--Izuna Sienzan, formerly of the Eight Flashes of Heaven (・・・・).

　He is a two-fisted fighter with a hammer and an axe.

　Her unorthodox battle style fascinates audiences, and her abilities have flourished even more since joining the Eight Flashes of Heaven.

　He can use both long and short range techniques to crush any opponent.
　The unique fighting sword that made him who he was, the sword that was called Izuna's original.

　Looking back, that was the peak of his career.

　He was never able to become a champion.
　And he was overtaken by many other fierce fighters who came after him.

　It was not that he was particularly old.
　Rather, he was amazing for reaching the Eight Flashes of Heaven when he was still a boy.

　But even if he knew that...


"Shit, shit, shit, shit. ！！！！


　It was humiliating to be overtaken one by one by the younger generation, who were not much older than him, but who had developed their talents as fighters later than him.

　You can win at first. The first "fighting swordsman" to fight Izuna was unable to keep up with his style, no matter who he was fighting.
　But one by one, the brilliant and fierce fighters responded, memorized, and exploited his holes.

　So before long, Izuna Sienzang was no longer hailed as the ideal fighting style. Instead, he was called the first test of the Eight Flashes of Heaven.

　Hammer and axe and martial arts.

　If you can't beat him, you can't survive in the Eight Flashes.

　--In fact, the fact that Prim was able to beat him in the latter half of the game confirms this.

　That's what I've been told.
　In my frustration, I kept working out. I reached out to catch up again to the back of the pack that had passed me.

　But I couldn't.

　I knew that a heretical style could never beat the royal road.
　Feeling as if she had put an end to the fighting style she believed to be the strongest, Izuna continued to fight desperately with her sword.

　Hammer and axe and fighting techniques. He believed that a fighting style that excelled at both distance and proximity was strong.
　To prove it.

　But...


"Winner!　The shapeshifting demon god!　Hutaaaaaaaa ！！！！


　--It wasn't my battle style that was weak.

　It's not the battle style that was weak, it was the self.

　In the event you're not sure what you're looking for, there are a few things you can do.

　You've got to be kidding me.

　Don't be silly.

　That's my style.

　That thing you used to juggle today, that's my style.

　It's what I've been wowing audiences with.

　How hard do you think I've been working?

　How much thought do you think I put into it?

　Wash your head and wait, Futa.

　Someday. I'll use everything I've got.

　I will defeat you.



　--Two years later.

　Futa was banished from the Colosseum.













Impossible. Zero percent chance of winning. Let's run, Master!

　Izuna scratches his head and asks Motisuke.

"How many times does it take to win?
Even if you try 10 times, you won't win!
Ha-ha-ha. You're an idiot. Then of course you'll do it a hundred times.

　Carry the hatchet.
　The blades that had been locked together parted, and the man in front of me returned the spear to his hand, his eyes regaining their color.

"Prim. Can you do a little more?
"Yeah, yeah. The weapon's shattered.
Here, take this.
You sure?

　He hands Prim the cross spear he seems to have brought with him.

　Then, finally. Slowly, he looked at Izuna.

"Hey, it's been a while. Champion.
"......, yeah.

　The two met with few words and a little distance between them.

　I'm not sure if you've seen this before, but I'm sure you've.

　The odds of winning are zero. You'll never win.
　Her face is still tense as she tells him that, and she continues to advise him to retreat with Izuna.

"Who is she?
"Motisuke.
Well... ...... Are you going to pull out?　I'm just trying to protect the people out there.


"............

　Izuna closed her eyes.
　The one you've always wanted to beat, the one you've been looking for.
　Of course, the only person who thought so was himself.
　You are the only one who is burning with the will to fight after a long time of meeting.

　That day. For the champion who left for the waiting room.

　For those who once passed him.

　For those who can only watch their backs.

　Izna Sienzan is of little value.

　I know.

Yeah. I'm not backing down. But rest assured.
What?
Killing the old man is secondary. The bounty we get from killing that old man is what me and Motosuke need to live for tomorrow. But you know what? I need to f*ck you so that I can live today.
"......, huh?

　Futa closes his eyes as if he is thinking about something.
　I'm not sure if you've seen this before, but I'm sure you've.

I hope you can live only in the fight, you were the biggest obstacle for us to go up. Please, don't run away from me.

　Futa let out a light breath.

I understand.
I don't know.

　He clenched his fists and said.

I've got Motosuke's power on me now. Don't think it's fair.

　This is different from Prim's time.
　I'm not using it to break through obstacles for Motisuke.

　I'll use this power to challenge Futa, but only for myself.

　There is still enough time for the effect.
　There's no need to worry about it wearing off in the middle.

　--The first time I felt her power.

　I knew this was it.
　What I should be training for.

　What I should have one day.
　The result of my training to surpass Futa.

　The power I wanted so badly.

　Yes.
　This is an advance.

　This is an advance, I tell myself.



　--Izna Sienzan is not strong.



　A talent that blossomed at a young age. Sounds good, but she didn't have enough experience.
　Not enough. Big, yeah. The experience of falling and rising from it.

　So when the younger students overtook me, all I could do was train.

　He was somewhat similar to the young man in front of me.

　I had no choice but to train.

　Because that's how I've been doing it up until now.

　I don't know why it suddenly stopped working.

　There's no one to tell me.

　No one can tell me why things suddenly went wrong.

　Because he is a good-looking, cheerful man, no one notices his depressing thoughts.

　It is not that he has a bad character. He's a reckless, bold man who can help a strange girl with nothing in return.

　So. So what?　So what?
　That kindness doesn't equate to strength of heart.

　People think. He never does anything wrong. He's reckless and straightforward, so he won't do anything wrong.

　--Often. The delinquents who go delinquent are all like that.

　I should say I'm glad I met Mochisuke.

　If I had to face a power that's not good for me.

　Would Izuna Sienzan not have taken his hand?
　That would be a lie.


This is an advance.
"I see.

　Futa nodded easily.
　And then he raised his fist. Your fist. Just a fist.

I don't care. I don't care what you do. I won't deny you anything as you do everything in your power to defeat me.


"What--

　It was a disappointment, no.
　The affirmation set Izuna's heart on fire.

　He said it didn't matter. "Come at me.

"Ha. ......

　He exhaled. And then he raised his hatchet.

"You said. I told you. ...... Show my power. ！！！！

　As if jumping into the air, Izuna starts to run.

"I'll hold Mochisuke back, Futa. It's called a tag team match.
Oh.

　I'm not sure if this is a good idea or not.

　But it's not in Izuna's sight anymore.
　I'm not sure if this is a good idea or not, but it's a good idea.

I'm not sure what to do.

　The earth-splitting swing is the fastest.
　I'm not sure what to make of it, but I think it's a good idea.
　There's no way you can avoid it.
　I'm not sure what to do.

　That's what I was thinking.

I'm not sure what to do.

I can't do it.　

　I'm not sure if this is a good idea or not, but it's a good idea.

"Now ......
"Not yet.

I'm not sure what to do.

　The right fist was followed by the left.
　I'm not sure if it's a good idea, but it's a good idea.

I was blown away.

　I'm not sure if this is a good idea, but it's a good idea.

"Not yet!

　He swings his hatchet.
　It doesn't hit Futa.

　Izuna raises his fist to match the fist that he ducks under and swings.
　However, she was kicked away and fell down after hitting him evenly with her own fist.

　Why?

　He reared his mallet at Futa, who had taken his distance.
　Futa's leap. He forcibly stopped the blade in mid-cleave and leapt up. That kind of physical strength is just a standard that Izuna has. If you can't do that, you can't be a hammer axe wielder.

　However, kicking the handle of the hatchet away, Futa steps back and sneaks into his pocket once again.

　He's fast. Why so fast?

　Even though I'm now being reinforced by Motisuke.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa!

　I check it with my fist. He avoids me. I looked at him.

　Because that thing was faster than me, no matter how you look at it.

"Why?

　I said involuntarily.
　That split second could be fatal.
　The fist he swung blew away Izuna, who had no choice but to protect her abdomen with her arm.

　Why?

　Why are you faster than me?

You don't have Motosuke's power.

　I'm sure it's not on you.

　I'm sure it's not..." Futa said casually to Izuna's wide-eyed question.

But it's on you.
"What about ......?

　I didn't know what he meant.
　I couldn't understand what Futa was saying as he held up his fist.

It's on me, so what?
"If your body is being strengthened, then all you have to do is move in accordance with you.
You can't... ！！！！

　You can't do that. ！！！！

　To move fast. Drilling hard. That's the main benefit of body enhancement.
　But it's only a "body" enhancement.
　It has nothing to do with your brain or your skill.

　He was so quick to avoid the swinging axe that it seemed as if he had been strengthened by Mochisuke.

That, that's the power I should get!

Kuro Hawk Karate: Spiral Strike

　He swung his prized fist at Futa, who ducked under the hammer and axe.
　I'm not sure if this is a good idea or not, but it's a good idea.

For example, if this is a loan of the power you get...



Imitation: Izuna Sienzan = Kuro Eagle Karate: Spiral Strike

　Fist against fist, the wall of air cracks, and the storm spreads like a ripple to the surrounding area.

When you're working hard, everyone else is working hard, too.
"!

　Fist to fist, they are evenly matched.
　When they are both bounced off each other, the only hands left are the hatchet or the fist.

　It's obvious which is faster.

I'm not sure if this is a good idea or not.

"Gosh, ......!

　The heavy blow to the abdomen blew Izuna away.

　She falls back and stumbles back to her feet.

"f*ck you ......!

　I knew that without being told.
　No, I thought I did.

　When I told myself I was borrowing, I already knew.

"Oh shit, oh shit, oh shit!

　Even though the cooler part of me complained that I was being selfish because I couldn't admit it.
　But you can't give up because the pinnacle is right in front of you.

　The hammer axe he swung cut through the air once again, and before he knew it, he was being blown away by Futa.
　And so it goes.
　There's nothing I can do. There's nothing I can do.

"Why?

　Memories come flooding back.

　I told myself I was strong.

　I kept telling myself I wasn't stupid.

　All the effort I put into the fight, even when I unleash it, still doesn't reach me.

　It was a blessing in disguise that I met Futa here.
　That's why I've traveled all this time.

　I've trained myself repeatedly. Just as I did at the Colosseum.

　But... And yet...

　A blow was struck and Izuna was blown away.

"Then ...... what am I supposed to do?

　He staggered, but still held the hatchet.
　In the days of the Colosseum, he had pushed his way through by force. No matter how hard he trained, he could not overcome the wall.

　Then what should I do now?

　I can't stand in the Colosseum with such a flimsy will that I can just give up and live the rest of my life.

　I don't want to end up here. I don't want to spend the rest of my life chasing after more and more backs.

　The words that he was spitting out were not directed at Futa.

　The man standing in front of me has a zero percent chance of winning. I know.
　He's inexplicably flawless. I can't even think of a way to break him down.

　If I can't count on the power in my hands, what am I supposed to do?

I don't know.

　But there was an answer in that murmur.

I didn't know. I didn't know what to do. That's why they banished me.
I was expelled.
But now I'm alive. I never gave up on my dreams.
Why? ......
I couldn't do it alone.

　The coldness in Futa's eyes has disappeared, as he shakes his head lazily.
　And. He was looking at Izuna straight in the eyes.

I've felt your training. Maybe I know how you feel. I wanted to cling to something. I was weak.

　I wanted to scream at you to stop.
　Weak. The last thing I want to hear, the last thing I want to be confronted with.
　The backs I saw that day as my consciousness faded.
　The backs of those who were overtaking me.

　They were probably telling you with their backs. That they were stronger than you.

　I couldn't let that happen. I was frustrated. But there was nothing I could do about it.

　All I wanted was to somehow beat the champion.

　I was desperate to prove my hammer and axe and my fighting skills and my strength.

I'll tell you what to do. I've got someone to guide me, someone to support me. And a guy who pisses me off but I can count on. And many others. And thanks to them, I might be able to reach my dreams.



　So...

"First things first. Let's find someone who can tell us everything.
Someone...

　Someone you can tell everything to.
　Everything about you. It's probably the one thing you don't want to be touched the most-- your weaknesses.

　I breathed out.

"...... Motisuke!

　I'm not sure what to do, but I'm going to do it.

Stop that power.
"Only if Master commands it.

　I'm not sure if that's the right thing to do, but I guess Master Izuna's orders are absolute.
　You can feel the power slipping out of Izuna, who is right in front of you.

　He clenched his fists again and let out a sigh.

　I don't think I can beat Futa with this. But...

"Come on, Futa.
Are you sure you want to go to ......?
Yeah.

　Futa and Izuna collide.

　Hammers and axes and martial arts. Fists in imitation of Futa's.
　After being hit over and over again, Izuna challenges Futa with a howling fury.

　Mochisuke just stared at the scene.

　--Izuna had always said.

I'm strong. I'm not stupid.

　I'm strong, I'm not stupid." Having been told this throughout his journey, Mochisuke couldn't understand what he was seeing.

"Why would you dare to do something that would put you at a disadvantage?

　I'm not stupid, I'm not weak, but why is that person being beaten up like this?

I'll tell you.
"...... Prim.

　I'm not sure if you've heard of it, but I'm sure you have.

"This is the sword.
"...... Is this the sword?

　"This is the sword?" The sight in her red, jewel-like eyes. This is the sword.

A clash of swords. The desire to surpass the opponent. And then... The bare edge.

　That is, a battle of wills.

　No one else's power can interfere with that.

Ha! So this is a fighting sword.
Mr. Wind, are you okay to stand?
No, I'm fine. I'm energized.

　"No, I'm fine," Wind says, standing next to Motisuke.

I've seen the whole thing. I can see that. In the end, it was too much for you.
"Too much?

　Wind nodded at Prim's question.

　The fact that he didn't use Motisuke's power against Prim from the start proves it.

　I don't want to use it too much. I don't want to use it too much. I said that because I thought it was unfair to use the power I borrowed.

　The man in front of me, who wanted to win as much as he could, didn't even have time for that.

　But in the end, Izuna Sienzan is a "fighter".
　He is a fighter, no matter what.

　There is nothing she wants more than to be a fair and square winner and be cheered.

　Izuna's words that she sometimes mutters to herself.

　I'm sure it's because of that thought.


　And then Izuna blew up.

"Master!

　Mochisuke cries out and starts to run.

　Izuna, who had been knocked to the ground over and over again, could no longer stand.
　There was no mistake in Motisuke's decision.

　In his fading consciousness.

　Unlike that day, Futa is looking at me.

　And...

"I'm sorry, Motosuke.
"Master ......


　She looked at Izuna with concern, and Izuna smiled somewhat weakly and said.


I'm weak.







　--There.

　The carriage arrives.