Battle Master's Class

Disclaimer: I do not own the Sekirei anime nor the manga. Only the OC here is mine.

Chapter IV: Final Test

The next day came as the students of the Battle Master made their way to the designated spot for what would be their final test. All five prepared to face their teacher who told them he was going to hold nothing back against them in a 1v5 battle and that they'd better come at him like their lives depended on it.

Most people from the outside would think the one fighting these five powerful aliens was insane and well they'd be partially correct as Neon Cross wasn't and still isn't a sane man due to what he's had to deal with in life. However, those who knew this man and what he's capable of would say otherwise that this wasn't a big deal for him and if anything the ones fighting him better bring their A-game or else they're going to end up in the ICU or as ashes.

Miya had her usual expressionless face but internally she was excited to see the man's full power and see how she'd fare against it. Karasuba had a bloodthirsty grin on as she wanted to prove her strength and against a super soldier like this man with his full power this was the perfect chance to do so. Mutsu, Kazehana and Matsu were somewhat nervous but none the less steadfast in impressing their teacher and proving to him that he didn't waste his time training them.

The five arrived at the designated spot where their teacher awaited them. Minaka, Takehito and Takami a good distance away, were also there to watch this battle. Both groups are interested in seeing Neon's combat abilities and the result of his students' training, though more of the former in Minaka's case. Takehito though was worried about Miya but steeled himself knowing her and the others got this.

Sitting on the sand in seiza position ahead of them with his eyes closed is the man in question in his black with red striped armored body suit, red gauntlets and greaves, his black hair is tied in a ponytail and a sheathed sword behind his waist. All five went tense at the intense, chaotic aura Neon projected which was completely different from his usual tranquil one. The three scientists felt this too even from their position.

"Good. You're here." Neon said as his crimson red eyes opened rooting the five Sekirei to the spot. He stood up and extended his right hand to the side and to the amazement of everyone watching a crimson red nodachi materialized in his hand before placing it over his shoulder. "Like I told you yesterday, this is your final test and I'm going all out against you. Rule's simple: you win if you 'somehow' make me surrender, you knock me out or one more method that you'll have to figure out yourselves. This whole island's our playground, and while you're at it be sure to entertain me. Now bring it on!"

"I already got one and it's to take you out in one go!" Karasuba dashed right at the super soldier intent on doing exactly as she said.

The others saw Neon's eyes narrow at this and were not surprised at the outcome. Karasuba's attack got repelled throwing her off balance and Neon kicked her away hard back to her brethren where she rolled on the ground before stopping in front of them.

"And like that you epically fail. Try again." Neon deadpanned.

"We all saw that coming." Kazehana said.

"True and we got nothing useful out of that." Matsu sighed.

"Shut up!" Karasuba yelled in annoyance.

Miya saw the ease at which Neon handled Karasuba's frontal attack. Such an obvious attack would fail against him. The bloodthirsty one should have known that. Her eyes widened as Neon vanished from her sight which the others also took notice of immediately drawing out her sword. "Be on guard everyone." She ordered.

(Play 'Dark Aggressive Rap Instrumental - Hip-Hop ''Violent'' (KabuzBeatzTV))

Everyone immediately had their weapons and powers at the ready while Matsu stayed beside Miya, all on high alert.

"Where the hell is he?! Don't tell me he's being a coward!" Karasuba yelled impatiently.

"Right here." A cold voice said making everyone look around. Kazehana managed to sense the displacement in the air from above and managed to spot the incoming danger. "Above us!" She yelled out.

Thanks to the warning, the team of five managed to spot a grinning Neon coming down at them like a rocket with a flaming aura around him in time before all of them leaped out of the way, breaking away from each other as Neon made a fiery and explosive impact with the ground followed by a fiery shockwave that would have taken them out if they had been any slower. A hot, sandy haze was left in the wake of that attack.

"T-That was close! That would have obliterated us all." Matsu commented in terror.

"No duh! Sensei did make it clear he was going out." Kazehana deadpanned.

"Keep your guard up everyone. He's coming." Miya warned.

A figure then moved out of the haze and dashed right at Matsu, luckily for her Mutsu managed to get in the way and block the dangerous overhead swing that intended to slice her in half. The male sekirei gritted his teeth as he defiantly stared and fought back at the bloodthirsty Neon who was pushing down on him.

"Y-You okay Matsu?" Mutsu managed to ask.

"Y-Yeah, t-thanks Mutsu." The spectacled red hair managed to reply after barely seeing her life flash before her eyes.

Neon breaks the deadlock before leaping away from Miya's thrust attack at his side, then he proceeded to block a trio of slashes from an angry Karasuba before rolling under the fourth attack and flipping over Miya's slash and soon landing behind Kazehana who was more than aware of his presence and quickly unleashed a burst of wind to blow him away from her. Mutsu followed up with a thrust which Neon parried to the side before he lashed out with a spin kick that sent Mutsu flying smack into Kazehana. Neon then rushed right at the panicking Matsu but was blocked by Miya this time. He broke away from the deadlock before raising his sword again to block Karasuba's attacks. The duo continued to attack and defend with Karasuba getting countered with quick cuts on her body and Neon getting hit with nothing. Neon's nodachi then ignited and he unleashed a huge fiery slash that Karasuba barely avoided getting hit by forcing her to leap away while a wall of fire was left.

Watching from behind the fiery wall Neon spotted his students regrouping and made a quick assessment. The squad had shown brief flashes of teamwork and covering for the others, but some still clearly wanted to do it all by themselves. Well one of them. Still, he wasn't entertained enough. He wanted more.

The students, however, were wondering what to do next.

"We're getting nowhere! How are we supposed to beat him?!" Mutsu complained.

"We just keep attacking and we'll get him. Not like he can do this forever." A bloodied Karasuba said as her wounds were healing up.

"Oh? And how has been working? In case you forgot, sensei has next to infinite stamina, so yes, that's a genius idea." Kazehana sarcastically stated much to Karasuba's annoyance.

"Haaa?! I suppose you have a better idea then?" She sneered back.

"How about you two shut up and pay attention to our opponent?!" Miya ordered while on guard.

"You are starting to bore me."They all heard Neon say, "In that case I'll be dropping the guillotine on this farce of a fight!"

"He's coming!" Matsu warned.

"Like that's not obvious!" Karasuba deadpanned.

The sekirei watched as the wall of fire gathered into Neon's nodachi which he now held two-handed and with one swing sent a huge stream of fire at them shocking the spectators. Unlike the first time, Mutsu responds by stomping the ground and erecting a large earth wall which blocks the attack and slightly impresses Neon as a dust cloud blocks his field of vision.

"That's a start." He said, anticipating an attack and he was correct when he heard something coming at him from above before glancing up and there falling like a fiery meteor was Miya, sword poised to strike. He jumped out of the way just in time to avoid the attack, but the shockwave clouded the area and sent his body sprawling to the side. He managed to stop his impromptu flight but was interrupted by a slab of earth that had sprung out of the ground and smacked him in the jaw, making him reel back. His pain didn't end as a blast of air cannoned into his body, sending him sky high towards a grinning Karasuba. Quickly regaining his wits, he urgently brought his nodachi back up to block the sword. He blocked but she pushed forward to follow through with her swing. With no way to balance his weight since he was still airborne, he was sent careening into the ground, rolling around until another rock protrusion forced him back into the air. A final blast of air hit him from above and directed him to the unforgiving ground where he cratered it.

"Ow." Neon let out while lying flat in the crater. The sand did a great job of minimizing the damage, but it did not do much to lessen the pain. He looked over at the sekirei and noticed Matsu sending him a satisfied grin. He also grinned back at her in acknowledgement of their well executed team attacks. 'Not bad.' He thought.

"That went well. I didn't think it'll work but it did." Kazehana complimented.

"Good plan Matsu. That was an effective series of attacks." Miya added.

"Hopefully that ends it." Mutsu said.

Loud laughter was heard, and it was coming from their sensei who was standing up from the ground while black flames swirled around him. Much to their shock the black flames were healing the damage they'd inflicted on him.

"Spoke too soon." Mutsu sighed.

""Uh, guys? Is it just me or are the flames healing him?" Matsu called out in panic.

"No, we can all see it Matsu." Karasuba answered just as bewildered.

"That's good. That means I'm not losing my mind."

Laughter continued but this time it turned maniacal and then downright psychotic setting them all on edge.

"Uh, has Neon-sensei lost his mind?" Kazehana asked this time.

"No." Miya answered with narrowed eyes, "If anything, this fight is about to get more difficult."

The psychotic grin on Neon's face was more than enough to confirm that for her.

"That was good. Glad you all managed to incorporate teamwork with that combination attack. No doubt orchestrated by Matsu." Neon said, "Let's turn it up."

Karasuba, being the impatient battle mistress that she is, charged at Neon. She had her pride wounded by him continuously dodging and countering her, and she felt that she was starting to get used to his speed. Her sword drew a line in the sand as she slashed upwards. Neon again parried with his nodachi one handed with ease, his psychotic grin present on his face. She stuck again and again in hopes that one strike would slip by his guard. When all her strikes were deflected, she stepped back to lure him into relaxing and lunged and with all her might. Again, that sword parried her attack and this time she got rewarded with a punch to her chest that nearly caved her chest in and a flaming kick to her side that nearly snapped her in two. She gasped in pain, and she stumbled a few steps backwards to try and regain her bearings.

'What the hell?!' She thought. Those were much harder than his other strikes so far. She also noticed burn marks on her chest and side. He was definitely serious about upping the ante and she was willing to bet that it was going to get worse if she got anymore careless. She collected the blood that came to her mouth before spitting it out. She settled into a neutral stance and held her blade in front of her. It was taking her a bit longer than she liked, but she was definitely getting better at reacting to his speed.

Neon chuckled but said nothing as wisps of black fire swirled around him before he disappeared from her field of vision. He appeared in the air behind her head, his foot already in motion to hit her skull. Karasuba felt the displacement in the air and ducked before twisting and swiping where she believed he would be. Though nothing was there when she turned around, she smirked. That was the first time she truly dodged him. A small sense of achievement filled her.

She searched for his position and noticed him behind Mutsu and Miya.

"Watch out!" Karasuba shouted.

She paused. When did she become the type of person that worried about others?

Normally she wouldn't have cared what happened to the others but now the thought of harm coming to her siblings worried her especially with the damage she took earlier. Though it was faint, there was a feeling of distress at her sibling's ambush. This feeling was too new to her, too kind. She suppressed it as well as she could and prepared to attack the black man again.

As she closed the distance between her and the others, she saw them react to her warning. Miya was quick enough to dodge his kick, but Mutsu was not ready for his attacker. He blocked the flaming slash aimed for his chest, but that left him open for the powerful flaming punch to the temple that put him in a crater. Even from her distance she could see the blood gush from his mouth and feel the power of that punch too. With Mutsu dealt with, Neon ran at Kazehana, who showed a surprising amount of flexibility and dexterity as she evaded most of his flaming blows. She blasted a bit of air towards the ground to create space and push him back. Since she was more in touch with the air than the others, she easily felt him appear to her side and blasted a wall of wind in his direction. However, she didn't expect him to respond with a flaming kick on the wind wall which caused an explosion that sent her flying towards the ground. She rolled on the ground until she managed to come to a stop just as Karasuba caught up to them.

"Did you actually just try to help us Karasuba?" Kazehana asked as she regained her footing, her entertained tone agitating Karasuba.

"Yes, she did. That was out of character for her." Miya said.

Karasuba almost looked embarrassed while she sneered at the two girls. "Don't get used to it. I'm the only one that is to kill you all, not him so I prevented him from robbing me of that. Besides his attacks really hurt."

"That much is clear from the burn marks on you." Miya pointed out.

Their moment didn't last long as they heard Matsu scream and then someone grunt. They looked up to see Matsu behind a barely recovered Mutsu who was in a deadlock with Neon. The male sekirei then smirked before stomping the ground and rock spikes came out at his opponent forcing them to back off to avoid being skewered. He immediately dodged a sword thrust aimed to his chest and countered with a slash to Miya's exposed back but was intercepted by Karasuba blocking that. A ball of air came from the side and pushed him back.

With a scoff he lashed out with a blazing slash that forced the rushing Miya and Karasuba back stopping them from their follow up.

(End song)

"This is getting even better." Neon stated in amusement, "Most of all you managed to get my blood burning which hasn't happened in a long time and for that I'll reward you all."

He then stabbed his weapon into the ground, crossed him arms and then unleashed a deafening roar as a flame pillar erupted around him. A few minutes later the flame pillar dissipates and in its place is a dark fiery humanoid with long black hair that reaches his waist, red eyes, clawed hands and feet, its body emitting wisps of fire that swirled around them.

"What the hell is that?!" Takami asked in shock. Takehito and even Minaka too were shocked and stunned at the sight.

The five sekirei are wide eyed and shocked at what's in front of them.

"What the hell?!" Kazehana yelled.

"Clearly a monster." Mutsu answered.

"W-We're so d-dead now!" Matsu panicked. "H-How are w-we s-supposed to beat that?"

"Why are you asking?! You're the genius!" Karasuba sneered.

"Doesn't mean I have the answer to everything!"

(Play 'Observation Room' (Ugo Vite Remix) by Ugo Vite)

Miya felt an unknown emotion at the sight of this new form of Neon's. Unlike earlier where she felt overjoyed that he was going all out at them and was able to handle her and the others' onslaught. He definitely was living up to his nickname even if he didn't care for it, so her ability demanded that they only produce their best effort. However, she also felt rather off put that he had handled her attacks without much of an effort. While she and the others did get close many times, they'd only been able to land at most a scratch. Even when their combination attack landed it only riled him up and made him up the ante once more.

Now this new emotion was an unpleasant feeling that told her that she and the others were in a very dangerous situation that they may not come out of unscathed. Best-case scenario they'll be badly wounded but alive and worst-case scenario, they'll be charred corpses or ashes in the wind.

It was fear. Fear that she and the others could actually die here, and she hated it.

She couldn't let that happen! She couldn't let it end here!

"It doesn't matter what form you take! I'll still bring about your demise!"

Miya almost facepalmed as a bloodthirsty woman rushed past her. Did Karasuba not understand what she was dealing with?!

The answer was clear when she saw Karasuba swing at their sensei multiple times, and he evaded them with even greater ease than before. He then sidestepped her eighth slash before a burning slash landed on her exposed back and an explosion followed resulting in Karasuba flying and landing with her head in the sand, some of her clothes burnt, her ass tooted up and smoking.

'That bloodthirsty idiot!' Miya thought. She ended those when the flaming entity closed in on her with a powerful slash. She reacted on time and blocked the attack which sent her flying back a good distance. She recovered well and looked up to see the entity blitz Matsu, getting hold of her neck before leaping and slamming her down explosively. She was left in a smoking crater twitching in agony. All to the shock of Miya, Mutsu and Kazehana.

"I-It h-hurts!" Matsu weakly let out. It was enough to get Miya out of her shock and begin to get back into the fight.

"Oh, don't worry, I'll happily end your pain." The transformed Neon said raising his sword to do so but was forced to jump away from earth spikes summoned by Mutsu who'd recovered quickly from his shock. More earth spikes and rock slabs were summoned which Neon continued dodging until wind blasts were added to the mix from Kazehana.

He then teleported right in her space and sent her even higher with a kick to the chin, followed by more fiery kicks keeping her airborne and sending her higher before she then felt hands on her waist and barely glanced at what seemed to be a vengeful look on his face and knew what was coming next.

'Oh shit!'

An explosive izuna drop later and Kazehana was also in a crater except headfirst in the ground up to her waist and out of the fight.

"That was for blasting me into the ground earlier." Neon said.

He then blitzed Mutsu, dodging the male sekirei's retaliatory slash and hit him with a left liver shot and followed with an overhand right to the temple that sent him crashing into his own rock slab he'd summoned earlier. It was then that Miya finally caught up and she was not happy at the aftermath.

"Now it's just you and me Miya." Neon stated. "Can you keep going?" He got an immediate answer when he had to block the slash going for his neck. "That would be a yes."

A violent and chaotic blade storm ensued as both Miya and Neon traded blows at high speeds much to the awe of the scientists who'd been watching the fight and the new audience involving the other staff and a new lone figure watching from much further away.

'She's only lasting this long because he's dragging it out for the fun of it.' The unknown figure mentioned.

Neon and Miya locked blades with the latter staring down the former who looked amused while she didn't share said amusement. The two then broke off and Miya stepped away and entered an iaijutsu stance while the other smirked at her.

"Oh? You wanna do an iaijutsu battle? I'm in." He too got into his own iaijutsu stance.

Everyone watched with anticipation as the two powerful entities on the island stood at the ready. Then a silenced go signal went off and Miya and Neon unleashed their attacks resulting in a huge explosion and a sonic boom going off. The crowd were lucky to be far enough that the shockwave from their attacks didn't reach them.

Miya however was seen flying before bouncing on the ground multiple times before she came to a stop on the ground. Grunting she managed to get to her feet using her sword for support and saw that her outfit was barely serviceable, and she had a lot of burn marks and cuts on her. She then spat out some blood.

Hearing the sound of clapping she looked up to see Neon still in his transformed form standing with sword in hand, black flames surrounding his form and healing from whatever damage she inflicted with her last attack.

"Wow! That actually did hurt." He said in amusement, "Not surprising when you used your ability and some of my own strength against me." Miya couldn't tell if he was really impressed, or he was just trolling her. "However, you played your last hand and now have nothing left."

Miya stubbornly assumed a fighting stance, not intending to give up yet. "You want to bet on that?"

"Ho?! You still have something? That's good." Neon said before getting in Miya's space. She swung a few times with him dodging them all before he swung and shattered her sword before he grabbed her by the neck and lifted her up. "Or were you just bluffing?"

Miya tried to break the grip on her neck but was not able to make her opponent's hand budge and she was gradually losing oxygen. Just before she blacked out Neon suddenly released her as his survival instincts kick in, drew out a ninjato sheathed behind his waist as he turned and thrusted his sword at the attacker, only to go wide eyed as Karasuba didn't dodge and let it lodge into her torso. She took advantage of his disbelief and slashed him across the chest. He stepped back and touched the wound on his chest that was healing up and saw his blood on it.

(End Song)

"What surprised? Didn't expect me to make you bleed?" Karasuba said, smugness coating her every word.

"Nah. I'm impressed that you even recovered and was able to actually get a hit on me, going as far as taking one from me to do so." Neon replied, "So you still want to keep going?"

"Of course…" Karasuba said before wiping more sand off her head, "I still want to get back at you for the times you humiliated me."

"Aren't you petty?" Neon quipped, "What of you Miya?"

Miya just responded by taking hold of the ninjato lodged in Karasuba's torso and gently pulled it out of her. "You should already know the answer to that." She then heard movement coming from her right as Mutsu walked up beside her bruised, wounded and all with his weapon in hand.

"Don't forget me. I'm not out yet." He stated with determination.

Same for us sensei!" Matsu yelled from above as she landed with Kazehana beside him. They were also bruised, scratched and a mess too especially Kazehana who still had sand in her hair.

Neon looked at the group and then powered down before smiling at them.

"Congrats you five you passed. You all did much better than expected." Neon addressed them surprising them all.

"Frankly I thought it was over when I upped the ante yet you're all still standing. You should be proud; it's only been a couple months and yet you've grown stronger and showed improvement from when I first met you before I agreed to start your training." His students looked on with pride at his praise. "Anyways make sure to get healed up and rested. You all deserve it."

"Um sensei, how did we pass?" Matsu asked for the group.

"You all survived." Neon answered, "Apart from a very select few, anyone else that tangoed with me would be dead within the first minute, yet you all lasted much longer. Ten minutes to be exact."

"I take it that was the hidden condition for this test." Miya added before tossing the ninjato back at the owner who caught and sheathed it away.

"Ever the insightful one Miya." Neon complimented, "Yes, you're correct. Sometimes you can win just by outlasting your opponent but it's not a go to way to win and the least advisable unless you know you can take what the opponent gives you. This goes for you Karasuba."

"Oh? In what way Neon?" Karasuba asked.

"While what you did managed to get you to land a hit, don't forget you only have one life. Once you die it's game over, unless you're lucky enough to be immortal or have insane regeneration. Still doesn't mean you bank on it." Neon spoke sternly, "You all may be superior to most humans on this planet it doesn't mean you get complacent as that kills even the strongest ones faster than any other weapon in existence."

"Speaking from experience?" Mutsu asked.

"Yes, and I hope to Kami that you all take this advice and not screw yourselves over. Anyways like I said get healed up and rested."

With that Neon walked off from them.

CHAPTER 4 END.

I'm back. It took a while for me to get back into it as the damn pandemic made me do more work as my job was considered essential services, not to mention I nearly lost my motivation to continue writing. Still glad to have finished this chapter and hopefully will use this to get back into the flow of writing and even finish Ghost Ashikabi too. As for songs used for the fight well the first one is from a Deontay Wilder highlights video on Youtube and the second one is a remix of the theme used by two characters Boro and Joker from Fighters Destiny, an underrated gem of a game.

Anyways leave a review, hopefully this will help me to make improvements and also stay safe everyone.