Shun stands silently in a forest, sweat dripping from his body as he lets out heavy breaths. His scythe remained entirely still. His mind raced as the world around him remained still. All of a sudden, quick movements could be heard around the forest. Branches moving, sticks and leaves crunching. Yet Shun remained entirely still, his eyes slightly trembling as he continued his breathing. Sudu leaped from atop a tree, aiming a rubber knife directly at Shun's neck. Shun used Flashpoint at the last moment, knocking the knife out of Sudu's hand with the blunt end of his scythe. Sudu wore a smile, grabbing onto Shun's scythe and aiming a second knife at his neck. Hiroto raised his hand as he appeared from behind a tree.
Hiroto: Stop!
Sudu pulled back his knife as Shun brought down his scythe. Hiroto crossed his arms as he walked up to the two.
Hiroto: Thank you for helping with his training, Sudu.
Sudu: No problem. I do as I'm requested.
Hiroto: But you saw what the issue was there, right Shun?
Shun: He had a second weapon ready, what about it?
Hiroto: It goes beyond just having a second weapon. He read your timing, and that's what allowed him to almost strike you. You focused far too much on the first strike that the next one flew right past you. You have surpassed Sudu in speed a few times, but you are still able to be struck by him.
Shun: I was tired, that's all.
Hiroto hit Shun's forehead with a quick chop. Shun dropped his scythe, placing both hands on his forehead. He looked up at Hiroto with an annoyed look, who only took out a lollipop and popped it in his mouth.
Hiroto: The Raijin Style allows you to go beyond being tired. It allows you to keep running until your final breath. You can take out armies if you wanted, but that's pointless if you allow yourself to be read so easily. Sudu was able to time your swing, so he was able to use a second weapon to hit you.
Shun: What exactly are you saying?
Hiroto: You need to make yourself harder to read. Several attacks within the Katas allow for this. It's also the main theme of the principle of Yokai Pace. You must overcome adversity and beat your greatest flaw. The Raijin Style has the opportunity to show no flaws, so overcome your own.
Shun: That's easy for you to say… You've gotten almost ten times my experience.
Hiroto: Why do I feel like you saying that had the intention of making me sound old?
…
Shun rubbed the bottom of his chin with the back of his hand. He quickly placed his hands out in front of him, staring daggers at Minh. His opponent wore a clear expression of annoyance.
Shun's thoughts: He read me… That's all he has been doing. Being fast isn't enough to avoid being predictable. That's what the old man was saying… I need to be more agile… And that's my middle name.
Shun stretched his leg back, a sinister smile coming to his face. Minh's eyes grew wide as he saw Shun run backward at great speed before coming to a sudden halt.
Shun's thoughts: Lightning Kata - Creeping Shadows
Shun ran at Minh at full speed, with Minh trying to follow his every move. Minh's eyes begin to dart around the ring, noticing how slowly Shun had begun to multiply. A solid line of Shun's afterimages circled Minh with varying speeds. Minh raised his defense, watching for the moment one image would begin to falter.
Mike: Behind you!
Minh's head moved on a swivel, looking back only to feel a heavy blow to his back.
Shun's thoughts: Lightning Kata - Owl Presence
In tandem with Creeping Shadows, Shun had used Yokai Pace to throw Minh's perception of him into a state of confusion. Using the silent nature of Owl Presence, he was able to sneak around Minh's focus to land a blow he couldn't sense. Minh pushed himself up from the ground, gritting his teeth as he jumped back to his feet. Another burst of Flash had Shun fly past Minh, punching the Silent Point across the face. Minh staggered, his head starting to rumble.
Shun's thoughts: I got you!
Shun charged at Minh, throwing a rapid punch that seemed invisible to all those watching him. Shun's eyes shot open as Minh grabbed onto the wrist of the outstretched fist with only his thumb, index, and middle fingers.
Minh's thoughts: Azufield Style – Mongolian Draw
Minh pulled Shun in the direction of his punch, sidestepping the strike before grabbing Shun by the face. With a quick pushing motion, Minh slammed Shun's head into the ground. Minh stumbled back, the blow to the face taking a toll on him.
Minh's thoughts: I can't… follow up!
Shun rolled around, jumping back onto his feet as he put both hands out in front of him. Using Dragon's Breath, Shun stabilized his breathing as stood firm despite the blood that trickled from the sides of his face. Hiroto shakes his head.
Yussuf: Something wrong?
Hiroto: Shun made another readable move. He had the right idea but lost it when he quickly relied on Flash again.
Sudu: He was using Yokai Pace very effectively there too. But Flash is a style that can be read if the opponent has enough information on it.
Yussuf: And after how much I, him, and Daymond have used it…
Hiroto: There are multiple cases that Shun's opponents have that they can read his next attack.
Hiroto's thoughts: That doesn't change that this Thong guy used a technique I've never seen connected to Wing Chun before. It reminds me a bit of… archery.
Minh closed one of his eyes, and an image of Thong's yellow-colored eye stared back at him in the darkness.
Thong: You didn't move with the strike fast enough!
Minh's thoughts: What? Do you get beat up so much that you're an expert on this?
Thong: No… It's just that something in me has me move just in time with strikes to make them hurt less…
Minh's thoughts: Maybe my knowledge isn't all there, is that what grandpa showed us..?
Thong: What do you mean?
Minh's thoughts: We're switching.
Thong's eyes returned to their yellow color as his eyes shot open.
Thong's thoughts: Azufield Style – Bow Breaths
Thong took in several breaths, relaxing his mind and body as he let his head drop. In the audience, Alexia and Tolman sat forward, noticing fully well the techniques that Thong had just used.
Tolman: So you weren't lying…
Alexia: I doubt Jason would just teach our techniques like that, so it has to be Gerald!
Tolman: I didn't expect him to have an interest in the Eclipse. What antics is he getting into?!
Alexia: I'm not sure, but he must be having a field day with this result.
Thong immediately raised his arms in defense, feeling a force slam into him at quick speeds. Shun slammed his shoulder into Thong, his eyes filled with life. Thong let out a quick breath, pulling back his fist before quickly shooting it out.
Thong's thoughts: One Inch Punch!
Thong's fist flew through the air with great power, yet never connected.
Shun's thoughts: Lightning Kata - Fade Out
Shun moved back just a moment sooner, tricking Thong's eyes into thinking it had connected. Shun quickly moved around his afterimage, landing a quick hook across Thong's face. Thong's head shot in the direction of the punch, causing the fighter to stumble. Shun followed up with a hook kick aimed for Thong's abdomen. Thong's eyes darted to the attack, quickly grabbing onto Shun's ankle with his right hand. He yanked Shun forward before slamming his elbow into Shun's face. Blood spurted from Shun's nose as he flew back. Thong let out a sigh as he rubbed his cheek.
Zachary: W-What's this?!
Zenzo: How did he end up on the ground?!
Thong was confused, unsure why Zenzo and Zachary were confused by Shun likely being on the ground. He looked down, noticing that he was down on one knee with his right hand planted firmly on the ground. Shun jumped back, blood dripping from his nose freely.
Thong's thoughts: How?!
Minh: I think I get what happened! He used his crazy speed and probably a technique to land on the ground and strike our liver to knock us down. Don't you feel it?
All sensations came to Thong in a moment as he let out a scream of agony. Pain built up on his right side as his head dropped. Shun wiped the blood from his nose with his wrist, leaving a trail across his face. Despite the blood that came from his head, he wore a prideful smile.
Shun: Couldn't read that, could ya?
Minh: He's mocking us! Do something!
Thong tried to move, only for a swift kick to fly across his face. The sudden strike to the liver and the explosion of pain left his movements to be delayed. Shun brought his right foot down, looking down at the opponent he quickly overcame.
Shun: I'm going to end this match now. Do you have any objections?
Thong's screams went quiet, his hair covering his eyes. Shun couldn't tell what color they were now, but it didn't matter to him. The air around Shun changed as his body tensed up. He felt the strength of Sun Ray course through his body, preparing for the next strike.
Shun's thoughts: Thunder Kata - Dragon Blossom
Shun spun with great speed with the use of Flashpoint, aiming a fully powered kick at Thong's head. Everyone that saw the move could tell the power behind it.
Tico's thoughts: He's going to kill Thong with that!
Shun's kick cut through the air as it closed in on Thong's head. Thong's head shot up, his eyes flared a bright yellow. Both arms shot out as he grabbed onto Shun's leg.
Thong's thoughts: Tran Style, Flowing Tree
Shun's face was overcome with shock as Thong picked him off the ground and swung the Hush around on only one knee.
Shun's thoughts: He's stable as hell! I can't pull away!
Shun's face slammed into the ground as Thong let go. Thong jumped onto his feet, letting out several heavy breaths.
Minh: What the hell was that?! I didn't even know that move!
Thong: I don't know. It's something that felt so natural to me…
Flowing Tree's power comes from the usage of a stable stance and the flow of the opponent's attacks. Much like the parrying attack of normal Wing Chun, Flowing Tree allows the user to combine grappling with those principles. Despite Minh and Thong being entirely unsure of its origins, there is no doubt that it could only come from their grandpa.
Hiroto: That definitely isn't Wing Chun, at least not the one I've seen before.
Magnus: What the hell does that kid know?
Carrie: Get his ass, Thong!
Thong took another strong stable stance, staring at the laid-out Shun. His eyes flared with newfound strength.
Thong's thoughts: Grandpa did something to me… But I refuse to let this opportunity pass me by.