Kapitel 44: Confrontation.

"ENOUGH!"

BOOM!

A blast of crimson-colored energy exploded out from the epicenter of the battlefield.

David could be seen blocking the attacks of Hunter and Blaze with his shield and axe. Layers of crimson energy formed a wall that protected him from harm but managed to stop all the force behind their attacks.

"I can't have you two acting like children anymore. This stupidity is going to endanger the entire group!" David said to them, a hint of annoyance already starting to build up in his voice.

David was finally fed up. He wasn't normally a confrontational person, so he had been letting it slide for a while now.

'He finally snapped.' Cain realized early on that this moment would eventually come. Although David was trying his best, he wasn't usually a confrontational person, so he was forced to put up with their behavior. It was without saying that he would eventually snap.

'The only way to earn the respect of these strong-headed guys is by showing your capabilities. If you aren't strong enough, you shouldn't lead. That is the mentality Hunter and the rest of these guys have.'

Vincent, Hunter, Dan, Blaze, Steve, David, and Cain. These were the guys in the team, as well as the main fighting force. Evangeline hadn't engaged in any serious fights, so Cain couldn't gauge her strength, and while Susan was powerful, she was only a single girl, so her views on the matter would be easily brushed away.

And if she decided to leave, it wouldn't change anything in the group, but that would be largely unlikely, as it would be a dumb thing to do. and Susan wasn't dumb in any sense of the word.

"Don't stop me, Mr. David," Blaze said furiously. Anyone with eyes would be able to tell just how badly he wanted to hurt Hunter.

"With all due respect, Mr. David, you may have been our teacher once, but that was before. These are different times, and I operate under different rules. If you want to tell me what to do, we'll have to see if your blade is worth its weight." Hunter said, as he started David down and said those words without any regret 8n his eyes.

Everyone in the area around them fell into an awkward silence...

Although everyone had expected David to jump into the fight at some point no one had expected this drastic turn of events.

'What is this guy up to? What is he trying to accomplish by antagonizing David?'

Cain didn't think Hunter was dumb or irrational. On the contrary, he thought he was very smart, and would most likely be a tough opponent to defeat.

"What the hell are you talking about, huh?!" David yelled angrily for the first time.

"I'm saying if you want me to stop, fight me."

'So this was his goal all along?!'

Suddenly, the pieces of the puzzle began to arrange themselves before him, creating a brand new picture for him to see. A feeling of deep rage and discontent burst out from his heart all at once.

'So he was trying to use me as a pawn. His true target is David!'

"Ha..." Cain muttered under his breath. He stepped out of the dark corner he was in and headed towards the fight.

"Hm?" Evangeline who was still beside him slipped into the shadows.

'He's smart. His plan all along was to start a fight between himself and a strong person in the group. If he does this, he knows David would be forced to intervene if he wants to keep the group's structure together. He'll then use this as an opportunity to challenge David's authority in the group.' Cain thought to himself as he strode forward.

"Hey, buddy. Don't you think it's enough?" Vincent said with a chuckle directed at Hunter.

"Stay out of this, you fat pig," Hunter said in a scornful tone.

"Wow... A doggy calling me a pig? That's hilarious!" Vincent said as his checks twitched in annoyance. This wasn't him faking an expression. He was pissed off...

"He's right, Mr. Vincent. This is none of our business.," Steve said as he stood close to Vincent. There was a slight undertone of a threat in his voice.

"Why don't I like what I'm hearing, Mr. Steve?" Vincent asked in a frigid tone. He had noticed the underlying threat in his voice and was responding with hostility. His chubby hands moved to the rifle swung across his shoulder...

"Well, that has nothing to do with me, and everything to do with you," Steve answered with a sly grin. The hand on his staff tightened in response.

Vincent's eyes narrowed when he was this.

'What are these bastards up to? Since when did they join forces together?'

The two stared each other down, neither willing to back down.

Dan, who oddly had not been involved in the fight since the beginning could be seen blocking Susan from interfering with the fight.

"What the hell are you doing?! Are you supporting your friend's madness?!" Susan said as she tried to step away from him.

"Sorry." Apart from looking a bit guilty, Dan didn't give even a bit of ground as he blocked Susan from interfering with the fight.

All of a sudden, swords had been drawn, and they were looking at each other with hostility...

"Everyone, stop! Put down your weapons. Now is not the time to fight amongst ourselves..." David called out, trying to loosen up the tense situation.

"Don't try to escape from this, Mr. David. If you want me to stop, fight me yourself. If you want... get out of my way!" The predatory light within his eyes seemed to burn brighter at that moment.

Humans are very similar to animals. Hierarchy is created to favor those who are more competent. Hunger understood this well, and so did the others.

Everyone realized that should David be unable to fight against Hunter, that would mean that his authority in the group would be severely undermined, especially in a world where personal strength equated to survivability, which also equated to power.

"Shut up! I will not entertain your childishness. Everyone just calms down and gets inside. We've made a lot of ruckuses here. We don't want to attract any beasts here."

"I said, get out of my way." At this point, Hunter was finally releasing the full brunt of his killing intent. He was determined to go through with his plans, damn the consequences...

"You kids seem to have forgotten who the older one is here. I am responsible for you as your teacher and the oldest one here. Everyone else is dead, and I'm doing my best to keep you all safe. Is this the time to do this, Hunter?!" David said angrily.

"I think this is the perfect time to do this, David," Hunter replied calmly.

"It seems you won't stop until I beat some sense into you myself." David finally had enough. If he didn't use a rough hand, he wouldn't be respected.

The crimson aura enveloping him turned a shade darker as his eyes lit up in anger.

"If you want to fight so badly, I'll take you on!" David had made up his mind to teach Hunter a lesson.

"Hey, you think you can just ignore me?!" Blaze who was being ignored by Hunter

"Mr. David, please wait a moment." Cain seized the moment to appear from the shadows.

"Cain? Where were you all this time?!" David asked agitated. He had been worried about Cain's safety all this while.

"Relax, Mr. David. Now is not the time for that." Cain said as he got closer to David.

"You've come back from your joyride?" Hunter said to Cain mockingly, but Cain ignored him.

"You know he's baiting you, right?" Cain whispered to David.

"Of course, I know that. But there's nothing I can do. I need to put him down now!" David whispered back.

Although David said that, it was apparent by the look on his face that he wasn't confident in beating Hunter.

Hunter had proved himself to be a very dangerous fighter. Even when he had fought with Blaze, it was obvious he hadn't used the full extent of his powers.

"Let me fight him then."

"What?!" David exclaimed.

"Let me fight him. I've seen you fight before, and I know you are a defensive fighter, so there is no way you will be able to beat him." Cain explained.

He continued; "I'll fight him on your behalf. I'm confident I'll beat him."

Cain was someone David had known for a while, not just because he was a teacher in school. An event outside school forced them to see their hidden sides. This event formed a relationship between them, a relationship where Cain knew what type of man David was, and David trusted Cain's ability.

"Ha... Fine. I trust you." David said with a sigh.

He turned to Hunter, then said;

"Fine. Since you want to fight so badly, you'll get the fight you wish for. However, you won't be fighting me."

"You'll be fighting him," David said as he pointed at Cain.

"Oh?" Hunter said with a raised brow as though he hadn't expected the outcome.

"Why him?" Hunter asked curiously.

"Because I trust him," David said as he gave Cain a reassuring look.

Cain gave him a nod before he turned to stare at Hunter.

"Fine. Doesn't matter who I have to face."

"Do you think you can just ignore me, huh?!" By now, Blaze had had enough of everyone ignoring his presence.

His aura suddenly spiked as he took a step forward to engage with Hunter who was just a few steps away from him. He intended to continue the fight from where he left off. Although he was exhausted, the fighting spirit in his eyes hadn't decreased in the slightest.

"You can't fight anymore." Cain turned to Blaze and said.

"Huh?! What the heck did you just say?!" Blaze said angrily as his grip on his spear tightened.

"You are exhausted, and can barely lift your spear. If you continue to fight, you'll lose. You might have a few trump cards hidden, but what's to say he doesn't?" Cain said, his eyes never breaking contact with that of the furious Blaze.

"What do you know, huh?! You just disappeared for some time, doing goodness knows what, and now you are here trying to tell me what to do?! Not happening, buddy!" Blaze said obstinately.

"Fine," Cain said. He then unceremoniously drew {Devil's broken Claw}.

"Azure Burst."

An ocean-blue aura erupted from his body.

BANG!

In a flash, he had arrived behind Blaze. Before Blaze was able to do anything, the flat of his blade came crashing down on him. Unless that second, he was out like a light.

Cain stared at the unconscious Blaze for a while before he turned back to look at Hunter who now had a more serious expression on his face.

"You seem stronger than before," Hunter said with narrowed eyes.

"I'm trying to ruin your plans here, so cut the shit and let's fight." Cain raised his blade, pointing the tip straight at Hunter.