Volume 5 Chapter 34
Air Fortress.
My father, Grisha, stood in my way as I was about to head out to take on Jamael.
He was clad in black, an ominous figure blocking my path.
The stance, that was, the martial arts he'd drilled into me.
The techniques he'd taught me, saying they were necessary to fight a wounded beast.
I'm... facing him with the same techniques.
Tap!
We both kicked off the ground at the same time.
I could tell—my old man was coming at me with a spinning kick.
I launched a kick of my own to counter it.
CLAAAANG!!
Our kicks collided, unleashing a shockwave that rippled through the surrounding area.
Cracks spiderwebbed across the hard floor and walls of the fortress.
A sharp jolt shot up my legs.
Bones creaked, but the pain was absent.
It was Hand of God that absorbed the physical strain.
My father, absorbing the impact of my kick, grinned.
"Good kick."
...I was praised by my father.
Even though I knew this wasn't the time for such things, my lips curled into a smile.
"Thanks, Dad. You're still got it, even after being out of practice!"
"Hmph! Don't get cocky, kid!"
We fought with bare hands.
CLANG!
CRACK!
TING!
"Wh, what kind of force is this...!"
Chippy was waiting later, with Haku and Sia.
She was shaking, which meant our power was pretty impressive.
My father's martial arts were almost on par with mine.
Since I could use Hand of God, I had the advantage of fighting without worrying about recoil.
But my father was a living corpse.
No matter how much strain was put on his body, he felt no pain or suffering.
Therefore, he could fight without worrying about recoil too.
It was even...or maybe even slightly in my father's favor.
I was among the living.
My old man... was one of the dead.
Even if I could shut out the pain, the damage was still piling up in my body.
"What's wrong, Zeke? Think you've got time to smile?"
Yes... I was laughing.
At the time of the first battle, I had no time to do that.
But now... I can smile.
I have that much room.
"I see... you're aiming for something, right?"
"Now, I wonder what it is!"
I was happy.
There was a time when I stood on equal ground with my father.
Ever since I was a kid, I had dreamed of catching up to him as a beast veterinarian.
But before I could surpass him, he passed away, and that chance was lost to me forever...
But now.
My father is right in front of me.
Though we stand as enemies, I can show him the growth I've achieved.
He's smiling proudly.
He's probably happy about my progress.
And that... made me genuinely happy.
"Haku! How's it going?!"
"Progress... 80%! Just a bit more, Zeke!"
Just a little bit more.
Yet... my body is starting to feel the strain... ugh...
"Hey, Zeke! Focus!"
Seizing the moment, my father unleashed a kick...
KAAA-BOOM!
"Oh? So you fight too?"
"Yep, you bet!"
Out of nowhere, Chippy appeared in front of me.
She was clad in gauntlets and greaves made of ice on both her hands and feet.
I could sense Sia's... divine dragon power enveloping her.
"Because I'm Zeke's partner!"
"Chippy..."
Chippy flashed a smile.
Partner... Yes, I now truly see her as family.
I want her to be with me until the end of my days.
For that to happen...
"Dad, let me introduce you. This is my fiancée, the first one!"
My father looked at Chippy and burst out laughing heartily.
"Is that so? I figured it would come to this!"
"Yes, Grisha... no, Dad!"
Chippy positioned her fists determinedly.
"Please, give me your son!"
Everyone in the room thought this was not the right moment for such a declaration.
But my father laughed joyfully, genuinely delighted.
"Haha! Alright, if you can defeat me, Zeke is all yours! Bring it on, you two!"
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