Scene 1: The Weapon Combat Test
Haruto and Renzaki each drew their weapons — Haruto with his wooden sword, Renzaki with his wooden katana — and stepped into their stances. The tension thickened in the air as they prepared to strike.
Renzaki moved first, his katana flashing forward in a blur. Thwack! Thwack! Thwack! Three rapid slashes cut through the space toward Haruto's chest. Haruto's reflexes kicked in just in time — Clack! Clack! Clack! — his wooden sword deflected all three strikes, though the force drove him a step back.
A small spark crackled near Reina's side — Tchk! — and before anyone could react, Einzuro stepped into view, wearing a faint smile.
"Well then... come on! Continue the fight," he said casually.
Reina's eyes widened. "Sensei! Stop them! You called us here for a test, but these two are trying to kill each other, and you're telling them to keep going?!"
"This is the test," Einzuro replied simply.
"But Sensei, if they use magic—"
"They won't," Einzuro interrupted, his tone calm but firm. "I knew these two. If they used magic here, they might have ended up killing each other for real." His gaze shifted to the fighters. "Listen, Haruto, Renzaki — no magic allowed. This is a pure weapon combat test."
From the sidelines, Naoki groaned, throwing his head back. "Ughh... so we're just gonna watch a fight with no magic? Boring."
"Relax," Einzuro said without looking at him. "This is only Test One — Weapon Combat. After this, Test Two will be hand-to-hand combat, Haruto versus Reina."
Reina smirked, raising one arm just enough to flex her little bicep. "Hmph! Hand-to-hand combat? You'll never beat me in that."
"And finally," Einzuro added, "Test Three will be a magic test. Haruto versus Naoki."
Naoki's lips curled into a cocky grin. "Easiest test of my life."
"Alright," Einzuro stepped back. "On my count. Three... two... one... Go!"
Scene 2: Speed vs Strength
Renzaki blurred forward, his body low, and suddenly appeared behind Haruto. Haruto twisted just in time to catch the movement — Thwack! Thwack! Thwack! — another set of three lightning-fast slashes toward his back. Clack! Clack! Clack! Haruto deflected them again, his sword vibrating in his hands from the force.
A sly smile spread across Renzaki's face. "Not bad... but against KazeKami speed, your reflexes won't be enough."
He pressed harder, his strikes coming faster and sharper. Haruto barely kept up, the repeated impacts sending shocks through his arms. Then — thwip! — Renzaki's blade smacked across Haruto's fingers.
"Kh—!" Haruto winced, pain shooting through his hand. His grip faltered.
"Tsk..." Haruto thought, beads of sweat on his temple. He's too fast... he's not giving me a single opening.
Renzaki laughed under his breath. "I told you. You can't beat KazeKami speed." He continued to taunt, throwing careless remarks between attacks, his overconfidence bleeding through.
That was when Haruto saw his chance.
As Renzaki swung again mid-sentence, Haruto lunged forward, gripping Renzaki's wrist — the one holding the katana — and jerking it aside. "Huh?!" Renzaki's eyes widened.
In the same breath, Haruto slipped behind him. Renzaki started to turn—
WHACK! Haruto's wooden sword smashed into Renzaki's neck… with brutal force. A spray of spit burst from Renzaki's mouth as he stumbled forward.
Reina shouted, "Don't go overboard! It's just a test!"
From the sidelines, Naoki cupped his hands around his mouth. "Nice one, Haruto! Break his hands next!"
Einzuro, seated calmly on a rock, watched with a small, knowing smile.
Renzaki tried to steady himself — but Haruto was already moving again. This time, he darted in front, swinging upward into Renzaki's neck. Before Renzaki could recover, Haruto leapt, raising his sword high for a finishing blow.
But Renzaki reacted on instinct — Slash! Slash! Slash! — cutting across Haruto's stomach and legs. The strikes landed, but Haruto didn't even flinch.
Then—
CRACK! Haruto's wooden sword smashed down onto Renzaki's head. The blade splintered apart, pieces scattering across the ground. THUD! Renzaki collapsed forward, his forehead slamming into the stone floor. Blood seeped instantly from the impact, spreading in a thin, dark trail beneath him.
Haruto froze, eyes widening. "R-Renzaki... I—"
Reina gasped, both hands covering her mouth. "Renzaki! Sensei, let me heal—"
Einzuro's calm voice cut through. "Not yet, Reina. This is training… and for Haruto, it's a test. No magic. Just patch him up."
He turned to Haruto with a faint smile. "For now… you pass."
Reina stepped towards Renzaki, but before she could reach him, the battered swordsman staggered — his body shuddering from the impact — as he tried to stand. She stopped in her tracks. Renzaki lifted his head, and a thin stream of blood trickled from a fresh gash on his forehead.
Haruto swallowed hard. "S-Sorry, Renzaki... I didn't mean for this to happen," his voice trembled.
From the sidelines, Naoki burst into laughter, bouncing on his feet. "Hahahah! Thank you, Haruto! I've always wanted to see this guy's face after losing. Look at him now—priceless!"
Renzaki, wincing, pushed himself up from where he had fallen face-first. His arms trembled as he lifted his head and upper body, but his gaze stayed fixed on the ground. "S-S-Sensei...! That was cheating!"
Einzuro tilted his head slightly, a curious smile tugging at his lips. "Cheating? And how exactly was that cheating?"
With visible effort, Renzaki straightened into a half-sitting, half-standing position — the kind one took after barely surviving a hard hit. His breaths came heavy, his body swaying from the impact. "Why did you give us these worthless wooden blades? If you were going to make us fight, at least give me a real katana. Then I'd show him the true power of the KazeKami Style against that ShinKami nonsense." He wiped the blood at the corner of his mouth with the back of his hand.
Naoki grinned mockingly. "Hah! You couldn't even handle a wooden sword. Let's not even imagine what would happen with a real blade."
Renzaki shot him a cold, deadly glare. "When you don't know anything, keep your mouth shut... weakling."
Einzuro approached them calmly, his gaze shifting between the two. "Naoki, he's right. If I had given them real blades, Renzaki would likely have won. The KazeKami Style was designed for slender katanas, while ShinKami Style can turn anything — even a broken stick — into a deadly weapon. But with a real blade, there's no denying the KazeKami advantage."
Einzuro crouched in front of Renzaki, his expression turning serious. "But you made one fatal mistake, Renzaki — overconfidence. You underestimated Haruto because of your faith in your style, and you gave him an opening. For a ShinKami, one opening is enough to end it. If this had been a real duel, you'd still be standing here — but your head would be on the ground. Never let arrogance cloud your judgment."
He extended a hand. "Come on, Renzaki. You still have training to do."
Renzaki clasped Einzuro's hand and stood with effort. Without turning, Einzuro called to Reina. "Reina, tend to his wounds."
Scene 3: The Next Test
Some time later, with his head bandaged, Renzaki sat cross-legged at the sidelines, ready to watch the next match.
Haruto stood in the open field, right before a small stone mountain, waiting for Reina's arrival. His stance was low, fists lightly clenched, shoulders squared, ready for the fight ahead. His eyes stayed fixed forward, focused and unblinking.
Einzuro stepped between him and the mountain. "Haruto, this time, you'll fight without any weapons. In real battles, you might be unarmed. That's when your fists and feet become your only allies. This test will determine if you can still stand your ground."
He took a few steps back. "Get ready. The fight is about to begin."
Haruto frowned. "Sensei, where's Reina? Isn't she the one I'm supposed to—"
Before he could finish, Einzuro raised his hand and brought it down sharply towards the mountain.
In that instant, a deafening CRACK tore through the air — a blinding flash of lightning struck the mountain's peak, the force vibrating through the ground beneath their feet. The sky lit up for a heartbeat before falling silent again.
A heavy grinding sound echoed as a massive stone gate at the mountain's base began to slide open, each slab scraping against the earth with a deep rumble. From the shadowed passage beyond, Reina stepped out — calm, confident, her arms casually crossed over her chest. Even through her youthful frame, the faint definition of her arms and shoulders showed the training she had endured — small but firm muscles, the kind that promised greater strength in the years to come.
She halted a few paces from Haruto, uncrossing her arms only to let them rest loosely at her sides, a challenging smirk curving her lips — not one of arrogance or weakness, but of someone certain she was about to test her opponent. Her eyes locked onto his — sharp yet playful.
"So," she said, her voice carrying a quiet challenge, "are you ready, Haruto?"