"Hmmm, we are at an impasse I believe," Titus said, his voice calm as his eyes moved between both sides. Neither party shifted. Their stances were firm, rooted deep, like pillars driven into stone.

No one was willing to bend. To give ground here meant surrendering more than territory or pride. It meant conceding a moral line, and that was something neither side could stomach. Still, someone had to move, or this stalemate would rot where it stood.

"What better way to settle it than with a friendly competition?" Titus smirked. His gaze swept through the gathering, lingering just a moment longer on the younger faces, measuring them with quiet interest.

"One round. The winner compromises on one issue. No going back. Witnessed by a god's wonderland."

So this was how it would end after all. The mountain had always been stubborn, a wall that only cracked under pressure. Words alone would never make him retreat. Only force spoke his language.

"Duel? That's a good idea. I like it," the mountain said, a grin tugging at his lips as he nodded approvingly. His eyes slid toward the members of his force, confidence radiating from him without restraint.

He had brought his best. Warriors forged in battle and tempered by fire. They did not learn how to fight. They were shaped by it, molded by blood and survival.

Against academy children, they seemed unstoppable. Wild beasts set loose among pampered animals raised behind walls and rules.

"Hehe." Titus let out a low, bitter smirk.

He had expected this. Before the rise of Inkous, the institute was little more than a rumor whispered in select circles. To most, it was just another academy, nothing worth fearing.

They had no idea how it truly functioned. No idea what kinds of monsters it nurtured behind closed doors.

"Enzo," Titus said, turning slightly, his tone light but deliberate. "You just finished your voyage a few weeks ago. Why don't you test out your newfound strength?"

""Okay." Enzo nodded sharply, without hesitation. A faint glimmer passed through his eyes, brief but unmistakable, like light catching on steel.

That much was true. Ever since the voyage, he had not truly tested himself. Power gained but never weighed was power half known, and this moment felt as good as any to find its limits.

"Jeffery, you'll represent us."

When it became clear Titus would not be stepping forward himself, the mountain gave a small nod, disappointment flickering across his face before he turned and called out to a young man standing among his ranks.

Jeffery was one of his brothers in battle. They were the same age, tempered by the same wars, shaped by the same scars. Still, even among them, the mountain stood taller. Stronger by every measurable margin.

"Okay."

The word was simple, steady. Jeffery stepped forward without ceremony.

They were led to an open martial studio behind the manor, where stone gave way to a wide platform framed by pillars worn smooth by time and combat. The air there felt heavier, saturated with the memory of countless duels.

Both contestants climbed onto the stage, taking their places opposite one another. They stood still, facing forward, the space between them taut with unspoken intent.

"You know… Jeffery is not someone to be messed with," the mountain said, leaning closer to Titus, his tone thick with mockery. "He's one of the few who used to spar with me regularly."

Jeffery was undeniably strong. A stage three exalted being. If Enzo slipped even once, the fight would end violently and fast.

"Ahh, that's interesting," Titus replied, nodding with an easy smile. "Looks like Enzo will be learning a lot today."

He almost laughed. How could he explain that Enzo was someone who could likely defeat even the mountain himself. Compared to that, this bout was barely a warm up.

"Are you ready?" Enzo asked, stretching his legs slowly. His low fabric battle suit shifted with the motion, light and unrestrictive, as if made for speed rather than defense.

His posture settled, relaxed yet precise, like a blade resting in its sheath.

""Sure." Jeffery nodded, pulling a sword formed entirely of ice into his grasp. Frost curled around the hilt as he regarded Enzo with a lazy glance, his expression calm, almost bored. In his eyes, Enzo was still small fry.

Unfortunately for him.

Woosh.

Enzo vanished.

Not into shadow. Not through some trick or ability. He simply moved too fast for the eye to follow, his presence erased from the stage in an instant.

Bang.

He reappeared directly in front of Jeffery, one hand shooting forward with ruthless precision, fingers aimed straight for the heart. There was no hesitation, no wasted motion.

After the second voyage, Enzo felt everything sharpen. His senses had skyrocketed, his perception refined to an absurd degree. A single strike from him could pierce titanium, let alone bone and flesh.

He did not need multiple blows. One clean hit was enough to kill.

Wind compressed violently as Jeffery reacted on instinct, a thin sheet of ice snapping into existence between them. It shattered under the force, but it bought him just enough space to twist away.

Only temporarily.

Enzo pressed forward without pause, closing the gap again, his strikes coming in rapid succession. Each blow was lethal. Each carried intent so precise it sent a chill crawling up the mountain's spine as he watched.

Within the first few exchanges, the truth was unmistakable.

One was the predator.

The other was already prey.

"Oh don't worry," Titus said casually, glancing sideways as sweat trickled down the mountain's temple. "The kid likes to cut things close. He won't kill your man. At least I think so. He's been a bit unstable after losing his girlfriend."

The mockery landed harder than any strike.

A stage one exalted weaver was toying with a stage three like this. Worse still, Enzo was newly ascended. He had never even fought seriously at this level before.

"What do you say?" Titus continued, his attention drifting away from the battle entirely. "This is getting a bit boring. Why don't we both compromise."

His voice remained smooth, almost conversational.

"Your team handles the ten missions on Galafray. Also, you station a guard unit of twenty with us for a minimum of two years."

"This…" The mountain felt something deeply wrong as he watched Enzo move. He had sparred with Jeffery countless times, knew every habit, every reckless opening. Yet now, watching from the sidelines, a cold realization crept in. In any of those past exchanges, if Enzo had been the one standing there, Jeffery would have died long ago.

That meant Enzo was holding back.

Not struggling. Not adapting. Playing.

"Ten missions is fine. Two years is fine. Let's do it." The mountain nodded quickly, the words leaving him faster than he intended.

An unfamiliar fear settled in his chest. A sharp instinct whispered that if he hesitated, if he pushed even a little more, Jeffery would not walk away from this stage intact.

"Enzo, that's enough!!"

Titus's voice rang out clearly. In the same instant, Enzo's body melted into the shadow beneath his feet and vanished, reappearing beside Titus as though he had never been on the platform at all.

"That was quick," Enzo said lightly. A trace of excitement lingered in his smile, barely restrained. "Can I go now?"

He had agreed to play along, to follow Titus's lead, all for this moment. While negotiations dragged on and papers were signed, he would be free to slip away from the manor.

After all, he was not here only for the institute. Raven was still out there.

"Yeah," Titus replied, resting a hand on Enzo's shoulder. His smile was warm, almost familial. "Just get back before dark."

From the outside, it looked like a mentor indulging a younger brother.

In truth, they had just successfully scammed a mountain who never liked to bend.

"Friends let's get some paper work done" Titus stretched out his hands welcomingly and led the mountain and his team members away leaving Jeffry who was out of breath on the platform gasping for air.

Meanwhile,

Enzo slipped away from the manor without ceremony, his presence dissolving into the treeline as he rode his shadow down the mountain forest. The world blurred beneath him, roots and stone passing in silence as cold air brushed against his face.

Far ahead, Snowfall City loomed in the distance, its lights faint against the pale horizon. A sprawling metropolis built into the frozen plains of Gaia, alive with noise, trade, and secrets that never stayed buried for long.

Within a city like that, information was currency. Names, sightings, rumors. There were countless ways to uncover the truth if one knew where to look.

All it took was the right price.

Enzo was more than willing to pay it.

After all, Raven was not just someone he was searching for. She was someone he could not afford to lose to a bunch kidnappers.

Even if they were her very own blood

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