Amon, who took over professor Bant's class took over the theoretical part of magic but due to unexpected absence of the instructor for practical training and Amon's qualification, he took over the role of instructor. But Reo couldn't show himself in Amon's presence, he would be found out. Amon is a marquess of the demons, he's had a few encounters with spirits, that much was for certain.

Kai was confident in his magic to hide his abilities but in front of a marquess, a level above SS-class, he had absolutely no chance. Kai also isn't at his peak condition so even if he fused with Reo, he would still only be able to produce less than half the power he had when he fused with him in the spirit world. If Amon were to abandon his identity and attack Kai right now, Kai would have no chance of surviving.

"Spar."

"Again?"

Each and every time that they were allowed to spar, Yoko always approached Kai and asked for a battle. As expected of a martial arts prodigy, she got better and better each time but because they always kept battling and Kai always took it easy on her, rumors spread about how 'Kenji' was actually part of another kingdom and they sent him here undercover.

That really wouldn't be a problem but there was a rumor accompanying it. 'Kenji doesn't want anyone else to approach Yoko', he didn't really care about rumors in the least but there were two people in his life who did. A lot.

"Alright, fine."

Yoko immediately headed over to the small stage as Kai stood opposite.

"I'm going to use Gentle Fist."

"Nn."

Kai went the stance for Gentle Fist as he waited for Yoko to go into hers but surprisingly, she copied his stance.

"You managed to pick it up?"

"I can't fall behind forever."

As Yoko said that, she kicked the floor and launched a backwards palm strike at him. Kai caught it with his own palm but also smoothly followed its course, destroying the force behind the attack. Yoko calmly used another palm strike but this time it was from the front. Kai countered it with a forward palm strike of his own.

Whoosh

A gust of air burst from their hands. Kai used Yoko's force and sent it back while Yoko did the same- canceling both of them. If either of them used a stronger force, then that person would've lost that exchange.

"How troublesome."

"If there's one thing I'm confident about, it's close range combat."

Yoko said so with pride but their talk didn't last for more than a few seconds as Yoko's arms vanished- no, they were moving so fast that it looked like they vanished. She launched dozens of palm strikes in that instant but Kai intercepted them all with ease.

This time, Kai attacked. He stepped forward once and launched a fist strike, Yoko caught the fist in her palm and gripped it tightly sending some of the damage back towards Kai but he intentionally made the fist strike weak.

"First weakness of the Gentle Fist: if the opponent uses a weak force, you can't counter anything."

Kai opened his fist and grabbed Yoko's wrist, then he pulled her close and used his other arm to prepare a palm strike.

"Second weakness of the Gentle Fist: it's weak against holds."

Yoko didn't have time to use a palm strike to counter so she used her forearm.

"Third weakness of the Gentle Fist: you rely on the opponent's muscles, leaving yours relaxed and weak."

Yoko felt her arm break under that single palm strike. If she used her normal style, then she could've defended against it with only a slight injury but since she couldn't tense up her muscles while using the Gentle Fist, she took the entirety of the attack's power.

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"This technique of mine is full of flaws but it's still useful."

Kai released Yoko from the hold immediately after the attack which made her stumble backwards.

"Gentle Fist: Balanced Palm."

Kai stretched out his arms in a pushing motion which placed both of his palms on top of Yoko's chest and sending her flying.

The Gentle Fist: Balanced Palm used an equal amount of force on both hands to send the opponent flying, it was a beginner technique but it's still difficult to have both hands simultaneously attacking to have the same force. It wasn't a useful skill against an armored opponent but if the opponent didn't have a guard just like Yoko now, then they'd be sent flying without a doubt. The normal Yoko would've simply flipped her body backwards and kick the hands from below but she couldn't do that. One of her arms were broken and the other was out of position removing that option.

The only thing she could do was take the attack and hope for the best- she wasn't lucky though.

"Ugh..."

Yoko held her dangling arm while sitting down on the floor.

"Sorry about that, you would hold it against me if I held back. Besides, now you've got experience on how to use the Gentle Fist."

"You could have at least hold backed a little, I can't even feel my arm anymore."

Yoko sighed. A mage quickly ran over to Yoko and began to heal her. 'Kenji' couldn't use healing magic, that was the setting. If he used it, then Yoko's arm would've healed in a few seconds.

"Well, don't do any more practical training for now. I'm going to have some fun."

"Fun?"

Yoko tilted her head while Kai walked away but when she saw where he was walking to, her face changed completely, it went from nonchalant to shock mixed with fear in an instant.

"Professor, may I ask for a sparring match?"

Amon who was quietly observing everything felt surprised at Kai's suggestion. Everyone who heard him had their eyes open in shock. It was true that Yoko was undefeated in close combat before 'Kenji' came but that was only for the youth. There were many in the senior generation that could defeat Yoko effortlessly. Although it was true that Yoko is stronger than the instructors in skill, there were still many uncertainties about the new professor and openly challenging him without even an assessment was an insanely reckless decision though it was actually quite common for students to challenge instructors, Yoko did so several- no, she did that almost every time before 'Kenji' came because none of her fellow students were a match.

Amon's mouth curved into a smile as he nodded.

"Forsooth. I hereby accept your challenge."

...Forsooth? What day and age was this- well, to be fair it wasn't actually the present.

Kai thought so while preparing himself. Amon remained in the clothes for professors, it was as if he was saying that he didn't need to go all-out against Kai.

But Kai didn't look insulted at all and simply took a stance. It wasn't the Gentle Fist, it was an undefinable type of stance.

"This one is ready."

"Me too, let's go."

Amon and Kai exchanged some words and began to fight. Kai initiated the attack while Amon focused on defense. When Kai unleashed a fist, Amon would counter it with his palm and if Kai used a kick, Amon would counter it with his hands.

Kai used a roundhouse kick but it was easily countered by Amon who hadn't even moved a step. But Kai wasn't done there, he used the foot in the air as leverage to kick with his other leg but just as he kicked the floor, Amon let go making Kai switch positions.

With that exchange, Kai gave up on kicks and focused on punching. He took a pose like a boxer and punched with such speed that it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that he punched a hundred times in an instant. But Amon countered all that with his palms.

Kai chopped down with his palm but Amon grabbed it and launched a counterattack for the first time, it was a fist strike. Kai hit the top of Amon's wrist and dodged it.

Kai leapt backwards and used a defensive stance. Amon followed him and began attacking. It was a speed that wasn't fast or slow but Kai's instincts told him that the punch couldn't be blocked or countered. He immediately activated his left eye and dodged then launched a counter attack but Amon did a left hook, forcing Kai to dodge once more.

When Kai was doing the attacking, Amon blocked them all but when Amon attacked, Kai had to dodge each and every one of them because getting hit by a fist from a demon marquess wasn't a joke.

Slowly, Amon picked up the pace and his fist strikes numbered the same as Yoko's attacks. Kai couldn't dodge in the small stage so he had block some of them; making his arms numb.

But just as Amon prepared a finishing left hook, Kai repositioned his body that made everyone feel like they saw double. Kai's arm wrapped around Amon's and he used his other arm for an elbow strike which Amon was forced to block. Then, Kai pulled him downwards and used a knee kick but it was countered with Amon's knee.

Kai stopped his assault and Amon did so as well.

"Was that enough for you?"

"Yes, thank you professor."

Kai nodded at Amon and walked back to Yoko. Amon's expression turned back to normal as he went back to his spot. Neither of them suffered injuries but there were blows landed here and there.

Amon's eyes were sharp as he looked at Kai's retreating silhouette.

...That boy's knee and elbow were tough. It managed to lightly bruise me... I may not have set up my defenses but a mere human injuring me- a marquess? I'm guessing this is both a warning and a declaration of war. 'Keep to yourself and we won't have any trouble' is what he is trying to say.

Kai's message was sent loud and clear to Amon. If he wanted to cause trouble in the kingdom, Kai would stand in his way.

"Truly interesting."

Amon's mouth curved into the biggest smile he had in awhile.

"Truly interesting!"