When Loki heard Michael’s plea he frowned. Seeing that Michael had the ability to use mana Loki felt a bit of a connection with the boy but Loki did not want to teach anyone the ways of his clan. 

Loki’s clan had no name to call itself, but it was the most feared clan of assassins in his old world. They had killed numerous people all for the sake of money. They would kill the young, the elderly, Saints, Demons, benevolent rulers, tyrannical ones, it doesn’t matter who it was for as long as they were paid they would kill anyone. 

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Loki’s skills were meant to take lives and even though he had recreated them in a way that could be used in nonlethal combat it would still be quite difficult to master, not to mention he had no idea how to teach, but most of all he found the entire thing quite troublesome. 

“I don’t have time to teach you anything.” After giving out his answer, Loki was about to leave, but Michael grabbed hold of his leg to his surprise. 

“Please, you’re my only hope.” Seeing the look of desperation on Michael’s face, Loki sighed as he sat down on the floor of the rooftop. 

‘I guess I’ll be late again today.’ Thinking about how Alisa was going to scold him about coming home late made him sigh again. Loki then looked at the confused Michael and spoke. 

“Fine then tell me your story. Why do you want to learn how to fight?”

Michael was momentarily stunned by Loki’s question and could not speak for a while as if he was still trying to comprehend what was just said. 

“Are you going to answer me, or are you going to remain mute?”

Hearing Loki who seem to be becoming impatient Michael finally spoke and told his tale. He told Loki about his parents’ hopes and dreams for him, as well as the bullying he received in school. He explained that no matter how hard he tried his inner energy would not expand using the methods taught in school. 

Even after training for months on every form and stance, even after he had practically perfected the movements he could not grow any stronger. Though he could fight against normal people without inner energy, but as a martial artist without inner energy, he was nothing more than a joke.

If it was only him that would be affected he could endure all the ridicule and pain, but he was not doing this for himself he was trying to become a great martial artist for his parents’ hopes for him. He didn’t want to disappoint his father and mother who had always cared for him and gave him everything he needed using their best efforts. 

Simply making him go to such a prestigious school and enrolling in the martial arts course had already cost them a fortune, his parents won’t admit it but Michael knew the truth. How could he not notice as his father had started working overtime more frequently? Even in a barely credible school, the martial arts course would cost his father an entire month’s salary, so it might have cost his father an entire year’s salary to pay for his tuition. 

Michael could not allow his parents’ efforts to go to waste, nor did he want to remain a loser. Though he kept telling Loki that he was doing this for his parents’ sake, that was not the only reason. The truth was, deep inside of him Michael wanted to become a powerful martial artist like the ones he admired watching when he was younger. Those supernatural beings that once looked like superheroes in his eyes. 

He wanted to stand among those people as equals. He wanted to become someone his parents could be proud of. As he was telling his tale, Michael could not help himself as tears fell down his face.

Hearing the entire story Loki finally understood why the kid was so desperate. Still, though he understood Michael’s plight he couldn’t truly empathize with him. Loki was someone who was born strong and he was technically a genius of battle. He was never on the side of the weak so he could not truly understand how Michael felt. He then looked at the crying Michael whose eyes continued to shine with determination. 

Michael who was done telling his story wiped away his tears and looked at Loki waiting for him to say something. Due to Loki wearing a mask it was difficult for Michael to get a sense of what Loki might be thinking about. There was a moment of silence between the two, as Michael waited. A few minutes had passed and Loki sighed as he spoke. 

“I see… I wish to ascertain something, so come at me then.” Loki stood up and signaled Michael to attack him. Michael looked at Loki dumbfounded by what was happening.

“It’s just a little spar, I will not attack nor use any form of energy so don’t be afraid and come at me with all you got.” 

Michael was still in a daze when he nodded his head and took a stance. He wasn’t sure what Loki wanted to see, but this was his chance to prove his worth. 

Loki stood still waiting for Michael to attack. The two looked at each other not moving an inch. Michael was looking at Loki’s eyes and the moment Loki blinked he attacked with a straight punch to the head. 

Loki easily evaded by shifting his head, Michael then quickly did a sweeping kick. Loki’s left leg backed away and he lifted his right leg to evade the strike. Michael transitioned from his sweeping kick into a roundhouse kick in which Loki swayed his body backward evading the attack by a few inches. 

Michael then unleashed a continuous barrage of attacks but no matter how and where he attacked Loki could evade all of it with ease. It was as if Loki could see the future as he would evade so precisely even without looking. Michael who had continued to attack was now panting heavily as he distanced himself from Loki. He wanted to once again charge forward but his legs could no longer move. 

‘Seeing the way he attacks it’s obvious that his dedication to the martial arts is formidable. I wonder How many hours a day did he practice those moves of his, to get to that level. Unfortunately, he doesn’t have enough stamina… Also even though his moves are so precise he lacks the strength for them to be any use, not to mention his opponents would be those that use inner energy making him who doesn’t know how to use his mana be ineffective.’ 

Loki cleared his thoughts for a while and looked at the panting Michael. Even though he could no longer move and it would seem that he would faint at any second, Michael’s eyes still looked at Loki as if he was finding the right time to attack. Loki shook his head as he spoke to Michael. 

“… I understand why you want to learn how to fight, but even so I cannot teach you my ways. Also based on what you have shown me you already know how to fight. There’s no need for me to teach you more than what you already know.” 

When Michael heard Loki’s response he felt despair creeping in. 

“That’s not enough, and you know it! Please, you’re my final hope.” 

“I’m sorry, but no matter what you say I won’t be teaching you… Still, I guess I could give you a hint. If you want to grow stronger how about going to your school’s library and start reading about the occult.”

After he gave his advice Loki left. Seeing Loki’s disappearing silhouette Michael felt disappointed, but he also felt a little hope. 

“The occult…”