Antarctica’s Myth

Their swords clash once more…

SHIING!!!

Katsuki seems to be exhausted while K is barely breaking a sweat.

"Your actual skills are nothing. The only reason you're getting this far is because of me," K told Katsuki after he placed his hand outward.

An invisible barrier formed around K and an unbelievable amount of pressure pushed everything in the surrounding area away from him. Katsuki couldn't see the attack, but he could sense it. He knew something was coming for straight for him but didn't know what to do. The unstoppable force pushed Katsuki back, his feet digging into the ground to not lose balance.

He struggled to stay up longer and eventually was thrown off his feet, into the air, and crashing into the grass.

"What… Was that…?" Katsuki asks himself as he tries to catch his breath.

"How long has it been since we started? Maybe a day or two, right?" K questioned aloud as if he was asking someone else who wasn't even there with him and Katsuki.

Katsuki groggily stands back up, his grip still tight on his sword, "I get it now…"

"Hm? Get what?"

"You think I'm nothing. You think I don't know what I'm doing. You'd be right about that, but I'm trying. And what are you doing to try? Belittle me? Make me fight a fight you know I can't win? You just wanted an excuse to make fun of my failures and make me feel worse than I do. You said you're me, right? Then you know how I feel right now, right!?

"You are right."

"I stopped caring about your stupid rule about having permission to get the Essence. I stopped caring about this stupid game you want to play with me. I just want to win," Katsuki's expression was a new side K has never seen before.

K felt the anger brewing inside of Katsuki, "Katsuki, you-"

Faster than Katsuki ever moved before, he charged toward K and hurled the sword at him. K dodged just in time, surprised at the velocity, and knew what Katsuki was planning to do.

Katsuki's first punch got directed away from K and so did his other punches that followed suit. K dropped the sword he's holding onto so he can engage into hand-to-hand combat with Katsuki.

K swiftly dodged Katsuki's attacks, but noticed something different with each punch. The first punch was sloppy, slow, and predictable. The tenth punch was swift, precise, and almost imperceptible.

[He's getting faster. Could he already be adapting?]-K.

K couldn't help but smile a bit as he noticed Katsuki's growth. He knew what was going on with Katsuki and how he was able to adapt in quick manner. It is undoubtedly because he is Antarctican.

Antarctican's are known for their adaptive abilities. They grow significantly as they fight, doesn't matter if they lose or win or simply just train. They even have the ability to mimic fighting styles they witness in front of them or from a distance. In a way, Katsuki is the perfect warrior but just doesn't know it.

But despite not knowing his heritage, he is putting in the work to grow, not by taking advantage of his abilities, but by sheer willpower and determination.

Slowly, but surely, K got so overwhelmed by Katsuki's attacks that he had to eventually fight back. Punching Katsuki clean in the jaw, K noticed that he didn't do much damage as Katsuki seemed to grit his teeth and stay level headed.

Cocking his arm back like a loaded missile, Katsuki's punch got sent flying at a speed that K never seen before and got hit in the jaw as well. But the more surprising part is that K seemed to be more effected by Katsuki's punch than Katsuki by K's punch.

K jumped back, rubbing his jaw, "You struck me, Katsuki."

Katsuki pants heavily as K gives him a nod of approval, "Your hand-to-hand skills are sloppy, but I can fix that. Your swordsmanship is also very sloppy, but another thing I can also fix." K said, his face hinting that he's proud of Katsuki.

"Nice…" Katsuki spoke softly before falling to the ground and going unconscious.

—

Meanwhile, in the Garnett Estate, located in the second section nearest to the Guild Hall, Seraphina is striding through an extravagant hall toward a pair of doors that are wide open. From the distance she is at she can see Lyon Garnett meditating in an empty room with the only light coming from the skylight above.

Upon entering the room, Seraphina clears her throat, "Just as you expected. He's been picked up a Slayer. Her name is Emilia Talva amd you're her appointed Grandmaster."

"Talva? Where have I heard that name before?" Lyon rubbed his chin.

"Erm… In your notes you mentioned an Elara Talva, or so I believe."

"Elara… Elara…" Lyon mumured to himself as he tries to remember, "Oh, I remember now! She used to be Marya's friend. What is she up to nowadays?"

"Erm… Sir, she's dead. You went to her funeral," Elara spoke in a soft tone, bracing herself for what he might say.

"Oh… I see. Thank you, Seraphina," Lyon then laughed to himself as Elara looked like she's in pain listening to him laugh. "Well, at least I know Katsuki is in good hands. Marya will be pleased to hear this. May you notify her whenever you get the time?"

"I shall, Lyon," Seraphina bows and takes her leave.

Lyon is left remaining in the room. He takes a deep breath and gets up from the floor, exhaling while doing so, and he leaves the room.

"Your time is almost up, old man," A man standing beside Lyon said, "If I had to guess I would say you have about 1 year left."

"Shut up…." A sweaty, weak Lyon told the man.

"Do the other Grandmasters know about your condition?"

"Shut up."

"Would they all agree to strip you of your status?"

"Shut up," Lyon's voice grew louder.

"You don't even remember your own family, do you?"

"I said, shut up!!" Lyon punched the wall and heard a yelp.

Turning around, he sees a young woman holding a stack of paper that are all assigned for Lyon.

"Erm… Erm… I can come back later…?"

"No, no, it's fine. Leave it in my office, please, Elara."

"Um, my name is Lily."

Pinching the bride of his nose, Lyon tells her, "I'm sorry. Lily, may you please leave it in my office."

"Yes, sir."

Lyon groans heavily and the man that was taunting him was seemingly gone. And as for the hole in the wall, someone will fix that. Eventually.

It took him a few hours, but with the guidance of Seraphina, Lyon was able to finish all the paperwork. Seraphina led Lyon to his chamber, which is connected to his office through a secret doorway, and tucked him into bed.

She gave him medicine that was given to her by a Rogue that claims to help slow down the process of the deterioration of his memory.

As Seraphina is about to leave, Lyon grabs her arm and pulls her close, "Take over for me, Seraphina. I'm getting worse by the day and I don't know how much longer we'll have before the Grandmasters see through our smoke and mirrors."

"But I don't know if-"

"You can do it. You guided me the entire time these past two years. You made almost every executive descision, you shaped the Garnett Family, you did everything. I know you can."

Lyon coughs violently and his fever returns. Whatever this sickness was, it was more advanced than anything Seraphina has ever seen. She nodded and smiled as she watched Lyon fall asleep, holding his hand in the process.

"I'll do it. For you."

Meanwhile, Emilia comes back to the apartment to see the wardrobe is still closed. She wonders if Katsuki is making any process and fights an inner battle to check whether or not he has. Approaching the wardrobe, she places her hand onto the small door and takes a peek inside…

She sees Katsuki meditating and she closes the door. She thinks she has seen enough. Katsuki is making progress.

However, what Emilia couldn't see was K standing behind him. Gravity weighed 3 times more than Earth's gravity and Katsuki's training was to meditate in harsh conditions. This was only the beginning for Katsuki and K expected to see results. No matter what.