Tanimoto initiated the battle. Lunging forward, his sword aimed straight for Jin's chest. The clash of metal rang out as Jin quickly parried the attack, his movements fluid and precise.
The other heroes watched in awe as Tanimoto pressed his attack, his strikes coming fast and fierce. Jin found himself on the defensive, barely managing to block each blow.
Daiki's eyes widened in surprise. "I didn't know Tanimoto could fight like this. He's actually keeping up with Jin."
Isabel clenched her fists, torn between concern for Jin and admiration for Tanimoto's skill. "Maybe he's not just some big bully after all... but that doesn't change how I feel about him!"
Tanimoto grinned fiercely, clearly enjoying the challenge. "Not bad, Jin. But I'm just getting started!"
He suddenly switched tactics, feinting to the left before striking from the right. Jin barely dodged in time, his expression finally showing a hint of strain as he captured his breath.
Everyone watched with concern as Tanimoto and Jin started circling each other, the tension thick in the air. "That all you got?" Asked Tanimoto with a cocky grin, lunging back at the hero. The clash of swords continued, each exchange more intense than the last.
Jin's movements became more calculated, his eyes narrowing as he analyzed Tanimoto's fighting style. He finally saw an opening and launched a counterattack, his sword slicing through the air with deadly precision.
Tanimoto barely managed to block in time, the impact sending him skidding backward. He stumbled but quickly regained his footing, a mix of surprise and respect crossing his face.
"Damn, why don't you look at that? You finally landed a blow!"
Daiki let out a low whistle. "That was close. Jin's finally getting serious."
Isabel nodded, her eyes filled with concern. "Tanimoto's strong, but Jin has years of experience. This could go either way."
Rushing back in, Jin executed a series of quick strikes, his movements almost blurring as he pressed his advantage. Tanimoto struggled to keep up as his expression grew more determined.
"Damn it, you're not half bad!" Tanimoto gritted his teeth, deflecting another attack.
Jin responded with a calm but firm voice. "You're not bad yourself. I underestimated you."
The other heroes watched in amazement as the two warriors clashed, their skills on full display. The sound of steel meeting steel echoed through the training grounds as Tanimoto was pushed on the defensive.
Daiki leaned closer to Isabel. "I've never seen Jin fight like this before. It's like he's in a different league."
Tanimoto suddenly changed his tactics, abandoning his straightforward approach. He feigned a high strike before sweeping Jin's legs out from under him.
Jin hit the ground hard, momentarily stunned. Tanimoto quickly followed up with a kick aimed at Jin's chest.
Daiki's eyes widened in shock as he stepped forward, balling his fists.
"That's cheating! Tanimoto, what are you-"
Jin rolled to the side just in time, avoiding the kick, and quickly sprang to his feet—his expression now serious and focused.
"Using underhanded tactics won't win you this fight, Tanimoto." Exclaimed Jin, pointing his blade at the dirty hero.
The bully smirked, circling Jin like a predator. "In a real battle, anything goes. You should know that better than anyone, Jin. This isn't your silly little Kendo practice, this is real life!"
Tanimoto's eyes gleamed with excitement as he lunged forward again, his sword aimed at Jin's throat. He was clearly enjoying the thrill of combat, his movements becoming more erratic and unpredictable.
Jin barely managed to block the attack, but Tanimoto didn't stop there. He pressed forward with a flurry of strikes, each one more vicious than the last.
Daiki shouted in alarm. "Yo, Tanimoto, this isn't training anymore! You need to chill the hell out!"
Isabel clenched her fists, torn between wanting to intervene and knowing she couldn't interfere in a duel.
Tanimoto ignored Daiki's warning, his laughter echoing through the training grounds as he launched himself at Jin again. "Kehahaha! C'mon, c'mon! Show me why everyone loves you, Jin Yuji!" His sword gleamed menacingly in the sunlight as it pounced upon the hero of hope, wearing him down.
His attacks became increasingly brutal. He no longer cared about winning fairly—his only goal was to dominate Jin. The hero of hope found himself on the defensive again, barely keeping up with Tanimoto's wild strikes. Blood trickled from a cut on his cheek, but he refused to back down.
"You're getting tired, aren't you? Just give up already!" He slashed at Jin's chest with renewed ferocity.
Daiki grabbed Isabel's arm, his voice urgent. "We have to do something! This isn't just sparring anymore, Tanimoto's lost it!"
Isabel nodded, her eyes wide with disturbance as she watched Jin barely dodge another attack. The fight had turned deadly serious.
As Tanimoto's blade came dangerously close to Jin's throat, several heroes rushed forward. Daiki and Isabel grabbed the dirty hero's arms, pulling him back with all their strength while other heroes wielded their weapons from behind, waiting for any sudden strikes.
Tanimoto struggled against their grip, his eyes still wild with battle lust. "Hey, what the hell? Let go of me! I'm not done yet!"
Daiki grunted as he struggled to maintain his hold. "That's enough, Tanimoto! You've proven your point - now calm down!"
Isabel looked at Jin with concern, noting the blood and exhaustion on his face. "Jin, are you okay? That was... intense."
He wiped the blood from his cheek, his breathing heavy but controlled. He nodded slowly, though his eyes remained fixed on Tanimoto. "I'm fine. But we need to talk about what just happened."
The other heroes finally managed to restrain Tanimoto, who was still seething with battle lust. His chest heaved as he glared at Jin, his sword hanging limply at his side.
Jin stepped forward, his expression stern and composed. "What you did was unacceptable. You lost control and put everyone in danger."
Tanimoto spat on the ground. "It was just a sparring match! I was trying to push myself to the limit."
Daiki shook his head in disappointment. "That wasn't sparring anymore. You were trying to hurt Jin seriously. You need to learn when to stop."
Jin crossed his arms, his voice firm and demanding. "You need to understand that in a real battle, fighting with honor is just as important as fighting to win. Your tactics were dirty and dangerous." Scowling at the delinquent hero, Jin stepped forward. "Do you remember what Princess Alicia said? There were supposed to be ten of us, but now there are only 9 heroes since she mistaken Yuto for one. We can't afford to lose any more people because of your actions."
"Tsk…" Tanimoto averted his gaze from the hero of hope, facing the other way. "Who cares? We found a replacement, remember?"
Jin frowned at his response and looked at the crowd of heroes. Among them stood a replacement for the 10th hero that Alicia failed to bring into Algunita.
"Right… that may be true, but my point still stands." Jin glared at Tanimoto. "You need to learn when to calm yourself. While I admire your competitive nature, it will do us no good if someone dies."
Tanimoto's face contorted with anger at Jin's words, his fists clenching tightly. "Who the hell put you in charge? You're not my leader, and I don't need a lecture from someone who couldn't handle a real fight." He jerked free from the other heroes' grip, taking a menacing step toward Jin. "You're just weak, Jin. That's why you play by these retarded ass rules."
Isabel stepped between them, her voice sharp as she frowned. "Hey bro, that's enough! You need to learn respect and responsibility as part of this team."
Tanimoto sneered at Isabel, his eyes cold. "Respect? You? Don't make me laugh. I don't need to respect anyone who's not stronger than me."
The other heroes sighed, while some frowned at Tanimoto's behavior, but he waved off their concerns with a dismissive gesture, his arrogance evident in every movement. "You can all keep your rules and your lectures. I'll fight how I want to fight." He turned away from the group, throwing his training sword on the ground with a defiant smirk. "If anyone else wants to challenge me, they're welcome to try. But don't expect me to hold back."
Daiki exchanged worried glances with the others, knowing Tanimoto was a wild card they couldn't control. "This isn't going to end well..."
Sauntering away from the training grounds, he threw one last look over his shoulder. "I'm going to the tavern. At least there I can find some real entertainment, and maybe get laid tonight. You virgins should try it! After all, we're in a brand new world, so why not enjoy it?" He smirked at Jin's disapproving expression. "Especially you, Jin, you take this shit wayyy too seriously, Pwa haha! Later shitheads."
Isabel called after him, frustration clear in her voice. "Hey, you can't just walk away from this! We need to discuss your behavior!"
He waved her off without turning back. "Save your lectures for someone who cares. I've got more important things to do than play hero. I don't care about that shit anymore! I'll leave it to you, dumbasses." Lowering his hand, he didn't bat an eye. "My life back home was shit anyways, who cares for some petty revenge?"