Chapter 8
Rimuru was spending most of his day with Snek and his children. He was trying to get a better understanding of himself as well as what he should do with his life. However he found himself opening up to Snek and explained that he wanted to try something. "I want to take up martial arts like my dad… but don't know where to start…" he said.
They were in the middle of a hunt. Rimuru remained in his human form as Snek and his kids hunted as serpents. Although it would appear chaotic to the naked eye, it was rather not. Snek's four children were toying around with the monster threats at hand. Pythan in particular kept egging them on to try and strike him. "Come on I've seen turtles snap faster than you punch!"
Snek sat out the battle to speak with Rimuru. "Martial arts huh? Well, you can always do something that your father did… but don't go to the same extreme."
"Oh?"
"You dad has something called genius combatant skills. He can fight someone who has a far different style of martial arts than him, yet during the battle he will pick up the technique of it and learn and use it against his opponent, he knocked over a lot of dojos back in the day, forced his way in, made them fight him and then decimated the place."
Rimuru froze to the news. "Oh… I never knew…"
"That was back when he was young and stupid… now he's just stupid from time to time. Good thing your mother keeps him in check."
He snickered to that but then thought it over. "So… I should go to a dojo and see if perhaps they will train me?"
Snek nodded. "You can start by asking your dad. He knows something calls fists of flowing water…"
"I don't want him involved." Rimuru confessed. "Honestly, I want to try and surprise him with this. Besides, Tempest needs his help far more than me. I want to do this one my own too."
"Good luck with that kid. If I had legs, I would teach you biting snake fist combat…"
"Dad… they're all dead!" called Bo. "This isn't as much fun as it use to be…"
Snek smirked as his kid managed to take down a small legion of monsters on their own. "Perhaps one of these guys could help you train, or Drax but he's getting busy again too!"
"Thanks for the advice. I'll figure something out." With that Rimuru decided to walk about and see the cities. Perhaps he can get a better understanding as to what he could learn and from who. He would even talk to Lightning Max on ideas as well, he is a martial artist too!
He strolled through city U on his own, yet paused when he saw Iaian and the swordsmen. "IAIAN!" he called.
The swordsmen stopped and smiled. "Rimuru! Look a you, you really grew!" Iaian said and smirked. "What brings you out here? We're on patrols."
"Trying to figure something out. I want to take up martial arts but don't want my dad to know. I want to surprise him, also be certain I can DO martial arts too…"
"Then speak with master Bang!" said Bushidrill.
"Master Bang?"
"He trained Garou," explained Iaian. "However, you maybe better off asking his brother, Bomb to teach you first or at least point you in the right direction."
"Thank you… where do I find him?"
"Bomb if I am not mistaken has a Dojo in City Z as well, but on the opposite side of Bang's dojo… the mountain where you live. Ask around and I am sure someone will point you in the right direction." Said Bushidrill.
Rimuru smiled as he rushed back home. He was in City Z in little time and found a library with a map to the city, he was able to find Bomb's dojo. But he wondered if he would accept someone like him…
#
It was on a mountain just as high as the one that hid his house! However Rimuru was determined to go and see Master Bomb and learn something. He ascended the stairs until he found a rather large dojo at the top of the mountain, full of students all training hard. Rimuru walked in and soaked it all in, people young and old, big and small, men and women were all here to train, yet the exercise alone appeared rather basic in his eyes. But, they were all doing it together and in sync of each other.
"Can I help you?"
He froze to the stern voice. Rimuru paused as he turned and came face to face with a rather young looking martial artist. "I… I came to speak with master Bomb if he is willing to meet with me."
The man looked him over and yet sighed aloud. "Amai, if you need to train for a role, I suggest you take your notion elsewhere…"
The students suddenly froze. "Amai? Amai Mask!?" they began to whisper.
Yet as the man walked by him, Rimuru protested, "I am not Amai Mask!" he said defiantly. "My name is Rimuru Brawler, and I wish to learn martial arts!"
The man froze, slowly he turned around again and looked him dead in the eyes. "Rimuru Brawler?" he asked rather curiously.
Rimuru bowed before him. "Please, I wish to learn, I have no knowledge or experience in martial arts but I wish to know more. I may not be ready for this dojo. I… just need direction please."
He didn't raise his head, he couldn't until he was given an answer.
"Students, please continue on with your training, I need to speak with this young man alone."
He felt a gentle hand come on to his back. "Rise, and come with me."
Rimuru slowly stood once more as he followed the man out of the dojo and around the back. When he came to a stop the man began to stare at him oddly. "You claim you are not Amai Mask, yet you look like him."
He turned away rather embarrassed. "I… Uh… Sir… I can explain that, but I really am not Amai…"
"Oh I believed that the moment you said it. Had you been him, he would have tried to charm his way to me if he needed something, also, Amai never asks for help on anything! Now then, Rimuru is it? What are you hoping to gain from all this?"
"Purpose sir, in fact. I wanted to be more like my father, Garou. But… I don't know if I have the talent for it…" As Rimuru peered up to see this strange man, he suddenly found himself dodging an attack!
The man was striking without warning or provocation!
He was fast, that was certain, and yet Rimuru was just fast enough to see the strike coming and avoid them. He went on for ten minutes until the man stopped. He was curious now. "You had many chances to strike back at me, why didn't you?"
Rimuru was surprised. "Well… you see sir… I don't really know how. Also, I don't quite have my own strength… mine does come from my real father, and if I call upon it, I could really hurt someone. Maybe even kill them." He explained.
"Ah, I see… Hmm…" he man fell silent before nodding his head. "I want you to return here, as often as you can. I will call up some friends of mine to train you. I have a feeling that it won't be simple for you to find someone to help you learn, especially with an appearance like yours."
He paused. "Really? Sir… thank you… but… why go the extra mile to help me?"
He shrugged. "I am merely curious to see how much of Garou is in you," he said with a smirk. "And it's Master Bomb."
Rimuru smiled as he bowed once more. "Thank you Master Bomb! I do ask, please, do not tell anyone of my training."
"I don't go out much anyway, so it won't be an issue. Can you come by tomorrow?"
Rimuru nodded his head with great excitement.
