Chapter 25: Lucky
"I just wanna hurt you"
Kai's chilling declaration echoed through the training hall, his voice taking on an eerie, childlike quality. Michael felt an involuntary shiver down his spine, realizing he hadn't quite gotten used to the unsettling trance that Kai could immerse himself in.
Even Mr. Yu, the seasoned instructor, found himself slightly disturbed by this abrupt 180-degree shift in Kai's demeanor.
In an instant, Kai dashed forward with alarming speed, his focus solely on Mr. Yu, with his intentions clear. Closing the distance rapidly, just inches away, he executed a swift slide, aiming to slash at Mr. Yu's legs.
Mr Yu quickly dodged the attack, however Kai used a free hand and managed to grab unto to Mr Yu's legs attempting to trip him using his momentum. Mr Yu avoided falling but staggered slightly due to the insane grip strength Kai possessed.
Mr Yu broke his grip by kicking straight in the stomach creating some distance between them. The impact of that Kai should have been enough to keep Kai down momentarily However he instantly sprung to life and continued his assault.
"It's almost like he has numbed his senses to pain" Mr Yu thought
Kai performed dozens of relentless slashes, all swift and precise, far more deadly than his previous attacks.
Kai's movements became even more fluid and unpredictable. He seamlessly transitioned from one attack to another, his blade dancing through the air with a deadly grace. Mr. Yu, though a skilled martial artist, found himself genuinely challenged by the unexpected ferocity Kai now exhibited.
This strange state seemed to have transformed Kai into a relentless force, devoid of hesitation or fear.
However, Kai stopped caring about defending and just focused on all out attack, this decision made him take a lot of damage from attacks he normally would have blocked.
An epic encounter between teacher and student, each movement calculated and precise. The spectators, if there were any, would have been captivated by the sheer skill on display.
"Remarkable," Mr. Yu couldn't help but mutter, acknowledging the transformation in Kai's combat style. The once straightforward student had evolved into a formidable adversary, leaving Mr. Yu to adapt to the unpredictability of each strike.
"However it's not enough " Mr declared
Mr. Yu deftly sidestepped the oncoming assault, seamlessly executing a series of precise maneuvers. A lightning-fast jab targeted Kai's head, followed by a well-timed cross to his body. A powerful right leg kick struck the midsection, he then performed a knee aimed at Kai's chin. The hit lifted him of his feet and finishing the sequence off, a forceful palm strike landed squarely on Kai's chest, propelling him across the room.
Mr. Yu stared at the timer, realizing there were only a handful of seconds left, and a hint of dissatisfaction crossed his face. Despite the outcome, he had genuinely enjoyed the challenging bout with his students. Both had surpassed his expectations, coming close to landing hits on him. If only their teamwork had been better, they might have.
"Why did you stop fighting, Michael?" Mr. Yu asked, genuinely intrigued by Michael's sudden departure from the fight the moment Kai entered that state.
"He's really unpredictable in that state, believe me. He probably would have attacked me too if I had gotten in his way," Michael explained. Kai was still getting used to using "Blackout ," and until then, Michael would avoid confronting him whenever possible.
"Looks he's getting back up" Michael added, directing Mr. Yu's attention to Kai, who was slowly getting back to his feet.
"I'm starting not to like you very much," Kai declared, his voice still childlike.
Kai suddenly assumed a stance, bending over slightly as he placed Bane by his side.
Mr. Yu widened his eyes slightly. It seemed like he was about to witness the technique Miss Eris spoke about with high regard, and he began to prepare for the incoming attack.
However, Mr. Yu didn't know how much Kai had been training since arriving at the school. Day in and day out, Kai dedicated himself to training every chance he got. Utilizing "Blackout " the state that granted unparalleled focus and an unhinged desire to achieve any goal he thought of during the trance, Kai used it to boost his learning and assimilation rate astronomically.
His commitment bore fruit. Kai evolved into a superior swordsman, a better student, and, significantly, he mastered Azrael's techniques with newfound proficiency.
The progress was tangible. Before joining the school, his mastery over the technique "Blur" stood at a humble 3%. Now, through unwavering determination and exhaustive training, he elevated it to an impressive 6%.
With a deep breath, Kai muttered the words "Blur" under his breath. Immediately, with speeds he had never displayed before, he dashed and arrived at Mr. Yu in fractions of a second.
The blade descended, poised for a clean hit. Yet, at the last critical moment, as the blade approached, the timer rang, signaling the end of the training session.
CLANG!!
The sound of steel making contact reverberated throughout the entire room
"Time's up, Malakai," declared Mr. Yu, who had used his right hand which was hardened by the golden energy, to block the attack at the last second
Micheal stood there bewildered, having not seen Kai move, and yet Mr. Yu managed to thwart the potentially fatal blow. "How in the world did he do that?" Micheal questioned, astonished by the unexpected turn of events.
"You both did well. Good job," Mr. Yu praised, just as he was about to continue speaking. However, Kai's strange childlike voice interrupted.
"Did well? Why are you acting like this is over?" Kai asked with a hint of hostility, catching Mr. Yu off guard. Without warning, Kai launched another assault, his focus solely on inflicting harm, seemingly indifferent to the timer.
"Oh, shit, I forgot " exclaimed Micheal, realizing that things were about to escalate. He dashed forward, quickly reaching the ongoing fight.
In a decisive move, Micheal grabbed Kai from behind, restraining him. Before Kai could break free, Micheal whispered something in his ear. His eyes ceased it'd red glow, and he stopped struggling, an unusual calm settling over him.
Kai's trance lifted. The childlike voice faded, and the toll of the intense exercise became evident on his face. He lost his balance and collapsed to one knee, he was clearly in a lot of pain
Michael whispered the trigger word for "Blackout " into Kai's ear, a word known only to the two of them.
"Is that what he meant by pulling him back?" Mr. Yu inquired, recalling Kai mentioning something along those lines.
"Something like that," Michael replied, offering assistance as he helped Kai to his feet.
"Why would you go that far?" Mr Yu asked, He didn't know anything about this trance but he wasn't rather fond of it, the complete disregard of his own wellbeing troubled the old man, Also the amount of bloodlust felt from Kai during that state was almost frightening
" You wanted us to give you our best.... that's exactly what I did " Kai struggled but was still able to answer
"Are you okay dude? "Michael asked, glancing at the small cuts and bruises Kai had accumulated during the fight
Kai, regaining his usual composure, nodded. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just need a moment."
You both have shown great potential. Your skills are impressive, and with the right guidance, you could become formidable fighters," Mr. Yu commended, casting a meaningful glance at both students.
Kai maintained his stoic expression, and Michael nodded appreciatively.
"However," Mr. Yu continued, focusing on Kai, "be cautious not to let your pursuit of power become a path to your own downfall. Strength is a double-edged sword; wield it wisely."
The weight of those words hung in the air, and though Kai remained silent, there was a flicker of understanding in his eyes.
"Dismissed," Mr. Yu declared, gesturing for them to leave the training area. "Get yourselves healed at the school clinic."
"Yes, sir," the two responded in unison, promptly exiting the hall. As they left, Mr. Yu closely examined the arm he had used to block Kai's last attack. He couldn't help but marvel at the astonishing speed displayed by a mere awakened cursed user.
Upon closer inspection, Mr. Yu's surprise deepened. Large cracks adorned the arm, previously hardened by the golden energy. "Well, that has never happened before," he mused, a puzzled expression on his face. Kai's blade had inflicted more damage than Mr. Yu had initially perceived, and it was evident that the katana was no ordinary weapon.
"It seems like I got lucky. If that boy were a little bit stronger, I probably would have lost a hand today," Mr. Yu admitted, dropping this revelation with a hint of gravity. With a nonchalant shrug, he got dressed and left the hall, once again humming that strange tune
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone