Shikōki Island—-
Zaria and Han sat in an empty gray room as their assigned teacher paced in front of them.
"How's this work?" Zaria asked. "We gonna learn some cool Jugen skills? Fight off a horde of monsters? Duel with you?"
The young man laughed. "Funny."
He snapped his finger at Zaria. "Stand up, girl."
"Me?"
"Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't know there was more than one girl in here."
Zaria slowly stood up as the man stopped in front of her. "I'm Seiya Shikōki. And you, will experience the Trial of Combat."
He walked over to the wall and smacked a button on it, causing the room to shift around Zaria, who noticed she was in a skate park.
"Ummm…" she stated. "I think something went wrong."
"Did something go wrong, sis? Or are ya just the wrong one?"
Zaria immediately turned around, where she saw a young brown-skinned woman, with long hair and several inches taller than her, standing behind her.
"Zia?"
"You bet."
A UI popped above her head.
〈Goal: Defeat *Zia Takeno.*〉
More appeared beneath the first.
〈Objective *1*: Parry 3 Times.〉
〈Objective *2*: Land a Kick 3 Times.〉
〈Objective *3*: Use a Heavy Attack 3 Times〉
Zaria backed up, blinking a few times. "Sis? What the hell! Are—are you…?"
Seiya's voice rang from an unknown place. "That's not your true sister. It's a figment of this dungeon. But falter, and you will most definitely suffer a gruesome death. Now stop running your mouth and start throwing hands!"
Before Zaria could respond, Zia lunged forward, kicking her in the face and sending her rolling across the ground.
"My spear," Zaria realized. "It ain't coming out!"
"Duh," Seiya told her. "This is the Hand-to-Hand Training Stage. You need to learn how to get in the grid. Have fun."
Zia threw a right haymaker at Zaria, who reflexively blocked with her forearm, causing Zia to stumble a bit.
〈Parry: 1/3.〉
"Zia…?" Zaria asked. "Is…that you?"
"Yes, sis," Zia replied. "Now hold still, I have something to show you."
Zaria watched as Zia walked up to her, putting a hand on her shoulder.
"Sister…"
Without warning, she suddenly drove her knee into Zaria's stomach, causing her to drop to the ground. "Ow! What the hell, Zia?"
"Come sister, come and let me beat you within an inch of your life!"
Zaria pushed herself up to her knees. "My sis would never say something like that…and knees? Please! She wasn't even a fighter type! You're not her, you're a fraud!"
"Fraud as I may be, you still have no chance," Zia taunted. "Now hold still."
She punched, kicked, and lunged at Zaria, who managed to dodge. Zaria looked at the UI above her head.
"Parry, kick…heavy attack? What's a heavy attack?"
"Whatever move you've got that deals tons of damage," Seiya answered. "Get to it."
Zia unleashed a combo of attacks, and as she tried to sweep Zaria's legs, Zaria blocked with her elbows.
〈Parry: 2/3.〉
Zia jumped back and tried to grab Zaria's hair, but Zaria kicked her in the chest.
〈Kick: 1/3.〉
Zia grabbed her leg, but Zaria punched her in the face, which she caught. "Hmm. You throw like a child."
Quickly, she flipped Zaria on her back, pinning her down.
〈Training Distortion #1: Water Will Continuously Rise From The Ground.〉
"What—-?" Zaria gasped.
Zia threw her aside as water suddenly appeared in the skate park, slowly reaching their ankles.
"If you can't train in any conditions," Seiya commented. "You don't need to train at all. Now go! Use a Heavy Attack to stun her!"
"I don't know what that is!" Zaria shouted back.
"Fine then. Let's draw it out of you. You don't seem good with your arms. Let's see how you do with your legs."
〈Training Distortion #2: All *Upper* Body Attacks Have Been Rendered Ineffective.〉
"Wonderful," Zaria muttered. "No arms."
The water rose up to just below her knee as Zia flicked some into her eye. "Hey! Dirty bit—-!"
Zia threw a jab at Zaria, who caught her arm and kicked her back, causing her to fall to one knee.
〈Parry: *Complete.*〉
〈Kick: 2/3.〉
Zia growled and got up, doing a spinning kick that caught Zaria in the chin, and she felt a crack.
"Ow, bitch! My jaw!"
"Cry me a river."
Zaria used one hand to steady herself on the ground and kicked Zia across the face.
〈Kick: *Completed.*〉
"Ahh, almost done," Seiya remarked. "Now attack with Heavy Force. All Kaitansha who wish to fight must have a Heavy Attack they can draw upon when needed. What attack do you see your master most commonly use in a bind?"
Zaria strained her brain hard. "Hmm…I haven't seen him use anything concrete! He's just all around amazing!"
"Foolish girl. You still have much to learn. Every attack he puts force into comes from his arms. Your legs deal more damage than any other part of your body. That is where your heavy attacks come from."
"Oh!" Zaria realized. "No wonder he can backhand people into walls!"
"Yes. Now focus. Form a signature move you can go to at any time. And best hurry, before you drown."
Zaria noticed the water at her chest. "Gah! Crap, okay!"
Zia tackled her, tossing her a few feet away. Zaria tried to kick her, but her foot moved more slowly through the water, and Zia deflected it with ease.
"Can't kick with all this liquid," Zaria thought. "How can I form a move like this?"
"Ridiculous," Seiya scoffed. "You should know by now that dungeons are unpredictable. Don't rely on something so basic as a move. You need a move that can work anywhere, anytime, in any situation. If you cannot trust the ground beneath your feet, trust your body."
Zaria backed away as Zia wiped the water from her eyes. The waves began to rise again, reaching her neck.
"Can't even throw a punch now," she moaned. "The hell am I gonna kick?"
As Zia began to stalk towards her, Zaria closed her eyes. "Nah. I got this. Mr. Nyugawa doesn't like crybabies. He likes competence. And if competence means I gotta kick a bitch wearing my sister's face in her skull, then that's what I'm gonna do."
She ducked her head under the water, placing one hand on the ground and getting into a squatting position. "I can't kick on the ground, then let's go in the air!"
With a burst of power, she shot forward, doing a cartwheel as she brought her legs down one by one on Zia's head.
"Tenkai-geri!"
The kicks slammed Zia straight into the ground, and she slowly floated back up above the water.
〈Heavy Attack: 1/3.〉
"Ahh," Seiya admitted. "Impressive."
Zia recovered and tried to swim towards Zaria, but Zaria sprang into the air again and performed another cartwheel kick.
〈Heavy Attack: 2/3〉
The water began to rise even further, to the point that both of their bodies were submerged fully.
"She can't get me down here," Zia thought. "Even if she manages to flip kick, all she'll hit is pure water! She'll drown!"
As the water rose higher and higher, Zia looked around for Zaria.
"Maybe she already did. Hmph. What a water!"
Suddenly, she noticed a burst from the water, and from underneath the water's surface, she could see a figure spinning like a disc.
"Tenkai——-geri!"
With a powerful kick, she split the waves in two, revealing Zia hidden beneath them. With a second spin, she used her other leg to drive it down into Zia's skull, knocking her into the ground with a powerful slam.
BOOM.
The waves cleared, and the 'Zia' disappeared.
〈Goal: Complete.〉
The dungeon floor disappeared, revealing the empty gray room again where Seiya and Han were watching.
"Congrats," Seiya clapped. "You passed. Surprisingly."
"Surprisingly? The hell was that?"
"The Training System we invented. To turn zeroes like you into heroes. Now take your reward for passing."
A sigil appeared before her. "Whoa. You guys just have these things on hand?"
"Take the damn thing, girl."
Zaria took it and crushed it in her hand, which caused her body to glow.
〈Level-Up! +1,000 Levels. New Level: 3,055.〉
Zaria pumped her fist. "Nice. I'm really rocking this joint!"
Seiya slapped his forehead. "Ridiculous. Anyway. We shall have a quick break before your friend begins his own training."
Seiya exited the door as Zaria went to sit next to Han. "Dude, wasn't that awesome? I totally wrecked that broad!"
"Huh? Oh. Congrats. Real good work."
Zaria examined her legs. "Man. Not used to kicking people but these things are awesome! Just wait until I tell Mr. Nyugawa! Wait, maybe I'll tell him right now!"
She pulled out her phone and began texting as Han stared at the gray wall, which almost appeared as if it was smiling at him.
"Sir," Han thought. "I think you might have to kill me."
Meanwhile—-
Omariro, on top of his mansion, noticed Zaria's text message.
[Hey, Sir! Just developed this super-badass new attack move that I can't wait to show you in person! Talk to you later?]
"Hmm," Omariro noted. "Girl improving."
Nonoka, now dressed in a black and golden hunter dress, climbed up, sweating. "Hey, Mister. You agreed to train me, then you disappear and make me search all over for you. Why?"
"Stamina," Omariro remarked. "Key."
Nonoka sat by him. "I know you're super strong. Can't you show me something that can obliterate a man in one punch? I mean, I'm already a sturdy base. I'm sure you like girls that can take care of themselves."
"Girl overconfident."
Nonoka flicked the hair out of her face. "I prefer the term… self-aware. But hey. If that helps with your training, I'll be whatever you want me to be."
"Show first skill," Omariro ordered.
Nonoka got up, putting a hand on her hip. "Easy."
She held out her hand. "Jugen-Sōunsha: Noroi no Sukiru Kyōka!"
〈Buff Applied. 200% Buff to *All* Party Members.〉
Omariro's body began to flow with energy, and he flexed his hand. "Girl increases strength."
Nonoka nodded. "And if you keep me around, I can do that a lot. But, not a lot like every minute. I can only do it 3-4 times a day. But, that's 3-4 more times than anyone else in your group can do."
Nonoka watched as Omariro slowly got up.
"He's got to understand how useful I can be, right?" she thought. "A man as strong as him wouldn't pass up on investing in me, would he?"
Omariro turned toward her. "Strike me."
Nonoka coughed before staring at him. "Excuse me?"
"Strike me. Hard. Fast."
"You? I can't hit you! What if you like, cut me in half!"
Omariro closed his eyes. "Strike. See."
Nonoka took a deep breath. "O…okay."
She got into a fighting stance, and she threw a fast jab at Omariro's face, who easily caught her fist.
"Fist still slow. Show second skill."
"My second skill? It boosts my senses, but it's not really gonna make me faster, except for my reaction time."
"Use second skill. Then close eyes."
"Alright."
Nonoka closed her eyes. "Jugen-Sōunsha: Tsuiseki Kyōka Jōshō!"
The world around her seemed to slow to a crawl, and she could catch a faint glimpse of red coming for her.
"There!"
She side-stepped out of the way, but she felt a push from behind and fell face-first on the ground. As soon as she got up, she noticed Omariro standing there, sipping coffee.
"Wha—how? I literally tracked you!"
Omariro set the coffee down. "Girl thought. Girl too reliant on what she thinks she knows. Not what girl doesn't know."
"Bu—what does that mean? Can you explain, please?"
"Again."
Nonoka got to her feet, closing her eyes. A bunch of red dots closed in on her, and she kicked the one closest, but all she felt was the clatter of armor as it hit the ground.
In an instant, her legs gave way under her.
"Ah!"
She fell on her butt, opening her eyes to find Omariro floating in front of her.
"What? You can fly?"
"Girl assumed yet again. Girl must focus. Girl must strike with confidence, not hesitation."
"How do I do that?" Nonoka questioned. "You're much faster than me, I don't know if you're attacking or not!"
"Girl will get it," Omariro stated. "Meet here again tomorrow. Dawn. Girl will resume."
Omariro clapped his hands, disappearing.
Nonoka sighed, sitting down. "There he goes again. So annoying how he just pops in and out when he wants."
Nonoka sat down. "But, he's pretty awesome. Way cooler than that overprotective dad I got. Maybe he can help me. I just gotta find a way to join his squad."
She looked down at the street. "Maybe…"
She sighed, just as thunder struck…
…and the flicker of an armored figure appeared behind her.
——-