The wind whispered calmly through the trees, rustling the grass.
The tranquil scene was juxtaposed with the clash of metals, as dagger met sword in a flurry of clangs and sparks.
Akari stood confidently in front of a towering tree, her arms crossed and a hint of a smile playing on her lips.
Kaito, Mizuki, and Kuro stood behind her, their eyes fixed intently on the sparring duo.
"They're doing good," Akari said with a chuckle, her gaze flicking back to her companions.
Meanwhile, a few miles away in the heart of the forest, Ryujin swung his left saber in a swift arc, aiming to strike Yukiko. But she leaped into the air and landed on the saber's blade, her feet bare and her toes curled around the edge.
Ryujin's eyes widened in surprise as Yukiko smiled sweetly, her eyes sparkling with mischief.
In a fluid motion, she kicked him in the face while executing a backflip, her body arcing through the air like a crescent moon.
Ryujin crashed into a nearby tree and as Yukiko descended, her eyes widened in alarm, her gaze fixed on her leg.
A dragon symbol was etched into her skin, pulsing with a fiery energy.
Her eyes snapped up to meet Ryujin's, who was grinning from the ground.
"Ablaze," he whispered, his voice barely audible over the rustling leaves.
In an instant, a flame tornado erupted, engulfing Yukiko in a vortex of fire and smoke.
Kaito's eyes widened in alarm. "What was that?!" he exclaimed, his gaze fixed on the distant flame tornado.
"He can manipulate heat signatures," Kuro explained, his legs crossed as he sat on the grass.
"Those dragon-shaped flames are his trademark. He can control them to burn his targets in various ways."
Kuro's eyes gleamed with a manic intensity as he punched the ground. "He caught me off guard once, but I'll make sure he pays for it."
Kaito's eyes narrowed,. 'Heat signatures...' he thought, his gaze drifting back to Akari.
Mizuki's voice cut through the air. "Akari, Yukiko is still injured. Why did you send her to spar with Ryujin?"
Akari's face went blank, she turned toward them, her eyes widening in realization. "I forgot," she admitted, her voice laced with shock.
Kaito and Mizuki erupted into a chorus of disbelief. "You forgot?!" they yelled in unison.
Meanwhile, Ryujin stood tall, his feet shoulder-width apart in a battle stance. His fists were clenched, his arms tense, and his eyes blazed.
Within the flame tornado, the base of the tornado began to freeze, Ryujin's eyes widened in shock, but he didn't hesitate.
He charged towards the tornado, a fireball growing in his hand. As he jumped into the air, he clenched his fist, shaping the flames into a fiery gauntlet.
Yukiko emerged from the tornado, her bandages burnt and her clothes singed.
Her top was partially burnt, revealing a glimpse of her bosoms, and Ryujin's gaze flickered towards her before he looked away.
She encased her hand in ice, creating a gleaming fist.
The two combatants clashed, their fists meeting in a shower of sparks.
The collision of fire and ice unleashed a blinding white light, followed by a deafening explosion that shook the forest.
The gust of wind generated by the blast sent Akari's haori dancing in the air, but it remained tethered to her body.
As the light faded, the scene came into focus, revealing Yukiko and Ryujin lying on the ground, their bodies splayed in opposite directions.
"Guess they're done..." Kaito said, scratching his head as he gazed at them.
Ryujin refused to yield. With a grunt, he began to move his torso, his arms trembling as he struggled to rise.
"I can't stop here... I need to finish this," he growled, his eyes fixed intently on Yukiko.
Mizuki's eyes widened in disbelief. "He's still going?!"
Yukiko, still lying on the ground, echoed Ryujin's sentiment. "I have to... I have to..." she yelled out, trying to stand but faltering.
Just as Ryujin seemed about to push himself up, Akari appeared beside him, her hand on his shoulder. "Stop right there both of you!" she commanded, her voice firm but gentle.
Mizuki and Kaito exclaimed in shock, their voices overlapping in a chorus of surprise. "Huh?!"
Akari's expression turned serious, her eyes locked on Ryujin's. "One more push and you'd overload..." she warned, her voice laced with concern.
Ryujin's face twisted in frustration, but he eventually nodded, taking a deep sigh.
Akari smiled, turning to face the others with a thumbs up. "Match over!"
Kaito's brow furrowed in confusion. "What'd she mean by overload...?" he wondered aloud.
Akari's eyes sparkled with realization. "Hmm?!" she wondered aloud, her voice tinged with surprise.
"I haven't taught them?!" She chuckled, shaking her head in amusement.
"Alright, everyone! Back to base, we've got a new lesson to cover - Climax!" Akari announced, her smile radiant as she crossed her arms.
Ryujin's body went limp, and he fell back onto the ground.
The others stared at Akari, their faces etched with confusion. They exchanged wondering glances.
"Climax?" Kaito repeated, his brow furrowed in puzzlement.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
Mizuki leaned in, her voice barely above a whisper. "Don't we know what Climax is already?"
Akari's smile only grew wider, her eyes glinting with knowing. "Yes and not quite"
"Head back and we'll see"
With that, Akari turned and vanished into the forest.
"Where is she going?!" Mizuki asked, her voice laced with concern, as she pointed in the opposite direction. "Isn't the base that way?"
Kaito shook his head, his eyes scanning the trees.
"I have no idea..." he admitted, his voice trailing off into the silence.
The group stood there, frozen in uncertainty.
Ryujin, still lying on the ground, gazed up at the trees, his eyes narrowed in thought.
Yukiko, meanwhile, slowly got to her feet, her eyes fixed on the direction Akari had taken. "I think we should follow her," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Don't, she'll be back..." Kaito said,
"Let's go back to base..."