Chapter 1-Grey

POV:FIRENZE

Oxford

"Say that again, you peasant punk?" Avier stood over my body, which was painted red from blood and black with bruises, along with four of his goons. He was the son of one of the council members of our country, so he had a lot of power. People used to flock around him in hopes of gaining his power and support, the typical spoilt rich kid. I never wanted to mingle with him yet here I am, beaten, like the weakling I am

"W-what did I do?" I stuttered in pain. "I-I just s-said that I didn't want to be friends with you."

"Precisely." Avier snorted.

"Y-you want m-me to be your friend?" I asked, confused.

"No, you dumb dog!" one of the boys stamped my face, breaking my nose and one of my incisors. "If a noble asks something, they get it."

Who gave them that right, I mentally sighed in pain.

"Anyways," Avier snorted as he turned around and marched away with his minions, "I will give you till tomorrow to decide your fate. After all, I can kill you whenever I want."

I lay on the road as I look at my hand.

Broken.

There would be no punishment for his actions against an orphan like me. After all, this was the world of the strong. Only strength was respected. But, by fate, it seemed as if fate also chose whom to give innate strength to when born, like Avier. Me, I am a nobody. I have slightly below average pools of ki and I don't have any special skills.

I heaved my back up as I felt a pit in my stomach as I puked out blood. I started inhaling and exhaling deeply and quickly as more blood slowly trickled out of my mouth. I then checked my grey pants to check if that stick the director gave me was still safe. It was a grey, metallic stick and it shone in the light. The only thing I had in this world other than my life and my clothes.

I rolled myself up in a ball, drowning myself in self-pity and self-hate. Why am I so weak? Is it alright to be weak? Why didn't I fight back? Why am I not strong?

Why?

What did I do? They just treat me like trash wherever I go. It's not like I didn't ask to be born in this world only to be give a card saying: Go get stronger. I never wanted this.

For what?

Why?

WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY?WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY?WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY?WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY?WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY?

I lost my senses and hit my forehead on the road.

I was kicked out from that orphanage after the director's death.

Why?

I hit my forehead on the road.

It was because you were the weakest. So you killed the Director.

But I didn't kill her.

YOU DID! GET OUT!

Why?

Because this is the world of the strong. There's no place for the weak.

I hit my forehead on the tarmac again.

Am I supposed be nothing more than a miserable minion? For the rest of my life? Just because I have to bow to the strong?

Isn't that what the street has taught you?

Just. Kill. Me. Somebody.

Life is supposed to be a beautiful thing, my ass! I bet you can sleep forever with death.

Just as I was going to strike the tarmac with my forehead the third time, I felt a hand grab my hair.

"Just...kill...meeee..." I whined, like the pathetic damned fool I am.

"Kid," A voice spoke from behind me, "How are you alive?"

I turned around slowly, still in pain. Behind me stood a well-built middle-aged man in a grey t-shirt, red pants, with blond hair and a fair complex. He was giving me a deadpan stare.

"Can you use ki?" he queried.

I nodded, "But I didn't use it against those guys, otherwise they would beat me up more. Plus, I suck at it."

"Then, how are you alive?" he asked with a puzzled look.

"Sorry?"

"Look here kid, I saw the whole thing. You were burnt, stoned, stabbed, punched, kicked and had your face stomped on by kids atleast twice as strong as you. I have seen kids of your build die to less intense beatdowns. What's more interesting is that you were hit on the liver as well. So, brat, tell me how are you alive?"

I started sweating in panic. Who is he? What is he going to do with me? Why is an old man interested in random dying kids? Am I going to die? Wait....I am going to die. WHAT A JOYOUS DAY! I can finally leave this world in peace.

"I don't know and I don't care. Just kill me already, geezer." I groaned, assuming him for one of those people who killed weakened people for fun.

The man sighed. "Killing you is no fun. So, let me determine your worth." He tossed a leather-covered notebook. "Read this."

"WHAT??!?" How dare this man....."ARE YOU TRYING TO MESS WITH ME, YOU MAD DUMB SON OF A BUFFOON? HERE I AM, LYING HALF-DEAD ON A ROAD WITH THE CHOICE TO EITHER BECOME SOMEONE'S RAT OR DIE, AND JUST WHEN I DECIDE TO DIE, YOU WANT TO RECRUIT ME TO WHATEVER HELL YOU ARE PLANNING TO PUT ME THROUGH?"

"Just shut up and listen, you stupid brat!" He growled with a hostile voice which made my entire body shiver and become paralyzed. I only looked at him with horror as I stood still, with my legs shaking in fear. Is this intimidation? Wait. I have never heard of that word before. How did it come in my head?

"Now that I have your attention," he sighed deeply, "I want to ask you something: Do you want revenge?"

"What?" I asked in a puzzled voice. Me, a weak and frail boy, take out Avier and his goons?

"Even if I could fight Avier, my name would be in every nobleman's list of being kill–"

"Listen here," He interrupted me, "Would you take vengeance if you had the chance to get away with it?"I paused, dumbfounded and a little confused at what he said. Who on earth is this man? This all feels like nothing but a sure warrant of death.

"Do you even have such power and means?" I asked, clearly not buying his words."I'm the one asking the questions here," He sneered making me shiver once again, his cold eyes laying his piercing gaze on me like I was prey, small, insignificant, weak.

"What do you want from me?" I grumbled the only words that could escape my mouth as goosebumps formed on my skin out of fear.

"I used to be like you." He ruffled my orange hair, a sudden change in the mood occured. He was no longer cold, and apathetic, his dismissive aura retracted and was replaced by a empathetic and warm one.Just who are you?"I'm waiting for your answer, boy," He said, impatiently

A small smile formed on my face. Pity, huh? Ok, let's play along with him for now, he definitely wants something from me.

"What is your name?" I queried.

"Grey. Yours?"

"Firenze"

[1 Hour Later]

"Ugh! How many fights have you lost or gotten injured?" I groaned as Grey wrapped me in bandages. He took me to his house, which looked pretty decent for a middle-class house. I counted atleast three rooms connected to the front room. Grey had put me on his sofa and removed my shirt and started patching me up. On the way to his house, he told me that he was a Challenger, people who competed with each other to climb up in society.

"None." he said with a deadpan expression.

"WHAT??" I exclaimed, "That's impossible!"

"But here I am," he sighed with outstreched arms, "Unrivalled and undefeated."

"Now, back to business," I sighed, "Will you teach me?"

"Patience, boy!" he growled. "You can't even use ki properly yet, forget fighting styles. How will you learn in this pathetic state? You need to heal."

"Let's focus on ki later," I sighed. "Right now, I need to find a fighting style that suits me."

"We are not fighting or training now. Let me go make some soup for us." He roared in an authoritative voice which made me jump up, then he got up and left.

My impatience overcame me. I wanted to get stronger soon, I wanted purpose, I wanted revenge. Then I recomposed myself. What if he's going to manipulate me? After all, I have learned in this world that you only live for yourself and yourself alone.

Either way, sooner or later, I have to finish him.

*

POV:GREY

I took pity.

I took pity on a kid.

Grey, what are you doing? You are supposed to be focused and committed towards your goal for revenge.

You shouldn't forget about Director Willbeck. Vengeance is necessary.

I know.

WHAT ARE YOU DOING THEN?

Can't I show sympathy for once?

And? You know well from personal experience that these street kids don't trust anyone. Plus, Vera instructed you to focus on your g-

Swoosh!

I felt a knife fly past my cheek.

See? What did I tell you?

I sighed at the bickering of my inner conscience and turned around as I saw Firenze with a frown. His eyebrows contorted and his eyes were piercing me.

"Fight. Me. Now." he snarled.

"What the fuck?" I gasped.

"Listen here, old man. Even if getting myself better is your top agenda, I want to be sure that you can teach me."

I sighed. Is that all?

I decided to humble the kid by going easy on him. No swords, no ki. Just pure physical fighting prowess to teach that impatient brat a lesson.

"Ok, kid," I sighed, taking a JKD stance. He then took out a small metal stick from his pocket. From the 10 meter distance between us, I noticed some engravings on it, but couldn't make out what it was.

[JKD stance]

"Let's start!" I dashed towards the brat. He tried to slide under my legs but I trapped him between my legs and put my left foot on his sternum. It was at this moment that I knew that I had messed up, for I felt a metallic object penetrate my foot. I peered down at my foot to see a metal stick glowing purple in it. I groaned in pain.

"So, what will it be, mister?" he chuckled.

"Why did you not use it against those boys?" I queried curiously.

"The stick?" he sighed. "Well, Director told me not to show this to nobles."

"I see," I mumbled, "let's continue."

I lifted my sole from his sternum after he removed the stick from my foot. He then rolled away, stood up and took a typical military stance for a knife-fight. I noticed that he was looking at my balls. Damn kid. I took a grappler's stance and rushed towards him. He countered by trying to jab my right eye with the stick. Unfortunately, he didn't have his defenses up and my reach was greater. I pounced and before he could move, I collapsed on him.

[Military stance btw]

"Mercy! You win!" he gave a muffled groan, suffocating under my weight. I sighed as I got up.

"Now, go to the front room and be seated on the sofa. Mushroom and cream soup with garlic bread tonight. One more prank like this and human meat will be on the goddamn menu, punk!" I growled as I let a little bloodlust loose, which gave him goosebumps.

He moaned as he reluctantly got up and dragged himself to the front room. Hopefully, Master Vera will let me teach him.

*

POV: Firenze

So, he can teach me and I can trust him.

During the whole fight, I had enhanced myself with ki to fight him, but he didn't use ki to beat me! He relied on unpredictability and vital points to do the job, even though he looked down on me. On top of that, he didn't ask any questions on Yeoui. I wonder why the director wanted me to keep the existence of the stick a secret. However, why did I show him Yeoui? I am an idiot.

Oh right.

Only to nobles.

But still, gotta be careful. Walls have ears.

Anyways, he scares me.

Anyways, if he were a child trafficker.........

I found a paper lying on the dining table and read it. It was his ID as a Challenger. I sighed in relief. Challengers are throughly investigated before they are given their licences. I checked his rank: Division 1.

I gasped in shock. He had the highest class as a Challenger. Challengers are usually divided into 8 divisions in terms of strength. Newbies would start from the 8th division. He sure is extremely strong.

"Ding dong!" the doorbell rang.

"Grey, shall I open the door?" I called out to him.

"If it's a woman with white hair, porcelain skin, blue eyes and a stern look, then yes." he replied. I bolted towards the door despite my condition, tripped and fell a few feet from the door as I groaned in pain.

"My, my! Take some rest, lad." Grey sighed as I got up and he headed for the door, looked through the peephole and opened the door. In came the very woman whom Grey told me to open the door for, and she looked pretty. Behind him came another man with black hair and eyes, a square face, and was wearing a tuxedo.

"Come in, Master Vera." Grey spoke in a formal tone.

"Perhaps not too formal, Grey." she chuckled as she removed her shoes. "The Council requests your presence tomorrow."

Grey mumbled some unholy words which made the newcomer raise his eyebrows. He was about to open his mouth, but Vera silenced him with a finger in front of his mouth.

"Now, now. Let's go and discuss some things." she then turned towards me. "Who are you and why are you here?"

"My name is Firenze, Miss Vera. I was brought here by Grey after he saw me beat up on the road."

As I said this, her eyes widened. She looked at me, then Grey, then at me again before bursting into laughter.

"Grey, what's this I hear?" she chortled while trying to control her laughter, "You took pity on a child? Are you getting soft?"

Grey sighed, "I saw him and decided to train him, nothing more."

"So it's on a whim?" she tilted her head.

"Yeah," he shrugged.

Grey taking me in on a whim wasn't a suprise. After all, he took me in because I reminded him of his past self. We went to the dining table and sat ourselves as Grey went to fetch dinner. The newcomer stared at me for a moment.

"Boy," he began, "how did you end up like this?"

I began telling my issues with Avier, how he beat me up and how I was thrown out of the orphanage for being weak. The man asked if he had used ki, to which I nodded and added that I didn't use it to protect myself. He and Vera gave a loud gasp. I mean, with my thin and frail frame, I survived a beatdown.

"Soup's ready!" Grey called out as he brought a trolley with two shelves: one with soup bowls, garlic bread and spoons, and the other had a pot of hot, boiling soup. As Grey arranged the utensils, the newcomer tugged his arm furiously.

"Hey Grey, did this kid seriously survive a beating at vital spots on his body by that Avier brat, that too when he was using ki? I mean that kid is talented despite having a wild spirit and he doesn't hold back his punches." his face showed desperation for answers. Grey nodded, then he gasped as he dropped a garlic bread on the floor from the newcomer's shaking. He gave him a stare while releasing some pressure. Even though it wasn't directed at me, I started gasping for air. The new guy was choking as well, but Vera flinched with no other reactions. The pressure was momentary and then it passed, relieving us.

He then looked at me. I started to shake a bit. Was this man going to take me back to Avier? He sounded like he knew him.

He then extended a hand out to me and confirmed my fears, "My name is Rudolf Xeres, Avier's personal tutor. I apologize for my student's earlier behaviour, but that aside, you have stirred my interest."

"Let me train you."