Rebirth-Transcending All Beings

"Whenever you’re ready."

Vergil took a step. His fists held firm.

Mana Affinity

His mana heart pulsed, circulating energy throughout his body. Then—

Shadow Dash.

In a flash of shadow, the gap between them closed and Vergil was now in front of Ray.

He didn’t strike. His body tensed, though it coiled and was ready. Primal Awareness warned him not to, forcing his feet to scrape backwards on the dirt.

He’d felt this before, every time something bad would occur. He didn’t fear combat, and that feeling didn’t occur with Rael.

Perhaps it’s because Rael was suppressing his intent... and Ray isn’t.

Ray wasn’t towering, but he was still formidable. Although he wasn’t a strategist like Eleanor, nor was he as wise as his mother.

Even though she coddled him, she taught him a lot — even when he couldn’t understand her. One thing he learned was restraint.

Not enough to silence the burning ember in his heart, but enough to question what to do in situations and correspond accordingly.

Do I attack?

The old him would’ve thrown the punch without hesitation, but he wasn’t that boy anymore. He had learned his lesson from what happened when confronting stronger opponents head on and his original style wasn’t always the right way.

Ray tilted his head. His stance unchanged. Calm. "Why are you hesitating?" he asked casually.

Then he smirked. "You scared? Blow-fish."

Vergil twitched. ’Of course.’

Ray’s personality hadn’t changed. Vergil had seen enough in two days. Ray didn’t overthink. He was fast, blunt and ridiculous at points. Always acting first.

[Taunting. Isn’t that kind of your thing?] The system asked.

’It was at one point, but I don’t really use it much, anymore.]

Vergil kept his eyes on Ray. His mind racing.

Attack, or be patient.

The thoughts irritated him. He clenched his fist, making a decision. Ray was a wall. You either go through it, or knock it down.

Mana burst from his heart, flooding his limbs like a tidal wave. Feet angled for maximum acceleration.

He charged.

His target. Ray’s throat, a fast strike, to end the fight before it becomes a battle.

Ray tilted his head, effortlessly evading. Vergil’s fists cut through the air.

No words. No more banter.

Their way of conversing was their movement of bodies speaking in quick bursts and careful silence.

The spear came low.

Vergil sensed it before impact, twisting his torso just enough for the tip to miss his stomach — then twisted to counterattack.

His fist swung up towards Ray’s face, a sharp hook. Yet his expression remained blank, without fear.

Ray moved, ducking under the strike, moving backwards — and without missing a beat, hurled his spear towards Vergil.

No aura, no glow. Just raw physical force. The motion was fluid, immediate, as if he had planned it three steps ago.

Vergil didn’t think, moving sideways. The spear brushing past him, close enough to hear the hum of displacing air.

Before he knew it, Ray had closed the distance. He had enhanced his body, aura bled from his limbs, dense and controlled.

Vergil braced himself. He hadn’t expected him to follow-up so fast. Ray was unrelenting, aggressive. He had no proper pattern to his moves. Like a wild beast.

Vergil gritted his teeth. ’At this rate, I’ll be overwhelmed.’

"If you start something, finish it. Don’t hesitate to do what must be done." His mother’s words echoed in his mind.

Vergil was learning it the hard way. He breathed, his mana pulsing to his limbs.

Ray stepped in again, launching a fast kick.

Vergil dropped low, sweeping his leg under Ray’s planted foot and pivoted around him, skimming past with barely enough room. He turned to strike Ray, only to find a hand raised to parry.

Their limbs collided. Ray didn’t flinch.

Vergil slid back, using the distance to regroup. Breathing steady. Mana flowing.

’He’s a lot stronger than I estimated.’ Vergil clicked his tongue. He wasn’t angry nor frustrated. But a tension formed inside him.

This is exactly what he needed.

Ray didn’t move, his eyes locked onto Vergil.

Waiting. Vergil narrowed his stance.

"Fine... if you won’t come to me, then I’ll come to you."

He surged forward, but even as he launched, Vergil knew his body was both unready and still developing.

He had technique, but he lacked both power and reflex when under pressure. He lacked training in energy manipulation and barehanded combat where instinct mattered.

He weaved in, at least tried to, his timing was a beat too slow.

Ray didn’t miss it. A step to side. His arm lashed out, not a punch, but a clean shoulder to the stomach, knocking the air from his lungs with a force that sent him back.

Vergil’s heels dug into the dirt, he grunted and adjusted before trying again.

A quick jab. Ray ducked. A sweeping kick, Ray didn’t even move, stopping Vergil mid-motion.

Vergil’s balance teetered. Although the effort he put in was obvious, the form he used from the Orc Brawler had reached its limit.

This isn’t fit for me.

The orc’s style of fighting relied on its physical strength to outmatch their opponent. Vergil and the orc had different appearances, hence why he wasn’t able to use it.

The growing frustration weighed at his skull, hands curling tighter.

He keeps reading my moves, I can’t land a hit nor am I fast enough to dodge.

But then Ray did something unexpected.

He stopped. He held the spear horizontally, before gently settling it down on the dirt beside him as a quiet declaration.

’No weapon. No advantage. Come at me.’

He rolled his neck once, then stepped forward with his fists raised.

Vergil felt something twist in his chest. Watching Ray choose to fight without his weapon.

So you don’t need it, is that what you’re trying to say? Vergil clenched his jaw as Ray moved in.

The first punch came fast, a straight jab to test distance. Vergil raised an arm and blocked. The impact vibrating through his frame. The second came from below, a hook to the ribs that Vergil couldn’t avoid in time.

A clean hit that made him choke. He stumbled, dropping to a knee but he held firm. The mana in his core pulsed, stabilizing him.

Ray didn’t follow up. He waited. Taking a single step and nothing more.

Vergil could feel the pain subside thanks to his Regeneration Factor and moved in once more. He fired back with two quick fists. One aimed at the chin and the other to Ray’s gut.

Ray redirected both, Vergil’s body spun from the misdirection of his own momentum, he barely stopping himself from tumbling over.

He’s really good at sparring. How many years has he practiced?

Compared to him, Vergil was like a newborn chick who had yet to spread his wings.

Vergil inhaled, steadying himself. Ray didn’t give him time to reflect. Already moving. Another blow, a kick to the side.

Vergil caught it, not cleanly, but enough to hold it for a second.

That second was all he had.

Let’s see if this works.

He released the leg. Then his palm made contact with his stomach as he blasted a short range mana pulse from his palm, forcing Ray to slide backwards.

Dammit, that didn’t work either.

He had tried blasting his mana out, but the effectiveness and potency was too weak. Vergil knew one thing.

He was outmatched. Outclassed. Overpowered.

Vergil blinked once more, even though he was at a loss, a small ember lit behind a single thought.

I want to do my best.

He didn’t need to win, but to get onto the right path.

He steadied his breathing, wiping the spit drooling from his mouth. Body shifting into a low stance.

Ray’s face didn’t change.

He nodded.

And stepped in again.

Ray didn’t hesitate. Moving with quiet precision that didn’t waste energy nor was flamboyant, meeting Vergil head on, his guard raised and posture carrying stiffness.

Their fists clashed.

The first exchange was a loss — too fast for Vergil to react. A jab to the shoulder, a cross to his cheek. He blocked one, grazed the other.

Then Ray pivoted, a low hook to the ribs. Vergil saw it coming but his body wasn’t fast enough.

Pain bloomed across his side, but he didnt falter. His fists lashing out now. No strategy. A left straight, then a downward punch towards Ray’s collarbone.

Ray caught the arm and twisted. Vergil gritted, using his other arm to strike, Ray ducked and stepped in — closing the distance in one motion.

A quick, brutal combination followed.

One to the stomach. One to the jaw. One to the chest.

Vergil’s knees buckled, dropping to the floor with a gasp for air, his body shaking from the impact. Blood trickled down his lips and his vision pulsed at the edges

Ray stood over him, his breathing calm. His stance didn’t subside, he wanted more.

"That’s one to me."

Vergil looked up, wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, and gave a breathless chuckle. "Bastard, let’s go again," Vergil spoke with a grin.

There was no bitterness nor resenment. Just a fire that came from the urge to grow and move forward.

Ray blinked once. "Then get ready."

He stepped back, giving Vergil space.

The boy pushed himself to his feet, swaying slightly, ribs aching, lip split and a desire to fight more.

He was smiling. "I’ll win this one."