TORVALD'S RESOLVE.

Shuu's statement surprised everyone on the plateau. A lot of outer disciples had bet their meal they would hustle to get as usual on Torvald. The spar was still on, but the statement made earlier by Shuu began to shake the confidence of those who staked in favour of Torvald a little.

"Hmm, so you are not as delicate as the dishwares from this part of the world. You can still take another right? You can still keep on going right?" Torvald showed a side that no one on the plateau had seen! His smiling face! Torvald was apparently excited that someone his age could actually take hits from his gigantic body and not waver in the slightest. Finally, after years spent alone, he finally found a possible peer!

Shuu simply smiled back. He chalked up that punch as Torvald tested the waters and not actually go out just to be on the safe side since he can't read the amount of damage in digits to confirm his rank. Shuu made an estimation and tried to enjoy the spar as well. He accepted that now wasn't the time to learn that weird movement technique but he stored those scenes in memory anyway.

Shuu's body flicked forward and he found Torvald's sternum (chest area) open and inviting and delivered a quick jab. Torvald's excitement rose when he saw Shuu attempting to rush him and accepted the challenge, he too wanted to taste Shuu's attacks. But in another instant, Shuu's body blurred from his position and appeared in front of him the next second.

Torvald felt a new kind of pain coursing through his chest and felt his feet leave the ground. He thought that was all the surprise he would receive from Shuu but he was wrong. As soon as he registered that he became airborne a chilling sensation ran through his whole body and his instincts warned that whatever he does, he should protect the left side of his body. 

Torvald has only ever received warnings like that throughout his childhood living in the streets and from the master of the clan and when he almost fought Mark's group. Torvald pulled through his pain and moved his hands awkwardly to the left side of his body. He immediately heard some cracks after that and flew out of the bordered ring created by the outer disciples and over their heads as well.

Senior Bob looked at Torvald who groaned in pain a few metres outside the encirclement and Shuu running over to the side. Senior Bob recovered from his stupor and wrote down what had just transpired in his report book for the outer disciples. The strength Shuu displayed was on the level of some weaker inner disciples. He began to believe now that the rumours he heard might have a little truth to it.

"Damn, I thought I held back a little." Shuu said as he arrived at Torvald's location. "Need some help up, Torvald?"

"You sneaky bastard! If hadn't known any better I would think you were a sort of a spy from the inner disciple plateau." Torvald coughed a little but didn't spit any blood. He accepted Shuu's hand with his left hand while his right hand hugged his ribs on his left side. 

Shuu immediately sensed something was off from Torvald and smiled in his mind. He wanted to test if his stats on his system were correct and let what was about to happen, happen. Shuu planted his feet and took his hand but Torvald pulled on it while making his centre of gravity as low as possible so as to flip Shuu off the plateau and down the mountain.

The ground under them trembled as Shuu held his ground and squeezed Torvald's hand a little. Veins popped up on Torvald's head as pain registered in his head but he pushed on as he used his tall hulking frame to his advantage.

Senior Bob thought that the spar was already over but Torvald in his own way kept on fighting. It was as if the class that he had trained for years started bringing out diamonds and talents unknown to him. Torvald's ribs were aching, RC cells would slowly heal them but he focused most of their functions on his offensive. He activated his kakugan for the first time in years and grunted through the pain as he managed to move Shuu a little.

Shuu smiled as he observed his body move. He could finally conclude that Torvald was at least in the middle stage of the A-ranking Ghouls! That is a big achievement in itself for a ghoul his age! Shuu applauded his resolve but decided to show him a bit of his own resolve and flipped Torvald on his back again!

Torvald at that point let go of Shuu's hand as if to accept defeat. His kakugan deactivated on its own and the accumulated pain came crashing down on him. Shuu then got him up on his feet.

"That was a good resolve you showed me earlier. But my goals are more than just graduation." Shuu said as his figure appeared domineering in the minds of the outer disciples. Senior Bob simply scoffed and declared the spar over.

Torvald with the help of Shuu got up and made for the dining area since that was the only place in the plateau with chairs and tables. Torvald went to his table and laid down on it as he recalled what happened during his spar.

He enjoyed the fact that he had finally found a peer he didn't have to hold back on and someone he could call a rival. He enjoyed every moment of that fight but also felt a tinge of depression since he had failed graduation twice already and he just lost a recent spar.

Torvald had always been lonely because of his size and strength, senior Bob usually mocked him for his large build and not using it, and his failures and social isolation weighed on him a little. Since he is a ghoul his feelings and emotions are more pronounced than the average human. But Torvald desired strength and respect above everything else.

Since the world went dark on him he would only rule with strength and demand his respect, that was his philosophy. Torvald quickly shook off that negative feeling and soon became happy that he had been right about Shuu and things were going to change in the clan.

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If you liked this chapter, throw some power stones.

If you are wondering why you aren't seeing frequent updates, worry not for this Heavenly One is preparing your Christmas gifts.

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