Warrior's Trial
The battlefield was silent, save for the labored breaths of exhausted warriors. The once-vibrant energy of the fight had dissipated, leaving behind nothing but dust and fatigue. Scattered around the training grounds, young warriors lay on the ground, their bodies aching from relentless combat.
In the center of it all stood Shinjori Sensei—a towering figure with sharp, unreadable eyes. His arms were crossed, his stance firm, completely unaffected by the intense battle that had just taken place.
"All of you should rest," Shinjori's voice carried through the field, strong yet composed. "After that, we will fight again."
Isan struggled to sit up, wiping the sweat from his brow. His breathing was uneven as he looked at the man standing before them.
"He's so fast… so strong… we're no match for him," Isan muttered, his frustration evident.
Yukari, standing nearby, nodded in agreement. "You're right, Isan. But what should we do now?" Her voice was firm, though the uncertainty in her eyes betrayed her confidence.
Ren, ever the strategist, clenched his fists. "We should fight him with a plan. Only then do we stand a chance of winning."
A determined silence followed. Despite their exhaustion, the three warriors exchanged glances, silently agreeing that surrender was not an option. They needed to find a way to defeat Shinjori.
The Plan
As the warriors caught their breath, they huddled together, whispering amongst themselves, formulating a strategy. The tension in the air thickened as they waited for Shinjori to return.
When he finally did, there was an unmistakable smirk on his face. "It's time," he announced. "Show me what you've got."
Without hesitation, Isan stepped forward, his hands glowing with energy. He knew he had to give it his all. Summoning all his remaining strength, he unleashed his most powerful technique.
"Take this! HEAVEN'S GALE CUTTER!"
A fierce gust of slicing wind erupted from his hands, tearing through the battlefield with incredible speed. The air itself seemed to scream as the attack surged toward Shinjori.
But in a blur, Shinjori shifted his stance—just slightly—and the powerful wind attack passed by him harmlessly, cutting through the training grounds instead.
Isan's heart sank. "He dodged it… like it was nothing."
A sinking feeling settled in the pit of his stomach. No matter how powerful their attacks were, it was as if Shinjori wasn't even trying.
A Cruel Challenge
Shinjori let out a sigh, his expression unreadable. "You all have failed this challenge."
Yukari and Ren froze in disbelief.
Before anyone could respond, Shinjori turned to Isan, his sharp eyes locking onto him. He then shifted his gaze to Yukari.
"Yukari," he said slowly, "kill Ren. Or I will kill Isan."
The battlefield, which had been filled with the sounds of combat just moments ago, now fell into complete silence. The words hung in the air, heavy and suffocating.
Yukari's eyes widened, her breath hitching in her throat. "W-What?"
Ren tensed beside her. Isan, still on the ground, struggled against his fatigue.
Shinjori's face remained stoic. "Your enemies will not hesitate to take hostages and force you into impossible choices," he continued. "So, tell me, what will you do?"
Everyone was in shock. The challenge had taken a dark turn, and now, it wasn't about battle—it was about their very morals.
The Real Test
Then, as if nothing had happened, Shinjori turned his back to them and walked a few steps away. Without looking back, he spoke once more.
"Ren and Yukari, you both can eat. Isan, you cannot." His voice was firm, unyielding. "If you feed him, I will fail all three of you."
With that, Shinjori left, locking Isan in a small, confined space before disappearing into the distance.
The night was quiet as Ren and Yukari sat with their meal before them. Neither of them spoke, their gazes drifting toward Isan, who was imprisoned not far from them.
"He hasn't eaten all day," Yukari whispered, guilt lacing her voice.
Ren frowned, gripping his food tightly. "This isn't right…"
Without hesitation, they both made their decision. Sneaking toward Isan, they broke their food into smaller portions and handed it to him through the bars of his confinement.
"You need this more than we do," Ren said firmly.
Yukari nodded. "We won't abandon you."
But just as Isan took his first bite, a shadow loomed over them.
Shinjori had returned.
The Lesson
His face was unreadable as he stared at the three of them. Then, his expression darkened, his voice sharp with disapproval.
"You have broken the rules."
A tense silence fell over them.
Then, to their shock, Shinjori's lips curled into the faintest hint of a smile.
"But… you pass."
The three warriors exchanged stunned glances.
Shinjori stepped forward, placing his hands behind his back. "There is nothing greater than friends in this world," he said, his voice softer now. "Those who betray their friends to pass a test can never become true warriors."
Relief washed over them. The test had never been about winning—it was about loyalty, about standing by each other even when it meant failure.
Shinjori turned away, his figure illuminated by the moonlight. "Rest well. We will meet again tomorrow."
As he disappeared into the night, the three warriors smiled at each other, knowing that, despite everything, they had won something far greater than any battle.
They had won each other.