The day after Guido fell, news spread like wildfire through every media outlet. Headlines boomed about the underground mafia empire he had built, shuddering at the news and sending shockwaves throughout the criminal underworld. But the world didn't hear the entire incident.

  "Giorgio Guido, a mob leader of repute, has been taken down by none other than Isaac Technovaire from the eminent Technovaire family, who has now grasped the bounty cash. Z City sighs for relief from Guido's reign of terror," the news anchor reported.

  The light of several screens added to the darkness of the high-tech office, where Isaac slumped back in a chair with a satisfied smirk on his lips as he watched the broadcast. Sitting across from him was Kai, who was also watching the news.

  "Damn, Kai, you really outdid yourself. Watching Guido squirm? Priceless," Isaac chuckled. "You really took me by surprise when you killed him. Never knew you were the killing type of guy."

  Kai said nothing.

  Isaac took a sip of his coffee. "You should be thanking me, you know. I covered up your name. Now, I'm the hero of the story, and you get to stay in the shadows."

  "Yeah, thanks for that. The last thing I need is the government breathing down my neck," Kai replied.

  Isaac waved his hand away. "Anyway, I will be transferring the bounty money to you soon. I expect you to attend my experiments and research."

  Kai sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "I figured. Fine. You've done a lot for me-guess I owe you."

  Isaac leaned forward, resting his elbows on the desk. "Damn right, you do."

  Meanwhile, Pyrus was sitting cross-legged, lost in deep meditation, deep in the Ice Clan's Mystic Array. The air around him became as frigid as that of the Arctic; frost climbed the stone floor. Then, in a sudden pulse of energy, a vast wave of cold emerged from his body, sending ice crystals scattering in all directions. In a piercing instant, his eyes snapped open, glowing with newfound strength.

  He grinned, flexing his fingers as the cold energy crackled around him. "Level 4 Cryokinesis... Finally!"

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  The lazy, heavy doors of the meditation chamber creaked open to reveal Celine walking inside. She shut the door behind her and moved closer, her expression bemused.

  "What's up with that smug look?" she asked.

  Pyrus arose and stretched his arms. "Just broke through to Level 4."

  "Oh? That's wonderful. Congratulations," Before Pyrus could say anything, she smirked and added, "Although I'm already at Level 4.3."

  Pyrus moaned. "Oh, come on! That's just 0.3 levels above me! There's hardly any difference!"

  Celine laughed. "Tell yourself that when I'm freezing, you mid-combat."

  With a sigh, Pyrus changed the subject. "Have you heard about Kai? Apparently, he slaughtered Guido's whole army."

  Celine's face darkened. "Yeah, and we weren't there to help him."

  Pyrus rubbed the back of his head thoughtfully. "To be fair, Kai can take care of himself."

  "That's not the point!" Celine snapped. "He never lets anyone in. He keeps it all to himself and takes everything alone. Even when we went to A City, he did not mention anything—even the fact that he ran from Guido without us knowing the reason. It's all frustrating! We are not just mere bystanders!"

  Pyrus sighed and placed a hand on her shoulder. "I understand. We all have an idea about how he is. He carries too much weight on his shoulders, and that's why we got to be stronger to prove our worth to him so that we can stand beside him, just as we promised to his father."

  Celine blew out her frustration and said, "Yeah. You're absolutely right."

  Pyrus took a moment's pause and then cleared his throat awkwardly.

  "Hey, uh.. what about going on a date later? Might lighten up the mood."

  Celine looked startled. "Did you just-?"

  "Look, I just thought-"

  A smirk crept onto her lips. "Sure. But only if you can keep up with me in training first."

  Pyrus groaned. "Great. Just set myself up for a beating, didn't I?"

  She laughed as she walked by him toward the meditation circle. "Better start stretching, tough guy."