Game of Block

Underneath the large land where the Fellnigh's first dojo was built, there was a labyrinth-like underground structure for hidden agendas. Like an ant colony's base, there were multiple passages from area to area and there were giant halls that connected these passages.

Minimalistic carvings could be seen through the ceiling and the walls wherever one goes. Some just a simple circle, then crescents, thinner crescents, and just the outline of the circles.

Inside one of these hallways were the three out of four direct disciples of Fellnigh's symbol of power, Greg, Bardok, and Rea stood in a triangular formation, not knowing what to do.

Luckily for them, their opponent wasn't on the offensive. However, they weren't sure how long it will take.

With their experience, they knew for sure that they have so little chance of defeating this youngster in the middle of the cubic room who was cornered by them, three masters of their own area of expertise. The equation of that winning percentage still excluded the unknown factors since all this time, it was a one-way battle with them on the offense.

Meaning, there is an infinitesimal percentage of winning...

However, when the word victory comes up of their mind, Rea had the idea, 'Only Master can defeat him...' then a light bulb lit up as she said, "Greg, Bardock, do you know what time it is?"

"It should be 4:45 or something, why?" Greg answered.

Hearing that, Renir's expression slightly lifted.

Then after a moment of realization, Bardock explained, "Greg, today's Wednesday, isn't it? Is that what you meant, Rea?"

Rea smiled, seeing a glimpse of hope, "Yes, there is only a quarter of an hour before Master wakes up!"

"But isn't Master seemed really tired last night?" Greg raised an eyebrow while still have his eyes on the youngster in the middle.

Rea laughed out of mockery, "Greg, you're an idiot sometimes, do you think human standards applies to Master?"

When he heard that mockery, Greg was not offended but rather, he accepted it, " yup... That's stupid of me to say..." he whispered.

The tense atmosphere between them faded out. Even without saying anything more, the three of them knew what to do:

Stall time.

The longer they just stare at each other, the better of them winning. By them, it meant, with their Great Master.

However, Renir was not that dumb...

Greg, Rea, and Bardock knew this would happen so when the youngster began to move, the three of them found the passages they wanted to cover.

There are four sides of the large cubic hall they were in and each of these walls had two passages. Meaning, they have to predict what exit the youngster will take so they can block it in advance. Their accumulated experience under their Master had sharpened their senses that can rival Renir's heightened senses.

Renir, of course, has additional senses that they didn't know about.

Their plan would only succeed as long as the Renir continue not to attack them so they can just block the exits. That hall became an area where a game was happening between masters and a Rune Master...

When Greg noticed Renir glanced at one of the passages, it began.

Without any hesitation, Greg sprinted while Rea and Bardock positioned themselves near two exits so that once they predicted Renir's next move, they can easily block one of the two passages.

In contrast, when Renir sprinted towards the exit, he saw Greg was already blocking it. He was late to react!

However, his sprint had so much momentum that in that split second, Greg felt he was standing in front of an oncoming train. His breathing paused and his eyes almost closed, unbecoming of a master, but then heard a Boom!*

"... eh?.." Greg's voice thinned at that moment as he felt the air blew strong and felt fragments hitting his legs. As he looked, he realized Renir kicked the ground to stop himself, before looking at the other passage, Greg then understood why the master assassin fled earlier. Chills ran up his spine when he saw that glare, but felt relief that those eyes turned away immediately.

'Wait, turned?!' Greg panicked.

"Greg!" Bardock shouted but Rea was fast in action as she blocked the adjacent passage from Greg, leaving a trail of dust from her speed. Rea was a master of speed and flexibility after all. She was their ace at this.

But there was no rest as Renir turned around again at full speed. He knew these three had senses and experience greater than him and he wouldn't win if he used faints and wits. So he decided to win using raw power.

Although speed did not increase that much, just doubling his strength made his every footstep explosive!

However, just as he expected, every stop he made needed time because of so much momentum, and just him turning around makes it obvious where he will go. With explosive sprint, it was harder to maneuver, therefore, he was correct, he could only win by raw power and stamina!

Boom!*

Boom!*

Boom!*

In just a minute, the hall was filled with dust but that dust was continuously being blown away by the speed of these four, especially Rea and mostly, Renir.

Every second there created new crevices and fissures on the ground. From their continuous sprinting and stopping, The underground was slightly trembling as if there was a weak earthquake.

On the surface, Nal just got out of the exit and felt the quake.

"Shit! I knew it! You guys didn't follow me! That guy is seriously dangerous!" he kicked the floor with frustration, anger, and fear.

"Your Senior Disciple will avenge you!" Nal then turned around and ran, "That is by waking up our Master!"

His shout woke up the other disciples from buildings away...

Back to the underground, the hall was filled with clouds of dust and the three were breathing heavily from exhaustion while not stopping to keep up with the youngster that was trying to escape.

At that point, Greg, Rea, and Bardock began to harshly cough from the dust they were taking in. Even though they have tremendous abilities and a magic-like breathing technique Ernanfo passed onto them, they couldn't avoid breathing in dirt and dust. They don't have that kind of superpower.

Yet, they were surprised, after Rea successfully blocked another passage. Renir just jumped backward with another explosion, blowing away all the dust.

The youngster paused and stood still as if he was waiting for something.

At first, the three were dumbfounded, while they exhaust their stamina and was continually losing energy and catching up with their breaths even though they already mastered a magic-like breathing technique, the youngster that moved and has a speed of thrice their own was just beginning to have his first bead of sweat dripping down his forehead.

After a moment of bafflement, they realized this youngster was giving them time.

Greg was the first to drop his stance and ripped one of his sleeves, ripped another and with a flick of his sandal, a rock hovered in front of him, casually wrapped one of the sleeves, and threw it towards Rea. They then ripped it further to make it something like a mask over their mouths and nose as they tied it tightly. Bardock did the same.

Rea had a skimpy and little outfit for flexible movement. Just a little more and her outfit was akin to a sports underwear so there was no cloth to use.

Only then Renir began to move again.

Boom!*

Boom!*

Boom!*

'What the... he could've used that chance to escape there, but didn't... he knew we will still be able to catch up with him and will have no time to put up this mask...' Greg felt a little guilty.

However, they soon found that it was no use after all. Their body was weakening as they ran from passages to passages. Renir was so fast that the three of them continuously moved as if there were guarding a lot of people.

'No... this kid is still a monster!'

They have no idea that Renir kept up with a literal sea monster with beams coming out of its mouth and creating a tsunami on its own will without breathing underwater. Now, he's stronger than before. If there's one thing he had absolute confidence in, that would be his stamina.

The three of them were beginning to wheeze. 'Is it me or is he getting better at stopping his momentum and turning?' they all had the same thoughts. They were not sure if they were just wearing out or Renir was getting better at this "game", or both!

However, pushing themselves to the limits was one of their greatest strengths as Ernanfo's direct disciples and because of Rea who had been blocking Renir countless times, they were still keeping up.

Ten minutes had just passed but they lost track of counting it. There were just five minutes left before their Master wakes up and deal with this monster he brought there. But each and every second they have to sprint and block a passage, so with just a simple calculation, they have to do it three hundred more times. To achieve this, they have to exceed their limits!

But alas, they were no match for the youngster...

As the three of them weakened, Renir found the opportunity and used his full power!

While he had yet to stop, he already created a gust of wind that blew the dust one last time from his trail.

"Rea!" Greg shouted since neither he nor Bardock could keep up with that speed, 'He's still holding back?! No wonder he wore Master out last night!'

Rea ran towards the passage, as long as she passes by it, Renir will stop. Just a meter more and she will reach it... but it felt like a kilometer...

Her expression dismayed, for the first time, someone defeated her in the contest of speed by a league other than her Master.

When the three knew they were outlasted, Rea dropped but with her momentum, it made her stumble and fell flat onto the ground, reaching pass the passage.

But as she gripped the soil, suddenly, she felt another gust of wind behind her.

"Eh?" but before she turned around,

Boom!*

The three turned their heads around and saw two bodies flying out of the passage Renir exited. Their eyes widened as they saw Renir was one of the two bodies, but more surprisingly, the other was...

"Nal?!" the three exclaimed.

Yet, it seemed like he was a victim too as he dropped to the ground, feeling the pain around his body.

".... there's only one person who could do that..." Greg quivered in a low voice.

Clacking footsteps then entered the hall alongside a voice everyone was familiar with:

"Nal, I'm grateful that you woke me up. If not, this little bastard could've escaped."

"Master!" the three all exclaimed.