The adventurer guild arena thrummed with restless energy as a swelling crowd packed the weathered wooden stands, their voices rising like a storm over the dusty expanse below. Merchants jostled for a better view, their coin pouches jangling, while adventurers in patched cloaks leaned forward, eyes glinting with curiosity. Villagers pressed against the railings, their murmurs a chaotic hum under the midday sun. Haruto, Selena, Yuki, Himari, and the rest of the group settled into the stands, their gazes locked on the ring where Tetsuya, the commander of Kagetsura, squared off against the silver-haired boy. The air buzzed with anticipation, tinged with the sharp scent of sweat and steel.
The crowd's excitement twisted into scorn as a group near the front unleashed a barrage of mockery. "You little kid, do you really think you'll win?" one bellowed, his voice dripping with disdain as he elbowed his neighbor, sparking a wave of jeers. "He's dreaming!" another laughed, pointing at Renjiro. "Look at him—barely a twig against the commander!" The taunts echoed, fueling a chorus of snickers that rippled through the stands. Renjiro stood unfazed in the dirt-packed arena, his sword gripped firmly in his left hand, dark grey eyes steady amid the ridicule.
The noise hushed as Tetsuya raised a hand, his tone cutting through the tension. "Let's start." With a silent command pulsing through his mind—a summoner's gift where words were unnecessary, the strength and intellect of the summon tied to his own—the soldier sprang to life. Its dark red aura flared like a furnace, jagged armor gleaming as it dashed toward Renjiro, broadsword slashing with ferocious speed. Renjiro charged to meet it, his blade flashing in the sunlight. Their swords collided with a resounding clang, sparks spitting into the air, the impact reverberating through the ground.
Renjiro couldn't withstand the soldier's force—his arms buckled under the pressure, his boots skidding back as he struggled to hold his ground. I need to avoid physical contact, or I can't win, he thought, grit etching his face. Tetsuya, watching from the sidelines, nodded faintly. Not bad, holding against my soldier. The crowd leaned in, a collective breath held as the clash unfolded.
With a swift motion, Renjiro drew a dagger from his back with his right hand, lunging to pierce the soldier's armor. The blade met unyielding steel, skidding off with a harsh screech that sent a shiver through the stands. The soldier retaliated, its left gauntlet swinging in a brutal arc. Renjiro raised his dagger to block, but the sheer power bore down, cracking the earth beneath him into jagged fissures. Dust billowed upward, and a woman in the crowd gasped, clutching her companion's arm. "He's done for!" she cried, her voice trembling.
Haruto's eyes narrowed, his voice calm but firm. "It's just as I expected."
Selena's heart pounded, her words sharp with dread. "What did you expect?" Her gaze fixed on Renjiro, pinned beneath the soldier's might, the ground splintering under his feet.
Haruto replied, "Renjiro doesn't have that much strength. He mostly relies on his speed, but now he can't move."
Yuki smirked, her confidence unshaken. "He always finds something in this situation—that's the Renjiro I know. Let's see what he'll do."
Renjiro's breath came in ragged bursts, his body straining under the weight. Damn, I need to escape, or my leg's gone, he thought, desperation sharpening his focus. His eyes darted to the soldier's stance, and with a sudden kick, he struck its leg. The summon wobbled, its balance faltering, and Renjiro leapt back, launching a swift slash that sliced through the air toward it.
The crowd exploded—cheers erupted like thunder, drowning out the earlier mockery. "He tripped it!" a burly man roared, slamming his fist against the railing. "That's it, kid, hit it again!" another shouted, tossing a bread crust in excitement. The stands shook with stomping feet, the air electric with their fervor as voices cried, "He's got guts!" and "Keep going!"
Tetsuya's lips twitched upward. Wise thinking, but a normal slash won't do anything. The soldier deflected the strike with its broadsword, metal screeching against metal in a shower of sparks. Renjiro dashed forward undeterred, throwing a punch at the soldier's head. His fist thudded uselessly against the helmet, the armor too strong, his lack of power evident. A ripple of groans swept the crowd, a merchant muttering, "What's he thinking? That won't work!"
The soldier's gauntlet clamped around Renjiro's legs, iron-tight. Tetsuya's voice rang out, steady and final. "It's over."
Renjiro grinned, a spark of defiance in his eyes. "Oops, my bad." At point-blank distance, he unleashed a powerful slash, his blade carving a deep gash across the soldier's chest with a visceral crunch. Tetsuya's eyes widened in shock. He did it on purpose. The summon reeled, its aura flickering as it began to regenerate, the wound sealing shut before the stunned onlookers. The crowd surged to their feet, a merchant spilling his drink as he yelled, "Did you see that? He tricked it!"
Mid-air from his leap, Renjiro thought, I need to strike again. Tetsuya's mind pulsed a new command—Attack the ground. The soldier slammed its blade into the dirt, shattering the arena floor. Rocks and soil erupted like a geyser, pelting the air with debris. Renjiro landed awkwardly, his balance lost as the ground bucked beneath him, stumbling with a gritted curse.
The soldier seized the moment, its slash whipping toward him. Renjiro didn't react in time—the blade struck, sending him hurtling across the arena. The crowd's cheers turned to gasps, a collective "No!" rising as he flew toward the stone wall. With a desperate twist, he drove his sword and dagger into the rock, the metal grinding with a piercing shriek to slow his fall, lessening the impact. He dangled there, breathless, thinking, If I'd hit directly, my backbone would've broken.
The soldier charged again, its sword slashing downward. Renjiro kicked off the wall, dodging right with a roll, dust trailing in his wake. "Give me a break," he panted, scrambling upright. The summon struck the ground once more, rocks and soil bursting upward, battering Renjiro as he shielded his face. Through the chaos, he grinned. "So you fell for it."
Tetsuya tilted his head, smiling faintly. "What did I fall for?"
Dust swallowed the arena, and Renjiro vanished from sight. Himari's voice quavered from the stands. "Where is Ren… Renjiro?"
Selena pointed at the soldier, her breath hitching. There, behind the summon, Renjiro emerged like a specter, both sword and dagger raised. "Phantom Step Slash!" he roared, his blades blurring in a devastating arc. The strike landed with a thunderous boom, hurling the soldier into the wall—stone cracked and splintered, dust billowing as the impact shook the arena.
The stands detonated into pandemonium. A man leapt up, tossing his food skyward in a wild cheer. "That little boy used the Phantom Step Slash at his age!" he bellowed, his voice lost in the uproar. Fists pounded the air, shouts of "Monster!" and "He's unreal!" thundering as the ground quaked from their stomping. A woman clutched her scarf, shrieking, "I can't believe it!" The roar swelled, raw and unrestrained.
Haruto's jaw dropped, then he grinned. "No one our age can match Renjiro's speed—not even me."
Selena's eyes widened, her voice hushed. "How is it possible he still has not awakened?"
Haruto explained, "For swordsman, physical abilities don't need a core—practice is enough. Renjiro, who's always honed his speed, can match a 4th-core-level swordsman. But this match isn't over. Tetsuya's the commander, holding back a lot. Renjiro knows if he unleashes even a bit of his true power, Renjiro will lose fast. He's just testing him."
Tetsuya's grin widened, his excitement palpable. "Very impressive, very impressive. It's been years since I felt this thrilled. You can use the Phantom Step Slash at your age—I'm impressed."
Yuki blinked, curious. "What's that?"
Haruto said, "The Phantom Step Slash is an ancient technique, tough to master. It confuses the opponent before delivering a precise blow. If I used it, it'd be stronger, but…"
Selena asked, "Where did he learn it?"
Haruto shrugged. "We found it in books. There's a lot you don't know about him."
Tetsuya's voice boomed across the arena. "Now I'll get a little serious." The soldier rose behind Renjiro, its aura shifting—darker, denser, a menacing wave that pressed against the air like an impending storm.
Renjiro, though coreless, felt the power shift ripple through him. He steadied himself, taking a stance, his eyes burning with resolve. "I will not give up that easily."