Rags;

Some time passed after Kerren conversed with the patriarch. Right now both of them were standing on the arena.

It wasn't the one where he dueled the other guy, this one was... A lot bigger.

It looked like a coliseum if anything, but Kerren wasn't impressed by such a sight. He saw many building that were grander than this one.

He actually wondered why they even had such a place near a mansion.

- You can use anything, even if it kills me. I have a note on my body that i prepared, read it and explain things to other me in case i die.

The patriarch broke the silence... What he said shocked Kerren once more! This guy was something else! In his later years he stopped appreaciating people and found all of them filthy, it was edgy, he knew that, but he couldn't help himself as he only saw filth in them.

Since his rebirth he didn't change, Yusaya, of course, was somewhat different from others, but it was just that bit of mystery behind her that made her look different in Kerren's eyes.

This guy, however? For some reason he believed Kerren! Maybe he had his own suspicions, it didn't matter. What mattered was his attitude! He was actually willing to die for... what?

He couldn't understand that, but what he understood was... This guy was awesome! Of course, as a father he was crap, but he had honor and... uhh.. he was ready to die, for some reason?..

All in all, this guy is strange, and since Kerren liked people that acted different from others - he liked the guy!

- I doubt that it will happen, but okay.

He, however, still responded in his usual way. They both knew that it was unlikely to happen, so why bother?

Soon, the "maid" announced the start of the duel. It seems that he trusted her a lot. She didn't ask questions like "Why would the patriarch duel his son" or anything like that, Kerren liked her for that.

As the duel started, none of the participants moved. Kerren stood there, watching his opponent. Maybe both of them waited for the other party to start?

Soon, however, Kerren got bored and attacked. His attack wasn't anything serious and was just a mana-wave that, at best, would cut some of his opponents hair.

The patriarch didn't even bother dodging it, he took it head on.

It surprised Kerren, this guy didn't even move, as if he knew that it wasn't stronger than an ant!

It didn't anger him or anything, he threw another mana-wave, this time it was stronger and the patriarch actually dodged it, sending a counter-attack.

Kerren dodged it as well. At a first glance it would look like they were playing dodge-ball.

Such a thing continued for some time, one attacked and the second dodged without any of them getting close to eachother.

Since that was boring and Kerren didn't want to play anymore, he got closer and attacked properly.

It wasn't anything fancy, just a bit stronger mana wave, as it was Kerren's only mean to attack.

It was, however, strong enough for the patriarch to activate his aura!

- Impressive.

He commented immediately.

Kerren only smiled internally, as this attack consumed barely any mana, and he could use them all day and night without stopping.

Seeing that the patriarch didn't really attack him he started his own barrage, each attacking becoming stronger and stronger.

Of course, Kerren wasn't as stupid as people he dueled, he came prepared. He placed some mana-crystals inside of his body beforehand and used them along with his spells, basically giving him a lot more stamina.

His barrage lasted until each mana wave forced the patriarch back a little, he then started to attack for real!

He prepared a mana-bomb in his right hand, since it wasn't visible by normal means, but could easily be detonated with physical disturbance Kerren stopped attacking with one of his hands...

- Dont go easy on me, i am not that weak!

It seemed like the patriarch thought that Kerren purposely slowed his attacks to give him some space, he then started attacking him back!

Of course, Kerren's dodging skill could keep up with his swordsmanship, but... not for a long time.

A lot of "scars" accumulated on his body, there were no blood and no scars, it simply wasted his mana whenever he got hit, which made him somewhat mad.

Thus, he decided to try to finish the duel, as prolonging it would mean that he lost!

He threw the invisible mana-bomb towards the patriach and dodged back, immediately detonating it afterwards!

He didn't think that such an attack would do much damage, so he rushed back in to the explosion, hoping to catch him off guard!

He prepared a mana-wave with almost 40% of his current mana, such an attack could shatter even A class armor!

However, as he was about to unleash it... He noticed some movement on his right, before he could even think to dodge he was struck with an attack!

He played himself!

That attack, however, didn't kill him and wasn't meant to. It only struck his arm, making the attack he prepared dissipate!

It made Kerren mad! He spent so much mana on it... Thus, he decided to end it for real this time!

He consumed all mana he had prepared, wasting around 4kg of mana crystals and emrowered his body to the max!

He was now so fast that even the maid couldn't keep up with his movements, making him look he was just an illusion!

That, however, wasn't enough to fool the patriarch, he could still defend!

That didn't mean that Kerren didn't have a plan... He had another mana-bomb in his hand!

What did he plan to do? Well, what most people wouldn't even think of!

He empowered his speed to the maximum, then grabbed the patriarch and exploded the bomb right in his hand!

Right before that he obviously made his body stronger and more durable, however, that process took time, even if it was miniscule.

After the huge dust cloud started to settle and one could see...

- Good, you deserve to gain more knowledge.

The patriarch, who was unharmed, said. He was looking at Kerren's body that... uh... it wasn't even a body at this point, his right hand wasn't there, the other half of his body looked like rags and his head was... unharmed, as it was the first thing Kerren had protected.

Soon, however, his body started regenerating at an astonishing speed! It didn't shock the patriarch as he already could guess that the guy was somewhat special.

After all, no matter what he did he couldn't see his blood! So that was the reason... He didn't have any!

- I'm glad, that was the best i could do, after all.

Kerren spoke with a calm voice, as if he wasn't half-dead just now.

- How strong are you in your world?

The patriarch asked. If it was someone else Kerren wouldn't bother to answer, but since it was this guy...

- I would say that i'm in the top 10, but i lack a lot and people around me aren't dolls either. Give me another year and enough material and i will be as strong as 10 of you.

He didn't bother sugarcoating his words, he really did think that he would be that strong in a year, whether or not he was right didn't matter, it was just a goal after all.

- I see. I am on the 2nd position in this world. Seems like i still have a far road ahead of me.

As the patriarch said it he looked at the sky, he looked like an undefeated swordsman who understood that the only reason he was undefeated is because he fought children from the kindergarten...

- I allow you to take whatever you want from the House Library. Follow... the maid, she will show you the way.

After saying it he turned back and left.

kerren spent some time staying on the place, seemingly admiring his opponent. In reality, however, he could move. He had just enough mana to form his body again, and if he started spending it?

He would probably die right here right now, that wasn't what he wanted.

Still, he had enough to think about what happened just now... This guy wasn't High A rank... He was S rank at least! This last attack of his could've destroyed half of the university!

But... he couldn't even scratch him? That didn't make any sense. He also thought about many things, like why would he allow him to copy something? Did he see potential or something?

He knew that he didn't have any, but... He respected the guy. Even though he was insanely strong and could do anything he wanted he chose to sit on the chair and observe his family...

Kerren also knew that such a thing... He would never be as dignified as this guy. If he was strong he would do many things that... weren't nice.