Shamrock Castle – Early Morning:
Arisa was looking for Zeno in the southern corridor of the castle.
"Zeeeenooo… Zeeeeeno… Where did he go?!!!"
Suddenly, her eyes fell on the crowd gathered in front of the Royal Arena's gate.
"What's going on?"
She moved closer. From behind the crowd, she could only see someone's legs up in the air, moving up and down repeatedly.
She pushed through the crowd and stepped forward. Her eyes widened, and she froze.
"996… 997… 998… 999… 1000!"
Zeno was doing handstands on a single finger of both hands.
Arisa was stunned by Zeno's strength and muscular body.
"This power…!!! These well-shaped, perfectly defined muscles!!!!!…"
When Zeno finished his handstand, everyone who had gathered rushed toward him. Some touched his body, some talked to him—Zeno was suddenly surrounded by girls!!
Arisa was still frozen. When Zeno noticed her, he walked over—so close that Arisa could see herself reflected in his eyes.
"Why are you frozen, girl?!!!"
Arisa snapped back to her senses. When she realized how close Zeno was, she suddenly stepped back, twisted her ankle, and was about to fall—when Zeno caught her by the waist…
Everyone there was left with their mouths open.
"What just happened?!!!!"
Zeno's and Arisa's faces were so close it looked like they were about to kiss when suddenly—
"What are you two doing!!!?"
Raito was standing there with serious eyes…
Arisa quickly composed herself.
"Nothing, Big Brother Raito!!!"
Raito stepped forward and said to Zeno,
"I don't like you at all!!!!"
Zeno smiled, looked straight into Raito's eyes, and said,
"Funny enough, I don't like you either. The moment I saw you, a strange hatred flared up inside me."
Raito clenched his teeth.
"If it weren't for Soma, I would've killed you the moment you entered the castle!!!!… And know your place, commoner!!!"
Raito flicked his cloak and proudly walked away.
When Zeno turned back, he saw everyone looking pale like ghosts.
"What's wrong with you all now?!!!"
City Center:
"The preliminary matches for entry into the second stage, Seiko no Kakusei (Awakening of the Sacred Light), will now begin. Please gather at the Royal Arena to watch."
The announcement was made…
All the people began heading toward the Royal Arena inside the castle.
Royal Arena:
The arena filled with people. Everyone was waiting for the fighters to enter when the northern gate opened with a heavy sound that caused the entire crowd to fall silent.
A girl wearing an open jacket and a decorative belt entered.
"Hello, beloved people of the Shamrock Empire! My name is Raika Shamorika! Welcome to the Holy Knight Selection Tournament!!!!!"
The crowd roared with cheers.
In the western corridor stood someone wearing Raigai (Lightning Armor), with a lightning emblem engraved on his blade.
In the eastern corridor stood a fairly muscular man with a bandage over his eyes, dressed in Keifuku (dark attire), wearing a red belt with a black moon emblem on his back, proudly waiting for battle.
Raika excitedly began introducing the fighters:
"From the southern region of the country—the greatest samurai, a sword-fighting machine! With a blade from hell in his hands, ready to slice through anything—give it up for Tsuyo Takedaaaaaaa!!!"
The gate lifted, and the cold, prideful samurai entered the arena.
When Tsuyo stepped in, everyone fell silent.
"That bandage over his eyes?!…"
Raika continued excitedly:
"Don't lose your excitement! He may be blind, but no one can escape his sharp ears!!"
When Tsuyo heard people whispering about his blindness, he suddenly picked up the sound of a man being annoyed by a mosquito. His hand moved to his sword. As he slowly drew it, a small shockwave formed beneath his feet.
The sword left the sheath—and was thrown!!
Tiiing!!!
The man's eyes widened, sweat pouring down his face. The only thing he saw were the torn wings of the mosquito. His gaze shifted to his right—the sword had passed right beside his ear and embedded itself into the stone behind him.
"Could you please return my sword?"
The trembling man pulled the sword from the stone and threw it back. It was flying straight toward Tsuyo's face.
The man froze again, drenched in sweat.
"It's going to hit him!!!!"
But just as the tip of the blade reached Tsuyo's nose, he caught it.
"Thank you."
He remained completely calm, showing no reaction. The man who had thrown the sword fainted.
Raika laughed.
"Uhhh… someone take that man to the infirmary!! And now, on our left—there stands a skilled swordsman, known as the Mad Killer! He shows no mercy to his opponents—man or woman, young or old—it doesn't matter. He strikes ruthlessly! Welcome Rakumaro Kajikoooo!!!!"
The left gate opened, and something like a gust of wind burst out. Tsuyo instantly drew his katana.
Shiiink!!
The clash of swords sent dust everywhere. Slowly the dust settled…
Rakumaro was grinning madly. His blade was near Raika's neck—but not even a scratch marked her skin, because Tsuyo's sword had protected her.
"You're blind, but your ears are sharper than my eyes, hahaha… aghhh!"
Rakumaro was sent flying by a powerful kick from Tsuyo, crashing hard into the wall.
Tsuyo said to Raika,
"You'd better leave."
Raika hurried toward the exit—but Rakumaro rushed at her again.
The moment Tsuyo heard the sound, he stabbed his sword into the stone, bent both knees, tensed his muscles, and launched himself explosively toward Rakumaro.
The crowd was terrified for Raika.
Just as Rakumaro was about to reach her, a powerful punch slammed into his face and drove him into the ground.
Tsuyo carried Raika and quickly delivered her to the exit gate.
"Thank you, Tsuyo-sama."
Raika left, but when Tsuyo turned back toward the arena, the only thing he saw was Rakumaro's blade coming straight at him—
Thump!!
Rakumaro gritted his teeth, veins bulging from his neck—because Tsuyo had stopped the blade with his bare palms.
"Aaaagh!!"
Another strike to Rakumaro's stomach. Tsuyo ran toward his sword—but suddenly his hearing faltered. A ringing filled his head.
Rakumaro burst out from the wall, laughing.
"I guess it worked, hahaha!"
He charged forward and brought his blade down to finish Tsuyo—but Tsuyo reacted again, leaping back. His clothes tore, and his stomach was slashed.
Blow after blow, Tsuyo dodged—but not perfectly. Gradually his body filled with wounds as Rakumaro attacked wildly, laughing like a maniac without stopping.
With every hit, Tsuyo was pushed back until his foot caught—and he fell.
At that very moment, Rakumaro's blade came down, about to split Tsuyo's chest—
Grrrrrk—
Tsuyo's fist slammed into the ground. The earth beneath Rakumaro cracked and shook, throwing off his balance. His sword was knocked away.
Second punch to the face.
Third to the heart.
Fourth to the stomach.
And the fifth—the final one—to the ribcage.
When the last punch landed, Rakumaro's eyes turned white, and he fell onto his back.
As a skilled samurai—and also a capable neurologist—Tsuyo had struck Rakumaro's nerve points precisely, incapacitating him.
"You probably won't be able to move for a few days."
Tsuyo pinched his nose, closed his mouth, and forcefully expelled the air from his body.
Crack!
"Looks like the shockwave from that sword messed up my ears…"
Tsuyo picked up his sword and began walking out of the arena when a voice stopped him.
"I haven't lost yet—you don't have the right to leave!!…"
Tsuyo clenched his teeth.
"Looks like you want to die, boy!!!!"
Rakumaro, with white eyes and a floating body, stared at Tsuyo—then suddenly vanished.
"Ooogh!!"
A brutal kick to Tsuyo's back sent him crashing into the wall, embedding him into it.
"Hahahahaha!"
Rakumaro's insane laughter terrified everyone.
"Now it's getting fun… entertain me more… samuraaaaiiiii!"