Character Quotes
Hozanji Retsu: "Fist is not just the instinct to strike, but also a will that must constantly evolve."
[Prologue: Martial Arts Department Morning Training Ground]
At five in the morning, the department's martial arts training ground was already teeming with people.Unlike before, today's chief instructor is not the department head but the vice head, Hozanji Retsu. He held a training roster and coldly surveyed the area. "Anyone who is still using old routines to throw punches, get out of the training area," he said. The training ground fell silent. All the department members understood the message: the martial arts department is about to change.
[Background Retrospective: The Aftermath of the Iori Battle]
In the previous battle, Retsu won, but he lost in the realm of "understanding techniques." The "Punch Data Book" left behind by Iori Kiri sounded the alarm: his martial arts could be "seen through," and the fighting department's long-standing reliance on "power + brute force" would eventually be overpowered by the magical department. If they don't change, they will lose the dignity of their "punches." [Orders Issued: Reconstruction of Punch Principles]
Retsu issued five training directives to all department members: 1) Abolish the old punching manuals. The three styles of traditional Tōkō combat are no longer mandatory. Everyone must develop their own fighting style.
2) Disassemble and reconstruct. Within one week, each person must break down a specific set of punches and create a variant structure.
3) Practical combat is key. Every training session must end with a "non-regulated battle" that simulates a magical interference environment.
4) Reshape mental strategies. Introduce "combat psychological cognitive training" to strengthen on-site judgment.
5) Technique against technique. Arrange for simulated magical combat against other clubs or tactical classes. The vice president tapped the blackboard: "From today onwards, I don't want you to learn how to throw a punch; I want you to learn how not to be cracked."
[Awakening of the Strong: Vice-Ministerial Strength Gradually Emerges]
This time of restructuring will bring other hidden strong fighters to the forefront:
Vice-Ministerial Strong Fighter: Yura Hato
A taciturn expert in left fist techniques who possesses the ultimate skill, the "Spiral Tangle Strike."
Training Instructor: Tōkurā Genbu
Once the dominant force in freestyle fighting, he is restricted from participating in official battles due to his excessively ruthless fighting style.
Rising Fighter: Haruzukura Nanami She is a female fighter who specializes in a blend of elbow strikes and jiu-jitsu. Lie recognizes her as the only "all-round rookie."
They will become the "core of transformation" for the next phase of the fighting department.
[Ending: Lie's Self-Reflection]
After training, Lie sits alone in a corner of the dojo. He flips through the martial arts calculation sheets that Iori left behind.He mutters to himself, "I hate people like you, but I hate myself even more for being so easily seen through by you." He looks at the fighting department's motto, "Fist is Faith," hanging on the wall. "If faith dies, then the fist loses its meaning." His gaze sharpens. "Magic Department, Yagami Ao... Once I hone these fists, it will be your turn to answer my questions."