-This is your first training session. I was hoping we'd reach Tokita to start formally, but I'll show you some initial moves—the Fire Kata. Pay attention; this is one of the most dangerous katas if not used properly," Niko commented, swiftly maneuvering like a demon across the field, striking three of the masked figures with powerful blows.
Niko's powerful voice echoed.
-The second kata is Redirect, - he continued, harnessing the opponents' power and returning it with double intensity—a kata that reminded Kei of Aikido and all the teachings from Roshi, Kovac, and Takemoto. It requires incredible kinetic vision and delicate physical control.
Kei spotted a sword aimed at his face and, drawing on his experience, dodged the strike, countering with numerous powerful blows directed at his opponents. He felt the wooden mask crack under his fists, which were fast and technically precise. Niko observed Kei's punches and considered him an expert fighter, but to a grandmaster, he was just a student due to his age and training time.
-Great boxing skills, Kei. You do your master proud," Niko said after defeating all the masked assailants. Kei refrained from robbing the defeated, who fled for their lives. Niko shook his head; there was something primal in the fight, akin to a struggle with beasts—every blow delivered with desperation rarely seen.
-Stare at my feet, - Niko instructed. - You need to use your toes and heels in sync—the key is in the footwork. We'll work on this, but the Niko style is about flowing with the technique, leaving no room for anything but your imagination. It's called the Fire Step or Flash Fire, - Niko explained briefly, demonstrating the kata slowly and up close.
-Yes, Master, - Kei replied, clearly overwhelmed. Seeing Niko fight, he understood—he was being trained by one of the most powerful masters in the world, using a style so deadly that those who wielded it cunningly were among the strongest. At one point, he saw several versions of Niko; above the step was the delicacy of its use and the training to endure such a burden.
They walked through the tunnel for some time until they reached a staircase with a trapdoor above it—a seemingly abandoned playground with grass overgrown and signs of bullet impacts.
They continued until evening fell, Kei feeling hungry and exhausted. They had walked all day and fought some characters, and for the first time, Kei understood the danger and toll of living here, both physically and mentally.
-We're skirting borders and now crossing slightly more dangerous terrain. Surprising as it may seem, crossing this ground on any given day is risky, - Niko commented, entering the city. He felt eyes on them as people around observed their slow walk, wearing nothing but a cloak and worn-out shoes, their pace deliberate.
As the sun began to set, Niko led him to an abandoned building. Both fell silent; there wasn't much to say, and Kei conserved his energy, remembering only one person—Runna, his little princess with red hair who always smiled with such innocence, a special person. Someone for whom he would give his life. Niko was calm but highly observant, noticing from the first moment all of Kei's behaviors. He seemed older for his age, akin to an older adult who remained silent and took nothing for granted. His gaze was tranquil when he saw the weapons, displeased when he saw the slaves, saddened when he saw the human meat—each evoking profound sadness.
Both dozed off with an evident symptom of paranoia until the sun settled over their heads, sleeping on the hard asphalt. Kei stretched his arms, missing the forest.
They took a long route through the city, filled with alleys, and walls—an urban maze of symmetry and an unrealistic notion of uniformity. They reached the exit, and Niko greeted anyone who looked at him with a smile.
-Now that we're out, we need to run as fast as possible, - Niko said.
Kei nodded, still wearing his training gear. The 30-kilogram weight on his body became heavier, causing him to stop after an hour of running.
-Use the weight as momentum. Every time they pull you back, swing your arms like pendulums and walk forcefully like this, - Niko instructed, teaching him the principles of the Water and Redirection kata. It's based on flexibility and fluidity of movements—if he can use the weight to his advantage, the training will improve.
-Try moving like this—right arm with right leg, left arm with left leg, - Niko demonstrated a quick movement. - Once you get that, shorten the movement and use the weight to your advantage. -
They continued running until dusk. This time, Niko pulled out nutritional bars and a paste—with insects. - It's rich in protein, - he responded.
Kei ate the insects without caring about the taste or potential poison.
-There are no animals here, but plenty of insects. You can eat as much as you want to fill your stomach, - Niko said, his voice opening into a smile.
Taking a small puddle of water and unearthing it revealed a place teeming with caterpillars, which Kei reluctantly tasted, feeling like he would almost vomit. Breathing slowly, he ate until he was satisfied, although his hunger remained.
-I hate caterpillars, - Kei remarked.
-Hahaha, Ohma said the same thing. I'll take you to have some soup to get rid of the bad taste when we reach Niko. I know that area better, and of course, in Tokita, there's a place that makes dishes with corn and rice—we can eat until we're full, as long as we're in Tokita, - Niko said.
Kei stood up. -Shall we train? -he asked.
-Of course, let's do that, - Niko replied, clenching his fists as a sparring signal. Life in the interior was only beginning, and Kei's life as Niko's pupil led him to understand many things, especially not to question what he had—even if this life had deficiencies, there were greater shortcomings, a deep fear about what had happened.
-Use the weight, Kei. Redirect, - Niko instructed, observing Kei's tired fists, his body's movements, and his attempts to use the weight to his advantage. Kei tried all night but couldn't accomplish it. He collapsed almost at midnight, exhausted—it was the first time he experienced the limit of fatigue, even if he was scared, falling into a deep sleep.
***
Berserker and Shiba had a morning training session, exchanging punches back and forth with the right amount of force. Shiba's punch hit Shogo hard enough to make him tremble under the canvas, visible with his karate protection and mouthguard, boxing with lightweight gloves suited for underground arenas.
-You've improved by leaps and bounds, - Shiba commented.
Shogo's heavy breathing prevented him from responding for the first two minutes. He wanted to say something but focused on the fight. When he fought, he entered a state of madness that moved his thoughts and blocked his vision—his anger was the best way to exceed his limits.
-Why was Kei sent to train with that man to improve? - Shogo asked, visibly annoyed. He felt the gap between Kei and himself widening without pause, and this precedent was becoming more apparent and generating dissatisfaction.
-Hmm... Perhaps for Kei, it's more of a necessity. He has an absurd impulse to become strong; it seems more like a belief, turning his life into training. If you notice, even his way of reacting to going to class is training... He's a damn bastard. Besides, the Niko style isn't for you. Your thing is boxing, kid. Trust in your martial art, push it to its limits, and create your moves. Your talent is outstanding; aspiring for mastery is a step, but your need is in fighting. Your ideology is to fight, but there are moments when you disconnect from that, like when we play pachinko or cards, - Shiba commented, leading Berserker to a chest where there were 15-kilogram weights for arms and legs, along with a screw armor designed to enhance muscles.
Shogo smiled. So, his issue wasn't about talent but ideology. What did Kei think, what crossed his mind to react in such a way?
...