The tension that had momentarily eased returned with Satoshi's brash declaration, his words echoing through the clearing with an air of cocky self-assurance. Raiden's irritation flared at the reminder of his self-proclaimed title, a scowl flickering across his features before he regained his composure with a wry chuckle. "Heh... Well, I have self-proclaimed that title..." he admitted begrudgingly, his tone tinged with a hint of annoyance.
Kaito, ever the peacemaker, quickly interjected with words of praise, his attempt to diffuse the tension evident in his earnest tone. "You deserve the title anyways!" he exclaimed, offering a supportive nod in Raiden's direction.
Satoshi, caught off guard by Kaito's unexpected praise, let out a nervous laugh, his uncertainty evident in the awkward pause that followed. "Haha..." he mumbled awkwardly, unsure of how to respond to the sudden shift in the conversation.
Raiden, still nursing his wounded pride, remained silent, his gaze fixed on the ground as he mulled over Satoshi's brazen assertion. Kaito, sensing the need to change the subject, directed his attention to Raiden with a curious inquiry. "Unrelated but, how did you come back so quickly when Satoshi attacked us?" he asked, his curiosity piqued by Raiden's sudden reappearance.
Raiden, ever the master of deflection, offered a cryptic response, his lips quirking into a sly grin as he explained, "I'm very fast... Well, and I also sensed Satoshi." His words were met with a skeptical glance from Satoshi, who scoffed at Raiden's claim.
"Anyone could sense me..." Satoshi retorted dismissively, his confidence unshaken by Raiden's boastful claims. "Though, you were a very bad match against me. If it wasn't anyone else, I would have won," he added, his words dripping with arrogance.
Raiden bristled at Satoshi's taunting remark, his competitive spirit ignited by the challenge. "Don't get too confident. You're not the most powerful," he shot back, his tone laced with a hint of warning.
Satoshi, undeterred by Raiden's warning, simply shrugged off the remark with a smug grin. "Let me be confident, that's a good thing," he replied, his confidence unwavering in the face of Raiden's admonishment. The tension between the two adversaries hung thick in the air, each refusing to back down as they engaged in a battle of wills amidst the serene backdrop of the mountain clearing.
Kaito says, "Being confident is usually a positive thing, but not if you become overconfident! Overconfidence can drive you to-" Kaito's attempt to caution against overconfidence was met with a gentle interruption from Raiden, who sought to diffuse the situation before it escalated further. "Calm down, Kaito. It's nothing too serious... And he is not exactly wrong..." Raiden interjected, his voice carrying a note of reassurance as he attempted to steer the conversation back on track.
Satoshi, seizing the opportunity to assert his dominance once more, chimed in with a self-assured declaration. "I am obviously not wrong," he proclaimed, his tone dripping with smug confidence.
Raiden, feeling somewhat exasperated by the ongoing banter, let out a resigned sigh as he attempted to offer a lighthearted remark. "Well, you like to-" he began, only to be promptly interrupted by the sudden reappearance of Ren.
Ren's arrival brought a momentary pause to the conversation as all eyes turned towards him, curiosity evident in their expressions as they awaited his explanation. "What happened? I thought Altharion would be brought out and fight against this man," Ren inquired, his voice tinged with a hint of confusion.
Satoshi, ever eager to assert his presence, took the opportunity to introduce himself once more. "My name is Satoshi," he interjected, his tone firm and unwavering.
Ren, offering a polite nod in acknowledgment, introduced himself in return. "I'm Ren," he replied, his tone cordial as he extended a hand in greeting.
Raiden, unable to resist the urge to inject a bit of humor into the situation, couldn't help but remark on the absurdity of the moment. "This is pure comedy," he declared with a wry grin, his amusement evident as he surveyed the eclectic group gathered before him.
As the conversation continued to unfold, each participant brought their own unique perspective to the table, their interactions serving as a testament to the bonds that had formed between them in the face of adversity.
As Ren extended his apology to Satoshi for the earlier attack, a sense of tension seemed to dissipate, replaced by a palpable air of reconciliation. "Sorry for attacking you earlier, Satoshi," Ren offered, his tone earnest as he sought to mend any lingering animosity between them.
Satoshi's response was surprisingly accepting, his demeanor betraying no hint of lingering resentment. "It's fine," he replied, his words carrying a tone of understanding as he acknowledged Ren's apology with a nod of his head.
Raiden, ever the enigma, couldn't resist a moment of wry amusement at the unfolding exchange. "Why did I even bother..." he mused aloud, his voice tinged with a note of self-deprecation as he reflected on the seemingly endless cycle of conflict and resolution that defined their interactions.
However, before Raiden could delve further into his thoughts, Ren interjected with a question of his own, redirecting the conversation towards a more constructive topic. "What was the attack you did earlier, Raiden?" Ren inquired, his curiosity evident as he sought to glean insight into Raiden's formidable abilities.
Raiden, taken aback by Ren's sudden interest, hesitated momentarily before responding with a hint of reluctance. "Thunderous Judgement," he reluctantly admitted, his words carrying a note of resignation as he acknowledged the power behind his signature technique.
Ren, undeterred by Raiden's reticence, offered a compliment that bordered on admiration. "You know how to find cool names for your techniques," Ren remarked, his tone genuine as he praised Raiden's creativity in naming his formidable attacks.
Raiden, despite his initial reluctance to engage in the conversation, couldn't help but swell with pride at Ren's compliment. "Of course I do," he replied, his tone carrying a hint of smug satisfaction as he basked in the praise bestowed upon him.
Satoshi, ever the provocateur, couldn't resist the opportunity to interject with a playful jab of his own. "Looks like you're the one getting cocky now," he remarked, his words laced with a hint of amusement as he teased Raiden for his newfound confidence.