The Author's POV

WOOOOM'”!

Redirecting with his finger, a translucent yellow ring materialized above Matthew's armpits, and below the saber.

'”Crack!

Making contact with the ring, the saber broke the ring into millions of particles that diffused in the air. Fortunately, although it broke, it had served its purpose as Matthew's attack had pretty much been stopped.

By directly stopping the saber midswing rather than at full swing, Ren was able to reduce the amount of force the ring was subjected to upon making contact with the attack. This was one of the things he had learned in his experience at the Monolith.

Tapping onto the ground with his feet, Ren shot back and distanced himself from Matthew.

"No, you don't."

With the saber in his hand, Matthew chased after Ren. Fully knowing just how dangerous and powerful the Keiki style was, Matthew knew that he couldn't give him any time to breathe.

If he gave Ren time to breathe, he was as good as done for.

WHIIIN! WHIIIN! WHIIIN!

With each passing second, his attacks became more and more vicious. The yellow hue that resonated from his sword thickened enveloping his whole body.

"Haaa!"

Matthew roared out loud. The hue that was revolving around his body disappeared and agglomerated at the tip of his saber. Instantly it shot like a bullet towards Ren.

Unable to react to Matthew's sudden burst in power, the attack smashed solidly on Ren. The only thing he could do was stack three rings in front of him.

'”Bang!

"Hueek!"

Despite the rings revolving around his body cushioning some of the force, the force of the impact caused Ren to firmly smash against the side of the room. Landing back first against the wall, Ren found himself unable to breathe for a couple of seconds.

"huuu"

Gazing at Ren opposite of him, Matthew slowly exhaled. He didn't continue his pursuit. It wasn't that he didn't want to, it was because he couldn't.

There was one major flaw with Matthew's current strategy. It was that it heavily consumed his stamina. Especially that last attack.

Even though he was trying his best to mask it, he was slowly running out of stamina. If he continued to attack now, the chances of Ren being able to exploit his tired self increased. He preferred to play it safe.

'”Gulp!

Tapping onto his ring, Matthew took out a couple of potions and quickly downed them. Slowly his stamina and mana started to recover.

'I should be in a better state than Ren.'

Matthew thought as he wiped the side of his lips.

Ren had used two major moves to beat his two companions.

Coupled with the fact that he had killed the captain, Matthew estimated that he was currently extremely tired and low on mana. As long as he kept replenishing his stamina and mana with his potions without giving Ren any time to consume them, victory was in his bag.

"Ugh."

Eyeing Ren opposite to him, he watched as he slowly stood up. Dusting his body, apart from his torn clothes, Ren was fairly unscathed.

Staring at Ren, Matthew noticed that his expression was still calm. Frowning, he spoke, "You have really surprised me. Compared to years ago when you were much weaker than me, I must say, you've truly grown."

of progress. He could remember not long ago when Ren's talent assessment was only rank. At that time he thought that he and Ren would never be on the same level, but surprisingly, Ren was now in

demon fruits

me." Mattew's eyes became solemn. "But don't let that fool

potions were starting to kick in. The yellow hue around his body slowly started to stabilize. In fact, it was also showing

"..."

his eyes and glanced indifferently at him. As he sensed the slowly

speaking from me. It's about time we end this relationship of ours." Matthew slowly raised his hand. The yellow glow revolving around his saber became increasingly dense as his gaze never left Ren. "Killing you will set me free from the binds of

move on and be his

Matthew's words, Ren's face contorted slightly. Almost as

this, Matthew

"Let's finally settle this!"

slowly fell, the clothes on his body alongside his black hair on his head suddenly fluttered wildly despite the

gradually rose from within his body. The extent of the strength increase presented by Matthew caused Ren, who standing opposite to frown. Unprecedented seriousness clouded his

in Matthew's shook and a clear ringing of the sword sounded. Following the sword ringing, the yellow hue revolving

his head, the tip of his feet abruptly pressed gently on the ground. His body turned into a streak of light as

strategy was the same as before, attack before Ren

body flashed and reappeared, placing Ren within the range of his saber. Stabbing his saber, like a venomous snake in an almost erratic and unpredictable pattern, the

"Haaa!"

Matthew roared.

his brows, Ren indifferently watched the tip of the saber that was slowly enlarging in

"Naive."

wash over his body. The hair at

created. His body turned

"haaa!"

Roaring, Ren punched out.

body, his fist viciously smashed towards Matthew's back with a terrifying force. An ear-piercing energy explosion rang

Using the same principle as the Keiki style, borrowing the speed that he got from

long time and combining it with his martial manual. If it worked on the sword,

terrifying attack that left Matthew

was Ren's true

that was Ren merely trying to trick Matthew into thinking that he could only attack using the Keiki style, making him forget

at the incoming fist that was slowly enlarging in his vision, Matthew could only open his mouth absentmindedly. It was already too late. He

'”Bam!

"Haaaak!"

Matthew's stomach. Like a broken kite, his body flew all the way towards the other side of the room smashing against

Matthew, it wasn't because he was too tired. It was

fluttered wildly as the pressure enveloping the room

"huuuu."

He exhaled.

"Khh..."

staring at Ren who was coldly looking back at him. Matthew was indignant. His ribs were broken, his head was dizzy, and he

this how

He wondered to himself.

teeth, Matthew glared at Ren. "I can't accept

he would finally leave his past behind and grow into a majestic phoenix. How could he let Ren, someone who was supposed to be weaker than him defeat him?

"Come you fucker!"

last ounce of his strength, Matthew slowly stood up. His body swayed left and right. Supporting himself against a shelf, a terrifying yellow hue exuded from Matthew's body. The veins on his neck

kill you!

Matthew poured everything in his last attack. Tensing his legs, like a bullet, he shot in Ren's

Matthew who was approaching him,

'”Click!

clicking sound rang out and

movement of the [Keiki

each other. With their backs facing each other, neither one of