The arena slowly emptied as the first match concluded, the echoes of cheers still lingering in the air. Students began moving around, some discussing the fight, others preparing themselves mentally for what was next. The tension hadn't disappeared it had simply shifted, waiting for the next name to be called.
Kairo stood near the railing, watching the battlefield below with narrowed eyes. Tyouro's win was impressive, no doubt about it, but it also made one thing clear these matches weren't going to be easy. Everyone here had something dangerous.
Something real.
"Thinking too much?"
Kairo turned his head slightly as Shougo approached, hands casually in his pockets, his usual calm expression unchanged. But there was something behind his eyes something observant.
"…A little," Kairo admitted. "That guy earlier wasn't normal. If everyone's like that…"
"They are," Shougo replied simply.
Kairo let out a breath. "…Great."
There was a short pause before Shougo reached behind him, pulling out something wrapped in dark cloth. Without saying a word, he tossed it toward Kairo.
Kairo caught it instinctively.
"…What's this?"
"Open it."
Kairo raised an eyebrow but did as told, unwrapping the cloth slowly. As the fabric fell away, a sword was revealed black, sleek, and slightly curved, its surface reflecting almost no light at all. It felt… heavy, but not in a physical way. More like it carried weight beyond just metal.
"…This is…"
"Black Spartan," Shougo said. "A weapon that amplifies physical strength and stabilizes Reikou flow through the body."
Kairo blinked. "You're just giving me this?"
"I'm not giving it to you," Shougo corrected calmly. "I'm letting you use it."
"…That's basically the same thing."
"It's not."
Kairo smirked slightly, gripping the sword properly. The moment he did, he felt it his energy shifting, flowing differently, more aligned, more stable than before.
"…Whoa."
Shougo watched his reaction carefully. "It won't fight for you. It only supports what you already have."
Kairo looked at the blade again, then back at the arena.
"…Good enough."
A voice suddenly echoed across the arena.
"Kairo versus Reji. Prepare for match."
Kairo exhaled slowly.
"…Guess that's me."
Shougo nodded once. "Don't rush. Learn while you fight."
Kairo smirked. "Yeah, yeah."
Yura approach him putting her hands to his shoulder "kairo, careful."
Kairo smiles wider "I will."
He turned and began walking toward the arena, the black sword resting against his shoulder.
As he stepped into the battlefield, the atmosphere changed again. The crowd grew quieter, more focused. This wasn't just another fight it was the next test.
Across from him stood Reji.
Tall, composed, and completely relaxed.
A chain weapon rested in his hand a kusarigama, its blade sharp and curved, the chain loosely wrapped around his arm. Even at a glance, it looked dangerous. But it wasn't just the weapon.
It was how he held it.
Effortlessly.
Like it was part of him.
Reji's eyes scanned Kairo from head to toe before a faint smirk formed on his lips.
"…So you're next."
Kairo rested the sword on his shoulder. "Yeah. Try not to cry when you lose."
Reji chuckled softly.
"…Confident."
Without warning, he flicked his wrist.
The chain unraveled instantly, the blade swinging outward in a wide arc that sliced through the air with precision. It didn't even touch the ground but the pressure alone left a faint mark on the arena floor.
The kusarigama, is not just a weapon of reach it is a weapon of control. In Reji's hands, it becomes something far more dangerous. His body operates with enhanced dexterity far beyond normal limits. Every movement is calculated, precise, and efficient.
Reji rolled his shoulder slightly, the chain shifting fluidly around him.
He possesses total control over muscle movement, balance, and coordination. This allows him to maneuver his weapon in ways that seem impossible changing angles mid-motion, adjusting force instantly, and reacting faster than most opponents can perceive.
Kairo narrowed his eyes slightly.
"…Great. Another annoying one."
Reji's smirk widened.
"And that's not all."
He raised his free hand slowly.
A faint distortion appeared in the air around it subtle, but heavy.
The strong force, is one of the fundamental forces of the universe. It binds matter at its most basic level, holding atomic structures together. Under normal conditions, it is untouchable, uncontrollable.
Reji's fingers curled slightly.
"But in rare cases… it can be manipulated."
The air around his hand compressed slightly, like space itself was tightening.
Through this ability, Reji can reinforce objects, amplify impact, and manipulate structural stability. Attacks can become denser, heavier far beyond their natural state.
Kairo blinked once.
"…You're really explaining all that before we fight?"
Reji tilted his head slightly. "I believe it's polite to let my opponent understand why they're about to lose."
Kairo stared at him for a second.
Then laughed.
"…You talk too much."
The signal was given.
The match began.
Reji moved first.
The chain shot forward instantly, faster than expected, the blade aiming directly at Kairo's midsection. Kairo reacted quickly, raising Black Spartan to block-
CLANG.
The impact rang sharply.
Kairo's feet slid back slightly from the force, his grip tightening on the sword.
"…That's heavier than it looks."
Reji didn't respond.
He was already moving again.
The chain twisted mid-air, changing direction unnaturally, forcing Kairo to shift his stance and block again. Each strike came from a different angle, faster and more precise than the last.
Kairo couldn't attack.
Not yet.
He was too busy defending.
The blade came again low, then high, then from the side each movement flowing seamlessly into the next. Reji wasn't just attacking.
He was controlling the pace.
Kairo gritted his teeth, stepping back again as another strike forced him to adjust.
"…This guy's annoying."
He tried to step in-
But the chain snapped toward him instantly, forcing him to retreat again.
Reji smirked slightly. "You're predictable."
Kairo clicked his tongue.
"…Yeah? Then watch this."
He stepped forward again but this time, he didn't stop.
Instead of backing away, he pushed through the incoming strike, letting the blade graze his side slightly as he closed the distance.
Reji's eyes narrowed slightly.
Kairo swung Black Spartan.
The sword cut through the air with a heavier force than before, the Reikou energy flowing more smoothly through his body now.
Reji blocked but for the first time, his stance shifted slightly.
"…Not bad," he admitted.
Kairo smirked.
"…I'm just getting started."
But even as he said it, he knew the truth.
This fight wasn't easy.
Not at all.
Because Reji hadn't even used everything yet.
And Kairo-
Was already starting to feel the pressure.