As Ryoshi and his companions stepped into the dark hallway through the hole Ryoshi had made in the wall, Oto took the lead, his voice echoing softly in the dimly lit corridor.
"On the other side of this... newly made hallway, should be the door to the free room," Oto explained, his tone tinged with a sense of urgency.
"Free room?" Ryoshi queried, curiosity sparking in his eyes.
"Free room. It's a room that holds the rest of the members of the sanctuary, and the free room leads to the exit," Oto elaborated, his words carrying a weight of importance.
"Be careful, Ryoshi. The free room is PACKED with dangerous individuals! But you might be able to defend yourself against them," Setchi cautioned, his voice filled with genuine concern.
"If you say so..." Ryoshi replied, his resolve firm as he braced himself for the challenges ahead.
"We should be going. Kiiro, light up this room," Oto instructed, turning to his companion.
Kiiro nodded and summoned her weapon, its ethereal glow illuminating the hallway and revealing a blue door at the far end.
"This is a very empty hallway..." Ryoshi remarked, his observation met with a hint of sarcasm from Oto.
"Thank you for pointing out the obvious," Oto retorted, his tone laced with amusement.
But before they could proceed further, Setchi sprang into action, his excitement palpable as he charged towards the door with reckless abandon.
"Hm?!" Ryoshi exclaimed in surprise as Setchi unleashed his trademark battle cry and kicked the door down before swiftly disappearing into the room beyond.
"Ugh, let's follow behind him," Oto grumbled, his annoyance evident as he motioned for Ryoshi and Kiiro to enter the room.
As they stepped inside, Ryoshi's eyes widened in awe at the sight before him. The room was vast, with an oasis at its center, its tranquil waters shimmering in the soft light. Perched atop a large rock within the oasis was a figure clad in dark attire, their features obscured by a long black scarf and a leather cap. A sense of tranquility enveloped the room as the figure meditated in serene silence, their presence casting a palpable aura of mystery over the chamber.
Ryoshi's gaze lingered on the figure meditating on the rock, his curiosity piqued by the air of mystery that surrounded him. "He looks edgy. Wait, where did Setchi go?" Ryoshi questioned, his brow furrowing in confusion.
"That guy right there is Gisei Subete," Oto explained, his voice low and solemn. "He's in the running for being a part of the hitman team. He trained the first 5 years of his life with samurais, the next 5 years with ninjas, and now is currently on the last year of his monk training."
"He DOES sound dangerous," Ryoshi remarked, a note of apprehension coloring his tone.
"He is the owner of the legendary weapon Nosotchu, the blade of shadows," Oto revealed, his words laden with reverence.
"Cool, but where's Setchi?" Ryoshi inquired, his gaze sweeping the room in search of his impulsive companion.
"Setchi made himself the self-proclaimed rival of Gisei. He's probably going to sneak attack him or something," Oto replied, his expression resigned.
"SHHHHHHH!" Setchi hissed suddenly, drawing Ryoshi's attention to the ceiling where Setchi was clinging precariously.
"Here I go," Setchi whispered, his voice barely audible as he prepared to strike.
But before Setchi could execute his plan, Gisei reacted with lightning speed, hurling a shuriken at Setchi's head. The projectile found its mark, causing Setchi to plummet into the water beside Gisei with an undignified splash.
"Fools, I could hear you all. We are in the same facility," Gisei remarked, his voice laced with amusement at their failed attempt at stealth.
"Gisei..." Setchi began, his voice tinged with determination as he rose from the water.
"Hm?" Gisei prompted, his gaze fixed on Setchi with a mixture of curiosity and wariness.
"I want you to take something..." Setchi declared, his tone cryptic as he prepared to strike.
"What?" Gisei inquired, his grip tightening on the hilt of his katana.
"TAKE THIS PUNCH, TO THE FACE!" Setchi exclaimed, launching himself at Gisei with all the force he could muster.
But Gisei was prepared, his katana poised to intercept Setchi's attack. The blade, adorned with long, curved, sharp spikes, clashed against Setchi's fist with a resounding clang.
Undeterred, Setchi leaped back, his feet finding a purchase on the surface of the water as he prepared for the next phase of their confrontation.
Ryoshi's brow furrowed in confusion as he watched the unfolding spectacle, his mind struggling to process the rapid escalation of events.
"Wait a sec..." he began, his voice trailing off as he dipped his arm into the oasis, the cool water lapping against his skin.
"Is there even a bottom to this?" he pondered aloud, his gaze fixed on the depths below.
"The oasis is six meters deep," Oto replied matter-of-factly, his tone carrying a hint of amusement at Ryoshi's inquiry.
"Well, that's not quite an oasis, is it?" Ryoshi remarked wryly, a smirk playing at the corners of his lips.
Meanwhile, Setchi's bravado remained undiminished as he challenged Gisei to a duel.
"Bring it, Gisei!" Setchi declared, his voice filled with determination.
"Though it's not well-mannered to start unnecessary fights, I find that this rule doesn't apply to you," Gisei remarked, his tone tinged with a hint of disdain as he rose from his perch on the rock.
"I don't even need to swing my sword to defeat you," Gisei declared, his confidence unwavering as he unleashed his formidable power.
With a swift motion, Gisei threw his sword into the air, invoking a powerful technique known as Kaosuburittsu. The blade transformed into sixteen sharp black tentacles, each one lashing out at Setchi with deadly precision.
Setchi managed to evade the tentacles, his agility saving him from harm as he danced around the onslaught. But Gisei was not finished yet.
"Real funny! Come out, coward!!!" Setchi taunted, his voice filled with bravado.
"Hey!" Gisei's voice cut through the air, his sudden appearance behind Setchi catching the young warrior off guard.
"YOU-" Setchi began, but his words were cut short as Gisei seized him by the hair, sending him tumbling into the oasis with a cry of pain.
"Did he just..." Ryoshi started, his eyes widening in disbelief.
"Beat him by tugging on his hair? Yes," Kiiro confirmed, her voice tinged with amusement at the unexpected turn of events.
"Gisei, who's this guy? Is he the new student?" Oto inquired, turning his attention to the enigmatic figure on the rock.
"No, he's Ryoshi Taisaku, the Winter Seasons Inheritor," Oto explained, his tone respectful as he acknowledged Ryoshi's status.
"Inheritor? So he's the strongest in his team?" Gisei questioned, his gaze piercing as he assessed Ryoshi with a critical eye.
"I wouldn't say that-" Ryoshi began, but Gisei interrupted him with a pointed observation.
"Inheritors have to fulfill the role of their season one day. Being weaker than one of your teammates means that you aren't worthy enough to be called an inheritor," Gisei declared, his words carrying a weight of authority.
"I thought inheritor meant that you could manipulate the season's element best," Ryoshi countered, his confusion evident.
"There's much more to it than told," Gisei replied cryptically, his demeanor enigmatic as ever.
"Well, frankly enough, I don't care. What about you guys? Do you also have teams?" Ryoshi inquired, shifting the focus of the conversation.
"No, but we are stationed in rooms together at random," Oto explained, his tone matter-of-fact. "Gisei, you said something about a new student. Tell me more about it."
"Today, while I was snooping around the teacher's lounge, I overheard a conversation about a new student coming sometime tomorrow. I didn't get much detail on how that person looks, but I do know that they are very strong, and potentially a threat to our community due to their chaotic nature," Gisei revealed, his voice tinged with concern.
"I knew you were spying on me!!!" a voice suddenly exclaimed, causing everyone to turn towards the source of the disturbance.
"Vant!?" Gisei exclaimed in surprise as a mysterious figure clad in a green cloak and a straw hat stepped forward, his eyes ablaze with determination.
"Uh- Setchi, busted," Setchi muttered sheepishly as Vant confronted him.
"No, Setchi, you're the one who's busted here. I don't mind the gossip about the new student," Vant replied calmly, his gaze unwavering.
"Wait, VANT, WHAT DID I DO!?" Setchi protested, his voice tinged with frustration.
"Start a fight in a peaceful spot like this," Vant explained, his tone firm but fair.
"So what, are you gonna ground me?" Setchi retorted, a hint of defiance in his voice.
"In fact, I am! No leaving the sunroom for a week," Vant declared, his authority unquestionable.
"But Vant!" Setchi protested, his objections falling on deaf ears.
"Setchi..." Vant's tone brooked no argument, his decision final.
"Fine," Setchi conceded, his shoulders slumping in defeat as he reluctantly made his way towards the door on the right side of the room, exiting the current one.
Vant turned his attention to Ryoshi, his demeanor shifting from disciplinarian to cordial host. "You must be Ryoshi Taisaku," he remarked, a warm smile gracing his features.
"Oh, me? Yes, I am," Ryoshi confirmed, returning Vant's smile with a polite nod.
"I was sent to bring you to your team," Vant explained, his voice gentle but authoritative.
"I... okay," Ryoshi replied, his curiosity piqued by the prospect of meeting his new teammates.
"Could you please follow me?" Vant requested, gesturing towards the doorway.
"Okay!" Ryoshi agreed eagerly, falling into step behind Vant as they made their way through multiple rooms until they reached the exit of the building.
"Right out that door," Vant directed, his voice echoing with a sense of finality.
"Okay, thanks!" Ryoshi replied, offering a nod of gratitude before stepping through the doorway.
"No problem, I'll enjoy working with you in the future," Vant added, his tone warm and welcoming.
"Okay..." Ryoshi responded, a hint of confusion coloring his tone as he exited the building. As he stepped outside, he found himself on top of a large hill, the vast expanse of the landscape stretching out before him.
"Sigh... Wait, where am I supposed to go!? I was led outside of the building, not to my team!" Ryoshi exclaimed, his frustration mounting as he scanned his surroundings for any sign of direction.
"RYOSHIIIIIII!!!" a voice suddenly cried out, cutting through the air with urgency.
"What!?" Ryoshi exclaimed in surprise, his eyes widening as he spotted Hiyoku soaring through the sky, his fist engulfed in flames.
Reacting quickly, Ryoshi dodged Hiyoku's attack, narrowly avoiding the fiery punch that slammed into the ground with explosive force, creating a pillar of fire and a crater on the hillside.
"Hiyoku!?" Ryoshi exclaimed, his gaze locking onto the fiery figure before him.
"Ryoshi!" Hiyoku responded, his hands ablaze as he prepared for another assault.
"Surriku No Ha!!!" Ryoshi exclaimed, summoning his magical weapon in preparation for the impending clash.
As Hiyoku lunged at Ryoshi, the two engaged in a fierce exchange of blows, their weapons clashing with resounding force.
"At last, we meet again! Let's see if your skin stays on this time!" Hiyoku taunted, his fiery fists raining down upon Ryoshi with relentless ferocity.
But before the battle could escalate further, Hiyoku was interrupted by a sudden punch to the face from an unexpected assailant.
"Hiyoku, that's not our mission," a voice admonished, drawing Ryoshi's attention to the newcomer.
Turning around, Ryoshi saw Taiyo standing before him, his presence commanding respect.
"Hello, Ryoshi. We are here to escort you to your group because we are the closest to the Sanctuary," Taiyo explained, his tone calm and composed.
"Oh, thanks, Taiyo!" Ryoshi replied, relief washing over him as he realized he was finally on the right path.
"Don't mention it. Hiyoku, get up. We have to go," Taiyo instructed, his authority unquestioned as he prepared to lead the way.
"Yes, sir..." Hiyoku grumbled, reluctantly picking himself up from the ground as the group set off towards the Winter Season area.