In the blink of an eye, the motionless third-year recruit was now charging at a very sharp speed with his katana blade pointed toward his opponent, Kibo. Kibo whose hand had been on the hilt of his katana blade since picking it up, immediately drew the blade from its sheath and also ran towards Rokene.
Upon getting close to each other, both parties flung their katanas at themselves resulting in a clash. But only Kibo seemed affected by the clash, slightly losing balance. He staggered until he finally fell on one knee, his face wore a shocked expression, in a shaky voice he whispered to himself,
"How… How come."
Attempting to regain his composure, he could already see Rokene above him. Rokene, without hesitation, buried his feet into's Kibo stomach causing him to scream in pain, his mouth now filled with his blood he lay flat on the ground.
Kibo tried standing on his feet. Now on one knee, he felt something hit him on the chin with full force!
Rokene had planted his fists into his chin, giving him an uppercut punch and sending him crashing back to the floor.
Kibo now lying almost lifeless on the floor with his dogi uniform stained with his blood, grimaced.
He strugglingly reached for the katana beside him, in a silly attempt to stand back up on his feet but his body seemed unresponsive. After many attempts, he released the katana from his grip and laid back down, defeated.
Trying to keep his eyes open he could see the other recruits who had since followed up the fight from the beginning now in awe, chattering loudly amongst themselves.
Beside him, Rokene stood motionless, with his katana still in his hands.
Ishik approached approachedKibo and the chattering from the recruits slowly reduced as he hepassed by them. Everywhere became so silent only his footsteps were heard.
Kibo forced his head up to see see the Shirei in front of him with a grin on his face.
Shirei Ishiki motioned for him to be carried and two recruits immediately rushed towards Kibo, put their hands in between his elbows then raised him up.
"Today's fight has made me fear for the future! Here is someone that is meant to be the future of the Sentōkis! He couldn't even put on a proper defense. Disgraceful!"Ishiki shouted with a grin full of distaste.
Slowly bending to Kibo's face, he whispered into his ear, "If only your skills were as sharp as your tongue."
Kibo's anger boiled the more, it seemed some strange energy surged in him, freeing himself from there recruits grip, he threw a punch towards the Ishiki but his wobbly legs threw him back to his knees afterwards.
Immediately the chattering began again, everyone who witnessed the event seemed left in shock. Ishiki's face showed rage, he immediately pulled up Kibo and with his other hand he threw a punch towards him.
Expecting to see a lifeless body, everyone was taken aback the more, a figure could be seen holding the Ishiki's hand, it was the person they had seen standing beside their Shishō on his introduction.
"He had seemed uninterested in the events of the training since the inception and now he was suddenly stopping the Shirei from his retaliation."
"And how did he get there so fast?"
The chattering among the students could be heard.
Ishiki gave his colleague a questionable stare. "What are you doing Daichi."
"Preventing you from breaking more rules than you have already." The figure replied the latter.
"Am I the one supporting a recruit who hit a Shishō and Shirei of of the Shadow Sentōki?" Ishiki snarled and forcefully removed his hand from the Daichi's grip.
"You made him fight a third-year recruit on his first day of training." Daichi retorted authoritatively.
"As per the rule we are to report to the Supreme Senshi for him to mete out adequate punishment for all laws broken." (NB: Senshi translated from Japanese is warrior, so Supreme Senshi = Supreme Warrior). He added.
On hearing the term, 'Supreme Senshi', the demeanor of Ishiki Ishiki slightly changed and he immediately stomped out of the arena angrily.
Daichi after his clash with the Ishiki now approached Kibo who was still on his knees.
Getting close to him he whispered Into Kibo's ear "you must be very brave to have stood up to him." "Am Daichi Kei one of the Shireis of the Shadow Sentōki."
Although this person had saved him, Kibo still felt uneasy around him, after his encounter with Ishiki, his impression of the Sentōkis changed drastically.
It seemed the latter noticed the uneasy character Kibo had towards him, and didn't attempt to engage in a discussion anymore.
He streched his hands towards Kibo's chest, Kibo had tried to block, but at the state he was he couldn't even move from his kneeling position, his body was so unresponsive, it seemed like every energy in him was drained, after much attempt he stopped resisting and only assumed the Shirei meant him no harm, besides if he did why save him in the first place.
Immediately he stopped resisting he could feel an energy transfer from the Shirei to his body, he felt a tingling sensation and immediately his wounds were healing at a speed his naked eyes could keep up and in a few minutes the wounds were visible gone, his body felt new like he had never engaged in a fight.
"Could this….. Could this be the power of the Sentōkis, if so I should count myself lucky the other didn't successfully retaliate." Kibo thought to himself.
"I believe you should now be in a state to move, we will be needed too at the Supreme Senshi's presence." Daichi said in an authoritative tone, startling Kibo from his deep thought.
Although he was a little relieved now, he knew he wasn't out of the pit yet, he had hit a high ranked Sentōki and there was no way he was going off without a punishment. It now all depended on the Supreme Senshi.
Thinking of the manner of person the Supreme Senshi was, only sent shivers to Kibo's spine, all his childhood he had been told the Supreme Senshi was a very powerful being probably the most powerful and from his encounter with the Shirei and the third year recruit he didn't find it hard to believe, this just fueled his wish of being stronger.
As the two exited the training ground, silence enveloped the whole arena, after witnessing the events that took place, all the recruits had a face of fear. Immediately the two were not in sight, the chattering began again.
"I now understand why my father always told me never to offend a Shadow Sentōki."
"Did you see how he healed him immediately."
"He actually hit a Sentoki Shirei."
***
Following Daichi closely, they arrived at a huge building, with Shadow Sentōkis positioned at every corner of the building.
On arriving at the entrance to the building, the Sentōkis on guard gave the Shirei a respective bow and slid open the shoji of the building. (NB: Shoji translated from Japanese is a sliding door).
On entering the building, a spacious room with a table at the centre and behind the table a calm looking bald old man, with white long beards could be seen sitted dressed fully in Kimono and Hakama, katana blades and exotic ornaments where used to decorate the room and on both sides huge cupboards could seen full with scrolls and books, probably a personal library.
In front of the table before the man, Ishiki could be seen on his knees with his face down and motionless.
Daichi at immediately sighting the man behind the table bowed in respect, Kibo on seeing this confirmed the old man was the Supreme Senshi, he decided to also bow too. He didn't know how he was meant to react when meeting with the Supreme Senshi and the last thing he wanted was to anger the most powerful being in the world, so he resolved to remaining quiet through out.
"You must be Ki..bo the first year recruit, who had the courage to hit his Shishō on his first training. The old man said in a calm tone.
Kibo immediately hearing this could feel his whole body shake. "Yes…I…Yes I am." Kibo stammered.
The old man gave Kibo a long stare and continued Although the latter was wrong, hitting your Superior is also prohibited, So as punishment you are to clean the whole Shadow Sentōki Settlement immediately.
Immediately after giving the verdict he signalled both parties to leave and without hesitation all exited the room.
"How hard could cleaning the settlement be." Kibo thought, he had expected his hand to be cut off or to be thrown in a dungeon for eternity.
Being a first year recruit their movement where restricted to the training ground and their rooms in the hallway, so he didn't really know how big the settlement was.
Immediately they left the building, Daichi ordered two Shadow Sentōkis close to give Kibo a mop, brush and bucket and must follow him closely to ensure he carried out his task effectively, he then whispered something to them and left.
***
The boy Kibo, probably ending his reminiscing
of past events, had a satisfied look at the work he had done in the building he was currently in.
Shirei Daichi had given him a list of every building and sector he was to clean before he had left, checking the list it seemed he was down to the last building.
Kibo sighed "Finally what seemed like eternity is coming to an end just one more building to clean."
Wiping the sweat off his face with his hands he followed the Sentōkis closely as they walked towards where he would finish his tasks.
They arrived at what looked like a temple very far from the other buildings. It was very quiet with no sign of life anywhere which made Kibo feel in uneasy about entering the temple but he didn't seem to have any choice.
Arriving at the entrance, the Sentōkis that had followed him closely since the beginning of his task refused to stray in further and just stood at the entrance.
Kibo understood what their sudden behavior meant, they won't be embarking on this journey into the temple with him, and this made him the more uneasy.