All that bloodlust… I can sense it. It's thick in the air like smoke, suffocating and heavy.
"Rei, do you know where it's coming from?" I asked, narrowing my eyes.
Rei shook his head. "I don't. But I can try to pinpoint the location."
Far away, hidden in a clearing just off the academy grounds...
"Why should I spare your life? If you're weak, you die." The attacker's voice was cold, merciless.
The girl from earlier trembled. "I can get strong. I know I can."
The attacker laughed—a chilling sound. "That's what they all say. But in the end, they all fall. Weaklings have no place in this world. We only need the strong."
Back to me—Ryju.
"That bloodlust... it's coming from over there!"
"Let's go!" Rei snapped, already moving.
"Can I stay, please?" Kenshiro muttered hesitantly.
"All of us: NO!!"
We rushed toward the source.
"Alright, let's make this quick. Just die."
"No! Somebody help me!" the girl screamed.
I leapt into the scene. "STOP RIGHT THERE! Don't you dare hurt her!"
The girl blinked. "It's you... redhead."
The attacker sneered. "So you brought friends. But why save the weak?"
"That's why. I hate when strong people pick on the weak."
Rei growled, "Enough talking. Let's beat him."
"Yeah, this guy talks too much," Goro added.
"We can stop him together," Kuroyami said, tightening his grip on his sword.
Kenshiro groaned, "Still too much work... can I go?"
"All of us: NO!"
"Six of you, huh? Guess I'll just have to take you out one by one. Starting with you." The attacker's eyes locked on Kuroyami.
"Me?!" Kuroyami blinked.
"Where did he go?!" Rei shouted.
"Behind you."
"Huh?! So fast!" Kuroyami barely had time to react.
"50 Consecutive Slashes!"
Kuroyami screamed. "AHHH!"
"Kuroyami! Are you okay?!" Rei yelled, rushing to his side.
"You bastard! I'll kill you!" Rei charged forward recklessly.
"Charging in like that? That'll get you killed. 75 Consecutive Slashes!"
Rei hit the ground hard.
"Noo! Rei!"
"Who's next? Green hair..." The attacker's eyes gleamed with cruelty.
"Shun, move!" I yelled.
"Huh?" Shun stumbled.
"Too slow. 75 Consecutive Slashes!"
Shun collapsed. "This pain... it hurts so much. I'm gonna die... no doubt."
"Three down. Three more to go." The attacker's voice was calm, cold.
Kenshiro stepped forward. "Fine. I'm done holding back."
"Oh? You finally decided to stop being lazy?" The attacker sneered.
Kenshiro vanished in a blur, reappearing with a fist to the attacker's face.
"Can't dodge... so fast!"
"How's that punch?"
"Not bad." Kenshiro smirked. "Round two."
They charged.
"100 Consecutive Slashes!"
"Kenshiro!" I shouted.
"Got you from above!" Goro called out.
"Double teaming? That's not fair... but it won't matter."
"Watch out!" Kenshiro warned.
"Too fast! I can't dodge!" Goro shouted, struggling.
I kicked Goro away, barely saving him.
"Three on one? Unfair. But fine."
"Let's try a team attack," Kuroyami said.
"We haven't unlocked our powers yet," Rei reminded.
"We can still use our Spiritual Force Coating," Kenshiro said.
Spiritual Force is the raw energy every living person is born with. It increases strength and speed. If someone is born without it—a one-in-a-billion chance—they die just by being near it.
"Now!"
"I'm going above!" Goro announced.
"I'm going behind!" Kenshiro added.
"They're trying to trap me. Clever... but pointless."
"Spiritual Punch!"
"Spiritual Kick!"
"Spiritual Punch!"
"Got him!"
"Wait... he put his sword in the ground?!"
"The slashes are coming up! MOVE!" Kenshiro yelled.
Too late.
"250 Consecutive Slashes!"
"He's... trapping me!" Goro cried out.
"One Sword Style: Death Slash!"
"All-Around Spiritual Shield!" Goro managed just in time.
He hit the ground hard but lived.
"Who is this guy...?"
"Too much work..." Kenshiro muttered.
"I thought we had him..." Goro frowned.
"Teamwork, huh? 500 Consecutive Slashes."
"Ryju!!" Kenshiro shoved me out of the way.
"GRUH!" I spat out blood.
"Why did I become a ninja...? I could be home playing games... Thanks, mom. I hate this."
"Why, Kenshiro...?"
"I'll kill you!" Goro roared.
"How sweet... but charging in angry? That's how you die. 200 Consecutive Slashes."
"Goro, NO!"
Too late.
"You're dead meat!" Goro shouted—
A blur.
Goro froze.
"When... when did he slash me?!"
"Five down. One to go."
Me.
"You killed all my friends... I know I'm weak... I want to kill you but I can't. I'm going to die..."
"Let me end your misery. 1000 Consecutive Slashes."
But before the blades struck—
Spiritual King's voice rang out. "Time's up! Everyone return to the academy!"
The boy sneered. "You're lucky. I'll finish this next time."
He vanished into the shadows.
I ran to my friends. They were barely breathing.
"I need help! I can still save them!"
At the Academy Hospital
"Five critical injuries... all from your team. We need surgery, now," the nurse said gravely.
Later...
The Spiritual King looked at me. "Bad injuries. What happened?"
I told him everything.
"Then you must get stronger. Protect your team."
"I will. I'll get revenge. I swear."
"Surgeries complete. They survived. Somehow... must be divine," the nurse said with a relieved smile.
"They're alive?! That's great!" I breathed out.