Chapter. 8 Progress and Leveling up
Author Notes- I do not own "The Loud House", "Kengan Ashura/Omeg" or "Baki" series.
This chapter is set up for the next test and conflict for Shion (Lincoln Loud). Sort of giving us a daily life for training, reflections and coming challenge that Shion (Lincoln Loud). Just to be clear, Shion (Lincoln Loud) learning TWO Martial Arts style from "Baki". From Kuroki Gensai/The Devil Lance, Lincoln study Kaiwan Style training methods and this inspires Shion (Lincoln Loud) to improve the Koei Style. Shion (Lincoln Loud) familiar with the Kaiwan Style, along with exercises that Kuroki Gensai trained to maintain or improve himself to become stronger.
Let's get to the chapter!
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Japan, The Island of Okinawa. Kuroki Gensai compound/land. Early morning…
Two men were training early morning! An older bearded man in black gi and a long white haired shirtless young man wearing brown pants with a dull yellow cord as belt. Both men were thrusting their arms into barrels, but using slightly different motions and technique!
Kssh! Kssh! Kssh! Kssh! The bearded man hands were Nukite, a thrusting motion in which the hands form as a spear from the Karate Martial Art! Continue to thrust into a barrel of blacken substance.
Swish! Crack! Swish! Crack! Swish! Crack! The white haired shirtless young man hand was doing a different motion. It was similar to Rakshasa Palm technique of the Koei Style. The force from the technique is transmitted from the back to the shoulders, the upper arms, then amplified and transformed into a powerful twisting blow by the spiral motion of the forearms. The difference was the focus point changing from the palm to…the finger tips! The user practicing this motion was increasing the lethality of already deadly technique, which the creator dubbed this new upgrade to Rakshasa Palm…the True Rakshasa Palm technique!
The bearded warrior was Kuroki Gensai, the Devil Lance, and reluctant tutor for young man training with him for two years.
The other young warrior was Shion, with his two years of studying Kuroki Gensai fighting technique and exercise the Kaiwan Style hand conditioning methods to already improve a deadly technique.
This was start of their daily exercises, just as dawn broke.
What were these two warriors plunging their hands into overwhelming dedication? The barrels contained…Iron! Iron that was once solid and becoming Iron Sand! The force and continuous training broke down the solid Iron into lesser grains over time and training, day in and out. Which the two men would have discard once the solid Iron became nothing but Iron Sand and begin the process all over again with solid form of Iron in the barrels…which they would then transform through there training methods back into Iron Sand.
A continuous and religious cycle of training…
After that hour of Partial Training, both Shion and Kuroki washed their hand and put Dita Da Jow or tiger balm. Dit Da Jow is an analgesic liniment traditionally preferred by martial artists. Often a martial arts master blends his own mixture of aromatic herbs such as myrrh and ginseng, which when combined are believed to stimulate circulation, reduce pain and swelling, and improve healing of injuries and wounds.
Kuroki Gensai and Shion both then went do their next set training.
For Kuroki Gensai, need to continue basic Muscle training design to condition his Kaiwan Style, sometimes make shifts weights to help develop resistant and strengthen certain muscles not used to the extra weight! Usual make shift weight and heavy Cattle Bell weights that fit in Kuroki Gensai palms and practice his grip or muscle control in his hands. This sort of weight training is extraordinary, given Kuroki Gensaki daily and routine Partial Training with withering down Iron in Barrels to make Iron Sand. Even with Dita Da Jow, it truly showed the determination and focus Gensai pushed his body to superhuman limits after decades of continuous and improving his training. Kuroki Gensai practice this Muscle training in a clearing where he usual store his weights to use from one side of compound.
For hour Kuroki Gensai would continue the Muscle Training…
As for Shion, his body was not built for endurance and extreme strength. Mostly, Shion body was built for speeds and burst of power that was unexpected from his build. The weights that Shion dealt with was only wearing custom weighted vest…at 68kg (150 lbs)! By wearing this weighted vest, Shion made his Cardio workout more difficult. For his daily work out, found hill with 7 to 10% steepness incline. Even more daunting was L-Drill or 3-Cone Dril exercise, designed by professional coach's and professional athletes to develop rapid change of direction, balance and speed! The total distance was 30-yards broken down into six 5-yards sprints for Shion to run. Cones were marked for Shion Sprint on this daunting incline and decline…Of course, Shion did not start with this extreme amount weights since training on Kuroki Gensai Compound, but built up over period of two years living with the Devil Lance. Adding the weight, hill training and exercise put major strain on Shion leg muscles. Going up and down the hill would be an incline and decline sprint…
Shion was breathing hard, in the middle of several of his sprints. Pushing himself with unseen opponent and imaging them blinking as his start of the Koei Style Blink technique. Looking up on the incline hill, Shion viewed all three cones as different people- Niko Tokita, Taira Gensan and Kiryu Setsuna.
Blink!The wind picked up fast, but Shion felt weigh down at his first turn. Blink! Fast with his turns and changing in direction. He had to be faster! Blink! Crack! The direct barely holding Shion feet to the ground, as his rapid turns create imprint of ball of his bare feet!Blink! Shion got past Kiryu image, with smirk on his face tell Shion 'Is that all you got?' provoking Shion to go faster! Blink! Next Shion saw the image of Taira Genzan and look of expectation of more coming from his body language and judgement from his eyes! Blink! Last came the image of Niko Tokita, with that ease going smile and it seem like Shion could hear his voice cheering him on 'Remember Gensai breathing exercises technique or it going to be harder!' Blink!Finishing the sprint, Shion slowly came down hill in a decline…Which was difficult with the 68kg (150lbs) of weight on his body coming from his vest.
If anyone were timing Shion on that run…the time would have been 4.58 seconds! 'So Fast!' would be what most professional athletes and coach's would admit of Shion skills and development in his insane training, while wearing 68kg(150lb) custom weighted vest to carry! They would wonder…how fast would Shion be without the weighted vest!?
The skill and training that Shion was displaying could have gain him much fame, wealth and endorsements in Public Sports, but that was not Shion goal.
Not enough! Yelled in Shion mind. Cursing himself on the indent of his bare foot spiral twisted a spiral fractured ground that he made in the ground by using Rakshasa Sol technique to quicken the turns, but leave a trail of where his feet landed…Shion was holding himself to standard of an Assassin and not a Martial Artist in that moment of training. No trail or evidence should be linked to Shion, which using the Koei Style would link back to him. A certain Martial Art Style, like a finger print, leaves evidence and a trail behind to connect the dots. Those that are determine or enemies that Shion might have made from the Assassination.
Shion always use this hill for his exercises to increase his speed and improve himself. Hill Sprints help improve Shion speed. Not to mention going to the local school tracks or using roads to help change directions with dynamic turns for his exercises. Just today, it happens to be L-Drills he working on for this morning.
After these L-Drill sprints on 7 to 10% hill, Shion did some core exercises. Planks, Side Planks, Bicycle Crunch's and Crunch's for the ground. Using the Tree branch's for hanging Shion also went to do Hanging Leg twist's, Hanging Knee Twist's, and Garhammer Raises…The blessing and relief Shion got at the end of this stretching out his body and drinking water. His recovery happens faster for each exercise because the Karate breathing techniques, Ibuki, which using training method and strong sounding hissing breathing those aids iKKn dynamic training or combat. It was not forced breathing! More like the breathing exercise focuses on measured and controlled pressure of the abdomen.
After that, both Shion and Gensai meant up to eat the most important meal of the day, breakfast!
The trained for hour, before they broke to start their breakfast…Miso soup, steamed White Rice and fermented soy bean with a choice of meat! The only difference was Kruoki Gensai had chicken as main dish, while Shion went with eel as his main dish.
XXX
In the Devil Lance dojo, Shion practice the 15 Kata's, doing each Kata over hundred times. A smile on Shion face as he continues the motions Chokozuki, translate to Straight Punch, for each arm to practice the motion!
An unexpected benefit of learning the ropes of making a career as a Assassin in the Underworld, Shion learn from Kuroki Gensai a new skill…Karate!
Learning from books, online, videos, local dojos or strip malls; those would help any person learn common knowledge and skills on Karate. Those truly skilled usually use Karate would use this as base to promote their own style, take to Public fighting Sphere or use for part of job a bodyguards; always learning more styles of Martial Arts to mix with Karate. Shion was dabbler and understood this method. Never once Shion would think different of another Martial Art besides Koei Style to cultivate with his life time of experience and fights…
Until now!
Shion picked up Karateka from Kuroki Gensai. Besides training methods of Partial Training to strength the joints in his hands, Shion learn from TRUE master of Karateka. It was novel experience to actual have someone that is legend of Martial Arts and Assassination was great. Green Horn, those familiar words and phrasing that Shion thought he could shake off… he was constantly reminded by him from learning Kuroki Gensai style of Karateka. It helps when Shion mention his interesting learning any Martial Arts he come across, which promoted this to be Devil Lance response.
"It one thing to learn a Martial Art from book manuals. It another to truly understand the application and uses in any given situation. Note the difference between my physical build and yours. I will teach you the basic's that anyone can learn around the world. If you truly have focus to learn and improve, make Karateka your own personal style."
After healing, Shion study for a year and half of Karateka, which was slowly building to his own unique style of Karate.
What was the difference between Karateka and Karate? One is a user and the other style of the Martial Art. Shion did not know if he would be considering aKarateka, but Shion was grateful for the experience.
Learning Kata's of Karate was constant and ritualistic. Shion knew how to keep in shape and train his body. It was just matter of practice. Practice, practice and more practice. Shion body was hardwire to use the Koei Style, so it was difficult to use other Karate movements and techniques. Still…Shion welcome the challenge. Something in his body and mind told him to learn Karate and adapt it into his own unique fighting style. He just had to learn and if his ambition actual goes a far to adapt Karate into the Koei Style.
He did not know what his Taira Genzan and Kiryu Setsuna would think. The Koei Style seemed formless, so how would they react if Shion use a Karate stance? Would they think this was latest flavor of dabbling into Martial Arts?
No! Shion thought, as he continues the motions the next Kata! He would surprise them by showing he actual had master a Martial Art to be consider Underground Fighting level of Martial Art…It just depend which area he would demonstrate this mastery and be called a Karateka user.
After finishing practicing Tsumasaki, a special kick, that focused big toe kick to attack/pierce his opponents…This was half exercise, besides going through hundred of these kicks, Shion should have been practicing on a wooden post to truly get the full exercise.
Why was Shion not going motions and not the full exercises?
Today was weekly spar between Shion and Kuroki Gensai…which have all been in Kuroki Gensai win and Shion continuous losing streak. It was almost demoralized, if not for the fact Shion learned more from his losses and was learning a new Martial Art to add to his skill set.
Would he ever beat the Devil Lance?...One day, Shion hope he would. It just a bitter realization that any type of win would be when Kuroki Gensai was past his prime and even than Shion knew that it would be fight to the death…which Shion did not want. The grizzled bearded master grew on Shion. It might be weakness and would be something to overcome…Just not now. Shion was enjoying his time and experience with Kuroki Gensai.
Just then, the Devil Lance walked in and Shion followed, both pairs went to the center of the Dojo and got ready in their respective stance for their weekly spar…They got in their respect stance, with Kuroki Gensai left hand closed with his fist and Shion mirroring hi temporary mentor with his left hand with a closed fist. Legs bent with left leading the front of the right and right arms cocked back to prepare for strike.
As soon as the left fists tapped, the fists were flying at inhuman speeds! The difference of their fighting styles was telling, even if they fought with ONLYKarateka!
Bam! Smack! Bam! Smack! Bam! Smack! Bam! Smack!
Kuroki Gensai parried attacks, then countered with his own. Mostly using his upper body, while having a firm crouch and set firm only to left his foot occasional from Sweep Kicks aimed to knock his balance off. Any blow that was not dodged or parried, Kuroki Gensai took minor blow that would not do much damage. The endurance and stamina the man from decades of training shown, not giving any weakness and showing his body was beyond normal human beings…Like armor-No!...Like an impregnable fortress. He could not be pushed back or even have his stance broken. Shion could dance around Kuroki, but he would not lose his 360-degree territory of his well-trained stance, the island that under the Devil Lance control. Never failing after years of perfection, while Shion had to out-fight and had no chance of inn-fighting…Not that Shion thought he had chance against Kuroki.
Shion would know it was decades before he could ever chance to defeat The Devil Lance in Karateka, which would be making more sacrifice's and training that Shion knew that his only window of opportunity would be if the Devil Lance is sick and weaken…Not that Shion would ever want to be Legend like Kuroki was in Karateka style. No. His life was dedicated to the Koei Style.
Smack! Swish! Smack! Swish! Smack! Swish! Smack!
Shion could not tank the blows that Kuroki Gensai could dish out. To do so, would only invite pain and defeat. Sure, Shion gained more durability and pain tolerance from these spars, but the purpose was to develop his own style Karateka. He had to do more dodging and parrying in his own way hands and legs. Any parrying done was only to guide Kuroki Gensai fist away from his body, with his arms and legs doing the work. Any dangerous strikes that came Shion way he used his superior agility footwork to outpace Kuroki Gensai. Shion use his guard such as forearms and palms guided the Devil Lance devastating punches to avoid lethal blows. Speed and power are what Shion skill sets truly shined in, with having to think of different strategy to mitigate any critical damages- Attack, Deflect and Dodge. Those three choices that Shion used continually in their spars…if only...IF ONLY HIS ATTACKS COULD LAND A CRITICAL BLOW! It was infuriating, because as more time passes in the spar the more Kuroki Gensai can capital on his mistakes!
Fists, kicks and fighters blurred; as they continue to push the other to make their opponent make the first mistake.
Few minutes past, then five minutes. Ten minutes, more of blows from Kuroki Gensai were becoming more difficult to deal with!
Smack! Swish! Smack! BAM! A Kuroki launch graze Shion left side of his stomach with a Straigh Punch, almost disrupting Shion breathing pattern!
Fifteen minutes…And the Devil Lance was pushing Shion towards the walls of his Dojo walls. Breath heavy to maintain his speed, sweat coming seeping off his body to form puddles and pain breaking down his stance!
Smack! BAM! Swish! BAM! Smack! Swish! Bam! Bam!Two strikes from Kuroki fists, right and left, dealt more damage to Shion torso with bruises that were beginning to blossom from light taps!
SMACK! Swish! The Devil Lance landed a successful Sweep Kick, with time slowing down as Shion feet lost both his footing and his left side about to meet floor- SMACK! Shion left palm of his arm caught the floor, but use his core to push himself into brief one-arm hand stand and launch two Bicycle Kicksfrom his right and left leg to push Kuroki attack back briefly and then push more his weight in a one hand-spring motion back to his feet, away from the compromising position into a back flip!
Shion got back into his stance- Tap!- His right outer mid-foot tapped the wall, but all he could do was focus on the Devil Lance…he was trapped where his opponent led him to!
As for his opponent… came at shocking speed to deliver a blow to Shion! Almost no time to move or react, this was the precise moment and time Kuroki Gensai choose to strike!
'Will it be punch from the right or left?! No, his body language says-!
Shion took the Sanchin stance, a last resort but the only way to mitigate the damage of what was to come!
SMACK! Crack! SLAM! His back meant the dojo wall and Shion felt his back imprint splintering the wall from the force of Kuroki attack!Shion right arm took a surprising powerful Kick swinged at him, the shin of the Devil Lance leg blocked by Shion left elbow guard and the foot attacking his right elbow, from Kuroki right leg coming at Shion with enough force like he was a Heavy Bag! Like Shion guard was nothing! It was progress of durability...That Shion focused on his muscles to maintain the Sanchin, but sacrifice his right armed dangled useless out of his right shoulder socket…that did not mean Shion backed down from the attack!
But it never came.
"Good. You read my body language and figured out that was not going to strike at you with much arms, but my left leg with a kick. Were done for today…" With that said, Kuroki Gensai got out his stance and Shion relaxed as his temporary mentor helped with problem he caused.
Shion right arm was popped out his right shape socket that was in his shoulder blade. He could do it on his own, but Shion trusted Kuroki Gensai to fix his arm and put the arm back in place…properly.
Crack! Pop!His right shoulder blossomed with new pain was brief and swollen, but better than constant dangling right arm in pain. It was routine that sometimes Kuroki would help push back dislocated bones back in the right joints for Shion. Just to make sure the damage would heal correctly.
Another win for Kuroki and another loss for Shion, but Shion was getting better.
"I need an ice pack and then get some lunch." Shion said, both fighters left the Dojo.
If any Public fighters watch the fight, they would not known if they could beat them. Even though Shion trained with Kuroki Gensai to learn Karateka, he did not think he was great at it…Though, a Fifth level Dan Black Belt fighter would mistake at thinking Shion is a genius in the style, for it took 29 years of to achieve such a level.
No. Shion was not a genius. He just had no distractions and a life dedicated to Martial Arts and had much to learn still to improve himself.
But that could wait. Now, is lunch time! It was delicious Katsudon Pork Cutlet Rice Bowl…The delicious sweat and salty broth with rice and deep-fried pork was almost good enough to forget he was eating chopsticks with his left hand instead of his right…His right shoulder still ached, but the Ice Pack help along with breathing exercises alleviate the pain.
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Shion was further continued training, but with different style of Martial Arts!
In Kuroki Gensai home, scrolls and books on anything to further his knowledge or look out for other versions of Martial Art to counter. Most centered around Karate and Chinese Kempo. Given outside the Kaiwan Style, Kuroki Gensai was legend Karateka or Karate, the Devil Lance continue his research and training to improve his prowess. Besides the body, the mind must grow and develop a greater understanding of Martial Arts. For Shion, he found more a wealth of knowledge and his imagination with wild for what he found…
Himokiri or Cord-Cut Karate! Shion had already and continuously pushed his hands and feet in Partial Train took this as a opportunity to use his hands! The style demanded to train one's fingers to the absolute limits and knowledge of anatomy. Plenty time, training and studying went into this unknown Martial Art that Shion could use to harass with the Koei Style- Blink technique.
For a year and half, Shion trained his finger strength further. Pull-ups with his with Index and Middle fingers, continue the process with pushups. Adding a weighted vest to the mix continue that stress and training both his hands Index and Middle fingers to their limit. The results Shion was aiming for were attacks on the human body cords- Blood Vessels, Lymph Ducts, Tendons and Nerves!
Before Shion was a custom-made Ballistic Gelatin Dummy! It was expensive, but during Shion profit and business as an Assassin he could afford to spend money. This was for learning this new reclusive Martial Art. What help with this Ballistic Dummy? This testing medium designed to simulate the effects of bullet wounds in animal muscle tissue. Sure, Shion Koei Style was tested on live human beings, but that was the Inside. Now Shion had to find substitute or else be label as Serial Killer instead of being known as a professional Assassin in the Underground. It made dent sometimes to buy training equipment, but it was important investment for Shion training.
Perhaps Shion could have practice on livestock and not just to be butchered, but more dangerous animals out in Japan or the World…Another idea to file away later in case he is in desperate need for live specimen to fight. Animals fought better than Humans and would be stimulating practical applications involved.
Another benefit of this custom-made Ballistic Dummy, was visible and see-through outlines of the Blood Vessels, Lymph Ducts, Tendons and Nerves. Shion could read a book on Anatomy, but practice on Cord-Cutting Karate was new territory for Shion skill sets. It was necessary to practice and have visual on the targets for this Martial Art. He was not a genius, but he was determining to grow stronger in new ways and saw the appeal of this unique Martial Art.
The Ballistic Dummy was 152.4 cm(5ft 6inchs), an average human being height. A long metal stake pool was use to make the Ballistic Dummy to stand up right, arms and legs were stiffening, locked and spread out for Shion to look at what choices he had to attack with. About as life-like cadaver mannequin was outside of Kuroki Gensai compound, back of the training Dojo and the Devil Lance dwelling.
The distance between Shion and his Ballistic Dummy gave two yards of distance between. Shion adjust
Shion took his stance, his left side forward with his hands relaxed ready to defend, his right arm should back ready to attack, and left leg leading his right in slight crouched position; ready to attack! Shion felt his Index and Middle Fingers were reading as he eyes his opponent…Various images of forming victims came took the position of his Ballistic Dummy, all whom Shion felt know guilty of killing in the past…Then the image took face of Kuroki Gensai and in Shion mind the aura of The Devil Lance came off, which Shion took this point to…strike!
Snap! Shion left fingers attack brachioradialis tendons in the Dummy left arm!
Snap! His right big toe kicked and thrust to cut into the left ankle anterior tibialis tendons!
Snap! A thyroid tendon on the Dummy left neck was cut by Shion right hand fingers!
Snap! The left foot big toe cut into transverse abdominis tendon on the right side of Dummy!
All were fast and explosive attacks, as Shion could use his body, then he breathed in and out to study his work. Cord-Cutting Karate usual focused on the Index and Middle fingers of the hand, but Shion decide to experiment and use his big toes to cut into tendons as practice. Would it be practical in battle? Who knows, but anything goes any leverage could help. Using Partial Training to develop Rakshasa's Sol technique and other forms of Martial Arts, Shion hypothesis that his feet or his big toes joints had the flexibility and grasping ability to cut tendons on a human body.
"Not bad. Nobody would suspect this, but it not perfect. Still, something better than nothing. I just got to train more." Shion spoke out loud to himself.
Studying anatomy was difficult and figuring out the tendons to attack, harass and cause brief moments of confusion before capitalizing a finishing blow of an enemy…Who would have known that Martial Arts would ended up with Shion having study more about the human body more and become smarter because of it.
XXX
After finishing dinner and the day coming to an end, the Devil Lance came to decision.
It was time to test Shion skills on tougher challenge, as Assassin and Fighter. For two years of patients and small jobs, Shion became an adaptable assassin killing small prey. None of his prey were dangerous and usual end up as cold cases to not link back to Shion. Something that Kuroki had distaste for wasting his energies on weaklings, but even the Devil Lance had to start off with stomaching the idea of killing weak prey not worth his time. Shion was patient enough and spend his time training himself in Koei Style, but also learning Karateka. It was start, but Shion was too green to truly use Karateka to overtake more dangerous professionals' underground fighters. Still, that not to look down on Shion skills. Most public fighters would be having a difficult time defeating Shion outside their rules and regulations. Shion would decimate those fighters who solely fought for fame and public entertainment.
Now he knew why Taira wanted Gensai to cultivate his first discipline. So much potential and promise, with a thirst of improvement.
It almost made Gensai want to search for discipline to keep the Kaiwan Style alive, but Kuroki knew he was not true master. Even himself. Decades of training, discipline and study; Kuroki Gensai still was not satisfied of himself. His former master never told him why he choosed him as his discipline. Instead, his master chuckled, which was out character for stoic man and shook his head at Gensai before speaking his words of wisdom.
"You became my discipline because you were so stubborn to endure the training and enthusiastic at learning under me. I never got a choose you. You choose me."
…For some reason, that was foreboding for Gensai…Would he be end up with annoying student that never leave him alone and learn the Kaiwan Style?
The Devil Lance shook his head and went outside his home looking for Shion. Never really far away, Shion sat under a tree in his attempts to meditate. As he walked towards Koei user, it almost seems like air had tension and Shion body was use the Nogare breathing style. Nogare, was a slow and soft breathing style, breathing deep in the abdomen. Using baby breaths, this practice was similar to Yoga or Zen meditation practice, with the goal to achieve naturally by breathing from stomach like baby. People learn to breath from their chest, were shallow, which took longer for recovery.
Shion was using the Nogare to recover from his day after training his body and focus on meditation…It was hit or miss. Sometimes Shion did meditate successfully. Other times he end up asleep or felt like he spent an hour focus on breathing with his eyes closed and sometimes…Shion imagination went wild.
Normally, a person imagination is usually contained within their minds and them…But certain times, fighters could project a image that others could see.
Shion was doing something that surprise Kuroki.
Meditation could lead to Astral Projection, Enlightenment or control over one's Mind/Soul…Instead, Shion was projecting image from his mind out into the world!
If this was on camera or recorded, no image would appear near Shion. In human eyes though…
Only the Devil Lance witness this, but was study what would happen and thinking of the possibilities that Shion could use this to help his training…
Something that Kuroki Gensai was noticing about the image of a young man that was younger than Shion. Short hair, slightly feminine features, and something…dangerous. Kuroki did not see what the color of the young man was, but as he got closer and stopped, he realizes the young man was young and handsome. Then without warning, the young man cocked his arm back performing Rakshasa's Palm technique on Shion meditative state, then-!
"Ahhh!" Shion shouted with a startling experience and gasp, breaking from his meditative seat and in a cold sweat. "What the hell just happen?" The Koei Style user look out in front of him, where the image of the young man that Shion summon in the world. Then the young man looked at his hands before bringing them to his face.
This was a more vivid image that attacked Shion for the first time in his meditations, which was entertaining and insightful for the Devil Lance.
"You tell me." Kuroki Gensai spoke, letting Shion notice he was not alone and the stoic man just raised an intrigue eye brow at Shion.
Shion imagination must be quite strong for himself to notice or the Devil Lance attained a new level of enlightenment. As much as Kuroki wanted to think the later, he decides it was Shion potential and would probably direct Shion on study Weishen- False Body technique used by Chinese Kempo masters. It was useful to trick fighters with Foresight, but Kuroki was not certain if what he witnesses was False Body or Shion mind wandering to point to project that fighter out from his mind that attacked. Most likely, the boy the Shion imagined must be Taira Ganzan second student.
"…I have no idea. It was almost like out of body experience, except that was not me and person I imagine attacked me before I could respond to their attack…" Shion wipe the sweat away.
"Huh? Maybe take up Shadow Boxing, then imagine the fighter who you are about to engage in fight. Anyway, I got contract for you that was offered to me, but I am giving to you instead." The Devil Lance spoke, getting all of Shion attention and realize the gravity of the situation.
"My name and reputation are on the line, boy. I gave this contract up on my word that you could finish the target off that has been terrorizing New York City." Again, Shion was surprise. It not every day the Americans send out Assassins to kill certain targets. They usually send their own agents or military or drones to do the job.
Not to mention this was as close to home that Shion ever imagine getting nearby. Confusion and uncertainty came upon Shion face, before he masks his emotions with stoic look to address the man doing a major favor for him.
"Must be strong and dangerous target if they are asking you to take care of the issue. If I fail, I die. If I win? Well, I get major payment and more reputation in the Underworld as an Assassin." Ganzan student spoke up and Kuroki Gensai nodded in agreement. This was not a normal target, but Kuroki Gensai knew he potential defeat this target. This was a test to see how Shion handles a fighter and killer on possible equal level of skill that could potential kill him. The Inside was great at practicing the Art of Killing and developing Killers. It was another matter when two experience Killers and Fighters facing off against each other…Most times ending in blood bath, sometimes with both enemies killing each other.
It was time to see if Shion was worth carrying on the Koei Style. If he could not kill this individual, then Taira Ganzan still has another student.
"Yes. It a dangerous convict that the Police and Government has been keep quiet about, claiming his actions were results of local gangs. But now it seems they are running out time and need this problem to disappear, so it does not cause further embarrassment…" Then Kuroki Gensai explain more about the target and even told Shion to look on his Dark Web app on his Smart Phone that sent a message giving more details about his target.
Hopefully, the Devil Lance did not waste his time teaching and training this kid in Karateka for no nothing.
Shion was a good punching bag to have, after all.
XXX
Author Notes: Now, we are getting to a major part of the story where Shion(Lincoln Loud) makes a name for himself in the Underworld by killing certain targets…This is inspired by "Baki" and the Death Row Inmate Arc, but with Shion(Lincoln Loud) having to defeat and kill them…Not all on one chapter, but as the story goes on Shion(Lincoln Loud) will be contracted to kill these dangerous men because each Country could not kill these prisoners normally or even contain within their inescapable Prisons…This will be where Shion gains his fame and wealth, but also deal with growing as fighter.
Expect some death-matches in the future!