Riku L. stepped into the room, Kei sitting at a desk, looking like he was in deep thought about something. Riku just stood there for a moment before clearing his throat to get Kei's attention, Kei snapping his head up in response. "Ah, you're finally here..."
"You wanted to see me?" Riku cocked an eyebrow.
"Indeed." Kei stood up. "I think I should do this before we take over this country."
"Do what exactly..?"
"The one who's going to be taking the crown if we win is me. I won't be here after."
"Oh? So what is it you want me for then?"
"I'm going to be testing you, that's what."
Riku blinked a few times. "Testing me? What do you mean by that?"
Kei's gaze was serious. "To see if you're worthy of being a leader. Personality wise, you are, but let's see if you have the guts and the brawns as well." Kei drew his sword, pointing it at Riku. "I challenge you."
Riku looked into Kei's eyes. "He's really serious about this." Riku thought to himself as he gently grabbed the tip of the futuristic rapier, pointing it away from him. "Alright, fine."
Kei tilted his head slightly. "You accept that easily? I expected you to say 'What if I don't want to be the leader?' or something like that."
"Just because I'm not Riku F. doesn't mean we aren't practically the same. I feel like I might be one of the only people who can lead the resistance, that's why I'll accept your challenge and beat you."
Kei's eyes widened just a bit, but he he smiled and closed his eyes. "Well, you've passed the 'guts' portion."
Riku grinned. "Then let's get on with the next part so I can kick your ass and pass the brawns as well."
"I'll have you know I'm the eleventh strongest member of the resistance, ranked tenth among the Ten Teikoki."
"The huh..?"
"The ten strongest members of the resistance."
"Is that supposed to scare me?." Riku showed nor felt any hint of fear.
Kei chuckled. "If you can beat me, you'll take my place as the tenth when I'm gone. Come on, let's see how you do." Kei sheathed his sword and led Riku out of the room.
"This turned from a pain in the ass to looking kind of fun... I wonder who the other nine are..." Riku spoke internally as he was led into a type of small barracks filled with actual weaponry.
"Grab any weapon of your choice. Feeling like backing down yet since you've yet to use a real weapon?"
Riku grabbed a set of blade gauntlets and put them on, pretty much completely ignoring Kei. "So this is what the real deal feels like... Stop talking so much already and let's do this."
Kei stared at him, baffled somewhat, but he smirked nonetheless. "Fine, let us do this then." He walked through another door and Riku followed, both of them entering a room that was entirely white and cube shaped. "Tenth Teikoki, Kei, signing on."
A robotic, female voice answered. "Affirmative. The usual today sir?"
"No, today I'll be sparing with someone. Basic training room please." Kei replied.
"Processing... Affirmative." A couple odd, camera looking devices popped out of the corners of the ceiling. They all seemed to be scanning the room with thin blue lasers, but as they did, the room changed with the movement of said lasers. The floors turned wooden and the walls turned to stone, until the room had the appearance of a small dojo.
"Come on." Kei walked inside and Riku slowly followed. After they were inside, the entrance behind them turned into another wall, and Kei turned to face Riku once he reached the end of it. "Are you ready?" He drew his rapier.
Riku activated his blade gauntlets and took a stance. "Bring it on."
Kei's blade glowed, being encased in some kind of blue plasma. "Very well..." They each took their own stances, staring one another down and waiting for the other to make a move first. Kei, being more impatient, was the first to move, his foot grinding against the wooden floor just a bit, and Riku lunged for him as soon as he heard Kei's movement. He swung his blade quickly, moving as fast as he could, however, Kei held up his rapier sideways, his gloved palm pressed against the blade, and he blocked Riku's swing, standing firm.
They both glared into one another's eyes before pushing one another back, Kei jumping back and kicking the wall to launch himself at Riku, thrusting his rapier. Riku quickly tilted his head, wincing as his cheek got cut and he swung his blade, Kei spinning out of the way and dodging it perfectly. He then started bombarding Riku with a barrage of thrusts with his rapier, Riku doing his best to dodge, but received several cuts, hissing in pain with each one. He thought to himself, "Shit, he's just as fast as Artemis... Seems he's got the advantage in a normal battle...but..." Riku glitched just as Kei thrusted once more, the blade going through Riku's arm.
Kei's eyes widened slightly. "Son of a..."
Riku then spun around and kicked him away. "I can't use glitch forever, but I can use it to help me win this..." He internally cheered. "My turn!" Riku went on the offensive, swinging and thrusting his blade gauntlets rapidly and forcing Kei to go on the defensive, dodging as best as he could, but he too received a few cuts.
"His speed matches mine... Artemis has trained him well." Kei spoke internally before he dropped to the ground and swept Riku off his feet with a kick.
"Ah!" Riku's eyes widened. "Using my own trick against me huh..?" Riku glitched, warping behind Kei. "That won't work on me pal!" Riku swung his blade.
Kei scoffed. "Didn't want to have to use it yet..." He muttered.
"Huh?" Riku was suddenly knocked away into the wall. He grunted heavily, falling to the ground as he thought to himself, "What in the hell did he just do..?!" Riku caught himself, looking up to see a rectangular pole like piece of the wall from behind Kei jutting out to where Riku was just standing. "Hey no fair! You can't control the room, that's cheating!"
Kei scoffed. "This is my magic you fool." The pole vanished, Kei taking a stance with his rapier again. "Anything I can see I can copy, but that doesn't mean it has to be the entire item. I can copy just a piece or section of it if I wish. I can also reposition the copy however I choose. So, I copied part of the wall and made it appear like so to knock you out of the way."
Riku's eyes widened slowly. "He did all of that in less than a second..?" He muttered to himself internally.
Kei stared Riku down. "I've had years of practice Riku. Don't think you can beat me easily." He smirked. "Too bad, you can't evade my attacks if you don't know where they're coming from. Then again, you could use your glitch constantly, but then it's a matter if you can beat me before you run out of magic."
Riku glared at him, clenching his fists. "He's right... Dammit! What do I do?!" He asked himself and stood up, standing his ground. "If you expected that to make me give up, you're dead wrong."
Kei smiled confidently. "I was hoping that would be your response." They both took their respective stances once more.
"This guy's only the tenth ranking member of the Ten Teikoki... If this is how tough he is...how strong are the rest..?" The thought made Riku shiver.
"What's wrong? Having second thoughts?" Kei chuckled
Riku slowly grinned. "Not at all..." Kei stared at him, confused. "I'm shaking...from excitement..." He looked up, smirking at Kei.
Kei's eyes widened slightly, but he smirked back at Riku, remembering the same look on Riku F's face when they first fought. "Then bring it on and show me what you can do, newbie."
Riku dashed at him. "You asked for it! Here I come!"