Kenji
Captains.
They were legends—giants walking among men. Each one etched into the annals of the Empire with feats so outrageous, they sounded more like fairy tales than history. Men who had slain ancient beasts, held collapsing fortresses together with sheer willpower, and commanded dragons like pets.
At least, that's what Old Man Ray told me growing up.
I turned to Yushiro, my voice caught somewhere between awe and disbelief. His smirk stretched wider, clearly enjoying my reaction. Beside me, Taka's expression mirrored mine: stunned and tense, his hand hovering near his katana's hilt.
Yushiro leaned in, his tone casual but laced with amusement. "Division Knights are the Empire's strongest warriors. They ride dragons, battle monsters, and fight in wars that would make most men wet themselves."
He nodded toward the ragged man standing lazily before us.
"And you just challenged one."
I clenched my jaw. "You're joking."
Yushiro's grin turned theatrical. "That. Is. The. Captain."
The so-called captain stood with a slouched ease, spear resting across his shoulder, a smirk carved into his weathered face like a permanent mark. His entire presence radiated a single dare: Step up… or step back.
My heart hammered. But it wasn't fear.
It was excitement.
I felt the grin stretch across my face. "To one stronger than you, you never hold back," I said.
The captain's brow lifted, his smirk twitching with approval. "Good."
I ignited my Hashi.
The energy surged through my body—heat pulsing in my limbs, nerves electric, senses flaring. The world sharpened: I could hear the wind against cloth, feel the subtle shifts in air pressure, taste the tension in the room.
Then I lunged.
My feet tore across the floor as I raised my blade for an overhead slash.
CLANG!
His spear intercepted with a lazy flick, but the impact rattled through my arms. I didn't stop—spinning, I slashed at his ribs.
He stepped back, just enough. My blade cut through air.
I pressed forward. Three strikes in quick succession—left, right, then a thrust.
Each one was batted aside with infuriating ease. His spear flowed like water, gliding through my attacks without effort.
I gritted my teeth. My technique might be unrefined, but my Hashi gave me speed. Power.
I feinted left, then pivoted sharply, lunging for his core.
CLANK!
He caught the strike with the shaft of his spear—again. Not a single tremor in his arm.
His expression hadn't changed.
Old bastard's good.
I leapt back, breathing hard. My grip tightened on the hilt. I forced more Hashi into the blade. The tip flushed orange, a soft glow rising from the edges. The hilt darkened. The sword grew heavier in my hands.
The captain tilted his head, unconcerned.
"You have no talent in swordsmanship," he said flatly.
I scowled. "Yeah? So what?"
"Then why use a sword?"
"None of your damn business, old man."
A twitch. The first break in his stillness.
"Old man?"
I roared and charged, Hashi exploding through my legs. The floor cracked beneath my step. I raised my blade—
Then he vanished.
WHAM!
Something struck my chest like a hammer. I flew backward, hit the ground, skidded across the dirt. My ribs screamed.
Damn it. He didn't even use his spear…
I pushed up, coughing, then launched forward again.
He waited until the last moment—then his spear snapped forward.
Slice!
Pain lanced through my side. A shallow cut, but it burned. I barely managed to block the next strike, the force of it jarring my arm.
I wasn't going to last long.
I started to push more Hashi into motion—
CLANG!
Taka cut in. His katana met the spear in a flash of sparks. His stance was tighter than mine, his footwork cleaner. But he wasn't fast enough.
The captain countered immediately.
A shallow cut opened on Taka's arm.
Then another.
And another.
Taka didn't flinch, but I could see it—he was being pushed.
He pressed forward, clashing with the captain. His blade flicked and struck, but the old man weaved through them. The spear came down—once, twice, thrice. Taka was blocking more than striking now.
Then the captain stopped.
He just stood there. Calm. Bored.
Taka stepped back, blood soaking through his sleeves. His emerald eyes locked on the captain.
"That's enough," he said.
The captain tilted his head. "Oh? And who are you to decide that?"
Then he moved.
The spear left his hand—spinning like a bolt of lightning.
Taka ducked—
Too easy.
The captain blurred forward.
A sharp clap to Taka's ear—disorienting.
Then a low kick to the back of his knee. Taka staggered.
A brutal knee to the face—his head snapped back.
Then the captain grabbed Taka by the scalp—
And slammed him into the ground.
CRACK!
Dust exploded from the impact. Taka's katana fell from his grasp, clattering nearby.
The captain reached for it.
I stepped forward—rage rising in my throat.
Tink!
A small rock zipped past me. The captain slapped it aside with a casual backhand.
Then he paused.
A smooth voice followed.
"Sorry. Can't let you touch that."
Yushiro stepped forward, calm and confident, like he'd just been waiting for his turn.
Everyone stilled—even the onlookers: Truth, Annette, Marko. No one moved.
The captain didn't look at him.
"Doesn't matter," he said. "I can handle all three of you."
Yushiro grinned. "Sounds interesting."