" Kato replied as he moved from Fuzen's side to the front, standing in front of his trainees.

"[Explain.]"

"[Well...It concerns our group. We are now official, right? Seeing how Young Master approved of us.]" The man almost in his thirties asked as he moved his body nervously, fidgety.

It made Fuzen himself frown. "[Get to the point.]"

"[Well...we would like Young Master to give our group a name.]" The boy could see their eyes reflect the expectation they held.

"[That's…]"

Stupid.

He wanted to tell them, but he couldn't. They looked so...happy at the idea of being granted a name, Fuzen could not bring himself to tell them how stupid a group of adults wishing for a collective name from a boy half their age was.

"[...Sigh...Genyutai. That shall be your name, then.]"

A collective gasp could be heard as the seven individuals all let the name sink in. To any non-easterner the name would hold little meaning, but they understood what stood at the core of their Master's choice of name.

After all, the name contained the Kanji for 'Origin', 'Cause' and 'Squad'.

It was a good name in their opinion.

"[In a hundred years from now, we all will be dead.]" Fuzen stated as he gained their full attention once more. "[However, the people from that time shall remember through their group's name alone what brought forth the inception of the Genyutai: injustice, and the anger of the weak. You are the first to act against this injustice which spread through the East District. You are the first civilians to take up arms and grow beyond what you ever thought possible. You are the first of the Genyutai. That is your honour and burden, alike.]"

Kato moved in front of the six and took a knee as well, his head bowed low. "[Thank you, my Lord. We shall not bring shame upon this name.]"

"[M-Mhm. Kato, you will remain the leader of the Genyutai and you will answer directly to me or Yamamoto. However, as long as you believe them to serve the interests of the East District, of my District, you may make spontaneous decisions as you see fit.]"

"[Understood.]"

"[Mhm. Then go, and grow stronger. That shall be your only focus for the months to come.]"

"[Yes, my Lord!]"

"[M-Mhm…]"

Little did they know but Fuzen's actions were hanging on the very line between what he was legally allowed to do and not. As a Tsuwamono he could grant his protection to any province or city he choose as long as said location was not under the protection of another Tsuwamono.

However, as a noble he had many restrictions placed upon him, as well.

Tsuwamono were a line of nobles granted their title not by right of birth, but by right of prowess. It could be seen as a 'hereditary title' as most children of Tsuwamono set out to become great warriors themselves thus earning the title as well, but it would become hereditary only if a set amount of generations in the past had earned themselves the title.

Fuzen himself had been required to prove his strength and was bestowed the title by the Emperor himself a short while prior to his arrival to Orario. Suffice to say, the nobles in the capital were no doubt glad to see him gone from their country.

The Imperial Court back in the Far East were afraid of them and had little desire to see them gain too much influence, as their individual power as fighters and warriors was already a great threat to them. In a way, allowing great warriors to become nobles had been a strategy the Imperial Court at the time used to assure their own safety.

After all, having all those blessed individuals without any sort of chains binding them be able to grant their protection to towns and provinces led to more than just a couple of fights where Tsuwamono fought one another to prove themselves the better.

This cut down their initial numbers excessively and kept their focus away from the Imperial Court and the Emperor, any thoughts of possible betrayal or coup d'etat replaced by ones of ever trying to proving themselves the best Tsuwamono.

A Tsuwamono with his own personal army at his command was something the other nobles would not take kindly to.

Not in the least.

Then again...we are not in the Far East so there's that at least, I guess...Sigh…

"You there." Lost in thought as he was Fuzen failed to sense the approaching group of people coming their way. A quick look at them told Fuzen all he needed to know: they were of the Ganesha Familia, if their masks and matching sash were anything to go by. At the head of their group was an Amazon with long, red hair. "What are you guys doing here?"

Fuzen in return raised his arm to the side, at the Magic Stones on the ground they had yet to collect. "Adventuring."

"Hmm. You are...Kenshi, right?" The Amazon asked as she stood a good couple meters away from him, narrowing her eyes as she gave him a thorough look.

"Of the Loki Familia, yes. Is there anything I can help you with, Farna-sama?"

"You know me?" The woman raised an eyebrow. She knew for certain they had not met in person so far.

"I know of all people of interest in Orario, Captains and Vice-Captains included." Fuzen replied.

The Amazon scanned him again, then Kato and his Genyutai. "And who are you? You don't look like Loki Familia to me. What Familia are you from?"

Indeed, the individuals now knows as Genyutai had been equipped by Fuzen himself. They all wore tight dark-brown clothes, their armour made up of a chest-piece, arm guards as well as shin armour, all made with Orc Hide. Though not very protective it was light and the Orc Hide was resistant to slash as well as piercing attacks. Their weapons, from swords to spears and dual axes were also Third Grade. They would not take on any Green Dragons with that equipment, but they were far better equipped and supplied than any other newbie Group of adventurers.

"They are my associates." Fuzen answered as he took a step to the side, positioning himself between the Amazon and the Genyutai.

Though the Deity who granted them their Falna accepted Fuzen's terms and did not make use of his people for their own ends, they asked to remain anonym. He would honour his word, by any means necessary.

"That did not answer my question." Iita Farna stated with a changed tone.

"It did, and far more than that, as well. They are my associates." He repeated, forearm resting on the hilt of his sword.

Silence followed next, Iita taking a moment to scan the Genyutai again. Then she sighed. Just like the rest of her Familia, she had seen the Vindictive War live and knew what happened to Al-Dale all too well. "...There's some murders going on in the Dungeon."

Fuzen had not heard of this from his Familia. If word had not yet reached Loki Familia, then this must have happened only recently or it meant the Guild and the policing force of Orario, Ganesha Familia, had tried to keep it under control.

That the woman made this knowledge known to him meant it was no longer under their control. Perhaps some sort of subtle hint that Fuzen should take this knowledge and make it known to others? "Murders, you say?"

"Yeah. Whole groups of Adventurers wiped out. We initially believed them to be unfortunate cases of Adventurers getting overrun by Monsters, but none of the dead had injuries caused by Monsters. They have been...bludgeoned to death." Iita gave a shrug as no other word came to her. "An enhanced Species is also out of the way, seeing how the murders took place on different Floors."

"What Floors?"

"First group that was found was on the 15th Floor. The latest one on the 28th Floor."

He took a moment to let the information sink in. Not many Adventurers made it that deep, as it required high enough Levels. "...Any First Tier Adventurer among the dead?"

"Not so far." Iita shook her head. "Highest ones were Level 4. There of them, belonging to the same Familia."

"Three Level 4? Then, the perpetrator must be at least Level 5." Fuzen voiced as he pondered.

"Yeah. It's why patrolling is not that easy as we'd like it to be." He understood what she meant. Ganesha Familia had the highest number of First Tier Adventurers with eleven Level 5's under their members. If the murderer himself could take on multiple Level 4's then that meant the groups that were tasked with patrolling needed a Level 5 of their own, to avoid unnecessary casualties among their ranks.

"I see." Fuzen nodded. "This is troubling."

"Yeah. Keep your guard up, Kenshi."

"...Thank you for the warning." He bowed his head slightly before the woman made a sign for her group to move on. "[...If the perpetrator's victims were found on the 15th Floor, it means he or she have little need of weak individuals. You may proceed as you were: you are not in any risk here on the Upper Floors.]"

Kato nodded. "[Understood. Then, we shall move on and train now, Young Master.]"

"[Mhm. I expect to see tangible results by the time their next Status Update is due.]"

Everything having been said, the group of seven moved on to search for the next Monsters while Fuzen made to leave the Dungeon.

That was...a request for help? I think? Would have been far easier had Farna-sama just said so. Anyway, I should bring this information to the Captain, right?

As he walked however, Fuzen felt the need to stop and look over his shoulder.

This information intrigued him.

Someone going down Floor by Floor killing whole groups of Adventurers.

Power?...No, they would have a concrete plan for that. They wouldn't simply go in blind like this. A challenge, then? Hmm…

XXX

Finn was at his desk, as always surrounded by stacks of papers.

Am I not doing this far too often…?

As always, the burdens of a Captain of a Familia as large as his were many, all of which needed to be addressed by him personally.

In truth he had done nothing but go over reports and possible Quests issued to them since he woke up a couple of hours prior. It was rather boring, however, so when he heard a knock at his door he immediately let go of the paper in his hands. "Come in."

"Thank you, Captain." Fuzen greeted him with a bow, walking up to stand before his desk. "I have something to inform you of."

"Oh? And what might that be?" Finn asked as he rested his chin on the back of his palms.

Fuzen began his report, making sure to inform Finn of everything the Vice-Captain of the Ganesha Familia told him. Her body language and change of tone were things the boy also added to his report, to Finn's intrigue. "I see. So that is happening right now, is it?"

"Apparently, yes." The boy nodded.

...Well, might as well make use of this opportunity.

"Fuzen."

"Yes, Captain?"

"What did you think it necessary to inform me of this?" Finn asked, leaning further forward as his eyes scanned the boy, already interested as to what his answer would be.

"...Well, a threat to the Adventurers in the Dungeon is also a threat to our members."

Finn gave him a slow nod. "Indeed. But what makes you think Iita Farna was asking for our help in this matter? She never once said it out loud, did she? That they needed help."

Fuzen took a moment longer to think. "...She told me of the murders I heard nothing about out of her own choice, despite not being required to do so. I believed she was either asking for my personal help, or that of Loki Familia as a whole. If either of my guesses were correct, then I would be required to inform you. Even if she only tried to ask me for help, I am a member of the Loki Familia. My involvement would need to be approved by you first, Captain."

"Mhm. Good." Finn have another nod at the answer. "Another question, then: You said you believed the Guild was trying to hide this information, as knowledge of these murders have not yet reached us. Why do you think they would go through the trouble of trying to keep this a secret?"

A frown appeared on Fuzen's face, the boy's eyes slowly moving down to stare at the floor. A second passed. Then five. As they passed by Finn began to tap a finger on the back of his palm, keeping track of how much Fuzen would need to come up with an answer. He stopped counting at twelve seconds. "Money...right?"

Finn's grin was hidden by his hands. "Elaborate."

"Well...if even a group of Level 4's were killed, then this information would no doubt discourage fresh Level 4's and below to go anywhere near the Lower Floors until the cause of these murders would be dealt with. This would in turn result in less Magic Stones being exchanged and Orario as a whole noticing a decrease in it's financial gain from the Adventurers until the perpetrator would be dealt with...I think?"

Good. Very Good. Finn grinned as he nodded slowly at the boy's answer. He was pleased, very much so in fact. A year ago he would have used himself as the standard for comparison and simply said it's because the Guild is scared. But now he is thinking far more down to earth. He can now understand matters from the perspective of someone weaker than him. That is very good, indeed…

"That is correct, Fuzen. In the end, it is a matter of money. The Magic Stones from the Lower Floors and below are far more valuable than the ones on the Upper and Middle Floors. Not to mention, not having any Adventurer presence would result in the numbers of Monsters in the Lower Floors increasing drastically if the search for the culprit were to take too long, to the point it might result in large group of Monsters moving to the Upper Floors and endangering those with lower Levels not capable of fighting them. Overall, the Guild cannot allow for the daily progress of Adventurers to be stopped just because of a couple murders."

"...That is dishonourable." Fuzen voiced after a moment of silence, Finn simply nodding in agreement.

"But you understand why it must be done, correct?"

"...Sigh...Yes, Captain. I do not like this sort of mindset, however."

"None of us do deep down, Fuzen."

"...Then, what will be our course of action?" He asked the Pallum.

"We will help." Finn replied, leaning back in his chair. "But on our own terms. I do not like the idea of our Second Tier members being in danger, either. So we will mobilize."

"Right away?"

"No." The blonde shook his head. "Our main focus will not be this series of murderers. We will instead help by preparing better and re-forming our groups so that they might all deal with any surprise attacks. We will also gather our whole Familia and inform them of this. But we must focus on increasing our own coffers first, as well as on the progress of our Familia as a whole."

"Understood." Fuzen agreed, then his eyes widened just the slightest bit as the realization hit him. "Where are the members of the Second Group?"

His reaction did not go unnoticed by the Pallum in the room. "Hmhm...They are not in the Dungeon, Fuzen. They all have the day off today."

"...I see."

"With that said, however…" Finn looked to his side, at a stack of paper in the corner. "Would you like to give me your opinion on some reports?"

"If the Captain thinks my opinion to be of any help, then gladly." The boy nodded, grabbing a chair from the table and placing it to the side of Finn's desk.

If only the Executives would be this willing to help with the administrative part of our Familia…

"Oh. Those are complaints about our members?" Fuzen asked as he went through a couple papers and noticed they shared the same similarities. "...About Loga-sama mostly, seems like."

"Hmhm, yes. It is often that other Familia file complaints at us: that we stole their kills, that we almost Pass Paraded them, things of that nature. The trick is to find out if they are simply trying to gain compensation from us on baseless accusations or if there is some truth to their claims."

"Mhh...I shall try my best."

"I'm here in case you have any questions."

And so the two continued on with their work in relative silence, only the shuffling of papers echoing in the room. It was not long until Finn decided to see just how much Fuzen had grown, however.

"Say, Fuzen."

"Yes, Captain?"

"Hypothetically speaking, what would you do…?"

Suffice to say the questions did not end until all the paperwork had been dealt with.

XXX

Growl!

As the girl woke up and stared at the white ceiling above her for a couple moments, that was the only sound she heard echoing inside her room. She raised an arm and rubbed her belly: she was hungry.

Very hungry, in fact.

"...Tione?" She turned her head and looked at the bed on the opposite side of the room: it was empty. "...Jeez, wake me up, too…"

The sun outside her window was high in the sky. She realized it must have been past midday already.

She and Tione had ventured into the Dungeon the day prior, staying there up until late at night. They arrived at the Twilight Manor in the morning and simply threw themselves in their beds after a quick bath.

"Mhhh~ Slept like a log." Getting up in a sitting position on the side of her bed, Tiona stretched her arms and back until she heard a Pop, then rose to her feet and made for her drawer.

She was, after all, fully naked.

She never understood why people slept in clothes when not in the Dungeon. It was far more comfortable her way.

Grabbing a change of her usual attire Tiona got dressed while a yawn escaped her lips. Granted it took her little time to get dressed, as her clothes were rather questionable just like those of other Amazons.

Once she was dressed and ready to go, Tiona left her room on the upper floors of the Twilight Manor and headed downstairs to the mess hall.

I hope there's still food left from lunch…

Loki Familia was large and thus as she missed lunch there was a high chance there was no cooked food left, which in turn meant she would need to go out to eat. That was a bit of a pain as she just woke up.

Growl!

"Shh, be quiet, you." Tiona spoke to her stomach as she rubbed it. "Don't worry, after yesterday's training we are going to eat until we pop!"

Feeling her energy slowly returning to her Tiona began to skip down the stairs, her usual smile finding it's way on her lips. Just waking up had no lasting effects on her, unlike her sister.

Because it's always more fun to be in a good mood!

That was her mindset, one she would not trade for anything in the world.

Before long she found herself at the mess hall. A couple of people were spread across the tables, eating their lunch while chatter filled the large room. "Mornin'!"

"It's a bit late for that." One member replied with a laugh.

"Hehe~You guys didn't eat all the food, did you?"

"There's still some left in the kitchen."

"Thanks!"

Wasting no more time Tiona skipped her way to the kitchen, walking to the far end of the mess hall and taking a left into the area where the food was prepared. She took a step inside, then dashed forward as she noticed him without realizing. "Morning!"

"It's midday." Fuzen replied with his back still turned to her.

"Don't sweat the small stuff!" Tiona replied, looking over his shoulder. "What'cha doing?!"

"Chicken soup." The boy voiced as he was peeling a carrot of it's shell, his skill with the knife just as high as with the sword. "If you desire food, there is still some stew over there-"

"I want chicken soup!" She cut him off with an excited shout.

"What-?"

"Chicken soup! I want!" Her face was now just a breath away from his own and Fuzen could swear he saw her eyes sparkle as she repeated her desire.

"...Very well. I can prepare some for you, too."

"Thanks!" The Amazon thanked him as she took a step back, allowing him some degree of space. Though she kept quiet she began to jump from side to side as she looked over his shoulders, making Fuzen no less able to concentrate.

"...You may wait until I am done. It will take at least an hour until it is finished."

"Lemme help!" She suggested.

"...Very well. Cut the carrots in small round pieces, then." He raised his knife to point at the carrot he already peeled to his side.

"Got'cha!" The Amazon girl saluted before jumping to his side, hand reaching for the carrot. Then the back of Fuzen's knife struck her on the fingers. "Auch! What was that for?!"

"Wash your hands first?" He replied.

"Oh...Forgot about that."

Sigh…

As he finished the second carrot he placed it before Tiona, then reached to take the lid off the pot that was boiling on the fire. With a spoon he skimmed the foam before turning the fire from high to low. Afterwards he grabbed a couple potatoes and began to peel them.

"...So, how's it going?" The girl besides him asked, apparently not able to work in silence.

"I am training. Learning. Then training some more."

"Neat!"

"Mhm."

"...Won't you ask me?"

"About what?"

"About how I'm doing?"

"...How are you doing?"

"I'm doing great, thanks!"

"…"

"…"

"…"

"...So where did you learn to cook?"

"...Nowhere specifically. I lived on my own for a couple years, and it turns out learning how to cook had it's benefits. As in, I managed not to starve to death."

"Nice!"

"Mhm. Also: your carrots are too big and uneven." He pointed out with his knife.

"Ehh? It's alright, isn't it?"

"Imagine you are preparing this soup for a sick person. You want the pieces to be small and bite-sized. You also want them roughly the same in order for all of them to cook evenly."

"I'll try, I'll try! Geez…"

GROWL!

The sudden sound had both of the teens stop in their tracks, both of their heads turning to the source of the growl: Tiona's stomach. Then they both raised their heads, hazel eyes meeting green. Though it was rarely that it happened, Tiona felt slightly embarrassed as the boy stared at her for a second longer.

He peeled the last of his potatoes then cut one half in small cubes. "Cut them like this." Fuzen told her as he let the knife on the counter, making his way to the storage room behind the kitchen.

He came back one minute later with a handful of potatoes, some parsley and a large piece of ribeye steak, kept fresh with the help of the cool boxes they possessed, which ran on Magic Stones. "What is that for?" Tiona asked as he laid the ingredients on the table besides her.

"Will soup be enough to sate you, Tiona-sama?"

She took a moment, looking between the piece of steak then back at Fuzen, back and forth. Then a smile took shape on her face, the girl almost jumping from joy. "You're making me steak?!"

"Mhm."

"You're the best, Fuzen!" The girl exclaimed as she began to imagine the taste of the juicy steak already.

"Hm? I haven't grasped the Heavens yet, though? I am far from the best just yet."

"Oh, just cook you oaf."

"...Hmm…Says you..."

As Tiona continued her task of cutting the potatoes Fuzen entrusted her, the boy himself grabbed another pot and filled it with water, putting it over the second fire next to the soup. Then he did the same with a frying pan.

He did not peel the potatoes he brought from the storage room: he simply washed them thoroughly to get rid of the earth still stuck to them before throwing them in the pot once it started to boil. He added two spoons of salt and put the lip on them.

With paper towels in hand he began to pat the steak dry, pouring the oil inside the pan midway through the drying process once it heated enough. Once the steak was fully dry he added the salt and paper to it. As the oil began to move fluidly inside the pan he placed the steak gently inside, the sizzling sound indicating that the temperature of the pan was right.

Fuzen then moved back to the soup, once again skimming the foam with a spoon. Once it no longer produced foam he gave a quick nod.

"Add the carrots, potatoes and celery to the soup now."

"Kay, got'cha!" Tiona exclaimed, taking the vegetables she cut inside her palms and letting them fall into the boiling water. "...That's all?"

"Yes. I already added the meat before your arrival. Now we just let them boil." The boy gave her a quick nod, crossing his arms across his chest. "Do you like your steak rare or medium? Or well-done?"

A question Tiona was not used to. She liked meat no matter how it was prepared. But, if she had to choose..."I want to let you decide!"

"...Medium it is, then."

"Yep!"

And so they waited before the boiling pots and pans, Fuzen motionlessly staring at the progress the food was undergoing while Tiona skipped from one leg to the other, stealing a glance at Fuzen every now and then.

For once, his fringes were pulled back into his high ponytail as to avoid hair falling into the food he was preparing, allowing the girl a rare view of his face.

Even now, while he was doing something as harmless as cooking his eyes were filled with determination and focus, the task at hand of no less importance and worthy of nothing else but nigh-perfection than his own goal.

How he could be so determined all the time, she could not say.

She was easy-going herself, after all.

The exact opposite of his, in a sense.

But watching him cook with so much drive...she believed she got just a tiny bit closer to understanding him. A small nod escaped her, as did a smile on her lips."...You're pretty cool."

"Hm? 'Cool', you say? I mean, I am pretty cold so I get where you are coming from…"

"I meant you're awesome, you wimp!" Her hand landed heavily on his back, pushing the boy forward a bit. "Take a compliment, jeez…"

"I am...not used to that. I'm...sorry. For misunderstanding."

The words had been unexpected enough even for Tiona to be shocked. To this date she had yet to hear Fuzen apologize for being, well...himself. "...Are you feeling, like, alright?" She asked worried as she placed her hand on his forehead to check his temperature. He was fine, as far as she could tell. "Hmm, seems ok. You doing good, tho?"

"...We need to peel the potatoes next." He replied as he grabbed the pot with the potatoes and placed it inside the sink, positioning yet another pan on the fire besides the stake.

Next he emptied the boiling water before allowing cold one to fill the pot. He repeated the process a couple of times then let the potatoes cool down. With a spatula he flipped the steak over on it's other side, the meat already a deep-brown colour.

A couple of minutes later he judged the potatoes cool enough to touch, emptying the pot of water and peeling the skin off with his thumbs alone. Tiona tried to help but after crushing two of them in her grip Fuzen had her simply observe from the side. Once they were all peeled he added some butter to the second pan, from there proceeding to cut the potatoes into even cubes.

Once the butter had melted he added the now cube-sized potatoes to the pan, stirring them gently for a short while. The stake was almost done, too: he just added a bit of butter and some thyme leaves to it.

Growl!

The sound of Tiona's stomach echoed throughout the kitchen, Fuzen turning to see the girl almost drooling as she eyed the piece of meat with incredible focus. "That looks delish…"

"It's not ready yet." Grabbing an empty bowl he prepared beforehand, Fuzen placed it near the still boiling soup, turning off the fire. Then with a pair of tongs he reached inside, pulling out the two fowls. With tongs and fork he began to separate the now tender meat from bone. "Tiona, grab the vermicelli and put them inside the soup." Fuzen added as he pointed with the fork at the bowl of thin noodles to the far side of the table.

"Got it!"

With the meat now separated from the bone he added it to the soup before putting the lid back on. Next he moved on to the steak, checking both of it's sides. With a nod he decided the meat was cooked and so he turned off the fire.

All that was left were the potatoes. "I need to flip them. Could you cut the parsley over there? Evenly and tiny." The boy asked, pointing at the cutting board to his right where the parsley he choose from the storage room was located. "And do wash it first."

"Leave it to me!"

As the girl went about the task she was given Fuzen continued to stir the potatoes, making sure they did not get burned on one side too much. Once Tiona cut the parsley he waited one more minute then turned off the fire. He had the girl throw in the parsley and some salt, then stirred the pan some more.

With that it was done.

Noticing the girl besides him still drooling Fuzen procured a tray and a sizeable plate and placed the steak and boiled potatoes on it. Next he grabbed a bowl and filled it with the soup, placing it on the tray along with a spoon, fork and knife. "It is done."

GROWL!

"...I suggest you get going to the mess hall, now." Fuzen told the Amazon after the growl of her stomach died out.

"Hehe...But damn, you made everything look so easy! I never thought cooking could be this interesting to watch!"

"If it was so simple as you say then next time you can prepare it yourself." The boy replied.

Tiona flinched, an uneasy smile taking place on her "Ughhh...I kinda forgot the steps already?"

Fuzen sighed, one thump pointing behind his shoulder. "You could ask them. One is bound to have memorized everything." Looking towards the direction of the entrance to the kitchen Tiona noticed everyone who was previously eating in the mess hall peeking at her and Fuzen before quickly scattering as the boy called them out.

"...Huh. What was that about?"

"I do not know." Fuzen replied as he walked to the opposite table from the one he had prepared the ingredients at, grabbing a metallic container from it. "I do not know anymore…"

"Hm?"

Walking past the girl Fuzen took the ladle and began to fill the container with the soup he prepared, making sure to pluck the meat and potatoes from the pot, as well.

"What are you doing?"

"Filling this container. It is a Magic Item with a Magic Stone slot on the bottom. It keeps the contains warm for extended periods of time."

"Why tho?"

"...The soup is not meant for me."

"Ohhh...Who is it for, then?"

He did not reply however, simply going about his business. Another growl erupted from Tiona's stomach, the girl rubbing her belly as she grabbed the tray Fuzen prepared for her. "Well, I'm gonna go eat now! Thanks for the food again!"

She thanked him and then moved closer, bringing her head closer to his. Fuzen reacted quickly enough, however, and placed the ladle between her and him, Tiona's lips touching the instrument instead of her initial target. "What are you doing?" He asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Giving you a 'Thank you' kiss." She replied as if her thoughts were the norm, almost confused as to why he rejected it.

Fuzen continued to stare at her for a long moment, his expression unchanging. "...I am in no need of any such thing."

"Mmm...Too hungry to argue now." The Amazon voiced a moment later as she felt her stomach almost growling again. "But you haven't escaped from me showing you my gratitude just yet!" And then she hastily walked out of the kitchen.

"...I mean...Gratitude accepted? Haa...Why does everyone have to be a weirdo…?"

XXX

The hell...is this?

She asked herself as the piece of meat she cut off melted in her mouth, the girl's eyes going wide open as the taste of the meat and thyme exploded on her tongue. With her fork she grabbed a piece of the boiled potatoes and showed it in her mouth: it was the same.

The hell...is this…?

"This is too damn good…"

She whispered as the aftertaste still remained with her long after she had swallowed the food. Not wasting any more time Tiona began to wolf down the steak as her hunger multiplied threefold thanks to the wait and the smell.

"Hey, Tiona." She heard her sister approach her from behind, but the young Amazon was too emerged in the food to pay her twin any mind.

"Hmm~"

"Before you go off complaining, I did try to wake you up."

"Mhh~"

Noticing her sister's emersion, Tione sniffed the air. "Hey, that smells delicious. Let me have a bite." Then she reached out to grab a potato. Luckily enough…

Crash!

Her instincts kicked in fast enough for the girl to pull back her hand and avoid getting impaled by the knife her younger twin switched to a reverse grip before pushing it halfway through the wooden table.

Tione looked over to Tiona, her younger sister throwing her a cold stare the likes of which Tione had never seen before on her carefree sister's face. She back up a step, then another. Only when she was far enough from the food did Tiona turn back her attention to the food in front of her.

"...Mmmhh~"

Tione turned to look at the other's in the mess hall. The hell is wrong with her? She asked without the use of words, her expression worth more than a thousand words.

In return the others simply shrugged.

It's just some steak and potatoes, why does she look like she's eating a piece of Heaven itself…?

XXX

Knock.

The girl was aware of the sound which required her attention but she simply turned over and covered herself with the blanket.

Knock.

"Mmhh...Five more minutes…"

"...Understood."

A voice replied and the knocks stopped. Then she realized the knocks were the ones produced by knocking on a window and not on wood. Pushing the blanket away she looked towards the double window to her side: Fuzen was there, back turned to her as he sat on the window sill. "Fuzen?"

"Yes." He nodded as he looked over his shoulder at her.

"W-What are you doing?"

He gave a small shrug. "Visiting?"

"...Let me open the window."

"You required five minutes."

"...That was just...a manner of speech."

"I see." Then he lifted his hand, stopping the girl from standing up from her bed. "Then, may I come inside?" She nodded and the boy ran his hand over the area where the metal locking handles were located. A couple of sparks later the mechanism moved on it's own, Fuzen pushing the window open and stepping inside.

All the while the girl looked at him with a confused stare. "How...did you do that?"

"...Magic?" He replied with another shrug, closing the window and walking up to her bed side. "How are you feeling, Teasanare-sama?"

Amid took a moment longer to reply. "Better than yesterday. My cough died out."

"That is...good. Very good. Mhm." Fuzen nodded before lifting the wrapped box he held in his hand. "I made you soup. I do not know if it will be to your liking, however. Or if you want it."

She was surprised to hear this, taking a moment to process everything through her headache. "...I'd love some." She replied with a faint smile.

"...I see. Then allow me a second." He nodded and made for the table besides her bed.

Amid's room was spacious but with little furniture to be found. Her bed was in the middle of the right wall from the door, a wardrobe to the bed's left side, on the same wall as the entrance, a table and a chair besides the bed and two bookshelves filled with books on each side of the window Fuzen had just entered through. The drapery as well as the bed sheets and blanket were white, reflecting the room owner's simple taste in decorations.

The girl pushed herself up with her arms, her back resting against the like-wise white pillow. Then she looked over to the boy besides her pulling out a metal container as well as a bowl, spoon and small tray out of the box he brought with him.

"...It's ironic, isn't it?"

"...What is, Teasanare-sama?"

"We have potions and Elixirs that can cure wounds caused by weapons and Monster claws instantly, but Doctors to this day have not found an instant cure to a common cold. All you can do is take your medicine, rest and hope it will pass sooner rather than later. Even blessed people like us are no exception."

Indeed, Amid was sick.

She had been sick for the last two days, in fact.

"...My former Deity, Hachiman, often said that the body can differentiate between wanted and unwanted pain on it's own." Fuzen replied as he opened the lid to the container, pouring the soup into the bowl. "Take the pain which is caused by the growth of adult or wisdom teeth, for example. It is painful and uncomfortable. People would no doubt be glad if there was a way to avoid the pain. But, without the pain the tooth would not grow out. And without teeth, our lives would be, well...far less ideal. Some things are simply not meant to be cured."

He added as he placed the bowl of soup on the tray and moved towards Amid, placing the tray on the girl's lap. "A cold is the same: it is painful and uncomfortable. But, it is also a process of strengthening and adapting. By getting sick the body can fight off the sickness and grow stronger against it, increasing your chances of not getting sick in the future."

"...Your former Deity was very wise." Amid replied as she listened to the words, giving but a small nod in return.

"Mhm. Be careful not to burn your tongue. The soup should still be as hot as when I prepared it."

Amid looked down at the bowl of soup on her lap. It had a very pleasant colour and, though her ability to sense was now dulled by her cold, she could make up a very faint smell which made her hungry. "This looks amazing. You made it yourself?"

Fuzen grabbed the chair by the table and brought it closer to the bed, sitting down on it and facing the sick girl. "Well...I had some limited help from Tiona. I cannot take all the credit."

"Hmhm, I see…" Grabbing the a spoonful of the soup Amid blew on it for a couple second then had a sip. "...Oh. This is...delicious."

"I am glad it is to your liking."

"Mhm. It's a soft taste, perfect for the sick with a sore throat. Do you cook as a hobby, Fuzen?"

"Not at all. I just learned it as I travelled alone. Dying of hunger would have been counter-productive to my goal, after all."

"Hmhmhm...Well, that is one way to motivate yourself to learn something new."

"Mhm…"

Silence fell over the two, Amid simply enjoying the soup while Fuzen was sitting in silence by her side. After a couple more sips however the girl noticed the boy staring at her with his lips parted just the slightest bit, as if he was deep in thought about something. "What is it?" She asked.

Fuzen flinched as he was brought back to reality by her question, his eyes widening up as their eyes met. "N-Nothing." He replied quickly as his eyes turned to look down at the floor. A couple moments later he looked back at her, Amid still staring at him expectantly. "...You look, well…"

"Sick?" She asked with a faint grin, well aware of her bed-hair and otherwise less than ideal looks. Amid doubted the boy would ever make fun of her because of that, however.

But Fuzen shook his head instead. "No." Then he looked over to his right side, away from her. "I want to paint you…"

"Hm? What was that?"

"Nothing. Nothing…"

"Hmm…" Though not completely sold on his words Amid decided not to press the matter any further despite the boy she knew for more than one and a half years behaving far stranger than usual.

From there on it continued like that, silence once again reigning between the two. When Amid finished her food she held out the tray to Fuzen. "Thank you for the food."

"Ahh...Think nothing of it." He replied, grabbing the tray and moving to the table. "It was because of my decision to fly while we talked that you got sick. The air up there was pretty chilly, after all…"

"Don't worry about it. The others can take care of the shop for a couple days on their own until I'm back on my feet. And besides, your decision was wonderful. I have never Orario or Lake Lolog from that high up. It was beautiful." She voiced with a smile, the memory of the nightscape view of Orario still vibrant in her mind. "Thank y-" She turned to look at Fuzen but saw the boy staring at the floor with a dreaded expression on his face, the sounds of his frantic inhaling and exhaling audible to the silver-haired girl. "Fuzen. What's wrong?"

"...What the hell am I doing…?"

"Fuzen?"

But no reply came, the boy simply running a hand over his face. "...Heavens above...I'm a fucking bastard…"

By now Amid had no longer any idea what was going on with the boy nor as the origin of his sudden change in behaviour. She was about to get up from her bed when he turned to look at her. She noticed it then: he was tired.

Not from lack or sleep or anything of that sort.

He was tired.

"...No. If it's you, I'll spare you the charade." He shook his head then went to sit on the chair once more, his hands clasped together tightly. A couple of silent seconds passed, each one longer than the last. Fuzen opened his mouth a couple of times, each time closing it faster than the last. Then he sighed, his eyes meeting hers. "...I tried to kill you."

Amid needed a long moment for the words to truly sink in. But surprisingly enough, despite everything she had witnessed of the boy so far she did not believe his words.

Noticing her lack of response Fuzen continued. "Two days ago. When we were returning to Orario. I wanted to push you off Raiju so that you would fall into Lolog Lake."

"Ah."

She remember it.

"What's wrong?" Amid asked as she looked away from the full moon to her side, noticing the boy sitting to her other side extending his arm towards her.

As their eyes met she saw the boy's eyes widen in shock and fear, looking at his own arm then back to her. "...Your hair. It was...tickling my nose…"

She laughed and apologized, pulling her long hair over the shoulder opposite of the boy. Until they landed back on solid ground in Orario again Fuzen did not speak again.

...

"...Why?" The question had neither hostility nor disgust behind it: only confusion.

"Because...you are an element I did not account for."

"What do you mean?"

"...My goal." He started as he looked away from her. "It is a...solitary path. I cannot allow my focus to be drawn away from it. By anything...or anyone."

She began to understand what he was getting at, nodding once to his words. "Am I drawing your focus away from your goal?"

He shook his head. "Not yet. But...you might, in the future." Then the unexpected happened: Fuzen let out a sneer. "Do you understand? I'm the kind of person who would kill someone on a mere probability."

"...But you didn't." She voiced. Amid understood that this was the chance she was looking for: a chance to make Fuzen open up, a chance to understand him better. A chance to help him. Forgetting about the fact she was sick she inhaled and exhaled, her focus solely on the boy to her side.

"Yes." He nodded, turning to face her, a frown on his eyebrows. "Why didn't I?"

She did not answer immediately despite knowing it could be seen negatively by Fuzen, someone who was always honest and said his opinion in a fraction of any question he was asked. Instead she looked at him, at his face.

...My God...

And it has then she realized what this was all about.

"You are scared of your own humanity." She stated matter of factly. It was hard but she suppressed herself to not show any pity for him. Her long time of being acquainted with Fuzen made her aware the boy disliked being pitied. "You are scared you will not reach your goal if you allow yourself to be human."

Fuzen did not answer the claim she made, but his silence was enough for Amid. His silence was enough to make it clear to her.

She felt sad.

As someone who dedicated her life to the well-being of others, to healing them and preserving their lives, Amid felt sad as she looked upon Fuzen with this new realization.

Amid knew he was also not mentally stable. She believed his aloof behaviour and mental maturity to be effects of this illness he was plagued with.

However, if he was also suppressing his own humanity through his own choice, then…

"...Fuzen. I need to tell you something. Not as your...ally, but as a Doctor who has known you for a long time now."

"…"

"I do not mean this in any negative or insulting way, you need to understand that first. But Fuzen, it is my belief as a Doctor that you are mentally unstable."

"I know."

"With that said, this domain of science is by far less studied than others, but...Wait what?"

"I know." He repeated with a nod. "That I am not normal."

"…"

This time around it was Amid who fell silent. After Fuzen's attack on Altena she began to study books relating to mental illnesses in hope of finding a way to help the boy. But unfortunately, this specific subject had been barely studied and little research had been conducted. Those who might count as Specialists in the field were also living in far-flung corners of the words, not one of them to be found in Orario.

However, if there was one thing she did not expect it was for him to be self-aware. "You...know?"

"Yes. Self reflection is crucial for a Disciple of the Lightning Sword Style. I've been aware of this trait for years."

"...I...see…"

"You seem surprised. May I inquire as to why?"

"...Well…it is just...unexpected."

"Is it?" He asked with a tilt of his head. "I mean...not many normal people would make it their life's goal to 'grasp the Heavens', would they? Since they wouldn't be mad enough for it." Amid chuckled lightly. She did not know if he actually tried to crack a joke, but he managed to do it. "In a way you could say my instability was a prerequisite on the path I choose to walk. I would have probably given up by now otherwise."

"...But there is no need to suppress your own humanity, is there Fuzen?" She asked.

In response Fuzen pointed a thumb over his shoulder at the table besides her bed. "I tried to kill you and desired to keep quiet about it so that nothing would change. So that everything would stay the same." He told her with a sigh. "That is what a moment of allowing this 'humanity' you speak of to influence me almost made me do. Would that have been the more desirable option in this situation, Teasanare-sama? For you to remain ignorant of the danger that I represent?"

He was not making it easy for her at all. Amid could not respond to the question immediately, grasping the blanket in her hands. The fact that he spoke of her as just another person to be cut down infuriated her. Greatly. "You would not kill me."

Fuzen raised an eyebrow at her statement. "What makes you think that?"

"If you want this conversation to be led by logic, then I can also use the fact that you walk a path of honour as the reason for why your sword would never be pointed at me. I am not a fighter, and I do not stand in your way."

"I see." he nodded a couple of times, a long sigh following afterwards. He reached for the inside of his clothes, checking multiple pockets until he took out a one hundred Valis coin. "You do not understand."

"What?"

"People often think duty and honour to be interchangeable. They are not." He showed her the coin, holding it between his thumb and index finger. "They are two sides of the same coin, yes. But two different sides of the same coin." Fuzen explained as he turned the coin. "Honour is to walk a path in a certain way. To have a code and moral compass which you follow in every situation, 'no matter what'. I want to lead an honourable life so that I bring no shame to my Sword School. I truly do. But…"He switched the coin again, showing off it's other side. "Duty is different. Duty is to see your task completed, 'no matter what'."

Amid's eyes widened in realization. Though he used the same words to describe them she understood the difference those same words made for both sides of the coin.

"It was dishonourable of me to be the cause of death for those civilians who died in Al-Dale, unintentional as their deaths were. Indeed, my 'honour' as the Successor of the Lightning Sword Style should have kept me from ever putting them in harm's way. My Sword Style was created by a weak woman hundreds of years ago, in a time in the Far East when death and war were legion. My actions that day were the actions of the very same kind of men my Sword Style was created to fight against. But…"

Fuzen turned the coin once again, his eyes resting on it for a long moment. "...My duty which is to grasp the Heavens could not allow for Altena to question my path. It could not allow them to think that I am someone who will bend the knee in front of an enemy, no matter the danger that enemy poses. And so...I killed them. Indiscriminately."

He gave a slow nod, not to Amid but to himself. "I would not bet my life on the simple fact that I try to walk a path of honour if I were in your shoes, Amid."

She simply shook her head. "I do not understand. Why? All of this, just why?"

Once again he surprised her by letting out a low chuckle, Fuzen grasping the coin within his palm. "Tell me, Teasanare-sama. If honour and duty are two sides of the same coin, what does the coin itself represent?"

"I...do not know." She replied. "Determination?"

"...Close, but no. It's loyalty." Fuzen voiced softly. "I know where my loyalty lies. And I will be loyal unto death...and beyond. No. Matter. What." Had she known Fuzen died after his confrontation with Altena and came back to life by means of something which could only described as a Miracle, Amid would have been aware of the weight of his words. Alas, she was not aware. "I care about you. I think."

"E-Eh?"

"During my duel, I chose your safety over mine in that split second I saw Aaryan Gupta raise his weapon. I took a sword to the chest for you. It didn't kill me, fortunately, but it might have. And I cannot perform my duty if I expire." He stated as he locked eyes with her. "I do not appreciate that, Amid."

"But that's…"

"Not your fault." He finished her sentence with a nod. "I am aware. It was and it is not my intention to make you feel bad about it. Though, I might have already done that...Uhh...I'm truly sorry, for what it's worth." He was struggling. Amid understood that he was struggling, between being himself and not being himself. "I care about you as a person, I think. You remind me of something...kind. A kinder life, I think? I do not know exactly. But it is your face that pops up in my mind and interferes with my training. With my goal. And I...do not appreciate that. My loyalty lies with one person, and one person alone. There is no room for others."

She listened in silence to his words, trying to read through the lines and make out what he was actually saying and what he was blurting out in his state of struggling with himself. "Fuzen, is there no other way? Could you not imagine a path where you can strive for your goal without throwing away all that which makes you, us, human?"

He pondered on her words for a while, first nodding his head then shaking it. "There is no time. The flame is fading. That which was lost needs to be restored..."

His words once again confused Amid, for she had no idea what flame he was talking about. But before she could inquire as to his words Fuzen spoke again. "I respect you, so I held nothing back. I told you everything of relevance. You now know."

"...And now I need to die?" She asked as their eyes met, Amid not flinching in the least. Instead, it was Fuzen who flinched as he grit his teeth in frustration.

"...Say it."

"What?"

"You know that I almost killed you simply because that would have turned out better for me. I almost kept it a secret because I am a fricking bastard. So say it. Say that you hate me, that you are afraid of me. Hate me so that I can hate you back, so that we may both put this behind us."

How long had he been doing this?

Amid asked herself as she looked upon Fuzen, his face still a canvas of frustration, confusion and tiredness alike. How long had he been pushing people away, threatening them with their lives if they didn't hate him as he requested?

She could not say.

It was also sad to actually see him go to these lengths.

But above all else, she was angry.

He behaved like a spoiled child, sure that he would get his way. Obviously, she knew him well enough to know he was not a spoiled child. But right now, he behaved as such.

And lastly, for reasons yet unknown to her, Amid felt angry at the fact that he believed her to simply agree with him and treat him like he expected her to do.

Angry that he believed her to be like everyone else.

"I refuse."

XXX

"I refuse...she said." Fuzen repeated the words as he lifted his sword, staring at the blood that was sticking to the blade.

Obviously, it was not Amid's.

After their conversation came to an end he left her room and made for the Dungeon. The blood belonged to those Monsters unfortunate enough to stand in his way.

"Yet...this blood should be hers…"

Should.

Which meant he did not do it.

Why?

Because she frightened him.

Why-?

"Hell if I know, damn it. So many damned fricking questions."

Fuzen could not say, but the look in her eyes as she uttered the words he did not expect at all bore into his very soul. She was not a fighter: he had little doubt he could win in a fight against her a thousand times over if it ever came to that.

But her expression as she refused to go along with his request to hate him, it left an even bigger impression on him than the time she jumped in front of his opponent and stared at him, making Fuzen lose his focus and almost look away in shame.

He...could not do it.

He could not harm her, let alone kill her.

He just couldn't.

And he hated it.

"...God damn it…"

He muttered with a sigh as he walked forward, encountering one more group of Lamia which he cut down faster than they could react.

...Where the hell am I, even?

Lost in thought as he was, Fuzen failed to notice just how far he was having used his 'life-cheat' to go down the Floors in record time. One good look around told him exactly where he was. "The 29th...No, the 30th Floor? Just how much have I cut through the floors to get here this fast…?"

In truth, it was not a bad turn of events. Though Fuzen kept up with his daily training as always lately he had found himself unable to truly go against the Monsters of the Dungeon, his multitude of recent activities and duties to the East District keeping him busy. "Guess I'll go and train my Techniques. Having Raiju here would be useful, we could do our usual training of having him get killed."

Fuzen closed his eyes and tried to use his link to his Magic to pinpoint Raiju. After a couple of moments of trying, he found himself unable to do so.

Hmm? I can't reach him? Is he asleep…?

He focused even harder but all he could feel and hear was Alya fast asleep and snoring inside his mind, the girl once again in need of his inner stability. But Raiju, he could not track down.

...This has not happened before. Now that I think about it, when was the last time I felt him? Hmm…

He simply shrugged a second later. "...Lizard's probably just sleeping after eating too much."

With another nod Fuzen decided he would be training alone despite Raiju's presence making the process far less ideal. Nonetheless, though he would not grow his Stats as much he could still train his Techniques in real-time.

And that is what he did: he searched for Monsters, drawing them all to him before taking them out in but three or four Techniques per group. The Magic Stones he placed inside the pouch strapped to his waist, but alas it could only fit so many.

Letting the Magic Stones laying around was not a good idea, however. Monsters could consume them and become Enhanced Species. With that in mind Fuzen grabbed all the ones he could not carry anymore and placed them all within a crevice in the wall, one which looked to be natural and one which the Dungeon would not 'close up' after some time passed.

Some passing Adventurers might notice them later, and if not, he could come back later to collect them.

"Ahhh!"

Just as he was about to go and search for another group of Monsters a scream echoed towards Fuzen, one which sounded like the one of a dying woman. He immediately took off rushing towards the source with Lightning Drive and it was then he remembered it.

...Weren't there some murders going on in these Floors? Huh...I did not expect to find the culprit this soon…

He continued on, his speed ever increasing. Unfortunately the scream only notified him once as to the direction it came from. With the Lower Floors as big and confusing as they were, finding the scene of the possible murder proved hard, even more so since he could not expand the area he could use his Ki Sense above fifteen to twenty meters around him, the technique requiring Fuzen to be still and completely focused.

But before long, following the faint trace of blood in the air, he had arrived at the scene.

It was not pretty.

Six Adventurers were spread across a small room of the Floor with only two hallways connecting to it, a place they probably used as for a quick rest. All six Adventurers were dead, the heads of two even fully bashed in. Blood and gore covered the whole opening and at the centre of it all stood a man.

The man was tall and wore only a pair of pants and a tank-top, both of which were black. His light brown hair was shoulder-length and unkempt. Having sensed Fuzen's arrival he turned around: that is when Fuzen had a good look at the man's ears and the rose-like pattern on them.

A Were-Jaguar? That's rare.

The man's golden slit-like eyes narrowed in on Fuzen. He observed the boy before him for a moment, then threw the bag flung over his shoulder to the side and raised his hands as he took a fighting stance.

Fuzen observed the man, too, and that is when he realized something.

His Ki Pool is...immense. It's...far larger than mine.

To this date Fuzen Katsumi had only encountered two individuals who had tapped into their Ki and learned how to use it like Fuzen himself, through the teachings of their own martial schools and Masters. Both of them had been incredibly tough to take down, Fuzen himself almost dying as his fight with them progressed.

He knew instantly that the man before him was strong, very much so in fact.

There would be no joking or mocking going on: they would fight and one of them would die.

Because that was the path of those who strived for strength.

Fuzen exhaled, focusing his mind as best he could. Having already executed a couple Techniques against the Monsters before meant he spent some of his Ki already, but if he was smart about it he could make up for the lack of quantity with a refined, well-placed cut.

He then drew his Ichigeki, holding the katana to his left side with both hands on the handle. "Fuzen Katsumi, of the Lightning Swor-"

But the man dashed towards him, not caring about introductions at all.

He's fast! Level 5? 6? But, I can keep up.

The man was still a couple meters away, enough time for Fuzen to inhale once. He drew closer, but the length advantage was still to Fuzen's side, his arm combined with his sword allowing for a longer reach than the man's bare hands. "Half-Moon Lightning Arc!"

And so Fuzen used the Technique best suited for the situation at hand, bringing his sword in a perfectly executed horizontal arc upon the enemy while the Were-Jaguar was still not close enough to reach him.

Clang!

"[Nani?!]" Fuzen exclaimed in shock as his sword was blocked mid-way by the man's left hand, his blade unable to cut through the hand at all.

He could not believe his eyes: so far he had encountered nothing he could not cut through. But this moment of shock proved to be fatal to Fuzen.

The man then tightened his grip and his sword, despite being a Second Tier weapon and coated in an incredible amount of Fuzen's Ki, shattered into pieces.

Like a veil being pulled over his eyes, he could no longer see the man: he was too fast now for a sword-less Fuzen.

My sword!

He tried to react as fast as he could, right hand letting go of the hilt of the now shattered Ichigeki and going for the chisa katana at his hip.

But as he was now, Fuzen's senses were far too slow to react to the approaching danger.

He felt something make contact with his face.

Then followed the sound of what seemed to be bones shattering into pieces, a sound which echoed in his ears.

Lastly, everything went dark.

XXX

And there we go, with a beautiful cliffhanger right at the end like any self-respecting bastard writer would do.

I honestly don't have a lot to say here.

The Chapter's there, I think it was not confusing at all…

Dunno, hope you liked it and give me your thoughts on what you think of my mastery over writing 'inter-personal relationships'.

Because, quite frankly, I have no idea if what I wrote regarding Fuzen and Tiona and Fuzen and Amid is any good or if it is the cringiest shit ever.

Oh, if you're wondering why I turned this into a fricking 'Food Wars' episode in the middle of the Chapter, well…

I have other hobbies besides writing.

It's just that writing is the most constant one.

Kay bye.