Chiyo sighed as she stepped forward to bring a wooden sword down. Her short black hair had lengthened quite a bit after gaining Qi pathways, and her body had also become much more durable. Her movements were faster as if she had reached a body enhancement threshold in spirit mastery, but the effects were unbalanced and somewhat weaker. Something was missing.

Ander watched with a concerned expression. He may need to introduce spirit mastery to the one who would become his wife. Another observation occurred to Ander: He noticed that Chiyo didn’t need to eat as often, but when using a lot of Qi, her appetite would become monstrous.

Chiyo’s Grandfather, known by those in his family as Junichiro Aikawa. I stood near the doorway as Chiyo went through the motions again. His expression was grim as he looked through some documents in a room next door. The walls were paper thin so he could observe his son’s supposed lecherous conduct. The fact that he hadn’t tried anything since the kiss incident had him suspecting that what happened wasn’t a kiss with intention. It’s just a cultural difference.

It was still early morning, and her work hadn’t officially started for another two hours. By work, they meant the Qi assessments that would measure her power and assign her a new ranking. She was already in the upper B class, Berserker type, and could jump to A with the right motivation. Yet this was different. If Qi pathways were to become common knowledge, it could lead to rank inflation. Sure, a hundred new S ranks would be welcome, but how would you compare each S rank if they are vastly different? This was why they performed the procedure on all the other ranks starting from F, which were humans who didn’t have the requisite Qi level to be combatants.

“Chiyo, there’s an issue.”

“Hmm?” Chiyo stopped mid-swing as an afterimage made from Qi continued the strike and then followed it up before dissipating.

“Interesting. But no, it seems that they are rushing things. The people want to put Ander up against an A and an S rank before testing you.”

“Why is that?”

“They don’t know how strong he is and by putting him up against our best, they want to see him lose. If he doesn’t then that could mean problems for our family. Then there is that issue involving an island of monsters that appeared yesterday. They aim to send a united strike force combining Cerberus, Slayers, and the Janitors, heavy hitters. Which means if he injures someone, or kills, he may get sent in their place.”

“Meaning our branch is represented by our top regardless. Correct, many want to see a tiger fighting a dragon.”

“Do we even know if this dragon is evil? Most are sentient.” Ander sighed, having appeared out of nowhere.

“You’re supposed to be at the testing facility!”

“It’s all close, and I finished about thirty minutes ago. Don’t act as though you didn’t notice me sitting here.”

“You weren’t there a full thirty minutes.” Junichiro faked exasperation and held his heart. Or, well, where his heart should have been.

“I broke their scales. What is a S rank? And why does it hurt my tongue when I say it?” Ander bit his tongue.

“Supreme, or Sovereign. Doesn’t really matter. Did you beat them?”

“You’re S-rank was the equivalent of a late fledgling or very early practitioner. Someone who just started playing with fire. Yet doesn’t know what it truly is, or how it can burn the wielder. Took me about two seconds for each. Half a second of actions. Did you know most people have the same well location for life energy? A small jolt of electricity and they are unable to fight, move, or access their abilities.They just seize and pass out. I used what I call a testing bolt.” Ander flicked a finger at the old man, knowing the bolt would miss due to the giant hole in his chest.

The man redirected the bolt with his sword, not even needing to use Qi.

“That was all I did, and both went down. They said that they can’t rank me with a test like that. So I need to go back tomorrow.”

“They didn’t have anyone who could fight a simple technique like that?” Chiyo asked with suspicion.

“None they would risk.” Ander yawned as he observed Chiyo curiously. Holding out his right pointer finger in a warning and slowly flickering with static.

Chiyo didn’t bother dodging and took the small shock head-on, not bothering to counter it. The Qi flowed through her pathways and settled as she absorbed it.

“That is the next level of power. It seems I was wrong. They are all below the practitioner tier. The old man is as well. In terms of Qi manipulation, that is around that level, but his other abilities compensate for it. Are you an S-Rank?” Ander looked at the old man.

“Nope. I am what is known as unmeasurable. As in, my power isn’t strong in combat on its own, and I am well past my prime, having lived for centuries.” The old man alluded to his injury and inability to exert himself, making any testing worthless, as he’d just get weaker if pushed.

“I see. Well I was tasked with going to some island to beat up a dragon. They seem to assume that the dragon was a part of some prophecy. I want you to come with me, along with Chiyo. This will be the perfect place to show them your new abilities.”

A phone buzzed long before the old man withdrew a flip phone from his sleeve and answered it.

“Hello?”

“Uh huh.”

“She can be brought over there, but are you sure?”

“Oh, so your people are well enough to fight after suffering such a defeat?”

The old man waited a long moment before speaking again. “Well your group is in charge of testing. I’m sure you know what’s best for everyone involved.”

“Thank you, we will be over there shortly.”

Ander watched as the old man hung up his phone and debated throwing it against a wall. “Those idiots. Well if they want to die then sure. I’m getting too old for this.”

“What was that about?”

“They want to expedite the test for Chiyo. Which is a bit annoying, this organization is really starting to show its age.” Junichiro sighed.

“Grandfather?” Chiyo asked in surprise.

“Chiyo, I’m going to name Ander the next head of this family. This will all but cement your engagement and keep the vultures at bay.”

“Grandfather.” Chiyo’s surprise turned into concern.

“You do know I can’t stay in this world for long. I need to get back, making my position as a family head, only a temporary position.” Ander pointed out.

“Like I said, the rules are outdated. In the event of your absence, she will handle the family’s resources. Not that it should matter given her level of power. But bureaucracy is slow to adapt, old men clinging to the little power they still have.”

“Aren’t you the oldest man on that council?” Chiyo pointed out.

“Yes, but I was also the most active during their youth. The others won’t meet their end naturally for some time.”

“The older dudes. Are they strong?” Ander asked.

“They have trained some S-ranks in the past. You need to have that level of power to train someone of that level. Or have an eye for talent. Most that I’ve trained don’t tend to live long.”

“Because your fighting style uses a lot of energy that most don’t have, resulting in bursts of power at the cost of a lifespan. While the others are much more careful.”

“Correct.”

Ander clicked his tongue. “Chiyo, are you ready to best some weaklings?”

“You’re a bit too cocky.”

“You haven’t talked to anyone aside from me and your Grandfather. Since the Qi enhancement have you?”

“No, I’ve been training and adjusting ever since I snapped my chopsticks yesterday.” Chiyo said as red red colored her face.

“A day of adjustment should be fine. What surprises me is that your Grandfather is casually keeping up.” Ander prodded.

“Keeping up?”

“You’ll figure it out soon enough.” The old man shook his head, leading the trio to a black limousine. The three rode in for twenty minutes through light underground traffic before arriving at a large building.

“Back here again. Follow me.” Ander exited the car before it had come to a complete stop. He looked around and motioned for Chiyo to take his hand.

She didn’t get out until the vehicle was parked. Even then, she looked about before taking Ander’s hand.

“Is this a custom you learned here or from your world?”

“It is the chieftain’s duty to get out and scout for threats and assassins before helping their significant other out of the carriage.”

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

“Chieftain?”

“Orcish hospitality you could say.”

“Orc, as in the really big green monsters in games?”

“Orc’s aren’t monsters where we’re from. In fact, back home orc’s are one of the more advanced societies. At least before the other races moved in and they had to share their continent. But that goes into a lore I don’t want to speak of before a test. You’re just hitting the beginning of the practitioner tier. As I would call it, you don’t need to know about the level of havoc past what my captain and I are capable of.” Ander sighed.

“Do you mean, destroying cars, level of havoc or…If left alone for a few minutes and in a negative state of mind, I could level the city above’s power systems invoking a communication and electrical black out. By the time a suitable force could have been rallied chances are no one here could have stopped me from turning it into a ghost town due to your current society’s level of power. Which is why I want to make the people here stronger.”

“You say that, but you also mention there is someone stronger.”

“Take your tallest buildings. Imagine all of them falling from space onto well populated areas, suddenly and without any warning. That’s the level of power we keep contained, and why the people I fought against were made to look like kittens going up against a tiger.”

“He can cast a meteor spell?”

“No, he can teleport buildings and move them around, or rip them out of the ground before teleporting them. I’m just glad our world isn’t as advanced enough to have so many big buildings or things that explode when destroyed.”

“Why is that?”

“The gravity here is much lighter than I’m used to. It takes effort for me not to float away, despite your world being much bigger,” Ander said as he led Chiyo to a hole in the side of the building that was roughly door-shaped.

“What does that mean?”

“I recently read a book, well, in truth I read it before I came here. Back when I was leaning about magnetism.” Ander walked through the makeshift door and smirked.

“Magnetism?” The old man asked as he curiously approached the door that clearly shouldn’t be there.

As the three entered the metal wall, the opening sealed, while an area opened up, revealing a dark, empty hall room. The floor then seemed to sink, lowering into a large arena, which could be seen below. Various monitors and terminals littered the area. Oddly enough, none of the cameras turned towards him, while none of the monitors seemed to have captured their entrance.

“Where is Junichiro’s daughter? Their car showed up, then everything went black.”

Junichiro Aikwawa, the father in question, stroked his beard. “Ah. What you said earlier makes alot more sense. As far as I could tell you weren’t hiding. The door wasn’t there until we turned the corner. If I had to guess.”

“I made it when I left then just made sure to close it.”

“Great! I’m not senile yet!” The old man left the arena square loudly.

“I didn’t say that.” Ander walked out as well, leaving Chiyo in the square.

The test proctors turned in unison. “When did you get here?”

“Is this how you treat your guests?” Ander approached with his back arched aggressively as if a tiger was preparing to pounce on its prey.

The figure Ander showed him was the same that the people observing him felt. They could tell that the person in front of them had been killed. Or sense the powerful intent behind his eyes, meaning they were noncombatants.

“Mr.Fulwind, we apologize for being so rude!”

“Were you rude? I wasn’t looking at you, but the presence behind that wall. Is his pride so injured that he needs to win a fight, to prove he’s worth something?”

Chiyo scowled. “Why is he talking so slow?”

Like clockwork, a man around six feet tall with salt-and-pepper hair and bestial features entered the room. His body was muscular, and his frame was intimidating to the average person, yet to Chiyo, he felt extremely weak.

“Is this the A rank?”

“I am known as Beast, and I’m an S rank.”

Chiyo watched as the man slowly spoke. As she examined him, she noticed countless openings and weaknesses. It wouldn’t take long for someone like that.

“Can we begin? Some of us have important things to do,” Chiyo said as the Beast slowly entered the arena. Then, slowly, the Beast grew in size, stopping at just a few more inches in height.

“Is that all?” Chiyo was uncharacteristically bored. Her expression was as cold as death.

The Beast charged forward, attempting to knock his opponent to the ground or trample them.

As the Beast approached, Chiyo adjusted her wooden sword before moving past the attacker.

Nothing happened at first, as cuts appeared all over the man’s body. The cuts then began to bleed, leading to the man known as the Beast losing consciousness while on his feet.

The fight lasted only a few seconds.

“The ranking system clearly needs to be reworked. To beat as S rank with such ease shows how little we understand about Qi. Considering the current findings, there is a chance that is linked to what China refers to as cultivation.” Another old monster entered the room. His body was eerily thin, as little to no muscle or fat had stuck to him.

“It is possible, but that form of power focuses on alchemy and potions that increase longevity, on top of meditation,” Junichiro said.

“Ugh… This is one of those scenarios where the world’s magic has been split all over the world and nobody wants to give up their secrets. Making everyone weaker as a whole.” Ander looked at the old men in contempt.

“Master Ander, if what you say is possible, can you prove it?”

“People who draw a similar power that’s like life essence but from their brain. You have those, or, you have people hiding among you with those abilities.”

“Espers?” The new old man asked.

“Possibly, there is one in this room working at a terminal but the power is very weak. It could just be a change brought about by being exceptionally smart or accidently running Qi through your mind. Given how weak the dude is, I’ll go with accidental.”

“Hiro? Those headaches you’ve been complaining about lately when trying to learn Qi. Did you gain any abilities?”

“No, Master Yagami. Just insomnia.”

“Ugh… I’d need to leave any brain alteration to someone with experience. I know a guy, but chances are, he’d refuse. Brain alteration is dangerous. Now old man Yagami, wanna go a round with my fiance? You seem closer to her level.”

“She’s much faster than I am. Plus, those after images. It seems she didn’t earn the title of Asura by coincidence.”

“Bah, maybe after you get your treatment. How have the others gone?”

“Most are stronger, but not by the jump Chiyo received. Given that she was technically an A-rank before…”

“You suspect that a certain level of control will determine one’s potential once they gain pathways?”

“I believe it’s proportional. You have everything I can teach you with my current knowledge of this world. Now then, this island of monsters, I am pretty sure this will be a perfect place to test my abilities and learn what the others can do.” Ander shrugged

Junciho scowled as his phone rang. “Just how many calls am I getting today?”

“Hello! Is this Little Ander!?” A loud voice spoke through the line in English.

“You’re gonna make me go deaf you damned brat.” The old man replied in his native tongue.

Ander spoke up. “Captain!”

The language changed again, as Kyrion spoke his home tongue. “I'm Glad you’re safe. I will be preparing your wedding gifts while doing that monster island thing. I just have one request: Let me deal with the dragon.”

“You aren’t going to make friends with a dragon are you?”

“Of course. Although if it’s really determined to die, I’ll let you kill it. I’m sure the height gain would be well worth the slaughter for you.”

Ander scowled.

“What did he say?” Junichiro looked at Ander.

“He wants to deal with the dragon. Possibly tame it.”

The old man scowled. “You don’t seem surprised.”

“To be fair, last time he fought a dragon he was mostly playing around and stalling for time. Injecting it with enough drugs to cause organ failure before it got the munchies and swallowed me whole.”

“Hmmm… Am U speaking left language?” Kyrion switched his tone, nearly shifting to match the dialect.

“No, we are speaking japanese. What are you speaking?”

“And he’s learned it.” Ander squinted.

“It is an interesting language. Why do you hoomans from Gaia not have a unified language?”

“Because we all developed differently for a long time. Our natural barriers were hard to pass for a long time.”

“Good to know, now then Ander, I need you to take two steps to the left.”

Ander scowled and did so, knowing to ask why after. Oddly enough, the steps were all that were needed.

“Given the height and weight of your friend. These should work as a start.”

Where Ander had been standing, a box covered in wrapping paper with a ribbon appeared, as though it was supposed to be there.

“You had time to make these?”

“I was working on something at the time and had some extra materials. There are also some body strengthening regeneration potions in there. Drinking them after a workout enhances the muscles without letting them get too bulky. Follow the regime and your new friend will be dangerous sooner rather than later. I assume you wanted a training partner for life right?”

“Uh…All I gave you were estimations of height and weight. And they were outdated.”

“Ander. How do you think I know you’re here? I’ve split a part of my consciousness off to gather information. I technically have all the information gained after her transformation. As well as knowledge of the Qi pathways.”

“Captain? You should stop talking.”

“Fine…Should we do this face to face? This call cannot be traced or recorded.”

“That’s the issue. Do you know how dangerous your abilities are in a world like this?”

“Not quite. This world has a few beasts after all. Cecil’s dad is one of them.”

“Huh. So what do you want, Kyrion?”

“Money. Resources. Access to a few Swordam model kits that are still in production, as well as some of your best mechanical engineers. You see—” The call was suddenly ended.

Junichiro looked at Ander. “Is your captain a spy or assassin?”

“No… He’s just dangerously good at gathering and processing information. The type of genius parents with secrets tend to avoid teaching the basic understanding. Did you hear how quickly he learned this language?”

“What kind of monsters live in your world?”

“The kind that make us look our age.” Ander said.

“So back home, your gifted kids at most.”

“For now. Due to reasons we are capped back home. There aren’t the same restrictions here.”

“Are we going to ignore the fact that he just teleported an item across the ocean through the phone?” Chiyo had walked to the box curiously.

[That was rude. Also, I call this Telegift. Uploading…」A green dot buzzed around the monitors, writing words as it passed.

“He’s in the monitors? Something had been uploaded to the cloud…and satellites. I cant figure out what though.”

“Huh… That’s odd. He usually isn’t good with technology.” Ander scowled.

Junichiro’s phone began to smoke as though on cue, followed by the monitors.

“Now this makes sense.”

Junichiro threw his phone and watched it explode due to an interaction between mana and technology.

“How does your group function with someone like that leading you?”

“We balance each other out. He’s good at what he needs to do.” Ander shrugged.

“Dangerous. I can’t help but see this as a warning.” Master Yagami looked concerned.

“Warning?” Ander raised an eyebrow. He was sure that his friend was just curious.

“Someone in our branch attempted to persuade members of Cerberus that you were a threat that needed to be captured and detained. During my research I have come to learn that your captain is currently under the protection of an executive. He was probably informed of the plot and decided to step in.”

“That just means you should follow the laws of hospitality then.” Ander said bluntly. He was now certain that this was one of those lucky whims.