As the sun reached its peak, Shinjiro engaged in sparring sessions with members of the Vali Team. Kuroka, Arthur, and Vali took turns facing him, each bringing their unique fighting styles to the fray.
Kuroka's movements were fluid and unpredictable, her feline grace making her a challenging opponent. She circled Shinjiro with a playful smile, her eyes sparkling with interest.
"Nyaa, you're pretty strong, Shinjiro," she teased, her voice a melodic purr as she dodged his strikes with ease. Each of her movements was a blend of elegance and lethal precision, making her a difficult target to hit.
Shinjiro's eyes narrowed, his focus sharpening. He adjusted his stance before launching a series of rapid punches, each one aimed at predicting Kuroka's next move.
Kuroka twisted and turned, her body moving like a shadow. She leaped into the air, landing gracefully behind Shinjiro and delivering a swift kick aimed at his side. Shinjiro blocked it just in time, the force of her kick sending a shockwave through the ground.
"Not bad, but you'll have to do better than that," Kuroka said, her grin widening. She closed the distance between them, her claws glowing with a dark energy as she swiped at Shinjiro.
Shinjiro ducked and countered with a powerful uppercut, enhanced by his Touki. Kuroka barely managed to deflect the blow, her eyes widening slightly in surprise.
As their spar continued, Kuroka's playful demeanor shifted to one of genuine respect. She could see Shinjiro's potential and was intrigued by his unyielding determination.
Between exchanges, Kuroka's teasing grew more personal. "You know, Shinjiro, a man with your strength and determination is quite attractive," she purred, her eyes locking onto his with a glint of mischief.
Shinjiro, focused on the fight, grunted in response but couldn't help but notice her growing interest. The thought lingered in his mind, adding an unexpected element to their intense sparring session.
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Arthur's swordsmanship was precise and formidable, each swing of Caliburn cutting through the air with deadly intent. He faced Shinjiro with a calm and focused expression, his blue eyes locked onto his opponent.
"Focus, Shinjiro. Anticipate my moves," Arthur instructed, his voice steady and authoritative. He lunged forward, Caliburn glowing with a brilliant light as he aimed a strike at Shinjiro's torso.
Shinjiro parried the blow with his forearm, the impact sending a shockwave through his body. He could feel the immense power behind Arthur's strikes, each one calculated and relentless. He countered with a series of quick jabs, aiming at Arthur's exposed sides.
Arthur moved with fluid grace, deflecting each of Shinjiro's attacks with precision. "You're improving, but you need to refine your technique," he advised, his voice calm even in the heat of battle. He launched a rapid series of strikes, forcing Shinjiro to adapt and react with equal speed.
Shinjiro gritted his teeth, pushing himself to keep up with Arthur's relentless assault. He delivered a powerful punch aimed at Arthur's chest. Arthur sidestepped at the last moment, but Shinjiro's follow-up kick connected, sending him skidding back.
Arthur smiled, a rare expression of approval on his face even with his hands shaking from the impact that his sword bared.
Their sparring session continued, each clash of sword and fist echoing through the training ground. Shinjiro's respect for Arthur grew with each exchange, recognizing the skill and wisdom behind his calm exterior.
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Vali's combat style was a mix of raw power and strategic brilliance. He faced Shinjiro with a confident smirk, his silver hair gleaming in the sunlight. "Show me what you've got, Shinjiro," he taunted, his voice filled with challenge.
Shinjiro's eyes narrowed, his body tensing in preparation. He charged at Vali delivering a series of powerful punches. Vali met each strike with equal force, his movements swift and precise.
Vali's eyes glinted with excitement as he pushed Shinjiro to his limits. "You've gotten stronger, but can you keep up with this?" he asked, his voice rising in intensity. He activated his Sacred Gear, Divine Dividing, and wings of light sprouted from his back.
"Let's see how you handle this," Vali said, his voice echoing with power. He moved with blinding speed, appearing behind Shinjiro in an instant and delivering a powerful kick that sent him flying.
Shinjiro crashed into the ground but quickly recovered, his body healing rapidly. He stood, eyes blazing with determination.
Vali's smirk widened, appreciating the challenge. "Good, but not enough," he said, raising his hand. "Divide!" he shouted, and a wave of energy hit Shinjiro, halving the touki enhancement he had since the beginning of the fight.
Shinjiro gritted his teeth, feeling the sudden drain of his strength. He charged at Vali again, his movements more calculated and precise.
Vali countered with a barrage of energy blasts from his wings, forcing Shinjiro to dodge and weave. "You're quick, but let's see how you handle this," Vali said, summoning a massive sphere of energy above his head.
"Vanishing Dragon Balance Breaker!" Vali declared, and his armor of light enveloped his body, increasing his power exponentially. He launched the energy sphere at Shinjiro with devastating force.
Shinjiro let out a deep breath, and his back muscles contorted grotesquely as his Demon Back activated, veins bulging and a malevolent aura reinvigorating him. The energy sphere hit him with tremendous force, but Shinjiro's enhanced physique allowed him to withstand most of the damage. He stood his ground, his muscles rippling with strain.
Vali's eyes sparkled with excitement as he landed in front of Shinjiro. "You've got guts, I'll give you that," he said, admiration in his voice. "But can you handle this?" He lunged forward, his fists glowing with energy, and delivered a series of rapid, powerful strikes.
Shinjiro met each blow with equal force, his body pushed to its limits. He could feel the difference in their power levels, but he refused to back down. He channeled his strength into his fists, delivering a powerful punch that connected with Vali's jaw, sending him skidding back.
Vali laughed, clearly enjoying the challenge. "You're not bad, Shinjiro. Keep pushing yourself," he encouraged, his voice filled with genuine admiration. "But remember, in a real fight, I wouldn't hold back."
Their sparring session continued, each clash of their powers echoing through the training ground.
After the sparring sessions, he practiced martial arts drills relentlessly. Each movement was executed with deadly precision, his muscles moving fluidly as he combined his martial arts techniques with Touki. He struck targets, his fists and feet moving in perfect harmony, leaving a trail of destruction in his wake.
The afternoon brought extreme conditioning exercises. Shinjiro stood in a clearing, holding massive weights in uncomfortable positions for hours. His muscles trembled with the strain, but he did not falter. His face remained stoic; his mind focused on pushing his limits.
Next, he subjected himself to pain tolerance exercises. He stood under a freezing waterfall, the icy water pounding against his body. He endured extreme heat, standing in the middle of a blazing inferno, his skin sizzling off but healing quickly after. He fought through the pain, his mind overriding the natural instinct to recoil. This relentless conditioning made him impervious to discomfort, a true testament to his Hanma heritage.
As the day ended, Shinjiro consumed a meticulously planned high-calorie diet to fuel his intense training. His meals were frequent and substantial, consisting of high-protein foods like eggs, lean meats, and fish, complemented by complex carbohydrates and vegetables. Each meal was designed to maintain his energy levels and promote muscle growth.
Despite his brutal training regime, Shinjiro understood the importance of recovery. He spent his evenings in deep meditation, sitting cross-legged in a quiet room. He focused on his breathing as his muscles repaired and strengthened as he meditated, ensuring he was ready for the next day's training.
Shinjiro's training resulted in a physique and level of strength that were nothing short of monstrous. His muscles were incredibly well-defined, and his endurance seemed limitless. Despite the immense physical strain, he put himself under, Shinjiro's cold nature and Hanma bloodline allowed him to continue without flinching, showing a true Hanma's resilience.
During one of his training sessions, Azazel observed Shinjiro's progress.
"You've become a true monster, Shinjiro. Your natural strength and endurance are beyond anything I've seen possible by any human being surpassing a lot of supernatural beings as well," Azazel remarked, impressed.
"It's never enough. I must keep pushing, keep getting stronger," Shinjiro replied, his voice devoid of emotion as he lifted another set of weights with ease.
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Flashback end
"Here are the fallen that were part of Raynare's group. They had rogue exorcists with them and a Sacred Gear extraction device. I sent it to the other lab; I didn't know if it was useful or not," said Shinjiro as he pointed to the pile of fallen on the floor.
"It's not that useful. There are well-known methods to extract Sacred Gears, along with their dangers," replied Azazel.
"I heard you're going to be training the Gremory Heiress along with her peerage. Finally listening to my advice?"
"Your advice was nothing but enjoying the finer things in life with women, drinks, etc."
"I want to meet her brother through her and try to get involved with her. Like I told you before, I want to restore my bloodline, and I think she would be a good candidate."
"Don't let Penemue hear that."
"She already did, and it went great."
"Well, I'll take these out of your hands and discipline them as their leader. Don't cause a headache with the devils, please."
"I won't start it…hahaha," laughed Shinjiro as he left the office, leaving Azazel with the fallen.