Just a short chapter to set up the next fight, but it also showcases the consequences of all the changes I've made so far. Hope you enjoy.

Esidisi looked surprised to see Joseph. He tore his leg out of Loggins' corpse, leaving it in two pieces. "Jojo... We weren't meant to meet for another two days. What a bizarre coincidence." He looked toward the center of the arena, where a large spike pit could be seen. "Though perhaps not so unusual when I look around. I thought the Red Stone of Aja was somewhere in this part of the region. But it looks like I got the wrong island. This is clearly not an island meant for people to live on. It would make a fine battle arena, however. If I get a chance, I'll let Wamuu know about it."

"So you came here looking for the Red Stone of Aja," Joseph noted, "Why aren't Kars and Wamuu with you?" "We may be friends, but we aren't joined at the hip," Esidisi replied, "Neither of them know the stone is here. They only know I found a lead on it and was looking into it." Joseph looked at Loggins' dead body. "His lungs were gouged out. And with just one kick. I knew you understand a Hamon user's weak point, but to think you pulled it off this easy."

"I was expecting more of a fight, but the man seemed distracted," Esidisi explained, "Let me guess, you and him were meeting here. Though somehow I doubt it had anything to do with the stone." "He was my instructor," Joseph said, glaring, "I was supposed to have my final exam today." "Really?," Esidisi said, his eyes lighting up, "That sounds promising. Then permit me to take his place. This way we can wrap a few loose ends all in one battle. Should I win, I'll know you wouldn't stand a chance against Wamuu and can continue to the other island to find the stone. Should you win, you get the antidote to the poison two days early, know that you could easily stand against Wamuu, and keep me from getting the stone. Simple and efficient, wouldn't you agree?"

"You forgot one more thing I get out of this if I win," Joseph said, "I get to avenge my instructor. Not to mention take out all the aggression I had built up from the three weeks of torture that was my Hamon training." "Ah yes, I've heard it's difficult to master Hamon," Esidisi agreed, "I'd offer my sympathies, but that would just make you angrier than you already are, and defeating a distracted opponent is all too easy. I can't properly gauge your skills if you come at me in a blind rage."

"Then let's get down to business," Joseph said, "You noted earlier that the spike pit over there would make a great battle arena. It's funny you should mention that, because that's exactly what it is. Of course, it's meant for Hamon users as part of their final trial. Since you can't use Hamon, your feet would get pierced by the spikes, though that would only slow you down at best." "It's fine," Esidisi assured him, "Much like Wamuu, I relish a challenge in combat, so a handicap like this sounds perfect. But I should warn you now, I'm far more pragmatic than he is." Joseph smiled. "Then we have something in common."

"I say this because the only reason I'm agreeing to this fight is because you're being polite about the situation," Esidisi clarified, "It's clear that you're angry, as I expect anyone would be when they lost someone close, yet you don't scream out about getting revenge and charge at me like some wild boar. Point of fact I shouldn't need to fight you at this point, but it's obvious you wouldn't let me leave peacefully. But your emotions are far superior to the Hamon users of two-thousand years ago, at least in attitude."

They stepped out onto the field, Joseph easily balancing on the spikes thanks to Hamon. Esidisi did indeed have to deal with pulling his feet off each spike as he walked, but the pain was no worse than bug bites to him. "I may not be the gentleman my grandfather is," Joseph admitted, "But he did drill a few manners into my brain." Esidisi smiled as he closed his eyes. "I think I'm going to enjoy this." He made a quick swipe at Joseph, who dodged easily, then struck Esidisi's palm with his index finger, charged with Hamon. Esidisi looked surprised at the Hamon pierced through his hand, causing Joseph's finger to poke through easily.

"Just a month's time and look how much you've improved," Esidisi admitted, "When you fought Santana, you're Hamon couldn't even pierce his skin, yet you've now been able to pierce my hand when I'm several times stronger than he was." He could already feel the Hamon flowing into him, causing him great pain. In spite of this, he grinned. "But I still have several millennia worth of experience over you." He quickly tried to twist Joseph's arm into knots to cut off the blood flow, negating his Hamon.

Joseph grinned as he flipped over Esidisi, wrapping a string around his arm. Esidisi looked surprised at this. "That string is coated in vegetable oil," Joseph explained, "That makes it easy for Hamon to flow through it. I meant to tie it around your neck, but your attempts to wrench my arm off prevented that, so I had to make due." "But when did you even tie this string?," Esidisi asked, "I should have seen you doing that." He then saw part of the string was attached to Loggins finger.

"Of course," he realized, "You tied it when you were checking his corpse, then simply unwound it during the fight. I should have remembered. You pulled a similar trick when you used that clacker technique on Wamuu." "You said you had several millennia of experience over me," Joseph said, "But you didn't take into account that humans can learn faster with each new generation. That will be your undoing." He channeled his Hamon, using the string to tear off Esidisi's arm, causing him to grunt in agony. Joseph closed his eyes. "That was for my teacher."