"Get up! We have an important announcement!" Judith exclaimed, standing in the middle of the village.

Malin and his assistants went to the houses to wake up the villagers. Liam volunteered to help, while Daren sat by the window and watched events unfold, opening and closing his new lighter.

Whether they wanted to or not, Kreyn sounded convincing. They realized that an alliance with him was equally beneficial and dangerous, at least as long as the threat of the Wurhen Family hung over them. Boneveil Village had only two Origins, which were clearly not enough to survive the wrath of the Wurhen Family.

Tap.

Grender put his cup of tea on the table as he looked up at Kreyn, who was sitting across from him.

"So, what do you want from me, devilish young man?"

"Well, when we first met, Judith made it clear that she was the strongest. I believe her, but... what if we look at it another way?"

Grender said nothing, he just glanced at Kreyn before taking another sip.

"What would happen if you two fought to the death? Which one of you would be left standing, huh?"

After a few moments, Grender sighed heavily.

"Even if our answers match, so what? I'm happy with the way things are in the village. Judith, she... she has a fiery temper and an equally fiery spirit."

"Well, I'm going back to prison at sunset. I'm sure the Wurhen Family will want to visit us, but before that, there's something I'd like to get."

Grender ran his fingers around the rim of the cup.

"And what would that be?"

"Experience."

"Hmm?" Grender raised an eyebrow, showing emotion for the first time.

Kreyn pointed to his chest.

"Fight me. No abilities or catalysts, just fists and physical strength. What do you think? Also, I don't mind an audience. If it cheers up the awakened villagers, that's fine."

"You do realize that in three seconds your face will be in the ground?" Grender narrowed his eyes.

Sitting in front of him was a young man with a cunning mind, but a thin and weak body. Grender did not see Kreyn as a fighter, not without abilities, and he could not be blamed for that.

"It doesn't matter." Kreyn shrugged. "I said I need experience, I didn't say I want to win."

"Alright." Grender stood up and walked slowly toward the exit. "We'll do it in the square. I won't hit you too hard, but you definitely won't return to prison without bruises."

"Fair enough."

Crack.

The door closed as Daren turned, watching them leave. It was unclear what he was thinking, but he was preparing for a storm, not in the village but in prison.

"When will tomorrow come? Agh... I'm tired of fighting for my life, but maybe this time something will really change?"

...

Less than five minutes later, the sullen faces of the angry residents changed to confusion and even growing smiles as they gathered around the square.

Grender threw off his heavy coat, revealing his muscular body, and Kreyn did the same.

"Hahaha!" One of the villagers laughed, pointing at Kreyn's skinny body. "Just look at him."

"Damn! What did he do to make old man Grender so angry that he decided to settle everything with a fight?"

"Pffft!" His friend snorted. "That's how it should be. As far as I understand, everyone woke up because of this freak. Go Grender! Show him what our village is capable of."

There was no reaction to their shouts. Grender just stared at Kreyn.

"So? Do you want me to give you the first strike?"

"Ha!" Kreyn threw his head back in a mocking chuckle. "Old man, I'm exhausted, not stupid. You attack first, show me how it's done."

Grender narrowed his thick eyebrows as he lunged forward with the force of a bull.

Even though they weren't using their abilities and catalysts, they were still the two Origins. Their physical power surpassed that of most ordinary people.

Even in his exhausted state, Kreyn would be able to engage in combat with an elite guard or an experienced warrior, because he was an Origin, and his opponent was an ordinary person, their physical strength would be equal.

True, if Kreyn used some ability or called his catalyst, his opponent would have no chance.

Thus, even though it looked like Grender was capable of breaking Kreyn in two as easily as a matchstick, in reality, this was not quite the case.

Whoooooooosh.

Kreyn jumped aside, escaping Grender's grasp at the last moment. His arms grabbed only air.

'Damn.' Kreyn's eyes scanned Grender's trembling muscles. 'If he'd hit me, his embrace would have broken several of my ribs. Hah, I'd better be careful.'

Grender turned around.

"Hmm? Dodged? Not bad for someone who can barely stand in a strong gust of wind."

"Well, I'm not as weak as you—!"

The next moment, Grender was right in front of Kreyn, his hand reaching for his head. It was clear to everyone that if Kreyn fell into Grender's grip, the fight would be over.

Bending at a strange angle, Kreyn dodged a split second away from defeat — Grender's hand flew right over him.

But that was only the beginning.

Like a spear, Kreyn's palm slammed right into Grender's throat.

"Gha!" Grender gasped more from surprise than from pain.

He turned around in an attempt to counterattack, but instead saw Kreyn, his figure exuding the darkness of an experienced warrior who never got to use all his skills in his world.

Now, he had a great opportunity and no mercy.

BAM! BAM! BAM!

One strike after another, fist and palm, elbow and kick, each hit was precise, aiming for either the throat, solar plexus, muscle bundle, or joint.

After just two seconds of a furious barrage of blows, a spasm ran through Grender's powerful body as he collapsed to one knee.

The pale-faced villagers watched the fight, unable to believe that it was over.

Well, it was.

Clutch.

Grender's hand wrapped around Kreyn's ankle.

"Arh?"

Before Kreyn could comprehend it, Grender lifted him with one hand and slammed him down with all his might like a puppet.

A wave of pain shot through Kreyn's back as his vision darkened, but soon he saw a light — the stars in the night sky.

"Good." He smiled, finding what he wanted from the fight.

His skills were not useless, far from it.

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