The Ikazuchi-dan guild base was in ruins littered with burning bodies and buildings, the amount of blood spilled on surfaces spoke volumes of the gruesome deaths met out the soldiers who fought to their last breath.
Takeda regained consciousness in this massacre, he had not been singled out of the devastation met out on his guild.
His master's body laid limp a few feets away from him impaled to a wall by his own sword.
" Master?" Takeda called, his voice hoarse and bones weakened from what he recognized as the calling of death. Then out of the periphery of his vision he spotted a figure walking away.
" Shura!!!"
Takeda screamed the name into consciousness, bolting upright in a flash. He'd been having the same nightmare lately ever since he'd left Renji who'd been hit by an attack while trying to save him.
He's unable to tell if it was just a dream now time he dreamt of it, the scenes were always the same and each time the figure struck a certain familiarity to the figure that tore through the veil two days ago.
Then his mind unconsciously strayed to Renji's sacrifice. " You inconsiderate jerk, you really had to leave him there right?" A voice nagged at the back of his mind.
Ikazuchi-dans always made it a point to reward whoever pays them a favor in order to free their soul before death comes, but they had specific rules guarding them.
Being saved from death just as Renji had done twice makes an ikazuchi-dan eternally indebted to him while alive. Takeda thought of the annoying glint in Renji's eyes when he won him at the last fight they had. " No I can't be indebted to that jerk"
" Then you should have died you numbskull!" Takeda groaned while he relaxed back in bed. " You're thinking too much Takeda"
***
Renji stood along with Hikari and Takashi on a secluded training centre within the base where sounds filtered out.
In was a training centre meant only for the young masters, it's been four hours since he'd agreed to stop Shura but he would do everything humanly possible to save Hanzo.
Master Kazuki stood ahead of them hands folded, while the three people in front of him sported the Kokuryūkai base training tracksuits.
" First of all to harness the shadow current you must first learn to understand it, the shadow in an alternate mirror of life in a somewhat darker version. Life in that version would be dark, swift and lethal that is what the Kokuryūkai symbolizes, each mission we execute are done without any slip ups" Master Kazuki announced.
" Do you know what makes us masters of the shadows, it's because we are swift, deliberate and tactical. We ensure that no movement is wasted only then can you ascend to a greater height in the dance of shadows"
Hikari who had been listening all the while suddenly glanced at Renji upon recollecting the conversation she'd had with Master Kazuki…
***
Hikari came into Master Kazuki's room which was simple and organized as always. She spotted him sitting on his chair at his study.
" Master you called for me" Hikari prompted. " Yes Hikari, I have a feeling that Shura might want to attack here first. Incase that happens I want you to remain alive. You will be the one to train Renji till he attains the level of a grandmaster"
Hikari's eyes widened in shock. " Sir I can't… I'm only a rank B soldier". " No you're much more than that but that depends on how you achieve your aim, Hikari you will be our next grandmaster one day but for now train that boy. First train his five times harder then ten times harder until he's even better than you, promise me that you'll do that Hikari"
" I promise" Hikari said and a single tear rolled down her eye. " We don't have much time left but promise me that you'll ensure he gets to learn all seven currents" Kazuki said.
" Sir I…" Hikari began. " Promise me!" Master Kazuki persisted. " I promise" Hikari replied. " Good now don't let anyone know about this meeting not even Renji, the Abyssal Covenant system allows him to detect lies and read minds during eye contact so I advise that you desist from thinking about this meeting"
***
" Normally during the day our powers are usually limited that's why we thrive and reach our peak energy in the moonlight unless you're strong enough to create certain circumstances in the battlefield" Kazuki said.
" you are all going to be pushed to your very limits boy, your ascension shall begin in three stages. I visualize a great battle ahead of you all that you mustn't lose for the sake of humanity, are you ready?" Kazuki asked.
" Yes master" they replied in perfect sync.
" Good your first training starts off like this there are three marbles scattered around the Kokuryūkai base each one signifying one round of the first stage, one's behind you guys as we speak"
Renji narrowed his eyes upon hearing him and turned back immediately spotting a suspicious looking glint.
"One of you have to get it and bring it to me, who ever gets the most wins. Hikari this isn't your test leave it to the two males here".
" Master…?" Hikari tried to protest before Kazuki eyebrows slammed together in a frown. " Hikari you have a much bigger burden on your shoulders than this test"
" Yeah leave this to the males" Takashi smirked then faced Renji. " I will make sure you leave this place demon hunter"
" All forms of cruelty except death are allowed in this quest" Kazuki announced with that he turned his back on them. " Are you sure about this Master?" Hikari inquired.
" Are you worried for Takashi or Renji?" Kazuki asked, his face unreadable. " No sir but I'm worried if what they could do to each other" Hikari replied.
" I wouldn't worry too much about that Hikari, Renji might be changed from who we knew him as but he would never willingly cause Takashi any harm. I wouldn't say the same of Takashi though" Kazuki said calmly with a mischievous smile.