A New Way

Toshi Ranbo - Imperial College
1 week after the tournament.

The feeling had been building for a few months now. During training, after every fight he had, every time he struck an enemy, or a training post. Something nagging at the back of his mind, and then a spark happened during the tournament, when he saw the Champions of the college duel. The thought blossomed. The Hida Pragmatist way was to bring overwhelming force to bear with every strike, to use everything to bring down the opponent. It was what he had been taught since he was a child, but he felt something was lacking, strength unrestrained was wasted on too much movement. The books he was given as reward finally made him realise what he was looking for. One man. One sword. One strike. He had felt it when he struck Matsu Riichin once to the jaw, and she was defeated, and when he was struck by Akodo Genji, and he himself was defeated. Every duel he had seen and fought, victory was decided by the first strike, nothing else mattered. The strength of the Hida but tempered by precision, by focus, bring forth everything within that first strike and make it a killing blow. This was to be his way.

Hida Benjiro finally opened his eyes, he had been meditating on the words of Kakita for hours and he was finally ready. He stood in front of the post on the practice ground, still as rock, from stillness to action, strength like water flowing, one movement, his kick hit the post with everything he had. The post shattered.

One man.

One strike.

One victory.