To Surpass a Mountain

“Again.”

Retsugo Yuushin was born and raised in Okinawa.

“Bend more your knees, fix your hands, correct your posture. Again.”

Yet after he left for Tokyo, he never once thought about going back, much less miss his hometown—for a very simple and specific reason.

“Did you even practice? I see children hitting harder than you every day. Again.”

One of Yuushin’s earliest memories was at his grandfather’s dojo. Of hitting wood, practicing stances, and listening to his grandfather’s instructions again and again. Hearing how he was supposed to carry on the family’s pride and tradition—to become a real martial artist like his father.

But once he graduated from high school, he left home to become an illustrator.

“You will regret this day, and when you do, there will be nothing left here for you.”

A decision that was not supported by his grandfather. And on the day he left, Yuushin swore he would make sure to prove the elder wrong. To make sure he would never practice karate ever again.

If the old man ever finds out about this, I will kill myself.

Which was precisely why Yuushin could not ignore the bitter taste spreading in his mouth. Because while he did use his past knowledge to fight the goblins, Yuushin knew deep in his soul that unless he got really serious, he was as good as dead.

And the mere thought of giving up on his life—or failing to protect it—was agonizing at best.

…yet can I even fight seriously? After four years…

He knew he wouldn’t be able to fight that well. Not when his body was no longer used to the movements. Still, in order to take down that monster…

Retsugo Yuushin had to at least try.

Long and pointy ears, a big and protuberant nose, a triangular face. Reddish skin, a muscular build, thick arms and legs, and sleek, dark hair falling on its shoulders. When the man did not even reach the creature’s chest, the sight of the hobgoblin alone was enough to make 

Yuushin’s body hesitated. To allow fear to drench and sink into his muscles, dictate his movements, and thoughts.

Yet it was the creature’s gaze, as it narrowed its orange eyes and glared at him, that made the air leave his lungs. The unbridled wrath and scorn directed at him.

“…so I reckon you are upset about your friend?”

The creature growled, pulling the black thorn growing from its arm and throwing it at him with such insane speed, Yuushin got almost too surprised to dodge. And between those brief seconds of him dodging and averting his eyes—

As soon as he turned back, the hobgoblin grabbed Yuushin by his face and raised him in the air, its grip tightening around his head as the pressure in his skull started to become almost unbearable. And while Yuushin’s hands grabbed the hobgoblin’s with all their strength to no avail, it was almost as if he could hear his bones cracking.

At this rate, this thing will…

He didn’t dare to finish that thought. He refused to accept a reality where he went through so many perils and shitty situations just to die, in such a meaningless way. When he was finally starting to live for himself.

Yuushin had to do something. Anything. But what?

How?

Right then, he felt it again. That warmth. That spark. Yet this time it was stronger, hotter. A sensation that the more Yuushin focused on, the more it spread across his body. And the more it spread, the hotter it burned…

“…hah…”

…the more Yuushin smiled.

If I’m right about this…

His grip on the hobgoblin’s writs became tighter, their strengths practically matching, enough to pull the monster’s attention.

I better not pull a muscle with this one.

Yuushin threw his leg around the hobgoblin’s arm, using it as an anchor to pull his body upward. Then, as he forced the creature’s arm downwards with his hands and right leg,  Yuushin struck that same arm with his knee.

*CRACK*

The creature roared in pain, finally letting go of him. As Yuushin’s feet touched the ground, he gave a few steps back, watching as a darker purple liquid ran down the hobgoblin’s exposed bone. It locked eyes with him, baring its fangs.

Yuushin flashed a nervous smile. “Sorry, but you started it.”

With a growl, the creature raised its left arm—the one still intact—and hit the man straight on the chest. Instead of being sent flying, however, Yuushin held on to the arm and didn’t let go, even as the hobgoblin kept waving and moving its arm around, making him nauseous and dizzy.

Soon enough, though, the creature lost its patience. Putting all the force on its arm, it gave one powerful shake to throw Yuushin in the ground, wasting not even a second before sending the man meters away with a kick.

Pain began to spread and dominate him, so fierce and merciless it stole his breath away. Yuushin closed his eyes shut for a second, taking one deep, shaken breath. Focusing on that warmth again. On his body growing hotter, stronger.

When he opened his eyes, the pain was almost gone. And the more he controlled his breathing, the more Yuushin concentrated on feeling that heat—that thing flowing within his body—the clearer his mind became. More intense his senses became, and not in a bad way.

His sight was sharper—the colors popping in his eyes, richer and brighter. He could distinguish almost every sound around him, from how the earth moved as he shifted his weight to stand up, to the way the purple blood dripped and the hobgoblin’s feet.

Not only that, but Yuushin could feel his heart beat. How it slowed down, how something else continued to course through him with speed and force, flowing in such large quantities it kept pouring out of him. And when he glanced at his own body, even if faintly, Yuushin saw it.

A glow.

Emanating from his skin, something so golden and pure, it reminded him of the sun. Of the sea reflecting its last rays as it set on the horizon.

With the pain gone, with heat spreading within his body, Yuushin fixed his posture and focused on his foe.

On the beats of his heart. On how the air left his lungs. On the softness of the earth. On the size difference between him and his foe.

“Control your breathing. Focus on your adversary. Move through the Seisan.”

Yuushin’s body moved as he heard his grandfather’s voice in his head, the glow around him intensifying as he took the familiar stance. Recalling all the forms he was forced to perfect until he could do them in his sleep—from the angle of his fingers, to the flow he moved.

“Engrave it not only on your body, but your mind. Your spirit.”

Retsugo Yuushin had done just that—for more than ten years.

So the moment the hobgoblin got in range, when the creature charged at him as it pulled another thorn from its body…

Yuushin’s body knew what to do.

And how to move in order to win.