A new day had arrived. Even though the sun was already timidly filtering through the slits in the shōji, I got up feeling a bit sluggish. I was still half asleep—and with good reason. Last night's celebration had left me more drained than I'd expected. I sat on the futon, stretching lazily. When I looked to the side, I noticed Kaori's futon was messy, which didn't surprise me. She always gets up early, as if her body were in sync with the sunrise.
I got dressed calmly, preparing to leave the room. I walked barefoot through the silent hallways until I reached the kitchen. Upon entering, I noticed the others had already had breakfast. The empty cups and still-warm plates gave away that they hadn't finished long ago.
I took a ceramic cup and poured myself some green tea. Then I moved over to the leftover breakfast: steamed rice, grilled fish, and a few pickled vegetables. I made myself a simple plate and sat alone at the table. Before eating, I put my hands together and softly said, "Itadakimasu." Each bite had a comforting flavor. Maybe it was the peaceful atmosphere—or simply the joy of being present.
When I finished, I stood up calmly, took my utensils to the sink, and washed them carefully. With a full stomach, I decided it was time to train. I headed to the small hill behind the temple, a quiet place where the wind always blew gently. I started with warm-up exercises: stretches, deep breaths, basic movements to prepare both body and mind.
Then I moved on to more intense training, combining physical technique with mental focus. It was a way to refine my control over my inner energy… and stay in shape for what was to come. After a couple of hours, I finished, panting and drenched in sweat. I checked my phone and saw it was already noon.
I decided to take a break. I went back to the temple to take a bath and cool off. Upon arriving, I greeted those at the entrance with a slight bow. The temple caretakers and a few students returned the greeting with kind smiles. I walked in calmly, but the interior seemed quieter than usual. I didn't see anyone I knew—not even Kaori or Tom.
Thinking I'd take advantage of the quiet, I went straight to the bath. I'd had a few "misunderstandings" before, so this time I came prepared. I stopped by my room first to grab a clean shirt and pants, along with some sandals I left ready. Then I headed to the hot spring bath. I prepared the tub with hot water and soothing aromas I'd learned to use from the monks. I undressed and slowly submerged myself, feeling the heat relieve each exhausted muscle in my body.
I stayed in that state of complete calm for about ten minutes. The steam, the sound of water, and the silence… it was a moment of peace I deeply valued. I got out calmly, dried myself carefully, and put on my clean clothes. I slipped on the sandals and briefly returned to the room. Everything there was perfectly arranged, giving me a sense of order and stability.
I walked through the temple's hallways, admiring the garden as the midday sun cast soft shadows on the stone floor. I only passed a few temple caretakers and students—but none of the faces I was looking for.
That's when I decided to activate my tracking ability. I closed my eyes, focused my energy, letting my awareness expand slightly. Within seconds, I sensed the others' presence. They were gathered at a spot a bit farther north from the garden, near the edge of the temple grounds.
Curious, I began walking in that direction. I wanted to see what they were doing… and why everyone had vanished so quietly.
When I arrived at the exact spot where the elder and the others were, I noticed something unusual. It wasn't just them… there was a large group of students watching attentively, standing in a semicircle in near-reverent silence. I approached quietly, still not fully understanding what was happening.
I turned to one of the students standing nearby and asked in a low voice:
—Hey, what's going on?
He looked at me with eyes gleaming with excitement and answered with admiration in his tone:
—We're seeing the master fight for the first time! It's amazing...
My eyebrow raised in confusion.
—Master? You mean the elder? He's fighting?
He nodded, not taking his eyes off the training field. Curiosity overtook me, so I made my way through the spectators, getting closer and closer… until I reached the front. And what I saw left me utterly speechless.
In the center of the field, the elder was fighting. It wasn't just simple training—it was a demonstration of technique, power, and elegance. His opponents were none other than Tom, Sakura, Ren, Masha… and Kaori. They were all attacking him at the same time, and yet the elder was dominating with movements so fluid and precise, it almost seemed unreal.
His steps were smooth but forceful; each strike he delivered was dodged with an agility that defied his age. His expression was calm, almost serene, as if he could read every attack before it happened.
I watched as Tom tried to attack from a blind angle while Masha rushed from the other flank. Kaori moved like the wind, swift and focused, looking for a weak spot—but nothing worked. The elder turned, blocked, and countered with such grace that it left me breathless.
After just a few minutes, their exhaustion was obvious. Their breathing was heavy, sweat ran down their foreheads, and their movements began to slow. Seeing this, the elder stopped abruptly and raised a hand.
—That will be enough for now —he said, firm but gentle.
The students broke into excited applause. It was sincere, not only because of the skill on display, but because it was a rare and unique moment.
As the others caught their breath, the elder turned his gaze to me. He had spotted me among the crowd. He smiled and said in a playful tone:
—Would you like to train, young Leo?
I froze for a moment. The offer caught me off guard. I was about to refuse, still unsure, but suddenly voices rose around me:
—Come on, Leo! —shouted one student.
—You've got to give it a try! —said another.
Even Tom, still panting, raised a hand and said:
—Your turn, bro. Don't play hard to get.
Sakura and Masha gave me encouraging smiles, and Kaori, with her determined expression, simply nodded as if she already knew what was going to happen.
With so much insistence and no way out, I accepted. I took a deep breath, trying to calm the slight tremble in my hands. I stepped onto the training field, feeling all eyes on me. I walked until I was standing in front of the elder, who watched me with an unshakable calm.
I took my fighting stance, focusing. He did the same, never losing his serene smile.
The air between us grew heavier, filled with tension… but also respect.
I was about to face the master. And even though I didn't know how it would end… I felt something different. A mix of nerves, excitement… and a fire burning inside me.
I was ready.
—We begin the match in… 3, 2, 1… —said the elder in a firm voice.
The moment he said "one," I rushed toward him at such a speed that I kicked up a cloud of dust behind me. My fist aimed straight for his face… but to my surprise, he stopped it with one hand. In that instant, energy began to emanate from his body: a vibrant green aura, glowing brighter with every passing second.
I immediately leapt back, stunned. That aura… it wasn't normal. I could feel his power rising gradually, as if he were only now unlocking his true strength. I looked at him with a defiant smile, knowing he had more hidden within.
I looked at the students around us—they were as stunned as I was. But I couldn't fall behind.
I closed my eyes for a second, took a deep breath… and released my aura.
Unlike his, mine was white, bright, with a mist-like texture that spread like fog around my body. It looked as though the air itself was warping. I didn't think much of its appearance—I just focused and said to the elder:
—Alright… here I come!
I lunged at him again, even faster than before. But once again, the elder blocked my attack. This time, I had a trick up my sleeve. Using the momentum, I flipped into the air and spun hard, aiming a kick at his left side. He managed to block it with his arm, but I noticed a shift in his expression—he was beginning to exert himself.
I quickly backed off and, not giving him a chance to recover, advanced with a flurry of quick strikes. His reflexes were still impressive, but I could tell it was getting harder for him to dodge everything. With precision, I threw punches and kicks, creating a rapid rhythm in our fight. After several exchanges, I stepped back seven paces, giving him some space.
But he didn't wait.
With superhuman speed, he rushed at me like a gust of wind. I had no time to react. His fist landed directly in my stomach, making me cough up a bit of saliva. I staggered back, clutching my abdomen. The pain was intense.
—Don't hold back, young Leo —the elder said seriously—. I know what your true power is.
His words shook me. I felt nervous… but also thrilled. He knew. He knew that if I fought seriously, something would change. And I couldn't hold back any longer. I looked at him intently and replied:
—Alright then… I'll go all out.
The elder smiled, as if he'd been waiting for that all along.
I closed my eyes, focused… and released more power. My white aura grew more intense, rising like it had a will of its own. Then, without warning, I charged at him again.
We began exchanging blows at lightning speed. The movements were nearly impossible to follow for anyone untrained. Every impact echoed across the field, every dodge was a dance between two unleashed wills. But amid the frenzy, the elder found an opening and struck me square in the face. I stumbled back five steps… then another blow pushed me even farther.
—It's time to end this, young Leo —he declared firmly.
I looked at him with determination, wiping the blood dripping from my lip.
—You're right, old man… let's finish this.
I began walking toward him slowly. Each step pounded like a war drum. And in the blink of an eye… I vanished.
I moved at such a blinding speed that I reappeared right behind him. With all my power focused, I aimed a punch directly at his head… but stopped just inches away. I lowered my fist and said with a smile:
—Training is over.
The elder didn't turn around. He simply nodded, still facing away.
—You're impressive, young Leo. I hope this Sunday… you'll show that power in a real fight.
His aura slowly faded, as if the wind was carrying it away. I also relaxed my energy, letting my white aura vanish into the air like mist dissolving at dawn.
We looked at each other, and in silence, shook hands. The training session was over.
But most importantly… only five days remained until the event.