Chapter 18: Ini and Arike
The spectators watched in awe as Blaze emerged from the hole he had created in the wall, his face etched with fury. His usual smile had vanished, replaced by a fierce determination. Still maintaining his composure, he turned to Temi and asked, "Doesn't he have a seal?" Temi replied, "No, he doesn't. The Chairman thought he wouldn't be that powerful, considering he was previously a C-Rank." This revelation caused a stir among the onlookers, as they struggled to comprehend the implications of Ini's unsealed power. They had never heard of someone how leveled up by three ranks before.
Temi approached Ini, holding a bracelet in her hand. "S-Ranks are required to wear this to help them control their power better," she explained, handing him the bracelet. Ini put it on, feeling his power decrease by 20%. He turned to Temi, asking, "By how much is your power supposed to go down?" She replied, "70%." Ini wondered if the bracelet was faulty, but he asked Temi, "How does it work, and does it vary depending on the warrior?" Temi explained that she wasn't sure how it worked, but the sealing effect did vary depending on the warrior's strength. "For basic warriors, it's the full 70% sealing, but for stronger S-Ranks, the amount sealed is less. Like Blaze, for instance, has only 65% of his powers sealed."
With the bracelet in place, Ini decided to continue the duel. He tried to revolve his magic energy and found that it was only slightly slower, about 20% slower. Blaze, determined to take Ini down, resorted to close combat, lunging at him with a flurry of punches and kicks. Ini, however, seemed to be toying with Blaze, effortlessly dodging and weaving around the attacks. The two warriors clashed at an incredible speed, their movements a blur as they exchanged blows.
Blaze unleashed a rapid combination of punches, but Ini dodged each one with ease, his movements seemingly choreographed. Blaze then attempted a powerful kick, but Ini sidestepped it, using the momentum to fuel his own counterattack. Ini landed a swift jab, but Blaze countered with a hook that Ini dodged by a hair's breadth. The duel continued, with Blaze becoming increasingly frustrated as Ini continued to evade his attacks. Finally, Blaze landed a solid punch to Ini's gut, but instead of hearing the expected impact, Ini suddenly appeared behind Blaze.
Ini said, "I think it's best we stop here. It's a duel, not a fight to the death." The spectators looked on, unsatisfied with the abrupt ending. Blaze hadn't gotten to humiliate Ini, the spectators hadn't seen Ini's full capacity, and Temi was left wondering what powers Ini truly wielded. Ini, however, seemed neither satisfied nor dissatisfied, his expression neutral as he stood beside Blaze.
Ini followed Temi, Blaze, and Kale to the topmost floor of the White Flame Guild's building, where they gathered to discuss the terms of Ini's potential membership. The offer they presented was incredibly generous, with a substantial amount of money, acres of land, and access to top-tier weapons and armor. Additionally, Ini would have the opportunity to acquire valuable carcasses, which he could either use himself or sell to the guild at a fair price. After considering the offer, Ini agreed to join the guild.
Temi continued, outlining the terms of Ini's membership. "There's one more thing," she said. "You'll need to take someone under your wing to train." Ini raised an eyebrow, asking, "Why?" Temi replied, "It's just a tradition. You'll be mentoring an A-Rank warrior, who will be moderately strong." Ini thought for a moment before agreeing. He asked " would I have the opportunity to choose my mentee?"Temi explained that "the A-Ranks with the highest merit would be assigned a mentor. This is a way of ensuring diligence. However, you would have the option to change your mentee if you encountered any problems.
Temi called for Arike, Ini's assigned mentee, the A-rank with the highest merit, to join them on the top floor. A few minutes later, the elevator doors opened, and Arike walked in. Ini couldn't help but notice her striking features – she stood about five feet six inches tall, with light brown skin and jet-black hair tied into a ponytail. Her gym outfit, consisting of a sports bra and tight leggings, accentuated her athletic figure. Ini asked Arike about her powers, and she replied, "Lightning, sir." Ini stood up, took a closer look at Arike, and then turned to Temi, saying, "I'll train her." He turned to Arike and instructed, "Follow me, we're going out."
Arike followed Ini calmly, although she was inwardly excited. Not only had she been assigned an S-Rank mentor, but he was also incredibly strong. Being around S-Ranks guaranteed her safety, and she knew she would have access to high-quality carcasses, which would aid in her growth as a warrior. As they left the guild, Arike couldn't help but feel a sense of anticipation and wonder about what the future held for her under Ini's guidance.
Ini and Arike walked into a bustling restaurant, the aroma of savory dishes filling their senses. They were seated at a cozy table, and Ini promptly ordered a massive feast, while Arike opted for a lighter meal. As they waited for their food to arrive, Ini's eyes scanned the restaurant, taking in the lively atmosphere. When their orders arrived, Ini dug in with gusto, devouring his food with a hunger that betrayed his calm demeanor. Arike, on the other hand, could barely eat, her appetite seemingly suppressed by Ini's intimidating presence.
As Ini finished half of his plate, he began to speak, his voice low and even. "I have some ground rules you need to follow," he said, his eyes locking onto Arike's. She immediately looked up, her attention riveted on Ini. "One, you'll update me from time to time on how things work now. Two, you won't tell anyone anything I tell you not to, or anything you see me do. I'll advise you not to – I'll know. Three, I'll push you to your limit so you get better. Four, you'll follow my instructions without questions. Five, you'll report to my house by six am every morning. And six, you'll start a physical exercise routine every morning. Do you understand?" Arike nodded, her voice barely above a whisper. "Yes, sir."
Ini's eyes cringed at the formal address. "Call me Ini, not sir," he corrected, his tone softening slightly. Arike's cheeks flushed as she replied, "Okay, Ini." She thought the requirements were tough, but the reward would be worth it. She also thinks ini without his mask is pretty cute. Ini's gaze returned to his food, and he continued eating, leaving Arike to process the weight of his expectations. Suddenly, Ini spoke up, his voice casual, "Oh, and just for your sake, I can kinda read minds. And yes, the reward would be worth it." Arike's eyes widened in shock as Ini continued to focus on his food, his expression serene. She bashfully buries her head in her food to embarrassed to look up.