Tetsu sat on the edge of the recovery bench, shirt half torn and bandages wrapping his chest. He winced as a medic dabbed antiseptic on his shoulder—but his eyes were locked on Kaede and Eri, who walked toward him.
Kaede crossed his arms. "I'll admit it, that new kinetic combo of yours… pretty great."
Tetsu beamed. "You really think so?"
Eri gave a small smile, but her tone was sharper. "Yeah… both of you. You've come far. But that final clash—either of you could've died if Kael didn't pull that hit."
Tetsu's smile faded, replaced by a quiet blush. He glanced away, heart pounding not from the fight, but from the way she looked at him—worried, eyes soft, voice trembling ever so slightly.
Kaede noticed, muttering under his breath, "He's definitely gonna think about that all night…"
The crowd's cheers suddenly surged again as the announcer's voice echoed:
"Next match… Ryuu Takashi vs… Kyoushiro!"
A hushed murmur rippled through the arena.
"Kyoushiro? Who?"
No one knew the name. No school ID, no known guild. Just… Kyoushiro.
From the far side of the arena, the old man stepped forward. His long gray hair tied in a knot, black robes flowing with gold trim, a calmness in his stride that made the battlefield feel like home.
Ryuu stretched his arms, cracking his knuckles. "Old man… if they let you in, I'm not going easy on you."
Kyoushiro simply nodded. "Good. You shouldn't."
Ding!
The match began.
Ryuu didn't hesitate—he vanished in a blink, sword gleaming with a crimson energy surge. He slashed from above—
—Kyoushiro tilted slightly, and the blade missed by inches.
Ryuu landed, spun, and launched a flurry of fast jabs, footwork clean, refined—
But Kyoushiro was like water. He dodged every strike with grace, not a single wasted movement, hands behind his back the entire time.
From the stands, Kael narrowed his eyes. "He's not just dodging… he's reading Ryuu's rhythm. Like he's seen it before."
Eri added softly, "No openings. That's not an amateur. That's experience."
Ryuu skidded back, frustration showing. "You gonna fight or just dance around?"
Kyoushiro smiled gently. "When the blade is wild, the storm must wait."
Ryuu's eyes burned. "Then I'll be the storm."
As they clashed once again, sparks flew, and the energy of the battlefield spiked—both speed and pressure intensifying. Ryuu refused to back down.
But the old man didn't break a sweat.