“I have shoes to fill.”

  Franz used his foot to kick one of the spears up. Holding it firmly, “Then I guess this is where you end, Mr. Prized Student!”

  “Clotaire,” Kayne wasted no time in attacking. Striking his hands up and pillars of stone staggered towards Franz.

  Franz used his incredible kinetic energy to tear through them instantly. His spear was getting damaged from his strength.

  He then plunged the spear into the earth and flung it up with great force. The earth was reduced to just Kayne’s power and his spear destroyed.

  “Apotropaic.” Kayne’s stone pillars gained characteristics of claws and slashed at Franz. With his profound motion, Franz dodged the claws and destroyed each with a great punch.

  “Rezeveure.” From the earth rose stone gargoyles that clung onto Franz and dragged him into the air. Franz had an insane grin for battle, shocked to see that some pathetic man was such a killer machine. Franz crushed each of theirs head repeatedly but, more came and dragged him up.

  “Clotaire.” Floating pillars soared at Franz by Kayne’s control. Franz dug his feet into one of the gargoyles and used it as a body shield.

  “Rouen.” The pillars exploded into dust but, Franz acted in time!

  “Dong Zhuo!” A ghostly head appeared in Franz’s grasp and a vortex of kinetic energy enveloped them. The ghostly head laughed as the dust was scattered before it harmed Franz.

  Kayne stopped his far distance onslaught as he wanted to deduce his abilities, noticing that it is centered on Kinetic Energy.

  Franz laughed as he kicked up another spear, not knowing when Dong Zhuo would dissipate. Franz spoke, “I never knew you had this much in you! This is a worthy battle! After this I will be as legendary as Lu Bu!”

  Kayne didn’t respond. No matter what, on a mission he is a killing machine devoid of emotion.

  “Come at me! I will give our battle a cool name after this,” Franz clenched the spear tightly, seeing that Kayne was preparing his rush-down again. “How does ‘the Clash of Power and Stone’ sound to you?”

  “Clotaire.” Quickly, pillars formed above Franz and rained down. Franz countered each one with a strong but, adjusted slash so that his spear wouldn’t break.

  With a sick grin, Franz raced towards Kayne with a sick smile, “Heaven’s Might!”

  He stabbed the spear forward a few times and rushing blasts of kinetic energy targeted Kayne. He quickly followed up behind.

  “Clotaire. Apotropaic.” Kayne erected a wall of stone to block the kinetic energy, to his shock that fell after. The stone pillars that were behind Franz became chasing claws that desperately dragged at him.

  With a circular motion, Franz slashed through the chasing claws and another stone wall Kayne had up. His grin was amazing, “You look like you don’t like close confrontation! I am the perfect counter for you then!”

  “Clotaire. Rezeveure.” Kayne attempted to create a wall of incredible density and for his stone gargoyles to hold Franz down. Preparing an attack from Franz’s behind with sharp stone pillars.

  “Heaven’s Splitter!” Holding his spear firmly, he dragged it up and a wave of kinetic energy surged forward. Cutting through the wall and its recoil even tearing down the stone pillars behind him. A satisfied grin as he won the encounter.

  Kayne was still standing. The spear was broken on contact with Kayne, a contracted plate of stone was on his shoulder. He stared into Franz’s soul with an emotionless killing intent.

  “By your file, I am aware you were trained around age 8 after meeting Nishizawa,” Kayne decided to finally speak. Franz didn’t make distance as he felt he had the advantage close. “But…”

  “I was trained from birth.” Kayne declared with a dense aura. The pressure exerted by him spoke of ruthless death, not a hint of mercy in his intention.

  Franz didn’t want to admit it but, he was intimidated by it, “The whole district will sing my name when am done with you.”

  “Clotaire.” Kayne contracted stone on his fists and slammed it down quickly on Franz. Franz was shocked by his speed, thinking that he was a zoner. He spat up blood to his surprise, even though he is a bit resistant to motion. How was Kayne so strong!?

  And with an unbelievable follow-up, he kicked Franz and sent him hurdling. Franz dragged through the earth as he slowed his motion. Kayne was chasing him down with floating pillars following him.

  Kayne punched down but, Franz avoided it, “Rouen.”

  Dust exploded up and harmed Franz. Franz had to withstand it and destroy the floating pillars before they pierced him. With this opportunity, he kicked at Kayne. Kayne caught Franz’s leg.

  Franz turned his body and carried his leg with great power. Once again, Kayne blocked it but with his hand reinforced by stone.

  Using his flexibility, Franz bent and slashed his spear, “Heaven’s Splitter!”

  Kayne had to let go of Franz defend against the attack with reinforced earth plates on his body, “Clotaire.”

  Successfully defending against Franz’s attack, he cladded his fists in stone and slammed it on Franz. The force of the hit made Franz’s stunned body rebound of the ground.

  “Apotropaic. Rezeveure.” Using a massive, clawed monument, Kayne sent Franz hurdling with a deep slice into his arm. Franz used his near-broken spear to stop his momentum but, gargoyles came rushing towards him. Colliding into him and shattering on impact. It was hard to bear until he was finally countering them with his spear. His spear shattered and then he was breaking them down with his fists.

  “Clotaire.” Franz was too busy destroying the gargoyles to see the stone pillars above him. They came crushing down, he countered them with a solid kick! Which greatly bruised his leg.

  More pillars were coming, forcing Frans to maneuver from them. Slyly dodging the stone pillars, he kicked up another spear and rushed towards Kayne.

  “Heaven’s Might!” Franz sent kinetic energy blasts at Kayne, who defended them with a stone wall that shattered on impact.

  Franz thought he had the upper hand, finally getting into Kayne’s range.

  “Rouen.” The shards of the stone wall exploded. Dust impacts harmed Franz greatly, forcing him to retreat. What he didn’t realize from before, the stone pillars he avoided were still there! They exploded and were about to finish him!

  You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

  “Dong Zhuo!” He created the energy cyclone around him to avoid the devastating attacks. The ghostly head seemed infuriated with him and without a moment’s notice, a stone pillar pierced it. Cancelling the cyclone and allowing the dust to properly damage Franz!

  Hiding amongst the dust was Kayne, his fists turned gigantic due to stone formations. He spiked Franz so hard into the ground that a crater formed! Franz was no match to his onslaught!

  Kayne stood over the crater with a void expression, “My mission is not to kill you. Step aside.”

  Franz’s was stubborn! He was bold! He was fearless! His body covered in profusely bleeding wounds; his mouth painted with a sick clown’s smile due to his blood. He wanted to prove himself, “You really are strong! It’s my fault for underestimating the settlement’s prodigy student!”

  “You’d be challenge for Keizer!” Franz was beast in that moment, in the face of death he had a brilliant grin. “I just know it.”

  “It doesn’t matter though! Cause I will be the greatest, far greater than Lu Bu or any other warrior!” Franz moved his damaged body to the spears and took up two.

  Kayne felt emotion. He was trained not to feel any in a mission but, Franz’s willpower moved him. The determined pride, Kayne respected it. He unconsciously honored it, by bringing more of his power. A glowing salamander, made of flames, wrapped around his body. Chirping at his call.

  “Thank you for finally taking this battle seriously,” Franz held up one of his spears at him, his blood trickled down it but his face still adamant. “I will make sure you never forget this.”

  “In this sick world of ours…” Franz was growing in power as seconds passed by, due to being at the brink of death. He was evolving, to the point his kinetic energy was becoming visible. A vivid gold! “My ego will shake the heavens!”

  Franz rushed towards Kayne. With no plan in mind, just to goal of confronting him.

  “Apotropaic. Flamen Nova.” Gauntlets formed, carrying spheres of flames! The gauntlets hurdling to Franz and exploded on impact with the ground. Franz avoided them!

  “Clotaire.” In an instance, the entire landscape was covered in spikes. Kayne was truly a monster! Franz held his spear tightly and swung them, shattering must in one sweep.

  “Keep going! Minohwa’s Pride! Show me a true battle!” Franz demanded. Dragging his spear up and sending cracks through the earth, Kayne stayed firm and continued to keep Franz away.

  “Apotropaic. Clotaire.” A fist rose out of the ground and flung Franz into the air. Earth spears surrounded by flames appeared and plunged at Franz. He avoided some but, two tore into his chest.

  He kept pushing on, “Is this mercy you’re showing me! Show you what an unshakeable pride is capable of!”

  Franz wasn’t even aware that his powers were evolving. His senses were numb, he could hardly feel, see or hear. His desire for victory was the only thing pushing him, and the faint glow of Kayne so he could defeat him.

  He utilized the manifesting energy without realizing it, “Heaven’s Splitter!”

  The vivid gold tore through the earth and reached Kayne at a blinding speed. Kayne was using more of his power so he could have defended against it. Franz could have been a monster.

  “Clotaire. Flamen Nova.” Kayne trapped Franz in a stone sphere and had a sphere of concentrated flames in it. Upon sealing, the flames incinerated the inside! Seconds past, Franz broke free again. His spears almost broken, he saw no reason to stop now.

  “I won’t end here! I am a monster made from arrogance!” He rushed towards Kayne, destroying another wave of spikes. One managed to pierce his chest wound again and Franz simply broke it off.

  “I am a warrior made from thirst for victory!” Kayne slammed him away with a stone wall and tried to punish him with another flame explosion. Franz got up and rushed after him again, dragging his spears up and the vivid gold was stronger. Tearing through the earth and rushing to Kayne.

  “Clotaire.” Kayne actually grunt from mental strain due to the attack, which managed to crack his stone walls.

  “Throughout this desolate world!” Finally, Franz broke through the distance and was in second’s reach of Kayne. Desperately grabbing at Kayne with the vivid gold at its purest. Franz had a genuine smile, “I AM THE CAUSE OF CONFLICT!"

  Kayne plunged his fists into Franz’s torso, creating a massive wound. On the other side was his hand holding Franz’s innards. His eyes were wide, bewildered by the intense power Franz was about to wield. For a first time in a long time, Kayne felt hesitant.

  “Beak of the Heat.” A massive vortex of flames rushed forward. Kayne wasn’t even utilizing the full power of his flame salamander. The vortex scorched through building as it plunged through Franz.

  He wasn’t supposed to feel emotion on a mission. He froze as Franz’s body slowly lost its warmth while he rested on him.

  In the last minutes of his life, Franz gripped the vivid gold before it vanished. Touching the fabric of reality itself,

  “Reason for War.”

  Everything was displaced! Suddenly, there was a rush of energy rearranging the very molecules in the area. Kayne didn’t notice it until seconds later. His very arm was on the ground while Franz stood seconds away from him, his torso stitched back up by the rearranged atoms. All of his other life-threatening wounds were still present.

  What Franz performed isn’t meant for a mortal being! Kayne couldn’t believe what he was witnessing.

  Franz wasn’t conscious, rather his primal instincts took over his unconscious body. Kayne could tell since his eyes had no pupils and by his pheromones.

  The primal instinct to get rid of the threat before he could no longer move. Franz held up his finger and released a trace amount of vivid gold. His trajectory was off, and it missed Kayne by his ear. Colliding on a building in the background, the building was separated by its components. A pile of mortar, metal, wood and more.

  A fear awoke in Kayne’s heart. He felt too much emotion on the mission, his mind couldn’t handle the change. A strange purple energy swirled around him, though it was being quite passive. It was clear that this menacing purple void was the greatest destroyer in their world.

  Franz regained conscious and looked up to see Kayne with the strange power. His arm levitated from the ground and connected itself back. Franz felt the purest form of dread upon seeing it. Such an energy made only for destruction and nothing else. Due to his recent power, he could see it on a finer detail temporarily. The strange energy was erasing atoms.

  With his little bit of strength, scorched body and many wounds, he got on his knee to Kayne. Despite all his nerves telling him to run, it was not a warrior’s way, “Looks like I bit off more than I could chew.”

  Franz looked up at Kayne with those same stubborn eyes. That reminded Kayne how pathetic he was, the purple void became harder to control.

  Franz spoke, “It would be a warrior’s honor to die in battle to a great foe.”

  Franz accepted it, always wanting to go out like that. It would be a better death than his idol Lu Bu. However, Franz had a demand, “But do not kill what you see in the shed. They have nothing to do with your conflicts.”

  “It is not a warrior’s honor to beg but… I beg that you don’t kill them,” Franz requested. Willing to die for the cause! He was a true warrior.

  Kayne went through more mental anguish but, he had to control the purple void! Just like how Giseuppe taught him. To avoid it harming his surrounding, he spiraled it upwards. The day’s night was present, Kayne held his head in anguish.

  This is what it meant to be a Detective. To kill, no matter how close the target it is to you. It could be an acquaintance, friend or family. No life can be spared.

  He gathered little of the purple void near Franz, with this he could give a painless death. It damaged his brain to manipulate the power, to the point blood was running from his eyes. He just didn’t feel like Franz deserved a painful death.

  “Kayne.” A voice suddenly awoke Kayne from his thoughts. The voice was one he had comfort in, helping him to calm down and cancel the purple void. Until the strange power disappeared. Franz fainted from his blood loss.

  He turned to his side to see Able looking at him with a disappointed frown. It hurt Kayne since he was one of his closest friends. Emilia was at the verge of sobbing due to seeing Kayne like that, her gentle giant. Others were amongst the entourage.

  “Even if you spare Franz,” Kayne turned to the source of new voice in shock. When did this man reach there? Kayne didn’t even sense his presence with his great capabilities. And the man stood so close to his purple void without being harmed?

  The man’s limbs were covered in battle scars. His hand was expanded into magma form and held at Kayne’s neck, “I will still kill you.”

  The man didn’t value his own comrade’s life. And the power Kayne sensed from him was nothing normal. Things were becoming complicated.

  Abruptly, the shed’s doors were broken down and two monsters rushed out of it.

  Without hesitation, Peaches clung onto a crowned monster and calmed her down using his cold, “Princess… Easy… Calm down, smell my pheromones.”

  A monster covered in snakes came rushing to Keizer’s feet. At first Kayne could recognize her until it slowly controlled its form, turning into a clear resemblance of Lauri Nishizawa!

  “Ke- Keiz- er…. D- Don-t… K-ill hi-m…” She slowly reverted to a more human form, with her hair being streaks of blond and white. “It’s not his fault.”

  Kayne broke down to his knees and held her face. Sobbing profusely, “I didn’t know… that it was you I was sent to kill.”

  Lauri began to cry intensely too, missing his touch, “I wanted to see you so badly.”

  Everyone was confused by their interaction. Now, they wanted a proper explanation. Evelyn Nishizawa was reverting to herself too. Emilia swelled in rage, seeing Kayne cry over Lauri. Keizer still wanted to kill Kayne.

  Soon, the executives and members of the Red Panda Mercenaries came rushing since they heard the intense battle. All armed, they shocked at the sight they came to. Sharpay quickly went to heal Franz.

  Naohiko scratched his head and looked at his daughters,

  “This slight detour is gonna cost me thousands.”