THR COMBAT 18

TAKUMI TSURUGI

The door creaked open as I entered the room, feeling the weight of the day’s events. Kiyomasa was already asleep, his form sprawled comfortably on his bed. The room was quiet except for the occasional rustle of fabric. I moved over to my bed, sitting down to remove my training boots with a weary sigh.

Just as I was about to relax, Shinji’s voice broke the silence. “You’ve improved,” he said, his tone surprisingly neutral.

I didn’t respond, focusing on my boots. After a few moments, Shinji spoke again, more pointedly. “How’s the wound on your neck?”

I glanced up at him, it was six months already and he was just asking me now, “You’re the one who gave it to me.” I reminded him.

Shinji’s eyes met mine with a flicker of defensiveness. “It wasn’t intentional.”

“Isn’t that what happens when you prey on the weak?” I countered, my voice tinged with bitterness. I turned to leave the room, feeling a mix of frustration and exhaustion.

As I reached the door, Shinji stood up from his desk and faced me. “The reason for our training isn’t just to fight each other,” he said, his voice carrying a seriousness that caught my attention. “It’s to prepare us for Ryujin Kuroba.”

The name hit me like a physical blow. Ryujin Kuroba. The name evoked memories of my family, the ones who had been murdered by the very enemy Shinji spoke of. My gaze fell to the floor, my heart aching with the weight of those memories.

Shinji continued, his tone softer but resolute. “We’re not enemies. We have a common foe in Ryujin Kuroba. He’s the one we need to focus on.”

His words hung in the air as I processed the revelation. The realization that Shinji and I shared a common enemy shifted something inside me. I raised my head, meeting his gaze once more but Shinji turned and walked out of the room, leaving me alone with my thoughts. I stood there for a moment, trying to reconcile the new understanding with my feelings of defeat and frustration.

I exhaled and headed to take a cool bath and relax, I had a long day.

The next day, the training ground was buzzing with anticipation as I faced Shinji once more. The crowd of students and mentors watched intently, their eyes fixed on the impending battle. I could feel the weight of their expectations and the pressure of proving myself.

I looked at where Rykeru Goro sat, his eyes were on me. I'd show him how I'd defeat Shinji.

I and Shinji stood opposite each other and after some announcement, the battle commenced. As painful as it was, Shinji took the initiative. His movements were swift and precise, overwhelming me with his skill and strength. Despite my best efforts, he forced me to my knees, his fake sword poised threateningly above me.

I was panting as I stared into his eyes. "What are you doing, Takumi?" He whispered and I raised a brow.

He frowned and just immediately, his voice cut through the tension. “If this is how you fight for your family’s revenge, they’d be ashamed. Ryujin Kuroba will take away everything that matters to you if you don’t improve.”

His words struck a deep chord. The frustration of my failures and the weight of my family's memory came crashing down on me. I cried out in anguish and in that moment of emotional upheaval, something within me changed. My eyes flared with an intense red glow, and a surge of power coursed through me.

My skills skyrocketed. The once familiar weight of the fake sword felt lighter and more responsive in my hands. I swung with newfound ferocity, my attacks now swift and devastating. In a series of powerful strikes, I managed to cut Shinji’s arm and push him back.

Before Shinji could recover, I struck again but Rykeru Goro countered, attempting to subdue me. "Stop him!" He shouted.

I watched Yumi pulled out her sword and dash towards me. But even as they tried to counter my relentless assault, my strength proved overwhelming. I pushed past them, defeating the Rykeru Goro who had been trying to contain me, and Yumi, who had stepped in to help.

My rampage didn’t stop there. I continued to fight, pushing through every opponent who tried to challenge me. The battle was chaotic, and my strength seemed boundless. Eventually, I defeated Shinji, Yumi, and several other students who had been called in for assistance.

The relentless combat took its toll on me. My vision began to blur, and my strength waned. The adrenaline that had fueled my ferocity began to fade. Exhausted and unable to sustain my heightened state, I collapsed to the ground.

The room fell silent, the crowd staring in shock as I lay there, unconscious. The intensity of the battle had left me drained, my body giving in to the exhaustion.

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