Chapter 4 - The Endless Method

“Master, you, you...” Mii’s lips trembled, unable to believe that the familiar, reassuring face stood before her.

Yato’s eyes narrowed. “Fang?”

Stepping in front of Mii, Fang spat out a single word. “Leave.”

No longer startled, Yato angrily asked, “What do you mean?”

In a deadpan tone, Fang stated, “Go back to Vincent, and tell him, if he sends for Mii again, I’ll personally kill that trash.”

“You dare insult our master? Don’t forget, you’re just a useless piece of waste—go to hell!” In fury, Yato raised his arm, shining with energy, and threw a heavy blow at Fang.

Though Yato was just a servant, he was a grade 3 novice, and his strength coated his entire arm. It was more than enough to deal with someone at the apprentice level like Fang used to be.

Mii went pale. She hadn’t expected Yato to attack Fang so suddenly. She was a mage, but at her level, she needed time to prepare and chant a spell. It was too late.

“Bang!”

Amidst the dust, a figure flew out, screaming. But it wasn’t Fang.

Yato landed several meters away, shards of broken teeth scattered on the ground.

Fang’s body was also shimmering with energy, but not just one arm—his entire upper body was alight. To cover this much area with his strength, he was at least at grade 5 novice!

Mii stared in shock.

*Master just woke up, but he’s already passed the threshold and reached grade 5? What happened?!*

His mouth full of blood, Yato’s eyes glazed over as Fang gave a vicious smile. “I think this is the best way to show Vincent. Actually, I wouldn’t mind playing until you lose more teeth.”

“Uhh... uhh...” Yato sobbed in pain, unable to speak.

Fang glared at him. “Disappear within ten seconds, or I can guarantee you’ll never be able to speak again. Ten, nine, eight...”

Chills ran down Yato’s spine. In a hurry, disregarding his pain, he stumbled away, eventually disappearing from sight.

Fang smirked. “Just like his master—ugly and weak!”

He turned to the dazed Mii. “Unlike Mii here—courageous and beautiful.”

Mii snapped out of her stupor and, though confused, cried out in happiness, “Master, is this real?”

Fang walked toward her and pulled her into a tight embrace. “Mii, you’ve suffered enough. I promise you, from now on, everything will change.”

Mii cheerfully nodded. “Yes, I believe in you, Master!”

---

Back inside the mansion, Mii joyfully asked, “Master, when did you wake up?”

“Just less than five minutes ago,” Fang replied. “In time too, or else my dear maid would have been taken by someone else.”

Mii blushed. “Master…”

“I’m kidding. I’ll never forget your devotion.” From the calendar and Yato’s earlier comments, Fang could tell that more than half a year had passed, yet Mii had never abandoned him. He was deeply touched. From now on, he vowed to always take care of Mii.

“It was nothing,” Mii said shyly. “I’m your maid. You’ve always been so kind to me. It’s what I’m supposed to do.”

Since Fang’s parents had died and the family had declined, Fang had taken charge of the situation, rather than leaving it to a scared, young Mii. “You’re free to go,” he had said with a tired smile, offering her the remains of his own savings. But she had refused, vowing to stay loyal to Fang no matter what.

Breaking the silence, Mii asked, “Master, how did your strength increase so much? Before, you hadn’t even broken into the novice level, but now your strength covered your entire upper body, which means you’re at least grade 5, right?”

Though Mii was a mage, she knew the basics of the warrior’s path, and Fang’s sudden surge in power left her bewildered.

Fang smiled gently. “I don’t know. Maybe that illness was a blessing in disguise.”

Of course, he knew better.

The changes had happened in that dream with the old madmen. They had claimed he had talent, and with the last of their power, they had restored the flaw in his body. That bit of power had allowed him to break through to grade 8 novice.

Clenching his fist tightly, Fang thought there was no doubt he would breeze through the entrance exam now!

---

On the highest floor of a luxurious mansion in Victoria City, a man angrily threw a vase at the wall.

“Damn Mii! Not only did she refuse to come, but she even managed to ruin your face, Yato!”

Mii was a mage, and he knew Yato was no match for her, but he hadn’t expected Mii to be able to knock out Yato’s teeth with punches.

“Mm mmmm, mm mmmm...” Yato shook his head, still unable to speak properly.

Vincent frowned. “What are you trying to say?”

“Uhh uhh, uhh...” Sobbing, Yato gestured frantically with his hands and feet until Vincent finally understood.

“What? The person who beat you wasn’t Mii, but Fang?”

Yato nodded vigorously.

“How could Fang defeat you? Even if he woke up, he was just a low-grade apprentice.”

Yato continued to gesture in desperation.

“What? Fang has broken through to grade 5 novice? How is that possible? He was in a coma!”

Unable to explain any further, Yato dropped to his knees, bowing. Seeing no point in pressing him, Vincent waved him away.

“Fang, Fang, Fang...” Vincent muttered under his breath. “You think you can beat my servants and make a statement? Who do you think you are? No matter how strong you’ve gotten, you were and always will be trash. Just wait and see—Mii will be mine.”

---

As the lazy afternoon light flooded the streets, Fang ran toward the city’s public library. For hours, he scoured the shelves, browsing through books on famous figures—masters of fire, shadows, thunder, holy arts, and more.

If anyone reached the rank of Supreme, their name would be famous, recorded throughout the ages. Yet there was nothing. Perhaps Victoria City’s library was too small. Larger libraries might hold clues.

But Fang had no doubt the old madmen from his dream were powerful. After all, they had healed the flaw in his body that countless doctors couldn’t fix.

When he fought Yato, he hadn’t used the traditional methods taught at school. Instead, he had relied on the technique drilled into him by the dead masters, and to his amazement, his power had surged past grade 8 into grade 9 novice.

There was no doubt he owed it all to the endless method they had taught him.

Returning home late, Fang skipped dinner and rushed to his tiny practice room. Instead of training the methods recommended by his school instructors, he practiced the endless method.

The name sounded simple, even stupid, but the old masters had insisted that it was the strongest method in the world. Fang had memorized it by heart, though the madmen had added that it was something they only *theorized* could work.

In other words, no one had ever trained with it, because even the smallest mistake could cause severe disability, or worse, sudden death.

Fang initially thought they had devised it out of boredom, but now that he was back in reality, and his body was healed, he decided to give it a try.

The endless method was dangerous, but it only became lethal after reaching the advanced stage. Right now, there was little risk.

Sitting down on the ground, Fang visualized the intricate, complex formations he had practiced in the dream. Despite his struggles with it before, the effects became immediately noticeable in reality.

Energy from the surroundings surged into his body at an astonishing rate. Shocked, Fang realized the speed of absorption far surpassed anything he had seen before.

The madmen had theorized that all elemental energies were absorbable. With that idea, they had crafted the endless method, which allowed the absorption of all elemental energies at once, rather than just one.

It had been only a theory, but now it was becoming reality. The endless method was truly endless!