Kapitel 24: 24 Komi Imperial Guard's Founder
[Author Note: Re-read Ch.23's first part, I remembered what I wanted to do and edited it.]
'I became a savior.'
'Respected and worshipped by people, I shared unconditional love across the world.'
'But in my pursuit of kindness, I became too innocent. Evil deceived me and enjoyed trampling over my achievements.'
'Oh, I screwed up again,' thought the woman as she took a mouthful of an apple.
---
2023/7/8
After hearing my declaration, Kishi Himeko, the leader of the Komi Imperial Guards opened her eyes from meditation as she stood up.
"I, the founder of Komi Imperial Guards have no intention to turn down a challenge, but in turn, what can you offer us if you lose?" With a domineering stance akin to a knight although I've never seen one, she delivered her words to me.
"I will provide you with information from my networking system. I can provide you the information about people that will potentially harm your Komi," despite the tension around the atmosphere, I was able to calmly finish my sentence.
"Ah, and sorry for the disturbance," I apologized for violently sliding the door to open it.
'Right now?' could be seen written on the outsiders' faces that were practicing Kendo before.
"Very well, get your uniform ready. We are fighting through the Kendo match, right?" Kishi walked to the empty area and kneeled, waiting for me.
Interested in seeing their club's ace fighting against strangers, those who were resting and spectating their clubs' member changed their eyesight toward Kishi.
"Ah, truthfully, I don't know Kendo," I said before taking off my school uniform on the spot and changing to Gi I randomly bought online.
"?" Kishi confusedly tilted her head. 'Then why are you here?' was what her face said.
"So I'll fight you barehanded with Kendo's rule. Don't misunderstand. I just have a higher chance of winning against you bare-handed than with bamboo swords," I clarified myself to prevent the cliche scene.
"You fool, without a bamboo sword, I will automatically be advantageous due to the difference in reach. If you want it, we can change it to a Karate match, are you sure about it as it is now?" Kishi for the first time was disturbed by her calmness.
I smiled her off, "it's pointless defeating a knight without her sword."
***
After a few smooth-talking, Karma was able to convince the referee to play in the Kendo match without the Kendogu on.
Thus, the two sit, waiting for the referee's calls.
"Confirming the rules, it is a 3 points rule. Competitor Shirasaki isn't allowed to make contact with the Tsuru of bamboo sword and upon doing so, a point would be taken from him."
"Continuing, from Competitor Kishi's suggestion to make the match fair, Competitor Shirasaki will automatically win after taking up 2 points."
"For safety reasons, the specified targeting will decrease from 4 to 3. Prohibiting the throat targeting, head, wrist, and body will be the targeting place that will give you a point."
"Are you ready?" Finishing her explanation, the referee asked the two competitors.
Karma and Kishi both agreed to the referee and got readied for the match.
Kishi squatted at the spot while pointing the bamboo sword at me before standing straight.
Karma bowed at the spot before slightly lowering his posture to stabilize his balance.
'Hm? Aren't I at real disadvantageous?' thought Karma as he reviewed the rule. The bamboo sword was around as long as his arm. His arm can't make contact with the bamboo sword.
Karma erased his unnecessary thoughts as he focused on the opponent in front of him.
'No sign of closing in the range... That's obvious, coming from the expertise, huh? If she did so, that would ruin her advantage that was automatically made at the beginning,'
'Then, my goal is closing the range!'
Among the two, who were battling mentally, the first one to take a move was Karma.
And in order to keep up with the change in the situation, the predator who was watching its prey made her move.
A simple sweeping slash to test Karma's movement.
Karma answered her movement by ducking just under the sword, causing a strand of his hair to be uptaken by the wind pressure.
'Hm.' Kishi nodded inwardly as this is the only way he can dodge the sword. Smiling, Kishi took a step backward, causing the distance Karma closened through risk to be meaningless.
Then without a pause, she slashed down, not giving Karma the time to react to the bamboo sword that swiftly cut the air.
"Head!! (Men)" Kishi roared.
*swoosh!!*
.
.
.
Contrary to the loud sound of a bamboo sword hitting a hard surface, accompanied by the chime of air, the bamboo sword hit nothing.
'Low!?' Kishi widened her eyes upon the opponent that left her vision.
That isn't to be taken surprise. After all, Karma's posture right now was extremely low. In fact, Currently, Karma's head was placed even lower than Kishi's abdomen.
'Of course. The only way of closing the advantageous gap against experienced Kendoka is by taking her by surprise,' Karma stared at Kishi with cold eyes.
Kishi in contrast, tried to push her bamboo sword down once again after stopping it, but the 0.3s gap made a huge difference.
The bamboo sword was but 4mm away from Karma's head but before it hit his head, Karma closened enough distance for his fist to reach the bamboo sword's tsuba.
4mm. That was the tiny bit of distance keeping the match from ending, however, it was also the furthest distance for Kishi, and she will never reach those distances in this match.
Before the bamboo sword hit Karma's head, the muscle on Karma's arm hardened as his left hand deflected up Kishi's bamboo sword from its Tsuba.
The stronger force from below met with the force from above. The positioning also made a huge difference and as a result of the engagement caused Kishi to lose her grip on the sword.
A rare sight of a bamboo sword hurling in the air could be seen.
Although his opponent was disarmed, and couldn't fight back anymore, Karma didn't let his guard down until this point of the match end.
"Torso (Do)" Karma's cold voice could be heard as he unconsciously flexed the muscle all around his body by bringing up the power of his body to his arm and pushed his right palm toward Kishi's stomach.
AUTORENGEDANKEN 
R4IN
R4IN I struggle the most with writing 'realistic combat'
I am not allowed to exaggerate things because I have to think whether things are realistically possible or not.
I usually don't have this problem when writing Holo Alter combat but that's because those fanfic is ridiculous to begin with