Master Yuemura's piercing gaze bore into Nikolas and Erick, a silent interrogation unfolding in the tense silence of the dojo. The weight of his suspicion hung heavy in the air, palpable and suffocating, as he scrutinized the two young disciples before him.
May I ask if you have ever wielded a sword before?" Yuemura's question cut through the stillness, his tone measured but laced with a subtle undercurrent of skepticism.
Erick shook his head, his expression a mix of confusion and apprehension, unsure of the unfolding situation.
Meanwhile, Nikolas found himself in a delicate situation. He could feel the weight of Yuemura's scrutiny, the sensei's eagle-like gaze dissecting his every movement with precision. Although subtly, he noticed how Yuemura moved his feet, changing his entire posture.
At that moment, he knew: the man was ready to kill him!
Even with the dull sword, it was entirely possible to do so with the correct ability.
[Should I reveal the truth now? It may be my only option...] Caught in a dilemma, he could only see one way out. His original plan, to enlist Yuemura's support in averting the impending apocalypse, now hung in the balance, jeopardized by his own misstep.
Perhaps he still had a chance.
"Master Yuemura…" He began, his voice steady despite the tumult raging within him. Nikolas then looked at the other disciples which were closer now. "Can we do this alone?"
The sensei regarded Nikolas with a mixture of curiosity and suspicion, weighing his words with a discerning eye. Ultimately, however, he acquiesced to the request, sensing no immediate threat from the young man.
"You three, leave us." Yuemura commanded, addressing the other disciples who had gathered nearby. "And do not return until I summon you."
"B-But master!" The older disciple, Hiraoka Tadamichi, complained.
"No buts! Don't come in even if you hear Nikolas' screams!"
That was one of his rare jokes. One that none of them had the audacity to laugh.
The disciples left and as the door closed behind them, the room seemed to exhale a collective sigh, enveloping the trio in an eerie silence.
"Now, tell me the truth," Yuemura's tone was grave, his eyes penetrating as he fixed his gaze on Nikolas. "Who sent you?"
The weight of Yuemura's suspicion hung heavy in the air, a palpable reminder of the reason the old man left his motherland long ago. Nikolas knew little of his master's past, but he understood that Yuemura's doubts were not unfounded, his own actions casting doubt upon his intentions.
Yet, as he met Yuemura's unwavering gaze, Nikolas felt a glimmer of hope flicker within him.
"I wasn't sent by anyone…" Nikolas scratched his head, his voice tinged with frustration. "Actually, there is no easy way to explain this. I'm really your disciple but… from the future!"
Yuemura's gaze turned even more complicated, his brow furrowing with a mixture of disbelief and mockery.
"I've never thought you would try to lie in a moment like that…" Yuemura's tone was laced with skepticism.
"Brother, are you on drugs? Stop joking and solve this misunderstanding…" Erick, caught between disbelief and concern, interjected.
"Shit! I'm talking seriously here! I know it sounds ridiculous, but I really came back in time…" Nikolas's frustration boiled over into anger.
Yuemura's katana gleamed in the dim light, a silent threat that hung between them.
"If so… show me!" Yuemura's demand was clear, his eyes piercing as he awaited Nikolas's response.
The boy understood where things were going. This is how Master Yuemura dealt with his problems: with his sword!
Nikolas nodded solemnly, his jaw set with determination. After years living in the apocalypse, that was the way he preferred to settle things too.
"I'll show you what your disciple has learned, master!" His voice rang out with resolve as he prepared himself for the inevitable confrontation. Although he knew it was impossible to beat his master with his current conditions, he only had to convince the man.
As he readied himself, Nikolas let all the fighting experience take over his body. He breathed out slowly and took control over his emotions. For now, he was a master of the sword, he was the Dragon King.
Yuemura's stance was relaxed yet poised, a testament to his years of mastery. Nikolas, on the other hand, adopted a stance that was both familiar and foreign, blending the techniques he had learned with the hard-earned wisdom of the apocalypse.
The first move came swiftly. Yuemura lunged forward, his katana slicing through the air with deadly precision, Yuemura's sword flew forward in an upward motion. It was a deadly attack aimed at Nikolas' throat!
TING!
The clash of the two dull swords resonated through the dojo, a sharp, reverberating sound that echoed off the walls.
As Yuemura's blade ascended with deadly precision, Nikolas executed a perfect parry, using the flat of his blade to not just deflect but redirect the attack to the left with a calculated flick of his wrist.
The sword, which had been deflected to the left, instantly changed its trajectory with fluid precision and advanced once more, a relentless assault that gave Nikolas no time to catch his breath.
TING!
It was blocked once again, it was as if Nikolas had anticipated Yuemura's every move.
This continued for some time. After a series of consecutive slashes, Nikolas felt as if a hurricane was attacking him. Not being in his peak condition, he soon found himself in a tight spot.
Fortunately, he knew how his master fought - as he too fought like that. At the eighth slash, Nikolas took a step forward and blocked with his katana.
Breaking his master's battle flow, Nikolas didn't wait for him to recover and immediately attacked! A direct slash aimed at Yuemura's belly!
The sensei was fast enough to block it, but soon Nikolas followed up with the same slash patterns that Yuemura used!
Moreover, the attacks seemed even trickier to defend against!
On the eighth strike, before Yuemura could defend it as he did before, Nikolas rolled to the side.
SLASH!
He only felt the tip of Yuemura's katana scrape his hair.
In this battle, a small mistake could cost your life!
After exchanging a few more blows, Nikolas recoiled, exhausted. With his current physical condition, a prolonged fight was impossible. Huge droplets of sweat fell on the mat, and Nikolas was panting heavily. His messy hair and sweat hindered some of his vision.
"I must admit that you really surprised me… But I'm still not convinced. If that's all you've learned from me, then I'm a really bad teacher!" Yuemura said, his voice carrying both skepticism and a hint of grudging respect.
Despite his words, deep inside, Yuemura was genuinely surprised. Nikolas really knew his moves, but… didn't his enemies know them too?
"Well… there is still one thing that you taught me and no one else…" Nikolas sighed, realizing this might be his last chance.
Wiping the sweat from his forehead, Nikolas shifted his stance once again. Raising the katana above his head with both hands, he took a deep breath. Master Yuemura's eyes widened in astonishment, recognizing the posture.
Suddenly, the air around Nikolas seemed to grow denser, a palpable tension filling the room as if the very atmosphere were holding its breath. Yuemura and Erick could only hear their hearts pounding in their ears like heavy drums.
THUMP
Before Nikolas could complete the downward slash, Yuemura intervened with lightning speed.
"Stop!" Master Yuemura commanded, blocking Nikolas' katana. "This attack will only kill yourself!"
BANG!
Even incomplete, the force behind Nikolas' strike made Yuemura's hands tremble. The dojo echoed with the impact, the walls absorbing the reverberations of the clash
Nikolas backed off, his head dizzy and heart pounding.
"My disciple… I never thought I would teach someone my Four Dragons Facing the Heavens," Yuemura said after a deep sigh. This was his secret technique, one he hadn't even taught his first disciple. Yet, here before him stood a boy who knew exactly his fighting style and his most guarded secret! Yuemura didn't know what to think—did the boy really come back from the future? It sounded ridiculous, but it seemed to be the only plausible answer.
Nikolas bowed gratefully, sensing that his master was at least convinced enough to stay his hand.
"You saved my life more than once, sensei! And after years together, you taught me this art before your death."
Nikolas' feelings were in turmoil. His master was the only person he had trusted for a long time, the old man was like a second father to him. Tears mixed with the sweat on his face, and he tried to hide them, but Yuemura still noticed.
Yuemura smiled lightly; the boy was genuine.
"If that's true, then I'm not sure if there is anything I can teach you…"
"You will always be my master! Moreover, didn't I just say that I'm from the future? This is not the end of the journey but the beginning, and I need your help."
The sensei sat calmly in the lotus position and Nikolas followed suit.
"Indeed… So, have we reached the limits in swordsmanship?" His first question revealed much about his character. "What do you need?"
Flabbergasted by the fight he had just witnessed, Erick still struggled to comprehend what had happened.
"So, is it over just like that?" Erick muttered, perplexed.