“Ho~ you got a nice place here.”
“Right? Though I never thought I would bring anyone here.”
Wewere talking about Alback Mountain, the secluded area where I always trained.
Normally no one but me came to this place, but today there was another visitor.
We each prepared ourselves as we exchanged small talk, neither of us making eye contact.
At first glance this place may have seemed peaceful, but in actuality, the atmosphere was like a swollen balloon, filled with danger ready to burst at the slightest shock.
I waited and waited and waited.. For the first time in thirty years, I could finally meet fist to fist with my rival.
I linked my arms and stretched my muscles. Chester struck his fists at imaginary enemies. Our warm-up methods were almost symbolic of soft and hard martial arts.
I didn’t want to admit it, but at that moment, I was most likely thinking the same thing as Chester.
I wanted to fight already. For these last 12 years I had hidden my power and dedicated myself to training.
It was extremely vexing. But now, I could fight to my heart’s content with an opponent that was evenly matched with me in my previous life.
Any heart that wouldn’t be moved by this could be fed to the dogs. My heart, which had been silent for the last 50 years, trembled. The only thing on my mind at the time was my excitement for the battle.
“Isn’t it about time already? The sun is going to set.”
“I was just thinking the same thing.”
In the end, he was just as raring to go. In which case, it made perfect sense that our thoughts would be the same.
I took a Shijima stance, ‘Flowing Stream’. It was a pillar stance that emphasized defense. After contemplating its form for countless years, it melds into the mind and permeates the body to form an armament based on the principles of martial arts.
On the other hand, Chester relaxed and lowered his left fist to waist-level. It was a stance that reeked of offense.
Having had spent a long time battling against him, I could tell. That was also another pillar stance.
Pillar against pillar. A pure battle with no tricks—I couldn’t get enough. It was almost enough to make me drool.
Words were unnecessary. I wanted to fight as soon as possible.
“Shijima style ‘former’ master, Slava Shijima—Ready.”
“Founder of the Prime fighting style, Chester Prime—Ready.”
Oddly, when I introduced myself with the name from my previous life, a strong smile appeared on Chester’s face.
He must have been bored. Before he becomes senile from the emptiness of everyday life, I will send him off.
After naming myself to start the battle, we stood without moving.
Both held a seamless tranquility. However, we were both aware that the fight had begun.
There was less movement than before, but both of us were beside themselves with happiness. That tension that seemed like you would get your faced smashed if you let your guard down for even one second… it had been a long time since we last tasted it .
–Silence. A deep silence prevailed, even the wind was still. Perhaps the wild monster sensed something abnormal in that place. No signs of life could be felt in the area.
The only one—no, the only two exceptions were us.
Chester and I faced off releasing fighting spirit enough to neutralize the killing intent that made even the surrounding monsters run off.
…Hmm. Surprising him a little wouldn’t hurt.
The silence that seemed as if though it would last an eternity was suddenly broken.
The one to make the first move was I, who had the defensive stance.
For just a moment,–it was really just a moment–Chester showed some surprise. Sensing that moment, I instantly dashed forward.
I crossed five meters in a single step.
Having have caught off guard, Chester’s face showed a bitter expression. However, that also lasted for but a moment.
Chester, who had a toothy grin all the while, moved his relaxed left fist. It was a speed born from being relaxed to the extreme. His left arm moved at an incredible speed without ignoring space; it vanished at that absurd speed.