Chapter 31:
The Night of Two Dragons
The Old Covenant
The Samurai Festival was in full swing.
The atmosphere was filled with excitement as people from all over the region gathered to celebrate.
Laughter, cheers, and spectacular performances filled every corner of the festival.
"There are only two contestants left! Let's welcome the representative of the Kokuryu-gumi Dojo!" the host shouted enthusiastically from the stage.
"Kaito, you're really making me look bad!" Tadayoshi grumbled with an annoyed expression.
Tadayoshi quickly walked over to the host and whispered something into his ear.
"Hey, can we change the order? Let Kokuryu-Gumi perform last."
"Why?"
"Kaito is still on his way. He's running a little late."
"Alright."
The host then returned to the center of the stage.
"It seems we're having a little technical problem! So, let's enjoy the performance from the Seiryu-kai Dojo first!"
The Samurai Festival suddenly fell silent as Ryu Kazama stepped onto the wooden stage.
Wearing a dark blue kamishimo with white stripes, he stood tall in the center of the stage, his katana still sheathed at his waist.
Thousands of eyes immediately turned toward him.
Ryu bowed respectfully to the audience.
A moment later...
Shing!
The sound of his katana leaving its sheath broke the silence.
His first movements were calm and graceful.
The tip of his sword moved slowly, forming beautiful arcs in the air, as if a blue dragon were swimming among the clouds.
Ryu suddenly dashed forward.
One straight slash.
One spin.
Then a quick thrust.
Everything flowed together without the slightest pause.
His hakama fluttered with every turn of his body.
His footsteps were so light that they were almost impossible to hear, while his sword continued to dance through the air in sharp circles, reflecting the festival lights.
He leaped high into the air.
His body spun around once.
His katana flashed like silver lightning before he landed with one knee touching the stage.
Before the audience could even catch their breath, Ryu moved again.
Forward.
Backward.
Dodging.
Spinning.
An upward slash.
A downward slash.
A straight thrust.
Then he returned his sword to its original position with perfect precision.
Gentle as water.
Fast as the wind.
Ryu continued to display increasingly difficult combinations.
He spun several times, crossed his steps, and suddenly changed direction at a speed that was almost impossible for the eyes to follow.
His sword left trails of shimmering light, creating the illusion of a blue dragon swirling around him.
No one spoke.
The veteran samurai watched with serious expressions.
Takeshi and Reika stared without blinking.
Everyone in the audience could only watch in awe.
The only sounds that could be heard were the whisper of the wind and the sound of the sword cutting through the air.
Ryu entered his final sequence.
With one deep breath, he dashed forward like lightning.
One horizontal slash.
One full spin.
One straight thrust.
Then he finished with a powerful vertical slash, stopping only a few centimeters above the stage floor.
Silence once again covered the festival.
Ryu slowly raised his sword, flicked the blade once to clean it, and then smoothly returned it to its sheath.
Click!
He bowed respectfully to the audience.
Then...
Clap! Clap!
Thunderous applause immediately erupted throughout the festival.
Cheers came from every direction.
"Amazing!"
"That's Seiryu-kai!"
"Beautiful..."
"His movements are just like a living dragon!"
Ryu smiled.
"We've just witnessed an incredible performance by Ryu Kazama. Now it's time for the judges to give him their scores!" the host shouted into the microphone.
9. 10. 10.
"Excellent! His total score is 29! What an incredible score for Ryu Kazama!"
The host opened another sheet of paper and announced the final contestant.
"And now, it's time for the final contestant from the Kokuryu-Gumi Dojo!"
Kaito suddenly leaped high into the air and landed on the stage with a quick spin.
He landed on one knee with a confident smile.
"Finally, he made it. If he hadn't shown up, I really would've taught him a lesson!" Tadayoshi grumbled.
Takeshi noticed him and walked over.
"What's wrong, Tadayoshi?"
Tadayoshi turned toward him.
"Takeshi, how have you been?"
Takeshi smiled.
"I'm doing fine."
Takeshi looked toward the stage.
"Young people can be such a handful. They just do whatever they want," Tadayoshi said.
Kaito Nakamura stood proudly with a confident smile.
His sharp eyes swept across the audience as if challenging anyone who dared to meet his gaze.
His hand tightened around the hilt of his katana.
A moment later...
Shing!
The katana shot out of its sheath with tremendous force, producing a sharp metallic sound that echoed throughout the arena.
Unlike Ryu Kazama, who had started with calm and graceful movements, Kaito attacked immediately.
Boom!
A powerful stomp made the wooden stage tremble.
He swung his sword with all his strength.
Swoosh!
The force of his slash sent a strong gust of wind through the air.
Without giving himself a moment to stop, Kaito spun rapidly.
One spin.
Two slashes.
Then a powerful vertical slash struck the stage.
Clang!
Sparks flew as his katana struck a metal plate installed on the stage floor.
The audience immediately erupted into excited cheers.
"Whoa!"
Kaito leaped high into the air again.
His body spun like a black dragon raging through a storm.
The moment he landed...
Boom!
Another powerful stomp shook the stage.
One diagonal slash.
One straight thrust.
One spinning slash.
One overhead slash.
One side slash.
Every movement was filled with power and ferocity.
Kaito raised his sword high above his head again.
Then...
Clang!
His katana struck the stage once more.
More sparks flew into the air.
The sound of metal crashing against metal echoed throughout the arena.
Some of the audience members even stood from their seats, stunned by the sheer power behind every slash.
"Amazing!"
"Look at that!"
"He's incredibly strong!"
Kaito continued to display one combination after another.
He rushed forward.
Leaped.
Spun.
Landed with tremendous force.
Then attacked again.
Every movement was filled with pressure, strength, and a fierce aura, as if a black dragon were rampaging across the stage.
Kaito raised his sword high above his head once more.
Then...
Clang!
He slammed his katana into the stage one final time, sending sparks flying in every direction.
Silence filled the arena for several seconds.
Kaito didn't bow.
He simply spun his katana in his hand before smoothly returning it to its sheath.
Click!
A smug smile appeared on his lips.
A few moments later...
Clap! Clap!
The audience once again erupted into thunderous applause.
Cheers echoed throughout the festival grounds.
"Amazing!"
"He's completely different from Seiryu-kai!"
"His swordsmanship is rough... but incredibly powerful!"
"Kokuryu-gumi is truly amazing!"
Kaito smiled smugly.
'Of course you should be impressed by me,' he thought.
"Incredible! What tremendous power Kaito Nakamura has just displayed! Now it's time for the judges to give him their scores!" the host shouted.
10. 9. 10.
"29! The exact same score as Ryu Kazama! Kaito Nakamura and Ryu Kazama... Who will be crowned the champion?!"
Some time later...
"After discussing the results with the judges and the senior samurai present tonight, the winner has finally been decided! The winner is... Seiryu-kai's Ryu Kazama!"
The entire audience erupted in cheers.
Their voices filled the cold night air, making the atmosphere even more exciting.
"This was an incredibly difficult decision because every contestant tonight gave an outstanding performance. Thank you to all the participants who took part, as well as everyone who came from all over the world to attend this festival! I must say goodbye for now. Please continue enjoying the festival until the very end! Thank you."
Meanwhile...
Kaito sat alone, looking at a photo on his phone.
By coincidence, Ryu walked behind him.
Ryu noticed the photo on Kaito's phone.
He recognized the person in it.
It was a photo of Yūto.
"What are you doing?"
Kaito quickly put his phone into his pocket.
"Nothing."
"That photo... What are you planning to do to him?"
"That's none of your business!"
"If that kid is involved in a problem with you, then it becomes my business! Because I'm looking for him too!"
Kaito stared at him seriously.
"You're looking for him?"
Ryu remained silent.
"I can tell you where he is. But what will you give me in return?" Kaito said.
A faint smile appeared at the corner of Kaito's lips.
The atmosphere was filled with excitement as people from all over the region gathered to celebrate.
Laughter, cheers, and spectacular performances filled every corner of the festival.
"There are only two contestants left! Let's welcome the representative of the Kokuryu-gumi Dojo!" the host shouted enthusiastically from the stage.
"Kaito, you're really making me look bad!" Tadayoshi grumbled with an annoyed expression.
Tadayoshi quickly walked over to the host and whispered something into his ear.
"Hey, can we change the order? Let Kokuryu-Gumi perform last."
"Why?"
"Kaito is still on his way. He's running a little late."
"Alright."
The host then returned to the center of the stage.
"It seems we're having a little technical problem! So, let's enjoy the performance from the Seiryu-kai Dojo first!"
The Samurai Festival suddenly fell silent as Ryu Kazama stepped onto the wooden stage.
Wearing a dark blue kamishimo with white stripes, he stood tall in the center of the stage, his katana still sheathed at his waist.
Thousands of eyes immediately turned toward him.
Ryu bowed respectfully to the audience.
A moment later...
Shing!
The sound of his katana leaving its sheath broke the silence.
His first movements were calm and graceful.
The tip of his sword moved slowly, forming beautiful arcs in the air, as if a blue dragon were swimming among the clouds.
Ryu suddenly dashed forward.
One straight slash.
One spin.
Then a quick thrust.
Everything flowed together without the slightest pause.
His hakama fluttered with every turn of his body.
His footsteps were so light that they were almost impossible to hear, while his sword continued to dance through the air in sharp circles, reflecting the festival lights.
He leaped high into the air.
His body spun around once.
His katana flashed like silver lightning before he landed with one knee touching the stage.
Before the audience could even catch their breath, Ryu moved again.
Forward.
Backward.
Dodging.
Spinning.
An upward slash.
A downward slash.
A straight thrust.
Then he returned his sword to its original position with perfect precision.
Gentle as water.
Fast as the wind.
Ryu continued to display increasingly difficult combinations.
He spun several times, crossed his steps, and suddenly changed direction at a speed that was almost impossible for the eyes to follow.
His sword left trails of shimmering light, creating the illusion of a blue dragon swirling around him.
No one spoke.
The veteran samurai watched with serious expressions.
Takeshi and Reika stared without blinking.
Everyone in the audience could only watch in awe.
The only sounds that could be heard were the whisper of the wind and the sound of the sword cutting through the air.
Ryu entered his final sequence.
With one deep breath, he dashed forward like lightning.
One horizontal slash.
One full spin.
One straight thrust.
Then he finished with a powerful vertical slash, stopping only a few centimeters above the stage floor.
Silence once again covered the festival.
Ryu slowly raised his sword, flicked the blade once to clean it, and then smoothly returned it to its sheath.
Click!
He bowed respectfully to the audience.
Then...
Clap! Clap!
Thunderous applause immediately erupted throughout the festival.
Cheers came from every direction.
"Amazing!"
"That's Seiryu-kai!"
"Beautiful..."
"His movements are just like a living dragon!"
Ryu smiled.
"We've just witnessed an incredible performance by Ryu Kazama. Now it's time for the judges to give him their scores!" the host shouted into the microphone.
9. 10. 10.
"Excellent! His total score is 29! What an incredible score for Ryu Kazama!"
The host opened another sheet of paper and announced the final contestant.
"And now, it's time for the final contestant from the Kokuryu-Gumi Dojo!"
Kaito suddenly leaped high into the air and landed on the stage with a quick spin.
He landed on one knee with a confident smile.
"Finally, he made it. If he hadn't shown up, I really would've taught him a lesson!" Tadayoshi grumbled.
Takeshi noticed him and walked over.
"What's wrong, Tadayoshi?"
Tadayoshi turned toward him.
"Takeshi, how have you been?"
Takeshi smiled.
"I'm doing fine."
Takeshi looked toward the stage.
"Young people can be such a handful. They just do whatever they want," Tadayoshi said.
Kaito Nakamura stood proudly with a confident smile.
His sharp eyes swept across the audience as if challenging anyone who dared to meet his gaze.
His hand tightened around the hilt of his katana.
A moment later...
Shing!
The katana shot out of its sheath with tremendous force, producing a sharp metallic sound that echoed throughout the arena.
Unlike Ryu Kazama, who had started with calm and graceful movements, Kaito attacked immediately.
Boom!
A powerful stomp made the wooden stage tremble.
He swung his sword with all his strength.
Swoosh!
The force of his slash sent a strong gust of wind through the air.
Without giving himself a moment to stop, Kaito spun rapidly.
One spin.
Two slashes.
Then a powerful vertical slash struck the stage.
Clang!
Sparks flew as his katana struck a metal plate installed on the stage floor.
The audience immediately erupted into excited cheers.
"Whoa!"
Kaito leaped high into the air again.
His body spun like a black dragon raging through a storm.
The moment he landed...
Boom!
Another powerful stomp shook the stage.
One diagonal slash.
One straight thrust.
One spinning slash.
One overhead slash.
One side slash.
Every movement was filled with power and ferocity.
Kaito raised his sword high above his head again.
Then...
Clang!
His katana struck the stage once more.
More sparks flew into the air.
The sound of metal crashing against metal echoed throughout the arena.
Some of the audience members even stood from their seats, stunned by the sheer power behind every slash.
"Amazing!"
"Look at that!"
"He's incredibly strong!"
Kaito continued to display one combination after another.
He rushed forward.
Leaped.
Spun.
Landed with tremendous force.
Then attacked again.
Every movement was filled with pressure, strength, and a fierce aura, as if a black dragon were rampaging across the stage.
Kaito raised his sword high above his head once more.
Then...
Clang!
He slammed his katana into the stage one final time, sending sparks flying in every direction.
Silence filled the arena for several seconds.
Kaito didn't bow.
He simply spun his katana in his hand before smoothly returning it to its sheath.
Click!
A smug smile appeared on his lips.
A few moments later...
Clap! Clap!
The audience once again erupted into thunderous applause.
Cheers echoed throughout the festival grounds.
"Amazing!"
"He's completely different from Seiryu-kai!"
"His swordsmanship is rough... but incredibly powerful!"
"Kokuryu-gumi is truly amazing!"
Kaito smiled smugly.
'Of course you should be impressed by me,' he thought.
"Incredible! What tremendous power Kaito Nakamura has just displayed! Now it's time for the judges to give him their scores!" the host shouted.
10. 9. 10.
"29! The exact same score as Ryu Kazama! Kaito Nakamura and Ryu Kazama... Who will be crowned the champion?!"
Some time later...
"After discussing the results with the judges and the senior samurai present tonight, the winner has finally been decided! The winner is... Seiryu-kai's Ryu Kazama!"
The entire audience erupted in cheers.
Their voices filled the cold night air, making the atmosphere even more exciting.
"This was an incredibly difficult decision because every contestant tonight gave an outstanding performance. Thank you to all the participants who took part, as well as everyone who came from all over the world to attend this festival! I must say goodbye for now. Please continue enjoying the festival until the very end! Thank you."
Meanwhile...
Kaito sat alone, looking at a photo on his phone.
By coincidence, Ryu walked behind him.
Ryu noticed the photo on Kaito's phone.
He recognized the person in it.
It was a photo of Yūto.
"What are you doing?"
Kaito quickly put his phone into his pocket.
"Nothing."
"That photo... What are you planning to do to him?"
"That's none of your business!"
"If that kid is involved in a problem with you, then it becomes my business! Because I'm looking for him too!"
Kaito stared at him seriously.
"You're looking for him?"
Ryu remained silent.
"I can tell you where he is. But what will you give me in return?" Kaito said.
A faint smile appeared at the corner of Kaito's lips.
Please sign in to leave a comment.