Author: I know things went crazier than normal for this story (for the base standard anyway). But I left a pretty obvious clue as to something being off. It will be elaborated more as you read. I also thought about when to put the side chapter, and after this would seem appropriate (kukuku). Thanks for reading.

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“Die!” (Uncle)

*Boom!*

I sidestep away from a destructive foot stomp and counter an approaching swing to my chest, I aim to disarm my uncle by slashing his fingers as I dive back out of reach. With a flick of his wrist, my attempt was denied as our blades crossed each other. Clash after clash our blades leave sparks in the air. Our mana surges as we try to out maneuver each other with ever increasing speeds.

My advantage lies in my ability to use various magics that impede his attempts to strike me down. I channel magic through my legs and make the marble floors break into small particles that I flick toward his eyes with a simple gust of wind.

To my dismay, my uncle shields his eyes in a layer of mana as he continues his assault.

Damn, he is stronger than I thought. Not even a minute after our first exchange and I’m already being pushed back. His movements are far more refined than the old mans too. I don't even want to make any comparisons to that waste on the floor a few meters away.

Fortunately, my defenses using earth clad and my hybrid armor mitigate the damage from his attacks just enough to make any damage I get fall short of anything serious. Some brief healing and it’s like I never got hit. My only worry is whether he can land a clean hit on me, but I have my methods to avoid such things. I polished such things to avoid damage to my passenger.

However, unless I can get some suitable hits in, this fight will never end. Plus my father is still around, and I’d hate to be put at a disadvantage. I’m the one who should be putting them at a disadvantage. I’m gonna have to start getting creative if I want to end this, and I know just the thing to do just that.

Haha, and here I was worried that this family was just a useless bunch of cowards who can only step on those weaker than them. Don’t worry uncle, you should feel happy to receive my affection.

*Ba-dump*

Ugh *Ba-dump*, what...what is…

Hmm...it's gone. I could have sworn, whoops.

*Clang*

“You slippery bastard, stay still!” (Uncle)

“Who would listen to such a stupid demand? Is your head still functioning?” (Kuro)

“Grawr!” (Uncle)

Whatever that feeling was, it's gone now...but why did it feel so...odd, I can't recall where I felt such a thing. *Sigh* I’ll dwell on this later, my dear old uncle wants to monopolize my attention.

I infuse mana into my blade causing it to ignite. My uncle thrusts out with a bastard sword he picked up from a guard. Our blades met and our mana surges against each other. Slowly my feet dig into the ground as I’m pushed back by his strength. The smile on my uncle's face grew as he increased his force.

*Stab*

haha, that is, until my blade bent into an impossible angle and pierced his chest. The shock on his face fills me with elation.

“Y-you, that blade...the same as-” (Uncle)

“Do you like it? Figuring out how to copy that particular function was really difficult. Unlike the original, there is a danger of damaging the swords integrity with continuous use. But, for situations like this...I find it's good enough. Hahahaha.” (Kuro)

“Our family’s prized sword...what did you do to it.” (Uncle)

“Hmm, that piece of junk was valuable? After I got what I needed from it I destroyed the thing.” (Kuro)

“Bastard! We had that sword for generations!” (Uncle)

“And now it's gone. Such a shame.” (Kuro)

“Aaaaahhhhh!” (Uncle)

*Clang* *Clang* *Swoop* *Clang*

My my, what happened to his fluid movements from before. I don't even sense any danger from his swings anymore. He’s become so predictable to read. Enough so that I can just-

*Stab*

“Ugh…” (Uncle)

What a pitiful face. What happened to all that pride and skill? Was that sword really so important? It didn’t really hold up that long against my own once I used it's fire.

“It’s over uncle, it's in your heart. Just let everything just fade away.” (Kuro)

“*Cough* the place...I guarded with all my life…*Gasp*...ended by...a bastard.” (Uncle)

“No, it would have ended even without me. History dictates that nothing lasts forever after all.”

“*Cough*...damn.” (Uncle)

Well that's the end of *Ba-dump* Ugh!

*Ba-dump**Ba-dump**Ba-dump**Ba-dump**Ba-dump*

“Rrrrrraaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaawwwwwwwww!” (Kuro)

What the hell is this! My head...what...the pain...from no where...

“You fucking piece of shit!” (Pissed off guy)

“Ugh!” (Kuro)

Damn, of all the times for a migraine. I didn’t even see that kick coming.

“Here I am, stuck appeasing some old stiff for the sudden disappearance of my idiot son who didn’t show up for the damn marriage interview! Only for his niece to show up in a miserable state and tell me some boy has laid waste to MY home! And he dared to kill MY brother and first son!” (Father)

He dashed toward me preparing another kick to my sternum. With wind mana surging within my limbs I activate [Bloodwake Steps] to avoid it.

“What the hell am I even paying those guards for!” (Father)

*Boom*

Dangerous!

His foot left a larger impression on the ground than uncles. I can't afford any more of those episodes if I want to fight this guy.

I focus my abilities to activate at appropriate times. They are too costly to use for prolonged battles against strong opponents. Fortunately I feel oddly calm compared to how erratic I was before.

Whatever is going on, is seriously not beneficial for me right now.

“I’ll make you suffer!” (Father)

I ignored his words as my blade slashed out at him, wind mana is rushing out to push out as much speed as I can muster.

*Clash*

My arm immediately becomes numb at the exchange. My blade slightly warps back at the intense pressure pushing down on it. The disadvantage I would be in if it breaks would be far too high. So I split the earth beneath us with earth magic to give me the opportunity to break away.

The slight bend on my blade slowly corrects itself. I tried to analyze his sword, but it appears to be far from simple. My analysis is not able to reveal much as it only said it is of high quality metal with many enchantments.

Ignoring this, I focus on my father, any movement he makes is thoroughly observed.

In a mere second, he is already in front of me with his sword already about to pierce my neck. Thanks to the warning that blazed in my head, I narrowly avoided decapitation and lashed out with a counter.

I immediately jumped back swiftly as I slammed multiple balls of fire at him and his surroundings. Dust lifts off the ground with each shot that missed.

With a shout my father pushes away the dust cloud.

“Is that it!” (Father)

*Boom!*

I gazed at the aftermath of the explosion. He never noticed the [Mana Grenade] that I dropped during my retreat with all the fire and dust. What appears as the dust settles is my father glaring at me. His lower body is in tatters while most of his defense seems to have been focused toward his upper half.

I knew it wouldn’t be enough to kill him, but seeing his legs bleed gives the grenade a passing mark. One of the main things to winning a fight is to stop the opponent from moving.

No words were uttered further between us as we stared each other down. The sound of fire and debris falling is the only things emitted in the area. My sense show Shiro and Puerial are waiting patiently in the distance. I had to suppress their feelings from reaching me as their concern was too distracting.

I reaffirmed my stance as I prepared for the next exchange. My father removes a familiar medallion from his pocket and places it toward his chest. There was no way I was gonna allow him to enhance himself. I decided to activate my armor’s enhancement effect. I dislike using new enchantments without proper testing, especially if it's from a damaged rune. Working with damaged products tend to make inferior versions of the original.

Leaving everything to such things don't sit well with me. At most they would be last resorts.

My actions from before fill my head and I berate myself further. The enchantment on my blade is convenient when it counts. But I preferred to have done further stress tests before adding it to my arsenal.

If anything [Blood Surge] would have been a far better choice for this situation but it has been unresponsive no matter what I did. It doesn’t feel sealed, more like the problem is with me and my inability to comprehend it.

Pushing all my thoughts aside, I burst forward with my fastest speed yet and appear before my father as he was about to activate his medallions ability. I put all my focus into this strike, the thought of him becoming more powerful is something I don't want to deal with.

I felt his body increase in pressure as my blade closed in on his chest. My instincts scream for me to move away as his other arm reached toward me with blazing red fire bursting from his fist. I grit my teeth as I bend back casting [Flash] in front of his eyes allowing me to escape his attack. Using dark magics [Phantom Pulse] I temporarily become illusory as multiple shadow images fill the surroundings. This magic is severely taxing, but its effects are satisfactory.

He struck out with quick strikes trying to pinpoint my location. His already damaged foot lands directly on top of my [Mana Trap] one of the odd neutral magics that are littered all over dungeons and are only set off when the user fills it with mana. Making them a large pain during fights against people who cultivate mana to fight or cast magic.

Unfortunately, I have yet to improve its base strength during quick casting like the others so far. However, all I need is a moment.

*Ba-dump**Ba-dump*

“Ugh!” (Kuro)

*Swoosh*

Close! This damn migraine almost got me killed. I need to end this quickly before it causes any further disruptions. Tch, I even missed the opening. He wouldn’t have even been able to stop me if it weren’t for his movement technique allowing him to turn quickly enough.

I gaze at the anger in his eyes which are burning with frustration as he doesn’t allow me to escape his view again.

He was about to attack again when suddenly a blade pierces through his chest. His eyes widen in shock as his turns to look behind him.

I too look at the figure that appeared suddenly from the shadows in shock as I already know who it was.

“Thank you for the care you have given me thus far, Father.”

An ethereal voice fills the air as my father drops to his knees. At this moment I realized I never learned his name. This fact makes me happy. My mind won't have to bare such knowledge.

I gaze at my sister who I finally got to meet and was about to call out to her when suddenly *Ba-dump* my consciousness fades.

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A/N: Hope you enjoyed the chapter. Look forward to getting answers after the side chapter.

(The cliff hanger is strong with this one)

It's ridiculous how a small part of this chapter was missing (Very small). And its still there on my draft in google docs. Copy and paste, you failed me.