McKinney was once a challenger of Reynolds, and Reynolds gladly accepted his challenge.
However, after the challenge, McKinney realized that even though they were both legendary warriors, there was an insurmountable chasm between him and Reynolds.
McKinney realized that Reynolds was not a legendary warrior in the traditional sense.
He was called a legendary warrior only because the highest realm in the Beastman Plane was legendary warrior, but Reynolds had long surpassed this level, stepping into a realm that no beastman had ever reached.
According to the strength assessment given to Reynolds by Black Sail, Reynolds was actually already in the demigod realm, and very close to Level 4 life.
McKinney's challenge ended almost in disastrous defeat; he didn't even have the ability to make Reynolds strike a second time before he was defeated.
After defeating him, Reynolds didn't kill him but instead appreciated McKinney's talent and took him in as an apprentice.
