Goro: Pride of the Shokan

The Art of Kombat

I woke up the next morning after the feast very exhasuted.

However I quickly shrugged it off, I was too anxious to find out what I had to for the 2nd day of the Shokan traditions in honor of my 50th birthday. I walked down from my chambers.

" Prince Goro, your father is waiting for you outside, " Baros said as he bowed.

" Thank you Baros, " I replied.

I cautiously looked around, unsure what to expect,

without warning something pounced on me and I rolled back across the mud and looked up to

see the same feline Shokan at the feast on top of me. I heard my father laugh as the Shokan got off of me. " Easy Kintaro, he is not a full adult yet."

I grinded my teeth at the lack of mature treatment.

" Goro this is Kintaro," my father introduced. " We don't usually have any Shokan other

than Kuaton in our royal army but Kintaro is an exception. He is apart of the Tigris clan of Shokan, one day when we went to help a Tigris village from a Centaur raid, we immediately noticed Kintaro's exceptional combat skills as he fended off several Centaur all by himself. No one questioned me at all when I decided that Kintaro was to be one of my generals. "

" It is a pleassure to meet you, your highness. " Kintaro growled.

When we shook hands he squeezed my hand very tightly, and it hurt.

Whether it was an accident or done intentionally I do not know.

" Goro for you too fend off Centaur like Kintaro did, you will have to learn how to fight. " King Gorbak said.

" I believe that is uneccasary father, I am undefeated at Shokan wrestling and no Shokan dare too - ," I was cut off.

" Goro there are no set sporting rules when you are head-to-head with a centaur. Wrestling with your friends is mere child's play. " Gorbak said.

" The Centaur will not hesitate to break your neck when your on the battlefield. " Kintaro reassured. " I will make sure they will not be able to break your neck prince, for I will teach you how to break theres first!"

" but-"

" No but's Goro. You WILL listen too Kintaro and follow his instructions. Do I make myself clear?"

" Yes father. " I answered.

" Good, I expect you too be able to subdue 10 Centaurs at a time when your training is complete. "

With that he gave a nod and left Kintaro and I alone.

I thought about what father had said for a few minutes to find Kintaro pouncing on me again.

He then pinned me down with two arms and extended his claws near my neck with the other two.

" Pay attention! " Kintaro yelled. " Do not daydream, I will not be as forgiving as your father, and you'd better believe the Centaur won't be one bit as forgiving as me! "

He let me get up.

" First I will show you some Shokan technique's. "

Kintaro spread out four of his arms and opened the palms of each of his hands.

He punched in the air with one arm twice and then raised his powerful leg and kicked a boulder, smashing it too pieces.

" Shokan is known for its raw physical strength. It is because of this trait that we are unbeatable. "

He brought down one of his left arms onto another boulder smashing it to pieces as well.

" Show me what you got. " He roared as he gestured for me to attack him.

I extended my foot forward but he caught it, with his other three arms he spun me

around with great force and I twirled into the mud face first.

" Get up! "

I got up and sent a flurry of punches his way. He parried all my attacks and

reponded with a flurry of kicks. I could not believe the strength and speed of his feet. Finally on his last kick one of his toe claws ripped into my flesh as I fell back down with a bloody wound on my chest.

" This is a waste of my time. " he mocked.

I got up once more and ran at him. He caught my first two punches but I pushed

him away with my two lower arms. He kicked after me but I sidestepped to the right and swiped at him with my right fist. He was pushed back a little but he quickly came back and pushed me too the ground using no strain at all. I was about ready to give up when surprisingly this time he reached out his hand towards me. He helped me up.

" That was a bit better but you still have much to learn. " he complimented.

" You have to work on your maneuverability, with those hooves of their's, the Centaurs

can run extremely fast, to counter this you will have to be able to think quickly and move swiftly. Theres a good spot, " Kintaro pointed.

We approached a large pit filled with molten lava.

" You must leap far to out-maneuver the horses. "

Kintaro bended down with his powerful legs and leapt across the pit.

The height at which he jumped was huge. All I could see was his shadow travel across the terrain as he landed with a dephening crash at the other side of the pit.

" Your turn young prince. "

I extended my feet and sprung from the ground, I leapt far but not high as I

came an inch too short of the ledge. I caught the ledge and pulled myself up.

" You'll have to do better than that. Your feet are weak. You cannot keep balance. Here.. "

Kintaro tied some cloth tightly around my ankles. " Now try again. "

Watching Kintaro jump the lava pit was as just as jaw-dropping as the first time.

Then it was my turn once again. I kept my feet together as I leapt across again.

I barely made it across but it made it past the ledge this time. I grew more confident. I leapt back and forth again, honing my new jumping skills untill Kintaro finally stopped me.

" Quite impressive young one. "

I had continued training hard with Kintaro over many years.

The training became more brutal as I aged and was able to take more.

About 100 years later Kintaro sent for me to meet me in the wastelands.

" Hahahaha, Goro, your new strength will rip through your enemies. "

" I agree Kintaro, no one will be able to defeat me! "

Kintaro and I continued to laugh.

"Lets see how fast you've gotten," Kintaro quickly jumped halfway

up a cliff that was near us.

"Wait!" I yelled.

Kintaro laughed and continued to climb.

I began to climb after him. At the top I saw him run through the rough terrain of the wastlands.

"Still running a bit slow I see, " Kintaro mocked.

I trekked across the rought terrain. Then Kintaro disappeared . " Kintaro? "

four arms suddenly grabbed me and pulled me behind a rock.

" shhhh" Kintaro motioned.

Behind the hill four creatures. They were like half man and half horse, with horns from the head and a long powerful tail. The Centaurs.

" We will attack the Kuaton palace tonight! " said one of the creatures.

" We have waited for 200 years for their guard to go down. Tonight we willl reclaim our stolen land!" A Centaur yelled.

The group then let out a long battle cry.