REIKENS

Isein, with excitement in his voice, announced the first match as the crowd cheered and applauded. The atmosphere was electric, and the students crowded around the combat platform, eager to see the action.

—Alright, we're ready to see the matchups we've all been waiting for! —The cheers grew louder as the students prepared for what was to come—. The groups have already been divided by strength level. Remember, our higher ranks won't be using their Reikens, just a regular sword and a suit that will allow them to withstand enemy attacks. The rules are simple: participants will be eliminated if they surrender, are knocked unconscious, can't continue, or are pushed off the platform. Teacher Kaishin will once again be the referee in charge.

Teacher Kaishin, however, didn't seem as enthusiastic. He approached Isein, grabbing him by the collar of his shirt with a force that made the Jota nervous.

—Hey, Isein! Why the hell was I called again? I was only supposed to referee one test! —he growled, clearly annoyed, his eyes shining with a mix of anger and frustration.

Isein smiled nervously, trying to calm the teacher.

—Sorry, Teacher Kaishin. The idea to call you was... Kuro's.

Teacher Kaishin's eyes narrowed dangerously, and an aura of anger began to emanate from him.

—Kuro... —he muttered, clenching his fists until his knuckles turned white—. When I find him, I'll kill him. —Isein swallowed hard, but the teacher sighed, resigned—. Since I can't refuse, let's get these battles started!

Isein breathed a sigh of relief, grateful that the teacher hadn't thrown him across the field.

—That's the spirit, Teacher Kaishin! —he said enthusiastically, returning to the microphone—. The first participants to face off will be the Sentinel candidate Hiro Shen, against one of the four Jotas of Arkanum, fourth-year student Blaike Ōyamaneko.

Both combatants walked toward the combat platform, each with a different attitude. Blaike, with a confident and relaxed smile, gave his opponent a playful look. His posture was carefree, as if he were about to participate in a game rather than a battle.

—Well, this should be fun. I hope you give me a good fight, kid —he said with a wide grin, adjusting the gloves of his combat suit.

Hiro, on the other hand, was clearly nervous. His hands trembled slightly, but he tried to maintain his composure. He knew that facing a Jota like Blaike wouldn't be easy, but he was determined to prove his worth.

—Y-yes... I'll do my best —he said, trying to sound determined, though his voice betrayed a slight tremor.

Teacher Kaishin stood at the center of the platform, raising his hand with authority. His gaze swept over both combatants, making sure they were ready.

—Both of you, take your positions. —After a second, he lowered his hand quickly—. Begin!

Hiro, wasting no time, summoned his Reiken with a quick and fluid motion. The air around him vibrated as a bluish energy began to envelop him.

—Come to me, Reiken of the Shark! —he shouted, and in an instant, the Reiken appeared in his hand, followed by a blue suit with armor covering his body. Hiro's aura intensified, and his eyes shone with determination.

Without hesitation, he launched into the attack with great speed, his movements agile and precise. The Reiken of the Shark glowed with a bluish light as Hiro lunged at Blaike, ready to land the first blow.

Blaike, however, watched him calmly. His smile didn't fade, and his eyes followed Hiro with a mix of curiosity and amusement.

—Well, he's coming at me head-on. —he thought as he effortlessly dodged all of Hiro's attacks, moving with a grace that seemed almost supernatural—. Not bad, but he needs more strategy.

Hiro, seeing his opponent's skill, began to feel frustrated. His attacks, though fast and powerful, failed to connect. Blaike seemed to anticipate every move, as if he were reading his mind.

—It's incredible... even without his Reiken, Blaike is too fast. —Hiro thought—. But I can't stop now! I have to find a way to defeat him.

With a quick motion, Hiro stepped back a few paces, creating distance between them. He took a deep breath, focusing all his energy into his Reiken. The air around him began to vibrate, and a bluish aura enveloped him completely.

—Shark Fangs! —he shouted, launching a fierce attack at Blaike. The Reiken of the Shark transformed into a series of sharp energy projections that lunged at his opponent like the jaws of a hungry shark.

Blaike, surprised by the speed and force of the attack, smiled with admiration.

—Wow, I didn't think he'd pull that off so quickly. I guess I underestimated him a bit. —he thought, dodging the attack with agility. His movements were fluid and precise, as if he were dancing between the energy projections—. Time to end this.

With a quick motion, Blaike launched a counterattack, moving with astonishing speed.

Hiro, seeing him approach, felt the imminent danger. His eyes widened, and his mind filled with panic.

—Darn it, he's too fast! I won't be able to dodge in time. —he thought, just before Blaike struck him with his sword.

The blow was quick and precise, and Hiro felt the force of the impact push him back several steps. Though his armor protected him from serious injury, the pain was real.

Blaike stopped, smiling with satisfaction as he watched Hiro, who was breathing heavily.

—You almost dodged me, kid. What's your name? —Blaike asked, his tone relaxed but respectful.

Hiro, gritting his teeth and with a determined look, raised his gaze to his opponent.

—My... my name is Hiro, and I'm not giving up —he said, his voice trembling slightly, but there was a spark of resistance in his eyes.

Blaike nodded, impressed by the young man's tenacity.

—You've got guts, kid. That's admirable. —he said, adjusting his grip on the sword—. But this ends now.

With a quick motion, Blaike launched another attack. This time, his speed was even greater, and his strikes more precise. Hiro tried to defend himself, but Blaike's skill was overwhelming. Every dodge left him more exhausted, and every counterattack he attempted was easily blocked.

Finally, Blaike found an opening. With a quick motion, he struck Hiro in the side, making him fall to his knees. The young candidate tried to get up, but his body no longer responded.

—That's enough —Blaike said, placing the tip of his sword near Hiro's neck—. Do you surrender, or do I continue?

Hiro, with tears of frustration in his eyes, nodded slowly.

—I... I surrender —he said, his voice barely a whisper.

Teacher Kaishin raised his hand, announcing the end of the match.

—The winner is Blaike Ōyamaneko!

The applause and cheers of the crowd echoed across the training field. Blaike extended a hand to Hiro, helping him up.

—That was a good fight, Hiro. You've got potential, but you still lack experience. Keep training, and maybe one day you'll become a great Sentinel.

Hiro, though defeated, nodded with gratitude.

—Thank you... I will.

The atmosphere in the combat arena was filled with energy as the students eagerly awaited the next match. Isein, with his usual firm voice and microphone in hand, continued the announcements.

—Alright, we've had our first result, and while Hiro is being treated by the paramedics, we'll immediately begin the next battle. —The cheers of excitement intensified among the spectators—. The next battle will be between the candidate Kimura Kino and one of our four Jotas, Kaiyō Shirokuma.

The crowd applauded as both combatants walked toward the combat platform. Kimura looked nervous but determined. His eyes fixed on Kaiyō, who walked with a relaxed smile and an air of confidence.

—I've come this far... I can't afford to lose now —he told himself, taking a deep breath to calm his nerves.

Kaiyō, with his characteristic relaxed tone, smiled at him.

—Relax, don't be nervous. Just do your best —he said kindly, as if talking to an old friend.

Kimura nodded, though he still seemed tense.

—O-okay... —he replied, trying to sound confident.

Both took their combat stances as Teacher Kaishin raised his hand to begin.

—Alright, let's get this started —he announced. He lowered his hand quickly with force—. Begin!

Kimura, determined to give it his all, summoned his Reiken with a quick motion.

—Come to me, Reiken of the...! —he shouted, but before he could even materialize his weapon, Kaiyō had already moved.

In an instant, Kaiyō appeared in front of him and struck him with his sword. The movement was so fast that it was barely a flash of light.

—Sorry —Kaiyō said calmly as he withdrew his sword—, but I can't afford to lose this battle.

Kimura barely had time to process what had happened before he fell to the ground, defeated. The crowd fell silent, stunned by Kaiyō's speed and precision.

Teacher Kaishin, unfazed, raised his hand once more.

—The match is over, the winner is Kaiyō Shirokuma —he announced.

The crowd erupted in murmurs of astonishment.

—That's incredible! He didn't even give him time to summon his Reiken —the students whispered—. The outcome was expected... but we were hoping for a good fight.

Isein, watching Kaiyō, shook his head with a slight smile.

—You and Blaike are two lost causes... —he said, watching as the paramedics tended to Kimura—. But don't worry, they're taking care of him.

Kaiyō, with a carefree smile, shrugged.

—You would've done the same, wouldn't you, Isein?

—You're right, but I would've knocked them out, not stabbed them like a marshmallow at a picnic —he replied, smiling wryly.

Kaiyō chuckled softly.

—Yeah, I guess I went a little overboard. Well, see you later.

Isein turned back to the microphone once more as Kaiyō stepped off the platform.

—Well, we've got our second result. While the paramedics tend to Kimura's injuries, we'll immediately begin the next battle. —The crowd roared with excitement, cheers and applause filling the air—. The next battle will be between the candidate Hino Tora and our beautiful Queen, Remy Hyō.

The applause and cheers intensified, especially among the male students.

—Remy, we love you! —several of them shouted with admiration.

Remy, always with her charming smile, waved to the students, enjoying the support.

—Thank you so much! —she replied with a coquettish smile before turning to Hino.

Hino, somewhat intimidated by the number of admirers her opponent had, murmured:

—Wow, you have a lot of fans.

Remy laughed softly.

—Oh, yes, I do. —Then, she looked at her intently, her smile softening into a more serious expression—. You shouldn't feel nervous. You've already shown the entire academy what you're capable of, and I respect you for that. But don't think I'll hold back.

Hino, hearing those words of respect, felt her determination strengthen.

—Yes, and I hope you don't... because I won't either —she replied confidently, clenching her fists.

Both took their respective combat stances on the platform, ready for the showdown.

Teacher Kaishin raised his hand once more.

—I expect a clean fight —he said, and quickly lowered his hand—. Begin!

With a burst of energy, Hino summoned her Reiken, and an imposing red suit enveloped her.

—Come to me, Reiken of the Tiger! —she shouted with determination as an aura of fire surrounded her figure.

Remy, watching her with an appreciative smile, got into her battle stance.

—Wow, so that's the famous Reiken of the Tiger. It's impressive —she said as she drew her sword, ready for combat—. But don't hold back, show me your best.

Hino gritted her teeth, her gaze fixed on Remy.

—Here I come, Remy! —she shouted, lunging forward with surprising speed, ready to strike.

However, Remy didn't dodge. She took the hit head-on and, though she was pushed back a few steps, she managed to withstand the impact.

—Wow, that wasn't bad... —Remy said, smiling slightly—, but I know you can do better. —With incredible speed, Remy attempted a counterattack, but Hino barely managed to dodge the blow.

Hino, breathing heavily, looked at her in confusion.

—How could she withstand a strike like that... without even using a Reiken? —she thought, feeling unsure.

Remy, sensing the doubt in her opponent, smiled.

—Come on, Hino. We promised we wouldn't hold back, remember? —she said as she prepared for the next exchange.

Hino nodded, regaining her composure.

—Hmm... get ready, Remy. This time I'm serious. —she said firmly, preparing an attack—. Tiger Onslaught! —she shouted as she lunged at Remy with even greater speed than before.

Remy, with her impeccable skill, deflected the attack with her sword, causing Hino to crash into the ground instead of hitting her target.

—Darn it... —Hino muttered, struggling to get up.

Remy, smiling but focused, prepared to deliver the finishing blow. However, Hino reacted in time, blocking the attack with her Reiken.

—Wow, I didn't think you'd react so quickly! —Remy exclaimed, visibly impressed.

—Don't underestimate me, Remy —Hino replied, pushing Remy back.

The two stared at each other for a few seconds before charging at each other, unleashing a series of quick and precise strikes.

Hino, sweating and panting, began to notice a pattern in Remy's movements.

—It's incredible... How can she be so fast without using her Reiken? —she thought, frustrated—. I need to find a way to defeat her...

With a flash of determination, Hino prepared another charge, her Reiken of the Tiger roaring with power.

—Tiger Onslaught! —she shouted, lunging at Remy with all her speed.

But Remy, with an elegant maneuver, leaped incredibly high, completely dodging the attack.

—It's useless —Remy said in the air—. I can dodge all your attacks with ease. —She did a flip toward the ceiling and pushed off with her legs to launch herself directly at Hino.

Hino, surprised by Remy's speed, prepared for the worst, but she wasn't fast enough to react.

With a precise strike, Remy repelled Hino's attack, and they both fell, creating a cloud of dust around them.

—Looks like... I win —Remy said, standing over Hino.

Hino, badly injured from the impact, groaned in pain as she tried to get up. She knew she didn't have the strength to keep fighting.

—Hmm... I surrender... —Hino said, accepting her defeat with dignity.

Teacher Kaishin, with his hand raised, announced the end.

—Hino has surrendered. The winner is Remy Hyō! —he declared as the crowd erupted in applause and cheers of excitement.

The students, especially the males, shouted at the top of their lungs.

—You're the best, Remy! We knew you couldn't lose.

Remy, smiling charmingly, waved to everyone.

—Thank you for all your support —she said modestly.

Hino, staggering, got up with effort and approached Remy.

—You were amazing, Remy... —she said, still a bit dazed.

Remy, stepping closer, looked at her with admiration.

—You were too, Hino. You gave me a real fight —she replied sincerely.

Hino, with a weak smile, nodded before passing out. Remy reacted quickly, catching her before she hit the ground.

—Quick, bring a stretcher! —she ordered, staying calm.

The paramedics arrived immediately and began tending to Hino.

—It's incredible that she withstood that kind of impact... —they commented as they placed her on a stretcher—. But of course, it wasn't just any impact. We're talking about the Queen of Arkanum.

Remy, concerned, approached the paramedics.

—Will she be okay? —she asked with a serious expression.

—Yes, don't worry, Miss Remy. We'll take her to the infirmary right away —the paramedics replied respectfully.

Remy smiled gratefully.

—Thank you so much. Please take good care of her —she said tenderly, causing the paramedics to blush.

—She's an angel... —one of them whispered.

Suddenly, Sukasa came running toward the stretcher, clearly worried about her friend.

—Hino, are you okay?! —she shouted, anxiously looking at her unconscious friend.

The paramedics quickly calmed her down.

—Don't worry, miss. She's just unconscious, but we'll take her to the infirmary to rest.

Remy, standing beside Sukasa, placed a hand on her shoulder.

—Calm down, Sukasa. She's in good hands. I'll make sure she's taken care of —she said, watching the stretcher with her gaze.

Sukasa, sighing in relief, nodded.

—I hope it's nothing serious... —she murmured.

Remy gave her a comforting smile.

—Don't worry, Sukasa. I won't leave her side. Now, you should prepare for your match —she said with a slight smile.

Sukasa immediately remembered that her own fight was about to begin.

—That's right! —she exclaimed, nervous—. But…

Remy shook his head.

—Don't worry about Hino, Sukasa. I'll look after her. Focus on your battle. Give it your best! —he told her as he followed the paramedics.

Sukasa watched as they took Hino away and took a deep breath.

—Hmm… Yeah, and thanks, Remy —she replied, feeling a mix of nervousness and determination.

Clenching her fists, she took another deep breath.

—I can't let this distract me. I need to focus if I want to win this battle… but the problem is… —she thought, looking into the distance—. I don't know if I'll be facing Igurū… or…

Her eyes locked onto Kuro, who was watching her with a carefree expression.