Days blurred into weeks, and now, at the end of the month, Rion stood in a clearing and before him stood Kahrun.

Kahrun's face was heavy with worry as he stared into Rion's blue eyes with his fists tightening inside his bear bite gauntlets.

"Why can't you help me create it?"

Rion massaged his temples and snapped, "Why would I help you create an aura technique whose whole point is making you a better toy for others?!"

Kahrun lowered his head and mumbled, "I just want to be your shield."

Whoosh—Thud!

Rion closed the distance between them, and before Kahrun could even react to his movement, he punched him in the centre of his chest.

Woosh!

Kharun was unable to block and was sent flying off his feet.

THAK!

"Ugh—?!" Blood and spit flew from his mouth as he slammed into the cliffside.

Confused, he looked at Rion and mumbled while fighting back the pain, "W-What are you doing?"

Rion clenched his fists and bit his lower lip in anger and frustration. He didn't want to do this, but he had no other choice because he couldn't let Kahrun create the aura technique he had just told him about.

"If you want to create that stupid aura technique, you must defeat me," he announced with a flat expression.

Kahrun pushed himself out of the small crater that had appeared in the side of the cliff and muttered with a bloodied grin, "If I have to beat you down to become your shield, then I'll do it."

Rion's expressionless face cracked into a worried frown, and seeing that frown, Kahrun laughed loudly and shouted, "Dahahaha! Don't look at me with that frown! I have already made my choice — it is my pride, don't smear it with that sad look of yours!"

Hearing his words, Rion's eyes rippled, his lips arched up into a smile, and he yelled, "Do you only know how to talk correctly while talking bullshit?!"

Blue flames roared around Kahrun as he stepped forward, eyes burning with determination and bloodlust.

Rion watched him and wondered, 'Why does he care so much about me?'

The aura technique that he wanted to create wouldn't be useful for him, and it wasn't supposed to be, as he wasn't making it for himself but for his friend — his liege.

"You've always been stronger, smarter, better… superior," Kahrun shouted while dashing toward him. "But that curiosity of yours will drag you into trouble — and I want to stand beside you during those troubles. I want to be your warrior!"

Rion watched him zip towards him like a burning meteor, and he muttered, "You don't know me enough."

Kahrun reached him and swung his fists at him.

Rion, who had long since reached the realm above him, blocked every strike with ease and stated, "It's useless, Kahrun, give up on creating that stupid technique."

But Kahrun ignored his words and continued to throw one punch after another like a frenzied bull.

Rion didn't attack him and simply continued to block. He didn't want to just defeat him; he wanted to prove that he didn't need anyone to be his shield.

Kahrun also didn't give up and channelled all of his aura into his punches.

Each punch cried and exploded like an explosion, and Rion still blocked them without using his aura, his skin torn apart under Kahrun's strength, but it healed just a moment after.

Kahrun, unaware of Rion's immortal body and advancement to Enhanced Aura, kept pushing with everything he had. However, even his brutish strength meant nothing before him.

His punches were no different from a cat trying to claw at a lion.

Rion also acted as such and only blocked his attacks to announce that Kahrun's attacks meant nothing to him.

'I can't give up!' Karhun resolved inwardly and called out to the last bit of his aura and swung his blazing fist towards Rion's gut.

His resolve, however, didn't lead to any miracle. Rion grabbed his fist and stated in a flat tone, "You cannot defeat me."

Rion looked at his despairing face before he shifted his eyes towards the bushes and said, "Come out, Yuura."

Ssshk... Ssshk...

The bushes rustled and parted as Yuura jumped out of them with a wry smile stretching across his face.

He scratched the back of his head and muttered, "I didn't mean to peek..."

Rion eyed him and asked, "Why are you here?"

Yuura's smile faltered, and he answered solemnly, "The group leader has called for you."

Rion turned his head to the purple fog forest and questioned, "How long would it take?"

Yuura strode near him and answered while rubbing his chin, "One month at the least. Two at the most."

Rion nodded and looked at Kahrun. He patted his shoulder and said, "You have lost."

Kahrun didn't reply, and Rion turned around, but just as he stepped to leave, Kahrun mumbled weakly, "It's not over yet..."

"Hah..." Rion sighed loudly and said, "Yuura... he needs rest."

Yuura frowned and glanced at Kahrun, who was already preparing to punch the back of Rion's head.

"All right," he replied.

White lightning flickered, and Yurra vanished — then appeared again instantly.

"Done," he said while looking at Kahrun, who lay unconscious on the ground with red streaks across his body.

Rion also glanced at him with clenched fists and asked, "You didn't cut the wrong veins, right?"

Baffled, Yuura shot him a hurt look and snapped, "Do you even know how many times I memorised that damn vein diphram of yours?!"

Rion rubbed his face and commented, "It's a Vein system diagram."

Yuura threw his arms up, "Yeah, whatever the hell it is, I have it carved into my skull, so stop asking about it."

Rion nodded and glanced at Kahrun for one final time before leaving.

He could feel it in the air; things were about to turn chaotic, but for him, the more the chaos, the easily he would obtain what he needed.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.