R15

Ame's Pov

All the bubbles in the air suddenly split in half and fell to the ground, creating puddles everywhere. Even the one I had hardened to form my spear had returned to liquid form. My legs gave out from under me as I realized my breathing was ragged. Suddenly I found myself in Susanoo's presence. He looked at me with an indifferent expression but his usual haughty atmosphere that was always around him was nowhere to be found.

'It seems you have finally learned defeat today child.'

Was that all he had to say? In that brief moment it felt like I had seen him move countless times and blades had been everywhere in the air. Anyone of those blades could have taken my life if he so wished it. Looking up at Susanoo, I saw that he was still watching me before he spoke.

'His skills far surpass yours. That can only be possible with years of dedicated training a strong will. You have always been regarded as powerful from a young age and that has stunted your growth. No one pushed you to be better and they just made you feel like the strongest.'

"Why wait till now to say all this to me? Why not tell me sooner ? Do you enjoy kicking me while I'm down?"

I was getting furious. I had been played with and it was a fact that my opponent didn't even take the fight seriously. He just evaded all through. The moment it seemed I was getting ahead of myself for landing a hit on him, he did not waste any time putting me in my place.

'If you hadn't lost to anyone do you feel you would have listened if I told you this sooner?'

He wasn't wrong though. I had been riding on my own high horse for a long time that the weight of this loss was crushing. There was only one thing to do. Get up and become better. There was no way I was giving up when I had a god with me. Looking up at Susanoo I saw his smiling before he waved me away. His superior attitude back in full force.

'Now leave and lick your wounds. I have other things to tend to.'

And with that I was back to reality.

Tora's Pov

After executing the technique, I had to stop and focus because of how disoriented it had made me. In a single moment, I had executed an absurd number strikes to eliminate her source of superiority. The bubbles that she had created. If it wasn't for stamina training for years I would have collapsed already. But I was not going to allow anyone look down on me. This was my first time using this technique and it was more taxing than I initially imagined.

Catching my breath while numbing my pain sensors so I couldn't feel the soreness or lash back from the technique, I stood up straight and turned to look at Ame.

Looking back, she just sat on the floor where she had collapsed with a blank expression on her face.

'She's talking to having a connection right now. Though dangerous to do with an enemy nearby I believe the one supporting her sees you as trustworthy.'

Hearing Byakko's explanation I nodded before taking a seat at the end of the hall so I could rest my back on the wall while still watching her. It didn't take long before she blinked and became conscious of her environment.

"I don't appreciate being tested by anyone. That was the only warning you will be receiving. Do that again and you'll regret it." I told her in a cold tone.

Byakko had just passed on a technique to allow me heal myself and repair major damage to my body but it was not so easy to grasp making my current healing process slow. Still watching Ame, she stared at me for a while then took a deep breath before getting up and walking to where I sat.

She unexpectedly took a seat beside me before saying anything.

'I acknowledge that you are stronger than me, but that doesn't mean it will always be the case. I'm going to get stronger and challenge you again. So till then let's work together.'

Her hand was outstretched towards me and I looked at it before giving her a once over. Taking her hand and giving it a firm shake I let go before standing up.

'What was that technique you just used? I know it's rude to ask, but how did you stop my technique? It felt like my control over the water was cut and I've never felt something like that before.'

"Simple" I replied her. "I severed the the water on a molecular level. Not even your power can hold onto something that's been destroyed to that extent."

Feeling my healing was almost done, I stretched my body then started walking towards the exit. The sound of her footsteps signaled that she was close behind and with that we left the school.

Unknown Pov

"The target seems to be growing at an unexpected rate. Either he becomes one of us to assist in our cause or we destroy him. Either way he cannot become a threat to us."

'We have someone on the inside watching him already. For now we will allow them to continue engaging and see how that turns out. We do not need to take any rash actions at this point. Let us focus on more important matters.'

Listening to the other executives talking about the other plans we had for the organization, I inwardly snarled as something deep in my gut told me the boy was of greater concern than they made him out to be. I had rewatched the recent surveillance footage and he seemed to be defying all natural concepts with his otherwise mundane powers time and time again. What concerned me more was that the more he fought, the stronger he became and the more crazy abilities he showed. It would be interesting to see how much stronger he could be and if I could make him mine. That would definitely increase my standing in the organization. Chuckling to myself, I tuned out their conversation as I began to formulate my plan.