Joe didn't give himself a moment to think. Mana erupted like a geyser, it swirled around him before cloaking his form. [Skill Activation: Outsider’s Enhancement]

[-165 Mana Pool Points]

[Current Mana Pool:2,370]

[Passive Skill Weaponry Is In Effect]

[Total Skill: 73>162]

[Total Strength: 70>155]

[Total Speed: 70>130]

He blasted forward a second later, his figure nothing but a blur. He devoured the little distance between him and Mikey, swinging his blade in a sharp horizontal arc targeting the neck.

Mikey acted swiftly, mana shrouded his right arm as it shot upwards to block the attack. [Skill Activation: Thick Skin]

Joe's blade struck the arm and a massive shockwave pulsed throughout the room. The cages on the walls rattled, their sharp metalic clang echoing the space.

Joe clenched his teeth, as he focused all his strength on his arms. He pushed the blade forcefully, looking to dig deep into Mikey's arm.

Unfortunately, Mikey's arm was unmoved.

Even with Joe driving the blade into his skin, he failed to penetrate. He couldn't believe it, but Mikey's skin proved harder than iron.

As If chasing away a fly, Mikey swung his arm with force.

That simple act sent Joe flying backwards, thanks to his balance. He maneuvered his body to touch down on the floor as swiftly as he could. His boots drifted on the concrete as the distance between him and Mikey grew.

Noticing his momentum wasn't stopping anytime soon, Joe stabbed the black blade deep into the floor. He pirced it, creating a wide crack. His blade ran through the ground before coming to a sudden halt. Joe heaved, sweat streaking down his forehead.

He looked at Mikey, his eyes still widened in disbelief.

Mikey locked eyes with him, his face twisted into a frown. “I'm guessing you're the one behind all this.” he said, his eyes bouncing around the room. All the dead children came to view, their bodies scattered all over the floor. Mikey gritted his teeth. “What the hell did you do to my kids!” His voice boomed, shaking the entire building.

Joe retrieved his blade from the floor, his own expression bitter. “Your children?” He snapped. “Don't you dare call them your children you monster. You and your friends did this to them! These kids are dead because of you! Don't you dare pretend to care about them!” Joe's own voice bounced on the walls, sending ripples throughout the room.

Mikey pauses letting Joe's voice die out. “Pretend? I don't know what you're talking about. I loved every last one of these kids. They were my children and my treasures.” Tears fell down Mikey's cheeks making for an ugly expression.

That just sermed to piss Joe off even more. “Treasures? Don't give me that bullshit! You used them. You used all these kids to do your dirty work you monster!” Joe lifted his blade pointing the tip directly at Mikey.

“These kids were nothing before I came.” Mikey said, “I gathered all of them and gave them all I had. I gave my shelter and food to them. I became a father and treated them all like my own. These kids were rejected by society for their mana signatures and not having academy licenses but I accepted them. I built a family where they could have a purpose and thrive. I became their father. I showed them even the rejected had a place to call home. As long as they listened, everything would be fine.”

“You're just a false parent who used these kids for your own gain! Don't try to justify yourself!” Joe shouted, his grip tightened.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

“Isn't that what it means to be a parent. You nurture them and grow them into useful children, so that you can benefit in the future. That doesn't mean you love them any less, you're just showing them their true potential.”

“Enough of your bullshit!” Joe shouted, “these kids went through hell because of you! And for that I'll make you pay!”

[Skill Activation: Outsider’s Enhancement X2]

Joe's mana went wild doubling on size from his previous outburst. It cloaked him like a second layer of skin, his enraged eyes piercing through its darkness.

[-330 Mana Pool Points]

[Current Mana Pool;2,040]

[Total Skill:162>226]

[Total Strength:155>215]

[Total Speed:130>190]

As Mikey witnessed this display of power, a single thought came to his mind. “That mana…”

Joe blasted foward not giving him a chance to complete his thoughts. He swung the black blade producing a vertical arc that zipped through the air. It tore a pice of the floor as it approached. [Mana Tool Skill: Mana Slash]

[-160 Mana Pool Points]

[Current Mana: 1,880]

[Total Skill:226>306]

Mikey raised both his arms, crossing them in an X formation over his chest. [Skill Activation: Thick Skin]

The attack made contact with his skin, Mikey gritted his teeth as he established a firm footing on the concrete floor. He groaned as he found himself being pushed back slightly. “What's this?” He drifted a few spaces and the arc grew more intense as it chipped a piece of his skin. Blood trickling from his right forearm.

Mikey roared before more mana coursed through his body. He flung both arms to the side and diverted the slash off course.

As his arms opened, Mikey's eyes met Joe who was already in front of him.

Joe was crouching low, he thrusted his blade looking to pirce Mikey's stomach.

But Mikey responded, his right leg shot up and he used his pointed knee to shield himself from a catastrophic blow. The wind danced once more as they clashed.

Joe pushed his blade with all his strength and this time he was rewarded. The tip of his mana tool pierced the tough exterior of Mikey's leg and it drew out some blood.

Mikey roared as he clasped his hands together and brought them down like a hammer, looking to deliver a blow to Joe's head.

Joe instinctive jumped back, Mikey's counter offensive not finding its mark. He drifted, his eyes still glued to Mikey's figure.

He noticed something interesting, on top of seeing Mikey's mana flow, he could now also see little dots littered throughout his mana pathway system. They marked points where his mana converged, as it coursed through his body. They were so many Joe could never count them in such little time. This was something [Outsider’s Perspective] never showed previously.

Joe lunged forward once again. He went for Mikey's abdomen, this time targeting one of these ‘points’.

Mikey acted instinctively, he moved his right arm to form a shield for his stomach.

Joe could see these points on Mikey's arm as well. When he thrusted the blade, he pierced through one of these points located at the center of Mikey's arm.

Almost as if he had struck a sensitive spot, blood gushed out of Mikey's arm as soon as the blade made contact.

Mikey screamed in agony, he looked to counter as he launched his free hand and gripped Joe by his right shoulder. His fingers tore through bone and an audible crack echoed the room. But he didn't stop there, with his fingers stil digging into Joe, he lifted him up with a single hand. Before he tossed him across the room sending him tumbling forcefully. [Skill Activation: Tiger Grip]

As Joe rolled, he lost his grip on the blade before coming to a stop a few meters away. Even without touching it, Joe knew his shoulder was broken. His ribs had sustained major damage during his roll, Joe wouldn't be surprised if all of them were cracked. His head throbbed as blood tricked down his forehead. Joe groaned as he lifted his head to look at Mikey.

Mikey wasn't doing too good himself, blood pooled down his right arm as he took several steps forward. “You fail to understand kid. I'm the man who'll show the entire world. I'll show those rotten townspeople. I'll show even the Great Families. I'll show every last one of them that even trash and the rejected can fight and win. When it's all said done the rejected all over Grisha will fight against those who oppress them. I'll usher in a new Era. Where even trash will be respected.”

Joe didn't respond to that, mainly because talking was difficult in his current predicament. And also because Mikey sounded like a psychopath.

“If it wasn't for the Frozen Wing Party Perina would be mine. Those bastards have been on my ass for years. Are they the ones who sent you here kid? Or was it that bastard Darui?”

Joe had no idea what he was taking about, he just concentrated on dragging himself back to his feet.

“No it can't be Darui, if it was he would've sent those guys instead.” Mikey thought to himself. “But that kid's mana why is it so familiar. I swear I've felt it before but where…”

With Mikey seemingly lost in his own mind Joe was able to push himself to his feet. He nearly lost his footing but he made his way to his fallen blade and gripped it tightly.

Joe lifted his blade with on arm and pointed it at Mikey even with wobbly legs. His eyes were firce, and resolved. He wasn't going to roll over and die, not without a fight. Joe reached out to Syr.

“Let's do it Syr, let's go X3”