Genju, his body trembling slightly, knelt on the ground for a moment, his breath coming in ragged gasps. With a determined effort, he pushed himself to his feet, his sword providing him with support. He reached into his pocket, his fingers closing around a small, rectangular object.

With a look of curiosity, he pulled it out and examined it. It was an MP3 player, a device that had been all but forgotten in this world of magic and sorcery. Beside it lay a pair of in-ear headphones.

Orano's eyes widened in surprise. "How did you get those?" he asked, his voice filled with disbelief.

Genju chuckled. "Oh, this? I bought it from a dealer a few years ago. He told me it was just lying on the ground." He paused, lost in thought. "I couldn't believe it. A box that magically carried melodies? I thought only a sorcerer or a witch could create such a thing. But there was no record of anyone inventing it, so I eventually gave up on the mystery. It's been very useful to me though."

Genju turned his attention back to Orano. "But that's not what we should be focusing on right now, is it? It would be a shame to let our battle end before we've truly tested our limits."

With a determined nod, Genju placed the headphones in his ears and began browsing through the songs on his MP3 player. He selected one, his finger hovering over the start button.

As he pressed the button, the music began to play, filling the arena with a melody that seemed out of place in this world of swords and sorcery.

---------(Ten Years Ago)-----------(Genju's Past)---------

Ten years ago, a scene of bullying unfolded before my eyes. My friends, their bodies bruised and battered, were being mercilessly taunted by their tormentors.

"Come on! Why don't you fight back?" the bullies jeered, their voices filled with contempt.

My blood boiled with anger as I witnessed the injustice. Without hesitation, I charged towards the bullies, my fists clenched. I struck one of them a powerful blow, sending him reeling backward. The other bully, caught off guard, was easily dispatched with a well-placed kick.

The bullies, their confidence shattered, attempted to regroup, but I was relentless. I dodged their attacks with ease, landing blow after blow. Finally, they retreated, their tails between their legs.

As I turned to my friends, I was met with a heartbreaking sight. Two of them were sobbing, while the third clutched his injured arm. Their bodies were covered in bruises, and one of them had broken his glasses.

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My anger surged within me. I wanted to scream at them, to shake them until they understood the importance of standing up for themselves. But I couldn't find the words.

"Why..." I managed to choke out.

One of my friends, his voice filled with confusion, replied, "Genju?"

"Why didn't you fight back?" I demanded, my voice rising. "Even though you knew you were right, why didn't you stand up for yourselves?"

His head bowed, his glasses slipping down his nose. "We couldn't," he admitted, his voice barely a whisper. "We didn't want to put our team in danger."

"There are so many of them," another friend added, her voice trembling. "We can't fight against those bullies who always hang out in groups."

My anger exploded. "Are we going to respond to such stupid people by being silent about it?" I shouted. "Can't you see yourselves? We can't win anything by doing this! Tell me how far we're going to go by crushing ourselves, Kalia!"

I couldn't believe what I was hearing. "Don't you even remember what we did last week?" I continued, my voice filled with disbelief. "We beat up an entire group together! They were so scared they ran away crying! I've been fighting these knuckleheads for weeks! I was glad I could finally protect you a little, but look at you now! You guys are all crying like babies!"

My friends hung their heads in shame, their eyes filled with regret. Every time I saw them like this, a fire burned within me. No matter how many times I told them to protect themselves, they would always succumb to fear. They would choose silence over confrontation, even against the most pathetic bullies.

I vowed to show them the power of strength. I trained relentlessly, honing my skills and building my physical prowess. I learned from every fight, every victory, and every defeat.

I would be the greatest, I promised myself. I would never again allow myself or anyone else to be treated with such disrespect.

-------------------------

Genju, his eyes filled with admiration, addressed Orano. "You are an obstacle, just like my other opponents," he said. "But your anger and relentless attacks prove how seriously you take this. That's why you're a worthy opponent."

Orano, his grip tightening on his sword, maintained a defensive stance. He met Genju's gaze, a fierce intensity burning in his eyes.

Genju grinned, a nostalgic look crossing his face. "This brings back many memories," he mused.

With a swiftness that belied his size, Genju launched an attack, his sword a blur of motion. Orano, though skilled, was unable to block all of Genju's strikes, sustaining minor cuts.

Seizing an opportunity, Genju disarmed Orano, sending his sword flying through the air. He then delivered a series of blows, his fists raining down on Orano's body.

Orano, his resolve unwavering, countered with his own attacks, his punches and kicks landing with surprising force. However, Genju's relentless assault proved too much. Orano was forced to retreat, his body aching from the punishment.

As they regained their distance, Genju's eyes narrowed. "Like I said, you're-" he began, but his words were cut short as Orano launched a counterattack.

With a well-timed feint, Orano lured Genju in, then struck with a devastating blow to the stomach. As Genju stumbled forward, Orano seized his hair and delivered another powerful punch to his face.

Genju, his vision blurred, fell to the ground. Orano, his victory within reach, moved to finish him off. However, Genju, with a final burst of energy, rolled away, avoiding Orano's attack.

As they stood facing each other once more, their eyes filled with a burning intensity, they knew that this battle would be decided by the next few moments.