The Choice of a Master

The candidates who remained in the testing area stood stunned, watching Hyu's display of raw technique. In their own words, that hadn't been a fight it was pure violence.

"So, Leonard, do you think Ryuuzen can still keep going?"

Hyu asked, holding up Ryuuzen, whose face was swollen but still conscious.

"Damn it, the gap in skill this year is just too obvious. The winner of this match is Hyu Park! Who's up next?"

The last ten participants backed off, unsure if they could face Hyu and come out victorious. They all stepped aside. All but Robert.

"Don't take it personally, Hyu. I just need to make sure I get Elder Liu's attention."

"Come at me, genius. I'll show you that no amount of talent will let you beat me."

"You talk like you're going to win. I just hope you don't go down on the first hit."

Robert said as he adjusted his judo gi.

Meanwhile, elsewhere…

"Is it true you come from another dimension?" asked Elder Hu, while Izuru lay resting on a cot.

"Yes, it is."

"How long have you been here?"

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

"That's incredible."

"What's your original dimension like?" asked Sae, intrigued.

"Hmph, I wouldn't know how to describe it, but… I'd say technologically, it's not as advanced as this place. There's also no clear evidence of gods in that dimension. But what does exist are superpowers. In my family, it was believed that the first-born son had a high probability of being born without an amok."

"What are amoks?" asked Hu, as he finished stitching up Izuru's wound.

"That's what they call superpowers."

"In this dimension, the 'amok syndrome' is a cultural and psychological disorder documented in some cultures of the Raiku Kingdom, especially in Raiden, the capital of the kingdom," Hu explained.

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

Sae continued, "Historically, these episodes were described as a sort of 'trance' where the person loses awareness of their actions. Afterward, they usually experience partial or complete amnesia about the event. Though rare nowadays, this phenomenon has been studied as part of 'culture-bound syndromes,' as it seems to arise from cultural, psychological, and social factors specific to the Raiku Kingdom."

"How curious that matches the symptoms people with amoks first displayed."

"Really? Could you tell me more about your world and its diseases? Disorders, medicines whatever details you can provide would be helpful," Elder Hu said with excitement as he finished the final stitch.

"Is he some kind of illness geek?" Izuru asked Sae, who simply nodded.

"I'll tell you everything, but it'll have to wait. I haven't slept in maybe sixteen hours. I'll end up short if I don't get my eight hours."

"You can't handle that? Please, how old are you? Seven?" asked Elder Hu as he poured water into a teapot.

"I'm actually six years old."

"What the hell?" Elder Hu exclaimed in disbelief.

"Rain kidnaps people younger and younger," Sae joked.

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

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

This last part caught Sae's attention, who just smiled.

"Interesting. Let's put that to the test," said Sae, extending his hand to Izuru with a smile, which contrasted with the lifeless look in Sae's eyes.

However, before Sae could continue his experiment… Crash! The door was opened abruptly.

"I told you to knock before coming in, damn it!" Elder Hu yelled at his younger brother Liu.

"Sorry, big brother, I just came to take Sae away so he wouldn't cause you more trouble," Liu replied with a smile.

"Fine, take that troublemaker with you. But I'm keeping this one here," Hu said, pointing to Izuru.

"All yours, but I warn you he's Rain's toy, so don't go experimenting on him," Liu said with a serious face.

"I'm just going to question him. Rain's power may be greater than we expected," Elder Hu replied, looking thoughtfully at Izuru.

"I'm not leaving until I put this kid to the test."

"Screw you, super-strong bully."

"Call me what you want, but you're going to prove to me that what you say is true, you little punk."

Sae said as he looked at Izuru seriously.

"To start with, how do you know our language?"

"English?" Izuru asked, puzzled by Sae's question. He hadn't realized he'd been speaking English the whole time.

"What's English?" asked Sae, looking at Izuru seriously.

"Does everyone here speak the same language? Aren't there other languages?" Izuru asked, completely ignoring Sae's question.

"In fact, no… at least in this dimension, we only speak what you call English," Elder Hu responded, as he warmed the water he had left in his teapot.

"Now, answer Sae's question."

Elder Hu demanded with his authoritative voice.

"You'll need some context, so here I go. Let's start by saying that in my home dimension, there are around six or seven continents. Do you know what that is?"

"Yes, there are various continents here too," Elder Hu replied while warming the water.

"Well, depending on the continent, people might speak one language or another. For instance, the place I was born is in the Asian continent, in a country called Japan. There, people speak Japanese. I know English because your mother taught me fucking loser."

Izuru said that last part in Japanese.

"In my opinion, you're just making this up," Liu said as he stared at Izuru.

"Go to hell. Why should I explain anything if you're just going to think I'm lying anyway?" Izuru said, annoyed by Liu's attitude.

"Touché," said Sae and Elder Hu to Izuru's question.

"Don't you think you're a little rude for being so young?"

"I haven't been raised right, so that's why."

Izuru said, looking away in disappointment.

"I see," Liu responded, understanding Izuru's situation.

"Are you done questioning the kid? I want to test this boy."

"No more questions for now. We'll investigate as I train him."

"What?!"

"Why are you surprised? You're Rain's project, so I'll make sure to get good results from you and gather as much information as I can."

"Not so fast, old man. I want him for myself," Sae said, letting his Qi flow through his body while staring defiantly at Liu.

Meanwhile, back at the Kamubura residence, an argument was taking place.

"What do you mean you don't know where Izuru is?!"

"The last time we saw him, he was at the park. He hasn't returned since," Lizeth said, looking away in fear under Reiji's furious gaze.

"He's just throwing a tantrum, as are you now. Izuru will realize he can't survive the real world and will come back."

"Well, you better hope that's true because if Izuru isn't here in two weeks, I'll make sure everyone knows that the Kamubura family's head abandoned his first son."

"The shame of that wouldn't be nearly as bad as knowing that Izuru Kamubura, Enso Kamubura's firstborn, is currently the only person in Japan without an amok."

"And that's enough to abandon him to his fate?"

"What? Don't you get it? A Kamubura was born without an amok."

"The only person in Japan without an amok? Why are you surprised? This has been happening in our family for thousands of years."

"Not anymore. The last three generations were normal. My son just ruined the good streak the Kamubura family had."

Enso said as he frowned, looking at the floor in disappointment.

"Don't you feel any concern for your firstborn?"

Reiji asked, searching for even a hint of affection from his brother for his nephew.

However, upon seeing the look of disgust on his brother's face, he understood. He had no intention of searching for Izuru.

"Lizeth, you gave him life. Aren't you worried?"

"…"

Lizeth simply looked away, avoiding eye contact.

"Why does it bother you so much, uncle? Izuru was useless anyway. I'm here, and as long as I am, he isn't needed."

"Shut up, kid. Izuru's worth ten times what you'll ever be."

"If you came to my home to insult my son, don't expect to be allowed back in."

"I don't plan on coming back here until two weeks from now."

"Why are you so intent on tarnishing the Kamubura name with your actions? Don't you respect our father's memory?"

This was enough for Reiji to approach his brother, grab him by the collar of his expensive suit, and execute a judo throw. Following this, he delivered a powerful axe kick to his brother's face, striking him squarely in the nose.

Back on the platform, Robert stood tall, grinning with pride at what his fists had wrought. His opponent, the one who called himself "Asura," was now on his knees before him, clutching his abdomen and gasping for air.

"Come on, It's too early to give up, Asura."

End of Chapter.