Chapter 6: Leaving For A Short While

Panting, Zax stared back at the two. Oddly enough, the outburst and exhaustion cleanse his mind from the overbearing rage, and from his physical state he could tell that not much energy was left for him to fight, much less to use the Kinetic Force a second time.

'Topple the building ... How pathetic I am'. Vexed, Zax scorned himself for being audacious when he could not back his words. If the matter did not concern Anet, he would have also felt humiliated. But since the mortification done to Anet was far more infuriating than his misplaced vanity, he could not feel an ounce of a self absorbed emotion like humiliation.

Gripping his amputated shoulder, Zax began to assess the situation, what he can do and what he should do.

'This is too one sided ... Being at the sixth gate alone is not enough! The Beginner phase of the Intermediate phase of the bodily maneuvers also useless ... Her mist energy is at the same level of cultivation as Master's!'

From the not so far distance that separated them, the school principal straightened her uniforms. "Was it worth it? Losing an arm?" She asked gravely.

"That..." Zax steadied his breath. "Is only temporary!" He already sensed his body starting the slow convalescence process.

From his words and confident manner, the school principal and Mizuri caught that small insight Zax imparted into his bodily refinement technique and the pitying looks of the two changed to sheer astonishment. 'Regrow limbs!' The two thought the same thing. To their knowledge, not even humanity's sole bodily cultivator was able of doing that!

Tightening his hold on the wound and mildly swaying to redirect the blood flow and stop the bleeding, Zax continued saying to strengthen his shaken position. "If to kill that bastard Binjo, for what he and his bastard brother did to Anet, all I have to become is stronger than you, then just wait!" This was his way of assuring the school principal of his future come back and hinting her not to be partial. He phrased it like this so the school principal will keep to herself what she learned of him, so it would not be tracked back to his family.

'So this matter and the Derneldar are related... ' Hearing Anet's name, the school principal finally had this youth's, Zax's, behavior and sudden appearance solved. 'Who knew such a prodigy was hovering around one of my students... !'

"Anet Lensi, an Intermediate grade student. She stopped coming to school three months and twelve days ago. A teacher was sent to her house in cave twenty five, but she refused to see and talk to him. If you are here on her behalf, all the more reason me and you should stop fighting". She did not say anything about treating his arm, she already noticed that the bleeding stopped.

Zax was reluctant to resign, but he could not surpass the school principal either. "Very well", he said and loosened up.

Seeing how his body movement reflected his change in temperament, the school principal had a gratified smile. "Good, wise and talented-" She praised.

"Then I'll take my leave and return in a short while, stronger than you and the Derneldar founder". Zax said and utilized the rest of his strength to hastily depart.

"Ah... !"

...

Zax swift departure left Eden Formation's school principal dumbstruck. She could chase after him. With her Soul Sense she could pinpoint his location to compensate for her lower speed. But if Zax would have managed to slip through the reach of her Soul Sense, for running after him, he without a doubt will develop a rancor toward her and that will bring to a wrack her unwavering desire to roll him and his bodily refinement technique in.

It could be said, that by letting him go he was already circling her hook.

'What a troublesome monster... ' The school principal sighed. Evidently, Zax's declaration did catch her off guard. His confidence was not seen in her eyes as foolhardy. Considering his cultivation technique, she was sure he did not spout nonsense due to the spur of the moment and was not looking the type.

The school principal turned her visage to her vice principal.

"Now, how should we proceed to conclude this incident with the incommodious Derneldar... ?"

...

Back in the school's gate, the six youths did not even distinguish Zax's prompt exit. To be honest, even if they could perceive his level of speed, five of the six were too busy feeling sorry for themselves, with the one exception being the experimenting youth which was eagerly and quietly training. How could they not be aware of the tempest that passed through the school and on their shift? Even without knowing the specifics, they could still hear Zax and the explosions from the direction of the three grades buildings. Furthermore, the school's gate needed new hinges and someone had to inform the school's scary superintendent.

"Last one to raise his hand has to-" Barnard thought of an easy way to choose who will go to the superintendent. Regrettably, mentioning the word "hand", the other five, including the experimenting youth, raised theirs before he had the chance to finish the sentence.

"Stay and keep guard at the gate... ?"

...

'Dammit! Dammit! Dammit!'

Zax was going back, retreating, at full speed. More than for his loss, he was frustrated for not keeping his word to Anet and that his opponent was lenient on him.

Several caves after cave two, Zax reached a cessation in an alley between two large buildings. Clotheslines stretched between the two buildings and from one of them he picked a long sleeves jacket that was still wet. He wore it to hide the gruesome wound in his left shoulder.

'No! What I'm doing is running'. After the initial apprehension, Zax took a deep breath and calmed himself. It was easier now that he exhausted his rage against the school principal. Unless he delved into the vengeance that he failed to inflict, he could maintain a comprehensive mind.

'I was rush and arrogant, Master told me what my limit is. Instead of getting angry for not being strong enough, I should work around it following the quickest way I currently have. But ... even if I'll succeed in killing Binjo and his brother, would Anet be fine with it? What they did to her... ' The scars on her back flashed before his eye and Zax fought to quell his anger. 'One thing at a time, one thing at a time ... I really am too weak for doing more'. He said to himself. 'To eradicate those who harmed her, I first need to become stronger. Grasping the method to utilize the Kinetic Force wherever, whenever should be my goal. Healing Anet ... there must be away!'

Though he stated decisively, Zax was not entirely sure. Even if Anet will train in a bodily refinement technique and reach the level of growing back limbs, her body would only heal to the point that it was when she started training. 'I should consult with big sis and Master'.

Other than these two things, there was the subject of revealing the cause of his appearance in Eden Formation. Because of his angry chatter the school principal knew that he was related to Anet.

'Will she side with Binjo or with Anet?' The thought occupied much of Zax's mind. If she will side with Binjo then he had put not just Anet and her family in danger, but also his family. 'But she didn't chase'. There were three ways to reason the school principal's decision. The one Zax was most certain about was that she did not chase because she could not keep up with him. If that was the case, then what goes inside her head was still a matter of speculations. The two other reasoning were associated with whom the school principal chose to side.

'I must resolve this matter quickly!' Zax made up his mind.

If the school principal sided with Binjo, worst comes to worst, he would ask his Master for help. Zax was not aware of the agreement between two species with regards to the involvement of Core Masters, so if the school principal or the Derneldar founder will come to settle this issue, Kartius's sense of paternity for his Martial son will be put to the test.

In any outcome other than that, Zax will concentrate on mastering the utilization of the Kinetic Force. By summoning just a bit of it to deflect attacks and accompany one out of three to four punches, Zax believed that as long as his opponent was not faster, he would be able to hold back even a second level Core Master.

'For now I should go see Anet... ' It was inexplicable, how his heart began to pound just by the notion of seeing her again. However, it was not quite the same to when he left with the presumptuous promise that he made. His was now ushered by concern.

'Will she be able to trust me?' Zax pondered. Most important to him was not to lose Anet, the first of his friends that he reconciled with.

...

"Enter, enter, enter!" Beka hurried Zax after opening the door.

Zax concealed his injury as best as he could. There was no reason for Beka to wonder about his clothing, so on the way back he filled the missing space in the left sleeve with a piece of cardboard and tucked it the jacket's left pocket. Unless one looked closely or used a Soul Sense, the state of Zax's left arm was inconspicuous. "Aunty, can I see-"

"Zax!" Anet ran out from the hallway. "You are back, Zax?!" She jumped and hugged him. Her eyes were tearing and snot dripped from her nose.

Zax was perplexed from her behavior. It was not the Anet he left. She cried and was emotional, yet it was not pain that she transmitted to him, but was brimming with relief. 'She thinks that I dealt with Binjo and his brother... ' Zax thought. He did not want to let her go, but he also did not want to deceive her.

"Anet", he pushed her gently. "I-"