Unlikely Encounter

Constant banging could be heard as a boy with long auburn hair constantly struck a bag hanging from the ceiling before him.

Sweat ran down his chiselled and toned body as he paused for a moment, summoning a stamina potion from his Dimensional Space and chugging it.

Before he continued, he looked out the window.

'The sun has already set.' 

Daniel noted. He'd been so focused on his training that he hadn't even noticed the time pass.

It had been this way ever since he arrived in Ashton. He saw this as an opportunity to catch up to the others as they wasted their time exploring the city.

'I won't stop till I am better than them. Till I've taken my rightful place as number 1.'

-DING 

As Daniel thought this, his eyes seemingly burning with determination, he paused as he heard a pleasant 'Ding'.

Looking at his watch, he noticed he'd gotten a text from Cain.

And had it been regular circumstances, he'd ignore it. However, knowing they'd all engaged in hunting down the intruder during this trip, he carried a sense of attentiveness.

[Something's going on in the forest. Meet us there]

'The forest?' 

He asked himself. However, upon reading the text, he remembered the poid explosion not too long ago.

Though he didn't give it much thought at the time, signing it off as casual 'City Noise', he couldn't help but now think these events were connected.

Therefore, without wasting any more time, he snatched a few clothes and personal belongings, prepared to leave his hotel room and head to the forest.

***

In the living room of one of Ember Hotel's standard rooms that still held a level of luxury, a boy could be seen lying in a puddle of his own blood.

He lay, chest first and unmoving as his crimson blood continued to soak the surroundings, soon tainting a nearby expensive carpet.

However, if one looked closely, they'd be able to notice the blood seemingly halt, its volume failing to increase.

It wasn't long after until the boy snapped his amber eyes open, remaining in his position despite regaining his consciousness.

"DAMNIT!" 

-SMASH

Isaac yelled, smashing both fists into the ground as the wooden floorboard was destroyed upon impact, and the blood splashed everywhere.

On his knees, his forehead pressed against the ground and the remaining blood, Isaac felt countless emotions welling up inside.

He didn't know what irked him the most.

Oliver dying, Zach lying all this time, Aizen playing him for a fool or the fact that he was still so…weak.

So weak that he wasn't even able to last a second against someone who was most likely a Bishop.

And because of this, he wasn't able to hold it in any longer.

"FUUUUCK!" 

He yelled, smashing the ground a few more times till it had turned to rubble, the ruckus he was causing not seeming to bother him one bit.

He was so overwhelmed that his eyes burned brightly with a crimson-red colour.

And perhaps what burned him the most, was knowing Aizen might have been right.

The usual untrusting Isaac from a few months ago would never have gotten so close to Zach and Oliver.

He'd never ignore their suspicious behaviour.

And he'd have been able to put the pieces of strange coincidences together and realise something was afoot.

However, as this thought ran through Isaac's mind, he noticed something, looking up at the screen before him.

Shortly after, his struggling expression faltered for a second as he scoffed.

Maybe this all wasn't his fault after all.

The chances he'd be the roommate to a secret Onyx member and a soon-to-be possession seemed highly unlikely, impossible even…

No…

[A thread has been woven]

Maybe impossible wasn't the right word.

Maybe this was all fate.

However, before he could have any more time to think, he noticed something.

Behind the screen, a clock on the wall ticked as the seconds went by.

Looking at the time, Isaac slowly widened his eyes.

He'd been so caught up in his thoughts he subconsciously thought it was all over and Aizen was gone.

But in reality, it had only been ten minutes.

He…

'I still have a chance.' 

But as he said this, he followed up with a question.

'A chance to do what?' 

Kill Aizen? 

Bring back Zach?

Continue his plan with Onyx?

Where did he go from here?

Truthfully, Isaac didn't know.

But there was one certainty in his mind.

Isaac wasn't going to continue lying in this puddle of blood, wallowing like a widow.

Despite his emotions and wanting to do nothing more than head to one of the bedrooms and take a long-deserved sleep, he couldn't.

He was just embarrassed and left for dead.

To Isaac, taking such disrespect would be the product of a pussy.

Rising to his feet, seeing his wound had healed, though at a slower rate than usual, he remembered the last words of Aizen before Isaac fell unconscious.

"Come after me."

Isaac stuffed his mouth with a handful of Vitaflow pills before tearing off the strands of his old uniform he had on and summoning some new clothes.

Whether Aizen was mocking him, misleading him or taunting him, Isaac didn't care.

He needed to see them one more time.

Aizen and Logan.

During their last encounter, Isaac was too overwhelmed with emotions.

And looking back, Aizen most likely did this on purpose.

Isaac still needed to know if they were gone. If there was no shred of Oliver left and if everything was a ruse by Zach.

After all…

'I made a toast.'

***

The moon glowed down on Ashton, acting as the only source of light for the almost pitch-black dense forest.

Dashing through the forest, a blur zoomed through the forest of Ashton like a shooting star, leaping from tree to tree and sprinting whenever it touched the ground.

This was, of course, Isaac.

He held his compass in his hand as he constantly kept an eye on it, running toward wherever it was pointing.

[Artifact (Forged): Seeking Compass (C-Rank)]

[Requirements: Wanderer Isaac's Nen]

[Description: In addition to locating the strongest individual in its immediate area no matter their PS, the compass is also able to tag and locate tagged individuals no matter where in the world they are]

Isaac was glad he tagged both Oliver and Zach before all this. Just in case Onyx's plan put them in danger, Isaac needed to know where they were.

This need for immediate closure was why he had Merlin tweak the compass so that it was more useful to him.

Using her magic, she was able to make it into an Artifact. This was certainly better than Isaac letting it catch dust.

However, it seemed she had a little too much fun creating this. Isaac was able to conclude this upon seeing the random clock that resembled a pocket watch now ingrained into the back of his compass.

She had the idea to make this device an 'All-Utility in One' invention. Like some sort of Swiss army knife.

But Isaac shut down such nonsense before she was able to proceed.

As he thought this, Isaac was reminded of Merlin.

[Merlin, where are you?]

He asked in his mind, not receiving an answer.

Ever since the hotel, he was able to establish communications with Merlin. Usually, she'd answer instantly, and it wasn't like there wasn't anything to interfere with their neural link, at least, nothing that Isaac knew of.

Therefore, he started to suspect the worst.

However, before he could worry any further, he noticed something.

Off to the side and a few metres before Isaac, he spotted a familiar student with long auburn hair and chiselled facial features.

'Daniel? What's he doing here?' 

Isaac thought, once again cursing his poor Proficiency in his Ki, only now noticing the student.

However, upon noticing him travelling in the same direction as where the compass was pointing, and remembering the explosion that was heard by everyone in Ashton, it wasn't hard for Isaac to put the pieces together.

'How does he know?' 

Isaac thought.

Though he'd never heard Dabiel say it, it was easy to notice the boy's starvation for attention.

To come out as the winner above all.

Therefore, Isaac suspected he was here to take down whoever was causing the ruckus.

'Wasn't he inside the coliseum? Surely he'd rather get a piece of that.' 

Isaac was confused, however, he'd be damned if he'd let someone like this ruin everything he was trying to accomplish.

And so, clicking his teeth, Isaac increased his speed.

***

'How far out are they?' 

Daniel thought, continuing to run while trying to get in touch with Cain and the others.

However, as he ran, he came to an abrupt stop as he noticed a figure emerge from the bushes before him.

Daniel stared at a boy with amber eyes, messy, unkempt hair and casual clothing, standing blocking his path.

Before he could say anything, he stared intently at the boy. He recognised him.

It wasn't long until he furrowed his eyebrows.

"You. What are you doing here? You're supposed to be at the Coliseum." Daniel asked, however, as the seconds passed, he was given no reply as the boy kept staring.

Daniel grew increasingly annoyed as this happened, soon dismissively waving his hand as he snorted.

"Whatever. Get out of my way before…" 

"I'm not in the mood for your bullshit." 

A low and cold voice struck Daniel's ears as he couldn't help but pause and stare.

'Was that him? Who else could it have been?' 

Daniel thought, the icy tone of the boy echoing in his mind.

Additionally, as the seconds passed, Daniel could notice more and more the peculiar nature of the boy.

It was as if he was a completely different person to the F-Rank he knew.

"Turn around and get out of here…" 

A thick bloodlust seeped out from Isaac the more he spoke, making the hairs on Daniel's neck stand up.

"...before I kill you." 

'What is this? Why am I hesitant? W-Who is he?' 

Daniel asked the usual cocky demeanour wiped off his face.

However, as these last words entered his ears, his consciousness seemed to return, and he soon scoffed.

"Who the fuck do you think you are?" 

Daniel took a few more steps forward, smirking, but the veins bulging on his forehead and neck showed his irritation.

A slight hum could be heard as Daniel equipped plain-coloured brass knuckles, gripping them tightly.

In a matter of seconds, Daniel's ego simply overwhelmed whatever fear or instinct crept up on him.

Though it was still there, he couldn't allow himself to be talked down to.

"I'd like to see you try, F-Ranker." Daniel stood in a stance.

Isaac showed no reaction as his bloodlust intensified.

However, before he could lunge, he noticed Daniel's eyes seemingly changed.

[Name: Daniel Euro]

[Inherited Character: Adam]

[Verse: Record of Ragnarok]

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Next chapter title: I am Daniel Euro!

NNext chapter title: He isn't an F-Ranker

NNNext chapter title: We made an Oath!

I wonder how many people have been waiting for the time Isaac teaches some manners to the young master.

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I'll allow you guys for being broke yesterday cause I uploaded late. But there's no excuse today. Gimme Dem...

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