"So this feeling again. A guild of fighting should be full of conflict and that conflict will lead to the confliction of the rule and finally lead to the appearance of an exception."

"(That should be a great problem. Raku, i felt someone.)"

"(Huh ? Who is that ?)"

"(I don't know but i sense somthing powerful.)"

At the end of the hall is two kids, one in white and the other dress in black. They run very fast like some kind of ninja but they do say something when they went pass by me, their voice are really small but i can heard it.

"The plan is working..."

"Let's retreat..."

"What about him ?"

"Not significant."

Even how fast can that two kids run i still can hear it. It is meaningless to chase down those kid but what is that plan they said about ? Maybe it has something to do with all of this vision, what is your purpose ?

"(Calm yourself down Raku, this isn't you. Remain calm and judge the situation.)"

"(Alright.)"

"(Now we just need to observe Sou. Stay focus.)"

But something inside me still not feeling right, the feeling of chaos and things can go wrong in any second, the exception and those kid may have some connection. Maybe I should look around to find something but where should i start, those kids might be the one who try to cause the problem or they completed it. The sense of death and doom became obivious but anyone who dare to become a threat to my friend.

"(Hige ?)"

"(Of course i am with you.)"

We head to the place where i felt the air become hard to breath, everything become an illusion to me. With help from Hige, I can only breath, what is this pressure and what are these illusion, those experiments. My breath become heavy and my feet cannot feel the ground anymore, i remind myself to stay in concious.

"(Hige... break this illusion now...)"

"(Got it.)"

I only feel my concious slip away slowly, i am so tired. I will let Hige take the role this time because it's time to sleep. A deep dark void, well so no one is here, it is cold and lonely, everything is an eternal night, Hige isn't here and no one is here. After all, we are just acquaintance, not like we are dearing to each other that much, maybe i shouldn't become too attach to them. An attachment is something so scary that i don't want to carry on my back, maybe this is a way to end all of this but i still hope of getting saved.

"Come, Boundless Tail."

The night is gone and Sou appear in front of me but Sou leaves the battle so that mean...

"(Hige, is it...)"

"(Yeah.)"

"Sou tell me, it is the exception right ?"

"Two kids whisper into my ear say you are in danger."

"Oh no, Sou they try to distract you. I can sense the deep confliction in this guild, the exception is going to happen for sure, Sou you don't need to care about me. You need to stop the exception from happen at all cost."

"Raku..."

"You need to go now no matter what. What are you standing here for ?"

"Raku why..."

"Why what ?"

"Why are you trying so hard to help me ? You always thinking out loud, worry about everything and even going all out to protect all of us ?"

"I don't know, maybe i get the inspiration from you, you help me with the target i want but enough is enough. We have to stop the exception from happening or stop the exception from destroy everything."

I can't let this happen one more time, just once time is enough. If the exception come it will destroy everything i love, please i don't want to be alone again, all their pain and their cry they hurt me a lot. I keep running, by my side is Sou, he is running too so i ask him.

"Sou, when i was gone, did anything happen ?"

"I found something meaningful."

"Then that's good for you."

"Hey Kengo! You think you can just ignore me after finally coming out of your room ?"

"Leave me alone."

"You've been wierder than usual lately. What happened to you ?"

"..."

"The silent treatment, huh? Some friend you are."

Kengo... so you get in trouble again as always, you are not really calm as Shiro afterall but this time i think something far worst is happening.

"Kengo!"

"There you are, Sousuke. I saw your match and you are here too, Shiro's underling ?"

"That is just rude i just want to have fun."

"You both are idiots. You should've stayed at that academy for peace-loving fools with that other idiot. Psh, acting all buddy-buddy with one other..."

"What's with the tough guy act?"

"Hmm how interesting."

"I've always been like this! Don't act like you know me when you just got here!"

"So these are the friends trading the contact with you in the app you mentioned right ? Right ? I know the fact that you always playing around in this guild but Shiro never heard it before, see I know how to keep a secret."

"Alright then, let's settle this with a fight. If I win you two get outta my sight, go back to the school and never come back."

"If Sou win ?"

"Not gonna happen but if you win... I'll do any one thing you want."

"Careful with your word, anything is a heavy word and once you speak you can't take it back..."

"I never go back on my word. Then it's decided but beating you right now won't prove anything."

"Kengo!"

"(Then i challenge you, if i can defeat you then must promise to do one thing for me and if you win you can make me do anything.)"

"(Who are you ?)"

"(The storyteller.)"

"(As i say i got nothing to gain.)"

"(How about i give you 5 million yen.)"

"(How did you get that much, we are students.)"

"(I have done many things profit me in the past but that is none of your concern, so do we have a duel."

"(Then believe me, I won't lose.)"

"(But not now i have to keep my Sou safe first then you can have it all.)"

"And being safe from those two nasty kids. So many jobs to do and time become something so precious, rather than fighting for something, enjoy the battle here is quite nice."

Since Sou is ranked now, thing will turned out to be quite interesting, how will you use your power Sou, your power is so great that you can change the world surrounding you. Am i look like a villain but being kind in Toshima is not really helping at all, and the threat from them still remain and stay alert is necessary. Sou actually doing great but there is still something, something make me feel uncomfortable, a vision of Sou's sorrow but why he have to carry that sorrow. Wait this future, no this can't be happening, he is heading into danger.

"Hey! Is that you, Kengo ?"

"Haa...Haa...Haa!"

Oh no! This is bad, i have to stop this before thing go too far, the one he facing, No.1 - Macan. And that roar, it surrounded and turn the air surround into dreadful atmosphere.

"I thirst..."

"Role of the Dancer! Rule of Transformation! Engraved mine name of Ikutoshi Ooki unto thee! Emerge! Dwarven Changeling!"

"Role of the Philosopher, Rule of Reflection, Engraved mine name unto thee! Furtum Cogitate !"

"Ikutoshi, Raku."

"Sorry, Sou. I should have told you this, i should have forsee this. Are you alright ?"

"I'm fine."

"If you fine then can you help me, i can't beat this guy alone."

"Is that you Ikutoshi you look diffirent."

Ikutoshi used to look like a kid but now he is taller and well, look more like adult. But there is a bigger issue, Macan - No.1, this guy and his insane loincloth that heal him everytime, even being pierced by thousand glass pieces this guy still stand.

"Go on! Struggle more! Those who put up a good fight taste the best!"

"Sorry but i am not gonna let myself become some kind of feast for fun."

"Careful both of you, his reaction is as fast as a wild animal! He is getting more dangerous by the second and he has healing! It's cheating. If only we can do something about that speed...!"

"Burning Bright!"

In the next instant, a ball of fire blows Macan back. This is my chance, the glass pieces pierced him and render his movement.

"Nomad you might want to become less exposed but i am fine with that. At least everyone put up a show but i never wear such revealing clothes."

"Stop it! My clothes burned off!"

"Nomad..."

"You all seem to having trouble. It is not that surprising against such an opponent."

"Haven't seen you in a while. Oh? You're not going to ask why a kid like me is here, for once ?"

"You're a rotten one, aren't you?"

"And you're a cheeky as always... But thanks."

"Guys, not really a good time but Raku's glass shards can't hold much longer."

"Ohh! Nomad! I'm glad you're here! Let us feast on one another, brother! The flesh of a vengeful tiger must taste wonderful!"

"Shut up, stripe-face! Deep down, I'm human! Hey Sousuke, Raku! Smash this bag on that idiot tiger's snout!"

"What's inside it? Sedative or something? You sure that'll work on him ?"

"Tried and tested! Nomad's guarantee, so hurry up and do it!"

"You don't sound so tough when you're naked... but I guess we have no choice."

"Sou, i will restrain him but not for long, you have to done it as fast as you can."

Ikutoshi's kick and Nomad's attack is furious and set up the stage for my attack, the glass pieces remain inside Macan start strain him down and Sou finish the job.

"I'm so tired... I'm never doing this again, you hear?"

"Oh, brother... My favorite outfit is ruined again..."

*cough...cough*

"Raku, you cough out blood..."

"Don't worry, i am fine, this is just the side effect when i overused my sacred artifact. But macan sleep is really cute."

"Who is he ?"

"He is Ikebukuro Guild's No.1 gladiator..."

The side effect... i need to finish the battle faster next time. He can taking over and go too far, he's not really good at control his emotion but at least Sou is happy and he is playing with Nomad now.

"Now then... There's a reason I showed up at such a good time."

"I have to go ! Thanks !"

"You want to find Kengo ? Kengo Takabushi ? This is too convenient. It's starting to smell fishy... Well, whatever."

Too convenient huh, more like a set up but that tiger over there, next time i can't help Sou, and he is just too dangerous.

"Hey, bro! How are you? You seem good... and tasty! You came to see me? That means I can eat you , right ? Can I? Can I ?"

"Get out of my face!"

"Aww, you're such a spoilsport. Anyway, it's not my fault! Hear me out, Nomad. Basically... Claude's a jerk, you know?"

"Always a jerk."

"He didn't give me anyone worthwhile to battle today! Not one of them was strong enough to even consider eating!"

"Today's battles... You mean private battles?"

"On top of that, they all run away. I couldn't bother to chase after them. He should only bring people that are prepared to eat me or be eaten. Don't you agree ?!"

"Not one gonna do a suicide mission you know ?"

"OK Sou, i will go now, there is something bigger coming."

"Who are them ?"

"New ranker, Sousuke and the one that hold you down, Raku."

"You look wild and awesome."

"Stupid stripe face... but not really bad, stupid mean cute sometime. I will leave now Sou, i believe you can defeat him next time even without me."

The setting, rule confliction, the power and everything, isn't it a perfect setting for an exception. The rule can't decide them self but this time the exception have to stay here and only hear, i am done with cleaning thrash. Claude if you are the mastermind after all of this mess, i swear i won't mind your lion butler this time. My friend are the one i considered to be precious.