The Strike

Sensei stared at the beast. His face stayed calm, even though the situation was tense. The word had slipped out earlier, but he didn't care.

The beast was huge. Its body was covered in thick, dark fur that seemed to soak up the little light left in the forest. Its muscles bulged and rippled as it moved, and its glowing eyes burned like fire, fixed on Sensei. The claws on its large paws dug into the dirt, leaving deep scratches. Each movement felt powerful, like it was testing its strength.

The disciples stood behind Sensei, frozen. Mono's grip tightened on his sword handle. His heart was pounding in his chest. Josei glanced nervously at the others, her hand firm on the hilt of her blade. Raiba shifted slightly, his face pale. Tokira and Hito stayed completely still, their eyes locked on the massive creature.

Sensei took a step forward, raising one hand slightly as a signal for them to stay back. His voice was steady and quiet. "Don't move," he said. "This is not your fight."

The beast crouched lower, its muscles tensing. Its tail whipped sharply behind it, scattering leaves and dirt. Another growl rumbled from its throat, louder than before. The sound shook the air and sent chills down their spines. Its sharp teeth glinted faintly as it opened its jaws wider.

Then it lunged.

At the same time, Sensei moved.

A bright orange light exploded around him, covering his whole body. The energy moved like fire, flickering and crackling. It wasn't just light—it felt alive, like a shield and a storm all at once. The glowing orange aura made him stand out in the dim forest, and faint sparks danced along its edges.

He dashed forward, moving fast. His glowing fist shone brighter, and the energy swirled around it like a small whirlwind. The beast slashed with its claws, but Sensei ducked low and avoided the attack with ease.

In one smooth motion, Sensei drove his glowing fist into the side of the beast. The hit was powerful, like thunder striking the earth. The ground shook, leaves fell from the trees, and a loud boom filled the air.

The beast roared in pain, its body flying backward. It crashed through trees, breaking branches and sending debris flying everywhere.

Sensei didn't wait. He followed the beast, his orange aura leaving streaks of light behind him. His movements were quick and sure, and within seconds, he disappeared into the shadows.

The disciples were still frozen in place. None of them dared to speak. The forest felt quiet again, but the tension hung in the air like a heavy weight.

Raiba broke the silence, his voice shaky. "What... what just happened?"

No one answered. They just stared at the space where Sensei had disappeared.

Ten seconds passed. Then, Sensei returned. He walked calmly out of the shadows, his orange glow fading slowly until only faint sparks remained. In his hand was a glowing blue crystal.

The crystal was smooth and bright, its light steady. It seemed strange to see something so small and peaceful after such a fierce fight.

Sensei stopped in front of them and held the crystal up slightly. "This," he said simply, "is what's left."

The disciples didn't know what to say. They stared at the crystal, their minds still spinning from what they had just seen.

Sensei lowered the crystal and looked at them. His tone was calm but firm. "We keep moving," he said. "There's more for you to learn."

He turned and walked ahead. The disciples followed, their footsteps slow and quiet. No one spoke.

The forest came back to life little by little. The rustling of leaves and the distant calls of birds returned, but the weight of what they had seen stayed with them. It pressed on their minds and reminded them of how much they still had to learn.