With slow, yet deliberate and steady strides, Akuma entered the Arena under the gaze of hundreds of players who shouted and taunted at his slow pace. In the face of their jeers however, Akuma remained ignorant. Around him, a kind of darkness became superimposed on the crowd and even the sky, blocking out everything. All that remained, was the mannequin before him, the sword in his hand, and his own figure.

Even the sound of the crowd dimmed, as Akuma focused his entire being in the fight to come. From Akuma’s perspective, nothing mattered or remained besides the mannequin. From the crowd’s perspective however, Akuma’s demeanor and feeling dramatically shifted. From a stoic and marine-like stance of utmost discipline, Akuma turned into something far fiercer and violent. A near palpable bloodlust that assaulted the crowd’s senses sprung forth and encompassed the rowdy crowd.

The change in demeanor even affected the mannequin.

Having sensed the violent intent of Akuma, the Mannequin no longer waited. Instead, wooden legs carried the Mannequin forward in a quick darting movement as its simple sword hung tight and poised to its side in preparation for a thrust.

Akuma, hobbling forward with steady steps, watched the Mannequin move. A sinful smile split his face as his golden eyes watched the Mannequin. He watched as the right foot of the mannequin overextended. As the mannequin’s center of balance dipped to the bottom right a few degrees. His eyes foresaw the sword strike that would weakly split the air in a poorly executed thrust. Before him, nothing was hidden.

As the Mannequin closed the distance and struck out with a viper-like thrust to Akuma’s upper chest, Akuma’s feebly walking form transformed as the killing intent billowing in him swept outwards.

His sword flew from the sheath, the pommel striking and knocking the Mannequin’s sword off-target. Overextended and defenseless, Akuma’s sword brutally stabbed forward in a series of crisp and devastating strikes

You dealt a Critical attack: - 8 HP

Your blow has Stunned the target stunned for 1 seconds

You dealt a Devastating attack: - 11 HP

Your blow has Stunned the target stunned for .75 seconds

You dealt a Devastating attack: - 10 HP

Your blow has Stunned the target stunned for .5 seconds

You dealt a Devastating attack: - 10 HP

Your blow has Stunned the target stunned for .5 seconds

You dealt a Devastating attack: - 11 HP

Your blow has Stunned the target stunned for .5 seconds

As the Mannequin’s health fell from 50 HP to reach 0 HP, it slumped down and ‘died’. As it did, the darkness that Akuma placed on his senses also slowly vanished. As his sense of sight and hearing came back in full bloom, Akuma watched satisfied as the gathered crowd of hundreds of players all looked upon his form dumbfoundedly.

“W-what? How did he kill the Mannequin so quickly?”

“Dude, what the fuck! He was playing us the whole time with that grandpa act. I can’t believe I fell for it and lost 10 coppers on the bet.”

“Did you see his moves? It looked....almost like he’s actually killed someone before.”

Whispers turned to shouts and then jeers as people once more began yelling at Akuma. This time though, there were a number of cheers in his name to offset the accusations of cheating or ‘conning’ the other players to lose their bets.

“What a fine show boy’o! What a fine show!” As Akuma separated himself from the Mannequin, Gronk came forward with a peep in his step and a constant shaking of his shoulders in excitement. “Truly, I picked a student that is able to learn so well from myself. Now! Do you wish to continue and fight the next Mannequin for a chance at a greater reward? What you just killed was the Beginner Mannequin, but the Intermediate Mannequin will be harder.”

Breaking free from Gronk’s enthusiastic hand clapping on his shoulder, Akuma, only gave a simple nod to show he wanted to fight. With a grin that split his scarred face, Gronk clapped his hands happily together as he sauntered off towards a gathering of other AI Instructors.

Immediately after his foot left the Arena, a flash of change appeared where the resting Mannequin laid. As the pale light died, it revealed a bulkier Mannequin decked in chain-mail and some plated armour that covered its chest and parts of its legs. With a saunter of a person, the Mannequin stepped forward and drew its longsword with one hand, directly pointing it at Akuma in a challenge.

As Akuma saw his opponent, a fire hidden deep in his eyes ignited. Smoldering eyes that turned his golden irises into scorching suns drilled into the Mannequin. Facing the foe, Akuma’s tongue wet his lips as the thrill of battle once more called to him. Steps, slow and hobbled, impacted on the dirt floor of the Trial Arena as Akuma moved towards the Mannequin that stood firmly and readily in place.

Each step brought the self-inflicted darkness of senses to descend, leaving only a 150 foot radius of vibrant life and light around him. In this zone of 150 feet, Akuma was God. Hyperaware senses told him of the shift in air, the sound of a butterfly flying 30 feet behind him, the smell vibrant life that littered the area. This ‘Domain’ was merely one of the reason why Akuma was so renowned in the CSA. While others could perform the same trick, none could do it to the degree of Akuma. None could sacrifice that much of themselves, their senses, like Akuma could and still remain sane.

In this Domain, Akuma powered forward as he finally reached the armoured Mannequin. Longsword still raised in challenge, the Mannequin awaited Akuma. In response, he stepped closer, bringing his own [ Crude Sword ] forward to settle on the Mannequins own. Together, they remained in that position, locking eyes and sharing an appreciation for their opponent.

Then, the peace was shattered.

In a whirlwind strike, the mannequin kicked out with one leg to force back Akuma as it rotated its body around in a fierce twist that brought its longsword whistling through the air. The the steel longsword that glinted under the mana infused lamps, split the fresh and chilly pine air as it rotated a full 360 degrees. Instead of striking an off-guard opponent, the sword merely brushed past open air. Confusion, as much as possible on its wooden and fixed face, appeared on the Mannequin’s human-like visage as its opponent disappeared. From behind the Mannequin however, Akuma, silent and deadly like death itself, reaped the life of the Mannequin with surgical precision.

You dealt a Critical attack: - 8 HP

Your blow has wounded the target, causing a Bleed for 10% of initial attack

You dealt a Devastating attack: - 10 HP

Your blow has Stunned the target stunned for .5 seconds

You dealt a Devastating attack: - 13 HP

Your blow has Stunned the target stunned for .5 seconds

You dealt a Devastating attack: -12 HP

..................................

..................

......

Then, just as quickly as the flurry of attacks commenced, they halted. As still as a statue, Akuma paused in his assault before slowly reforming his composure. As he tidied his clothes and allow the sword to slide back into its sheath, Akuma turned his back on the now slumped and dead Mannequin.

Instead of satisfaction though at defeating the opponent, Akuma only felt resentment. Resentment at his weaknesses. Anger at an opponent that couldn’t push him. Dissatisfaction at not being able to live in the thrill of battle.

As these emotions swirled beneath the surface, Akuma let none of it show on his face. Instead, he barked out an order.

“The next difficulty.”

As the heated words filled with a hidden power rang in the air, the rowdy crowd settled down. Now, no one made any disparaging comments. Instead, they stood transfixed by the man before them. Watching his moves. His ability. Watching the show of true battle. Anticipation built like a wave as it surged through one person to another. Immediately, screams for fighting and blood ignited as the crowd demanded for the fight to commence.

They didn’t have to wait long.

Once more, the pale flash of light encompassed the armoured Mannequin. As it faded though, a new scene appeared. Two Mannequins now stood across the Trial Arena. One, donned in additional plated armour that covered its head, legs, chest, and arms, strutted forward as it placed its gladius in a defensive position. Behind it, stood a giant of a Mannequin, reaching a little more than 7 feet tall. Unlike the first, only chainmail covered its figure. However the two-handed hammer in its hands showed the true threat of the duo lay in its appearance. One in front, one behind. Both, creatures designed to smash any opponents into the ground and show them their place in this new world.

It could only be said to be ill-fated then, that they met Akuma. For before Gronk even spoke the words to initiate battle, Akuma moved. His steps, quicker and more sure than before, graced his feet with movement across the Trial Arena. It didn’t take long for the Mannequin duo to move in tune and dart across the ground with clunky steps. As they closed, the hammer Mannequin slowed for a gap to appear before it and the Mannequin before it. Once Akuma struck the first Mannequin, the hammer one would follow up with a devastating attack that would allow its brethren to join the fight and kill their challenger. However, it was not to be.

Stepping forward into the first Mannequin’s attack, Akuma parried the strike and allowed the force of the blow to accelerate his own sword to lodge itself in the Mannequin’s neck.

You have dealt a Ruthless attack: -8 HP

Your blow has wounded the target, causing a Bleed for 10% of initial attack

Instead of pulling the weapon free though, it remained lodged in place as the Mannequin gripped the sword’s keen edge with his hand and forcefully restrained the blade. Shock bloomed in Akuma’s eyes as he bore the smug-look that the wooden Mannequin tried to give him. In turn however, Akuma bared his teeth in a fanged smile. Attached at the sword, Akuma nibbly turned his body and threw himself towards the ground. With his body hanging by the sword that was attached to the Mannequin, Akuma strained with his 15 Strength and sent the Mannequin off-balance. Off-balance and tumbling directly into the path of the second Mannequin’s immense hammer. Tracking the steel forged weapon with the appreciation that a practitioner of weapons should hold, Zero watched as the brick of finely crafted metal struck the first Mannequin. With a sundering and deafening blow, the hammer carrened through the first Mannequin, fully lifting it off the ground and sending it skidding a few feet away. More than just demolishing his own partner though, the hammer Mannequin also freed Akuma.

With his sword free and one opponent out of the picture, Akuma brought his frenzy to bear. Nimble steps carried Akuma behind the dazed and shocked hammer Mannequin. Two quick slashes ruptured his foe’s achilles tendon, bringing the mountain of a Mannequin to head level with Akuma. It was all he needed. With the ferocity that left the crowd gawking in awe, Akuma unleashed his skill, [Heavy Strike], and a torrent of basic attacks

[Heavy Strike] dealt an attack: -12 HP

You dealt an attack: -7 HP

You dealt a Critical attack: -10 HP

Your blow has wounded the target, causing a Bleed for 10% of initial attack

You dealt a Ruthless attack: - 9 HP

Your blow has prolonged the Bleed effect for 1 seconds

You dealt a Ruthless attack: - 9 HP

Your blow has prolonged the Bleed effect for 1 seconds

You dealt a Critical attack: -8 HP

Your blow has Stunned the target for .75 seconds

[Heavy Strike] dealt a Devastating Attack: -23 HP

You dealt a Critical attack: -11 HP

Your blow has Stunned the target for .5 seconds

As the Mannequin's health dropped from 100 to 0, it kneeled in submission towards Akuma who stepped away from the defeated enemy. Silence reigned as the crowd of players and NPCs stood numb at the display of dazzling swordsmanship. It....it looked so easy. In all but five seconds, Akuma had shredded through an enemy that would’ve made the rest of the players look like children playing at battle. Which was what they were.

Akuma was a fighter though. A killer. A champion. It was evident in the way he carried himself. In the slow and easy steps he struggled to take that brought him and the remaining Mannequin together. In the whirl of his sword that acted as a Siren’s call, one to tear men’s souls apart and send them to Hades. There was no wasted movement as he struck once more. Slow this time, parrying and defending rather than attacking. It was almost more terrifying than the previous display against the hammer Mannequin. It was like a joke, a game to him, facing an opponent that could tear apart a dozen normal players. But those cold eyes that burned with a golden heat and the canine grin that flitted in and out of existence spoke of a deadly seriousness. Of a joy for combat that could be seen in every action he took.

Sadly, for both the crowd and Akuma, his opponent was but a cripple before Akuma’s power. In only 30 seconds of mocking swordplay, the first Mannequin’s health dwindled down to 0 and ended the fight. As the Mannequin fell to its knee to offer its submission to a worthier foe, the crowd too watched in respectful silence. It was not that didn’t want to speak, but rather that they couldn't. The skill, the ease of victory, the demeanor of the man they mocked. It suffocated them as the blinds on their eyes were removed to allow them to see greatness. But while they stood deaf and dumb, another voice spoke.

“Hahaha! Good boy’o! Good my boy. Very good.” Darting across the Trial Arena with a surprising speed, Gronk moved to face Akuma. On his scarred and grizzly face, eyes of dazzling joy and cheshire smile told of his appreciation towards Akuma. “To finish the Advanced difficulty with such skill, such bluster and poise! Truly, my keen eyes have not betrayed me in finding such a suitable candidate for the Order of the Warrior. But...” he paused and showed a toothy grin to Akuma, “do you want another challenge? The Advanced difficulty may be hard, but there is one more of true challenge. One, that only the best may test their strength against. So, what say you? Interested in the Nightmare difficulty?”

While the crowd was mulling over the words and whispering to each other about them, Akuma’s voice broke through their chaotic voices.

“And what do I get if I win?”

The sentence, so simple and spoken in an offhand manner, contained a domineering attitude of absolute victory. As if this entire trial was nothing but a warm-up. Not only was the crowd stupefied by the words, but even Gronk paused as his eyes glinted in a strange lit as he heard those words.

“Hehehehe...” A fit of coughing choked Gronk’s laughing as he pounded his chest with his fist before addressing Akuma. “Well Boy’o, you’ll have to win to find out. But, it should be most...enticing.”

A twitch of a smile lifted Akuma’s lips, as the thrill and call for battle pounded his heart faster and faster. Eyes like the sun emblazoned gloriously as Akuma pulled free his sword. He would end this quickly, but not too quickly. Where would be the fun in that. Afterall...it was a game...