Once I was a great, invincible warrior, and no one dared to stand in my way. I traveled the lands searching for a worthy battle. Until, I discovered the gates of shadows. I defied the laws of the elders and opened the gates. The demons of the other world were beyond them. They rushed up on me, tearing my flesh, draining my soul, turning me into a shadow. And now, for eternity, I am doomed to wander the world and fight the demons I've freed.
Sensei sat cross-legged on the wooden floor outside his dojo, the grain rough beneath his palms as he meditated. The faint scent of incense curled through the air, mixing with the sharp, clean smell of polished wood. Outside, the wind rustled the leaves of the nearby bamboo grove, carrying with it the faint hum of insects settling for the night. Suddenly, a chill wind swept past, extinguishing the candles flickering on the low altar before him.
His eyes snapped open. The soft rustle of fabric and a faint ripple of air alerted him to a presence—an otherworldly being standing just beyond the threshold.
"Well, well, my vain disciple and strongest pupil has returned, and without a physical body it seems. How unfortunate for you," Sensei said, the disappointment clear on his face as he gazed at the vague silhouette before him.
"You are nothing but a shadow now. No flesh, no bones, just an outline formed from your opaque body. You had left my dojo seeking greater power and to test your limits as a swordsman and warrior — which I didn't approve of. So you left the dojo without my consent, and you didn't heed my countless warnings."
Sensei's voice grew stern. "What's even worse, you defied the laws that the elders had put in place for the future generation. You opened the gates of shadows, didn't you? Freeing the demons that were bound and trapped in the shadow realm. However, what you didn't expect was that the consequence for opening the gates was going to be the loss of your physical body."
He paused, lowering his head. "I had failed you as your teacher, and you have failed yourself as a person," Sensei said, watching the faint, wavering aura emitting from his student.
Then his eyes narrowed with sudden curiosity. "What's this? You are nothing more than a shadow now, and yet, I sense great potential within you. I wonder…"
Sensei stood slowly, the wood creaking under his weight. "Come with me into the dojo."
Shadow followed behind silently as Sensei entered the building. The sliding doors scraped softly as Sensei pushed them open, revealing the dimly lit training space inside. The scent of worn leather from old practice weapons hung faintly in the air, mingled with the sharp tang of sweat.
"I want you to hit the punching bag with everything you have. Let me see what moves you remember. Show me what exactly a shadow can do," Sensei said, stepping aside.
Shadow approached the heavy bag hanging from thick iron chains. The bag's rough canvas surface was scuffed and faded from years of strikes. Shadow's form rippled slightly as he shifted forward, closing the distance.
His fist jabbed into the bag sharply, the dull thud echoing through the quiet room. He moved fluidly, weaving side to side, as though dodging invisible attacks. Shadow dropped low and rolled on the wooden floor behind the bag, the rough grain scraping his intangible form, then sprang back up.
He delivered a quick front kick that caused the bag to swing, followed by a strong back kick that forced it to sway again. A sharp uppercut made the bag jerk upward, and then he spun around, landing a powerful spin kick. The chains creaked under the strain and snapped abruptly with a loud clang. The punching bag swung wildly before flying across the dojo, slamming into the far wall with a heavy crash.
"My word, this is fascinating," Sensei said, stepping closer with a slow nod. "The power your shadow form possesses is impressive. And you're able to make contact with physical objects despite lacking a body. The skills you displayed are truly remarkable, but the punching bag cannot defend itself."
"Kenji! Come here!" Sensei called loudly.
"Yes, Sensei! What is the matter?" came a voice from outside the dojo.
"Let's see how you fare against my young disciple, Kenji."
"So, let me get this straight. You want me to fight a shadow?" Kenji said, stepping into the dojo, his brow furrowed with disbelief.
"There is no time for questions. Follow me to the bamboo fields," Sensei said, turning and walking off with purposeful steps.
Both Kenji and Shadow followed him out through the sliding doors. The bamboo grove outside was dense, the tall stalks swaying gently in the breeze. Dry leaves crunched softly beneath their feet as they moved deeper into the field, the setting sun casting long shadows.
Sensei stopped in a small clearing surrounded by bamboo. "You will spar with each other for exactly ninety-nine seconds. If you are unable to beat Kenji in this time, then I'm afraid I cannot aid you on your journey."
Sensei looked at Shadow seriously. "I'm aware you came here seeking my help because you know there is a way to get back your physical body. However, you have guts showing your face here after releasing those demons into our realm."
Sensei raised his hand. "You may now begin."
Kenji shifted into a fighting stance, cracking his knuckles with a smirk. "He can't be that powerful. After all, he's just a shadow," Kenji muttered to himself.
Kenji launched forward, throwing rapid punches toward Shadow. The soft swish of his fists cut through the air, but Shadow moved effortlessly, his form rippling as he slipped each attack, blocking some with an invisible barrier that distorted the space around him.
Kenji went low and swung a sweep kick aimed at Shadow's legs, but Shadow reacted in time, rolling forward to avoid the attack, the slight scrape of his form against the ground audible.
Shadow rose smoothly and delivered a straight front kick that connected solidly with Kenji's gut. Kenji's breath hitched sharply, and he staggered backward, clutching his stomach.
"Damn, this shadow's kick hurts as hell," Kenji thought, eyes wide with surprise.
Kenji shook off the pain and readied himself. He took a deep breath, steadying his stance, then charged at Shadow again.
Kenji vaulted into a front flip, landing behind Shadow. He swung a spin kick aimed at Shadow's back. The sharp sweep of air passed just inches from Shadow's body as he rolled forward out of the way.
Shadow stood quickly and launched a series of rapid jabs toward Kenji. Kenji raised his arms to block, the impacts vibrating through his arms. Each punch was a dull thump against his forearms, and though he held firm, the repeated blows sent shocks through his muscles.
His guard began to falter under the relentless assault.
Finally, with Kenji's defense broken down, Shadow spun and delivered a hard kick to Kenji's head. The impact landed with a heavy crack. Kenji's body went limp as he flew backward, crashing onto the ground and knocking himself out cold.
"Well done. You took out Kenji in under thirty seconds and without a single scratch on you. That's truly impressive," Sensei said, stepping forward with a satisfied smile. "I knew you could do it, for you were my strongest disciple."
Shadow lowered his gaze. "I left here about a year ago, Sensei Lin. What happened to the rest of your students?"
Sensei Lin's face darkened slightly. "Just like you, some went away on their own journey. Others lost their lives. Kenji here is the last disciple I have. When we first met six months ago, he was a thief and a thug. He tried to rob me, threatening me with a pocket knife. Naturally, I easily disarmed him, and he took an interest in the martial arts I displayed, so I decided to train him."
Shadow nodded slowly. "I see. No wonder why I didn't recognize him."
At that moment, a young man came rushing into the clearing. His clothes were torn, and sweat drenched his brow. His eyes were wide with terror.
"Sensei Lin! There is a problem!" the young man cried, dropping to his knees and clutching the Sensei's robe. "A demon and his bodyguard are causing havoc in our town, slaughtering everyone in sight. Please, I beg of you, help us!"
Sensei's expression hardened. "What is the name of this demon?"
"His name is Lynx," the young man said, voice trembling.
Sensei turned to both Kenji and Shadow. "Both of you will go into the town and assist this young man with saving those who are still alive."
Shadow looked at Sensei with a worried expression.
Sensei met his gaze firmly. "When have you ever backed down from a fight? Don't get cold feet on me now. In this form, you can't die, but if you were ever to lose to one of those demons, your soul would be trapped in the shadow realm for eternity."
He pulled two knives from his belt and handed them to Shadow. "Here, take these. It may not be much, but it's better than going empty-handed."
Kenji spun his bow staff around his body. "I'll bring my bow staff with me."
Sensei nodded. "Hurry up and get to the town. Remember, people's lives are at risk."
With that, Sensei sent both Shadow and Kenji on their way. Though both of them were not a match for that demon, Sensei knew he had to do something. Shadow was not ready to take on this threat. He could only hope that they didn't cross paths.