"Joki hears Reima and immediately runs outside to try and look for Kazu and Double. The moment he exits the restaurant, he''s immediately greeted by the man now known as Kairoji. Joki stops, and Kairoji and Joki begin to have a face-off with each other.


    "Hey, I don''t have time to talk right now...wait a minute." Joki says.


    As Joki takes a closer look, he realizes that the man standing before them was the same individual they had encountered at the festival entrance.


    Not seeing his face before, Joki had been disgusted to see the man''s disturbing smile and his creepy smile.


    Kairoji''s grin widened, casting a gleam of amusement that seemed to irk Joki to no end. Despite the irritation bubbling within him, Joki recognized the importance of maintaining his composure in the current situation. Allowing emotions to override reason could prove detrimental, so he masked his annoyance behind a facade of calm indifference. The air between them crackled with unspoken tension, but Joki remained steadfast.


    "Craig right? What brings you here, shouldn''t you be with Double and Kazu?" Joki inquired.


    Joki''s countenance had been marked by an insatiable curiosity, still processing the situation.


    Kairoji couldn''t help but laugh under his breath in response to Joki''s inquiry. Slowly unveiling his eyes, an unexpected spectacle has happened, and a combination of vivid pink and intense red hues.


    "A long story, but Craig was a name I gave myself just in case you had recognized me. My name''s Kairoji, and right now... I need to get rid of you. You are the most dangerous one out of those two. As I did my research, I figured out that Kashikoi, one of your friends, was a Sakusei user, right? That''s complete power rivaled only by you," Kairoji asks, charging his aura, looking at Joki with a sinister smile.


    Joki''s disgusted expression turns to one of anger upon noticing that the man had known of Kashikoi. Doubt filled Joki''s mind, not willing to believe what he had been witnessing.


    "Stealing one''s Sakusei? No, I doubt those are the real ones from Kashikoi himself," Joki says, yawning, an uninterested expression etched across his face.


    While Joki, behind the expression was conflicted seeing his old friends Sakusei in use, he stood in front of Kairoji and showed no fear in front of him.


    Kairoji, shocked to see his expression, begins to form lightning in his hand and pulls out a dagger out of his pocket.


    "The self-proclaimed god of technicality, a mighty warrior feared not because of his abilities, but because of his skills alone. Not many would dare to try and threaten you." Kairoji says.


    "Someone has done their research. If you know that much, then you should drop all of this shit and tell me where my friends are." Joki confidently says.


    Kairoji continues to charge his aura, letting Joki know that he had no intention of backing down. Joki lets out a yawn and pulls out his sword.


    "Reima! I don''t expect you to be able to do much here, but just get away from here so I don''t accidentally hit you." Joki says.


    Joki turns back to see Kairoji, filled with anger to see Joki taking his eyes off him to communicate with Reima. In Kairoji''s eyes, he knew Joki hadn''t been taking this seriously even in the slightest.


    Kairoji takes advantage and rushes in, pulling daggers out from his side. Kairoji coats the daggers with lightning, strengthening the damage of his strikes.


    Kairoji rushes in and goes for a strike, but Joki quickly evades the strike and sweeps Kairoji''s leg, then elbows him in the chest, causing Kairoji to have difficulty breathing.


    ''I haven''t finished reading ''The Book of Five Rings.'' It is the perfect book to complement my fighting style. Miyamoto Musashi, a fighter heavily known for easily predicting his opponents, possesses unmatched strategies and knowledge. Combining that with my own fighting knowledge and natural skill will make this much easier.'' Joki thinks to himself, a cocky smile etched on his face.


    Kairoji and Joki begin hand-to-hand combat with each other. Joki is quickly able to shut down all of Kairoji''s offensive options effortlessly.


    While Miyamoto Musashi was famous for using more than one sword in battle, Joki found it easier to perform with one hand. Over the years, Joki tried to apply two swords to his style, but it never worked for him. However, one benefit he gained from staying true to his style of using one sword was that he could easily and swiftly maneuver between offense and defense.This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.


    "He''s fast, and in hand-to-hand combat, I don''t stand a chance against him, but..." Kairoji smirked confidently, his expression oozing with smugness as he raises his hand.


    Suddenly, a bolt of lightning stops Joki in his tracks. Normally, Joki could easily evade such an attack, but the attack brought memories of Kashikoi, making him freeze up. The attack lands point-blank on Joki, but there is no injury from the attack.


    ''I felt... I felt as if I had just seen a ghost, Kashikoi. The power to hone purple lightning – you truly were something special, weren''t you? Even in death, your powers are wanted by others around the world.'' Joki thinks to himself.


    "The bolt of lightning just now, your friend''s attack. I had believed that it was in the realm of things I was capable of. Looks like I was right, and now what will you do." Kairoji says.


    Raising his hand, preparing himself for the next attack.


    Joki notices this and quickly blitzes towards Kairoji, slashing his arm off. Kairoji''s arm grows back, and Joki jumps back after making a realization.


    "Realm of things you''re capable of—the ability to use Kashikoi''s Sakusei ability. I could assume that the reason you are able to do these things is because we are in your festival, right? That''s the only way to explain that arm growing back just now." Joki says.


    Kairoji had been shocked after Joki caught on so quickly. Joki had also felt the aura of all the citizens disappear, making him realize that the festival isn''t normal.


    "I could ask you a couple of things too. If you had been aware of all the aura in the festival disappearing, why didn''t you quickly head to Double and Kazu''s location? I realize at any point you could have killed me. So why?" Kairoji asks.


    Joki begins to put his sword back in its sheathe, and as he does he begins to make his finger glow.


    "I won''t head to Double and Kazu''s location because that means you''ll still be around, and that woman could possibly get hurt. Also, killing you would be pointless. The fact that you can calmly speak of your death in that manner makes me believe you have a backup plan, don''t you?" Joki remarks.


    Kairoji smiles and runs in at Joki. In this instance, he had proven Joki''s words true. Being in this festival and manipulating it to his liking, Kairoji''s death was never in the equation since the moment this fight had started.


    Joki stands there and fluently puts his two hands out. Kairoji goes for the attack, and Joki calmly grabs both daggers, pulls Kairoji in, and kicks him in the chest.


    ''I don''t need this; I never even wanted this. It''s a damn curse. This potential only drives people away from me. I just wanna be different. I want to know I can work hard like you...Kashikoi.'' Joki thinks to himself.


    Kairoji, after getting hit, doesn''t let off, quickly closing the distance and trying to go in for an attack on Joki. Joki slices Kairoji, but the attack is stiff and doesn''t fully cut through Kairoji as anticipated.


    Joki''s body felt like it was tearing apart. Using his Sakusei in recent times made his mind rattle, and his emotions deteriorate. Not knowing what to think, his head felt as if it was going to explode.


    ''I only got one more in me...After that, if I use it again...I''m beyond fucked.'' Joki thinks to himself.


    Kairoji notices that Joki''s sword attack was weak, and gains the confidence to attack once again. Joki quickly blitzes behind Kairoji, slashes him in the back, and, like before, the attack is stiff.


    Kairoji takes the attack head-on and continues with the assault. Right before he is able to land an attack on Joki, he drops to the ground.


    "It actually worked." Joki murmurs to himself, looking down at Kairoji with a shocked expression.


    Kairoji attempts to rise, but is suddenly seized by the sensation of his body undergoing a peculiar transformation, as though rapidly aging, before swiftly regressing into infancy.


    "Defying logic...that''s what my power is, my attacks went stiff, and it shocked me...how is it possible for my Sakusei to make my attacks weaker? I decided to take a gamble, and try something completely random and out of the ordinary." Joki says.


    Kairoji tries to speak, but Joki quickly puts his foot on his chest, staring at Kairoji with a menacing and evil look.


    The look on Kairoji''s face was one of pure shock. Helpless, he lay there and accepted the fact that he had lost.


    ''My mind feels scrambled, but it didn''t take as much of a toll as I thought it would. Managing this stuff is so annoying.'' Joki thinks to himself.


    Joki takes his foot off Kairoji''s chest and proceeds to walk forward, leaving Kairoji in his immobilized state.


    "If I did it right, eventually, you''ll end up exploding or some shit. But if not, then it doesn''t really matter. What matters is making sure you don''t interfere with the battles to come." Joki says.


    The ability that Joki possessed is only limited because of his own knowledge, at its most basic level. It would allow the user to manipulate the laws of logic themselves. They could create paradoxes or nullify contradictions, making seemingly impossible outcomes possible.


    The downside is Joki''s own fear and emotional limits: a fear of the consequences that come behind manipulating the laws of logic themselves, alongside the limits on someone''s emotional state that comes with an individual using an exceptionally powerful ability.


    In this case, Joki''s Sakusei ability has been beyond exceptional—a power that breaks boundaries, essentially letting Joki do whatever he wants at the cost of his own health.


    ''This guy...another thing that creeps me out is that it feels like his power is split, right before he appeared, I felt his same aura three times over. Could it be...that the reason he didn''t fear death, was because of that being a clone...'' Joki thinks to himself.


    Joki sits down on the floor, his expression shifting into one of deep concern. The weight of worry seemed to settle on his features, casting a shadow over his usual demeanor.


    Joki not being able to sense the aura of Double and Kazu takes a moment to try and think, but feels a disconcerting ebb and flow in his memory, and his mind and thoughts racing.


    "I seriously need to get my act together and fast. If I don''t, I''ll be useless at the end of all this." Joki says.