The Plan

The woman in front of Toma was a striking contrast to the sheer force she radiated. She was undoubtedly the strongest person he had encountered in this world—no doubt about it.

“Young ones. It is sad we meet in such a way. As you know, I am Kaori Yensheng, better known as the Martial Saint. I hope you enjoyed your stay in Mikana, yes?” Kaori began, her voice calm but carrying an undercurrent of weight that made the air feel heavier.

Toma blinked. Was this the usual send-off? Judging by the expressions of his three comrades, Kaori was someone of immense renown. But what exactly was happening here?

“I know you are all confused, but I wanted to send you off properly. I am sorry,” Kaori said, her tone softening as she glanced at each of them.

Toma’s confusion only deepened. Why is she…?

Before he could finish that thought, a sudden boom cracked through the air.

Dust exploded around them, forcing Shizuka, Kaien, and Irilith to stagger backward, weapons drawn reflexively. When the haze settled, Toma’s hand was gripping Kaori’s wrist firmly—her fist frozen mid-air.

“Ah? Why did you attack us?” Toma asked, trying to keep his voice steady, even cool. Catching a fist in a fraction of a second was no small feat.

Kaori tilted her head slightly, the faintest hint of a smile touching her lips. “Oh? How? Hmm, you must be pretty strong.”

Shizuka, Kaien, and Irilith tightened their grips on their swords, stepping into defensive stances.

“Explain yourself. You don’t seem like a bad person,” Toma said firmly.

Kaori sighed, her eyes briefly clouding with a mixture of regret and resolve. “Fine. Since you stopped my sudden attack, I suppose I can explain.”

She released her wrist, stepping back, hands raised in a gesture of peace.

“This place… Mikana… it is no longer safe for anyone to leave,” Kaori began, voice low but steady. “Two weeks ago, the land bridge connecting Yulan and Setari was destroyed. Since then, Mikana has become a crucial transit point, but it is trapped.”

She paused, looking at each of them.

“The Immortal Dragon’s spies have infiltrated the city. They’ve laid volatile magic traps beneath the foundations and within the towers. Any attempt to escape could trigger devastation.”

Her gaze hardened. “I received an ultimatum—a cruel decree demanding the execution of one man and the detention of one woman each day, indefinitely, until further notice.”

Toma’s eyes narrowed.

A bitter silence fell.

“I’m sorry,” Kaori whispered. “I wanted to protect Mikana. But now, I must do what I can to keep its destruction from spreading. That’s why I sent you here."

Toma exchanged glances with his comrades. The weight of her words settled over them like a storm cloud.

“So,” Kaori continued, “I am sorry it has to be this way."

Toma blinked, stunned. Kaori shifted effortlessly into a judo stance, weight balanced, hands poised, not the aggressive strike but a poised challenge. It was almost laughable. In the real world, this kind of stance was mostly a guy’s move, often looking clumsy or overly macho. But here? From a woman as stunning as Kaori, it looked deadly and graceful all at once.

A laugh almost bubbled up inside Toma’s throat, but he swallowed it. This was a dream, after all. Why not play along?

Without hesitation, he turned to Kaien. “Here, take my sword,” he said, handing it off smoothly.

Kaien’s eyes widened in surprise but he accepted the sword, nodding silently.

Irilith’s face went pale. “No. You can’t. You’ll lose. That is the Martial Saint!"

Shizuka shot Irilith a sharp glance and placed a steady hand on her shoulder. “Let him be. He’s not going to listen to anyone right now.”

The tension in the room spiked as Kaori’s dark eyes flicked between Toma and the others. She was clearly amused by his reckless confidence, or perhaps intrigued.

Toma squared his shoulders and met Kaori’s gaze. “Martial Saint versus me. Let’s see what you’ve got.”

...

..

.

Toma’s eyes widened as Kaori exploded forward, a whirlwind of motion and power that seemed almost unreal. Somehow his body responded, moving faster than he thought possible.

He ducked a blow, rolled through a spinning strike that bent the air itself, and punched back with a force that surprised him.

His mind buzzed with disbelief as his dream-self twisted and turned, flowing through impossible maneuvers that felt equal parts instinct and pure fantasy. Every punch, kick, and grapple was a blur of light and sound, the world warping around their fight.

Kaori’s attacks were relentless, but Toma barely managed to keep up, weaving and countering with moves that made no sense but somehow worked.

The ground trembled beneath them, dust swirling like smoke rings as their clash sent shockwaves through the air. Toma’s breath came heavy, but a grin cracked his face.

“Okay, dream me, you got this."

...

..

.

Hours had passed, yet the battle raged on.

Both fighters were drenched in sweat, breaths ragged, muscles trembling with exhaustion, but neither showed any sign of yielding.

Kaori’s eyes flickered with disbelief. *Who is this person?* she wondered, breath barely steady as she circled him cautiously. *How can he still stand? How is he not broken?*

Her gaze sharpened. “What is your name?” she demanded, voice hoarse but commanding.

“Toma Enshin,” he replied with a tired grin, wiping sweat from his brow.

The name seemed to strike her like a thunderclap. For the first time, Kaori’s stoic mask cracked. *Toma Enshin… I will never forget you.*

A rare flicker of respect burned in her eyes.

Without hesitation, she lunged again, muscles coiled to unleash what must be her finishing technique, raw power rippling from her fists as she aimed to end this duel.

But Toma moved with a sudden surge, dodging the attack by mere inches. Seizing the moment, he countered with a swift, decisive move that sent Kaori crashing to the ground.

He stood over her, chest heaving, a grin spreading across his face. “That was fun.”

Kaori looked up, eyes wide but impressed.

Toma’s grin deepened. “I’ve got a plan.”