Mikey's eyes were widened as he observed the white light radiating from Joe's figure. “Did he just absorb all the souls of my children into his body? That should be impossible. Based on what he has displayed so far, this guy is undoubtedly a warrior class adventure. So how? How could he manipulate the souls of others?”

Mikey was dumbfounded, but one thought seeped into his mind. Suddenly everything clicked into place. “Of course that boy's mana…. That's why it's so familiar, it's almost Identical to the mana she had. But if that's the case, then this boy must really be… An Outsider. If he's an Outsider then him being able to manipulate souls wouldn't be so hard to believe. “

Mikey burst out in laughter when all the pieces came together in his head. “To think I would see it! The day I came across an Outsider once again! Incredible! It really is incredible!”

Mikey clenched both fists. More blood spurt out from his arms, but he didn't seem to care. His muscles bulged and tightened, his veins becoming more pronounced. He crouched low and the ground cracked. His grin spread from ear to ear, revealing a trail of blood that trickled in-between his teeth. More mana embraced his form, its ferocity creating a small gust around the room. [Skill Activation: Overheat]

“It won't happen again, I won't to lose to an Outsider again!” Mikey blasted foward.

Registering his approach, Joe smirked. He dropped his black blade and placed his left hand on his back. He then gestured with his right for Mikey to come straight for him.

Mikey met the challenge head on, he entered Joe's close quarters in seconds. “Are you making fun of me brat!” The veins on his forehead twitched, as he grinded his teeth together.

Joe's smile only grew wider In response.

“That's it you're dead!”

Mikey unloaded a flurry of punches with the aim of completely annihilating Joe's body.

Joe responded in kind, with just an open palm of his right hand. Joe deflected all the punches Mikey threw at him. They scorched his skin similar to burning charcoal, but he dealt with them without an issue. Each block he did sent powerful shockwaves throughout the building.

Mikey heaved as his barrage ended, “No ways! That's.. impossible!” He clutched his knees, as he tried to catch his breath.

“Impossible? No you bastard, It's definitely possible. This is the power of all those kids you treated like trash!”

“No… that's impossible!” Mikey threw his fist in denial.

Joe caught it. He held it firmly. And then, he squashed it.

The sound of breaking fingers bounced of the walls. Mikey crumbled to his knees screeching in pain.

Joe looked down on him with unforgiving eyes. He yanked him back to his feet with just one hand. “This is for all the things you did to those kids. This is their fury!”

Joe moved his left hand from his back, he clenched it into a fist. Many of the souls he gathered coalesced around his hand causing it to glow even brighter. He then unleashed a full fledged fist that dug deep into Mikey's stomach. He released his grip on his hand, before sending him rolling across the field on his follow through.

[-10 Stored Souls]

[Current Soul Count: 23]

[-30 Attrubute Points To All Attrubutes Except Mental Strength]

Joe clenched his fist and he could feel the ‘Spiritual Energy’ slowly escape his body. The light around him also glowed dimmer after his attack. “I see, the more Spiritual Energy I use. The number of my stored souls dwindles and I grow weaker as a result.” He mumbled to himself. “It doesn't matter, all those 10 souls just now got their revenge on that bastard. Hopefully, they can now pass on with one less regret. “ Joe said to himself.

His eyes shifted to Mikey who was on the floor. Mikey knelt on his his knees, his arms folded over his stomach. He continued to scram, struggling to endure the agony. His sweat mixed with his blood, and after a full minute he pulled himself back to his feet. “Dammit!” He panted. “To think there's a brat like you walking around in Perina.” He clenched his fists, “I can't let you destroy my hard work. I've come to far to let it all be destroyed by some kid!I am Mikey! The strongest in all of Perina!”

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Joe picked up his blade, he channeled his Spiritual Energy through it once more. Turning it White. He took a solid stance as he waited for Mikey to come to him.”

Mikey didn't disappoint, he charged at Joe instantly. This time however he divided himself into four copies. All four Mikeys were in this almost transparent state that made them seem like illusions. Mikey conjured them through shear speed alone. [Skill Activation: After Image]]

Joe responded in kind, he swung his blade 4 times sending out four horizontal arcs towards each of Mikey's figure. His white arcs zipped through the air and bisected three of the four Mikeys. One of them disappeared before he was stuck.

[-8 Stored Souls]

[Soul Count: 15]

[-24 Attribute Points To All Attrubutes Except Mental Strength]

It took a split second before Joe registered his presence. He saw his mana signature fall from above him which prompted him to lift his head.

Mikey descended quickly, and his right arm clenched into another fist.

Joe didn't even wait for him to unleash his skill this time, because when Mikey extended his arm, it was perfectly sliced in half by a sharp flashing arc. Blood erupted from where his arm once was and blood rained down on Joe like rain.

Mikey crashed to the ground as he screamed at the top of his lungs.

[-2 Stored Soul]

[Soul Count: 13]

[-6 Attrubute Points To All Attrubutes Except Mental Strength]

Joe used his left had to grab Mikey with his hair, he then flung him to the roof like a piece of laundry. He extended his blade and pointed its tip at his body.

“Die!”

A white orbs gathered at the tip of his blade. It contained all the souls Joe had left and hummed with energy. Joe unleashed it and sent it smashing into Mikey's body.

It collided with him and sent him flying through the ceiling. His body continued to fly higher as the orb pushed him to the heavens. It dug into his skin and was seconds away from annihilating his body. In that moment only one thing clouded Mikey's mind. “That boy… why? Why does he remind me of you Rebecca…”

As if life was flashing before his eyes, a distant memory surfaced in Mikey's mind.

He rembered that day vividly.

Long green hair and with a black leather coat, pants and boots. A girl with beautiful purple eyes stared daggers into Mikey's soul.

Mikey was on the ground trembling under her gaze.

“I'll let you live this time Mikey. I don't know what you're going to do now that you've lost your chance of ever getting an academy license, but listen to me and listen well. If you and I ever cross paths again. I will kill you!”

Those were the last words Mikey remembered before the orb obliterated his form into dust.

Mikey was finally, defeated.

All the children outside the hideout were in awe as they watched their father being reduced to nothing before their eyes.

Others stood frozen, while others cried tears of Joy. There were even some of them who expressed feelings of genuine sadness.

Viola looked at Shelly with a wide smile. “He did it! He really did it!.”

Shelly smiled back,”I told you he could do it.”

[Inside Mikey's Hideout]

Joe was on his knees struggling for air, every muscle on his body screamed in agony. The white glow surrounding his body had vanished. Tears streaked down his cheeks, “We did it… we killed that bastard!”

Joe's eyes blurred before everything went black.

His body stired and his consciousness returned. He was back outside again, made evident by the bright blue sky. He pulled himself up slowly and found all the children from Mikey's hideout standing infront of him.

When he saw them, Joe's heart shattered. “I'm sorry you guys. I couldn't save them! I couldn't save any of them!” Joe's tears fell down without his control.

The kids were quiet for a long moment, none of them were surprised by Joe's words. They must've seen the bodies for themselves. With tears in their eyes and in unison all of them bowed in front of Joe. “Thank you for everything you've done for us Mr Joe!”

That's what sent Joe over the edge. He just unleashed it all and ugly cried in front of all the kids.

All the children embraced him before they released tears of their own.

After several minutes they separated.

Joe found Shelly standing next to him with a smile on her face. “Its time to go.” She said, extending her hand.

Joe took it with a firm grip and rose to his feet. He did see Shelly wince in the process, Joe chalked it down to the injuries she must've sustained during the battle. He did apologize for causing her discomfort but she blew it off like Joe expected, saying she was fine.

Knowing just how stubborn she was, Joe let the matter rest. Taking the kids with them, Joe and Shelly made their way out of the Trash Can. They managed to pick up the boys Joe knocked out when they first entered the Trash Can. But as they exited through the nonexistent gate. They were met by a familiar face.

“There!”

The bread chubby shopkeeper pointed a trembling finger at Shelly. He was covered in bandages and was barely recognizable. Standing by his side, were four individuals. The wore flapping blue cloaks that covered their faces. The blue coats had three words written in bold. Both at the front and rear.

They were written. “Frozen Wing Party”

The shopkeeper had swollen lips but was still somehow able to form a nasty smirk.

“That's the girl I want you to kill!”