mercy.

Three months later.

 He never took off the uniform given by Shiba; its springs were just another part of his training. He learned the formless style with the suit. Interestingly, Lu Tian didn't mention anything about the extra training. Equality didn't exist here, in this place, or elsewhere. The formless style was based on two principles: the Niko katas, especially one based on the water kata, in its highest expression, required complete release with loose arms and body, reacting fluidly to movement changes. To enter this state, the senses had to be blocked.

During the day, he trained in the formless style, and at night, he trained in boxing and fajin, incorporating the Takemoto style more into the formless style. By day, he was a demon surrendering to his Dou Ki, while by night, he used his rationality. His beast and his reason were two parts, only the combination of both Ki, but it was another forbidden technique.

The problem was that his consciousness began to wane, and the beast within him emerged. The methods of the other Niko aimed to indoctrinate, teach, and control, maintaining him in distinct parameters.

In the formless style, he struck from all angles. The practice was strict, and Kei doubted in his first weeks. The blows were difficult to disarm. His skills had to be blocked, forbidden to use anything other than the formless style and the Niko style. Boxing, Kempo, and Aikido were blocked. Two things were frequent: it was a primitive style that led Kei not to think, to follow and follow, with only the basic instinct to prevail.

All day, he didn't stop perfecting his techniques.

-101, practice awaits, - said 85.

-I'll be with you in a moment, - murmured Kei, nicknamed 101. He was in a meditative practice, anxious that at any moment he would be part of the Gu ritual.

The group practice was a battle of all against all. For Kei, these were small simulations. His strategy was clear: use Sei Ki for the Gu ritual and Dou Ki for simulations and activities.

Knowing that Kannoh would face a problem in the future due to his two styles, one formless and one martial, Kei tried to separate them for now. The idea was to combine them with Isshijin Ogata's techniques with Ryuto's help or use them in brief flashes, switching styles in milliseconds to surprise his opponents.

These were just hypotheses.

The view was harsh: 101 insane souls using the formless style, each pushed to the extreme, each in a state of madness, striking from side to side. Kei's current loss was due to his size difference, but he knew he had to endure. His punches were the weakest in strength but not necessarily in endurance. The daily beatings from all his "brothers" were breaking his psyche. Kei said it, but internally, he avoided any indisposition, any failure. They were all victims, and although he had accepted the fact of killing, it was kill or be killed. He didn't approve of the other Niko's cruel methods.

-What do you think? Aren't they fine candidates? In two days, they'll undergo the Gu ritual, - said the other Niko to Senzui, who was with Mikumo Kushinada.

-You're despicable, Shadow of the Cloud, - remarked Kushinada.

-Hahahahahaha, - laughed the other Niko.

-Who do you think will be the winner or rather the only survivor of the Gu ritual? Let's make a bet. I love bets, - said the sadistic man.

Not wanting to leave his new shadow without a word, Senzui pointed to one of the strongest prospects, number 23, a giant bear of 185 cm with above-average flexibility and power.

-Number 23 is a good choice, a very good choice. Go ahead, Shadow of the Water, while you're in my power, I'll give you whatever you want. Aren't you interested in the Niko-style katas? -commented the Shadow of the Cloud.

-Alright, I'll go with that one, - he pointed to number 85, the leader of the group, who best controlled the beast.

-Hahahahaha, another good choice, - said the other Niko. -But I bet on the redhead. See that little one? He's a swindler, someone of my style, has cold blood, a specialist in killing. I picked him up from a band of mercenaries. Among all of them, he is the most evil. Though you might not notice, I wanted to get him, but I saw something in him that not many have. Even now, you've fallen for his tricks, he only shows what others want to see. He has more fighting styles that combine with the Formless Style, - growled the other Niko. He wasn't wrong, he could see in Kei his practicality, with superior instinct, that of an assassin. Martial arts required intellectual capacity, and battle in combat had to be a chess game, some planned months before, years... all to achieve victory.

-You think highly of the boy, but a ritual like the one you practice is something random, - commented Mikumo.

-In my expertise, sometimes I can see who will survive or who will die at a glance, - said the other Niko.

***

Kenichi ran through the dark streets, searching for Takeda with some urgency, sweat dripping down his forehead.

Where are they fighting? The train tracks area is quite large, though Kenichi, running at full speed to save Takeda. Moments before, he had received a quick dial call about the fight, the ambush.

Miu was on the second floor. - Kenichi, I found them. It's a narrow street, I almost lost sight of them. Let's hurry. -

-Great, Miu. We need to find them, - responded Kenichi, running towards the destination with Miu following by his side.

In the night, there was also one who hunted in the darkness, seizing opportunities to ignite his empire with a vision that now was the time to elevate his empire to a new era, focusing on strength.

-We've arrived, Nijima-sama. -

-Just wait, world! My era has come! Now is the chance to destroy Kizara's army, - proclaimed Nijima, roaring with laughter.

...