Enlightenment I

That morning as I stepped onto the academy’s battle arena, I was greeted by the entire academy population in the stands.

The air was tense, and almost suffocating.

At the far end was the Commander, but there was something different about him.

I could sense his energy, it was vast, it was immense, it was suffocating. It reminded me vaguely of the deputy mayor, but this,

This was much greater.

“THE AIM OF THIS DUEL IS TO DISARM YOUR OPPONENT. WHETHER BY CONCESSION OR BY FORCE.”

“YOU MAY BEGIN.” The arena master commanded.

The Commander stood still, and so did I.

If there was one thing I knew, a calm opponent was a strong opponent. And it was best not to act recklessly.

We circled the full length of the battleground, all the while facing each other.

But then without noticing it, he lunged at me with great speed.

There was no time to dodge.

I had to block it.

WHAM.

The impact sent me skidding along the battleground floor. I had to plant my claymore into the ground to maintain my balance.

The Commander wasted no time at all, he launched a series of quick and successive attacks. I could feel them piercing into my skin like small deep needles.

I looked desperately for an opening in his attacks, but he was too good.

“HOW LONG ARE YOU GONNA PLAY DEFENSIVE?!”

He was right, I needed to find a way to break his defenses.

“You are all, but nothing at the same time.”

I remembered.

If I am all and nothing, then I am complete. Completeness brings forth creation, and therefore…

I needed to create an opening.

So I charged towards him, but not madly.

He darted backwards.

Now was my chance!

I swung towards him, putting all my strength into the blow.

But to my horror, I missed.

“H-HOW?!”

It was an afterimage!

“You really were trying to hurt me there, I guess I’ll stop holding back then.”

His energy exploded

I could barely keep my balance.

I looked upon him, and his sword glowed a bright yellow. His left eye also had a faint yellow glow. His hair stood up, and it seemed as though the space immediately surrounding him was floating.

I couldn’t tell when and how, but he charged at me.

Again.

And Again.

And Again.

My entire body ached, it screamed, it felt as if it was falling apart.

There was blood and sweat dripping from my brow.

“STOP HOLDING BACK JOB!”

“YOU ASKED FOR THIS!” I responded.

I closed my eyes and manifested my Karma onto the sword.

It was nowhere near as yellow as his, but I had grown more proficient since the first time I wielded Karma.

I also decided to heighten my senses, for I had observed the Commander.

It seemed as though he was channeling Karma to his eye as well, and when I did, granted it was through a fair bit of trial and error, I could see much MUCH clearer.

I saw him coming.

I Parried.

I dodged.

I launched a counterattack.

Our battle was so great, that those sitting closest to the battlegrounds had no choice but to vacate to higher levels, lest they be blown away by the sheer force of our blows.

However right there, with their swords planted in the floor were those three.

Holland

Holly

and Luike.

If it was them, then they’d be alright.

“LOOK ALIVE MR. COMMANDER, HERE I COME.”

I was pushing him back, ever so slowly.

I could feel myself getting the upper edge slowly but surely.

“I CAN’T BELIEVE SOMEONE WHO’S STILL WET BEHIND THE EARS IS GETTING ME TO USE THIS. WATCH CLOSELY, BECAUSE I’LL ONLY SHOW YOU THIS ONCE.”

DIVINE PLUM BLOSSOM SLASH.

The attack was as beautiful as it was deadly. He closed his eyes, and began swinging his sword in a manner unlike what he was doing previously.

His swings were graceful, not without thought, and each swing became faster than the last.

They had meaning to them, and out of every swing came a multitude of plum blossoms, and an after image that became larger than the one before it.

I could not block, nor dodge.

But I tried nonetheless.

“Do you concede?”

I didn’t have much left in me, and in the face of such a powerful foe, I could do nothing but look on in awe.

“I do.”

“MY OPPONENT HAS CONCEDED.” The Commander roared.

“THE COMMANDER HAS WON THE DUEL!” The duel master concluded.

As for me, I fainted shortly thereafter.

-

I woke up in the medical wing at the academy.

“C-count?!” I said, shocked at his presence.

“Yes! I came to look for you after making a breakthrough in what you asked, but it seems you're in quite a broken state.”

“It doesn’t matter. What did you find?”

“Well, this isn't the best place to speak, now is it? So I’ve done you the favour of compiling my findings in this docket.”

“Ah! Thank you so much Count.”

“Anytime.”

With that he took his leave.

I read through the docket, and I was horrified at what I witnessed.

So much so, that I disregarded my pain and barged straight into the Commander’s office.

“Sir! I tried to stop him, but he barged in! I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay Atkins, I’ll take it from here.”

The Commander was tending to his injuries, which seemed quite significant.

“Well it seems you’ve been blessed with a God-like recovery time.”

“Commander Murphey Sir, please read this.”

He grew more disgruntled as he read.

“By the GODS if this is true…”

“Sir, I’m asking for your permission to put together a special task force to tackle this.”

“I was about to suggest. Sadly I can’t join in with you because I don’t have nearly a fraction of your recovery time, and I wouldn’t want to deprive your task force of any recovery potions you might need.”

“Thank you sir.”

“I will form the taskforce myself in 2 days. For now, I’ll be sending you home. Your carriage will be ready in T-15 minutes, so grab your stuff and be out front before then.”

“I will sir.”

I dashed back to my dormitory, and knocked on the door.

“OI, WHO KEEPS KNOCKING? I SWEAR IM GONNA CLOBBER THE HE-Oh it’s just you Job.” Holland said.

“Come in Job! Weren’t you confined to the medical wing? What’s going on?” Hoily said

“I have to leave you guys, something urgent came up. I can’t explain now, but I promise when I see you guys next time I will.”

“Wha?” Luike said, confused.

“Please, I need you guys to trust me.”

“W-well, I suppose you have your reasons,” Luike replied.

“Man you BETTER come back. If you don't, I'm gonna be really angry.” Holly said.

“Well we don’t graduate until two years from now, so that should be plenty of time for you to sort out yourself and come back right?” Luike said.

“Yeah, I promise, I’ll come back.”

We all hugged, and bid each other farewell.