Chapter 19: "New"

4000 years

A number that means everything to those that have dedicated their lives to perfecting chinese martial arts. It is how long they have existed, and how long people have tried to perfect them.

They tried everything. They tried imitating animals, they tried sculpting unbreakable bodies, they tried dominating instinct. Whatever could work to reach that elusive perfect form, the form known as "true strength", they tried.

But for some reason, despite trying and evolving for over 4000 years, not one person could confidently say that chinese martial arts were "complete". As a matter of fact, no martial art in existence could confidently be said to be "complete". No matter how old or how comprehensive.

Why was that?

Kaku wondered for so long, but could never understand the reason.

Until Raine created something new, and the answer became obvious.

"~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~"

Jyaku heard a whistle through the air. It was obvious that Raine was doing it, but there was an odd… something about it. Jyaku felt… off. He looked around to see if anything had happened, but nothing seemed to change. Raine was exactly where they were before. Jyaku became concerned. Clearly, they had done something, but he couldn't figure out what.

He decided to start on the offensive, whatever they had done, it was always a bad idea to wait and see what would happen.

He went in to attack Raine. His fist landed square in their face, sending them flying, blood spilling everywhere from their nose. A clean downwards kick smashed Raine's head into the floor. They were laid on the floor, not getting up, the ground cracked where the impact took place.

"FIGHT OVER! THE WINNER IS JYAKU FOR THE HUMANS!"

Everyone cheered Jyaku's name, celebrating his victory. He had won this fight.

Right?

Why did he feel… off?

"Well, you son of a bitch! You really are as good as they say!"

"Huh?"

Behind him stood none other than the Ogre himself, Yujiro Hanma.

"I knew from the day I saw at the Raitai that you were really strong!"

"Uhhh… th-thanks? But I lost that day, didn't I?"

"AHH, that's nothing! Retsu just got a lucky hit in! It doesn't count!"

Lucky hit?

Since when does Yujiro talk like that? Wouldn't he be the first to dismiss such a thing as a pathetic excuse?

"Mr. Jyaku!"

"Huh?... Baki?"

"You are amazing! Please, make me your student!"

….

….

….

….

Ah

I see

…

So that's what happened

This is good

Too good to be true

When something this good happens

…

Jyaku laid unconscious on the ground, his face caved in by Raine's foot.

It's usually a dream

Raine backed up, preparing for anything just in case. But Jyaku did not stand up.

Everyone was silent. Then a judge walked in. He checked Jyaku for a few minutes, confirming that he was indeed, out of commission.

"… Fight over! The winner is Raine Whispers for the witches!"

Raine collapsed, it was over. Everyone who had witnessed the fight was speechless. No one could even begin to comprehend what had happened.

Midway through the fight, Jyaku suddenly started to fight… nothing. He started to throw punches and kicks to no one, and even started to talk to no one. In that window of opportunity, Raine stepped forward and beat his face in as hard as they could. Slamming him into the ground and pounding with their foot until they could be sure he was unconscious.

Out of nowhere, the fight had become completely one-sided, and Jyaku had lost. They were all confused, and some were amazed.

A massive man made his way through the crowd and approached Raine. He stared them down, with an aura of elegance and might that no one could ignore.

"… Congratulations"

"… Thank you…"

"That was impressive, young one. The hypnosis technique is quite advanced; you really are the genius Kaku said you were."

"It was mostly magic, it's not THAT impressive"

"An illusion that isn't believable is useless. If an opponent can figure out the lie instantly, you just wasted time. The hypnosis technique is more than just the illusion, you need to match timing and circumstance to truly trap your opponent in a play of their own making. Just using magic to make it easier is not nearly enough. You may choose to believe my words or not, but allow be to repeat myself: You really are the genius Kaku said you were."

"… Thank you, Dorian Kaioh"

Dorian smiled

"… I expect great things from you, Whispers Kaioh"

"Ka-! I'm flattered, but I haven't yet earned-!"

"You have as far as I'm concerned"

Dorian took his leave, and Raine was left pondering the long road ahead. A road toward perfecting their martial arts skills… or perhaps, that was incorrect to think.

As Kaku had said the first time he saw this magic hypnosis technique:

"Perhaps the reason no one has truly completed any martial art is because a martial art that is "complete" can no longer evolve. And a martial art that cannot evolve is useless. So, by their nature, martial arts will never be complete."