Marin: -We arrived, this is it, the gate of the beasts of war. – showing his free passes to Kenshi supervisors wearing purple bands right at the entrance where he was having a strict surveillance scheme.
Emma: -look at the view from this place... - looking down. -There are statues of Zanzin everywhere.
From that point one could see the entire lower circle, which was on a lower plain than the central one, just above on a rise that was on the other side of the central circle a bridge leads to the upper circle, surrounded by white walls, and a large amount of from kenshis to dens, you can hardly see from where they are now what those beings are.
Kakui: -What a gigantic place. – looking at the upper circle. -Is that where the maru are?
Juji: -Yes, that's where the 10 imperial families live, and the maru emperors. – taking a deep breath.
Gyu: -We are so close, and yet so far away. – looking at the bridge that leads to the upper circle and the staircase that leads to the lower circle.
Haru: -Wawa... - feeling a chill go down her spine when she sees what awaits her down there.
The large central circle is divided into 10 houses, surrounding the bridge that leads to the upper circle, but the houses are merely a way of speaking, what you have there is a complex of several dojos divided into 10 locations, each location uses a different associated color, each location competes with a group of Kenshis, each group of kenshis has dozens of Kyus that are like the base, and from there begins the elite where there are 9 Dan Kyus, 1 Dan Renshi, and one Dan Kyoshi, the house 01, different from the others, has only 5 Dan Kyus, 1 Dan Renshi and as his sensei is the leader of the other houses, he is called Dan Hashin, as soon as the central circle is organized.
Marin: -Listen well to what I'm going to tell you now. – Propped against a wall outside the inn where they placed their belongings before the opening ceremony of the tournament. -we're in the lion's den, here nobody is our friend, they're all enemies, they won't think twice before attacking us if they think we're up to something, and I'll tell you more, they know who I am, they know it's Ohmoi, that's why he's going to be on the loose, trying to find the whereabouts of those two, that said, I hope everyone is aware of what's at stake here, don't act on impulse, don't be idiots and above all don't embarrass me, you understand! - speaking firmly.
-Yes, master! – say everyone, including Ohmoi.
Kakui: -this woman...
Emma: -He made us call her...
Haru: -master...
Marin: -Very well, let's enter the hall of ceremonies. – opening the hall door. -From here we play their games.
The large gates are opened revealing a place with candles and kendo ornaments, the beige color was predominant, a long run led to another door and beyond that door was concentrated a small crowd of about 100 people wearing hakamas with Keiko Gi, with different belt colors, different personalities, different faces, different abilities.
Haru: -They're all wearing headbands. – looking at her waist. -our hakamas do not have sashes.
Kakui: -Now that you mention it, our banner in the real world doesn't stay when we call the real shinai. – with his hand on his chin.
Emma: -That's pretty weird since they use theirs. - adjusting the glasses on the face.
Marin: -It's because in this world belts aren't given according to the practitioner's kendo level like in your world.
Emma: -What do you mean? – Her attention turns elsewhere when she hears something. - huh?
-Everyone remain silent, we will start the opening ceremony of the 36th Dokkōdō Kendo tournament. – a middle-aged man wearing a silver hakama, gray hair, blue eyes and fair skin walks towards the center of the dojo.
Haru: -who is that? – looking at the man who is speaking.
Juji: -é Azulo Kasuki, o Dan Renshi da casa 1.
Azulo: -I begin by introducing you at this moment to the 9 Dan Kyoshi and their Dan Renshi as well as their respective houses. – Raising his left arm upwards, towards a balcony that was above the site.
17 beings appear on the hall's second floor balcony, all wearing hakamas and Keiko Gi, each with a different color sash, mending a strong Hokkoshin signature, the presence there was incredibly strong.
Azulo: -segunda casa, o Dan kyoshi Kurome Yatsu Sensei e sua Dan Renshi Theska Abunaga.
Kurome Yatsu has shoulder-length hair in reddish black color, his skin is brown, his eyes are red like fire, inside each iris a yellow circle of thin thickness, he has the eyes of a dead fish and his mouth is half open, his hakama is an ocher tone with large circles, her kimono is of a tone called Pale Geranium, her sash is purple, right next to her is Theska Abunaga, a young woman with long hair braided in two navy blue pigtails, white skin, eyes light blue, her hakama is turquoise blue with drawn waves, her Keiko Gi is white, wearing a purple sash.
-Leave that idiot and come to house 10 Theska – shout some with the purple sash.
Yatsu: -... – with his mouth half open.
Theska: -rsrsr. – putting his hand in front of his mouth while laughing.
Azulo: -Terceira Casa, a Dan Kyoshi Hanna Kudan Sensei, sua Dan Renshi Yummi Sonza.
Hanna Kudanis a woman of short stature, slanted eyes with a square of very thin thickness in the iris, fair skin, black hair tied in a ponytail and a flower barrette, her eyes are a crimson rose tone, her hakama is of an ivory tone with a light flesh tone kimono with several drawn lotus flowers, his Renshi Yummi Sonza is a very young girl with fair skin, her wavy hair is zinc yellow, her eyes are cinnamon, her hakama is yellow, her Keiko Gi is white, both wear the green tone sash.
-Sensei Hanna marry me!
-I love you, Yuumi!
Yuumi: -You are doing well, Sensei. - smiling.
Hanna: -they disgust me. – looking disapprovingly.
Juji: -Wow. -looking at all the boys whistling at them.
Azulo: -Quarta Casa, o Dan Kyoshi Brew Horishima Sensei, e sua Dan Renshi Velonica Matsuno
Brew Horishima has short dark hair, black skin, black eyes with two straight white bands of very thin thickness on the iris, his hakama is black with white details, his Keiko Gi is slate gray, beside his Renshi Velonica with long straight black hair, madder tone eyes, brown skin, his hakama is orange with black spheres drawn, his Keiko Gi is white, both wear the red tone sash.
- This guy scares me. – scaring.
-Yeah, he's all obscure, and I'm from his house. – looking at Brew.
Azulo: -Quinta Casa, a Dan Kyoshi Asane Guren Sensei, e seu Dan Renshi Hyota Junjiro.
Asane Guren is the oldest woman there, her skin is fair, her hair is magenta tied back, her eyes are fuchsia with a triangle in the iris, large breasts, her hakama is purple with details in geometric shapes, her Keiko Gi is violet, her Renshi has dark gray hair and spiky, her skin is brown, eyes black, her hakama is a dark sepia tone, Keiko Gi white, both with an orange band.
- Mrs. Asane is amazing.
-She's really a respectable lady.
Asane: -Who are you calling an old woman! – screaming when hearing the name lady in his reference.
Hyota: -calm down lady Asane. - talking low.
Asane: - Madam, it's your mother! – yelling at Hyota.
Azulo: -Sixth House, Dan Kyoshi Kurada Heiz Sensei, your Dan Renshi Tabata Heiz who couldn't is here today.
Kurada Heiz is the man of the crows, from the night they took Wawa and Mileyde, shaving his long black hair with red tips from his face, his eyes are white with fine thick feathers in his iris, his hakama is a crimson red, his Keiko Gi is reddish orange, wearing a yellow belt, as his Renshi was not present, Azulo soon leaves for the next house.
Kurada: -Sorry for my wife's absence, she's indisposed.
- His wife is always like this.
- to reports who say they've never seen her even though she's been here for years.
Haru: -That's him, the guy from that night... the one who finished off the ogre with a single attack. – recovering from the night he saw Kurada.
Azulo: -Sétima Casa, o Dan Kyoshi Yudagai Tenzen Sensei, e seu Dan Renshi Byukai Dosen.
Yudagai Tenzen is the second oldest man among the Dan kyoshi, short stature, appears to be smoking a pipe, his skin is white, beige hair, his eyes are misty that you can barely see his iris, his hakama is a shade of agate green with drawn clouds, his Keiko Gi is a shade of grayish green, his Dan Renshi is a well-groomed, cultured and refined man, a little bald but notice his black hair, plump face, fair skin and black eyes, his hakama is of a raw umber tone, her Keiko Gi is white, love wear a blue belt.
-it is forbidden to smoke here the old cerniu!
- Drop that pipe!
Yudagai: -Oh yeah? Did not know. – taking another sip.
Byukai: -So you kill me with shame, sensei. – seeing that he continues to smoke.
Azulo: -eighth House, the Dan Stella Ijiro Sensei, and his Dan Renshi Marie Hatsune.
Stella is one of those who were there that night, her hair is blonde and very long until her ass, her eyes are yellow with stars in the iris, her skin is fair, her hakama is canary yellow with stars, her Keiko Gi is of a cadmium-lemon hue, her Renshi has light orange hair, aqua light eyes, and dull skin, her hakama is scarlet lake with white Keiko Gi, both wear the violet sash.
Stella: -May everyone have a great battle.
-yes sensei! - a boy screams loudly.
Emma: -So it's her... the woman from the Dokkōdō Kendo that night. -Stella Ijiro.
Azulo: -Nona Casa, o Dan Kyoshi Tao Tao Sensei, e seu Dan Renshi Zeni Fugetsu
Tao Tao is another of those who were in the night in the real world, his hair is long and braided in a single mold, of a deep cobalt tone, his skin is fair, his eyes are a sky blue om with rays in the iris, his body he is thin, very smiling with his hand always between his nose and mouth, his hakama is a peacock blue, his Keiko Gi is light blue almost green, his Renshi has bowl-shaped hair in a dark purple tone, his eyes they are black and brown-skinned, wearing two shinais, one on each side of their waist, their hakama is half black and half white, their Keiko Gi is white, both wear a white belt.
Tao Tao: -I am myself. - with his hand on his face.
Kakui: -the guy who sniffs hands...was also there. - looking at him with a face of disgust. -and keeps smelling the hand.
Azulo: -a decima casa, o Dan Kyoshi Senno Sanno Sensei, e sua Dan Renshi Toko Asiri.
Senno Sanno is by far the strongest body figure there, his hair is close to his head where you can barely see the color, his eyes are brown with a branch in the iris, darker brown skin, his hakama is terracotta brown, his Keiko Gi is a mossy green hue, her Renshi Toko is the shortest girl there, skinny body, barely visible breasts, has a big smile, copper hair, cinnamon eyes, fair skin, her hakama is white with a bister-toned Keiko Gi, both with a brown belt.
Senno Sanno: -I want to see everyone getting their dick!
Toko: -ahahahahha! You kill me with laughter Sensei.
Gyu: -I think this one doesn't quite hit the head. – referring to Toko.
Azulo: -and finally, the great leader of the 10 houses, the creator of this tournament, of the first house, Dan Hanshi Fukkasato Daisuke Sensei and the one who introduces you, Azulo Kasuki, Dan Renshi.
Thus appears the most imposing figure of that presentation, an old man with long gray hair, a white mustache, fair skin, closed eyes, his body is a little curved due to age, his hakama is white with golden Keiko Gi, on his waist the sash black in color.
Daisuke Sensei! – all Dan Renshi and Dan Kyoshi bow in respect.
The former speakers are now silent in front of that man, the respect for him that everyone has was visible, the man who is below the marus, responsible for the entire central circle, shows himself to be an incredible being just for his presence in that place, Fukkasato Daisuke, the golden dragon.
Daisuke: -as everyone knows, this year the Dokkōdō Kendo tournament has an important novelty, the 9 Dan Kyu of each of the 9 adjacent houses will have their positions at stake, those who best stand out will be chosen to remain, rise , go down, leave or enter one of these positions, so I wish you all a good performance and always follow the most valuable teaching left by our founder, the great Zanzin . – turning to a statue of Zanzin erected at the back of the room. -the duty and right of each Kenshi is to provide for life and eliminate the ogres even if it costs his life, always with honor and admiration for his shinai, guided by his hokkoshin, he reveals the way of the sword.
The crowd applauds Daisuke's lines, which soon after leaves the place and so, Azulo returns to the center of attention.
Azulo: -with these words we close the opening ceremony of the tournament, now I'll tell you how our 2 stages of the aptitude exam will take place this year. – picking up papers. -the first phase will test your skills in Dokkōdō Kendo, the second phase are fights between the kenshis to measure your skill with kenjutsu, by that I mean that the notes taken in the two phases formed a final average that will be used to analyze your position in the board of each kendo house, since we don't live only on grades, our Renshis analyzed their fights and will vote on who will be their 9 Dan Kyu, that is, those who best fit their kendo philosophies. - going to the center of the hall. - so I finish the information, go to the tables around and get your registration cards, let's start the tournament! – raising the shinai towards the statue of Zanzin.
Emma: -Looks like it won't be easy. – looking around at the faces.
Kakui: -This is going to be really good. – feeling every hokkoshin signature there.
Gyu; -Finally, I'm here. – with a clenched fist.
Juji: -focus, strength and faith in Zanzin. – closing his eyes.
Marin: -sister...wherever you are, we'll find you. – looking at Ohmoi who enters a corridor behind the statue.
Haru: -That's it, Grandpa – he bumps into someone as he leaves where he was. -excuse.
-I'm sorry… - He stops talking. -I don't think so, it's you, the same one from that day! - someone with serrated teeth speaks.