It was the next day, as Netherrealm was walking out of his tenant building. Due to having no gear anymore. He wore his long sleeve shirt. Black Karate pants and tabi boots."Hi Netty!" Compa exclaimed as she stood outside of his apartment. Netherrealm looked around for IF and Neptune. "Where are…?" He asked and Compa said, "Iffy's getting the training course set up for you, Nep-Nep is relearning some sword stuff by going out on a Dogoo Extermination Quest. I thought we could hang out before it's time for your training." Netherrealm then reluctantly nodded as he signaled for Compa to lead the way.

Compa took Netherrealm to an arcade called Golden Axe Arcade. The two entered as Compa purchased cards that allowed them to play games for an hour. She handed Netherrealm a card as he looked at it curiously. "Netty? Have you ever been to an Arcade?" Compa asked with a frown. Netherrealm shook his head, "I was always too busy, never had the time, money, or interest." Compa grabbed his wrist and dragged him over to a game called Virtua Fighter.

"Arcades are super fun, Planeptune is about Progress and Play. Progress comes when you Play, aka experiment, relax, be at your best. I think you would love fighting games," Compa explained. "Is that because I am an actual fighter?" Netherrealm asked and Compa got flustered trying to explain how it wasn't a shallow suggestion. Only for Netherrealm to laugh at how worked up she got over thinking he got mad. Netherrealm inserted the card and gripped onto the joystick. A midnight purple fire of determination was in his eyes as he was utterly engrossed in the game.

Compa found it cute, how Netherrealm is so passionate and driven. How he gives it his all, even for something like a video game. Compa noticed how tense he was and she massaged his shoulders. Causing him to jump as he glared at the game over screen. "Calm down, you can't do the inputs fast because you're so stiff. So relax, be loose, and most importantly, have fun," Compa advised. As Netherrealm looked at her from the side as he felt his muscles relax as she moved her hands off his shoulders.

"That's it Netty! You're such a a quick learner!" She cheered him on as he did the arcade mode of Virtua Fighter. "Now what?" Netherrealm asked as he inputed NET on the high score. Compa dragged him over to a disco game. Netherrealm looked away with a scoff. "Come on Netty, dancing and fighting aren't too dissimilar. Or are you chicken, bawk bawk bawk!" Compa teased him. In an instant he was inserting his card. Compa giggled and followed him as Player 2.

The two began to dance together as a song called Koi No Disco Queen began to play. Compa laughing as her hair bounced with her lively steps. Netherrealm had a big fat smile on his face as he mirrored her moves. Soon Compa and Netherrealm saw they reached the high score. When the song ended, they both looked at each other with a smile. "Someone's having fun," Compa commented with her hands behind her back. Tilting her head with a closed eyed smile.

"Don't get too ahead of yourself, that was a one time thing," Netherrealm replied with a shake of his head. "Whatever you say, Netty," Compa said with a shrug, her beaming face not the least bit affected. Netherrealm scoffed as the two left the arcade.

Bond Level Increase!

Compa: 0 - 1

Soon the two stood outside of the Guild. A large, windowed building with crowds of people going in and out. Netherrealm adjusted his Kung-Fu long sleeve. He felt so vulnerable without his armor and weapons. IF stood outside of the Guild with her arms crossed. She signaled for Netherrealm and Compa to follow her through the side. They went through carpeted, yellow hallways. Before ending up the training area. Plenty of workout equipment, a shooting range, dummies to practice on, and a large empty room for sparring. Netherrealm saw Neptune practicing sword forms on dummies. Seems she doesn't skip out on training.

"Good luck Netty, I'll be at the shooting range," Compa whispered to him with a pat on the back. Leaving IF and Netherrealm alone as they stood a meter apart from each other. A staredown as Netherrealm looked down at the much smaller IF. "So you got fire magic huh? Manifest some flames, you already know how to do magic right?" IF ordered and Netherrealm cracked his neck. Obliging her request and held out his palm. A black flameball began to burn above his hand.

"Okay, that's really weird. It looks less like fire and more like darkness in the shape of fire… okay, show me what you got," IF said as she held up her fists. Netherrealm chuckled before he began roaring with laughter. "You?! You're gonna fight me?! Oh that's rich! Hahahahaha!" Netherrealm laughed. IF hopped up and hit his temple. Causing Netherrealm's head to start spinning as he stumbled. Before falling onto his hands and knees.

"You're not fighter, you're just an athlete pretending to be a fighter. This isn't one of your matches, get up or stay down," IF scolded as she infused magic into her leg and kicked Netherrealm across the jaw. Sending him flying back.

BGM: Psycho Machine (Devil May Cry 5)

He rolled across the floor, before looking up to see IF walking towards him. Her green eyes glowing orange. Netherrealm stood up and wiped his jaw. The doors behind Netherrealm closed as a purple aura began to leak off of Netherrealm. He stepped forward and began walking. His fists clenched as IF flicked her sleeves. Bringing out her qatars as Netherrealm's eyes widened with an angry, gritted frown. They stopped in front of each other as their auras strong and steadfast.

The Lone Gust of Wind

IF

Netherrealm moved back to avoid two swipes of blades. Only for IF to lash out with a flaming kick and Netherrealm used his black flames to cover his hand. Sweeping the space to intercept IF's blow with his knife hand. IF smirked as she pushed off of him. She bounced on her feet as Netherrealm ran at her with black flames across his hands. Left Jab, she tilted her body to the right. Right cross, she tilted her body to the left. A hook aimed at her torso, she blocked with her arm. However IF was sent up in the air thanks to an uppercut to the chin. Letting her get eye level with Netherrealm.

His fist drove itself into IF's gut. Then his black flame exploded. Sending IF flying to the wall. She twisted in the as she headed towards the ground. Stabbing her qatars in, being dragged backwards by momentum until it came to a stop. She saw Netherrealm running at her, she kept on all fours as Netherrealm dropped to the ground with a baseball slide, his legs engulfed in flames. IF pushed down on her qatars for a handstand. Then she pushed off for a flip as Netherrealm went right under her. IF landed and grabbed her weapons as she saw Netherrealm getting up.

"You're learning quick, but you're still so narrow," IF criticized. "I'll make your bones narrow!" Netherrealm replied with a smirk, as IF rolled her eyes. "WAH TAH TAH TAH TAH!" Netherrealm exclaimed as he did a flaming bicycle kick forward. IF sidestepped it as Netherrealm landed behind her. She kicked the back of his knee, making him drop to one knee. Then she roundhouse kicked the back of his head. Making him roll fast on his face then onto his back. His head pointed at IF. "Jeez, haven't you been taught how to fight?" IF asked as Netherrealm clenched his fists. Kicking up to his feet, entering an exaggerated, impractical Karate stance.

IF smirked as when Netherrealm tried to attack. She moved to the side and sliced at his side. Leaving a shallow scratch on him. Another failed attack meant another scratch. Until his clothes were torn quite a bit. Blood began to leak from his wounds. "This isn't the Netherrealm that fought in the cave. What's with you?" IF asked with a frown. As Netherrealm entered a boxing stance and IF dropped her qatars as she avoided a wild haymaker. Her fist folded his stomach and almost made him hurl. "I humored your way of so called fighting, and look at you. You can't handle when someone is at your level. You just prey on the weak and put on a show. If you had any skill, then…" IF then smiled as she remembered his brief scuffle with Arfoire.

"It only comes out when your life is threatened…" IF muttered. Then ran at Netherrealm, her qatars aimed to pierce his head. Flames engulfing them as Netherrealm's eyes widened. He dove out of the way. "Show me the real Netherrealm! Show me the one who took out the Vanir Family! Or else you'll be dragged down to hell by me!" IF proclaimed as she sliced the air. Sending waves of fire at Netherrealm.

"Maximum efficiency of time, space, and energy. Waste no movement, understand boy?"

Netherrealm looked to see IF get replaced with an old woman wearing Miko clothing. Her long gray hair tied up behind her. Netherrealm could see peaks of an extravagant, multicolored tattoo on her arms, and chest. Netherrealm knew it was a sleeved back tattoo. The world slowing down as she looked down at him in disappointment.

"You are a fighter boy, a fight can happen anywhere at anytime, for any reason! So fight!"

Netherrealm blinked and he saw IF again. He entered a controlled, karate stance, stamping his front foot forward with a kiai. stance. He stepped forward as the first fire slice went past him. He then punched the second flame slice apart into sparks and embers. Before jumping up into a crane kick to the third flame slice. Coming down as black flames wreathed his foot. Slashing apart the orange flames with his heel and sending a wave of black flames to IF when he landed. IF's left Qatar glowed orange as she easily diced apart the black flame wave. "That's what true flame magic is, it's about being in the moment. It's all about what burns in your heart!" IF explained with a bellow. Netherrealm had a smile as he felt any conflict about enjoying a challenging fight wash away.

Netherrealm and IF met in the middle. IF stabbing and swiping with her qatars. Netherrealm using one hand to redirect an attack then using the other to counter. Attacking and defending at the same time. Before landing a quick jab, cross, hook to the torso then an uppercut to the chin. Sending her up into the air. Before letting loose a flaming punch to send her away.

IF rolled across the ground as she saw Netherrealm in the air. A flaming knee heading right towards her face. When it landed, the heat tickling the side of IF's face. She looked to the side to see his knee right next to her head.

End BGM

Netherrealm got up and held out his hand. IF grabbed it and he pulled her up to her feet. "There we go, once you lose that whole performer athlete thing. You're a darn good fighter," IF complimented him with a light punch to his arm.

Bond Level Increase!

IF: 1 - 2

Soon he and IF were healed by Compa. IF paid to have Netherrealm's clothes fixed up. So he didn't look like a complete hoodlum. So the Quartet made their way back to Jet Set for some pizza. "So yeah, I'm like pretty dope with a sword now. Any dudes who want a piece of me can suck it," Neptune bragged about her training as she chewed a slice of cheese pizza. "Don't talk with your mouth full, Nep," Compa said as she wiped pizza sauce off her face.

The high of Netherrealm's victory wore off quite quickly. He looked up slightly to see McDowell at a table with some buddies. He gave Netherrealm a smirk before chewing on a breadstick. A reminder of his execution, he checked the date at his apartment today. The due date is tonight. He was going to die, and be forgotten. That's what happens when you fuck with the families. He looked at Neptune, Compa, and IF all hanging out together. A frown on his face.

He doesn't belong with them. He looks down at his pizza. Focusing on the pizza sauce as their conversations become indecipherable collection of muttering. The sauce turning into a more, bright and flowing liquid. As he feels a pain in his chest. He survived, but it seems it was for nothing. This was his last meal as it seems. Yet, he didn't know what to feel. He isn't afraid to die. He's just, disappointed that he didn't make an impact or felt satisfaction in his final hours. This was it, no point in fighting the inevitable.

The paycheck comes, Compa and IF split the bill. Then they all leave the restaurant. "Hey Netty! Thanks for your help! I'll give you the money tomorrow!" Compa said as the sun was setting. Night was coming. Netherrealm chuckled, he almost laughed. "Tomorrow… Right…" he said before saying goodbye to the three.

He has a debt to settle. The money would never satisfy the Muspel Family. Blood Law, will only be satisfied with either the death of Netherrealm or collapse of the Muspel Family. Money was just used to squeeze him dry and break him down before they take the blood they're owed. The three were left to investigate Neptune's transformation.