Chapter 6: The Art of the Sword

Confused again by the albino boy's statements, I asked him to explain himself before I could finally say that I was wrong and then ask him if he was feeling all right.

No matter his answer, whatever it was, I was going to tell him the same thing. But his answer was, to say the least.... Shocking.

-I have created a new style," he said as I looked him in the eyes to see if he was completely serious about what he was saying, and yes, he was completely sure of what he was saying.

-I said this to let him know that I found his argument illogical.

-But as if he had expected me to ask for some kind of explanation, he began to argue, oblivious to my look of confusion and my dismissive tone: "To begin with, people who use the martial art style limit themselves to using techniques in one style and then alternate between "The Edge" and "The Flow". But I find that very limiting.

Unheard of. It takes a master swordsman decades of arduous and intense training to develop his own style. So I thought only Riochiro was confused. But he kept talking.

- "So I decided to try to mix the two styles into one and I think I have produced results, maybe it's still a very green style, but I think the "Dragon Style" has promise.

I was silent for a while, trying to choose which expression to put on Riochiro. Running out of a way to react to his apparent episode of epiphany, I simply decided to go for the simplest.

A practice bout.

If Riochiro had something to prove, if his style was functional or not, it could be done in a practice bout, the one who would win would be right in his argument.

So I informed Riochiro to prepare himself accordingly. Without hesitation, the albino and vampire-eyed boy, took off his shirt without hesitation and grabbed a wooden Katana, putting himself on guard, ready to start whenever. Although as an additional detail, I could notice in his eyes a certain spark of excitement.

I didn't waste any time either, I got ready and put on the sports clothes you bought me the other time you came. Although I have to stress that it's a bit heavy to fight with this on.

Note from your grandfather: You'll get used to it. In the meantime remember what I told you about showing too much skin in front of a man. That's not ladylike.

Once I was fully prepared, I got into guard position and raised my sword to the front.

The rules of combat were simple, whoever is touched more than 5 times by the other's sword will be automatically disqualified.

In a real combat things can end with a single blow, but in the official duels where the Sword-Martial art is used the rules dictate that 5 touches are what can disqualify you, so I follow that same rule in practice because it is, let's face it, more practical.

Riochiro and I kept silent for a few seconds, staring into each other's eyes, seeing who was going to be the first to make the first move that would trigger the fight.

 With a swift siceo, Riochiro moved in an agile, almost sonic manner one could say and got to ground level, lunging towards me with a low blow, a hook cut.

To tell the truth I was surprised that he started the fight with such a risky move.

Without blinking, I superficially blocked the blow while I quickly retreated two steps back, there was no need to receive the full impact of the blow with the sword. Quickly, I took advantage of Riochiro's position and raised the sword upwards ready to deliver a devastating slash downwards.

Riochiro seemed to foresee this move, as he came out of his disadvantageous position on the ground and rose to one of my sides, positioning himself behind me. I had the impression that a snake was slowly coiling around me, preparing to launch a lethal bite.

And so it was. Riochiro was behind me in position to use the "8 Point" technique. If that hit me from behind it would surely be an immediate victory for Riochiro.

Although I could only catch a glimpse of it, all these months of fighting Riochiro and teaching him how to use the sword had clearly given me the knowledge about all his moves, so like him, I knew exactly what he was going to do.

Therefore, it gave me time to dodge such a critical attack. Once I was out of reach of Riochiro's sword, I took my time to compose myself. For I had noticed that, although the fight was even, I had the slight impression that in just two moves, I was being overpowered bit by bit.

This would never have happened before. But now it felt strange, Riochiro's footwork was strange and hissing, but at the same time familiar, as if I had seen this before.

Without giving me time to think about many things, Riochiro stepped in front of me at a terrifying speed, as if a wild boar was pouncing on top of me. Very quickly, I raised my sword forward and applying a little force, I was able to deflect Riochiro's blow downward.

Without even giving him time to react, I put all the weight of my body as I prepared to give the "8 Points" technique, thus returning the scare Riochiro had given me earlier.

At the reduced distance Riochiro was from me, this would have been an instant victory for me, everything was in place. His body in front of mine, my sword aligned with his torso.

But something happened. When I started to give him the first lunge blows Riochiro began to make a nimble footwork, turning on his body and taking firm steps backwards, Riochiro crouched on the ground and then rushed again towards me, in what seemed to be a suicidal attack.

Two of my thrusts hit him, but the others failed to hit their target. While Riochiro, now taking advantage of my opening, swung his sword at me, returning the 2 blows I had given him, one hit my shoulder, while following his movement, he positioned himself behind me again to give me another blow in the back.

I turned quickly, using a reverse swing with the full extension of my sword, but Riochiro blocked it and deflected it effectively.

Riochiro was being very aggressive in his attacks, so I decided to gamble with him and use "The Edge" style so I could use a "Weight Concentration" against him and unbalance him, this way I would create an opening in his stance and I could hit him several times in a row.

Anyway, I had only 3 hits left to give him, that would be my chance to win this practice. But something smelled wrong. The footwork plus the circles and the types of blows he used a moment ago were strange.

For a moment I thought he would use several techniques in a row, as was typical of "The Flow," however, he is using the footwork of "The Flow" but the techniques of "The Edge."

His attacks shouldn't be that precise, but since they are precise they shouldn't be fast either, but neither are they as precise as "The Edge's" attacks nor as fast as "The Flow's" attacks.

 "It's like a weird mix of both styles Is that what you meant by a new 'style'?"

So it is nothing new.

In the past several sword masters set out to expand the art of "Sword-Martial" by combining various aspects and techniques of both styles, but the results became chaotic and full of gaps in techniques and defenses, as a result most stayed within the comfort of the two pre-established styles and those who did not, simply failed to try something new.

Nevertheless, there were several who followed that path despite all their failures, but you never heard of them accomplishing anything.

Which leads me to ask myself if one of those missing sword masters has created a new style, if so, who is that man and where is he?

Back to the fight.

While I was taking a defensive position against Riochiro, he noticed my change of stance, so he decided to change it too. He seemed to have a new beam up his sleeve.

With an almost stiff posture, Riochiro took several steps towards me and raised his sword in a slow and calm manner.

I was waiting for him to attack me, but from one moment to the next, he simply stood there, with his arms and sword raised upwards, leaving his entire torso exposed.

Anyone could tell that Riochiro was trying to tempt me to lunge at him and break my style of defense, but you only had to ignore him for his plan to be thwarted.

But suddenly he moved, as if it were a pressurized spring, the movement of his body was instantaneous and mechanical, as much as a pistol shot.

It was my chance to use the "Weight Concentration" to unbalance him, so without even hesitating twice, I put my sword at the right moment to make the impact sudden, once I did that, by the force of the rebound, Riochiro would slip.

And so it was. The heavy blow of the albino boy suddenly impacted against the body of my wooden sword, pushing him back by the force of his own blow.

I would only have one second to attack him, and I did not waste the opportunity, again in high guard position, I rectified the position of my spine and with all the strength of my arms and hips I directed a powerful blow to his sides, which would be accompanied by three more.

On Riochiro's face appeared something I had never seen in practice, a smile. But this time it was not a charming smile, but that of a small demon, on his face you could read his thought.

"Now's my chance."

With steady footwork, he ground his steps with 2 hard stomps, as he stretched his torso backwards almost knocking him to the ground, with the strength of his thighs and calves, he held on to his balance and was able to break his fall, just before his head hit the ground.

With the momentum of his own inertia, he raised the wooden Katana upward and swung it in the direction of the hilt of my practice sword.

That had been his goal all along, to knock the sword out of my hands.

In the general rules of "Sword-Martial" if you landed 5 hits on your opponent you won, but there was another way to win. If your opponent let go of his sword in the middle of the fight, it was a victory for the one who still had his weapon.

For that warrior who let go of his weapon was the one who gave his opponent his life.

Therefore, it was too late for me, I could not avoid his blow as my hands were rushing forward with all the strength of my body, while Riochiro's sword was heading towards the hilt of my hands with speed and power.

It was inevitable, the practice sword flew from my hands, while Riochiro lay on the floor as I watched it fly almost ecstatically.

For the first time in all the combat training, Riochiro had won the victory.