"Well then, how shall we do this evaluation?" Terry asked, quite confident in whatever they were asked to do.
"Anything but actual fighting; there are many other ways to assess the quality of students besides fighting." At that moment, Dash emerged from behind a group of students and bowed to the evaluators.
"What are you doing here?"
Dash looked at Daniel and asked, "Who do you think evaluated your dojo? Both martial arts schools have the history to deserve to be in that tournament; of course, avoiding fights would be ideal."
Dash's gaze swept over Daniel and Johnny's students, who were behind them; at least only the most outstanding were present if this were to be a carefully managed battleground.
"And isn't your school considered?" Johnny was confused.
Gunter, at that moment, said, "Oh, ha, ha, ha, I forgot to mention it, but Sakura Bushido is in the tournament."
These words left everyone silent, so what were they doing here? If there's a dojo in this place within the Sekai Takai, there would be no need for another evaluation, but that question answered itself.
"Sakura Bushido will be mostly represented by students from China; I recommended both schools because I wanted to evaluate them." Dash was sincere in his words but stepped aside not to influence the evaluation.
Gunter turned to the sensei and said, "Let's begin with the simulated combats of your best students."
"What's that about simulated?"
"Fights without causing harm, swift and strong, simulating a battle without an actual opponent." Dash mentioned the ways in which simulated combat was the simplest form to evaluate students.
Few knew what Dash was referring to, but he would demonstrate for everyone to understand better. "Just let yourself be carried away by the blows without explaining anything."
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Three blows were thrown into the air at a moderate speed; his strikes were gentle, but the wind broke the silence, generating great displays.
Dash continuously glided gracefully through space; his movements were like a dance, but everyone could see the legality in each of those impacts.
Thud! Thud!
With each strike in the air, his energy seemed to rise; his body became a torrent of controlled power under strength and agility.
As for his kicks, each one was being directed at an increasingly sigh-inducing height.
Very few knew that simulated combats were a spectacle of skill and strategy, where each fighter demonstrated their proficiency in knowledge and endurance.
"Stop!"
Gunter was the first to applaud and said, "Phenomenal as always, thank you for demonstrating."
Dash nodded and took the milkshake that Mrs. Kim had handed to him, who was standing beside him smiling. "I would have loved to have been your teacher."
"I'm sure it would have been just as amazing and unique, but your fighting style doesn't really appeal to me," Dash thought, giving her a courteous nod.
"Begin!"
Dash sat at a table and watched as the best students from each dojo performed their demonstrations. The special thing about all this was to take everyone out of their comfort zone; the way they always did things would not win them a tournament.
Tory was very talented; in just one year, she had shown much more than anyone else. Now she was much more talented; Dash, who knew her economic situation, gave her a scholarship that would help her pursue her dreams without sacrificing so much.
Dash had learned to give many things to those who needed them, as he appreciated life more than anyone.
"That's enough; we have made a decision," Gunter said, who had been observing the history of these two schools for a long time.
"Since we value your intentions, we have decided to give each dojo a spot to participate in the upcoming Sekai Takai tournament." Gunter was clear that he would choose both dojos since they were the best he could find besides another one he had chosen.
Dash knew this, but he didn't say anything; he just bid farewell to the evaluators and stayed watching the rivalry of the students from both schools.