"When Steel Meets Fury"

The Student's hand collided with Lefrans', the assistant to the old master, in a thunderous clash. Their energies burst forth in a dazzling display of raw power as they struggled against each other's might. The sheer velocity of their movements defied logic, causing the very air around them to tremble. In a fleeting moment, their gazes locked—sharp, resolute, and brimming with challenge.

But the student wasted no time. With a swift, calculated motion, he twisted Lefrans' wrist, shifting his stance to create an opening in his opponent's defense.

"Die, you bastard," the student muttered coldly, his voice barely above a whisper, dripping with mockery, before launching forward with the speed of lightning.

In an instant, he attacked with ferocity, dismantling Lefrans' once-impenetrable guard. The small gap he had exploited grew into a catastrophic breach. Without hesitation, the student delivered a lethal punch with pinpoint accuracy, his fist aimed squarely at Lefrans' face.

The air seemed to freeze as the impact landed, a resounding boom echoing through the surroundings. Lefrans staggered, his eyes wide with shock, disbelief washing over him as he realized the severity of his defeat.

But the student wasn't finished. With relentless aggression, he seized Lefrans by the collar, lifting him with ease. His eyes blazed with fury and determination as his grip tightened, leaving no room for resistance.

With a brutal twist of his body, the pupil hurled Lefrans like a ragdoll toward a nearby door. The sound of splintering wood filled the air as the door shattered into fragments, sending debris scattering in every direction. Lefrans' body crashed against the door before tumbling out onto the damp grass, the night dew soaking into his clothes.

Lefrans lay motionless, his chest rising and falling slowly as he struggled to catch his breath. Whatever strength he had left seemed to seep away, his body feeling heavy against the contrasting warmth of the grass and the chill of the night. His eyes, now hollow and distant, reflected the realization that he had been thoroughly defeated.

The student stood at the threshold of the shattered doorway, his breath still ragged. Under the dim light, his silhouette cut a figure of a challenger who had proven his might. His footsteps approached Lefrans with deliberate slowness, a warning that this fight was far from over.

Consumed by anger and impatience, the student crouched down beside Lefrans' lay monitonless form. Without a moment's hesitation, he swung a powerful fist directly at Lefrans' face, his movement so swift it sliced through the air like a blade through paper.

The punch hurtled towards its target, but at the last second, Lefrans twisted his head aside with uncanny agility. The student's fist struck the ground beside Lefrans' ear, a deafening thud reverberating from the impact. Even in his weakened state, Lefrans could hear the brutal force that had nearly ended him.

Yet, the student showed no signs of relenting. His eyes burned with fury as he unleashed another strike, this time with his left hand, aiming squarely for Lefrans' face.

Before the blow could land, something unexpected occurred. In a swift, fluid motion, Lefrans tilted his chin with impeccable precision. A strange force—like an invisible clash of energies—struck the student's jaw, sending his body reeling backward. He stumbled several steps, struggling to regain his balance.

Freed from the student's grasp, Lefrans inhaled deeply, still lying on the grass. Though weak, he used every moment to reclaim his strength, aware that the battle was far from over.

In the distance, the student stood unsteadily, his eyes a mix of rage and confusion. He wiped his chin with the back of his hand, feeling the throbbing ache of the mysterious strike.

"What was that, bastard…?" he muttered under his breath, his gaze locking onto Lefrans, who was slowly rising. The fight had entered a new phase—this time, Lefrans would not merely defend.

With nearly supernatural speed, Lefrans rose to his feet, as if pain or fatigue had never touched him. He calmly adjusted the collar of his shirt and straightened his glasses, slightly askew from the previous impact. Each movement was elegant, exuding a confidence that shifted the very atmosphere.

Lefrans stepped back, creating a measured distance between them—a silent invitation to continue the duel honorably. Rain began to fall, the ground beneath them turning slick, yet Lefrans remained upright, his composed aura dominating the space.

Tilting his head slightly, Lefrans spoke with a casual tone laced with subtle mockery.

"Strange, isn't it?" he said, a small smile playing on his lips. "Sorry, my hands tend to move like a hungry serpent."

Though spoken lightly, his words dripped with deliberate arrogance—a psychological blow aimed directly at the student . Lefrans stood ready, his eyes filled with unwavering confidence, his hands relaxed, like an artist preparing to craft a masterpiece.

The student, still feeling the residual pain from the earlier strike, glared with a mixture of fury and curiosity. His burning desire to finish this battle ignited once more, feeding his unyielding will.

Fueled by a surging rage, the student unleashed his brutal onslaught. He surged toward Lefrans with near-impossible speed, his body propelled by the sheer force of his intent. Without hesitation, he raised his knee high, aiming it directly at Lefrans' abdomen—a strike powerful enough to incapacitate any opponent.

Yet, as his knee connected, something felt off. Instead of the soft resistance of flesh, he was met with an unyielding hardness. Pain shot through his leg, and in a split second, he realized the truth.

Lefrans had intercepted the attack with his own knee, matching the pupil's ferocity with flawless precision.

The student blinked rapidly, rain blurring his vision as it streamed down his face. But in an instant, he felt it again—that forceful explosion. The sensation hit him like a storm, a torrent of pain erupting across his face.

Blood dripped from his nose, mixing with the rain as he stumbled back, his body crashing into the wet earth. He lay there momentarily, breath heaving, before forcing himself back to his feet.

His eyes now burned with confusion and rage, fixated on Lefrans, who stood mere steps away. But this time, something had changed. In Lefrans' hand, a clenched fist remained poised from the strike.

Lefrans' smile grew, almost predatorily, as he spoke with a tone as calm as it was cutting.

"Did that feel like a punch? I doubt it did more for you."

The coldness in his words pierced through the student's anger, leaving him reeling from the sheer speed and power Lefrans had displayed. His fury surged again, but beneath it, a new emotion began to stir—fear, an unfamiliar sensation creeping into his mind, one that he had never encountered in battle before.

With effortless precision, Lefrans tilted his head to the side, smoothly dodging the student's wild punch. In one swift motion, he countered the poorly calculated attack, raising his elbow and driving it directly toward the student's neck.

"BAM"

The sharp crack echoed through the rain-soaked courtyard. The student's breath caught in his throat, and for a moment, he expected the sharp sting of pain. Yet, strangely, he felt nothing. Bewildered, he turned his head, his eyes widening in shock.

Someone had stepped in between them, taking the full force of Lefrans' blow. As the figure crumpled to the ground, the student's heart stopped. He dove to catch them, his hands trembling as he recognized the familiar face now lying motionless in his arms.

"Zhu-Xien… my love… No… why did you protect me?" His voice cracked, thick with despair as tears streamed down his face. His heart pounded with a mix of sorrow and fury.

The person he held was Zhu-Xien, his long-time partner. Blood trickled from the corner of her mouth, staining her pale lips. With a trembling hand, she reached up to touch Kai-Shin's cheek, her fingers weak and cold.

"Kai-Shin… I couldn't bear to see you fight this battle alone… I had to protect you… even if it cost me my life…" Her voice was faint, barely audible over the pounding rain. Raindrops mixed with the blood on her face as her hand slipped from his cheek, and with a final breath, Zhu-Xien went still in his arms.

The relentless downpour intensified, drenching the scene in a somber, oppressive atmosphere. Each drop seemed to echo the grief and tension that filled the courtyard, as the other students watched from a distance, frozen in shock and horror.

Kai-Shin gently laid Zhu-Xien's lifeless body onto the soaked grass, his tears blending with the rain. His hands clenched into fists as he slowly rose to his feet, his head bowed, his body trembling with an uncontainable rage.

"Oh… so that's your name, young one? Kai-Shin?" Lefrans sneered, the smugness in his voice barely masking the tension.

But before he could react, Kai-Shin's fist came hurtling toward him, a brutal, swift punch that struck Lefrans square in the face. The impact was so forceful it sent Lefrans crashing backward, hitting the ground hard.

Kai-Shin's fury was a palpable force now, his eyes blazing with cold, vengeful resolve. Without hesitation, he charged toward Lefrans, who was struggling to rise. Kai-Shin leaped into the air, his leg arcing in a powerful kick aimed straight at Lefrans' abdomen.

"WHAM!"

The sound of the blow was deafening, reverberating through the courtyard as Lefrans was launched backward, crashing through a nearby window. He landed heavily on a table inside the building, the wooden surface splintering under the force of his fall.

Kai-Shin stood there, chest heaving, rain cascading down his face as he glared at Lefrans' crumpled form. His entire body trembled, not from fear, but from the overwhelming tide of emotion—grief, anger, and an unrelenting need for justice. The other students watched in stunned silence, knowing they had just witnessed the awakening of a force that would not be easily subdued.

The rain continued to drench Kai-Shin's body, making him appear like a shadow devoid of light, walking without emotion. Each step he took echoed with cold fury as he approached the shattered window, stepping into the building in search of Lefrans. Yet, all he found were fallen beer bottles, neatly arranged chairs, and empty benches surrounding him in the eerie silence.

Grabbing one of the beer bottles in his anger, Kai-Shin hurled it forcefully against the wall, the sound of shattering glass reverberating through the room. His voice rang out, thunderous and filled with rage.

"COME OUT, YOU COWARD! FACE ME FUCKERS!!!!!! DON'T HIDE LIKE A WET RAT AFTER KILLING MY LOVER!!!!!!"

Suddenly, a curtain behind Kai-Shin rustled. With his sharp senses, he delivered a powerful punch toward the moving fabric, striking the wall behind it with such force that cracks spiderwebbed across its surface. The curtain fell over his face, blocking his vision. Frustrated, he tore it away, only to realize that the space behind it was empty—Lefrans was nowhere to be seen.

Kai-Shin growled in frustration, his fury boiling over as he stomped through the rows of benches, his footsteps heavy with anger. Then, he spotted Lefrans sitting nonchalantly on one of the bar stools, sipping a beer as if nothing had happened.

"Hey, kid. Aren't you going to join me?" Lefrans taunted, his voice dripping with mockery.

Kai-Shin, seething with rage, lunged at Lefrans, his fists clenched with the force of vengeance. But Lefrans swiftly leapt backward, his beer still steady in hand, causing Kai-Shin's punch to land on an empty chair, splitting it in two. The realization that he had been outmaneuvered only fueled Kai-Shin's wrath.

Without hesitation, Kai-Shin swung again with his left hand. However, just as his fist was about to connect, Lefrans deftly tipped his beer mug, splashing the cold liquid onto Kai-Shin's face. Blinded by the sudden deluge, Kai-Shin swung wildly, hoping to land a hit on Lefrans.

Lefrans took advantage of Kai-Shin's blind assault, delivering a series of swift, precise blows to Kai-Shin's vital organs.

"THUD! THUD! CRACK!"

The rapid, thunderous sounds echoed as Kai-Shin stumbled back, gasping for breath. Yet, driven by pure determination, he launched a powerful punch aimed at Lefrans's left rib. Lefrans, quick to react, lowered his left arm to shield his side. But Kai-Shin, anticipating this, feinted his attack and delivered a brutal strike to Lefrans's right rib with his left hand.

"SMASH!"

The impact echoed loudly, sending Lefrans reeling to the side. Kai-Shin stood firm, his breaths ragged, his eyes burning with unrelenting fury. Lefrans, struggling to maintain his balance, now understood that Kai-Shin was no ordinary opponent—he was a force driven by sheer will and a thirst for justice.

The two of them clashed with unrelenting fury, their movements a blur of fists and raw power. Kai-Shin launched a lightning-fast punch aimed directly at Lefrans' face, his eyes burning with determination. Lefrans, refusing to back down, retaliated with wild, forceful blows, each punch landing with enough weight to rattle bones. It was as if both of them were pouring every ounce of their anger and pride into this relentless exchange, neither willing to yield an inch.

"BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM!"

The sound of fists colliding with flesh echoed like thunder in the room, amplifying the tension. Sweat poured from their brows, and their breathing grew heavier with each strike, yet their eyes never wavered. The battle was a brutal dance of aggression and survival, a clash of wills that seemed to stretch on endlessly.

At one point, Lefrans gathered all his strength and unleashed a vicious punch aimed squarely at Kai-Shin's head, his muscles straining with effort. But Kai-Shin, with the precision of a warrior and reflexes honed to perfection, dodged the attack at the last possible second, his body moving fluidly like water. In the same instant, he seized the opportunity and countered with a devastating punch of his own, pouring every bit of energy he had into it.

"THWACK!"

The blow landed squarely on Lefrans' face with an explosive force, sending him stumbling backward. His balance faltered as his feet scrambled to find stability, but it was no use. With a loud crash, Lefrans fell backward, his body slamming into a wooden bench behind him.

"THUD!"

The sound of the impact reverberated through the room as Lefrans lay sprawled across the ground, struggling to catch his breath. The bench creaked and groaned under the force of his fall, fragments of wood splintering to the floor. For a brief moment, the room seemed to hold its breath, the tension almost suffocating.

Kai-Shin stood tall, his chest heaving as he struggled to regain his composure, his fists still clenched and ready for more. His piercing gaze locked onto Lefrans, a silent warning that this fight was far from over. The air between them crackled with energy, the intensity of their battle leaving no doubt that the next move could decide everything.

With the battle raging on, Kai-Shin wasted no time as he unleashed a ferocious punch aimed straight at Lefrans' head. Lefrans, now slumped weakly on the bench, his body battered and breathing labored, made no effort to dodge the oncoming blow. The moment was surreal—unexpected. Instead of defending himself, Lefrans stayed still, his head willingly exposed to the full brunt of Kai-Shin's brutal fist.

"CRACK!"

The impact was deafening, reverberating through the room like a thunderclap. Kai-Shin's punch connected with devastating force, the sheer power behind it enough to send Lefrans—and the bench he was sitting on—flying backward.

"THUD!"

Lefrans' body crashed to the ground along with the chair, both hitting the floor in a chaotic tumble of limbs and splintered wood. The bench shattered under the violent collision, fragments scattering across the floor like the remnants of a fierce storm. Lefrans lay sprawled amidst the wreckage, his body motionless for a moment that felt like an eternity.

Kai-Shin stood there, his chest heaving and his fist still clenched from the force of the blow. His gaze locked onto Lefrans, who now lay in a daze, struggling to comprehend what had just happened. The room was eerily silent except for the faint creaking of the broken bench and the sound of Kai-Shin's heavy breathing.

The broken glass from the shattered window let in the sound of the pounding rain, mixing with the heavy tension in the room. Rows of empty chairs and overturned tables surrounded them, creating a battlefield frozen in eerie stillness.

Suddenly, the sound of footsteps echoed from the direction of the broken window. It was slow at first, deliberate, and purposeful. The sharp noise of each step pierced through the quiet atmosphere, growing louder with each passing second.

Kai-Shin turned his attention toward the sound, his senses heightened. He felt a chill crawl down his spine, an unexplainable sense of unease tightening his chest. Without hesitation, as if to reassert his dominance over the scene, Kai-Shin pressed his foot down on Lefrans' neck with brutal force.

"CRACK!"

The sharp snap echoed throughout the bar as Lefrans' body went limp, his eyes closing as he lost consciousness.

Kai-Shin shifted his gaze back to the approaching figure. As the footsteps drew closer, the air grew heavier, and the oppressive silence of the darkened bar became suffocating. There was something deeply unsettling about the deliberate pace of the intruder, the sound of their footsteps reverberating like a countdown to doom.

Kai-Shin readied himself, his body tensing in a defensive stance despite the faint trembling in his legs. It wasn't fear—at least, that's what he told himself—it was the weight of something greater looming on the horizon.

Finally, the figure emerged from the shadows. A man, tall and composed, stepped into view. His pristine white suit seemed to shimmer faintly in the dim light, a stark contrast to the chaos of the room around him. His golden, single-armed glasses gleamed as he adjusted them slightly, adding to his aura of quiet yet undeniable authority.

Kai-Shin's eyes widened in recognition, his expression shifting from confusion to a sharp glare filled with seething rage. He clenched his fists tighter, every fiber of his being brimming with defiance.

"This the old fag from earlier..?" The thought raced through Kai-Shin's mind like a thunderclap

The man walked closer, his every movement calm and deliberate, exuding a chilling confidence that seemed to dominate the room. Stopping just a few feet away from Kai-Shin, he looked him directly in the eye, his piercing gaze holding the young fighter in place.

"Young man," the man began, his deep voice carrying a calm yet commanding tone that seemed to cut through Kai-Shin's seething anger. "You don't have to do this. We can train you, mold you into the strongest, the greatest. Isn't that what you want? Your strength, your ferocity—it can become a weapon of unparalleled power for the White Knights."

Kai-Shin gritted his teeth, the man's words slicing into him like a blade. His breath quickened as his rage began to boil over. He let out a roar, a primal expression of his defiance, and launched himself forward, his fist raised high in a brutal arc aimed straight for the man's face.

"RAAARGH!"

The blow connected, hard and fast. Yet, the man didn't flinch, didn't step back. Instead, he turned his head slightly, his lips parting to speak a single word.

"Kai-Shin."

Kai-Shin froze mid-motion, his body locked in place as if paralyzed by an unseen force. His mind reeled, his thoughts racing. "How does this fucker know my name..?"

The question echoed in his head, disorienting him for a brief moment. But his rage refused to let him falter. Shaking off the confusion, Kai-Shin clenched his fist again and prepared to strike once more.

Just as his fist began to swing, the man spoke again, his tone sharper and faster this time.

"Lefrans."

Out of nowhere, an unbearable pain erupted in the left side of Kai-Shin's neck, like an invisible explosion tearing through him. His vision blurred as his body lost all strength. In an instant, he crumpled backward, gravity pulling him down.

Before he hit the ground, a firm hand caught him. Lefrans, who had been lying motionless just moments ago, now stood tall, holding Kai-Shin's limp body effortlessly. The faint smirk on Lefrans' face told the whole story—he had been faking his unconsciousness, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.

Lefrans lifted Kai-Shin onto his shoulder like he weighed nothing, standing silently before the man in white. His expression shifted to one of respect as he brought his free hand to his chest in a solemn gesture of loyalty.

"Lefrans," the man said, his voice steady and authoritative, "take him. Put him in a separate room. This boy has the mind of a killer. He may very well become your successor should anything ever happen to you."

"Yes, Master," Lefrans responded, his tone calm and unwavering. "Your command will be carried out immediately."

Without another word, Lefrans turned, carrying Kai-Shin on his shoulder as he strode toward the back exit.

Silence hung heavily in the room once more, The remaining students watched in stunned disbelief as Lefrans disappeared through the door, their hope vanishing with Kai-Shin's limp form. Among them,

Takada stood frozen, unable to comprehend what had just unfolded.His gaze lingered on the shattered window, the place where it had all begun. But his attention was drawn back when he noticed movement. The man in white had started walking again, heading toward the same broken window. For a brief moment, their eyes met.

Takada felt a chill run down his spine. The man's gaze was cold and piercing, sharp enough to cut through Takada's very soul.

"..." 

No words were exchanged. The silence between them was louder than any roar of battle.

As the man disappeared into the darkness beyond the window, the rain began to stop, leaving the world eerily quiet. It was as if the storm itself had paused, holding its breath for what was to come.

-To Be Continued..