A few Dremapols from Tokkun's squad, who had been sparring with quick, precise strikes, paused mid-motion, their Reibones glinting in the dim dome light. They gathered in a loose, eager circle, their boots scuffing the dusty floor, eyes gleaming with anticipation. Whispers rippled through them "A newbie's fighting our captain!" one hissed, a smirk curling his lips. "This'll be interesting to watch… hehe," another chuckled, crossing his arms as the tension thickened the air with a faint electric hum.
"Let's begin in 3…" Tokkun's voice cut through, deep and steady, his red aura flaring brighter, tendrils of crimson energy licking the air like flames, casting jagged shadows across the black dome's walls. The Dremapols leaned in, their breaths held.
"2…" Taro shot back, his green aura surging to match, a wild, shimmering glow that pulsed with his heartbeat, the ground beneath him trembling slightly as the energy crackled. His eyes narrowed, a grin tugging at his lips, the crowd's murmurs fading into a dull roar in his ears.
"…1." Their voices synced in unison, a sharp snap that echoed, and in a blur of motion, they clashed head-on. Their Reibones connected with a deafening clang, sparks erupting like a storm of fireflies, the impact sending a shockwave rippling through the dust. They struggled for dominance, muscles straining, blades locked, but neither budged an inch, the air thick with the scent of scorched metal. Instinct kicked in, and they both leapt back, landing in crouches, the dome's silence rushing back like a held breath.
Taro didn't charge in this time, his chest heaving, sweat beading on his brow. "Don't rush head-on,the opponent's more skilled and experienced than you, remember Toei, Taro, remember all the lessons,"he thought, his mind flashing to those brutal sparring sessions, the sting of defeat fueling his focus. "And Mexus—don't forget that bastard's tricks." The memory steeled him, and his eyes glowed greener as he activated his precognition, the world around him slowing, future glimpses flickering like ghostly overlays. "Let's do this," he muttered, his voice a low growl, the green aura intensifying.
Taro moved first, his steps measured, conserving energy as he closed the distance, Reibone raised. A quick glimpse of the future hit him—a direct slash from the left at the last moment—and he braced himself. As he lunged, Tokkun launched that exact attack, the red aura streaking toward him. Taro didn't deflect"too much energy waste"and instead twisted aside, the blade whistling past, kicking up a swirl of dust. His dodge landed him off-balance, but alive.
Tokkun's eyes widened behind the mask, the red glow flickering with surprise. "Unbelievable… that's quite efficient," he murmured, his voice carrying a hint of admiration. Seizing the initiative, he pressed forward, Reibone slashing in a rapid arc, the air humming with each swing.
Taro saw the attacks coming, his precog painting the paths, and he raised his blade to defend. But something went horribly wrong,the future shifted, a glitch in his vision. As he moved to block, Tokkun feinted, dropping low, and drove a hard kick into Taro's guts. "Never leave yourself open," Tokkun said, his tone sharp as the impact doubled Taro over with a guttural "Ugh!" The crowd gasped, a few Dremapols flinching as Taro staggered back, clutching his stomach.
He forced himself upright, teeth gritted, but Tokkun was relentless—leaping into the air with a fluid spin, his Reibone aimed in a straight, deadly slash. Taro blocked, the clash ringing out, but Tokkun grabbed his wrist, using the momentum. The moment his feet hit the ground, he flipped Taro over his shoulder, sending him crashing into the dirt with a heavy thud. Dust billowed, the impact jarring Taro's bones.
But Taro was quick, his heightened senses buzzing like a live wire. He rolled into two backflips, the recoil absorbed by the agile moves, landing in a low stance, breath ragged. "This isn't good—he's changing at the last moment. Should I push my precog further into the future? No, too much energy for a problem not too big. I'll switch it up instead," he thought, his mind racing, the green aura flickering as he recalibrated.
Taro surged forward, closing the gap with a determined stride, aiming a controlled strike at Tokkun. The captain was prepared, Reibone ready to counter, but suddenly a tear ripped open on Tokkun's arm, a jagged wound appearing out of nowhere. "…?" Tokkun faltered, blood trickling down, his grip on the Reibone faltering as he nearly lost control. "Oh my, how could I forget this? It's one of your best abilities,your spatial hax," he said, his voice tinged with realization, the maska tilting as he assessed the damage.
"But you do know your spatial hax has a weakness," Tokkun added, his tone turning calculating. With a swift motion, he sliced through the air where the spatial tear was forming, his blade severing the effect before it could fully manifest on his arm. "Like just now, when you tried to use it… if one cuts it before it takes effect, it virtually becomes useless." Blood dripped onto the floor, the red mixing with the dust.
"Don't you think I know that?" Taro shot back, wiping sweat from his brow, his voice rough. "I can't make the same mistake twice,I wouldn't be learning if so." His eyes narrowed, a spark of defiance igniting.
Tokkun raised a brow, intrigued, but before he could react, a tear slashed across his Reibone, the blade trembling as the rift disrupted its structure. "But what happens when the very blade needed for cutting is under attack itself?" Taro pressed, his grin widening. Suddenly, multiple tears erupted along Tokkun's Reibone, the weapon groaning under the strain, fragments splintering off. Tokkun's eyes widened, but a smirk curled beneath his mask. "My my… that's extremely efficient," he admitted, the words laced with respect.
"Well played, Taro. I didn't think I'd have to use this yet," Tokkun said, his voice dropping to a low rumble. Taro raised a brow, curiosity piqued, as the air grew heavy.
Suddenly, Tokkun vanished, reappearing before Taro in a blur, his hand stretched toward Taro's chest. "Zero-Point Impact!" he said, and a force,magnificent, bone-crushing, like a thunderclap erupted from his fist. The impact sent Taro flying, his body a ragdoll hurtling to the dome's far wall, crashing into it with a deafening boom. Dust and debris exploded outward, a cloud swallowing the scene, the ground trembling under the force.
As the haze cleared, Taro lay in a jagged crater, the wall cracked around him, chunks of black stone scattered like broken teeth. He tried to push himself up, his arms shaking, but a shockwave of pain coursed through his body, every nerve screaming. "Ngh," he groaned, collapsing back into the dirt, his breath coming in shallow gasps. "Ugh," he muttered, the effort too much, his vision blurring at the edges.
"Don't bother," Tokkun said, his voice calm but firm, stepping closer as the red aura dimmed. "That attack also temporarily neutralizes your core—you can't use your powers right now." His masked face tilted, the symbols glowing faintly in the dust-choked light.
"I see," Taro gasped, his chest heaving, the words a struggle as he stared up at the dome's ceiling, the weight of defeat settling in.
"This kid is unbelievably powerful," Tokkun thought, his mind racing behind the mask. "To think he'd force me back to this extent,I can't believe it. In a few years, he might have even surpassed all the Drenors… What a monster." The realization hung heavy, a mix of awe and caution.
Taro lay there, defeated but not broken. He wasn't angry; he was intrigued, his mind buzzing with the new combat dimensions he'd glimpsed. "Well, I did my best and learnt a thing or two, didn't I?" he rasped, a faint smile tugging at his lips, the dust settling around him like a shroud.
Kazuishi emerged from the crowd, her steps quick but steady, her glasses glinting as she knelt beside him. Surprisingly, she eased his head down onto her pillow-like thighs, the warmth of her skin a stark contrast to the cold ground. "You did good, Taro," she said, her voice soft but firm, a rare warmth in her tone. "You lost, but you were exceptionally impressive—especially your energy economy. That dodge and those tears showed real skill." Her cheeks flushed a faint red, the color creeping up as she avoided his gaze.
Taro's cheeks turned a matching shade, his breath hitching as he felt the unexpected comfort. "Ummm… thanks, Miss Kazuishi," he mumbled, his voice shaky, the embarrassment mixing with gratitude.
"Now stay still—let me heal you," Kazuishi added, her hands glowing with a soft, golden light as she pressed them gently to his chest, her own cheeks still tinged red, the intimacy of the moment hanging thick in the air.
"Yeah… right," Taro replied, his eyes fluttering shut, the pain easing as her energy flowed into him, the dome's silence wrapping around them like a cocoon.