Cyrus stood in front of his doorway and sighed. He opened the door and stepped into the comfort of his home. Inside, he faced the familiar pieces of furniture: his couches, which were positioned in the middle of the living room, facing the lonely TV that he had stopped using a long time ago. Cyrus didn't really entertain himself with distractions as much as he used to.well ... except when he watches anime after work but he rarely does it anymore.
"I should probably prepare before going up against whatever is waiting for me at the park..."
With these thoughts in mind, he marched past his living room to his backyard. Before opening the door to step outside, he picked up a familiar wooden sword and then stepped out.
Cyrus was always stronger than the average person, and even that would be an understatement of his strength. He was capable of smashing stone with his bare hands and turning concrete into dust with multiple slashes from his sword. But that didn't mean he could afford to underestimate his enemies. That's why he had convinced himself to do a thousand slashes with his wooden sword—to be ready when his class had to go to the amusement park.
***
After the thousand strikes, Cyrus was covered in sweat. As he put his sword down, he took a look at the sky and thought:
"These guys again..."
The fence of his backyard started to tremble, even though there had been no wind announced today. Winds were rushing into his backyard from every direction, and then, just as suddenly, they stopped.
"Cyrus Miravine! I've come here to finally have my revenge on you!"
The angry voice came from a spirit with an afro, resembling a gangster straight out of the eighties. He was a spirit Cyrus had beaten up before, known for terrorizing ordinary people around the city by possessing them and committing petty crimes using their bodies.
"Oh, it's you again… Didn't I tell you to stop terrorizing people and move on with your soul cycle? You really are a pain to deal with…"
The angry gangster with the afro picked up a wooden staff, pointed it in Cyrus's direction in rage, and said:
"As if I know how to do that! But there's at least one thing I do know, Miravine—it's how to beat people up!"
Spinning his wooden staff in his hand, it looked as though a mini storm had formed in the backyard.
"Because I wouldn't have been called Bokujō no Tatsu for nothing!"
Unimpressed, Cyrus looked at the spirit and said a rude but honest word:
"No one called you that… In fact, most people who did probably grew out of their rebellious phase."
Then he saw the wooden staff move so fast it looked blurry for a second. He effortlessly dodged the incoming attack and picked up his wooden sword as he moved.
"But I can help you grow out of that phase so you can move on in your cycle, if you want, Umeboshi…"
A wide grin appeared on Umeboshi's face as he spun his wooden staff once again in the air.
"How nice of you, Miravine, but I've always had a liking for doing the opposite of what I'm told."
Cyrus tightened his grip on his wooden sword and said nonchalantly:
"What a manchild thug you are. Fine, maybe after I beat you up, you'll grow up."
They both flew at each other, with Cyrus moving at a speed that could only be matched by the speed of sound. He swung his sword at Bokujō no Tatsu, who responded by blocking the attack, only to be pushed back toward the backyard fence at great speed, leaving a wide hole. He was now lying on the street and thought:
"I was able to block his attack, and he still pushed me down the street. Seriously, what's wrong with this kid?!"
He then heard a distant voice from where he once stood.
"You owe me a new fence, by the way."
It was Cyrus, with his wooden sword resting on his shoulder, looking as composed as ever.
Umeboshi looked at the sky, his face distant, then let out a small chuckle.
"You're funny. How can I repay you? I'm dead."
He then stood back up with difficulty, picked up his wooden staff from the ground, and faced Cyrus.
He thought for a moment before answering the thug:
"Then you just have to repay me in some other way... Plus, money has little value to us shamans."
Bokujō no Tatsu then let out a laugh.
"Money has little value to shamans? I guess that's why you see so few of them in the current day, because I wouldn't have bought all my beautiful bikes without money!"
He then sprinted in Cyrus direction and threw a blow at Cyrus chest, which he blocked with his sword. Cyrus was slightly pushed back and thought:
"He's gotten stronger since the last time I saw him."
He then responded by swinging his sword at Umeboshi's chin, causing him to struggle to stay standing.
"Temporary pleasure never follows you in the grave, Umeboshi. Look at you—years after your death, your tormented soul still can't move on with its cycle."
"Like I care if I'm tormented or not! This is the path I gladly chose. I'll continue to have a blast century after my death, Miravine. But responsible brats like you will never understand us, punk, huh?"
He then swung his wooden staff where Cyrus was standing. As Cyrus blocked the attack with the necessary force to deal with Bokujō no Tatsu , the wooden staff overpowered him, sending his wooden sword crashing to the ground with such force that it left a small cavity in the street.
"I will beat you up like anyone who has lectured me in the past!"
"Is that so?"
Cyrus overpowered Umeboshi, sending his staff flying past his head. Umeboshi managed to catch his flying staff before he was completely powerless, and the battle between the shaman-in-training and the manchild punk intensified.
chapter five end