S1 Ep.8

Once again News about the duel had spread like wildfire. The first to hear of this was Cinthia who was fuming with rage but not for Koji.

'Did that girl manage to charm Master Koji!? I will tare her apart! How dare she seduce master Koji with her body!'

Cinthia was never known to admit defeat but in terms of womanly beauty she was beaten by Hana.

Hana however was still in her own reality before Koji asked her with a smile behind the mask.

"Will you join my team? Just until the duel is over?"

Hana was very hesitant to answer before she nodded.

"Excellent! Now let's go find Master Zuang to help."

Both Koji and Hana made their way through the crowd that was too stunned to even make a sound and looked more like statues with their mouths wide open.

It didn't take long for Koji and Hana to reach Zuang's office before Koji knocked.

"Master Zuang? It's Koji, I need to speak with you."

Zuang was quick to open the door and pull Koji and Hana inside his office.

"Master Koji… ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND?!"

Koji was confused and tilted his head before Old man Zuang pointed at Hana as her Squad token had changed to black that matched Koji's.

"Once you verbally invite someone to your team it is permanent if they accept! Ms.Haboro is now permanently in your team."

Hana felt saddened as Zuang said it like it was the worst possible choice but Koji didn't feel that way as he took off his mask.

"And? Am I supposed to ignore someone in pain?"

Hana peeked her head forward in amazement as she stared heavily at koji's face but Zuang hardly recognized it was Koji as he had only seen him with a beard or with a mask covering his face.

'He's gorgeous…'

'He's gorgeous…'

Yet still Koji looked like only skin and bones with his complexion.

Zuang was quick to realize why Koji had come here to him.

"Do you wish me to teach the basics to Ms.Haboro?"

Koji was quick to answer with a nod before the room changed from an office to a trading room.

"Let us begin then. Summon your Hotoshi and strike me."

Hana hesitated for a moment before she pulled out her Hotoshi that was shaped as a regular longsword with no defining features to the blade.

"Zanbo awaken! First Form: Flamerend!"

In an instant a beautiful blue flame started to cover Hana's Blade. It was here that Koji saw red markings all over Hana's body as she kept attacking Zuang for only moments at a time.

"Stop!"

Both Zuang and Hana were confused before Zuang realized Hana looked like she was about to pass out.

"The duel is in two hours, I can't have you completely exhausted before then."

Hana nodded in agreement as she sat down while Zuang stood next to Koji and whispered in his ear.

"Master Koji I fear you set her on a path impossible to achieve success. She is already at the limit at what she can do."

Zuang was one of the best weapon instructors in the school so he knew when someone had reached their limits.

But Koji disagreed as he picked up a wooden training sword.

"Hana once your energy has recovered I want you to use your technique again but this time I want you to try the movements I will make."

Both Zuang and Hana were confused before Koji began the footwork that Hana used for Flamerend but instead made one change as he switched hands so the tip of the wooden blade reached his fingers as he pulled his other arm back.

Zuang was curious on what it would achieve but was willing to see and prepared himself as Hana took a deep breath and followed the same movements that Koji had demonstrated.

"Zanbo awaken! First Form: Flamerend!"

Zuang and Koji were stunned as this time a black flame covered Hana's blade.

Hana however didn't realize and stabbed at Zuang and it was no surprise that Zuang had blocked it until Zuang realized that he had taken a step backwards before looking at Koji who began showing Hana slight changes in her movements.

'Master Koji… what did you just do?'

Little by little Zuang felt the extent of Hana's Flamerend increase further then before until the movements in her technique had been changed completely.

It had reached a whole new level just when Zuang thought it had reach its maximum potential. However it was not strong enough for Zuang to admit defeat.

Although the movements had changed completely Hana still felt like she had been using it for years and felt more alive then ever.

"Master Koji, I'm not sure if your teachings have helped me but I feel overwhelmed with joy. Thank you."

Zuang now felt sorry for the poor girls Hana would be facing and was about to warn her about showing restraint before seeing Hana use another set of movements that were similar to the first Flamerend except for Hana sheathing her blade and let out an explosive wave of blue flames as she drew her blade out in one quick motion.

"Zanbo! Tare through! Second Form: Dragons roar!"

Zuang was about to applause Hana before she turned to Koji for more teachings.

Once again Hana's technique had improved by a whole different league then before after following the movements made by Koji.

The first dragons roar gave a small explosion in front of Hana but now it fired a ball of black flames in the shape of a dragon that was the size of a semi truck.

Zuang felt the training room was about to break before he changed the scenery back to the office.

Koji then pulled down his mask and realized that it was nearly the time of the duel before he and Hana Bowed to Zuang.

"Thank you for your time."

"Thank you for your time."

However even after they had left Zuang was still blanking on what just happened.

Koji and Hana both had doubts to would Hana's last minute training would bare fruit but had hope as he and Hana approached the dueling podium.

"Master Koji what if I lose the duel? I-"

Koji quickly flicked her forehead and turned her towards the stage.

"Focus on your actions and not the outcome. It is all you can control."

Hana smiled by Koji's words before she stepped onto the mat.

'I must do my best for Master Koji.'

Koji stepped into the ring as well as the group of girls who had their Hotoshi's at the ready with confidence in their steps.

"Come on girls let's get this done fast. I want to go eat."

"This fight will be over before it begins."

Hana started to expand her aura as did the girls while the other students began recording the duel.

Koji was Surprised to see Xia herself ring the bell before Hana started her footwork.

"You know that this isn't a dance right Hana! I'll beat you so bad that you'll beg for forgiveness!"

One of the girls with a dagger swiftly closed the distance but was too late.

"Zanbo awaken! First Form: Flamerend!"

Everyone was blinded by the intensity of the black flames before they felt Hana's aura increased tenfold.

'How is this geek so strong?! Was she hiding her true strength?!'

Even Xia was amazed by Hana's Aura as Hana was her own student but this was the first she has ever seen Hana be so strong.

'How did I not recognize such a talented student in my class?'

Xia then looked over at Koji and could tell he was smiling just from seeing his eyes before Hana Started fighting each of the girls on equal footing.

Hana used their numbers against them as she would constantly redirect their weapons towards their teammates while defending against any surprise attacks.

'Her swordsmanship has improved as well?! What has happened?!'

Just when the duel was coming to an end Hana prepared for her last attack.

"Zanbo! Tare through! Second Form: Dragons roar!"

Some believed that an actual dragon had been summoned as the black flame dragon came crashing down only for the students and Xia to see Hana standing tall while the others were unconscious but breathing.

Koji was the first to clap before others joined while Xia healed the unconscious students.

"Well done Hana. You did well."

Hana blushed before she bowed to Koji.

"My victory was because of your aid in my techniques. Thank you."

The audience and Xia were dead silent before they all stared at Koji.

Xia was half surprised at this point that Koji was the cause for Hana's sudden growth.

But everyone else were shocked that Hana, a geeky young girl who was quiet and weak received teachings from Koji?

They all began to wonder how much they could grow if Koji had teached them.

"""Master Koji please teach us!"""

Koji was bewildered by every student asking to be taught by him as he didn't think he did that much for Hana.

'But Old man Zuang was the one who taught Hana more then I could. Why do they want me to teach them?'

Zuang was a fully seasoned veteran and could have been a soul Guardian for a long time had it not been for his old age.

Naturally Koji thought the efforts of Hana's victory was to be given praise to Zuang and not himself.

Once again showing to Xia and Madam Bo who was watching from her office just how thick headed Koji can be.

Weeks had passed since the duel and while many students tried to have Koji teach them they were all refused by Koji while he and Hana kept training in a secluded training room given by Madam Bo.

Hana was challenged many times over the weeks by second and third years but none could defeat her.

Cinthia had tried to both challenge Hana and join Koji's team but was rejected every time.

But during every lunch break Hana was eating alone with Koji nowhere to be seen.

When it first started Hana Naturally was worried but after a week had passed Hana was use to it.

But even while Hana was eating Cinthia asked for a duel.

"I want to fight you! Let us duel!"

"No."

"I won't give-"

"No."

"I will prove-"

"No."

Hana showed no emotion when rejecting Cinthia which surprised everyone else but Hana was inwardly hoping for Cinthia to leave.

'Please go away! I can't handle it anymore!'

Cinthia soon left as she heard the lunch bell ring before heading back to class.

'I don't know how much more I can take.'

Cinthia was persistent to say the least and that was why Koji told Hana to ignore Cinthia no matter what she asked.

Hana's attention however was focused on a poster on the student news board of a tournament.

Koji was just finding out as well from Madam Bo who was watching Koji cook some eggs over a stove in his dorm.

"The tournament will be held in three days and I must ask that you do not participate."

Koji stopped cooking and turned to Madam Bo.

"It's a tournament for the students, am I not a student?"

Madam Bo held up a pair of keys for Koji to see.

"After the duel with Ms.Haboro I've been receiving requests from students and their families to start a combat class for Soul techniques and everyone has asked for you to lead the class."

Koji groaned his annoyance before Madam Bo handed him the keys.

"I have no choice in the matter as this request came from the Soul Hunter Society. If it were up to me then I would reject them."

Koji was even more annoyed and even angry.

"I get that I've been helping Hana train her fighting skills but I don't think this is necessary."

Madam Bo felt a headache as Koji didn't understand the gravity of training Hana for the past several weeks.

If you were to compare Hana as she is now to who she was before meeting Koji then you would think they're entirely different people.

"I'll do it on one condition."

Madam Bo Expected herself trying for hours to convince Koji to accept but was surprised at how easy it was.

"What is your condition?"

Koji finished making his breakfast that gave such a rich and beautiful aroma before he said with a angry expression.

"I will create a trial. If they pass then they can join but not if they fail and I will take up to ten people a month. If that works then I'll gladly do it."

Madam Bo was suspicious of said trial but nodded as Koji then held up five fingers.

"To pass the trial they need to defeat five teachers in a duel."

Madams eyes widened after hearing the trial Koji had in mind and was about to reject the idea completely as all the teachers were Soul Masters.

However Madam Bo realized this was the perfect opportunity.

"Alright, I'll inform the teachers before a formal announcement is made."

Koji smiled as he kept eating before Madam Bo left.

'Now the students will have to improve their skills to pass koji's trial and it will keep the teachers from getting rusty.'