Apology

"I'm sorry," Renir said while his forehead was touching the pavement.

"Huh?" Ernanfo then slowly walked towards Renir and asked, "What are you apologizing for? Did you do something to Imee that needs apologizing?"

"No, I apologized because I didn't go to her father first before sleeping in her apartment. But I swear, I didn't do anything to Imee. She just gave me a place to sleep because I have nowhere to go." Renir explained while he faced the wall.

He was full-heartedly apologizing. From the start, he knew what he was doing was wrong, however, he was so happy that he forgot about it. Now, he was asking for forgiveness.

Imee heard that and felt guilty, 'Yeah, this is because I forced him to go here. I should've been careful, and now he's apologizing on behalf of me.' although it was not Renir's intention, she took it heavy and blamed it to herself.

Ernanfo stood in front of Renir and said, "You see, I have enormous trust in my daughter. That's why even though she's the only one I have, I let her have her comfort, away from my job. However, you, a stranger, on the other hand... I don't trust at all."

"I understand," Renir replied.

"And for some reason, seeing you ticks me off."

"Dad, what he said was true, he didn't do anything to me! He just came out of a coma and even if he wanted to do something to me, he's too weak to do it!" although harsh, it was the truth and Imee said it to prove a point.

Hearing this, Ernanfo sighed.

"Stand up." he said.

Renir obediently followed, thinking that Ernanfo had accepted his apology. Imee felt relieved seeing this.

But that relief was for a short while.

"Imee, today," Ernanfo glanced at his only daughter and said, "I lost a bit of that trust in you." then looked back at Renir.

"Dad?" Imee didn't expect it to hurt so much when she heard that. She knew how she was loved and she took that for granted, only doing what she wants.

"This man..." Ernanfo lifted his leg again from behind,

Olmen saw that slow elevation but knew it was dangerous, [Renir, dodge that!] he shouted.

"... isn't weak!" that leg was like a whip, it swung sideways.

Renir was confident in his sense and he believed he could evade it, yet, he was wrong.

When Ernanfo's leg began to move, it vanished and before he could even blink, Renir felt a force on his side. He didn't even have time to put his guard up at the very least!

He didn't have proper footing at the time and was easily thrown off the ground. Renir may be strong but his weight was still the same.

From the other's eyes, what happened was that Ernanfo just raised his leg at his back then Swoosh* Renir was already on the air, his body was bent in a way it was clear that something had hit him before he hit the wall of the apartment with a thud!

It was too sudden, it was too unbelievable for anyone to react or say anything.

Is that boy okay? Was asked before: What happened?

Their jaws fell and even Avron was shocked to find that he was still underestimating the monster he thought, "Even the mountain wouldn't give him a warm-up." he corrected himself. Sam, besides him, was speechless.

"That's an elite of the Fellnigh? Is that even a human??" one of the security personnel, who watched at the sideline thought.

It was as if the scene was out of a fictional action movie.

However. what surprised them the more was that the one who received that unbelievable kick and flew off to hit the wall as if he was hit by a truck, stood up, unscathed.

[This mortal should be at least at the same level as a Rank 5...] Olmen thought and didn't worry about Renir since he knew he will be fine.

When Ernanfo saw that kick made no effect on Renir, his face twitched.

"Renir... looks like I need to bring you to the boss,"

Renir was breathing hard. He was caught surprised earlier since his senses didn't act as fast. No, his senses were still sharp but it wasn't accustomed to sudden acceleration.

In Gantlet, all he fought were creatures with no mind and only had the same strength, speed, and most importantly, trajectory. Even with his eyes closed, he could dodge those creatures but now, he was against a human, no, a superhuman. His senses couldn't catch onto that sudden acceleration.

But while he was thinking, he didn't notice that Ernanfo disappeared and was now in front of him. Without a moment to react, a fist was already coming straight at him. But for a split second, that fist disappeared again and was already on his face.

"Siii--" Ernanfo viciously glaring at him was the last thing Renir saw before he was hauled off the ground once more.

'Why can't I react quick enough?' Renir felt a stinging pain on his cheek which should be near impossible. He was sure that his powers should be enough on making him more than a human. Because, just a little bit and he was at the strength in which he defeated the Giganslik. Even if Ernanfo was kind of a superhuman, he shouldn't be able to match the Giganslik.

But it seemed like Renir was wrong. Mid-air, using the wind affinity he had, he spun and placed his footing on the ground but before he could touch the ground, Ernanfo was already in front of him, shocking his once again!

Renir's eyes widened and put his guard up, hoping to block the incoming attack.

"Sii---" Renir heard a whistle before tens of pounding reached him, stopping his feet from even touching the ground.

"...argh...!" Renir's defense was useless. All the strikes went pass his forearm and like water, it pierced through, hitting him in the abdominals and other parts of the body.

As if it was a million strikes, Renir couldn't count how many or how fast. At that moment, all he could see was a pair of eyes, glaring at him with rage but not enough to call as a killing intent.

When those uncountable strikes stopped after a few seconds, Ernanfo appeared underneath him, striking his center of gravity in the air, his lower abdominals. It was clear as day that Ernanfo had no intention of giving him the opportunity to gave a footing on the ground and take a breathing, Then the relentless striking came back, trying to finish Renir. Whistling was continuously entering his ears.

Yet, Renir wouldn't lose. As long as he wasn't killed or put unconscious, he would continuously regain his powers, gaining durability above what a human can have. At that point, he will just have to wait until Inee's father become tired and empty his energy.

He didn't have the slightest intention of fighting back.

But while he saw at the glaring eyes amidst the uncountable fists, he saw Ernanfo's face. It shocked him since there was not a single bead of sweat to be found on that face.

'Impossible!' and even though he kept getting stronger, the pain he was receiving was not disappearing. Meaning, Imee's father was still not using his full strength and was continuously using that spare strength!

Renir couldn't even finish his thought when he heard a loud "HU!" and instantaneously, Crack!* the ground beneath was pressed to rubbles and all that force went from Ernanfo's legs to torso and to his right fist that came swinging right after-

Swoosh--*

"Ka!" Renir spat some saliva before getting ejected a few meters from the ground!

Every witness wanted to rub their eyes to see if what they were seeing was an illusion but the battle was so quick-paced that they couldn't afford to.

However, contrary to everyone's expectations, Renir was yet to be defeated as he regains his powers. He swiftly turned his waist and together with his wind affinity, it gave him the momentum in the air with his one foot swung along with that spin to parry the incoming kick from below.

Thud!*

They were stunned as that sound hit their ears. For the first time, people heard something that should only be heard from heavy machinery from two humans fighting bare-handed.

After parrying that kick, Renir didn't spend too much time in the air as he immediately grabbed the ground, trying to stop the excess momentum. After safely landing, Renir immediately turned his head to Ernanfo, warry of his next move. But what he just saw the next moment was Ernanfo looking at his leg then, slowly, those eyes rolled to him.

Renir shuddered and sipped in a cold breath.

With that pause, did the witnesses only had time to react.

"Eh?" was the general reaction. Even if they are given time to process what they saw, they couldn't make a sense of it. It was as if two super athletes demonstrating their martial capabilities in an exhibition.

But still... they doubt.... they doubt that even the super athletes had the chance to replicate what happened without hearing a crack from their bones.

Meanwhile. Imee was crying and couldn't stop her father because earlier, she was about to step in, however, her instincts were telling her to not go in there as it would cost her life. What's more, It felt that her father wouldn't kill Renir, yet, even if that what was happening, she couldn't handle what she was seeing.

Additionally, from the commotion from earlier, almost every room in the apartment building had heads peeking from above. Some even had their phones out as this was a case no one will believe unless recorded.

From the center of the commotion, "How are you continuously gaining strength, speed, agility, and even durability?" Ernanfo tilted his head. After his question, he deeply breathed in and out.

Finally, sweat was showing from his face.

Renir couldn't answer his question because he himself had yet to understand it. And not just that, instead of thinking about the answer, he readied himself because he knew the climax had yet to come.