The polished wood floor of the private dojo reflected the dim afternoon light as Hayato stood in the center of the mat, his muscles taut and his breathing measured. Opposite him stood Vincenzo Marino, watching him with the cool, practiced eye of a seasoned instructor.
"Remember, Hayato," Vincenzo said, his voice quiet yet carrying across the silent room. "Power means nothing if your target moves before you strike. Your greatest asset is absolute speed—closing the distance before your opponent even registers your intent."
Hayato gave a sharp nod, his focus locking entirely onto Vincenzo. He knew the Diablero family relied heavily on swift, aggressive ambushes. If he was going to serve as Alex's primary line of defense during the compound raid, his reaction time had to be flawless.
Without a word of warning, Vincenzo closed the gap in a flash, launching a barrage of sharp, heavy strikes.
Hayato reacted instantly, slipping beneath a high right jab and pivoting fluidly to dodge a sweeping counter. His body moved in a blur, instinct taking over as he ducked, parried, and wove through the sequence. The metallic hum of dual sidearm draws hummed through his mind, every dodge calculated to keep his hands positioned for a lightning-fast draw.
For hours, the rhythmic thud of feet against the mats and the sharp crack of parried blows echoed off the dojo walls. Sweat soaked Hayato's shirt, his muscles burning from the relentless intensity, yet with every pass, his movements grew cleaner, sharper, and noticeably faster.
Finally, after a final exchange where Hayato managed to slip behind Vincenzo and check his guard, Vincenzo stepped back, raising a hand to signal the end of the drill.
"Enough," Vincenzo said, dabbing a towel against his forehead, a rare, genuine spark of approval in his eyes. "Excellently handled, Hayato. Your reflexes are razor-sharp."
Hayato lowered his stance, his chest heaving as he caught his breath, but his gaze remained steady and unyielding. The training was brutal, but standing in the quiet dojo, feeling the speed surging through his movements, he knew he was ready to spearhead the breach and cut down anyone who stood between the Luciano family and what was rightfully theirs.