Chapter 4: Not bowing down
The town Ezra was in was called Nat in the kingdom of Astoria, though it wasn't large, it was caught in between two major cities, and as such it was a hotspot for travelers, merchants, and Adventurers. The town bustled through the day till night.
Ezra and his father walked down the street, through the bustling town. His father was well known, so every now and then he greeted someone.
"Where are we going?" Ezra asked. He was on a deadline, and he would love to use his time to exercise rather than strolling."
"I have an old friend, he is well versed in martial arts, in fact, you can call him a master. He owns a dojo, but he closed two years ago and stopped taking disciples." His dad explained.
"What? Then why are we going there?" Ezra asked, trying to keep his anger under wraps, his dad was wasting his time, and he didn't have time.
"I understand what you mean, but he owes me a favor, so we will use that. We could go to any dojo and get your training, but I want you to learn from the best, and as far as I know, this man is the best." His father explained.
'Hmm, he is going to use his favor for me? I guess he is alright.'
"Thanks, Dad, this means a lot," Ezra said.
"It is the least I can do son, I did cause your predicament." His father said.
"We are past that stage, I told you it is not your fault," Ezra said.
His father smiled and nodded at Ezra, they continued their way through the town and finally got to a very old-looking dojo, it was completely rundown.
'He wasn't lying when he said it was lockdown for two years.' Ezra thought.
His father pushed the door open; he walked inside followed by Ezra. The inside was vastly different, the dojo was properly set up, clean, and neatly arranged. The weapons were neatly kept as well.
"What are you doing here?" a voice came from the door at the other side of the door, then a man walked out of the door, he was wearing a black robe, his hair was all grey signaling that he was old, yet his posture was upright.
"Oliver, nice to see you again," Robert said with a smile.
"Not that I can say the same, why are you here?" Oliver asked again.
"Still as grumpy as ever, well I'll get to the point. I want you to train my son." Robert said.
"Not happening," Oliver said.
"Nope, I won't let you go that easy. I know you have stopped taking students, but I need my son to learn from the best." Robert said.
"There are enough martial artists that can attend to your son, I am not interested," Oliver said.
"No, I need you, Oliver, remember you owe me," Robert said.
Oliver glanced at Ezra, Ezra had been observing Oliver all this while, so when Oliver looked at him, their eyes met and locked gaze. Oliver looked into the unwavering eyes of Ezra, he emitted a little killing intent to scare the boy, but Ezra smiled instead.
'Interesting, I have never seen a kid easily withstand killing intent like that.' Oliver thought.
Oliver looked at Robert, and then he spoke. "I want to have a one-on-one talk with the kid, so you will step outside. If he proves worthy, then I'll accept him, if he doesn't, then I will not train him even with the favor I owe you." Oliver said.
"Hmm, good enough," Robert said and walked out of the dojo.
Oliver looked at Ezra, he stared at him for a while, and then asked, "Why do you want to train?"
Ezra wasted no time in answering, he already knew his answer. "That is simple, to not bow, to never bow." He spoke.
"What insolence, do you think that no one will make you bow?" Oliver asked.
"No one, I'd rather die than bow to someone," Ezra said resolutely.
"Is that so?" Oliver released a massive wave of pressure, the pressure pushed Ezra down to his knees, and he used his hands to stop his head from heating the ground.
"Aren't you bowing now? Oliver asked.
"Eat crap old man, I will not bow," Oliver growled, he began pushing himself up, he managed to get one knee off the ground after struggling.
Oliver raised a brow in surprise, then he smiled and increased the pressure. Ezra's leg that had been raised slammed back on the floors and his head hit the ground this time.
"Yet you are bowing," Oliver said.
"Get real old man, I said I'd rather die than bow," Oliver said, he pushed his body up with all the power that he could muster, his body began making popping sounds, but he kept going. His body was filled with unbearable pain, but he shut his mind away from the pain and kept pushing.
"I will not bow to someone, so you better kill me, if not I will never bow." Ezra roared, he pushed himself till he got standing, his legs shook violently, but he kept standing. Blood began dripping from his nose, but he paid it no attention.
He looked straight at Oliver, his eyes like that of a depraved demon. "You will train me old man, and I will grow stronger than you and make you pay for putting my knees on the ground," Ezra said.
Oliver looked at Ezra in surprise, then he burst into laughter, and the pressure receded.
"If you are so confident kid, then why don't we start today," Oliver said with a smile.
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone