The sparring grounds buzzed with restless energy. Dust swirled with each step, boots grinding into the packed dirt. Rookies crowded the edge of the ring, voices hushed but hungry with anticipation.
"Kurogiri Akira. Shinomiya Kikoru."
The names echoed like a bell of challenge.
Kikoru stepped forward, eyes hard as steel. She rolled her shoulders, her sword glinting in the sun. "Don't think I'll let you breeze through this. Stop holding back for once."
Akira tilted his head, blade resting lazily against his shoulder, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. "Guess we'll see."
[Ravan: Combat scenario initiated. Suppression protocols active. Display level capped at 63%.]
From above, Hoshina leaned over the railing, grin wide. "Now this'll be fun. A prodigy versus the so-called anomaly. Sparks are gonna fly."
Mina's gaze sharpened. She didn't blink.
The drumbeat sounded. The fight began.
Kikoru lunged first—fast, ferocious, her blade whistling through the air. Every strike carried weight, her release force crackling in the speed of her movements. She pressed Akira hard, steel slamming against steel.
Akira parried with effortless precision, his footwork light, each movement so calm it almost looked lazy. Sparks flared where their blades kissed, a staccato rhythm of collision.
"You're holding back again!" Kikoru snapped mid-swing, frustration flaring. She pushed harder, chaining her attacks in a furious storm.
[Ravan: Observation—opponent agitated. Probability of reckless strike increasing: 67%. Recommendation: minimal counters, exploit opening.]
Akira smirked faintly. He tilted his blade at just the right angle, letting Kikoru's momentum carry her past him. She skidded to a halt, cheeks flushed with fury.
"Damn it—!"
Gasps rose from the watching rookies.
"Did you see that?" one whispered.
"He barely moved…" another muttered, awe mixing with disbelief.
On the sidelines, Iharu waved his arms, shouting louder than everyone. "Come on, Shinomiya! Crush him! Don't let that smug face fool you!" His voice cracked halfway through, earning snickers from the crowd.
Reno pinched the bridge of his nose. "You're shouting like you're the one fighting, Iharu…"
"But—look at him! He's just… standing there! That's cheating!" Iharu protested, red in the face.
Kafka laughed awkwardly. "Uh, I think that's just called being good at swordplay."
Back in the ring, Kikoru snarled and reset her stance. "Fine. If you won't get serious, I'll force you to!" She darted in again, her blade sweeping upward in a flash. Akira blocked—barely. For the first time, his stance shifted half a step.
The rookies erupted.
"She moved him!"
"No way—Shinomiya's insane!"
From above, Hoshina chuckled. "Heh. Kid's stubborn, I'll give her that. She's got her old man's fire."
Mina didn't look away. Her gaze was pinned on Akira, reading every twitch, every motion.
Kikoru exhaled, hair plastered against her face with sweat. "This isn't over."
Akira only smiled, calm as ever.
The drumbeat ended the match. A draw.
The rookies buzzed with disappointment, some booing, some cheering. But no one could deny the clash had shaken them all.
[Ravan: Suppression complete. Result—stalemate acceptable. Audience perception: reinforced balance of power. Risk of suspicion: contained.]
Akira sheathed his blade and stepped back, meeting Kikoru's glare with a quiet nod. She huffed, furious at the draw, but deep down, respect flickered in her eyes.
The next match was called.
"Hibino Kafka. Recruit Number 32."
Laughter rippled through the crowd. "One percent boy! This'll be quick!"
Kafka swallowed nervously, jogging awkwardly into the ring. His opponent was a broad-shouldered recruit with a cocky grin, clearly relishing the chance to humiliate him.
The fight began. Kafka raised his blade, hands trembling. His swings were clumsy, mistimed. The other recruit batted them aside like swatting flies, smirking all the while.
"Pathetic." He lunged. Kafka barely dodged, tripping over his own feet. The rookies roared with laughter.
Iharu cupped his hands around his mouth, voice cracking again. "Hey! Leave him alone! He's—uh—he's warming up, okay?!"
Reno clenched his fists. "Kafka… come on, show them."
On the deck, Mina's expression didn't change. Hoshina tilted his head. "One percent… but he hasn't given up yet. I like him."
Kafka staggered, sweat dripping. His opponent raised his blade for the finishing blow—
—and Kafka gritted his teeth, deflecting it at the last second. His arms shook violently, but he refused to drop his weapon.
The rookies went silent.
"He blocked it?"
"No way, that weakling—"
Kafka let out a shaky laugh. "Guess I'm harder to squash than you thought."
The opponent scowled, lunged again—just as the drumbeat ended the match. Kafka collapsed onto his knees, gasping for breath.
It was technically a loss, but no one was laughing anymore.
Reno sprinted forward, hauling him up with a grin. "You did great, senpai."
Kafka wheezed. "Y-you saw that? I didn't… die!"
"Not yet," Reno chuckled, clapping his back.
Hoshina smirked above. "That one percent? I'm starting to think it's a lie."
Mina's eyes lingered on Kafka longer than before.
The arena settled after Kafka's unlikely stand, the rookies still buzzing with whispers. Some laughed nervously, others looked thoughtful, but one thing was clear: the so-called "one percent" wasn't as pathetic as they had thought.
The instructors wasted no time. The matches continued, rookies paired off one after another. Sparks flew, bruises mounted, and pride was tested in the dirt. By the time the sun dipped low, every candidate had faced the ring.
Exhaustion hung over the lineup as they were dismissed. Boots dragged, sweat clung to uniforms, but no one dared complain. The sparring had stripped away illusions—every rookie now knew exactly where they stood.
On the observation deck, Hoshina stretched, his grin never fading. "Well, Mina, that's a lively bunch you've picked. A little raw, a little reckless… but not hopeless."
Mina's sharp eyes lingered on three figures in particular—Akira, Kikoru, and Kafka—before turning toward the barracks. "Tomorrow," she said simply. "We'll see who's truly prepared."
The rookies exchanged uneasy glances at her words.
Tomorrow… something more awaited.
To be continued…This story is inspired from various fanfics i have read from around the world so if you find any similarities please dont mind . Thank you
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T/N :
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