Bell's mood brightened considerably after her chat with Naoki. The crimson flush on her face slowly receded, replaced by a calmer, faint smile. She then nudged Naoki, reminding him to change into his training gear before their mentor, Myouga Riu, arrived at the dojo to begin today's session.
Realizing time was running short, Naoki stopped teasing Bell and headed straight for the locker room. Moments later, he returned to the center of the dojo clad in a crisp white karate gi.
Riu was already there, standing tall before Bell with her back turned to Naoki. The elderly woman turned slowly, her piercing gaze locking onto him instantly.
"I've heard the reports. Those Humanoid Shuuki calling themselves the Eight Thunder Gods." Riu voice raspy yet commanding. "Though I haven't faced them myself, the fact that the Third Unit was defeated without meaningful resistance suggests their strength is at least on par with a Chief."
"..."
Naoki was impressed by the sharpness of the woman's analysis. As expected of the former First Unit Chief who had served the Anti-Demon Corps for decades, Riu could dissect a threat purely from data.
"You're right, Sensei. The Eight Thunder Gods are formidable. But..." Naoki paused, letting the silence of the dojo add a touch of dramatic weight. "Even among the Chiefs, there is a clear hierarchy of power."
"Yesterday, three of them attacked at once. I don't mean to be disrespectful, but look at Uzen Kyouka; she could barely put up a fight when backed into a corner by her opponent."
"On the other hand, Tenka's opponent struggled just to stay alive, not even daring to confront her directly. As for me? I finished mine off, even after the enemy underwent a second, much more powerful transformation."
To a stranger, Naoki's statement might have sounded incredibly arrogant. But to Riu and Bell, it was an objective fact. They remembered vividly how Naoki had fought to a standstill against Yamashiro Ren—the woman considered the Apex of Humanity.
While neither Ren nor Naoki had revealed all their trump cards during that sparring match, it was enough to establish Naoki's standing.
"Haaaah... True. Compared to the Peach Blessings of the other Chiefs, Kyouka's ability does lack independent destructive power."
Riu, after all, was the one who had first discovered Kyouka's talent and brought her into the Corps. As a mentor, she understood the intricacies of Kyouka's Peach Blessing, «Eternal Chain»—an ability that relied heavily on the potential of the slave being controlled, rather than the user's own raw strength.
"But enough boasting! No matter how magnificent your «Pandemonium» is, without the stamina to back it up, it's nothing more than a beautiful but fragile glass vase! Quickly, begin your routine!"
Instantly, Riu's melancholic aura vanished, replaced by the relentless sternness of a veteran instructor. She stood straight, overseeing Naoki and Bell as they began their physical gauntlet: hundreds of repetitions of push-ups, sit-ups, and pull-ups, followed by 50 laps around the field without a break.
As Riu emphasized, stamina was the primary fuel for a Peach Blessing; the greater the power unleashed, the heavier the physical toll. This was why physical conditioning was an inescapable obligation for every member of the Anti-Demon Corps.
The reason Naoki seemed able to use the various Peach Blessings within «Pandemonium» so freely and in rapid succession was actually simple: long before he ever ate a Peach, he had diligently trained his body to the human limit. Furthermore, as a Reincarnator, he carried over the disciplined mentality of his previous life working for the Indonesian State Intelligence Agency.
He understood perfectly how vital a healthy body was.
Ironically, while everyone theoretically knows that health is wealth, reality often looks different for most. Once people hit adulthood and get trapped in a routine, those running shoes bought with burning passion often end up as dusty ornaments in a corner. This phenomenon isn't just a matter of laziness, but a collision of conflicting psychological and logical factors.
After completing the grueling, sweat-drenched workout, Naoki and Bell were granted a ten-minute break. Naoki sat leaned against the dojo wall, managing his heavy breathing, while Bell looked completely spent, her face flushed red. However, the peace didn't last long.
"Time's up. Naoki, center stage."
The moment the clock hit ten, Riu stepped onto the center of the mat, signaling Naoki to come forward.
Naoki stood, stretched his stiff shoulders, and stepped onto the mat. The next session was hand-to-hand sparring—pure combat without the involvement of Peach Blessings.
*SWISH!*
Without warning, Naoki lunged. He unleashed a rapid combination of strikes aimed at her jaw and solar plexus. However, Riu moved with terrifying efficiency. With only minimal shifts of her feet, she let Naoki's fists strike thin air.
*SLAP!*
Riu parried Naoki's hand with the back of her own.
"Your movements are too wide, Naoki! You're wasting energy on unnecessary momentum." Riu's voice remained steady even in a fighting stance.
Naoki tried a low spinning kick to break Riu's balance, but the old woman instead stepped inside his reach. She used her shoulder to shove Naoki's chest, sending him reeling backward.
"Your guard is open when you attack low. On the battlefield, a second of carelessness means losing your head."
Naoki tried to counter with a jab-hook combo. His punches cut through the air with a sharp whistle, but Riu moved like a shadow; she needed only the slightest movement to evade every strike. As Naoki launched his final attack, Riu ducked, slipped past his guard, and drove her palm into his chest.
*THUD!*
Naoki stumbled back, his breath hitching for a moment.
"Damn... Sensei is as sharp as ever."
In pure martial arts, Riu was clearly superior. Her technique had been honed over decades to the level of a master. Of course, if they were permitted to use Peach Blessings, Naoki could have turned the tides with «Pandemonium». But here, on this mat, he was merely a student learning from a veteran.
Naoki tried for a grapple, attempting to lock Riu's arm. But with an agility that belied her age, Riu twisted Naoki's wrist, using his own weight to pull him forward. In one fluid, lightning-fast motion, she slipped her hip under Naoki's center of gravity.
*CRASH!*
Naoki's body went airborne before slamming hard onto the dojo floor, the impact echoing through the room.
Naoki lay flat on his back, gasping for air, while Riu stood over him without a single drop of sweat on her brow. She reached out a hand to help him up.
"Your progress isn't as explosive as Konomi's or Kyouka's in terms of pure technique. They have a rare, natural talent for absorbing martial arts."
Riu paused for a moment, looking at Naoki with a rare glint of appreciation.
"But don't be discouraged. Your talent far exceeds the average member of the Corps. Your discipline regarding your physical foundation is what will allow you to survive longer than anyone else in Mato."
Naoki stood up, brushing the dust off his gi, his breathing beginning to steady as he looked at Riu.
"Thank you for the evaluation, Sensei. I'm aware my pure technique is still far below Konomi or Kyouka. But for me, as long as this body can keep moving and deliver the decisive blow, that's enough."
"..."
Riu fell silent for a moment, observing the calm resolve in Naoki's eyes. She then crossed her arms over her chest.
"It is as you say. To be honest, Naoki... there is nothing left for me to teach you in this dojo. Your foundations are solid, and your instincts have formed."
"The rest, you must learn on your own through real combat in Mato. Life-and-death experience will be a much better teacher than I could ever be. So, from today onward, you no longer need to come to this dojo for routine training."
Hearing the sudden announcement of his graduation, Naoki was stunned for a moment. He then snapped his feet together and bowed deeply, offering his most sincere respect to the veteran.
"Thank you very much for your guidance and patience all this time, Sensei. I will not forget the lessons learned here."
Naoki stepped back to the side where Bell had been watching in awe. She greeted him with a wide smile, though there was a hint of envy mixed with pride.
"Congratulations, Naoki-kun! You graduated earlier than me. Compared to you, it looks like I still have to struggle much harder under Sensei's watchful eye."
Naoki leaned in close, whispering directly into Bell's ear.
"Don't be too discouraged, Bell. Even if my training in this dojo is over, my 'special training' for you is far from finished. We'll continue that later, okay?"
Instantly, Bell's face turned a fiery red all the way to her ears. She reflexively landed a weak punch on Naoki's chest while glancing anxiously at their mentor.
"You idiot! Don't say embarrassing things like that when other people are around!" she hissed in an adorable panic.
Riu witnessing the intimate interaction between the two young people from a distance, didn't offer a scolding. Instead, a rare, faint smile appeared on her wrinkled face—a warm expression, as if she were watching the happiness of two grandchildren growing up before her eyes.
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