After their hunt, Mitchell and Ange parted ways, each retreating to their respective dwellings to rest and prepare for the next day. However, Ange's message lingered in Mitchell's mind. The hunt had proven both exciting and fruitful, but meeting her father loomed as the next challenge—and one he was beginning to realize might not go as smoothly as he'd hoped.
The following afternoon, Mitchell made his way to the Adventurer's Guild once again. This time, Ange had mentioned that both her parents would be present. He was curious about her mother and slightly apprehensive about how this meeting might unfold, especially after Roland's intense demeanor during their previous encounter.
Upon entering the guild's private chamber, Mitchell found Ange waiting near the doorway. " Let's go".
" Where're we going?". Mitchell aske ange as she lead him through the inner guild and came out the back.
"To my father's house." She rolled her eyes ."Where else". She said as they stopped in front of a car. It looked modern and very sleek and stylish. It also looked strange in this type of environment.
" Never seen this brand before." Ange chuckled as she saw Mitchell's face. She took his surprise for not having seen a car before.
Mitchell was silent.
"Come on,let's go." She said and they entered into the car. Mitchell was still surprised again when the car and it started floating. He was startled.
The ride lasted for no more than 5 minutes. Mitchell was sweating as the realization that he would be Meeting anges parents in a few more minutes.
It didn't take a while until they reached their destination. Mitchell turned to the drivers seat only to see it was vacant.
" There's no one driving this thing!!!!!" Mitchell let out a scream.
"Calm down, you truly have never been in one of these things". There was amusement in her voice.
They touched down safely in the garden of a huge mansion, and the first person they met was anges mother. How he got to know this, she introduced her to him.
"This is my mother, Elara," Ange introduced. "Mother, this is Mitchell."
Elara stepped forward, her gaze sweeping over Mitchell appraisingly before offering a warm smile. "You're the one who's caught my daughter's interest. She speaks highly of you."
Mitchell inclined his head respectfully. "It's an honor to meet you, ma'am."
********
Roland, sitting behind the desk, cleared his throat, drawing everyone's attention. His piercing eyes locked onto Mitchell, his demeanor as stern as ever. "Elara, Ange, I think it's time we test Mitchell's capabilities."
Ange frowned. "Father, isn't that a bit much? Mitchell's already proven himself during the hunt."
Roland raised a hand to silence her. "I underestimated him once; I won't make that mistake again. If he's going to be around you, I need to know exactly what he's capable of."
Mitchell crossed his arms, meeting Roland's gaze without flinching. "I take it you're not planning on holding back."
Roland smirked. "I'll give you a fair shot. I'll suppress my cultivation to the Foundation Building Realm for this match."
Elara sighed, shaking her head. "You're incorrigible, Roland. At least don't destroy the training grounds."
The Challenge Begins
The group moved to a spacious, open training field behind the guild hall. Adventurers passing by gathered around, curious about the commotion. Roland stepped into the center of the field, his aura shrinking visibly as
he suppressed his cultivation level to the Foundation Building Realm, as promised. Even with his power constrained, the air around him seemed to hum with a residual intensity, a testament to his formidable strength.
Mitchell stepped into the ring opposite Roland, his stance steady and his eyes calm. Ange stood on the sidelines, her expression a mixture of concern and anticipation. Elara, on the other hand, appeared unruffled, as though this was a common occurrence in her household.
"You've got this, Mitchell," Ange called out, though her voice betrayed a hint of unease.
Mitchell nodded her way, his resolve unwavering. "I'll do my best."
Roland rolled his shoulders, his smirk returning. "Enough talk. Show me what you've got."
The match began with a burst of speed. Roland closed the distance in an instant, his movements blindingly fast. Mitchell barely managed to sidestep the initial strike, the force of the attack creating a small gust of wind that ruffled his clothes.
"Impressive reflexes," Roland remarked, his tone almost casual as he launched another series of attacks. Each strike was precise, calculated, and designed to probe Mitchell's defenses.
Mitchell responded with equal precision, his movements fluid as he dodged and parried. He could feel the weight of Roland's experience pressing down on him, but he remained focused, refusing to be intimidated. His time in the field, coupled with Ange's guidance, had honed his skills, and now they were being put to the ultimate test.
The crowd of adventurers watched in awe, murmurs spreading as Mitchell continued to hold his ground against Roland. It was clear to everyone that this wasn't a simple sparring match—it was a test of will, skill, and character.
"You're better than I expected," Roland admitted, a hint of respect creeping into his voice. "But how long can you keep up?"
With a sudden shift in stance, Roland unleashed a powerful palm strike, the air around his hand distorting from the sheer force. Mitchell had no time to dodge; he braced himself, channeling his own energy to form a barrier.
The impact sent him skidding backward, his boots leaving trails in the dirt. A sharp pain shot through his arms, but he remained standing, his breathing steady.
"Not bad," Roland said, his expression unreadable. "But you'll need more than that to earn my approval."
Mitchell smirked, wiping a bead of sweat from his brow. "Good. I wouldn't want it handed to me." He conjured his purple qi sword and held it in his hands. He grinned again.
The tension in the training field was palpable as the fight continued. Mitchell began to adapt to Roland's rhythm, using his agility and quick thinking to create openings. He countered with a flurry of strikes, each one aimed at exploiting Roland's suppressed state. While his attacks lacked the overwhelming power of Roland's, they were precise and relentless.
Elara watched quietly, her sharp eyes taking in every detail of the match. Ange, meanwhile, had her fists clenched tightly, her worry evident despite her confidence in Mitchell.
After several intense exchanges, Roland suddenly paused, stepping back and raising a hand to halt the match. The crowd fell silent, their anticipation hanging in the air.
"You've proven your point," Roland said, his tone grudging but sincere. "You're not just some inexperienced youth chasing after my daughter. You've got skill, and more importantly, you've got heart."
Mitchell exhaled slowly, the tension in his body finally easing. "Does that mean I've passed your test?"
Roland's lips quirked into a rare smile. "For now. But don't think this is the last time you'll be tested."
Ange let out a relieved breath, a wide smile breaking across her face as she ran to Mitchell's side. "You were amazing! I knew you could do it."
Mitchell gave her a tired grin. "Thanks, but I think I might need a week to recover."
Elara approached, her expression warm and approving. "You handled yourself well, Mitchell. Not many can face Roland like that and come out standing."
The crowd began to disperse, the excitement dying down as the adventurers returned to their duties. Mitchell, Ange, and her parents walked back to the main hall of the mansion, the atmosphere noticeably lighter.
As they entered the private chamber once more, Roland turned to Mitchell. "I still don't fully trust you, but you've taken the first step. Just remember—if you ever hurt Ange, you'll have me to answer to.
" Sure, sure" . He said casually.
Mitchell met his gaze firmly. "I understand, and I promise you don't have to worry about that."
Ange rolled her eyes, linking her arm with Mitchell's. "Alright, that's enough, Father. You're starting to sound like an overprotective cliché."
Roland grunted, but there was a hint of amusement in his eyes. Elara shook her head, her laughter soft and melodic.
The meeting concluded on a surprisingly amicable note, with Mitchell feeling a sense of accomplishment. While he knew earning Roland's full approval would take time, he had taken an important step forward. As he and Ange left the guild together, the sun setting on the horizon, he couldn't help but feel that the future, though uncertain, was looking a little