Chapter 48: Swordplay Showdown Finals!
"Welcome back to the Summer Sports Olympics where it's coming to an end once we wrap up the Swordplay Showdown Finals!" Bruce announced. "Now let's meet out finalists!"
"First, we have a powerhouse who claimed so many easy victories in seconds that he's an unstoppable and invulnerable warrior! Kuryu!" Coach Spruce introduced him.
All cheered and he's on the arena with a serious look on his face.
"This second year student who will soon enter his final year and is the strongest ninja in his batch! He's never lost a single battle in his entire life!" Bruce commentated about him.
In the bleachers, "I sense so much darkness and pride in his cold heart." Ryotarou sensed.
"And his opponent, he's only a freshman but has won the Ninjala Tournament in his high school and has experience in the way of the shinobi from young till now, we have Kappei!" Coach Spruce introduced him.
All cheered and he's on the arena waving to the audience.
"Although he's only a freshman but he's making some major moves lately in school and even here!" Bruce commentated.
"Furthermore in the history of ninjala, Kappei is the first ninja to awaken an Ancient-Ranked Awakened Power!" Coach Spruce commentated.
And that left the entire audience thunderstruck. "EHHHHHHH!?"
"You kidding me or something?!"
"How is this possible?!"
"No way man! It's almost too easy to believe!"
"Seriously!?"
"What the heck is this?!"
Even so, "Did he say, Ancient-Ranked?" Dan asked.
"Yeah! No one was ever awaken this ranking until now?!" Sisler asked.
"I've heard of the power rankings and this really catches me by surprise." said Keith.
"Hey you lot. You're all from the same school as him right? How did he awaken it?" Cassie asked as Emma looked a bit worried. She then stood up. "On our first day, he didn't have awakened power." She began. "He was bullied very badly and eventually, they picked a fight with him and I've had it. I want to protect him but they tried to harm me...and then, it happened."
"Because he wanted to protect her despite being crippled on the legs." Cruz added.
"I see now. Kappei's willpower and fighting spirit is very strong and determined. That might be the closest analysis for his awakening." Ryotarou also added.
"Also, that Kuryu looks so extremely pissed off." Draco pointed out as at the arena, the reaction of Kappei's power ranking made his blood boil so great that, "There is too much hatred in him." Ryotarou sensed.
And back there, "Unacceptable...unacceptable! I'll give you a crushing defeat so great that you'll never become a ninja! I will break every bone in your body and cripple your limbs in this fight! Only I, deserve to have an Anicent-ranked power!" A pissed off Kuryu thought as Kappei noticed his expression.
"One doesn't always rely on only strength and power. I will prove it to you by defeating you and winning this event." Kappei thought as he looked at the audience. He can see his friends watching him and he can see Emma feeling nervous about him. "With the support from everyone including my beloved girlfriend, I will fight this fight with not just strength and power, but also with honour and trust."
"Ninjas! Step forth!" A WNA ninja ordered as they walked and stood before each other.
"Draw your blades!" He ordered and they drew their Iaitos and he lowered a red flag.
"Ready...FIGHT!" He raised it up and Kuryu charged and began the fight with quick strikes.
"Shoot! He's really fast!" Kappei thought as he moved and strafed about dodging his attacks. He then raised his Iaito and smashed it down. "And he hits hard too! No wonder Davis got pwned!" He thought as he swung his blade but he dodged it.
"Pathetic move!" Kuryu then unleashed more melee attacks with speed and power as he planned to end this fight in a short period of time. However, Kappei proved to be swift and agile like a ninja dodging and moving about.
A minute later, "Enough is enough...feel the power of my Atmokinesis!"
"Atmo-what?" Kappei asked.
"Fine. Simple English you slow-witted idiot. WEATHER MANIPULATION!" Kuryu stretched his hand up and thunderclouds are suddenly formed. "Lightning Strike!"
A bolt of lightning zapped down and Kappei noticed it. He jumped out of the way and then, 3 more zapped down as he dodged them but, "CRACK! BOOM!"
"AAAAAAAAAAH!" Kappei took a hit from a bolt of lightning as Kuryu made the next move. "Hailstorm Havoc!"
Icy stones rained down and, "BAM!"
Kappei got hit on the forehead as he felt the impact and a bit of blood flow. "Austin wasn't kidding about his power!" He thought as he used his Iaito to block the hailstones by hitting them aside. "Useless! USELESS! Tornado Alley!"
Kuryu summoned 2 tornadoes from the dark skies as they whirled on the arena. "Send him flying out!" The tornadoes spun to Kappei as he expected him. Using his wind power, it whirled around him in the tornado attack which also sent all the hailstones raining down into the pool and thus, he remained standing and pissing Kuryu off.
Kappei then charged and attacked him but Kuryu dodged and kicked him on the guts. "Oof!" Kappei felt that as he jabbed his face disarming him and he was knocked down as he tumbled away. "Ugh...those attacks are powerful but it won't stop me from fighting on..."
"You rascal! Give up and admit defeat. And then, you will surrender your ancient ranking to me!" Kuryu ordered.
"Only a coward would say such pointless words!" Kappei replied with insult enraging him. "Blizzard Chiller!" A snowstorm is created from his power as Kappei felt the cold. "Brrrrr...It's like a freezer out there!"
"Don't waste my time and give up! You can never defeat me! Even so, are you being cowardly because I see that you dare not use your powers!" Kuryu taunted back with a sneer as he created a tornado on his left palm increasing the blizzard's freezing effect.
Kappei felt ice encasing him slowly but he remain focus and generated a bit of heat around his body which is enough to melt the ice and by the time Kuryu cancelled his attacks, Kappei is still standing as he even stealthy reclaimed his Iaito.
"What is wrong with you?! Are you so stupid to understand that you can't win this round?!" Kuryu shouted and his anger is building up even more.
"Your anger is not gonna help you win this fight. On the other hand, I'm gonna win this with honour and trust!" Kappei declared. "This is why ninjas fight fairly and with respect."
"Screw all of this crap! Strength and Power is what makes a true ninja! Keep blabbering all you want! I'll beat you without mercy just like that weakling friend of yours!" Kuryu shouted.
"Make me, you arrogant punk!" Kappei shouted back and they charged and clashed with agility and fury. All watched the fight as it cuts to the classroom with the students of Class 1-A and 1-B watching it as some of them are concerned about Kappei but believed that he can win this. The scene then cuts to Gen'unsai watching the event in the living room. "Show him the true path Kappei. Open his eyes on the true definition of a true ninja."
And back there at the bleachers. "Kappei...you can win this! Everyone here believes in you..." Emma thought to herself.
"Avenge my crushing defeat mate...and prove him wrong on his shinobi path..." Davis thought as Vega gave him some water and he drank it.
Back there, they continued clashing as, "This weakling is pissing me off! He's taking up so much of my time that I can't end this fight in a short amount of time!" Kuryu has had it as he jumped back. "Here comes a storm of weather attacks!"
He raised his fist in the air and thunderclouds gathered above them. "This isn't good...but still, I'm following my own plan to win this..." Kappei thought as he got ready to dodge the attacks.
"Eat this weakling! Thunderous Storm Bolts!" Kuryu unleashed thunderbolts from the sky as Kappei started dodging them. They strike the arena and the waters as Kappei evaded them some. A furious Kuryu then raised his other hand with his Iaito up and more thunderbolts zapped down. As he observed Kappei's dodging, he thought of it and had one of the thunderbolts trail Kappei and, "CRACK!"
"AHHHHHHH!" Kappei didn't see that one coming as Kuryu laughed wickedly and unleashed even more thunderbolts all hitting the main target as he felt the shock and pain.
"KAPPEI!" Emma shouted in horror as, "Is this guy going for an overkill? Because this is way too much for him to handle!" Draco exclaimed.
"He's right! But from the looks of it, Kuryu isn't gonna care about his life. He only cares about defeating him mercilessly!" said Jeong.
"He's really the most dishonourable ninja I've ever seen!" Dan exclaimed as many in the group began jeering at Kuryu.
At the skybox, "We have to end this match now! This Kuryu isn't fighting fair and is trying to overpower his opponent with brute force!" Ron told Genryusai with many agreeing with him. "I know. He's going to finish the fight now." He replied pointing at the arena as back there, "Victory is mine!" Kuryu unleashed one last attack and 20 thunderbolts hit Kappei electrocuting him badly and after a minute, he cancelled the attack as the dark clouds left the skies and for Kappei, he's on the ground zapped horribly.
"HA! HA! HA! HA! HA! Strength and Power are the only aspects to become a true ninja!" Kuryu laughed believing that he won.
"That guy is pathetic." said Damien.
"But what about Kappei? He's not...what you think he is?" Elena asked as a worried Emma looked out at him and then, "Wait...look!"
The next thing it happened as Kuryu continued gloating at his own victory, Kappei appeared to be struggling to stand up but carefully, he was on his knees and then, on his feet as Kuryu turned around and, "Impossible..."
As Kappei took a few deep breaths, he looked at him. "You're weak."
He gasped and his anger took control of him. "What. Did. You. Just. Say?"
"You're weak. Yeah...you heard me clearly...you're weak..." Kappei replied. "YOU'RE WEAK!"
"You...You...YOU USELESS, DISRESPECTFUL BASTARD! NOBODY CALLS ME WEAK! NOBODY!" Kuryu stomped the ground and yelled in rage as it cuts to Austin and Jordan seeing this. "Kappei sure triggered him big time." said Austin.
"Yeah. Kuryu is extremely sensitive and absolutely abhors being called weak by anyone. Whenever that happens, his rage is uncontrollable. No wonder he has a short fuse." said Jordan.
"And that makes him immature." Austin added.
As for Kappei, "Do you want to know why I called you weak? Because you value only strength and power and nothing else. A true ninja values virtue, honour, gratitude, wisdom, loyalty, trust, devotion and respect. By valuing all these aspects, true strength and power will become one with the ninja."
"SHUT UP! SHUT UP! SHUT UP! I don't give a damn about your words! You speak nothing but lies! LIES!" Kuryu shouted and has gone insane now.
"Say and blabber all you want. Well guess what? You wanna see my powers? Here I come!" Kappei then pointed his Iaito up to the sky.
"FIRE!" A tornado of fire appeared in front of him.
"WATER!" A tornado of water appeared on his left.
"LIGHTNING!" a bolt of lightning zapped behind him.
"WIND!" A powerful cyclone whirled on his right.
Everyone was in awe at an amazing sight. "So this is Kappei's Ancient-Ranked Awakened Power..." Tyler exclaimed.
"Whoa...it's so cool!" Heart exclaimed.
"Emma, you are so special in dating him." said Dia as she smiled at this.
Back there, an angry Kuryu watched as Kappei manipulated the 4 elements as they circled around him and then, they're all gathered and merged together on his Iaito as Kappei made his move. "Elemental Unity Tornado!"
He sent it whirling to Kuryu as he attempted to use his powers but, "Wait, why am I being pulled to it?! NO! NO! AHHHHHHHHHH!" Too late as he got pulled in and was given a ride inside as the 4 elements deal critical damage inside the tornado and soon enough, it spat him out and he fell into the pool. "SPLASH!"
"Talk about finishing moves! Kappei executed it at the perfect timing! Yeah! Saving the best for the last, he has officially won the Swordplay Event for the Boy's category!" Coach Spruce as all cheered for him.
In the pool, "I lost to this weakling...I lost to him?! My first loss in history..." Kuryu glared about this. "I swear I will have my vengeance and destroy you Kappei. I could care less about your life as long as I defeat you..."
And speaking of him, "At last...I won...everything all went according...to my plan..." All of a sudden, he fell back unconscious and he can only close his eyes...
Aftermath...
At the infirmary, Kappei is being treated as the medics used their healing powers to patch him up. "He endured a lot of weather damage. We must carefully patch up his injuries. It will take time but we must work hard." The head medic told her subordinates. They nodded at her and the process begins.
Outside, Emma, Van, Lucy and Alec waited outside. "Oh Kappei..." Emma was worried about him.
"Don't worry Emma, he'll recover." Van told her.
"Yeah. He fought an honourable fight despite being hit by multiple lightning bolts." said Alec.
"This punk really is a stupid asshole for relying on only strength and power. A hubris to his defeat." said Lucy. "If I fight him one day, I would gladly smash his head a thousand times until it splits apart and I can stomp on his corpse with blood and gore."
"Lucy...that's way too far. It's an overkill already." Emma replied feeling a bit freaked out at what she declared.
20 minutes later, the door opened and, "Hey guys."
"Kappei my darling!" Emma ran and hugged him tightly. "You had me worried out there!"
"I know. I sure took a beating." He replied as he and Emma kissed each other deep. "Ooh. Emma, when are you going to have sex with him?"
"LUCY!" A very embarrassed Emma exclaimed as Van and Alec laughed at this and Kappei just grinned about it.
Outside...
The 5 ninjas met up with the Bottle Collectors, Hongfa, Damien, Elena, Billy, Cluv, Dia and Heart. "Kappei! You're okay!" May exclaimed.
"You took plenty of punishments but you still endured to the very end." said Tyler.
"And wow, your power is indeed ancient." Dan stated with respect.
"Fire, Water, Lightning and Wind. Beautiful elements that you wield as your power. Truly beautiful and ancient." said Keith.
"You really are gifted with this power." said Naomi.
"Anyway, now what?" Hongfa asked. "The whole muscular clique left already and the awarding ceremony has just been concluded."
"Right. Van, we each win 80,000 credits thanks to our team work." Keith told him as they fist bump each other and he handed him a gold trophy.
"Oh right. Davis got your reward on your behalf and passed your phone and gold trophy to me. You deserve it." Dan passed him his stuff as he checked his phone. The credits have been updated as, "Where's Davis?"
"He and the rest of Class 1-A and 1-B will head back to California and prepare for some summer breaks." Alec told him.
"So now what will we do?" Billy asked.
Just then, Max showed up. "Van! Ready to get going?"
"Coming dad! Can't wait to check it out!" Van went to meet his dad as, "What is going on?" Elena asked Damien via whispering and then, "Hey dad! Can they come too?"
"Why of course they can!" He replied surprising everyone as Van revealed this to them. "Last week, my dad bought a beach house at the coast of Eagle City beside the beach! And I'm inviting you all to spend the summer together!"
"Sounds cool! But first, Emma and I need to drop by at my grampa's house first to check on hi,." Kappei told him. "We'll probably drop by at your beach house tomorrow."
"I'll ask my dad about this." said Alec.
"The same goes for all of us." said Dan. "But I know for sure, all of us will drop by tomorrow for the summer fun."
"Nice! I'll send you guys the address of our beach house." Van sent everyone the link as all received it. "Marvelous. I can't wait to spend the summer with all of you! See you tomorrow at Van's place." said Keith.
All agreed as they said their goodbyes and headed their way. Tomorrow is gonna be epic!
With honour and trust, Kappei defeated Kuryu! But he's so stiff-necked and hard-hearted that he vowed revenge for this.
And with the event over, Max was nice enough to allow Van to invite his friends to have a stayover at their beach house! Wow! Summer is gonna be much more fun with the whole group hanging out together!
Character of the Chapter
Name: Dan
Profile
The son of a well-known ninja family, Dan was raised and trained in the ways of the shinobi. However, he took it too seriously as during the Academy years, he would preach about the ninja values to the point that all got bored, tired and annoyed by him. He also berates the Ninjala gang especially Burton when he was still a child under the ninja gum effects.
In spite of all this, he has a good heart to help others and understand the right and the wrong even aiding his allies in battle against the Shadow Ninjas in which originally, he was on their side until the truth is out. Even if he's defeated in battle, he was humble enough to acknowledge his opponent's strength. Plus, he's the leader of the Bottle Collectors and they're very close with one another.
After the 3 years, he graduated and some time later, was enrolled to the Advanced WNA High in Oedo with the other Bottle Collector members, Van and Lucy. He's the class president in his class, is a member of the Kendo Club and the Swim Team and finally, he's dating May who's in the same class as him and is the vice class rep to help him lead the class.
For some reason, he and Draco had a history with each other and there's lots of beefing between them in which Draco ends up being superior to him. Even when they met again, old habits never die between them.
Awakened Power: Dark Blade
Similar to Davis' Photon Blade, Dan can create a blade made out of dark energy and slice and dice his opponents. Due to the element, Dan can use the darkness to hide him in the shadows, blend in the darkest night and launch stealth attacks from the dark.
He can also shoot dark energy blasts and engulf an area in total darkness enabling him to launch his surprise attacks in the midst of it. A unique power in the right hands of a true ninja like him.