The celebration continued in its usual fashion—drinks, food, and networking. Yet, while the nobles indulged in gossip and power plays, Nioh found himself alone on the porch, far removed from the extravaganza.
The energy inside was suffocating. Too much noise. Too many fake smiles.
His mind had been spinning since the eting earlier that night.
"You’ve hidden a lot, huh?"
A voice pulled him from his thoughts.
Nioh turned to see Akron stepping onto the porch, holding an extra cup of wine.
Without hesitation, Nioh took the cup. "You just never asked. I didn’t hide anything."
Akron snorted. "Good to see you’re back to your old scheming self."
He leaned against the porch railing, mirroring Nioh’s stance.
"Where’s Althea?" Nioh asked.
Akron chuckled. "She’s inside extorting those poor nobles. Turns out she’s really good at making friends."
They both laughed.
But the amusent didn’t last long.
Akron’s expression darkened.
"You were really bold to say sothing like ’Warden Killing Weapon’ in there. You realize every single noble in that room has already contacted their family about it, right?"
Nioh nodded. "I know."
"No matter what happens, a year from now you’ll suffer." Akron swirled his drink. "If you lose, they’ll bla you. If you win, they’ll hunt you."
Nioh didn’t flinch.
"Yet you still accepted?"
He took a slow sip of wine before answering. "That’s how much faith I have in myself. Only I can do it."
Akron raised an eyebrow. "Narcissist much?"
"I have the talent to back it up."
They clinked cups in a toast before drinking.
After a mont, Akron turned to him. "Do you even know where to find a Warden Killing Weapon?"
"No idea," Nioh admitted. "But I have a few clues on where to start."
Akron exhaled sharply, downing his drink in one go.
"Look, I grew up sheltered, but one thing I was always taught—together, you go further than alone." He glanced at Nioh seriously. "You’re the only real friend I’ve ever made. So don’t die. Or I swear, I’ll dig up your corpse and beat it until it’s unrecognizable."
Nioh laughed. "That’s a bit extre."
"I an it."
A rare mont of genuine concern hung between them.
Nioh finally nodded. "I have no intention of dying. I still have to take you to that place I promised, after all."
Akron smirked. "Damn right."
Nioh turned to him. "I need your help with sothing."
Akron perked up. "Sure! We’re a team now. What do you need?"
"Pick up harvesting missions for us. I trust your insights. I need to et with soone about the Warden Killing Weapon. Let’s regroup tomorrow at noon."
Akron nodded. "Consider it done."
Nioh adjusted his headset, then stepped onto a floating needle.
With a silent command, the needle humd to life, lifting him into the air before soaring over the Citadel’s neon-lit skyline.
Too much information.
Too many suspicious points.
He needed an external party to intervene.
"I need to et you."
Nioh’s voice was calm as he spoke into his communication device, his eyes fixed on the looming structure ahead.
The War Hall.
As he descended from his floating needle, a group of seeds imdiately encircled him. Their wrist devices marked them as second-years, just like him.
The leader—a man clad in purple gear—stepped forward.
"You’re the anomaly, right?"
Nioh sighed. Another one.
"What do you want?"
"We’re from the Warden Hall. We want to officially issue you a challenge. We will—"
"Ti?"
The leader blinked. "Huh?"
"When do you want to challenge ? I’m quite busy these days."
Silence.
The Warden Hall seed hesitated.
He had expected a drawn-out exchange, maybe so resistance or bravado. But Nioh cut straight to the point, throwing him off.
"Uh... Errhhmmm..."
Nioh didn’t bother waiting.
"Co find when you’ve decided."
With that, he walked straight past them, crossing the threshold into the War Hall.
The group was left stunned.
--
He had awakened the Cosmic Suppressing Physique two days ago and barely had ti to test his new limits.
This was the best mont to let out so steam.
The opposing party was already there, just as he expected. Grims stood calmly on the other side of the portal, waiting.
Nioh didn’t waste a second.
Like a lion pouncing on its prey, he lunged forward, his fist tearing through the air, carrying nothing but pure, unrestrained force.
Grims sidestepped at the last mont, narrowly avoiding the incoming knuckles. The sheer pressure of the punch alone sent a shockwave surging behind him, blasting apart everything in its wake.
For a split second, even Nioh himself was caught off guard.
Grims, too, seed surprised.
But there was no ti to dwell on it—the fight was already on.
No words. No hesitation. Just combat.
They clashed in a storm of fists and kicks.
Nioh moved faster than ever before, his attacks sharp, precise, and devastating, just like the ancient martial arts he had studied.
Grims was different. Experienced. Calculated. Ruthless.
His movents were brutal and efficient, designed not just to fight—but to win.
The battlefield around them suffered, breaking apart under the sheer force of their movents.
Nioh launched a high kick, aiming for Grims’ head.
Grims intercepted with his elbow, deflecting the attack downward, sending Nioh’s balance spiraling into shambles.
Before he could adjust, Grims struck.
A shoulder ramd into his chest, sending him flying backward.
Nioh twisted in midair, landing on his feet—but Grims was already peeling off his shirt, revealing a pale, muscular fra.
Nioh wasted no ti.
From above, he descended like a thunder god, his leg hamring down.
Grims slid to the side just as the heel of his foot shattered the ground beneath him.
Then ca the counterattack.
In one smooth motion, Grims grappled him.
One slam.
Two.
Three.
By the fourth, Nioh retaliated, smashing his forehead against Grims’ nose, forcing him to let go.
The mont he was free, he drove a knee into Grims’ ribs, pushing him back several steps.
They stood there for a second, both catching their breath.
Neither spoke.
No referee. No rules. Just two warriors testing their limits.
They continued like this for hours. Blow after blow, counter after counter, neither willing to give in.
Until finally—Nioh collapsed, gasping for air.
He lay there for a mont, staring at the sky, his body screaming in protest.
Between ragged breaths, he finally spoke.
"Do you think my Cosmic Suppressing Physique can compete with the Titan Physique of the Bris?"
Grims exhaled sharply, rolling his shoulders before looking down at him.
"The lass from the Bris would blast you into particles if you fought her in pure strength."
Nioh frowned.
"Then what’s the point of this physique?"
Grims smirked.
"The strength of the Cosmic Suppressing Physique doesn’t lie in raw power... but in sustainability."
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