Ishin's mind went blank as fear overtook his consciousness. His heartbeats thundered in his chest like a banging drum. Time seemed to slow down as he swung his sword. Shivering, Ishin emerged from his daze, realizing that his sword was still in his hand but stuck in mid-strike. He slowly looked up from the tsuka(Katana handle) to the blade.
What he saw was hopelessness, as the blade of his sword had landed on Hakuryoku, but there wasn't even a single scratch on his skin—only his guard outfit was cut. Hakuryoku, who typically always seemed dazed or in a trance, was now staring at the pitiful Ishin with a wide grin.
Ishin's posture slumped slightly, the weight of despair bearing down on his shoulders. His eyes, filled with a mix of shock and resignation, locked onto the undamaged skin of Hakuryoku. His grip on the sword weakened, his fingers trembling as he struggled to comprehend the futility of his strike.
After all, he had put every bit of his strength into his attack. Why has he not died yet? Why is he still standing? Why... why am I so weak? The questions that usually seemed easy to answer now seemed clouded and impossible. Ishin continued to look up at Hakuryoku with teary eyes, his teeth still gritted.
Hakuryoku's grin widened, his crimson pupils gleaming with amusement. His previously vacant expression was now sharply focused, a stark contrast to his usual demeanor. He stood tall and unyielding, his presence exuding a menacing confidence. "Is that all you've got, child?" he asked, his voice dripping with mockery.
"Even if you are stronger than me, so what? I... I have changed. I am not what I was in the past. I will never let you step into my home. You have to go through me first," Ishin said, his breathing growing heavier, each breath a ragged gasp as he fought to steady himself. His legs felt weak, barely able to support his weight. He looked up at Hakuryoku, his face a mask of despair.
Hakuryoku moved a step forward. Ishin, seeing a chance to cut his throat, maneuvered his sword from Hakuryoku's left shoulder, making a quick slash. Ishin felt weak; he himself didn't have any confidence in his swing. His swing just contained his amends to his past regret. He just didn't want to die without trying.
Hope... he hoped as his sword touched Hakuryoku's neck, but Ishin was only met with despair as the blade of his katana stopped by Hakuryoku's neck.
Silence.
There was stillness and silence in the hall of Goddess Alpame's shrine. Hakuryoku grasped Ishin's shoulder with one hand. Ishin was in a state of disbelief and despair as Hakuryoku returned to his usual state. The insignia vanished, remaining only on the tip of his hair. His crimson red pupils disappeared, his eyes once again appearing blurry.
Ishin, seeing this, felt as if the air that had been compressing him vanished. His instincts, which had been screaming that the man in front of him was dangerous, disappeared as if there was no one in front of him at all.
Ishin's eyes, still filled with remnants of fear and confusion, searched Hakuryoku's face for any sign of lingering threat. His teeth, which had been gritted tightly, gradually unclenched. The overwhelming sense of danger dissipated, replaced by an eerie calm. Ishin felt a strange emptiness, as if the oppressive presence had simply vanished into thin air.
Hakuryoku's expression was now placid, almost indifferent. He released Ishin's shoulder and took a step back, his movements unhurried and serene. "You have spirit, young one," Hakuryoku said softly, his voice carrying no trace of the previous menace. "But remember, strength is not just about power. It's about knowing when to fight and when to step back but what you did today is truly courageous."
"Would you like to become my disciple?" Hakuryoku asked, his hands behind his back, standing straight in front of Ishin, who wasn't much shorter than him.
Ishin closed his eyes and took deep breaths to calm himself down. Wiping his tears, he opened his eyes with a polite smile. Ishin cupped his hands and bowed. Hakuryoku followed and did the same.
"I refuse."
"What?" Hakuryoku shockingly raised his head.
"Get lost, old man," Ishin said nonchalantly. He turned and went to sip water from the gourd he brought and wiped his sweat while Hakuryoku simply kept staring at Ishin's carefree behavior. 'The more I see you, the more you seem to intrigue me,' he thought.
Hakuryoku moved closer to Ishin, sitting beside him. "You are an interesting one," he said quietly, more to himself than to Ishin. "Don't you think that I would be offended by your harsh words and kill you? Or that you're missing the opportunity to train with someone stronger than you?" Hakuryoku asked, glancing at Ishin with one brow raised.
"I just felt that you wouldn't be offended by me being honest," Ishin replied, his voice steady.
"Felt?" Hakuryoku scoffed. "So you just gambled your life because you felt like it? Young people these days surely are stupid."
"Can you just leave so that I can have peace of mind?" Ishin said, his tone tinged with frustration.
"I will, if you become my disciple."
"Not happening."
"Can I ask you why?"
Ishin sighed deeply. "Whoever you might be in our clan, I am getting trained by Sensei Renjiro Akatsuki, who has been training me since I was eight. We have been taught the Akatsuki style of fighting, which over the years I have become most accustomed to. If I suddenly become your disciple, what will you teach me? A new style of fighting? That would be like learning to walk again. No matter how strong you are, it would just be a waste of time for me, especially with my examination coming soon."
Hakuryoku giggled softly. "Reasonable. But when did I say that I was going to teach you a new fighting style?"
Ishin turned to Hakuryoku with a "then what?" look on his face, annoyance written all over his face.
"Do you know why, throughout your clan's history, the elders' descendants are always stronger than the normal seekers?" Hakuryoku asked.
Ishin's brow twitched, unable to control his annoyance at Hakuryoku's long talks. "Please make it short."
"Sigh, young people these days don't even have patience," Hakuryoku said, standing and walking in front of Ishin. Noting Ishin's annoyed expression, he continued, "Fine, what I want to teach you is essence techniques."
"Essence techniques?" a confused Ishin repeated Hakuryoku's words.
"Yes, the techniques that are very essential to a seeker's growth. For example, do you know Takeshi of your clan? He is the most powerful youth in your clan, isn't he? Why do you think that is? There are a lot of essence techniques in this world, but seeing you train, I have the exact technique in mind for you. Would you still keep rejecting?"
Ishin pondered for a couple of minutes. "If it doesn't waste my time and truly makes me strong, then I don't have any objection. But I still don't even know your name."
"Didn't I introduce myself before? I am Hakuryoku the—"
"Undying master. No ones believing that," Ishin interjected, his tone skeptical.
Hakuryoku simply extended his hand. "Give me your sword."
Ishin, not knowing why he was asking, passed his sword to him.
Hakuryoku unsheathed the katana, then with a swift swing, severed his own head. Ishin's eyes widened in shock as the blade cut through Hakuryoku's neck, and his head tumbled to the ground.