Half an hour later, inside the dojo.
Though no lamps had been lit, the afternoon sunlight slanted through the doorway, leaving the dojo half in light and half in shadow.
Kyojuro held his Nichirin Blade in both hands and assumed the opening stance of Flame Breathing. His gaze instantly sharpened, and his entire presence shifted from that of a cheerful, sunny boy to a Flame Tiger lying in wait.
Rokuya stood opposite him. Rather than using a wooden sword, he drew Shura straight from his back. However, he did not activate the Arcana Armor, facing his opponent with swordsmanship alone.
"Please instruct me! Umu!"
Kyojuro roared. The tatami beneath his feet burst apart as he became a red afterimage, tearing through the air with a piercing shriek and lunging straight at Rokuya's face!
"Flame Breathing, First Form: Unknowing Fire!"
Without any attempt to probe his opponent, he opened with a killing move. The fierce wind from his sword carried a scorching heat that seemed capable of igniting the air, even with a wooden sword.
"Too slow."
Rokuya's gaze turned cold, and he swept the massive blade upward at an utterly inconceivable angle.
Clang!
The tremendous recoil numbed the webs of Kyojuro's hands, but he did not retreat a single step. Using that recoil, he twisted his body and executed an incredible change of direction in midair.
"Flame Breathing, Second Form: Rising Scorching Sky!"
A fierce, upward arcing slash bore straight toward Rokuya's throat.
"Not bad." Appreciation flashed in Rokuya's eyes. Turning his wrist, he struck the side of the Nichirin Blade precisely with the back of his sword, deftly neutralizing the force. At the same time, his right leg shot out like a venomous snake, targeting Kyojuro's lower body.
The two exchanged a storm of attacks and defenses within the