Silver steps in

Crowley touched where Zen had kicked him to propel himself

"Something's not right" he said, scrutinizing Zen

Zen looked at his fist, his current situation would have been frustrating if he was one to show or even feel much emotion. In actuality, the strength and skill he was using now was similar to his regular strength.

It wasn't that he wasn't stronger. He could definitely feel monstrous amounts of power coursing through his veins, however despite being clearly able to feel an almost limitless amount of power, he just couldn't access it, he couldn't get it to manifest. Almost like trying to reach into a well to reach something but it was far too deep for him to get close.

This was very different from what happened last time this happened. Last time, although he couldn't remember much, he was sure that this hinderance wasn't there before, and he didn't even have the system or even know how he did it that time

He tried to remember but like every other time he tried, it was all a blurry mess. He wasn't even sure what had triggered it back then, bloodline skills weren't usually easily discovered, and his was no exception. It had taken "the pit" to get it out last time

Getting an idea, Zen quickly opened the system screen while making sure to keep an eye on Crowley who was currently just looking at him questioningly and also a bit confused

Opening it, he tapped on the bloodline tab

[Error! Level too low. Unable to view data]

Zen hurriedly closed it after seeing this. He couldn't afford to be distracted.

It seemed like there were still a few things he had to learn about the system

Crowley seemed to have been done thinking and in the next two seconds he was in front of Zen with his fist outstretched.

Accepting the attack, Zen pulled out Maximilian's dagger from his pocket and stabbed forward, knowing Crowley would back off

Just as he had predicted, Crowley suddenly ducked to the side, avoiding the blade but that wasn't all. Taking the opportunity when he ducked, Crowley suddenly did a sweep kick,planning to trip Zen, which would have succeed if he hadn't jumped at the last second.

Crowley hurriedly got up and the what ensued the next second was less like a battle and more like a performance

As the two thrusted and lunged at each other, the dagger flowed and danced almost like it was alive and was moving of its own volition. As they both swiped and stole the knife from each other to attack each other with, it would barely last two seconds in the hand of one before the other managed to steal it somehow and attack the other with it. It got to such a point that it almost looked like they were passing it around to each other.

If a random person came and saw this, they would think the two were trained performers doing some sort of dance or even a staged performance with the way they were moving. They would never suspect that they were fighting with no qualms about killing the other and both had actually gotten close a few times .

After about a minute of this back and forth "blade dancing", the dagger had somehow ended up with Crowley who immediately thrust forward straight and true directly towards Zen's chest.

Seeing no other way to avoid getting stabbed, Zen managed to strike at the flat side of the blade and knock it out of of Crowley's hand to some random direction before the two started using their fists, with Zen immediately overpowering Crowley who simply refused to give up.

They both grunted as they brandished their fists, each determined to end it with this, and as they were about to clash,a bright silver glow suddenly appeared out of nowhere in their middle, and when it disappeared they both found their fists striking the figure in the silver full body armour who still had Jade without even leaving so much as a dent on the figure that just stood there after appearing out of nowhere .

Zen and Crowley instantly seemed to come to an understanding as they both dropped their fists. The fight was over, they could both agree on that.

"Silver". Zen called out to the armoured figure with some

familiarity

Silver simply nodded before turning back to Crowley and handing him something before making a few hand signs to him

Turning back to Zen, Silver made a few hand signs and symbols at Zen.

Knowing that silver couldn't or wouldn't talk Zen replied. Silver was using sign language, something he had been required to learn at "the playground".

"Yes , I'm enrolling at the academy"

Silver seemed to be in thought after hearing that reply and didn't sign anything to him for a few seconds . A

Taking this chance, Crowley walked up to him, although not with malice this time

"You look like shit.... well more than usual at least"

"..."

Zen didn't bother saying anything. Both boys would have started throwing hands again if the imposing Silver wasn't there

"Still as unpleasant as always,aren't you?"

"..."

"Anyway,i was taking out the trash and i found some of your stuff, pretty fitting i guess"

Zen raised a brow at what Crowley said and was confused as to what his point was.

"Here" Crowley said as he handed Zen a ring with a small green gem on it.

★Gasp★

"I don't believe it"

Zen could understand Freya's reaction, it really was that ring and as soon as he saw it, his eyes widened slightly

"Silver just gave it to me and said that if i didn't give this to you,i was gonna get my ass handed to me, so take it"

Zen took the ring without a second thought. He had some history with it, even more than he had with Crowley.

"Its also got some stuff inside that you might need. I'm guessing you don't have any other clothes or credits "

Zen poured his aether into the storage ring for the first time since he had gotten it years ago and was able to see inside of it was filled with Clothes, a few cards with the sand insignia that was tattooed on Zen's hand, and some other basic stuff.

Zen looked up to see Crowley staring at him strangely

"You awakened"

Zen ignored the comment and gestured to the ring

"What, you didn't think you were gonna get some fancy gift or whatever, right? Those days are over"

Zen stared at Crowley who knew fully well he was asking for the rest of his stuff but was acting ignorant

Silver seemed to be done thinking and walked up to the two, suddenly noticing the half medallion on Zen's neck,Silver stared at it for a few seconds before ignoring it.

Silver suddenly stretched an armoured palm out in front of Zen with what looked to be an small hoop earring that looked more like an earcuff in it and gestured for him to put it on

Zen however didn't listen and simply stared at it in Silver's palm and didn't take it. There were a few bad memories associated with that earring

Silver seemed to sigh in understanding and patted Zen's head, slightly ruffling his hair that still had a good quarter of it as white and held his face gently before proceeding to gently put the obsidian black hoop earcuff around the top of his helix, and although he didn't have a piercing and the ring didn't have a needle, it seemed to stick like magnets even though it wasn't that either.

Throughout all this, Zen didn't protest or resist in the slightest and Silver also didn't rush it

Once this was done Silver made another sign at him, and Zen compliantly brought out a set of clothes from the ring as Silver had just told him to change out of his ragged and dirty clothes

After a few minutes Zen was in a completely a black top,black pants,a black hoodie with a large Z printed boldly on the back and black sneakers. From his dressing it was quite obvious what color he liked the most .

Silver looked at him and made a few hand signs while pointing to Jade who was now being carried by Crowley, although he didn't seem very happy about it at first, he couldn't really make any complaints about her she wasn't heavy, easy to carry,plus, she was really easy on the eyes so he shut up pretty quickly

Zen thought for a while and pulled out another black hoodie from his ring and put it on Jade before putting her on his back and her arms over his shoulders

Although he didn't really care much for her and wouldn't have hesitated to leave her behind, Silver wanted him to help her out of the dungeon, and as it really wasn't much of a hassle, he agreed.

He had given her the hoodie because he remembered how often she complained about the cold on their way here

He was about to leave when Crowley suddenly remembered something

"Oh yeah. Forgot to tell ya, Q wants you back in, he's been looking for you all over so you better watch your back cus if he finds you,i don't think he's going to take no for an answer"

"....I expected as much ". Was all Zen said in reply before leaving with Jade on his back.

After he was long gone, Crowley chuckled in amusement and spoke to Silver

"He hasn't changed a single bit"