"Remember, I want a fight to the death. Are you ready?"

Logan spoke like a ring announcer, his voice brimming with excitement. It was unclear if he was excited because his son was fighting, or just because there was a fight.

Number 4 pulled a pair of golden brass knuckles from his inventory and slipped them on. Both fighters nodded, signaling their readiness.

"Begin."

Number 4 vanished in an instant.

'He's fast.'

Damian couldn't follow his movements for a moment. But it was only a moment.

'Urgh. My eyes are burning.'

His crimson eyes flared.

He could see where he was now.

'From the left.'

It was even starting to feel slow to him.

Puff!

Number 4's speed kicked up a cloud of dust that obscured everything in sight.

Ten seconds later, as the dust settled, a scene appeared that no one expected. Number 4 was pinned down on the ground, with Damian standing triumphantly over him. Damian's foot was pressed into his chest, demonstrating his dominance.

The flare in his eyes has faded.

"When my father said 'Get some rest, you'll need it', I thought we'd be doing something strenuous. If the whole team is like this, we're in trouble."

Damian taunted. His words dripped with provocation and satisfaction.

He was beginning to understand why his father had brought him here - satisfaction. The taste of victory had satisfied him and now he wanted more. And lust for power. He didn't fully understand how strong he was, because he hadn't fought anyone in his recent memories. The pleasure of being strong was something else.

"If you're too afraid to face me, that's your choice."

"Is there anyone who wants to challenge him? If not, the fighter with the lowest number will be forced to do so." Logan shouted.

Number 7 raised his hand and stepped forward. He was 1.90 meters tall, towering over Damian by a full 30 centimeters. His body was lean but toned, with disproportionately long arms and legs. 'This could be a challenge,' Damian thought to himself.

"Take your positions. And wait."

Logan ordered, watching Damian with curious eyes.

"Son, how did you beat him?"

"It was easy, Dad. I deflected his punch and hit him hard on the head."

In truth, what Damian had done was far more complex than his brief explanation. As Number 4 threw his punch, Damian parried it with the back of his left hand, twisting his wrist to grab Number 4's arm and pull it under his armpit. In one swift motion, he brought his right knee up to strike hard and fast at his opponent's stomach.

Without a moment's pause, Damian followed up with a brutal right elbow to the side of his opponent's head. The side of the skull is usually more vulnerable than the front, which is why the blow knocked him out. But Damian didn't stop there - he finished with a solid punch to Number 4's head, just as he had said he would.

"Hmm..."

Logan was deep in thought. He hadn't expected his son to be so strong. But without losing his composure, he continued.

"Are you ready?"

Number 7 drew two long swords from his inventory and took up his position. He rested the swords on his arm and crouched down with his arms outstretched behind his back and his right leg extended forward.

'Freak.' Damian sighed.

Alfred grabbed Number 4's feet and dragged him to the side, and the stage was set for another battle.

Then both fighters nodded.

"Begin."

The order to begin had been given, but neither moved. They stood there, staring at each other in absolute silence and concentration. It was as if they were measuring each other's strength. After about 15 seconds, Damian broke the silence.

"If you forgot how to move, don't hesitate to say so. That is if you can still talk."

His voice was taunting, but the provocation didn't work. Number 7 didn't move an inch.

"Pffff, boring,"

Damian muttered, and without a second thought, he sprinted at full speed towards his opponent. He jumped into the air, intending to do a mid-air somersault followed by a powerful kick. But Number 7 swung his arms in the exact direction Damian was aiming. As his arms moved, the swords resting against them suddenly lashed out at Damian.

Damian's eyes flared again, burning with that intense glow. In mid-air, he twisted his body sharply, slowing his descent and at the same time escaping the awkward position he was in. His feet landed directly on Number 7's crossed swords. Without hesitation, he kicked off the swords with his legs and flipped forward, delivering a flying kick directly at Number 7's head.

"Heh. Freakish tactics from a freak of a man. Just a bit more and it would have worked."

Damian spread his arms wide, mocking his opponent. He was openly insulting him now.

'Adolescent antics.'

Logan thought to himself as he watched his son's cocky display.

The force of the kick had left Number 7 dazed, his mind spinning. How could such power come from a mere 12-year-old brat? A voice echoed ominously in his head.

"Kill. Kill the boy, tear him apart, destroy him, annihilate him. He began to thrash wildly as the voice in his head took control.

"Just one hit... and he's already losing control," Logan muttered to himself.

Damian was confused when he heard his father's words. He looked between his father and his opponent.

'What's happening?'

Number 7's thrashing came to an abrupt halt. Even during the convulsions, he had never let go of his swords - now he gripped them even tighter.

"Grrrrr."

Damian smirked.

"Haha... are you serious?"

He had a vague idea of what was happening. His opponent had a split personality; one was a trained assassin, and the other was an unhinged beast.

'Damned if you do, damned if you don't.' he sighed inwardly.

"GRRRRAAAAAAH!"

With a savage roar, Number 7 began swinging his swords wildly, without technique or strategy. It was a relentless, unyielding storm of blade strikes. Yet Damian dodged each one effortlessly. Thanks to his 'Crimson Eyes', he could clearly see the trajectory of each strike before it landed.

"You're fast." He caught the sword swinging from his right.

"You're strong." He caught the blade coming from his upper left.

"But there's no technique..." Number 7 tried to free his swords, but it was as if they were stuck in stone. He couldn't move them.

"...and no real savagery." Damian unleashed the claws from his gloves and grabbed the blades with all his might.

Clank! The swords shattered, their fragments scattered across the floor.

"You're just..." Damian's claws pierced his opponent's shoulders, and with a sharp yank, Number 7 fell to his knees. Without hesitation, Damian lifted his leg and smashed his heel into Number 7's head, slamming his face into the ground.

"Not enough."

Damian raised his arms and let out a wild yell.

"Anyone else who wants a beating, step forward now!"

He was completely consumed by adrenaline. Yet no one moved. Not a sound was made. Everyone was stunned. The flare in Damian's eyes gradually faded as he retracted his claws.

"Hah... hah... hah... If no one else wants to fight, I will catch my breath, if you don't mind."

He was still panting when a figure stepped forward, though he hadn't raised his hand.

"I will fight."

The reaction was instant. Everyone, even the assassins, was shocked but kept their composure. No one expected their leader to step forward. However, Damian's reason for being surprised was different.

'He can talk... how?'

Number 1 was about 1.80 meters tall and had a well-shaped body. His aura felt like that of an experienced fighter.

Alfred grabbed Number 7's arms and dragged his body to the side, laying him down next to Number 4.

"Stand up. You won't get a chance to rest in real life."

"Is that so? Well, consider me very surprised."

Damian said, still trying to gain the upper hand in this exchange, but there were several problems now.

Firstly, despite the short duration, the fights had taken their toll on him - he wasn't used to this type of combat.

Secondly, his eyes felt as if they were on fire. The power he was using already caused a burning sensation, and prolonged use brought unbearable pain.

Finally, and most concerning, he struggled to maintain control over himself.

Just as his father had mentioned, there was a darkness within him - something unidentifiable, alien, yet eerily familiar. It was as if this part of him was trying to consume him, to take control. Ever since the first fight began, he had heard a voice in his head - "Embrace the Chaos" - in a disturbing tone.

He didn't want to end up like him.

"Can't you give me a little more time?"

His instincts were warning him, urging him to avoid unnecessary risks.

"No. Get up and fight. No one will give you a second chance."

"No shit, Sherlock," he muttered to himself.

Damian took a deep breath and advanced into the arena.

"One last battle. Don't bother me for a long time afterward."

"Okay."

His tone was dense and clear.

Logan was watching in amazement. He was speechless. His son... he was so strong. He was a prodigy with the potential to be the most powerful. He could barely contain his excitement.

They both took the stage.

"Ready?" Logan said.

They both nodded.

‘’Begin."

Neither of them moved at first, just as in the previous match.

"You're not going to draw your weapon?"

"No need."

'Is that so? You're very confident.'

Damian thought, his eyes narrowing. At that moment, his opponent disappeared from view. Instantly, Damian's eyes began to burn again, glowing intensely. Number 1 had slipped behind him and launched a horizontal blow aimed at his lower back.

Damian tried to block the punch from behind, but he wasn't quick enough. Still, he managed a sloppy defense. But that didn't stop him from being sent flying into the center of the arena. He landed on his feet but winced.

'Khhhh... What the hell is this strength?'

There was a problem - his eyes were burning more intensely than ever. He had never felt such pain before. Keeping his eyes open was becoming a struggle. And his body was warning him. 'He is not someone you can beat right now,' his instincts screamed.

Desperate to buy time, Damian dashed away to think. But his opponent had no intention of giving him any breathing space. Once again, Number 1 appeared behind him, this time with a swift, sweeping kick. Damian's feet were lifted off the ground, sending him flying. Number 1 clasped his hands together and brought them down on Damian as he floated in the air.

Sensing the attack at the last moment, Damian barely shielded himself with his arms, but the impact as he hit the ground was brutal. Blood dripped from his mouth.

Number 1 lifted his right foot and placed it over Damian's head, ready to bring it down with crushing force. Damian barely rolled out of the way, getting as far away as he could. The spot where the foot had landed was obliterated, leaving a deep crater.

If I had taken that blow, I'd be dead.

His opponent was strong, fast, and serious. It was clear why Number 1 was the leader. He wasn't giving Damian even a second to think. If I can't think, I'll fight without thinking,' Damian decided.

Number 1 realized that his kick had missed.

'Not bad. Yet not enough.'

Damian's eyes began to burn even more, so much so that red, pulsating lines began to ripple out of them, leaving a trail in the air. The pain was excruciating.

'What... is that?'

Logan, watching from the sidelines, was stunned. If his son had somehow survived this, there would be a flood of questions waiting for him.

From the cloud of dust, Number 1 burst forth with explosive speed, appearing directly in front of Damian and launching a brutal sidekick aimed straight at him.

Damian couldn't possibly counter the kick. The burning pain in his eyes had dulled his senses. But then something strange happened. Time seemed to slow down - or so it felt. Number 1's kick, which had been lightning fast before, now seemed to come at him in slow motion.

Damian seized the opportunity and ducked just in time to avoid it. Immediately he moved behind Number 1. With a quick leap, he delivered a dropkick to his back, weak but effective. The kick created enough distance between them to both hit his opponent and send Damian further away.

'What... How?'

Logan and Number 1 thought at the same time, both equally stunned. In Damian's current state, what he had just done should have been impossible.

Number 1 paused, turned, and stared at the boy standing before him. If he can do this at 12, what will he be capable of when he grows up?' he wondered. 'The key to his evolution will be unlocked after this fight.

A passive ability? You're full of surprises, boy.' Logan thought.

Damian had sealed his powers, just as he had promised, but passive abilities couldn't be sealed. That gave him a huge advantage. The boy rubbed his eyes. He had gotten used to the pain, at least a little. Now he could keep up with Number 1's movements. His whole body screamed in agony, but stopping wasn't even a consideration. In fact, Damian was thrilled - he was enjoying it.

"Heheheh. Let's start round two."