The event the black figure was talking about was the Red Rose Day from 5 years ago. It is a night many consider the most iconic in the history of the whole Hitman Guild.
It was the same night that Mikayla saw with his own eyes how much of a monster Kai was. More than that, it was on that night that every hitman recognized Kai as a freakish nightmare of an existence that shouldn't be messed with.
Before, he was indeed a mysterious, intimidating presence in the Guild. But, nobody had yet to see his power so they only saw him as a great source of rumors and perhaps a good fighter with a mysterious background that invented the new Agent number '0'.
However, for better or worse, foolish idiots would still challenge the Black Phantom every single year, hoping of claiming that sweet 'Agent 0' number. Predictably, they all ended up with a bullet in their heads or in an even worse state depending on how tenacious they were.
That night was different though, the top 100 Hitmen of the guild sat around the same table and discussed the current matters of the Guild along with some High-Officers.
Since all of them hated each other and were ready to claim each other's heads in the next segment of the day, the tense meeting barely moved. Eventually, the time for the part that everyone was there for -and also there to avoid- finally came.
Hitmen immediately issued official duels against each other under the strict rules of the Guild, supervised by none other than the Executioners.
The battles that happened after that were nothing short of a chaotic bloodbath. Tens of people die and tens of others emerge victorious, claiming a new ranking in the hierarchy of Hitmen. The gory scene of the arenas being coated in flesh and blood along with the metallic smell that permeated the air made that day especially bloody each year.
It showed how terrifying humans could be if given enough power.
"I want an official duel with you, Black Phantom!" Like every year, Kai was challenged by one newcomer with a slightly above-average talent and a needlessly big ego.
The two stood in the arena and faced each other. One was burning with intense desire to become the new bigshot of the underworld and the other simply wanted to leave the place as soon as possible.
The only reason Kai would even entertain these idiots was because duels on this particular day can't be refused as long as there is no plausible reason for it. But, if he accepts just one duel, he can then leave according to the rules.
"Die!!" The hitman dashed toward Kai with bloodlust in his eyes, like a tiger ready to hunt down his prey.
Kai looked at the man before he stopped forward. The moment when the two were close enough, Kai's silhouette vanished like mist before he appeared behind the man. Before the latter could even realize it, his head had been severed from his neck.
The corpse fell down, spilling blood all over the place. Kai didn't even turn around to look as he walked toward the exit, under the gaze of all the top 100 hitmen. They would all attend his fights just to see the man in action. But, Kai never gave them the pleasure of discovering any of his techniques.
*BOOOM*
Suddenly, before Kai could step outside, he heard a loud thud as something had landed in the arena. Looking back, Kai saw the cold look of an older man. It was none other than Grey, the man who would become a High Officer a few years later. But, at that moment, Grey had a different nickname. He was 'Agent 1'.
"Let's duel." He said coldly.
"No," Kai replied as he turned around.
"What? Are you scared, kid?"
"I have no reason to duel again. One is enough." Kai replied as he walked away.
"Hahahahaha!! That… That sorry ass of an excuse. Just spout the truth, Kid. You're just too scared to show your powers. After all, you know that if everyone here saw it, they would come after your head. Why don't you just man up and show your true potential?"
Kai stopped for a second before he looked back at Grey and said in a cold manner. "I don't kill ants using a cannon."
"Pfft, hahahahaha! Good answer! Indeed good! Everyone else is a mere ant compared to us." Grey replied with a laugh full of mirth.
His comment made the place completely submerged in coldness. These people were the creme of the crop in terms of power even in the underworld as a whole. Yet, Grey had just insulted them all without a second thought. If it wasn't for the watchful eyes of the executioners, some of them would've attacked Grey on the spot.
"Now, how about a duel? I'm a man who seeks power more than anything else. You're a mystery to me, Agent 0. You're a kid and yet your power already exceeds everyone else. What kind of freakish sorcery did you do to obtain that power? Or maybe… It's not sorcery. Maybe, it has something to do with where you came from." Grey grinned as he looked at Kai. Then, he opened his mouth and uttered a silent word that only Kai could understand.
The latter's eyes squinted behind the mask as he tried to read the man's face. He could see that the latter had discovered something about him. But, Kai was certain he had cleared behind him thoroughly. Yet, the truth was right there in front of him and he didn't like it.
Even though he knew that even if Grey spilled out his secret, it wouldn't really affect Kai's situation that much. But, he really didn't like how this man pried into his business this thoroughly just to try and threaten him.
The older Kai might've chosen another method to diffuse this matter. But, at that time, Kai was simply too focused on trying to understand where Grey learned this from.
"What do you want?" Kai asked coldly.
"It's really nothing. Fight me for the Agent 0 position. If you win, well, you can bury your little secret with me as I'm the only one who knows it. If I win, however, well, you won't live to see what I will do." Grey said.
In his head, only one of them was going to leave this place alive tonight.
"I don't get threatened." Kai's aura flared, submerging the whole place in a suffocating pressure. His purple eyes shone ominously under the mask.
"It's not a threat. Just the right push to get you to accept." Grey replied as he tucked his sleeves, seemingly predicting where things would go.
Kai exchanged a long glance with the smirky Grey before he finally looked at one of the Executioners and nodded his head, indicating that he accepted.
The two then faced each other in the arena, the only thing between them was thin air and the palpable, eager eyes of the other hitmen watching them from the stands. This Red Rose Day had suddenly turned into an exciting event as arguably the two strongest hitmen in the world were about to battle it to death over what seemed to be a secret that the Black Phantom himself feared from getting leaked.
Then, at the sign, the two dashed toward each other, clashing violently. Their punches and kicks rained down at each other. Hits connected, each one shaking the whole entire arena. At first, neither seemed to be overwhelmingly advantageous.
Their fight continued for minutes and people watched as they dissapeared and reappeared everywhere across the arena. Neither of them used Talents as if they mentally agreed to make it a pure strength fight. The sheer speed and power being shown shocked everyone present.
Well, that was until a certain moment. A moment that no one, expected to happen.