Akairo let out a gurgle of a burp as he laid incapacitated on the floor after eating dinner.
Zabu finished washing the dishes and joined him on the floor where he joined him in watching some Cardinal League matches.
“You’re right.”
“Mmm?” Akairo sounded.
“It’s just dangerous here as anywhere else. I just... nevermind.” Zabu muttered.
Akairo glanced at his teachers conflicted face.
He was still thinking about Khatuu’s offer and the idea of joining a team of mercenaries was tantalizing to say the least.
It meant leaving the confines of the tower city.
It meant being that much closer to being free.
“Anyway, get up, I got something for ya.” Zabu said while reaching behind the curtain where he grabbed a metal back box.
Akairo sat up, much to his full stomachs dismay, and eyed the box.
Zabu opened it, revealing two black combat knives and a black sheath.
“I know you don’t really have a fighting style as of yet but... I really think dual wielding short swords will be a good fit for you since you prefer close quarter combat.”
Akairo looked at the knives before looking back at Zabu who simply nodded.
Akairo grabbed the daggers and they were a perfect fit for his hands.
“You... I...” Akairo struggled to say but Zabu shook his head.
“Don’t worry about it. Now come on. Let’s give them a spin.” Zabu said before leading Akairo into the garage in the dead of night.
“Think of a weapon, any weapon, you ever wield as an extension of yourself. Their length, weight and durability should be ingrained into your mind because as you fight, those should be the last things you think about. So keep those babies well maintained, alright?”
Akairo nodded.
He had equipped his new sheath, which sat perfectly above his waist. His knives were positioned behind him in an X.
Akairo unsheathed the daggers slowly and carefully.
He knew that he was outside the bounds of the coliseum and couldn’t afford to act recklessly.
He hoped that Zabu wouldn’t asked him to spar-
“Alright! Let’s give them a stress test.” The short man grinned while his eyes glowed blue.
This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.
Akairo sighed before raising his knives.
His eyes flashed green and he sent Tal into his legs before dashing towards Zabu.
He swung his knife in an attempt to cut Zabu’s arm but Zabu, after releasing his shadow, simply kicked him in the side of the face, sending him tumbling to the side.
“Sheesh. I get you a new weapon and all of a sudden you forget everything I taught you. Also, why were you targeting my arm?”
Akairo groaned as he crawled into his feet.
“I didn’t want to accidentally hurt you.”
Zabu smiled at this.
His eyes then flashed green and the garage trembled as his world of shadow grew darker.
“Now you’re just insulting me.” Zabu said before disappearing.
Every nerve, muscle and bone in Akairo’s body then forced his body onto its knees as Zabu punched the air where Akairo’s head once was.
“Fight like your life depends on it or our training ends.” Zabu said coldly while standing above Akairo who’s heart ran faster than it had ever before.
“Understood?”
Akairo nodded prompting Zabu to take a few steps backwards.
His eyes then flashed green again and this made Akairo pour excess Tal into all of his muscles, giving him just enough speed to avoid getting decapitated by leaning to the side, avoiding Zabu’s fist.
He then used this newfound speed to try and stab Zabu in the right temple but Zabu simply kicked him in the chest, sending him flying backwards and crashing into the wall.
Fortunately, his body was still strengthened with additional Tal and so he sustained minimal damage.
He couldn’t maintain it for long though and his body felt far more drained than it would have normally.
“I’m seriously regretting giving you those things.” Zabu sighed while the young man crawled onto his feet.
He raised his knives again and watched with dread as Zabu’s eyes flashed green again.
The small man then disappeared-
Akairo’s eyes widened upon seeing that he wasn’t disappearing, he was just running towards him at a speed his eyes could barely keep up with.
He charged his body with Tal again and narrowly avoided getting his chest kicked in by dashing to the side.
He then leapt towards Zabu and kicked him in the arm while he regained his footing, this sent the small man stumbling to the side but Akairo wasn’t done.
He dashed towards him while he regained his composure and kicked him again, sending him crashing down before rushing towards him and mounting him.
Akairo then placed the edge of his new blades gently on Zabu’s neck and let out a fiery breath.
“I was... I was just getting the hang of them. That’s all.” He wheezed.
“Oh?” Zabu sounded rather calmly but dread filled Akairo’s heart as he realized that Zabu’s eyes were glowing brightly blue.
He then felt several sharp and cold things on his neck.
He glanced to his right without turning his head to find four icy daggers pointing at his neck.
“If that’s the case then I suppose you wouldn’t mind training this way until I’ve had my fill?”
Akairo nervously smiled.
“Alright?”
.
..
Akairo let out a weak groan as he laid face down on Zabu’s futon.
Zabu could reinvigorate his muscles with Tal but nothing could take away the mental exhaustion.
Akairo had also just eaten, so his body was just about ready to sleep and he closed his eyes all while Zabu tidied up.
.
..
Zabu eventually returned and, after a wonderful dinner, he led Akairo down to the garage where they stood in silence for some time.
The black box sat between them and Akairo glared at it with half open eyes.
“How much money would you say I’ve accumulated in this partnership of ours?”
“Mmm... About Z50k.”
Akairo nodded.
“And how much have you made?”
“About the same.”
“I see.” Akairo muttered while remembering that the Lesser Endeavour would cost him Z8 million.
“I can send you the money, if you don’t trust me-“
“No. That’s not the problem. I just realized that we’ll be at this for a really long time.” Akairo said with an empty smile.
He walked up to the box and grabbed his knives before playfully cutting the air with them.
He then pointed one of them at Zabu who stood with unlit eyes.
“Lets see if we can find a way to make more money because i have seen the end and it waits for no one.”