The Original Plan

Akuma was finally fifteen, old enough to execute his plan to become the saikyo. After all his waiting, his chance had finally come. 

His plan was simple. He would impress a passing royal envoy and get a rank evaluation, get recruited and use their training regime to become the best.

It had seemed easy enough.

Akuma timed things perfectly, waiting for the scheduled tax visit from the guards, when he could challenge one. 

When they did arrive, Akuma couldn't help but forget his plan and watch in awe. 

He still admired them. Like when he was younger, they came well-equipped in a pristine golden chariot, drawn by beautiful, Pegasus-like monsters. 

"Hello", Asaka got their attention. "I think you should come and meet my cousin."

Luckily, someone stuck to the plan.

One of the guards sighed, "I'll go - you can finish here."

The other guards were clearly relieved, while this guard was clearly resentful. Maybe they didn't like being challenged by a child. 

As Asaka approached with the guard, Akuma noticed the guard's appearance being rougher than he expected. 

The way he spoke and walked was rough, as though he was a peasant or a commoner. When he raised his visor, his face was scarred and covered with stubble. 

Yet still he seemed powerful.

"He your cousin then?", The guard's crass words caught Akuma off-guard and left him disappointed. While he didn't lose any admiration for the saikyo, he did wish he could've challenged a more professional soldier.

"Yes!", Asaka told the guard excitedly. 

Asaka and Akuma had been very close their entire lives, being the only children in the clan, and two of the only few children in the village.

They'd been like brother and sister, but Asaka didn't quite see it like that.

The guard reluctantly asked, "What do you want?"

"A duel", Akuma left it at that, not wanting to sound childish. 

"Really now", The guard chuckled like he had been asked that question a lot. "You want to duel a captain from the elite royal guard?"

Akuma hadn't noticed his rank before, but was still confident that he would win. 

After all, he trained for the strongest, not the captain under his command. 

"Yes, he said he wants to duel you, so he can win and become the saikyo", Asaka was practically jumping with excitement, luckily she knew him well enough to know he wouldn't chicken out. 

The guard chuckled once more, "go on then."

Akuma was expecting he would at least draw a weapon, but the captain was so confident that he chose to just stand still, arrogantly. 

This arrogance annoyed Akuma. 

"I'll show him", he thought. If the captain had heard the tone in Akuma's head, he would have surely feared for his life. 

In an instant, Akuma leapt forward at the guard and activated his skill - Sealing Fist!

The guard froze, first due to surprise, then due to the skill's effect. 

In alarm, the other guards rushed over.

"What happened to the captain?", all the other guards were confused. 

"My cousin!", she grabbed Akuma's hand and raised it. "He did it!"

Akuma really wished that she would wait before declaring it, in case they decided to arrest the culprit.

"You've got some talent kid", one of them commented,

"Yeah, captain was high B rank", they all agreed. 

When the captain finally stirred, he had some questions.

Everything seemed to be going to plan.