Grudges

**AUTHOR NOTE: INSTRUCTOR AKASHI'S POV***

The audacity of that insolent brat. One fortunate victory, and now he parades around like some untouchable force—defeating my class, humiliating me, and now standing before the entire academy, issuing threats as if he owns this place? I will not tolerate this disgrace.

How dare a mere child look down upon me?

I clenched my fists, heat radiating from my palms, the flickering glow of my flame Ki illuminating the dim room. I must eliminate him before he becomes a real threat. That aura he released… it was different. Unnatural.

As I brooded over these thoughts, a voice, unfamiliar and cold, cut through the silence.

"The undying Crimson Ash, reduced to nothing more than an instructor for spoiled noble children."

I whirled around, my Ki surging to life as flames erupted from my fists, casting waves of heat throughout the room. A dark figure stood in the corner, shrouded in a heavy cloak, his presence melding into the shadows.

"Who's there?!" I barked, my flames roaring higher.

"The great Akashi, the Undying Crimson Ash… and yet, you were humiliated by a mere child." His tone was mocking, dripping with amusement.

How did he get in here? I didn't sense a thing. Even if I'm not as sharp as I once was, no one should be able to sneak up on me.

"Tch. Who the hell are you?" I snarled, my flames flaring dangerously.

"Who I am isn't the question you should be asking." the figure replied smoothly. "The real question is… how would you like to take revenge on that child?"

I narrowed my eyes. "Revenge?"

"Yes. Revenge." The stranger took a slow step forward, though his face remained hidden beneath the hood. "Would you like to reclaim your reputation? After all, how can the great Crimson Ash be defeated by a mere boy?"

I frowned, weighing his words. I don't trust this man. His presence alone feels unnatural.

"Who are you…?"

The stranger chuckled. "I will tell you once you get rid of that brat. It will benefit both of us." He extended his hand, revealing a small red pill. "Take this. It will significantly boost your Ki element, making it five times stronger. Challenge him. Beat him."

I eyed the pill warily. The brat only won because Ki wasn't allowed in our match. Still, if this man wanted Takeda gone, there was no reason to refuse a good offer.

"Fine. I'll deal with him. Academy rules state that duels are allowed as long as both sides agree." A smirk tugged at my lips. "I'll make sure to accidentally kill him."

"Good." the figure said before vanishing into the shadows, his presence disappearing as if he were never there.

"Tch." I muttered, staring at the empty space. "Who the hell was that?"

The conversation lingered in my mind. The red pill… I'll use it only if necessary. There's something sinister about it. Something that reminds me of them.

Takeda's time is near. It wounds my pride to admit it, but I must act now, before he becomes a true threat. 

**AUTHOR NOTE: TAKEDA HANZO'S POV**

The moment the announcements ended, the academy changed. Every hallway I walked through fell into silence, students parting in whispers, their gazes filled with uncertainty, fear, and… something else.

Distrust.

It was expected. My words had rattled the entire academy, and now I was being watched from every corner. That was fine. I had learned long ago—whether in my past life or this one—that trust was a currency few could afford to spend.

Royalty, government, high-ranking officials? They're all the same—corrupt. Even during my time as Damian West, most of my contracts had been aimed at the powerful, the elite.

In a world where power reigns supreme, corruption festers like an unkillable weed.

I made my way to the library, taking advantage of the benefits that came with my new position in the disciplinary committee. With my clearance, I now had access to restricted sections—knowledge that most students could never dream of obtaining.

The deeper I delved into the books, the more I realized just how much I didn't know about this world.

Notes from Research:

1. Ki is a manifestation of one's inner self. One's emotions and personality directly influence their Ki and its elemental affinity.

2. Ki evolves over time. Intense training and emotional breakthroughs can push one's Ki to new heights.

3. Every master has a unique elemental alignment. However, rare individuals are born with multiple elements.

4. Each primary Ki element has a sub-element, unlocked only through mastery:

• Water → Ice

• Earth → Shadow

• Fire → Electricity

• Wind → Mist

Ki is far deeper than I initially thought.

I've been training in all four elements, but if I dedicate myself fully, I could push my abilities beyond anything seen before.

And with the system? I could accelerate my growth to an unnatural degree.

But there was more. As I look over the records of Shinsekai's history, I found something unsettling.

Shinsekai was not always ruled by the Kazuki Clan.

The royal family had seized power generations ago, overthrowing the previous rulers in what the texts described as a "necessary coup." The Kazuki Clan had rewritten history, painting themselves as saviors rather than conquerors.

But that wasn't what truly disturbed me.

It was the map.

The entire world as recorded in these books… consisted of only two known territories.

Shinsekai.

The Demon Spirit Domain.

My breath skipped as I stared at the name.

This was never mentioned in any academy lessons. No student ever spoke of it. What is this place?

The books barely scratched the surface. The only thing I found was a vague reference—44 years ago, the Kensei put an end to the Demon Spirit attacks.

After that? The pages were missing.

Ripped out.

I scoured the restricted section, searching every nook and cranny, but I found nothing else.

Someone had erased this knowledge from history. Why?

Later, I found myself at the training grounds, my mind still reeling from the revelation. But for now, I needed to focus.

Thanks to the system, my grasp of Ki was accelerating far beyond normal levels. I had to perfect my control, my efficiency—because if there was a hidden truth about this world, I needed to be strong enough to uncover it.

Taking a deep breath, I summoned my flame Ki. The heat flared around my fists, crackling with raw power. I started throwing punches, each strike igniting the air, sending waves of heat in all directions.

Faster.

Stronger.

I leapt into the air, using wind Ki to propel myself higher, before hurling a blazing fist downward. The combined force erupted into a massive inferno, searing the training ground below.

Landing swiftly, I manifested earth Ki to create a wall of hardened stone, then shattered it instantly with a gust of wind, following up with a flame blast that turned the debris into a storm of fireballs.

A smirk formed on my lips.

This confirmed several things:

1. I can use multiple elements simultaneously.

2. I can combine them to create devastating effects.

3. As long as I manifest Ki, I can reshape it to my will—construct, destroy, manipulate. 

A dangerous advantage.

Most Ki users could only master a single element. Some, if they were talented, could unlock a secondary one. But I had access to all four.

This tournament… The Kensei would be present. It was an opportunity not just to grow, but to leave a mark.

Being part of the disciplinary committee wasn't so bad, either. No one would dare openly challenge me. At least, not yet.

Still, I remained cautious. Hiro Kazuki… something about him felt different. He held a grudge against me, and I had no doubt he would try something soon.

If he became a problem, then like anyone else who stood in my way… he would fall.