Blaze Of Shadows [A World In Embers]

A Shadow's Imitation II

The attack found its mark and knocked the air out of Ryu while the environment around him changed. " Till we meet again Ryu" Kage said, his voice sounding like he was speaking at the other end of a long tunnel...

Ryu jerked awake in his room. " Phew back to the land of the living" he joked and had a shower before going to the KoKuryūkai tactical room which was overlooking the training room.

There, he met Kenshi watching a training Hayato and Kasumi. " You're up late today" Kenshi observed. " Yes Master, I was busy with Kage" Ryu replied.

" Kage? Who is this Kage?". Kenshi said and glanced at him while raised a grey eyebrow. " He's my subconscious, sort of like a helper" Ryu said carefully.

" Hello Ryu!" Hayato called jovially and entered the room along with Kasumi. " Hanzo's calling our attention, I think he found something." Kasumi said.

Soon enough Hanzo bursted into the room holding a laptop. " I think I've gotten a name, Kazuki Masahiro" he said breathlessly. " Who is he Hanzo?" Kenshi asked.

" I believe he is one of the guys sending information to Hikari, my sources found him checking for some information about the ring and I think we should capture him" Hanzo declared.

" Hmm, he might have some invaluable information that we don't." Kenshi agreed. " Okay gather some anything we might need in getting to him" " yes Master" Hanzo said with a bow.

***

Hikari dropped a file, rubbed his tired eyes and suppressed a wide yawn before flexing his wrists then picked another. There were dozens of information concerning the location of the mythical ring and most of them were just noise.

He had to keep checking, However, as far as he knew his subconscious might be wrong and he might be on a wild goose chase. He scanned the file impatiently and tried but failed to suppress another yawn before a call came through. It was Kazuki.

" Hello" he answered gruffly. " Hey, that ring you were looking for... I think I have a lead on who might know it's location." Kazuki beamed.

" Who is he?" Hikari asked, curious. "An archeologist, I'll get back to you when I get his location" Kazuki replied. " Okay hurry and be discreet about it, you get his location and name then send it to me directly okay?" Hikari demanded.

" Okay Hikari, give me a few hours" Kazuki replied simply and terminated the connection.

***

Ryu went back to the realm of his subconscious. " Kage I need to learn how you fired my spell back at me ". " There's no need to rush it's all about your poise and the transfer of your body energy, once you can get those then you will be able to control it" Kage advised.

" And how do I do that?" Ryu asked with a raised eyebrow. Kage nodded at a sword on the ground. " Pick it up and I'll show you" Kage grinned.

" How much of a beating am I going to have to endure before you teach me" Ryu asked suspiciously. "It depends on how hard you hit me" Kage said with a chuckle and charged forward, his sword at the ready then followed a second later by his opponent.

This time Ryu needed no urging, he swung his sword with deadly force to counter Kage's strike and the duel quickly morphed into something beyond mere amateurs. " Give me everything you've got" Ryu taunted and earned an incredulous look from Kage.

" With pleasure" Kage said with a malicious glint in his eyes and delivered a high overhead strike which was effectively blocked by Ryu who had been expecting it and deployed and effective counterattack and so they continued this dance of warriors with repeated thrusts and parries.

Ryu's body was already pulsating with shadow energy " "Kage no Shūen" (Shadow's End)" he yelled and fired the attack at Kage who caught it and began the chant. " "Kage no Shūen" (Shadow's End)..." He repeated it faster and faster while the blast grew increasingly before firing it back.

Meanwhile Ryu who was watching him closely assumed his stance and arched his palm to receive it. " Looks easy enough" he muttered. He was wrong, it seemed to drain his life force the moment it came into contact with him.

" Don't block it out! Attune to it!" Kage advised watching Ryu closely who was locked in a debate on how to do that while his life force dwindled before his very eyes.

" You'd actually be more pathetic than I thought, if you can't do this, c'mon Ryu you're stronger than this!" Kage coached.

But was he really?