As the first rays of sunlight poured through the window, Shiro slowly stirred from his slumber. His body ached, still feeling the aftermath of the intense battle from the day before. His mind, too, was heavy with thoughts of the fight, the power he had unleashed, and the mysterious feeling that something within him had awakened.
He blinked, taking in his surroundings. The dim light of the morning made everything feel distant, as though he were still caught between the waking world and the dream he had just experienced. But there was something familiar in the room.
He turned his head and saw Riku, already awake, sitting cross-legged by the window, his usual calm demeanor present. The sunlight bathed his figure in a soft glow. Shiro rubbed his eyes, still groggy.
"Hey, Shiro, you're finally awake," Riku greeted, his voice warm. There was a glint of amusement in his eyes, a slight smile on his face. "You know, yesterday, the fight you had with the king was amazing. You're more than what I expected."
Shiro blinked, still a little disoriented. "Am I?" he asked, his voice low, still reflecting on the fight from the day before. He couldn't shake the feeling of something inside him, something that was growing stronger, but he didn't fully understand it yet.
Riku gave him a nod, looking pleased. "Yes, you've got a lot of potential. Now, get up. The nobles are waiting for you in the arena."
Shiro was surprised. "Really?" He hadn't expected to be thrown into another session so soon after the battle with Lintaro. But, knowing that there was still much to learn, he didn't hesitate. He swung his legs off the bed, and with a grunt, stood up.
Riku chuckled, seeing how Shiro seemed to be caught between exhaustion and excitement. "Perfect timing. Let's go."
The two made their way to the arena ground, where the air was crisp and filled with the sound of battle. As they entered the large open space, Shiro could see the nobles already engaged in their own sparring matches. Ken was exchanging blows with Kyusu, his every movement sharp and calculated. On the other side, Liro was locked in combat with Saki, his strikes quick and relentless.
Jowa, ever the laid-back figure, stood off to the side, observing with a playful smirk on his face. He waved as Shiro and Riku walked into the arena, his voice loud enough to be heard above the clash of swords.
"Well, well, look who's finally awake," Jowa called out with a grin. "I didn't expect you to show up so soon."
Shiro approached him with a small, tired smile. "Yeah, I woke up, so I thought I'd come by." He rubbed his neck, still sore from yesterday's fight.
Jowa gave a half-shrug. "Guess you're feeling better. I should've known you wouldn't want to miss today. But you're not here just to watch, are you?" He tilted his head, his smile turning mischievous. "No, no. Today, we're gonna push you even further."
Shiro raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"
Jowa's grin grew wider. "You've been adapting fast, that much is obvious. Yesterday, you started to adjust to Lintaro's attacks. But now, we need to see how far you can really go. Today, the three of us nobles are going to fight you. All at once."
Shiro's eyes widened. "Three?" he repeated, his voice thick with disbelief. "I couldn't even beat you in a one-on-one fight. How am I supposed to take on three of you?"
Jowa chuckled, clearly amused by Shiro's reaction. "Ah, but that's not the case now, is it?" He glanced at Kyusu and Liro, who were still occupied in their respective duels. "I'm pretty sure you could beat me now, Shiro."
Shiro blinked in confusion, but before he could ask more, Jowa waved to Kyusu and Liro. "Kyusu, Liro! Come down here. It's time to test our friend Shiro's growth."
Liro jumped down from the elevated platform where he had been sparring with Saki, landing lightly on his feet. "Heh, I'll test this so-called 'growing strength' of yours myself," Liro said with a smirk, cracking his knuckles.
Kyusu followed, his expression indifferent. "I don't particularly enjoy fighting, but I suppose I can make an exception this time," he said in his usual monotone voice. His calm demeanor didn't hide the seriousness behind his words.
Jowa turned to Shiro, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "Are you ready for this?"
Shiro stood tall, taking a deep breath to steady himself. "I'm ready."
With a sudden signal from Jowa, the three nobles attacked in unison. Shiro barely had time to react as Kyusu's first strike came from the left, Liro's wild attacks from the right, and Jowa, as expected, was at the center, pushing him toward his limits.
Shiro raised his arms instinctively, blocking Kyusu's strike, but the speed of the combined assault was overwhelming. His body moved on its own, dodging and blocking as best as he could, but the nobles were just too fast. Every time he thought he had a moment to counter, one of them would be right there, ready to strike again.
Liro's attacks were wild and unpredictable, each strike designed to throw Shiro off balance. Kyusu, on the other hand, was precise, his movements calculated and deadly. And Jowa—Jowa was everywhere. His speed and skill made him the most dangerous, pushing Shiro further than he thought he could go. Shiro's arms and legs began to feel heavy as he continued to block, his body already feeling the strain.
But despite the pain, something inside him was awakening. His instincts were sharper, his reactions faster. He blocked, dodged, and even managed to deflect a few strikes. His aura pulsed around him, fluctuating as he pushed his limits. For a moment, he was overwhelmed, struggling to keep up with the pace of the three powerful nobles.
And then it happened.
Shiro's body moved as if on instinct, his perception of the fight shifting. He could see every attack coming, his mind processing each movement in a way it hadn't before. He adapted. He blocked and countered in one fluid motion.
Liro was the first to notice. His eyes widened in shock. "What the—how did you...?" he muttered, unable to finish his sentence as Shiro deflected his attack and landed a quick strike of his own.
Jowa, who had been pressing him hard, stopped for a moment, watching in disbelief as Shiro fought back with increasing precision. "No way," he muttered under his breath, his smirk faltering. "This kid… he's already on another level."
Kyusu, still calm but visibly impressed, stepped back slightly. "This... this is different. His power has increased drastically in such a short amount of time. Just how much potential does he have?"
Shiro, now serious and focused, kept his guard up. He could feel the sweat on his brow, his muscles screaming in protest, but he was no longer overwhelmed. For the first time in this fight, he was the one controlling the flow. His aura, his instincts—everything was falling into place.
"You were right," Shiro said, breathing heavily. "I've come a long way. But this isn't enough. Not yet."
Jowa chuckled, raising his hands in mock surrender. "Looks like we underestimated you. You're more than ready for whatever comes next, Shiro."
Shiro glanced at the three nobles, his eyes burning with determination. He wasn't just fighting to prove himself anymore. He was fighting to understand the power within him, the power that was growing stronger with each passing moment.
The fight had only just begun.