After passing the Hakashi revelation test, it was now time to move on to the next phase of Tuziku's training.
For his next test, Ryōkōjū challenged him to a sparring match.
The old man raised his fists as he charged toward Tuziku.
"H—hold on a second, old man!" Tuziku panicked.
Suddenly—
SMACK!!
Ryōkōjū launched a terrifying punch straight into Tuziku's stomach.
"AUGHH!!" Tuziku groaned.
"What is there to wait on?!" the old man shouted.
"I already told you, we're sparring!"
"Your goal is to use the first form to avoid as many blows as possible!"
Tuziku held his stomach.
Ptoo!
He spat on the floor.
"Bring it on, you stupid old man!"
Ryōkōjū smirked.
"That's the spirit, you little punk!"
He bolted toward Tuziku.
Tuziku immediately began to flee.
"Hmph!"
"I can't believe you're running away after all that talk just now!" Ryōkōjū mocked him.
"I'm not running away! I'm retreating for now!" Tuziku replied as he continued to flee.
That's right...
I need to use the first form to try and avoid his blows...!
Let's see what I can do!
Tuziku suddenly came to a halt.
"Tch! You finally decided to stop!" Ryōkōjū complained.
Tuziku cleared his mind.
Then—
FWOOOOOOSSH!!
A powerful burst of wind suddenly began circling around Tuziku's body.
He exhaled sharply.
Clear your mind...
Control the wind...
Suddenly, the strong winds began concentrating around Tuziku's feet.
"Hmm, this is..." Ryōkōjū wore a look of surprise.
I won't give you the chance to use it that easily, boy!
Ryōkōjū noticed what Tuziku was attempting and immediately decided to attack before he could complete the technique.
Tuziku glanced over toward the old man.
He gasped.
"Old man...!"
"I'm not going to make this easy for you!"
Tuziku realized the old man's ploy and quickly tried to counter using his newly reinforced feet.
However...
FWOOOOOSSH!
"Woahhh!"
Tuziku suddenly lost control of the wind reinforcing his legs.
WHOOSH!!
His body shot forward, sending him dashing straight toward the old man, who was already preparing his attack.
"Hmm?"
Boy... it seems you still have trouble controlling the intensity of the wind...!
"Too bad for you!"
Ryōkōjū grinned as he bolted straight toward Tuziku, who was now hastily approaching him.
"Woaaah...!"
"Wait a minute, old man!" Tuziku pleaded.
Suddenly—
SMACK!!
Ryōkōjū swung his fist with tremendous strength, landing a powerful blow directly against Tuziku's face and sending him flying backward.
"Ahhhhh!!"
THUD!!
Tuziku crashed to the ground, landing flat on his back.
"Urgh!" he moaned in pain.
Suddenly, Ryōkōjū slowly approached him.
Tap... Tap...
Tap... Tap...
...
"I told you, didn't I?"
"That things were going to get a lot more difficult from now on..."
He stroked his long grey beard.
Tuziku held his jaw.
Damn it!
How is this old man so strong?!
He clenched his fist.
"Get up!" Ryōkōjū demanded.
"This isn't the time to rest!"
"Right now, as we speak... it's very possible that those soldiers from Fuyu could be after you, isn't that right, boy?!"
Suddenly, Tuziku's expression filled with anger and frustration.
He clenched his fist.
He's right!
I need to get stronger as quickly as possible...
I don't have time to be laying around!
Tuziku struggled to rise to his feet.
Finally, he stood up once more.
His face now swollen, he glared at the old man with courage and determination.
"Well, what're you waiting for, old man?" Tuziku smirked.
"...Come at me with everything you've got!"
"Tch! You cocky little...!"
Ryōkōjū dashed toward Tuziku.
Then—
SMACK! SMACK!
SMACK! SMACK!
He unleashed a terrifying barrage of punches across Tuziku's body.
Tuziku desperately tried to withstand the assault, but Ryōkōjū's attacks were simply too fast and powerful.
THUD!!
Tuziku finally collapsed to the floor and fell unconscious.
"Shit!"
"I may have gone a bit overboard..."
Ryōkōjū panicked as he stood over Tuziku's motionless body.
Meanwhile, back at Ryōkōjū's house in the Hakashi village...
"Sister!"
"SISTER!!" Nēgus called out to Prīōra.
Prīōra slowly approached him.
"What is it, big brother?" she replied with an attitude.
"Where is our grandfather?"
"That old man suddenly said he had some other important work to take care of and left me in charge of the village!"
"I've been stuck doing his job for the past three days!"
"Where the hell is he?!"
Crap! I can't let him know that grandpa is training Tuziku...
"W—what makes you think that I would know...?" Prīōra replied, avoiding eye contact with him.
"You know something, don't you?"
Nēgus squinted his eyes suspiciously.
He snatched her by the wrist.
"If you know what's good for you, you'll tell me where he is, now!" he threatened.
"Let go of me!" Prīōra struggled to free herself.
"NOOOOO!!" she screamed.
Back on the outskirts of the village with Tuziku and Ryōkōjū...
Tuziku slowly opened his eyes to the blurred image of an old man standing above his body.
As his vision gradually cleared—
"Old... man..." he mumbled.
"Hmm?"
"Ohh! Hey there, kiddo...!" Ryōkōjū knelt beside him.
"You feeling better now?"
"What... happened to me?" Tuziku squinted his eyes.
"Well... ummm..."
Ryōkōjū scratched his head.
"You were defeated in our sparring match, and I guess you passed out from my attacks..." he explained.
Tuziku sat up and gazed at the old man.
That's right...
"I remember you unleashed a barrage of powerful punches..."
"So you remembered..." the old man replied, scratching his head with a nervous grin.
He chuckled.
"Sorry about that, kiddo."
"No. There's no need to apologize..."
Tuziku gazed at the palms of his hands.
I've still got a long ways to go!
"Ow, ow, oww!" Tuziku cried out in pain.
"Why does my face hurt so bad...?"
The old man stroked his beard.
"Your face is a bit swollen," he replied flatly.
Tuziku felt his face.
"Whaaaaat?!" he shouted.
Suddenly—
"There you are, old man!"
A familiar voice tore through the air.
Both Ryōkōjū and Tuziku turned toward the source of the disturbance.
"Is that...?" Ryōkōjū squinted his eyes.
Nēgus approached them with a furious expression.
"Uh oh..." the old man panicked.
Tuziku remained silent.
"How dare you..."
"Grandpa?! You left me stuck with your job while you were out here training this filthy outsider!" Nēgus snapped.
"Nēgus... how did you find us?" Ryōkōjū asked.
"I got your whereabouts from that foolish little sister of mine..."
"Although I had to use a bit of violence to get the info out of her."
He grinned proudly as he ran his fingers through his slick, blonde hair.
The old man's face slowly filled with terror.
"Violence... what did you—"
"What the hell did you do to her, you bastard?!" Tuziku shouted, his face contorted with anger.
"Huhhh?" Nēgus glared at him.
Suddenly, Tuziku stood to his feet.
"Who the hell do you think you're talking to, you little shit?!" Nēgus said.
Tuziku stormed toward him.
Then—
He stood face-to-face with Nēgus.
"Depending on what your answer is... I might not kill you."
"Now, I'll ask you one more time..."
Tuziku cracked his knuckles.
"What the hell did you do to my crew member?!"
Nēgus looked down at Tuziku with an annoyed expression.
CHAPTER 48 END