8 Bandit Massacre

The month went by like a breeze, as Kai trained his knife skills with Jerald at the Raleigh estate. And at the homefront he trained with Oni every night mastering Silent echo and attempting to break into the first levels of Deadly mirage. He also began to work on taijutsu a rare form of hand to hand combat.

The final day arrived, and Kai stood face to face with Oni again. But this time they were at the Sand garden. The effects of the forbidden technique took a great toll on his body and soul. He was akin to a walking corpse. His hair was disheveled, his face ashen, even his eyes appeared lifeless against the glittering sunlight.

"It all comes down to this" Oni earnestly. "Perform Silent echo!"

Kai looked down at his feet and observed the dry leaves. Unlike the rest of the desert, Sand garden could miraculously support the life and growth of trees and other vegetation. He concentrated deep within his core until he felt a rhythmic echo commence inside his body. Kai let this energy out through his feet as waves of it crashed against the ground.

As he walked forward there was no sound produced. Even against the dry leaves of the desert not a single crunch was heard.

"Acceptable" Oni nodded. "Now show me Deadly mirage, while attacking me"

When Oni gave his order Kai nervously cleared his throat. During the past month the only time he ever managed to create a mirage was a fluke that lasted a second. How would he be able to do that while attacking Oni!

Kai took a deep breath and turned around. He scaled a nearby tree quite easily thanks to his taijutsu training. As he got to the top, he began reminiscing about the time he was traversing the tree tops to kill the boar. Can't believe I almost lost my life to a common boar, it would be so easy for me to kill it now, he thought.

Suddenly a light bulb flashed in Kai's head, he should utilize the same tactic against Oni. By using deadly mirage and an airborne assault, he might just might confuse Oni for a split second until he was ready to strike.

Kai closed his eyes and took in another breath of air. Deadly mirage was created by releasing the same vibrations as Silent echo. But this time the energy would crash against the air as opposed to the earth.

The rhythmic echo commenced inside his body again and oscillations of energy hit the air molecules around him. Slowly the ripples around Kai began to turn into clonelike images of him. He had no time to celebrate as even a slight disturbance to his mind would make the technique collapse. Abruptly he opened his eyes and sprinted towards the next tree. The two other Kai's went in two other directions of their own.

One Kai went directly above Oni and lunged downward with two identical daggers. Oni raised his blade and cut through him in half. But fortunately it was a mirage and the clone disappeared into the air.

"How did you know that wasn't me? You cut the mirage in half with no consideration" Kai yelled out nervously.

"I didn't" Oni said with a sick smile.

Now he'll definitely send the other clone out, knowing I'm not holding back, Oni thought to himself.

Soon the remaining 2 Kai's came down and surrounded Oni on parallel sides.

"Come at me!" Oni roared.

Then one Kai rushed for him and another followed suit. Oni smirked, the one that ran first is definitely the clone.

Kai brought his daggers out and aimed straight for Oni's face. But something wasn't right, the first dagger grazed his check until blood came out. The second was still en route and if it connects with his face Oni would definitely die.

He barely managed to dodge by performed an aerial flip into the air. Before he landed he struck Kai on the arm with full side kick. Kai flew in the air until he slammed against a tree.

There was only one thing going through Oni mind right now Combat genius. Even knowing that Oni would go full force he still attacked him without his remaining clone. The move shocked Oni and he could only dodge at the last second.

"Medicore" Oni said with a humph. Even though Kai did brilliantly, he didn't want him to be caught in his own ego. Last thing he wants is for Kai to be too sure of himself and die due to overconfidence.

Kai slowly walked forward while clutching his arm. The last remaining clone already dissipated into the air due to the disturbance his mind had received when Oni battered him.

"So do I pass?" Kai questioned as he fought to consume air into his lungs.

Oni stated at him in contemplation until he made up his mind. "The last thing you need to do is fight somebody on your level using all three techniques that I taught you. There has been a bandit raid at a nearby village, they attacked the villagers with wanton murder and raped the women. It's now your job to exterminate them." Oni said with closed eyes while clutching his fist.

"So i'm going to have to kill them." Kai said slowly.

"With their crimes they deserve a punishment far worse than death, but yes you are going to execute them."

Kai began to hyperventilate, He never killed someone before and the mere thought of it made his stomach tighten in disgust and fear. But thinking about the innocent villagers murdered made him more resolved. If he didn't kill the bandits even more people would suffer.