One Two Three

"So, it's settled then?"

"We...apprehend...Stark...First..."

"Yeah, and ol' gutsy here is more than willin' to blow a hole in that bastard's lil' head."

The Seven Saints were currently discussing their next course of action towards the war that's brewing.

Just then, The Sniper Saint aimed and fired a shot at the entrance of the cafe, the bullet punctured through the closed door.

He then rushes outside to find no one there, but just before he could turn back, he noticed blood splattered on the ground.

A smile crosses his face as he made his way back into the cafe.

"I never miss."

Unbeknownst to all of them, in an alleyway just a few blocks away from the cafe, the injured figure was holding his left arm and applying pressure.

"Heh, that was close."

He pulled out a handkerchief and shoved it into his mouth.

Bracing himself, he closed his eyes and dug his hand deep into the open wound. Groaning in pain, he managed to pull out the bullet then followed up to cover the wound up with the handkerchief.

"Saints vs Dons eh? hehe, who doesn't love a little chaos?"

Inside the Aquarius zodiac crypt, Ace and Ciel have begun their battle.

With a sharp thrust, Ace swings his blade forward only for Ciel to sidestep him and strike his neck from behind.

Ciel jumped back a few meters to create space between them.

"To make it a little fair, I won't be using my abilities."

Ace clicked his tongue and charged at Ciel once again.

The crew all watched as Ciel counters and Dodges all of Ace's attacks with zero effort.

Overhead kick, countered with a sidestepped punch to the face.

Leg sweep, dodged with a jump and retaliated with a kick of his own.

"Damn, I can't believe I'm saying this, but the Demon spawn is outmatched."

"And his time is almost over, Sir Ace hasn't gotten a single hit!"

"He has less than two minutes to land three hits or it's over."

"He'll win."

Vorus said with his arms folded, concentrating deeply as the battle progresses.

"Ack! it doesn't look like it Vo, this is not a " believe in our Captain" type of moment, we have got to be real here. Ciel is just too strong."

"I hate to agree with Sir Reginald, but he's right, the keepers are one of the strongest Relimen in existence, and Sir Ace can not use Shadow Apex again."

There was a cooldown period before Ace could use his Shadow Apex technique again. And even if there wasn't, he doesn't plan on using it in this battle.

"Enough, surrender, and I will take back my condition for the challenge and you can be on your way."

Ciel offered Ace a way out, but the ex-assassin seemed to have gotten enraged by this. His aura flared up and his eyes darkened, He then spoke with a bleak voice.

"Surrender? You don't seem to understand the whole point in this challenge."

His shadow daggers dissolved and he walked towards the keeper until they were at point-blank range.

"It's not just about an apology, you keepers are one of the strongest beings in this world, it will be a total waste of time if I don't at least test my strengths against you. of course I do plan on making you apologize for the underhanded trick you played on us."

"Eh!"

The crew all exclaimed upon hearing Ace's true convictions for challenging the keeper.

Vorus on the other hand bursts into laughter.

"A befitting trial for a man!"

"This bastard! he would risk spending an eternity in the crypt for a sparing session!?"

Ace and Ciel once again jumped forward almost at the same time to create some distance between themselves.

Ace waggles his finger as he heard Reginald.

"This bastard is your captain!"

His shadow steeply moves towards Ciel's shadow as the latter was paying attention to Ace.

"I will never jeopardize my goals... I plan on winning this from the very beginning! Bind!"

"Huh!?"

"Ciel, you're strong... super strong."

The time since their battle began: Four minutes, fifty seconds.

Ten seconds, was all it took...

"But... You've made three errors here, and I'll be more than happy to show you what they are."

Ace dashed towards the shackled keeper and struck him in his solar plexus.

"One... You underestimated me by not using your full powers!"

"He got him!"

Ciel grunted in pain as the shadow bind was undone. Before he could catch his breath, Ace grabbed him by the head and slammed his head against him.

"Two... Your senses have dulled, I'm guessing it's been countless years since you fought anyone."

Ciel's vision blurred for a little while but before he could even tell what was going on, he was sent flying by an uppercut.

"Three... You got complacent with the flow of the battle and let me take advantage at the end by lowering your guard."

Ciel got back up and dusted his rob.

"You win..."

Ciel was leagues far ahead of Ace, it was his arrogance that led him to underestimate Ace and drop his guard at the last minute.

If Ciel had fought with his guard up at all times, Ace wouldn't have been able to catch him off guard with Bind.

It was the split-second error on Ciel's part that made him lose the match.

Another factor to take here was the fact that Ace evolves with each battle he fights. The same could be said to Vorus.

He was the only one that read the condition of the battle and was able to determine that Ace would win provided being outclassed by Ciel.

He noticed how Ciel was toying with Ace and determined that Ace was biding his time and waiting for the right moment to use Bind.

What better time than when his opponent thinks that the battle is won?

"Phew... If we were to fight again, I know you won't be falling for the same trick. Let's have a rematch when I get stronger, I still have much to learn."

'Especially if I'm going to confront him, as it is I'm still too weak.'

Ace stretches his hand out to Ciel which the latter readily accepts.