Rise Online: Return of the Legendary Player

"I've already said that I don't give tutorials to anyone, I'm not an NPC." said Cephal, without turning his face away.

Kaizen smiled slightly, crossing his arms over his chest. He knew Cephal would recognize him eventually.

"Long time no see, Cephal," said Kaizen, his voice resonating softly through the empty space of the arena.

Cephal stopped in mid-stroke, his muscles tense in the sunlight. Slowly, he turned to face Kaizen, his grey eyes narrowing as he recognized him. For a moment, a spark of surprise crossed his face before he recomposed it into a mask of indifference.

Cephal was the epitome of a savage. He was big, tall, muscular and had chocolate-colored skin full of tattoos.

"I don't know you." he finally said, the word coming out as a restrained sigh. "Anyway, what are you doing here?"

Kaizen took a few steps forward, approaching the center of the arena. He could feel the tension in the air, a mixture of respect and distrust that had always characterized his relationship with Cephal.

"I'm looking for someone who can help me train and refine my techniques. Preferably an Evolved," Kaizen explained, keeping his tone calm and firm. "And I thought of you. Who better to challenge me than Cephal himself?"

Cephal frowned, his eyebrows forming a line of confusion and irritation. He took a step back, his hand still firmly gripping the massive sword, and brandished it again for training.

"I don't know what you're talking about," he said, his voice laced with disdain. "I fight alone, I train alone. I don't need companions, especially someone who thinks they need my help."

Kaizen felt Cephal's irritation growing, but he remained calm. He knew that the best way to deal with Cephal was to be direct and honest, even if it meant confronting him.

"I was the one who saved you from Zylok's clutches," Kaizen declared, his eyes fixed on Cephal's. "Do you remember that? If it wasn't for me, you might still be there."

Cephal pressed his lips together, his face hardening, and stopped swinging his sword. He took a step forward, coming dangerously close to Kaizen. His eyes glowed with a mixture of anger and denial.

"Do you think it was you who saved me?" growled Cephal, his voice low and menacing. "I saved myself. It was always me. You were just in the way, like all those companions of yours."

Kaizen didn't back down in the face of Cephal's fury. He knew that this was wounded pride talking, the need to assert himself as independent and invulnerable.

"So, you remember me."

"I-I..."

"Don't worry. I'm not here to discuss the past," said Kaizen firmly. "I'm here because I need your help. I know what you're capable of. I know that you can challenge me in a way that hardly anyone else can."

Cephal took a deep breath, closing his eyes for a moment before opening them again, the intensity of his anger diminishing slightly. He looked at Kaizen, appraising him with a penetrating gaze.

"And why should I help you?" he finally asked, his voice more controlled but still full of suspicion. "What's in it for me?"

"Because we both know that this is the only way for the Evolved to get stronger," he said slowly. "We don't get stronger by killing more monsters, but by improving our skills. In other words, our avatars have reached their peak, we need to improve our skills and gameplay. I need your help to reach a higher level, and maybe I can be useful to you too."

Cephal was silent for a long moment, his eyes fixed on Kaizen's. Finally, he shook his head. Finally, he shook his head slowly, as if making a difficult decision.

"No." he said, the word coming out with a finality that left no room for argument. "I'm not going to help you, Kaizen. You'll have to find another way to improve your techniques."

Kaizen felt a wave of disappointment, but he didn't let it get him down. He knew that Cephal was stubborn and that changing his decision would be a challenge. But he also knew that, deep down, Cephal respected his determination.

"If that's what you want," said Kaizen calmly. "I won't insist. Perhaps Zylok would be interested. He's an old man who needs to deal with rebuilding the city, but he defeated you. Maybe he really is the best option."

"Zylok only beat me because he absorbed my attributes! He's not stronger than me by a million years! I'm the ultimate barbarian!"

Kaizen, sensing the opportunity, stepped forward, approaching Cephal carefully but without showing fear. Your next chapter is on mvl

"Then prove it," he said softly. "Show me the strength of the supreme barbarian. Train with me and help me reach the next level."

Cephal hesitated, his gray eyes assessing Kaizen with a mixture of suspicion and curiosity. The anger on his face began to fade, replaced by a calculating look. He knew that Kaizen was a formidable opponent and, despite his pride, he couldn't deny the usefulness of having someone of his caliber on his side.

"You're persistent," Cephal muttered, his voice laden with an exasperation that only masked acceptance. He lowered his sword, driving the blade into the ground with a quick, precise movement. "Very well. I'll train you, but don't expect me to take it lightly."

Kaizen allowed himself a small smile of satisfaction. "I wouldn't expect anything less from you, Cephal."

Cephal let out a heavy sigh and looked around the arena.

"Let's start with something simple. I strike and you dodge." He pulled the sword out of the ground.

In an instant, Cephal disappeared from where he stood. He lunged forward with a powerful blow, the sword slicing through the air with a deadly hiss.

As the enemy's attack came hurtling towards Kaizen, he swiftly reacted, his instincts honed from countless battles. With lightning speed, he reached into his inventory and retrieved the Night Sword. The blade glinted menacingly in the sunlight as he expertly parried the incoming attack, the clash of metal reverberating through the air.

Kaizen's firm grip on the hilt and his honed swordsmanship allowed him to effortlessly block the assault. His calm and focused demeanor sent a clear message to his opponent - he was not to be underestimated.

"I'm sorry, but my specialty now is no longer dodging but blocking." said Kaizen.