Chapter 6: Clash of Thunder and Instinct
Kael exhaled slowly, steadying his grip on the Katanada Kazuki had given him. The blade felt firm in his hands, its weight reassuring, its edge waiting for purpose. He had been practicing his sword swings for what felt like hours, each motion precise, each strike deliberate. Sweat dripped down his brow, but he didn't falter. He couldn't afford to. He needed to be stronger—he needed to be ready.
Kazuki, on the other hand, sat calmly a few feet away, sipping tea as if the world itself was at peace. The contrast between them was stark—Kael burning with relentless determination, Kazuki the embodiment of patience and wisdom. The young swordsman knew that his training here wasn't just about survival. It was about saving Sistine, and that singular goal fueled his every movement.
Unbeknownst to them, a figure approached from the distance.
Moving with inhuman speed, a Sentinel trainee made his way toward them, leaping between trees like a phantom. He had been away on a mission, and as he returned, his sharp eyes spotted Kazuki.
But then—he saw Kael
Kazuki had his back turned, and Kael, mid-swing, looked as though he were poised for an attack. The Sentinel's instincts flared. To him, it was clear—an unknown figure was preparing to strike his master.
The Sentinel's face darkened, his expression shifting from confusion to deadly resolve. His grip tightened around the hilt of his sword, his knuckles white with tension. Then, in a voice barely above a whisper, he uttered—
"Now clap, ThunderFang."
The heavens answered. A blinding bolt of lightning crashed down from above, striking his blade and wrapping it in crackling energy. The sudden flash painted the world in electric blue, catching both Kazuki and Kael's attention. Kazuki's eyes widened in recognition of the technique. He spun toward Kael, realization dawning too late.
Before he could react, the trainee spoke again, his voice like the calm before a storm.
"HyperFlash."
Time slowed.
A sound like thunder erupted as the Sentinel propelled himself forward, his electrified blade cutting through the air. The ground beneath him cracked under the force of his acceleration. The next instant, he was right in front of Kael, sword poised to strike.
Kazuki tensed. He was too far. There was no way he could intervene in time. His breath caught—Kael was about to be cut down before he could even react.
Kazuki's heart clenched. Too fast. He was still too far away. He had no time to intervene.
It was over.
Or so it seemed.
At the last possible moment—just as the blade was about to carve through him—Kael ducked.
A breath of air. A strand of his hair, caught in the electricity, burned away. The blade missed—by a hair.
Kazuki froze. The Sentinel froze.
For a fraction of a second, disbelief gripped them both.
Kael had dodged HyperFlash...
The electrified blade passed mere centimeters above his head, close enough for him to feel the heat of the crackling energy. Sparks flew as the air itself seemed to split from the sheer velocity of the strike. Kael's muscles tensed, his body reacting faster than his mind could process. His heart pounded in his chest, but his movements were fluid—natural.
Ryo's eyes widened in shock as his blade missed its mark. The force of his strike, now unchecked, slammed into the ground behind Kael.
BOOM!
An explosion erupted from the impact. A shockwave of raw energy ripped through the earth, sending fragments of rock flying in every direction. Dust filled the air, obscuring vision. Kael tumbled to the side, his ears ringing from the blast, while Kazuki shielded himself from the debris.
Through the haze, Ryo emerged, eyes still locked onto Kael. His confusion was evident.
"How…?" he muttered under his breath.
His fingers tightened around ThunderFang's hilt. He was already preparing for another strike. He couldn't afford to hesitate—whoever this was, they had dodged HyperFlash. That wasn't normal. That wasn't possible.
Kazuki acted first.
With a flicker of movement, he appeared between them, his presence alone halting the fight. His hand gripped Ryo's wrist firmly, stopping him before he could launch another attack.
"Enough," Kazuki commanded. His tone was calm, but there was an undeniable edge to it.
Ryo stiffened.
"Master Kazuki! Step aside! That man—"
"—is my student," Kazuki interrupted, his gaze sharp.
Ryo froze, his expression shifting from anger to shock.
"What…?"
Kazuki released his grip and let his words sink in. "Kael is training under my supervision. He's not an enemy."
Realization dawned on Ryo's face, and with it, embarrassment. His shoulders slackened, and he let out a sharp exhale, sheathing ThunderFang. He turned toward Kael, eyes filled with regret.
"I… I'm sorry," he said, bowing slightly.
"I acted without thinking. I thought you were trying to attack Master Kazuki."
Kael, still catching his breath, managed a nod.
"Oh, it's fine. No harm done."
Ryo straightened up, still visibly shaken by what had just happened. His gaze flickered back to Kazuki.
"But, Master… he dodged HyperFlash. I have honed that skill to the point that it's unavoidable by any Sentinel lower than a blade. That attack is meant to be instantaneous."
Kazuki's expression darkened slightly.
"Yes… I saw."
He turned to Kael, scrutinizing him.
"Tell me, did you know that attack was coming? Did you see it?"
Kael hesitated, thinking back to that moment. He shook his head.
"No… I didn't see anything. I just felt like I needed to move. My body just… reacted."
Ryo frowned.
"That's impossible. There was no time to react."
Kazuki remained silent for a moment before exhaling.
"Whether it was instinct or something else, one thing is clear—Kael's reflexes have surpassed expectations."
Ryo still seemed unconvinced, but his expression softened.
"If Master Kazuki says so, then I'll trust it." He then stepped forward, extending a hand.
"I almost forgot. My name is Ryo, and I am Master Kazuki's student."
Kael grasped his hand firmly. "Kael."
There was a newfound respect in Ryo's gaze.
"I don't know how you dodged my strike, but that reaction time… it's unreal."
Kazuki smirked slightly before turning back toward the shelter.
"Now that introductions are out of the way, I believe Kael has training to get back to. Ryo, you might want to observe."
Ryo nodded, his curiosity now fully piqued. "I'd like that."
Kael took a deep breath. He still didn't fully understand what had happened in that split-second moment, but one thing was certain—he was changing. Growing. And whatever was awakening inside him… it was only just beginning.