"I've heard about it." Kiernan said. "World Seas is what separates the continents from each other. Is it true that on the other side of the World Seas, there is a place called Dead World?"
"Yes." Karma nodded. "Dead World used to be the most beautiful and largest continent in the world, but now it is the land of the dead. If you step onto that land, you will be dead in a matter of hours."
"Yes, but I just want to go to the Nightingale." Kiernan said. "I've heard about the Navy also patrolling those seas. I've read that they've been putting their foot down when it comes to pirate activities."
"Yeah, right, don't believe everything you read." Karma said. "The pirating is bigger than ever before. More and more young men and women are attracted by the lawfulness and freedom of the pirate life."
"The Navy, in my eyes, hasn't done jack shit to stop them. The Navy is the dominant force of the World Seas, but still, the pirates are increasing their territory size with each passing day."
"Sigh…" Kiernan sighed heavily. "Tell me the truth. What do you think are my chances of making a name for myself in the world if I keep being stuck in Irio?"
"You only have two years left in the school." Karma said. "With your talent, I am sure you can find a school to go to in tier 2 or 3 countries."
"I am not satisfied with that shit." Kiernan said with anger. "I want to go to a top-tier school and become the strongest!"
"Listen, son." Karma sighed. "I also had similar thoughts of grandeur when I was young, but you need to be realistic. You're very talented. If you stay in New Rakuya, you will be able to go to the best college, and when you graduate, you can do anything you want."
"What happened to you, father?" Kiernan asked.
"You visited Nightingale; thus, you sailed through those dangerous waters to meet my mother. I know your and your grandparents' relationship has been broken, and I might know why.
"You ran off from home to go on that big adventure, didn't you?"
"And I regret that every single day," Karma said.
"You regret having me?" Kiernan asked.
"N-no, I didn't mean that." Karma sighed and touched his head. "I left for that grand adventure, and when I came back, my parents were already dead. I came back as a broken man. My martial spirit, and hopes, were crushed."
"What happened?" Kiernan asked.
"Had a rival. We were both martial artists, and we were equally strong. I thought of him as my friend as well."
"We were at the peak of Martial Grandmaster rank at the time, and we tried to compete to see who would reach Martial King faster.
"In the end, he reached it faster, and I believed that I would reach it as well the next day, but before I was able to, he challenged me one more time.
"I thought the challenge was ridiculous as he was Martial King, and I wasn't. I wanted to refuse, but somehow, he was able to trick our teachers into thinking that the fight was mutual agreement.
"We were part of the same fighting school at the time, so since he was able to fool the teachers, I had no other choice but to accept because if I had refused, they would've thought I went back on my words, which they don't respect.
"So, we fought with the entire school watching, and I was thoroughly humiliated. My martial arts were crushed, and I could feel everyone making fun of me.
"That fight crushed my martial spirit, and I suffered abandonment because I lost all trust in my martial arts. The teachers and everyone turned their backs on me, thus I left the school and returned here."
"I thought he was your friend; how could he do that?" Kiernan asked angrily.
"To reach the top, you cannot have friends." Karma said coldly. "Everyone is trying to crush each other. Only one person can be at the top."
"Who is that person?" Kiernan asked.
"Uh, he has become a world-famous fighter." Karma coldly scoffed. "He has become the Martial Emperor. I think his title is Red Emperor these days—his name is Herodes."
'After Martial King is Martial Legend, and then Martial Emperor.' Kiernan narrowed his eyes. 'Sounds like he is quite powerful.'
"That's why I don't want you to go!" Karma said. "The world of martial arts is full of betrayals. If you trust a wrong person, your life might be over."
Kiernan jumped to his feet and slammed his hands on the table, startling Karma.
"Father…" Kiernan said coldly. "Stand up."
"?" Karma frowned and stood up like he was told.
"I will teach you my martial arts. I am pissed off when I am looking at you." Kiernan gritted his teeth. "Stand straight, and face me."
"Son, this is enough." Karma.
"Stand fucking straight!"
Karma straightened his back and felt cold sweat run down his back.
Kiernan walked next to him, moved his legs and arms till they were in the correct position.
"Uh?" Karma felt like his stance was very firm and rooted on the ground.
"Face straight, look ahead, and imagine the face of Herodes."
"…" Karma narrowed his eyes, and Herodes' cold, merciless gaze looked back at him.
"Imagine that there is a point between his brows." Kiernan said. "A small black dot."
Karma nodded, and a small black dot appeared between Herodes' black brows.
"Clench your fist, hide your thumb, and concentrate all your strength into your middle knuckle."
"I-I think I am doing it." Karma said with slight hesitation.
"Now, punch into that black dot with all your strength!"
"Argh!" Karma reeled in his fist and punched at the black dot, his middle knuckle perfectly landing at the dot.
Herodes' face shattered.
The shelled martial soul inside Karma's body started to crack, and the beautiful soul started to peek through!
"Ah!" Karma touched his chest with shaking eyes. "My martial soul is…"
Kiernan grabbed his father's shoulders and made him face him.
"Father, I will fucking crush everyone on my path." Kiernan said coldly. "You experienced Iron Style. Do you dare to say that my martial arts are not enough to reach the top?"
"No, son…" Karma looked at his trembling hand and smiled. "I trust in Iron Style."
"Good!" Kiernan patted him on the shoulders. "I will go to Nightingale, and I will meet that horrible mother of mine. I want your approval!"
"Alright then, son." Karma hugged him and patted his back. "You have my approval."
Kiernan nodded and headed to the stairs. "I'll get packing. I'll leave tomorrow."
"Wait, son." Karma looked over to his son and said, "Can you take a picture of her? I am curious… how she looks. It's been a long time since I've seen her…"
"Nn." Kiernan nodded and ran upstairs.
"Sigh…" Karma collapsed on the chair, looked at his fist, and then punched forward again.
There it was, the feeling of absolute strength.
"Iron Style…" Karma whispered. "Iron Smash…"
His shelled martial soul kept breaking more and more.
'Son, who taught you this style?' Karma thought. 'No, no one taught him this. I can feel it. It's Kiernan's very own style, but how did he create something ?'
The End of the First Volume - The First-Year Nationals.