When Ichinaro woke up the next day, he was full of energy. A lot of training awaited him, and he knew that what he had been doing was not enough. So, he doubled his usual training: he doubled his Kaizo meditation time and increased the number of exercises throughout the day, with breaks in between. But before all that, he went to take care of himself and wash his face, then returned to continue his training.
He performed two hundred push-ups and two hundred dagger swings to strengthen his control and power when using it. He spent most of his time meditating on Kaizo. After gathering a sufficient amount of energy, he was exhausted, nearly drained; his breathing became uneven. He went to rest for a while and drank a good amount of water. Once his rest was over, he returned to training.
"Idiot! Your stance is wrong. Move your left hand slightly back, rotate your right hand counterclockwise, and place your left foot slightly ahead of your right, with your knees slightly bent."
Arthos continued teaching him how to fight, and with each session, he trained him in different combat stances. He had divided the training across the week: first focusing on stances, then dagger techniques, followed by hand-to-hand combat, then using energy during attacks and sharpening its intensity, as well as judo techniques to take down enemies at close range. There was one day for rest, and the final day was for reviewing everything.
And so, Ichinaro spent his week before the tournament. It was a week filled with exhaustion and hard work, as he pushed his body to its limits to ensure he would achieve the best possible results.
At dawn on the seventh day, Ichinaro woke up just before sunrise. He slowly opened his eyes but didn't move immediately. His body was exhausted, his muscles aching intensely, yet something inside him felt different… there was a strange calmness and a confidence he had never felt before.
He sat on his bed, staring at his hands for a moment, then slowly clenched them.
"I'm ready… at least more than before."
Arthos didn't respond right away, but after a moment, he said calmly: "Don't let that feeling fool you. True readiness shows on the battlefield."
Ichinaro stood up and stretched slightly, then went to wash his face. This time, there was no hesitation in his movements—they were steady and firm.
After finishing, he got dressed, took his dagger, and left the room.
The city streets were different that morning—more crowded than usual. People were heading in one direction… toward the arena in the southern part of the city.
Ichinaro walked among them, observing the faces around him. Some looked confident, others nervous, and some hid their intentions behind cold gazes.
"All of these people… participants?" he thought.
Arthos replied: "Yes. And remember—they're not here to play."
Ichinaro didn't respond, but he tightened his fist slightly.
After walking for a while, the arena began to appear before him. It was massive… bigger than he had imagined. Tall stands surrounded the place, filled with spectators, their voices echoing with excitement.
At the center was a wide battlefield, and guards stood at the edges, watching everything closely.
Ichinaro stopped for a moment, his eyes widening as he took in the sight.
"This… is bigger than anything I've seen."
Arthos smirked lightly: "Welcome to the real world."
Ichinaro took a deep breath… then slowly exhaled.
"It doesn't matter… I'll do my best."
He moved toward the entrance, where participants were gathering. At the gate, a guard stopped him and looked at him carefully.
"Name?"
"Ichinaro."
The guard checked a list in his hand, then gestured for him to enter: "Go in."
Ichinaro stepped inside and felt, for a moment, as if he had entered a different world. The tension in the air was clear, and the looks exchanged between participants were filled with challenge and hostility.
He stood still, observing those around him.
One person laughed confidently, another sharpened his weapon calmly, while someone stood in the corner with closed eyes, as if meditating.
"Don't get too distracted watching them," Arthos said.
"I know…" Ichinaro replied quietly, though he couldn't stop himself from looking.
Suddenly, a loud voice echoed throughout the arena:
"Welcome, everyone, to the combat tournament!"
The noise gradually faded as all eyes turned toward the elevated platform. A man stood there, likely the organizer, looking at everyone with a wide smile.
"Today… we will see who truly deserves power!"
Excitement spread among the crowd, while Ichinaro's heart began to pound.
"The first round… one-on-one combat!"
The man paused briefly, then continued: "And opponents will be chosen randomly… prepare yourselves!"
Ichinaro felt a slight tension, but he didn't back down. He closed his eyes for a moment and took a deep breath.
"Don't overthink it…" Arthos said.
Ichinaro opened his eyes and looked toward the battlefield ahead.
"I won't back down."
And at that moment—
"The first match—Ichinaro!"
His eyes widened slightly.
"Huh… already?"
Arthos smiled: "Seems luck is on your side."
Ichinaro clenched his fist and began walking toward the arena…
As thousands of eyes watched him.
He stepped into the battlefield, the ground beneath his feet firm and cold. The noise of the crowd faded again, replaced by a sharp silence in his mind.
Then… he saw his opponent.
A man slightly taller than him, broad-shouldered, holding a long sword resting on his shoulder. His gaze was sharp, and his smirk carried arrogance.
"You look too young for this arena…" the man said mockingly.
Ichinaro said nothing. He slowly drew his dagger and took his stance.
"Hah? Even your weapon is small…" the man laughed. "Fine… I'll end this quickly."
The organizer's voice roared:
"Begin!"
In an instant, the man dashed forward with surprising speed, raising his sword high before bringing it down in a powerful strike.
SHHRAAANG!
Ichinaro stepped back quickly, barely avoiding the blow as the sword slammed into the ground with force.
"Fast…" he muttered.
"Don't hesitate!" Arthos shouted.
Ichinaro tightened his grip and rushed forward, swinging his dagger toward the man's side.
But the man turned swiftly, blocking the attack with his sword before pushing Ichinaro back with force.
Ichinaro staggered a few steps, his arm trembling.
"His strength… isn't normal."
The man smirked. "Is that all you've got?"
Ichinaro lowered his stance slightly, his eyes focusing carefully.
Don't rush… wait for an opening…
The man attacked again—this time with a rapid سلسلة of strikes. His sword flashed with each swing: right, left, then overhead.
CLANG! CLANG!
Ichinaro retreated, barely dodging, sometimes blocking with his dagger—but the difference in strength was clear.
"You're just running!" the man mocked.
Suddenly—
Ichinaro stopped.
One step… to the side.
The blade passed right next to him.
Now!
He dashed forward, lowering his body as he slipped past his opponent and slashed toward his side.
SHHK!
A shallow cut—but it landed.
The man stopped and looked at the wound… then back at Ichinaro.
His smirk disappeared.
"Hah… not completely useless, huh?"
Ichinaro breathed deeply, his eyes sharpening.
"Stay calm…" Arthos said.
But in the next moment—
The man charged again, faster than before. His strikes were heavier, faster, more violent.
Ichinaro couldn't keep up.
CLANG!
A powerful blow knocked his dagger aside.
Another strike—
He couldn't fully dodge it.
SLASH!
His shoulder was cut, and he stumbled back, clutching the wound.
His breathing became heavier.
"This… is bad."
The man laughed. "It's over."
He raised his sword high, ready to deliver the final blow.
And in that moment…
Ichinaro remembered.
The glass…
The repeated strikes…
Don't break…
His eyes widened, and his breathing slowed.
"Even if this world is cruel…"
He clenched his fist tightly.
"I won't lose here!"
Kaizo energy surged through his body—clearer than ever before. He felt it flowing through his arms… his legs… his entire being.
He moved.
But this time—
He was faster.
For a split second, he vanished from his opponent's sight.
"What—?!"
He appeared right behind him.
STRIKE!
Ichinaro aimed his dagger at the man's sword hand.
CLACK!
The sword fell.
No hesitation.
He turned and brought him down with a close-range takedown.
THUD!
His dagger stopped at the man's neck.
Silence.
Ichinaro's breathing was heavy… but his eyes were steady.
The man looked at him… then slowly raised his hands.
"I surrender."
The organizer's voice echoed:
"The winner—Ichinaro!"
The arena erupted with cheers.
Ichinaro stood slowly, still trying to process what had just happened.
"…I won."
Arthos chuckled: "Not bad… for a beginner."
Ichinaro took a deep breath and looked at his hand.
"This… is only the beginning.