It had been three weeks since my last clash with Shinra, he was now in Core Establishment Stage 5, and I broke into Stage 1. There was still quite a big gap between me and him but with the help of the skill vein of vitality, I was slowly catching up to him in cultivation level.
Still, the competitive fire burned strong between us. Our rivalry had evolved into something more than just fighting for strength;
It had become a silent agreement.
No matter the difference in our abilities, we were each other's constant measure of progress, the ever-present reminder that we weren't alone in this relentless journey to get stronger. And I would never stop pushing to keep up, even if he outclassed me at every turn.
The training grounds were deserted this early in the morning, except for the two of us. The ground beneath us was damp from the morning mist, and the faint rays of dawn barely touched the earth.
Our bodies moved in near-perfect synchronization, each punch and block a calculated step toward something greater.
Shinra's form was a blur of precision as he closed the distance between us, his movements flowing with the grace of someone who had mastered every muscle in his body. His right fist shot forward with explosive speed, aimed directly at my chest.
I deflected it, my arms shaking under the force, but his relentless onslaught didn't pause. He followed up with a spinning kick aimed at my head, a move so fluid it seemed choreographed. I ducked just in time, feeling the air whoosh above me as his heel grazed my hair.
My heart raced, pumping adrenaline through my veins. The gap between us was immense, it wasn't a battle with swords just a hand-to-hand battle using old-fashioned martial arts and our instincts.
I surged forward, using the momentum from my duck to launch myself at him with a low strike. Shinra's eyes flickered, recognizing my attempt, and he immediately countered, his leg sweeping beneath mine. I barely managed to twist out of the way, my body slamming into the ground with a harsh thud, the world spinning for a second.
"Is that all you got?" He said mockingly as he started to dance around with his feet.
Annoyed with a grunt, I pushed myself back to my feet, wiping the blood from my lip. The sting only fueled me more. I had to adapt, fast. His style was clean, sharp, and relentless, but it lacked unpredictability. That was where I could strike.
I closed the distance again, this time pretending to attack with a wide punch. Shinra reacted immediately, his body shifting as he prepared to block,
but I was already moving—sliding into a low stance and launching a sweeping kick at his feet. It wasn't as powerful as his, but the angle caught him off guard. His balance faltered, just for a second. That was all I needed.
Before he could recover, I surged forward, slamming an elbow into his ribs. The impact sent a shockwave of pain through my own arm, but the satisfying grunt that escaped Shinra's lips told me I'd landed a solid hit. I saw the faintest flicker of surprise in his eyes. He didn't expect me to get that close.
Shinra stepped back, his chest heaving slightly, but his eyes were brighter now, focused. "You've learned a few new tricks."
I chuckled but I didn't reply. I couldn't afford to be distracted.
Instead, I pressed forward, throwing a series of blows to test his defenses. He blocked each one effortlessly, but I could see the tightening of his muscles as he prepared for a counterattack. He was slowing down, and I knew this was my chance to force him to overextend himself.
Shinra's leg shot out like a whip, aiming for my head again. I ducked, anticipating it, but what I didn't expect was his other leg to come crashing down from above. His knee slammed into my shoulder, sending a shock of pain through my body. I staggered, unable to regain my balance in time, and before I knew it, his fist was in my face, a blur of motion that left a sharp, stinging pain across my jaw.
I hit the ground hard, gasping for air, my vision swimming as I tried to shake off the dizziness. He was fast. Damn fast.
Shinra stood above me, his chest still heaving but his expression calm, almost detached. "I can end this any time, you know."
I forced myself to stand, my body protesting every movement. The pain was sharp, but it was a familiar companion. The sight of me always getting up never annoyed him, it just made him more excited.
The next moment, he was already next to me ready to throw a wide punch.
Then something shifted. I saw it—a flicker of hesitation, a subtle break in Shinra's form as he shook out his right hand, a twinge of discomfort crossing his face. It was the same thing that happened during our battle before, nevertheless, I seized the opportunity, diving in with a quick strike to his right arm.
Shinra flinched, and in that instant, his usual counter was a fraction too slow. He tried to use his right hand to block, but the strain caught him off guard, leaving an opening I couldn't resist.
My strike landed, and I felt the force jar up his arm, numbing his dominant side, at least for the moment. But Shinra was no quitter. He threw a left hook out of nowhere, one I barely had time to block. The impact sent me stumbling backward, my defense barely holding up. Pain radiated through my arm.
I replied slightly surprised, "Damn, that's one hell of a left hook, it was as strong as your right one"
Shinra grinned back, a flash of pride in his eyes as he adjusted his broken right arm to its place and just like that, we were ready for more.
Bruised, bloodied, but exhilarated, we took up our stances again for one final attack. Cyan-blue and golden ki flared from our arms as we charged at each other, the energy between us pushing us beyond our limits.
Both of us dashed towards each other as the impact from our legs left a mark on the repaired training ground again but just as our fists were about to connect, a strong grip stopped both of us cold.
I froze, realizing someone had caught our punches in mid-air. Kiba stood between us, his sleeves torn from the impact, yet he didn't look fazed in the slightest.
"What do you two think you're doing?" Kiba's voice was laced with irritation, his tone making my skin prickle.
Shinra and I exchanged sheepish glances, a bit of nervous laughter bubbling up as we both muttered, "Just…some light sparring."
Kiba gave us both a look that could have made rocks tremble. "It's four in the morning. No training is scheduled today. Why are you two even here?"
I scratched the back of my head, trying not to look as guilty as I felt. "Uh… we were bored?"
Kiba let out an exasperated groan, clearly frustrated. "Bored, huh? If you're bored, go read a damn manga or something. The training ground just got fixed from the last time you two wrecked it, and now you're back here again, bright and early, just to destroy it all over again. You're interrupting my damn sleep. Just go home."
I tilted my head, confused. "What's a manga?"
Kiba's exasperation finally boiled over. "GO HOME!"
I waved a hand in surrender and followed Shinra out of the training grounds, heading to the infirmary for some bandages and ointment. We'd definitely needed them.
After getting ourselves all bandaged up we went back to Shinra's house to freshen up
The moment we reached Shinra's house, the rich aroma of fried pork cutlets hit us as soon as we stepped inside. My stomach growled in response.
Haruka, Shinra's mother had outdone herself.
As we entered, I spotted someone already at the dining table, stuffing his face with cutlets like he hadn't eaten in days.
Shinra sighed his expression one of pure annoyance. "what are you doing here, Kenjuro?"
Kenjuro, mid-bite, looked up at us, bits of cutlet hanging from his mouth. I nearly chuckled as Shinra recoiled, clearly grossed out by his terrible table manners.
"Couldn't miss out on your mom's cooking," Kenjuro replied with his mouth full, earning a disgusted look from Shinra.
"Can you believe this guy?" He tried to ask me, he looked beside him but I was not there.
I already had settled at the table and stuffed my mouth with a cutlet. It was delicious, crisp on the outside with tender, flavorful meat inside. Shinra looked at me, palming his face, and continued to sit beside us as Kenjuro continued eating like a man possessed.
As he took a breath between bites, Kenjuro noticed the bandages on Shinra's arm. "What happened to you?"
Shinra glanced at me and shrugged. "Just a spar with Ryojin. Kiba showed up and yelled at us, though. Said 'We need to rest more'."
Haruka, who had overheard, nodded in agreement, crossing her arms with a look of authority. "He's right. Rest is just as important as training. You're both young, and there's more to life than fighting all the time."
Shinra protested. "But what about the guild?"
She dismissed his concern with a wave. "That's the adults' problem, not yours." She turned to me, smiling. "Ryojin, you haven't had a chance to see the city yet, have you? Why don't we all go together today?"
Kenjuro's eyes lit up. "Hey, that's a great idea!" He nudged Shinra, who gave a half-hearted shrug, but I could tell he didn't mind the thought of a break.
After we finished eating, we got ready to go. As we set out, the sun was beginning to rise, casting a warm glow over the city in the distance.
It was the first time I'd ventured out since my reincarnation, and everything felt new, strange yet familiar. I couldn't shake the weight of memories from my past life. The last images I'd seen were of destruction, and chaos—a world lost to war and fire.
I remembered watching Zaratraz and his army tearing through cities, even Arcane City, which had once stood as a symbol of strength and unity for the guild. A pang of guilt hit me.
How much of that destruction was my fault? The mistakes I'd made haunted me, pressing down on me as I tried to shake them off.
Just then, Kenjuro shook my shoulder, pulling me back to the present. "Wait a second… You seriously don't know what manga is?"
I blinked, a bit taken aback by the question. Then, seeing his expression, I slightly smiled.
I'd been so wrapped up in the past, in the memories of what I'd lost, that I'd almost forgotten the here and now. I had a second chance.
This was my world now.
Yeah, I smiled, as time passed I got more comfortable with my emotions.
Kenjuro started explaining manga with an almost contagious enthusiasm, going on and on about stories, art, and characters. I nodded, listening with genuine interest as we made our way into the city.
The city itself was a shock. I hadn't been sure what to expect, but the place felt alive. It wasn't the grand Arcane City of my memories, but it was decent, vibrant even.
The buildings, the people, the energy in the air—it was different but not disappointing. But something was unsettling about the place. It didn't match any part of the Arcane City I remembered.
Turning to Haruka, I asked, "This is Arcane City?"
She shook her head, her voice almost a whisper. "No, This is Eldoria, a neighboring city."
Confused I asked her why we hadn't gone to Arcane City instead.
Her expression grew somber, her voice barely audible. "Because… Arcane City is no more."
what in the actual fuck??