The Village Disciples

Oshieru and Akushon were side by side, with their blades in hand. A few feet away from them, Gimu stood exasperatedly, swinging his Souta sword absentmindedly. It was not the first time Oshieru and Akushon had fought Gimu, and this battle would make it the third time the blue-haired instructor had encountered the Furusato Unit. 

Gimu observed Oshieru and Akushon. "I remember you two… back in Ryakudatsu. I would have killed you both if we had a bit more time. I guess this is our rematch." 

"It's certainly been some time since I've had some action," Akushon murmured, holding up his knives threateningly. "But this won't be my last."

The bandaged swordsman chuckled at those words. Surrounding the three were the rest of Buraun's army, each of them wary of both Kono and Gimu's presence. Oshieru shifted his gaze to the warriors and waved his hand, signaling for them to refrain from intervening.

"I hate sitting still for too long, fellas. Let's begin!" Gimu exclaimed venomously, pumping his legs and sprinting forward. 

*CLANG!*

Gimu's blade made immediate contact with Oshieru's, leading to a rapid duel between the two warriors. The blue-haired instructor noted the immense speed of the bandaged rogue, applying most of his focus to Gimu's movements. One mishap and Oshieru would be diced instantly, dead in less than a second.

"Don't leave me behind." 

In the corner of Gimu's eye, he saw a silhouette of Akushon darting toward him. With haste, the rogue pivoted and hopped back, avoiding the blades of the two former instructors. The battle was still raring to go as Gimu was attacked by both of his opponents at once, increasing his defensive speed tenfold. 

*CLINK! CLANG! CLINK!*

The three couldn't remain in one fixed location throughout the clash, causing copious amounts of trees and shrubby to be sliced and three trails of light to flicker up and down the woodlands. It was clear to tell that even swordsmen could not help but utilize their Aura Senses to such terrifying degrees, the speed and strength behind their swords being relative to the average warrior—if not more. As for Gimu, he was mightier than the average warrior, having taken down armies of his own on several occasions. 

Such skill was still apparent in Gimu as Oshieru and Akushon failed to land a single attack. 

"Grgh!"

With one swift kick, Gimu rammed his foot into Oshieru's stomach, launching him through the remaining trees. 

"Oshieru!" Akushon called out to his friend, momentarily averting his sight from the bandaged rogue. 

Gimu twirled his sword skillfully, eyeing Akushon. "That's what these villages do to warriors like you: they dull your skills and keep you cooped up with lesser men. You both are quite decent, but it's clear to see that you're still rubbish."

"You treat these lands like a playground!" Akushon retorted as his knives were encompassed by a red light, allowing him to swing and release two streaks of light outward. 

*FRSHH!*

Effortlessly, Gimu evaded the incoming streaks of light by vanishing from sight, leaving no trace of his presence. 

"And you still hold onto the belief that you'll survive," Gimu said from behind Akushon, holding his Souta sword high. 

*CLANG!*

Akushon's eyes widened. "...How?"

Holding Gimu's blade back was nobody else but Naguru Akogare, the blonde-haired student from Class 1AB. The teen, wielding his sword tightly, struggled to push back the bandaged rogue, his arms shaking from the pressure. 

"Help me!" Akogare pleaded frightfully. 

Akushon redirected his body and swung at Gimu, forcing the rogue to back up by leaping away a few feet. 

"How did you find us, kid!?" Akushon demanded, standing next to the student. 

Akogare stuttered as he spoke, "Mr. O-Oshieru taught us how to sense people! I j-just focused on Mr. Oshieru's Aura Sense and it led me here!"

The former instructor bit the inside of his cheek, his eyes on Gimu. "Go back to the others. Now!"

*SWISH!*

Gimu waved his sword fiercely, dispelling pressurized wind outward and separating Akogare and Akushon. 

"Not happening!" Gimu hollered, grinning. "I've had enough of this 'fleeing' bullshit! If he wants to be a warrior, this is his debut!"

The blonde started sweating profusely, his hands becoming clammy as his sword felt increasingly heavier with every passing second. Akogare's heart was pumping ferociously, and his adrenaline was flowing.

"Keep calm," Akushon said softly, inhaling. "He won't let you leave, so you need to stay behind me. I'll try to keep him busy and distance him from you, so stay quiet."

Akogare shook his head. "I can help!"

"You'll only help contribute to the amount of casualties! Just stay focused!" Akushon refuted the boy's assistance, holding his knives close. 

Gimu suddenly looked up. "Did the moon always have a hole in it?"

Akogare and Akushon spared a glance upward, noticing that the moon did indeed have a hole through its center. The sight was horrific, and it was unclear as to where the inflicted damage came from.

"Watch out!"

Akushon whipped his head down as he spotted Gimu racing toward him with his sword reeled back. 

'Damnit!' 

The former instructor negated Gimu's blade with one of his knives, ducking under the subsequent slice immediately after. Akogare was practically shoved back from the winds that were thrown out in every direction after each collision of Akushon and Gimu's weapons. 

"...So that's where I need to be," Akogare said to himself, realizing how weak he was compared to the rogue and former instructor.

As the fight continued, Gimu successfully landed a few swings, lacerating Akushon's body. The former instructor held strong, ignoring the pain as he attempted to hold the bandaged swordsman back. Eventually, Gimu's sword swiped through the skin on Akushon's leg, making the man stumble and lose his balance.

"Good run, peasant!" Gimu's grin deepened, flashing his teeth. 

*BOOM!*

A blue beam of light was traveling across the area, shocking Gimu and forcing him to lunge away. 

'The boy…!?' Gimu thought as he saw the blonde student from before with his arms outstretched, a blue Genso-Kyu hovering in his palms. 

Akushon turned his head to look at Akogare, patting down his wounds to placate the pain. "Akogare! No! You needed to run!"

The blonde panted heavily. "I… I couldn't!"

Gimu groaned, rubbing his face. "A teenager is interrupting my fight!"

The bandaged swordsman tightened his grip around the hilt of his Souta sword, his hands shaking in anger. The rogue pointed the tip of his blade at Akogare, his remaining eye glaring at the student furiously. 

"You chose the wrong profession, brat!" Gimu roared, grinding his teeth together.

Akogare gradually lifted his sword, fear running deep in his blood. The blonde was severely outmatched and incredibly nervous, staring at a monstrous swordsman with no care for human life. How was he supposed to win?

A hand wrapped around the teenager's neck. Gimu's speed was far beyond Akogare's, to the point that the blonde was unable to react to the rogue's movement. 

"Good riddance!" 

*CRUNCH!*

Stumbling out of the shrubbery, Oshieru flashed his tachi sword as his gray eyes dilated. The blue-haired male's expression was nothing short of ire; his Aura Sense flared to a higher level than before. 

"...That's my student you're holding onto," Oshieru stated gruffly, his blade glowing blue. 

Gimu narrowed his eye. "I kicked you pretty damn hard—you must be struggling to stand."

Oshieru heaved a labored breath. "I… am one of the only warriors to have mastered my Aura Sense completely. A feat that not even you are capable of."

The bandaged rogue hummed. "Even the best of warriors don't master their Aura Sense—they moderate it. To have mastered yours, you wouldn't have much of a limit."

The blue-haired male stepped forward, the magic radiating off of him feeling as if it was tangible. "Unhand my student. Just you and me."

Gimu smirked, angling his blade at Akogare's neck. "Oh, we'll fight—I just have to remove all hindrances!"

Akogare winced as the rogue's sword pieced the top layer of his neck's flesh, causing blood to trickle down his body slowly. 

Oshieru's eyes widened.

XXX

The ominous thunder was back as the memory struck harder. Oshieru, holding his dead student in his arms—when he was too late, too slow. Moments later, Oshieru slaughtered the vile men who killed his students, accidentally unleashing a surge of magic that destroyed the entire forest.

This day was Oshieru's darkest, and his students' last. He could not forgive himself—would not. 

Oshieru then quit teaching.

XXX

Gimu's sword was still poised to slash Akogare's neck, the tip of the blade digging deeper into the teenager's skin. The bandaged rogue saw the traumatized look on Oshieru's face, silently enjoying the visible panic. 

"This is what happens when you lose… when you're too slow—!"

*SLASH!*

"Gragh!"

Without warning, Oshieru appeared before Gimu and slashed the rogue's neck, proceeding to kick him into the dirt and free Akogare. The blonde quickly moved away, grabbing his own throat cautiously and grazing the open wound left by the rogue.

"Akogare. Go back to the others. Now." Oshieru ordered sternly, keeping his eyes locked on Gimu.

The student was too stunned to speak or move. 

The former instructor gritted his teeth. "Now!"

Nodding fearfully, Akogare started fleeing from the scene, running as fast as he could manage. 

Gimu, on the other hand, slowly raised himself from the dirt, healing the slash on his neck. Oshieru's sword did not go too deep into the rogue's flesh, or else Gimu's head could have been sliced clean off. 

"...Okay, I see how it is." Gimu coughed with a hoarse voice, raising his sword to his mouth.

Without hesitation, Gimu licked the blade of his sword, splitting the end of his tongue. After a second, the rogue felt his Aura Sense burn, transitioning into a more potent level. Thin yellow lines stretched throughout Gimu's body as his eyes dilated, his heart's pace increasing. 

"...This is how we're ending it!"

XXX

Oshieru versus Gimu! Who will win? What will happen afterward? Who knows!? Stay tuned for more! I hope you enjoyed this chapter!

Have a Great Day!

Peace - Cr1ticalz_