Meanwhile, at the Hashido Estate, Mira was heading to the training grounds to watch and assist Kato with his training. On her way there, she crossed paths with the Imperial Guard, who were en route to answer a call from the elders. The Imperial Guard was made up of four formidable Shadows: three men and one woman.
Daemon Evans (Age: 23)
Aisha Randrich (Age: 24)
Rio Shushan (Age 26)
Doma Arikata (Age 25)
These were the members of the imperial guard and they were led by Doma Arikata who was the strongest among all of them. They were formidable shadows in their respective clans and were personally picked by the elders to be their protective guards who would protect the elders and go on personal missions for them. This mission would require them to slaughter innocent lighters, humans and shadows who didn't cooperate with them.
However, since Ervin Hashido decided to properly involve himself in the affairs of the shadow society, the missions the Imperial guard had to go on were reduced drastically. Just like the elders, the imperial guard believed that the only way for the shadows to live peacefully was for all humans and lighters to be utterly culled. But since Ervin Hashido wanted to create a world where all beings could live peacefully, his involvement in their affairs had put a stop to the slaughtering of innocents and the elders and the imperial guard disliked Ervin Hashido for this. And because they hated Ervin Hashido, they also hated anyone related to him by blood.
So by extension, they hated Mira as well because she was Ervin Hashido's daughter but the one who hated Mira more was Doma Aritaka and he bullied her when she was younger. But now Mira had grown past them.
Needless to say, the interaction they were about to have was not about to be a friendly one.
Doma: Oh? It's the half ass brat.
Mira: (ignoring his insult) Nice to see you too Doma.
Doma: So, how's the new guy doing?
Mira: Huh? What are you talking about?
Doma: (annoyed) Don't play dumb. I'm talking about Kato Hamura. He's been here for three months and can't even manifest the God Eye that was destined for him. What an insolent fool. I don't know why the elders even allowed him into the Shadow Society. Then again, anything involving your bloodline ends in tragedy and catastrophe.
The other members of the Imperial Guard laughed as Mira kept her composure and began to walk away.
Aisha: We see you always watching Kato Hamura train every single day like the creep you are. (gasps) Are you perhaps in love with him?
Rio and Daemon: (burst into laughter)
Doma: I guess she did inherit something from her father after all. Both of them fall in love with weaklings who have no value.
Mira's composure began to crack at their words.
Mira: (coldly) YOU BETTER BE CAREFUL ABOUT THE NEXT WORDS YOU'RE GOING TO SAY.
Aisha: (mockingly) Uh-oh she's angry.
Doma: Or what? You wanna go at it right here right now?
Mira: (sighs) You know your techniques would never work on me right?
Doma: Won't it? Guess we'll wait and see how long we'll hold out then.
Doma's hand began to gather beads of shadow energy as he prepared to strike, but before he could, he felt a hand on his shoulder. He turned to see Kenji standing behind him.
Kenji: That's enough now Doma. Besides, you should know by now that your techniques won't work on her.
Doma: (shrugs off Kenji's hand) TSK! I don't need you to tell me that, you piece of trash.
Kenji: (sighs) Call me a piece of trash one more time and I'll hit you so hard that you won't have time to feel it.
Doma looked at Kenji who stared right back at him for a few seconds before finally deciding to back off.
Doma: (to the rest of the imperial guard) Let's go. We have more important things to do than waste our time here.
Kenji and Mira watched the imperial guard as they walked away.
Mira: (annoyed) Those guys just piss me off!!! Who do they think they are!?
Kenji: Lowlives like them are the reason I never joined the Imperial Guard when they asked me. Anyway, you were heading to watch Kato's training, right?
Mira: Yeah.
Kenji: Why do you watch him train every day? Are you—
Mira: (cuts him off) I'm heading out then. Are you coming?
Kenji: (smirks) Yeah.
Both of them headed to the training grounds, where they found Arou, Isaiah, Ervin, and Uta already observing Kato's progress.
Isaiah: (notices them) Oh, you guys came.
Kenji: Yeah, I just wanted to see how Kato's doing. As for Mira—
Ervin: She never misses a day. She's always here.
Mira: (cartoonish face) Shut up, you stupid dad!
Kenji: (laughs)
Isaiah: (smiles)
Kenji: So how's Kato doing?
Arou: He's been doing great actually. He's drastically improved. It's actually amazing.
Mira: (smiles)
Kenji: For real?
Arou: Yeah. But he does have one problem though.
Mira: Huh?
Isaiah: Hmmmm.
Kenji: What problem.
Ervin: Well, you see, Kato's problem is...
Chapter 38: Resistance & Improvement
As the training began, Kato and Roshi faced off in a friendly battle to test the hand-to-hand combat techniques Arou had taught Kato, and the Shadow Rush technique Roshi had taught him.
Both Kato and Roshi took the "TURTLE HERMIT" fighting stance. Both opponents had their eyes locked on each other and prepared themselves for battle and that was when Kenji noticed the bandages Kato had tied around both of his hands.
Roshi: (smilies at Kato) Show me what you've got, young blood.
Kato: (clenches his fists) Right!
The fight began. Kato threw a kick with his left leg, but Roshi blocked it with ease. Kato followed with another kick, which Roshi blocked again. Kato closed the distance and threw punches with both hands, while using his right leg to strike Roshi's left side. Roshi blocked all of Kato's attacks.
Roshi stepped back, and Kato rushed forward, throwing a punch with his left hand. Roshi deflected it and countered with a blow from his left hand. Kato dodged and landed a strike on Roshi's left side. The battle continued like this, with both fighters landing blows, blocking, and evading attacks.
Roshi then retaliated by throwing a massive punch at Kato with his right hand but Kato dodged it and was able to land another blow on Roshi's face using his left hand to punch him. But then Roshi attacked again with his left hand heading towards Kato's face and Kato used his left arm to block the attack. Roshi tried to use his left arm to attack further but Kato dodged it and landed another blow on Roshi's face using his left hand.
This shocked everyone including Roshi himself who didn't think that Kato had grown this much.
Kenji: (surprised) Oh. He really is good.
Mira: (smiles) Yeah he is.
Isaiah: He's landed three hits on Roshi already.
Arou: (cartoonish face) I taught everything he needs to know.
Ervin: (smiles) This kid is full of surprises, huh?
Meanwhile, both Roshi and Kato were smiling at each other because they were happy with the way the training was going. Kato felt more confident in himself and was determined to continue.
Roshi: (smiles) Not bad young blood. But now is the time to apply pressure.
Roshi suddenly began to attack with both of his arms and put Kato in a position where he had to constantly be on defense or he would take multiple blows to the head. Kato kept on blocking and when he saw an opening, he landed yet another blow on Roshi using his left hand. But Roshi responded immediately by landing his own blow on Kato's face with his right hand sending him to the ground.
Kato stood up immediately and attacked Roshi's legs using his right leg. Roshi blocked it and tried to throw another punch at Kato but then just when the blow was about to hit, Kato jumped and kicked Roshi in the chest and pushed Roshi back by four steps.
Roshi regained his balance and began to throw punches at Kato who kept on blocking and dodging them. Just as Kato was about to land another blow, Roshi kicked Kato in the chest and he began to stagger and before Kato could regain his footing, Roshi jumped and kicked Kato in the chest twice sending Kato to the ground once again.
Kato stood up once again and Roshi began to attack him with multiple blows and he had no choice but to block all the attacks. Roshi began to corner Kato and then Kato responded by kicking Roshi in the face with his right leg sending him to the ground as well.
Roshi: (grinning) Well, this is getting interesting. You're putting up a good fight, young blood. Now, let's see you do it. Use the Shadow Rush technique on me.
Kato: Huh!?
Mira: Huh!?
Kenji: Oh….
Isaiah: What is he thinking!?
Kato: Are you sure Mr Roshi? You told me how much damage it causes….
Roshi: It'll be fine. Just trust me. Do it.
Kato gathered shadow energy into his right hand as Roshi prepared for the attack. The Shadow Rush technique, developed during the war between Shadows and Lighters, allowed those without natural techniques to fight back. Shadow energy is normally light blue and it turns black when it is being compressed. By compressing shadow energy in a particular part of the body, its impact of the attack is doubled.
With the energy compressed in his right hand, Kato and Roshi rushed towards each other. Roshi threw a punch with his right hand but Kato deflected it with his left hand. While still in that state, Roshi tried to punch Kato with his left hand but then Kato deflected it with left hand again. With that, Roshi's frontal torso was wide open and then.....
Kato: [BLACK: SHADOW RUSH]
Kato hit Roshi's torso with the shadow rush using his right hand which surprised everyone. The impact was massive, knocking Roshi back.
Kenji: He did it huh?
Mira: (smiling) That was amazing Kato!!!!
Ervin: He's come a long way from the way he was a few months ago.
Kato Hamura had grown significantly since he joined the shadow society three months ago and everyone who watched and witnessed the training could testify to that. Kato had taken the first step in becoming stronger by learning his first shadow technique.