Author's Note:
To all past readers, I've made some revisions and polishing previous chapters from chapter 1 and to the latest chapter, so I suggest you check them out again for a more immersive experience. I also changed Kael's name to Jin because I realized Kael was kind of a generic name.
To new readers please enjoy and support my story
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The soft-spoken, kind of clumsy kid who always said sorry and gave shy smiles was no longer there. Instead, there was someone new—someone a bit intimidating and determined.
Jin stepped up, his shadow extending in the fading light of the late afternoon sun, taking up space and commanding attention.
"Stop talking trash about my mother, Tanaka-san," he said, his voice low and edged with intensity.
In that instant, the usual warmth in his eyes disappeared, giving way to a sharp, intense focus that seemed capable of cutting through anything. His laid-back vibe faded, replaced by a tense anger that made his shoulders stiff. When he finally looked at Kenji, the playful grin he'd had a moment ago was gone, and all that was left was a serious expression.
"I'm prepared to accept your challenge. There are lines you simply cannot cross—especially when it comes to my mother, who sacrificed everything for my sake."
Taking another step forward, he held Kenji's gaze without flinching.
Kenji felt a knot of anxiety forming in his chest and throat. Trying to shake off the uneasy feeling, he let out a dismissive snort, stood a little taller, and tilted his chin up, squinting his eyes in a fake show of confidence.
"Tch. Trying to act all tough now, huh? Alright then. Let's see if your sword can truly back up the trash you're talking about," Kenji retorted, although deep down he knew he was trying to mask the sudden surge of fear creeping into his heart.
Kenji clutched his wooden sword a bit tighter, his heart racing with a hint of nervousness he'd never confess to.
At the same time, his buddies, Takeshi and Ryo, dashed off toward the academy's inner garden paths, laughing like there was no tomorrow. Their playful cackles bounced around the garden as they sprinted, having a blast in the heat of the moment.
With a self-satisfied grin, Takeshi leaned toward a nearby student, his voice dripping with enthusiasm. "Tanaka-sama is going to absolutely clean Tsurugi! He's going to knock him flat!"
"Hey! There's a duel happening in the gravel court!" Ryo shouted excitedly toward some classmates perched on the second-floor terrace. "Tsurugi Jin is about to get wrecked!"
Like moths drawn to a flame, students began to gravitate toward the courtyard, some still clutching half-eaten bento boxes, while others eagerly activated their AR recorders, capturing the unfolding drama.
Amid the buzz, one girl adjusted her smart lenses and whispered to her friend, "Isn't that the same guy they say defeated Park Jimin? I thought it was just a tall tale."
Her friend simply rolled her eyes, dismissing the notion. "He probably just got lucky."
Amidst everything happening, Kenji stood confident, soaking up the spotlight. Every time a new onlooker showed up for the upcoming duel, his grin just got bigger and even more pleased with himself.
"Perfect! This is just the audience I need to finally show you your place, Tsurugi," he declared loudly enough for those gathered to hear.
Jin, on the other hand, didn't seem worried at all. If he was scared, he was hiding it pretty well under that chill attitude of his. He kept his eyes fixed on the gravel at his feet, then quickly glanced at Kenji, the kid who had dissed his mom's name without a second thought.
Kenji dramatically lifted his wooden bokken like it was some kind of badge of honor. "Remember this moment, Tsurugi! Everyone here will always recall the day your face met the ground!"
Even with the tense vibe in the air, Jin stood firm, calm and collected. There was a weird shift happening around them; it was like Jin's presence was weighing down the atmosphere, and his breaths became slower and more intentional, radiating a sense of icy resolve.
The once excited buzz of the crowd quieted down as if the sunlight filtering through the trees was pausing in respect.
Jin walked over to the practice weapon rack with smooth, purposeful strides and picked up a simple wooden bokken. It was nothing fancy, just well-used and shiny from all those hours of practice. Gripping the familiar weapon, it felt like he was gearing up not just for a fight but for something really important.
On the flip side, Kenji was enjoying his sense of power, tightly clutching his sword. He swung it through the air, making dramatic arcs that showcased its balance while wearing a wicked grin.
As the gravel crunched under their feet, the tension ramped up. Kenji struck an impressive jodan-no-kamae stance, raising his bokken high with a bold confidence. He looked sharp and ready, a testament to all the serious training he had undergone with his private instructor, his eyes narrowed in anticipation.
In complete contrast, Jin stayed relaxed, adopting a neutral chudan-no-kamae with his bokken at his waist. He wasn't focused on Kenji's intense stance or the weapons they held; instead, his gaze wandered past Kenji's shoulder, unfocused yet somehow tuned into every little thing happening around him.
"Get ready, you bastard!" Kenji growled with a ferocity that sent a chill through the air, and without any hesitation, he lunged forward.
*WHOOOOSH!*
The hit landed on Jin out of nowhere—quick and intense, right on the top of his head, meant to finish things off in one hard punch that could break bones. Kenji shouted his battle cry as he swung his wooden sword through the air with powerful energy, showing just how determined he was.
"YAHHHH!"
Jin wasn't new to this kind of situation; he picked up on the danger way before Kenji's attack hit. Just seconds before Kenji brought down his serious weapon, Jin caught a weird tingle on his head and felt this strange buzz in his mind. It was a clear sign—his instincts were screaming at him, telling him to move.
So, without even thinking about it, his body responded smoothly. He shifted his weight and got ready in a seamless way. Instead of taking Kenji's powerful strike directly, Jin lifted his bokken to block the blow. With a quick twist of his sword, he managed to deflect the hit right in the nick of time, sending Kenji's weapon flying off in the direction where Jin had just been standing.
"Tch!" Kenji grunted in frustration, his eyes alight with a fiery rage at having his powerful attack so effortlessly countered.
Even though he faced a setback, Kenji was tough as nails, and his comeback was seriously impressive. You could really see his skill with the sword as he turned that mishap into a slick move, launching a flurry of fast and fierce strikes. His bokken was like a blur, swinging across to target Jin's ribs, firing off quick jabs aimed right at his chest, and finishing with some heavy overhead chops that looked like they could really pack a punch.
*WHOOSH-CRACK-SLAM!*
Each strike was infused with raw power and delivered with a pinpoint precision, creating a relentless barrage that aimed to drown his opponent in a torrent of fury and technical skill. For most fighters, such an unyielding offense would likely be insurmountable.
However, for Jin, the chaos unfolded in slow motion. Time stretched and expanded around him as Kenji's assaults crashed in like waves of rage, heightening Jin's awareness in a way that felt almost surreal. He could perceive more than just the sword; he could discern the underlying purpose behind each swing—a skeletal framework of intention that seemed to rise invisibly from Kenji's body before each strike, outlining the direction and power behind the impending blows.
With an agile swaying motion reminiscent of a tree bending in the wind, Jin narrowly evaded the horizontal slash that sliced through the air mere inches from him. The rush of the blade passed so close that it sent his hair blowing in its wake.
As Kenji followed with a direct thrust aimed at his chest, Jin was already prepared. His bokken shift into position, deflecting the attack harmlessly aside, sending it sliding diagonally past his shoulder, leaving him unscathed amidst the storm of fury that Kenji unleashed.