The Choice of a Master part II

English Translation:

The remaining candidates in the testing area were astonished by Hyu's display of technique. In their own words, that hadn't been a fight, but pure violence.

"So, Leonard, do you think Ryuuzen can still continue?"

Hyu asked while holding up Ryuuzen, who had a swollen face but was still conscious.

"Damn it, this year the inequality is too obvious. The winner of this match is Hyu Park! Who will be next to fight?"

The last ten participants had withdrawn, unsure if they could face Hyu and come out victorious. They had all stepped aside. All except for Robert.

"Don't take this personally, Hyu. I just have to make sure I catch Elder Liu's attention."

"Come at me, genius. I'll show you that all your talent won't be enough to beat me."

"You talk like you're going to win. I just hope you don't fall with the first hit."

Robert replied as he adjusted his judogi.

Meanwhile, elsewhere…

"Is it true you're from another dimension?"

Elder Hu asked Izuru, who was lying on a stretcher.

"That's right."

"How long have you been here?"

"Huh, I don't know how time passes here, but I'd guess about five hours."

"Incredible."

"And what's your home dimension like?"

Sae asked, intrigued.

"Hmph, I wouldn't know how to describe it, but… I'd say it's not as technologically advanced as this place. There's also no clear evidence that gods exist in that dimension. But there are superpowers. In my family, there was a belief that every now and then, the firstborn son had a high chance of being born without an amok."

"What are amoks?"

Hu asked as he finished suturing Izuru's wound.

"That's what they call superpowers."

"At least in this dimension, 'amok syndrome' is a cultural and psychological disorder documented in some cultures of the Raiku kingdom, especially in Raiden, the capital of that kingdom."

Hu explained.

"It's characterized by sudden episodes of extreme violence and aggression in a person, usually after a period of isolation or intense stress. During the episode, the individual enters an uncontrollable rage and attacks those around without distinction, potentially harming others or themselves."

Sae continued.

"Historically, these episodes were described as a kind of 'trance' in which the person loses awareness of their actions, and once it ends, they usually experience partial or complete amnesia about the event. Although rare nowadays, this phenomenon has been studied as one of the 'culture-bound syndromes,' as it seems to stem from cultural, psychological, and social factors specific to the Raiku kingdom."

Elder Hu concluded.

"How curious, those are the symptoms people with amoks showed at first."

"Really? Can you tell me more about your world and its diseases? Disorders, medications, anything you know and can detail would be helpful."

Elder Hu said excitedly as he finished the last suture.

"Is he some kind of disease nerd?"

Izuru asked Sae, who just nodded.

"I'll tell you everything, but it'll have to be later. I haven't slept in maybe 16 hours, and I'll stay short if I don't get my 8 hours."

"Can't handle that? Please. How old are you? Seven?"

Elder Hu said as he poured water into a teapot.

"I'm actually six years old."

"What the hell?!"

Elder Hu exclaimed incredulously.

"Rain's kidnapping them younger and younger," Sae said, mocking.

"You're pretty big for a six-year-old."

"In my family, everyone is extraordinary in some way. My uncle is good at martial arts and has a great fascination with discovering what the world was like before the amoks. My brother is a lite version of me—he's not as complete, but at least he has an amok. And I… I really don't know how it works, but I can do anything as long as I've seen it."

This last statement caught Sae's attention, and he simply smiled.

"Interesting. Let's put it to the test."

Sae said, extending his hand to Izuru with a smile, which clashed with the dead, emotionless look that remained on Sae's face.

However, before Sae could continue his experiment… Crash! The door opened without warning.

"And that's all."

Reiji Kamubura said with a smile, handing his nephew Sanemi his last gift.

"Thanks, Uncle!"

Sanemi shouted, lifting his new video game console in the air with excitement.

"Alright, but… Where's Izuru? It's strange he didn't come running to hug me when he heard me, and not only that, he hasn't shown up, made a sound, or felt present in any way."

Reiji said, looking seriously at Izuru's room, unable to hear or sense any presence inside. After a moment's thought, he decided to ask, dreading his brother's response.

"Enso… Where's Izuru?"

"Did you only come to give us these gifts? I appreciate the gesture, but it really wasn't necessary to spend so much money."

"Don't try to dodge my question, Lizeth. You're his mother, so I suppose you must know where Izuru is or why he hasn't come to greet me."

Reiji replied sternly, looking into the eyes of his younger brother, who remained silent.

Back on the platform, a fierce battle was unfolding between Hyu and Robert. Although Hyu currently held the advantage.

Each attempt Robert made to land a hit was futile, as Hyu either countered, dodged, or simply deflected his attacks.

"Now do you understand, genius? A real fight is about hitting your opponent without getting hit. There's nothing more to it, and unfortunately for you, I'm too good at dodging your punches."

Hyu said mockingly to a severely beaten Robert, who, despite it all, remained standing. Clenching his fists, he launched into one last exchange, putting everything he had into it.