The dojo was quiet as the sun rose higher into the morning sky, its light creeping across the weathered wooden floors. The students stood together in the courtyard, waiting for the day ahead. Mono rubbed his palms nervously, feeling the faint remnants of yesterday's practice tingling in his fingers. His uniform pressed uncomfortably against his bruised arms, a constant reminder of the training they had endured.
Beside him, Josei knelt near the steps, her golden hair catching the sunlight as she meditated. Her calmness didn't reassure Mono—it only made him more aware of his own nerves. Raiba stretched his broad shoulders, rolling them slowly as his jaw tightened in quiet determination. Hito leaned casually against the railing, one foot resting on the wood, as if he didn't have a care in the world. But Mono noticed the way Hito's fingers drummed against his leg, betraying his unease. Tokira stood apart, his sharp gaze fixed on the empty courtyard. He looked steady as always, though there was a slight edge to his expression.
The sound of footsteps broke the silence.
"They're here," Sensei said, stepping forward. His white hair caught the light, giving him an almost regal air. He stood tall at the edge of the courtyard, his arms crossed.
Three inspectors entered through the main gate. They wore pristine blue robes, the triangular insignia of the Universal Dojo Committee stitched neatly on their chests. The leader, a man named Saito, had a thin face and piercing eyes that scanned the courtyard with calculated precision. His gaze lingered briefly on each student before moving on.
Walking beside him was Kenji, a younger man with slicked-back brown hair and a stack of papers tucked under his arm. He glanced around nervously, his movements quick and uncertain. The third inspector, a woman named Mariko, carried herself with sharp authority. Her dark hair was tied into a tight bun, and her thin glasses reflected the sunlight as she studied the dojo grounds with an unreadable expression.
Saito spoke first. "Sensei Hiroshi," he said curtly, nodding toward the teacher. "We trust your students are prepared for today's evaluation?"
"They are," Hiroshi replied evenly, his voice steady.
Mono shifted slightly, fighting the urge to fidget as Saito's piercing gaze landed on him briefly before moving on.
---
The first test was forms.
Josei was the first to step forward. She rose gracefully to her feet and adjusted her uniform before moving into position. Her golden energy flickered softly, wrapping around her arms like ribbons of light as she began her katas. Her movements flowed seamlessly from one stance to the next—strikes and blocks perfectly timed, with a calm precision that caught even Mariko's attention.
When she finished, she bowed politely and returned to the line.
Saito adjusted his clipboard, his expression impassive. "Adequate."
Mono fought the urge to groan inwardly. Adequate? Josei's demonstration had been flawless, but all they could say was adequate?
Next up was Raiba.
He stepped forward, his crimson energy flaring to life. His strikes were powerful, each one landing with a loud *crack* that seemed to shake the courtyard. Raiba's movements carried raw strength, his punches and kicks creating visible shockwaves. Sweat dripped from his brow as he powered through the katas, his energy burning brightly.
"Too much force," Mariko commented coldly, writing something on her clipboard.
Raiba's jaw tightened, but he bowed respectfully and stepped back into line.
Hito stepped forward next, his confident smirk firmly in place. His purple energy crackled around him, snapping and flashing like tiny bolts of lightning. Hito's movements were quick and flashy, adding spins and sharp twists to the katas that made them look exciting—but slightly uncontrolled.
"Reckless," Kenji muttered quietly, scribbling notes.
Hito's smirk faltered for half a second before he nodded and stepped back.
Mono's turn was next.
He took a deep breath to steady his nerves before stepping forward. His cream-colored energy flickered softly, flowing around his arms as he began the katas. Mono wasn't flashy or dramatic, but his movements were solid and precise. He focused on keeping his strikes clean and his blocks deliberate, maintaining a steady rhythm.
When he finished, he bowed and returned to the line, his heart pounding.
"Acceptable," Saito said after a long pause, jotting something on his clipboard.
Finally, Tokira stepped into the center.
His blue energy shimmered faintly as he moved through the katas. His strikes landed perfectly, his footwork smooth and efficient. Tokira didn't rush or hesitate, but Mono noticed a slight stumble during one of the transitions—a rare flaw in the otherwise composed fighter.
"Passable," Mariko said, her tone neutral.
---
The second test was sparring.
Mono was matched against Hito.
"Try not to embarrass yourself," Hito said with a grin, his purple energy sparking aggressively.
Mono summoned his cream-colored energy, feeling its steady warmth flow around his arms. He raised his shield just in time to block Hito's first strike—a heavy blow that sent vibrations up Mono's arms.
"You're too slow!" Hito taunted, landing another hit that left Mono's shoulder throbbing.
Mono ignored the jab, focusing on predicting Hito's movements. He used his shield to block and waited for openings to counterattack. Mono landed a clean strike to Hito's side, earning a surprised grunt from his opponent.
The spar ended with Hito landing a quick series of strikes that overwhelmed Mono's defenses, giving him the win. But even Hito looked a little worn, rubbing his side as he returned to the line.
Josei sparred against Raiba next.
Raiba's crimson energy flared brightly as he charged forward, his strikes heavy and relentless. Josei dodged smoothly, her golden energy lashing out in precise whips that kept Raiba at bay.
The match was intense—Josei's sharp movements countering Raiba's raw power. Raiba managed to break through her defenses with a shoulder-check, but Josei responded with a quick counterstrike that knocked him back slightly.
The spar ended in a draw, with both fighters stepping back, panting heavily.
Finally, Tokira sparred with Mariko.
Mariko's movements were quick and calculated as she tested Tokira's defenses. Tokira dodged and countered smoothly, his blue energy swirling like waves. However, his strikes carried more force than usual, showing his growing frustration as the spar went on.
Mariko landed a clean hit that disrupted Tokira's rhythm briefly, but he recovered quickly and finished the spar with a solid strike that earned a nod of approval.
---
The final test was energy control.
Each student was given a wooden sphere and instructed to lift it using only their energy.
Raiba went first, his crimson energy glowing brightly as he lifted the sphere shakily into the air. The effort was visible in his clenched jaw and shaking hands, and his energy flickered out after just a few seconds, causing the sphere to fall heavily.
Josei followed. Her golden energy wrapped smoothly around the sphere, lifting it with ease. She held it steady for nearly a minute, her focus unwavering, before her energy dimmed and the sphere dropped gently to the ground.
Hito's attempt was flashy as always. His purple energy shot the sphere high into the air, but his lack of control caused it to spin wildly before crashing down.
Mono stepped forward, taking a deep breath to calm his nerves. His cream-colored energy flowed steadily around the sphere, lifting it slowly and holding it carefully in place. After several long moments, he lowered the sphere gently, ignoring the strain in his arms.
Tokira was last. His blue energy surrounded the sphere like water, lifting it effortlessly. He held it longer than anyone else, though his composure cracked slightly as sweat rolled down his face.
---
When the tests ended, Saito addressed Sensei Hiroshi. "Your students have made progress," he said firmly. "But the tournament will demand much more."
Sensei nodded, his gaze steady. "In seven days, they've shown growth. Imagine what they'll achieve when the time comes."
Saito hesitated before nodding. "Very well. You may proceed to the tournament."
As the inspectors left, Mono let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding.
Sensei turned to the students. "You have five minutes of steady energy," he said. "Use them wisely."
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