Two Months Earlier...
The late afternoon sun cast long shadows across the orphanage grounds as Ethan approached the gates. His boots were worn from miles of travel, his frame noticeably broader than when he'd left. A light breeze carried the familiar scents of home, mingling with the distant sound of children's laughter.
"UNCLE ETHAN'S BACK!" Someone shouted, and suddenly the yard was full of movement. Children poured from doors and windows, their feet pounding against the ground as they rushed toward him.
Ethan barely had time to brace himself before they surrounded him, small arms wrapping around his legs and waist.
"Did you fight any monsters?"
"Did you bring presents?"
"How many bad guys did you beat up?"
Questions came fast, mixed with excited shouts. Ethan laughed, patting heads as he walked into the yard.
From the training area, Grey watched. His hands gripped a wooden practice sword, knuckles white with tension. His heart pounded in his chest.
Ethan spotted him and raised a hand in greeting. "Grey," he called out, voice carrying across the yard. "You've grown taller.."
Grey didn't respond to the pleasantry. Instead, he raised his practice sword, pointing it directly at Ethan. "Fight me," he demanded, his voice carrying newfound confidence. "Right now."
The children gasped collectively, the sound like wind rushing through trees.
Garrick, who had been observing from the porch, let out a long-suffering sigh. "Couldn't even let the man put down his travel pack, could you, Grey?"
Ethan's eyes sparked with interest rather than annoyance. He rolled his shoulders, the leather of his traveling gear creaking softly. "You sure you don't want to give me a chance to wash off the road dust first?"
"Afraid I've improved too much?" Grey taunted, a smirk playing at his lips.
The children chorused excitedly, forming a circle around the two.
Ethan chuckled, dropping his pack with a solid thud. "Alright then. Let's see what you've learned while I've been away."
***
The training area cleared rapidly as word spread. Children dragged makeshift benches into position, creating a proper arena atmosphere. The scraping of wood against stone filled the air as they arranged their viewing spots.
In the center, Ethan stood relaxed, seemingly unarmed. His travel-worn clothes had been replaced with lighter training gear, revealing lean, wiry muscles that hadn't been there before. Around his waist hung a belt with various knives—each one unique, some gleaming with strange runes that occasionally caught the light.
Grey stood opposite, having discarded his practice sword for a real one. The metal blade caught the sunlight, sending flashes across the yard with each slight movement. His stance was poised, coiled like a spring ready to release.
"Rules?" Ethan asked casually, as if inquiring about the weather.
"First to yield or unable to continue," Grey replied instantly. "No holding back."
Garrick stepped between them, raising a hand. "Begin on my signal." He looked between the two, then dropped his arm sharply. "Fight!"
FWOOOSH!
The air itself seemed to split as Grey launched forward, moving so fast that several of the younger children gasped. His speed had improved dramatically—where before he had been quick, now he was a blur of motion.
Ethan didn't move an inch.
SWISH!
Grey's blade cut through the air as he closed the distance. But just before the sword connected, something remarkable happened. Three knives lifted from Ethan's belt on their own, spinning rapidly to form a defensive barrier in the air.
CLANNG!
The clash of metal rang across the yard as Grey's sword met the floating knives. Sparks flew in brilliant arcs.
"What the—?" Grey stepped back, surprised but immediately ready to attack again.
"Did you see that? Uncle Ethan didn't even move. He looked so calm." Lily whispered to Ling from the sidelines.
Grey recovered instantly, adapting to this new development. With a grunt of effort, he swung again, this time with enough force to send one of Ethan's defensive knives spinning away across the dirt. The blade embedded itself into a wooden post, quivering from impact.
Now it was Grey's turn to surprise Ethan. Instead of following through with his swing, Grey abruptly changed direction—a perfect feint. His blade arced low, then high in an unpredictable pattern that threatened to break through Ethan's defenses.
"He's improved his footwork," Garrick murmured to himself, genuinely impressed.
ZING! CLANG! SHING!
Metal sang against metal in rapid succession. Grey pressed his attack, his movements flowing smoother and more intelligently with each exchange.
For a moment, Ethan appeared genuinely challenged. He stepped back, using his remaining knives to deflect Grey's increasingly sophisticated attacks.
Grey saw his opening when Ethan's positioning created a small gap in his defense. He thrust forward swiftly, aiming to end the fight.
FZZT!
In a flash, Ethan vanished. Grey's sword cut through empty air.
The watching children gasped in unison.
Ethan reappeared several steps away, a familiar knife glowing softly in his grip—Phantom Blink.
"That was close," Ethan admitted, a genuine grin spreading across his face. "Your speed has improved tremendously."
Grey didn't respond to the compliment. His expression remained focused, analytical—a far cry from the hot-headed boy of year ago. He circled slowly, sword at the ready, watching Ethan's movements with predatory intensity.
"Notice how calm he is," Garrick pointed out to the watching children. "Before, he would have charged in blindly after missing."
Grey initiated another calculated attack. He had been studying Ethan's teleportation pattern—the way he held Phantom Blink, the direction he tended to reappear. As Ethan vanished again, Grey was already pivoting, sword swinging toward the exact spot where Ethan materialized.
The blade was inches from Ethan's throat when it met resistance. Ethan had blocked the strike with another knife, his arm barely trembled despite the tremendous force behind Grey's swing..
"Impossible!" Grey exclaimed, genuine shock breaking through his composure. "No one can stop that attack with one hand!"
From the sidelines, Ling's eyes bulged. "Did you see that?! He blocked Grey's power strike like it was nothing! That's—that's—"
"Incredible," Anna finished for her, voice barely above a whisper.
"That's Ironward," Garrick explained to the awestruck children. "It's a defense knife. Watch closely."
The knife in Ethan's hand was broader than the others, with a thick spine that gleamed dully in the light. Unlike his other blades, this one seemed to absorb the force of Grey's attack rather than deflect it.
"A defense knife?" Lily asked. "Why would anyone need that when shields exist?"
"Because," Garrick said, "it's versatile for knife fighters who sometimes need shielding capability. The problem is—"
"It's super heavy!" Ling interrupted, bouncing in his seat. "I tried to lift one in the market once. Nearly broke my foot when I dropped it! Knife users don't like them because they're too heavy and slow you down!"
"Precisely," Garrick nodded.
Back in the arena, Ethan pushed Grey back with surprising strength. As Grey stumbled, Ethan flicked his wrist, sending another knife flying toward his opponent with deadly accuracy.
The knife glanced off Grey's shoulder, barely leaving a mark.
Grey's lips curved into a confident smile. "My turn," he said, voice low and determined.
The air around Grey began to shimmer like heat rising from sun-baked stone. His skin darkened, taking on a metallic sheen as crackling energy surrounded him.
"Iron Body technique," Garrick announced to the watching children. "He's finally mastered it."
Ling's mouth opened wide. "So that's what he's been working on!"
Ethan's eyes widened. "Well, that's new," he said.
Grey charged forward with renewed confidence, his metallic form gleaming in the sunlight. Ethan sent knife after knife, but each one ricocheted harmlessly off Grey's transformed body.
"What's wrong?" Grey taunted, his voice deeper and more resonant in this form. "Running out of tricks?"
Ethan's only response was to raise Ironward as Grey closed in. The impact was thunderous, sending vibrations through the ground. Children clung to each other, equally terrified and thrilled by the display of power.
Grey continued his relentless assault, each strike forcing Ethan further back toward the edge of the training area. The heavy defense knife was clearly taking its toll—Ethan's arm trembled with each block.
"He's going to win!" Ling whispered. "Grey's actually going to beat Uncle Ethan!"
In desperation, Ethan activated Phantom Blink again. He vanished and reappeared on the opposite side of the area, breathing heavily.
Grey turned slowly, his metallic face twisted into a smirk. "Running away won't help you. None of your attacks can penetrate my Iron Body."
Without warning, he lunged forward, his arm swinging in a brutal arc as he launched a crushing blow aimed straight at Ethan.
Ethan straightened, regaining his composure. He selected another knife from his belt—this one with a pale blue handle etched with frost-like patterns and hummed with cold energy.
"Let's test that theory, shall we?" Ethan replied, voice steady despite his obvious fatigue.
With precise aim, he threw the knife directly at Grey's chest. As expected, it bounced off harmlessly, clattering to the ground at Grey's feet.
Grey's metallic laugh echoed across the yard. "What did you expect? You know your attacks don't work on me anymore!"
Ethan smiled calmly. He raised his hand toward the fallen knife, his eyes beginning to glow with subtle blue light. "Freeze!"
The knife at Grey's feet began glowing with intense cold energy. Frigid air burst outward in expanding rings, the temperature dropping rapidly. Children huddled together as crystalline mist rose around the combatants.
Within seconds, ice formed with supernatural speed, and when the fog cleared, everyone gasped in amazement.
In the center stood a massive block of crystal-clear ice. Inside was Grey, frozen mid-attack, his face showing complete surprise, his metallic arm still raised to strike.
Silence fell over the yard, broken only by the occasional settling of ice.
"Incredible," Ling breathed, his words forming small clouds in the chilled air.
"Outstanding," Garrick nodded, voice filled with undisguised pride. "He's truly grown into a formidable hunter."
Anna, who had remained silent throughout most of the match, finally spoke. Her voice was filled with awe as she whispered, "He's... he's so amazing."
Ethan approached the ice block, tapping it lightly with his knuckles. The sound resonated hollow and clear. "Don't worry," he called to the concerned onlookers. "It's a temporary effect. He'll thaw out in about ten minutes, good as new." He glanced at Grey's frozen form with genuine admiration. "Though his pride might take a bit longer to recover."
Lily snorted. "Ten minutes for him, ten weeks for his ego!"
Laughter rippled through the crowd, breaking the tension. As children rushed forward to examine the ice sculpture that was Grey, Ethan caught Anna's gaze across the yard and offered a small, kind smile.
She quickly looked away, but not before he noticed the blush spreading across her cheeks.