Ryuunosuke's smile widened, his gaze shifting between Kael and Jin, as if sizing them up for something far beyond what his cheerful demeanor suggested. "Good, good," he nodded, taking a step back. "Kael and Jin, huh? Who's your teacher?" His tone was playful, but there was something in the way he spoke that sent a chill down Kael's spine.
Jin chuckled nervously, scratching the back of his head. "Uh... Rudra."
At that, Ryuunosuke let out a soft, almost knowing laugh. "Oh, Rudra's students, are you?" His eyes gleamed mischievously. "So where are the other two? You should be a team of four, right?"
"They went to their rooms," Jin responded quickly, glancing at Kael. He tried to keep his tone casual, but there was a faint hint of unease in his voice. Something about the way Ryuunosuke was looking at them, like they were pieces on a board, was unsettling.
Ryuunosuke raised an eyebrow, his smile never faltering. "So early?" His eyes drifted over to Kael, and for a split second, the air around them seemed to tighten. "Well then," he muttered, almost to himself, his gaze sweeping up and down Kael's figure. "This kid... beaming with power."
Kael shifted uncomfortably under the scrutiny, his gut tightening as if Ryuunosuke was seeing right through him. Jin caught the look too, sensing the same tension, but before either could speak, Ryuunosuke's attention snapped back to Jin. "And you..." He stared pointedly at Jin's white hair, his tone now carrying an edge of curiosity. "Zaraki kid?"
Jin blinked, caught off guard. "No," he replied, shaking his head.
Ryuunosuke chuckled, patting Jin on the back, his hand lingering a bit too long for comfort. "Like I would believe that," he teased, his voice light, but there was something beneath it—a subtle sharpness, a probing. "Now then," he called out to the other side of the room, addressing his own students who had been silently observing the interaction. "I want two volunteers."
The murmurs among his students grew louder, a mix of excitement and tension rippling through the group.
"For what?" Jin asked, still on edge, shooting a glance at Kael.
"To fight," Ryuunosuke replied casually, his smile broadening as he looked at his students. "Who wants to fight these two?"
Both Kael and Jin froze, their confusion written plainly on their faces. "Wait, what?" Jin stammered, holding up his hands. "We don't wanna fight! We just came to watch!"
Ryuunosuke's eyes glinted, his tone suddenly firm, his playful demeanor vanishing. "You're fighting if I say so." His hand shot forward, grabbing both Kael and Jin by their collars before they could protest further, and in one fluid motion, he shoved them into the middle of the arena.
Kael stumbled forward, barely keeping his balance as he found himself standing in the center of the large training area. His heart raced, confusion and frustration flooding his mind. Jin, standing beside him, looked just as shocked, his usual easygoing demeanor replaced by an uncertain frown.
"Hey!" Jin shouted, glaring at Ryuunosuke. "We're not here to—"
"You'll fight," Ryuunosuke interrupted coldly, his eyes flashing with authority. "You don't have a choice."
Kael's muscles tensed as he looked around, his mind racing. Why were they being forced into this? They had only come here to observe. But the looks on Ryuunosuke's students' faces told him that refusing wasn't an option.
Kael clenched his fists, his gaze meeting Jin's. He could feel the weight of the situation pressing down on him—there was no way out of this. With a resigned sigh, Kael nodded, his voice low but firm. "We don't have a choice, Jin. Get ready."
Jin smirked, a flicker of his usual confidence returning. Without hesitation, he drew his spear from behind his back, the metallic hum of the weapon slicing through the tension in the air. He turned to Ryuunosuke, eyes gleaming with mischief. "Don't blame me if they end up getting injured," he said, twirling the spear once in his hand before planting it firmly on the ground. "I'm not holding back."
Ryuunosuke's smile widened, his eyes glinting with excitement at Jin's bold words. He crossed his arms, leaning back slightly as if preparing to enjoy the spectacle. "Good," he said with a grin that was equal parts challenge and amusement. "Go all out. Show me what you've got."
His voice carried an edge of anticipation, as if he was hoping—no, expecting—this fight to push both Kael and Jin to their limits.
Two familiar figures stepped forward from the group of Ryuunosuke's students. First was Daroii, the girl with the striking tail and fierce demeanor. She crossed her arms, her smirk only growing as she locked eyes with Kael and Jin. Her presence alone radiated confidence and power.
"I'll take them," Daroii declared, her voice cool yet commanding.
Beside her, Shun stepped up, the speedster who had been darting around effortlessly in their earlier fight. His grin was wide and energetic, his movements quick and lively as ever. "Count me in," Shun chimed in, waving at Kael and Jin with that same contagious enthusiasm.
Ryuunosuke smiled approvingly, clapping his hands together. "Daroii and Shun, perfect. Now let's see what they've got."
Daroii and Shun stepped forward, positioning themselves across from Kael and Jin. The arena's atmosphere crackled with tension as the four faced each other, sizing up their opponents. Daroii's smirk remained unwavering, while Shun bounced lightly on his feet, his usual energetic grin in place.
Kael shifted his stance, his body tensing in anticipation. Jin twirled his spear with a casual flair, though his eyes were sharp, focused on the two before them.
Ryuunosuke, standing at the edge of the arena, looked at both sides with an amused glint in his eye. "Alright then," he said, clapping his hands together loudly. "Begin!"
The sound of the clap echoed through the room, signaling the start of the battle.
The tension in the arena thickened as Daroii and Shun faced Kael and Jin, the atmosphere buzzing with anticipation. Ryuunosuke gave a sharp clap, signaling the start of the match.
Kael's hand instinctively tightened around the hilt of his sword as he stepped forward to face Daroii. Her tail flicked behind her, a clear sign of her readiness. Their eyes locked, both reading the other's intent. Daroii moved first, her form blurring as she closed the distance with a low, sweeping kick. Kael sidestepped, his blade flashing in a quick arc, but Daroii dodged it with agility, her tail snapping out to strike Kael's wrist.
He gritted his teeth, shaking off the sting as he pressed forward, launching a series of swift, precise slashes. Daroii danced around him, her movements fluid, as though she could read the path of his blade. But Kael wasn't just relying on brute force—his strikes were calculated, designed to corner her.
"You fight like a beast," Kael remarked, his sword arcing toward her shoulder.
Daroii smirked as she dodged, her tail coiling around his arm to yank him off balance. "You haven't seen anything yet."
With a quick twist, Kael broke free of her grip, his sword flashing again in a powerful diagonal slash. Daroii barely managed to block with her arm bracers, but the force of the blow sent her skidding backward. For a moment, the smirk faltered from her face, her eyes narrowing in concentration.
The two of them engaged again, Kael's sword clashing with Daroii's bracers in a flurry of sparks. For every slash Kael delivered, Daroii countered with swift dodges and blocks, but Kael's raw strength began to show. His strikes grew heavier, each one pushing Daroii further back, and though she adapted quickly, there were moments when Kael's power clearly overwhelmed her.
On the other side of the arena, Jin was struggling against Shun's relentless speed. The speedster blurred around him, darting from place to place with near-impossible agility. Jin's eyes could barely track Shun's movements, much less anticipate his attacks.
Shun appeared behind him in an instant, landing a sharp blow to Jin's back before vanishing again. Jin spun, his spear raised defensively, but by the time he swung, Shun was already gone, moving to another angle and striking again.
A sharp jab to Jin's ribs nearly made him drop his spear, but he gritted his teeth, holding on.
"Come on, Jin!" Shun's voice echoed from all directions. "You're too slow. Try to keep up!"
Frustration boiled inside Jin as he swung his spear, trying to catch Shun mid-dash. But each attempt was met with another hit from an unseen angle. His body was beginning to bruise, his muscles screaming in pain, but he refused to give in. He had never been this outmatched before, and it stung his pride.
As Shun rushed in again, Jin barely managed to raise his spear in time, deflecting the blow but stumbling backward from the impact. His breaths came heavy and ragged, beads of sweat forming on his brow.
Shun's taunts grew louder. "You'll have to do better than that, spear boy!"
Jin's mind raced. He knew he couldn't match Shun's speed, but he didn't need to. He just needed to predict where Shun would be. He closed his eyes briefly, trying to sense the subtle shifts in the air, listening for the faint sound of footsteps, the rush of wind that came before each attack.
There—another movement to his left. Jin reacted faster this time, spinning and thrusting his spear forward. The tip grazed Shun's shirt, missing his body by mere inches. Shun's eyes widened, surprised that Jin had even come that close.
"Getting better," Shun laughed, disappearing again in a blur. But Jin was ready now.
Jin's grip on his spear tightened as he planted his feet, lowering his stance. His mind felt clearer, the chaos of the battle sharpening his focus. He wasn't just reacting anymore—he was anticipating.
Shun came at him again, faster than before. Jin caught the movement, his spear spinning in his hands as he struck out to intercept the speedster. This time, the spear's shaft connected with Shun's arm, and the impact sent a jolt up Jin's arms.
Shun clicked his tongue, clearly frustrated. "Lucky shot."
But it wasn't luck. Jin could feel something inside him shift, the power in his body beginning to swell as if he were on the edge of unlocking something greater. His muscles felt lighter, his movements sharper. He wasn't fully there yet, but he was close—he could feel the second orbit of his Naadi pathway beginning to unlock.
Before Shun could react again, Jin pivoted, sweeping his spear toward the ground where Shun was about to land. The speedster was forced to halt his movement, narrowly avoiding the strike.
Ryuunosuke, watching from the sidelines, noticed the shift in Jin's posture, the sudden surge in his energy. His eyes gleamed with satisfaction, but before Jin could fully embrace this newfound power, Ryuunosuke clapped his hands sharply, signaling the end of the fight.
"Stop" Ryuunosuke called out, his voice echoing across the arena.
Ryuunosuke's eyes glinted with amusement as he focused on Jin, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. "Jin," he called out, his voice cutting through the heavy breathing of the fighters. There was something in his tone—an interest that hadn't been there before. "Come here for a moment."
Jin, still catching his breath, glanced at Kael before stepping forward. His body ached from the battle, but the adrenaline still pumped through his veins, and there was a faint glimmer of pride in his eyes after holding his own against Shun.
Ryuunosuke crossed his arms, looking Jin up and down as if assessing him. "You're on the verge of something, aren't you?" His smile grew wider, and for a brief moment, there was a flicker of intensity behind his usually playful gaze.
Ryuunosuke's smirk deepened, a mischievous glint lighting up his eyes. "Jin," he called out, his voice smooth and oddly comforting, despite the tension building in the room. "Do you know what we do when someone's on the verge of opening their second Naadi?"
Jin blinked, confusion flashing across his face. "No?"
At Ryuunosuke's question, all of his students took an immediate step back, their faces going pale. A collective sense of dread filled the air, as if they knew something Jin didn't. Kael, standing beside him, also took a few steps back, his body tensing as a memory flashed in his mind. He remembered what Rudra had done to him when he had been on the verge of unlocking his second Naadi.
Jin shot Kael a baffled look. "Wait... why are you stepping back?" His voice cracked with a nervous chuckle, sensing the unease growing around him but still not fully grasping the danger.
Kael's face was serious, but there was an undeniable flicker of amusement in his eyes as he met Jin's gaze. "All the best," Kael said, his voice calm but cryptic.
Jin's eyes widened, his confusion turning into panic. "What do you mean, 'all the best'?" he sputtered, taking a half-step toward Kael. "What's going on? Why is everyone—"
Before Jin could finish his question, a chill ran down his spine, the hairs on the back of his neck standing on end. He felt it—a sudden wave of murderous intent flooding the air, sharp and palpable. His body tensed instinctively as his senses screamed that something was terribly wrong.
Slowly, Jin turned around, his eyes widening in horror as he realized too late what was happening.
Ryuunosuke was already mid-motion, his fist cutting through the air with alarming speed, aimed directly at Jin's stomach. Time seemed to slow down in that instant. Jin's thoughts raced, a blur of panic and disbelief crashing over him.
Kael, you betrayed me! Jin's mind screamed in betrayal, his wide-eyed stare locking onto Kael's expressionless face in the background.
Then, Ryuunosuke's punch connected.
The impact was immediate and brutal. Jin's body folded forward like a snapped twig, his lungs forcing out a wheezing gasp as the air was knocked clean out of him. His spear slipped from his fingers, clattering to the ground as his legs wobbled beneath him.
Jin's vision blurred for a moment, stars dancing at the edges of his sight. All he could hear was the loud ringing in his ears and the distant sound of Kael laughing under his breath, though he wasn't sure if that part was real or just in his head.
Ryuunosuke withdrew his fist, chuckling softly as he watched Jin struggle to stay upright.