Game Without Limits

Morning was crisp and quiet, as if time itself had slowed to savor these rare moments of tranquility. A gentle breeze teased the maple leaves, their rustling reminiscent of fine silk being brushed together. Nestled within a luxurious Japanese garden, the compound radiated harmony between nature and architecture. Ayana, having woken up early, felt an irresistible urge to take a walk and soak in the serene beauty of the morning.
Throwing on a light cardigan and smoothing down her hair, she stepped onto the soft gravel path. Tiny pebbles crunched faintly underfoot as she strolled, the cool air carrying the scent of damp grass and pine, refreshing and invigorating. Ayana moved slowly, her gaze lingering on every detail: elegant statues of spirits, quaint bridges spanning over artificial streams, and ancient buildings crowned with curved, tiled roofs.
Her musings were interrupted by a sound: rhythmic, deliberate thuds, like the beat of a distant drum. The noise piqued her curiosity. Following it, she navigated through trees and shrubs until she emerged onto an open training ground.
The scene before her unfolded like a historical drama. In the clearing, two figures clashed with breathtaking precision. A young woman with short, dark hair and an intense gaze wielded a long spear, her movements fluid and deadly accurate as though the weapon were an extension of her body. Her sparring partner, a young man, held a katana with both hands. Despite his apparent inexperience, there was a stubborn determination in his every motion, his eyes blazing with resolve.
Nearby, under the shade of a sprawling tree, two spectators observed the duel. One was a muscular young man wearing a panda mask, an odd choice that somehow suited his wide grin and relaxed demeanor. He was chewing lazily on what looked like a twig. Beside him sat another figure—a lean, pale young man swaddled in a scarf that concealed most of his face. His silent presence exuded an enigmatic air, as if he were watching from another plane of existence.
Ayana crouched behind a nearby tree, unwilling to break the spell of the moment. Every strike of the girl's spear produced a resonant clash against the katana. Her movements were mesmerizingly precise. Occasionally, she barked out sharp remarks:
"Hands higher! Hold it like that, and they'll disarm you in an instant!" Her voice was stern but tinged with a teasing lilt.
"I got it, alright!" the boy shot back, deflecting her strike and adjusting his grip. His tone carried irritation, but his actions betrayed his respect for her words.
The sunlight filtering through the tree canopy danced across the gleaming blades, creating a play of light and shadow that amplified the tension. Meanwhile, the panda-masked man leaned back lazily, raising a hand toward his scarfed companion.
"Bet you he won't last five more minutes," he chuckled, his voice carrying an air of playful mischief.
The other observer didn't reply, merely nodding slightly as his gaze sharpened.
Ayana held her breath as she watched, completely entranced. This wasn't just a practice session—it was a visceral display of discipline, willpower, and skill. The clash between the spear and the sword resonated with a rhythm that seemed to pulse through the very air.
The duel reached its climax when the girl delivered a lightning-fast strike, disarming her opponent. With a swift follow-up, she swept his legs out from under him, sending him crashing to the ground. The boy landed on his back with a grunt, exhaling heavily. Though clearly winded, he didn't seem defeated—if anything, he looked more determined than ever.
"Well done, Kayo! Honestly, I wouldn't have expected anything less!" boomed the cheerful voice of the panda-masked man. He stood, clapping his hands loudly as a broad grin spread across his face.
The girl—Kayo—smirked, wiping the sweat from her brow. Her movements, once fierce and precise, were now casual, like a hunter after a successful chase. She rested the spear on her shoulder with an effortless grace.
"So, are you planning to land a single hit on me today?" she teased, her tone light but laced with the slightest edge of mockery.
"Go to hell, Kayo..." the boy muttered from the ground. Despite his words, the faintest hint of a smile flickered across his face, betraying his admiration for her skill.
When Kaio turned toward the spectators, her sharp, piercing eyes suddenly lingered on the trees nearby. Narrowing slightly, they locked onto a figure hiding just beyond the clearing.
"Hey, shy girl!" she called out loudly, addressing Ayana, who had frozen behind a tree, hoping to remain unseen.
Ayana flinched as if caught in the act, hesitantly stepping out from her hiding spot. Her cheeks were tinged with a faint blush, but her eyes stayed steady, betraying her seriousness.
Kaio adjusted her glasses on the bridge of her nose, taking a step forward with a teasing smirk.
"Feel like joining in?" she asked, her tone confident yet not overbearing. "I've already wiped the floor with all the guys here. Maybe you'll give me a challenge?"
Ayana blinked, momentarily unsure of what Kaio meant. Her gaze darted to the spear in Kaio's hand, then to the katana lying discarded on the ground, and finally to the battered hands of a boy sitting nearby, still trying to catch his breath.
"Me?" Ayana asked at last, disbelief flickering in her voice.
"Yeah, you!" Kaio swung her spear casually over her shoulder, giving Ayana a once-over, her sharp eyes alight with amusement. "I can see it in your eyes. You've got that spark. You want to try, don't you?"
Without fully understanding why, Ayana nodded. Her mind screamed that this was a terrible idea, but something deep within her—a quiet, hidden part—demanded she step forward.
From the sidelines, Panda exchanged a glance with the boy in the scarf, his grin widening.
"Oh, this is gonna be good," he muttered. "How long do you think she'll last?"
"Seventeen seconds," came the boy's curt reply, prompting a chuckle from Panda.
Ayana took a hesitant step forward, doubt still gnawing at her, but the thrill of the moment outweighed her fear. Kaio, still grinning, handed her a bamboo training sword.
"Let's see what you've got," Kaio said, her voice tinged with excitement.
"Alright," Ayana replied simply, shifting her right foot forward as she raised the bamboo sword into a jōdan-no-kamae stance. Her movements were precise, almost instinctual, and her eyes shone with the focus of a warrior preparing for battle.
"A stance, huh?" Kaio squinted, intrigued. "So, you're not just some random amateur, are you?" She smirked, but her demeanor turned sharper, her gaze narrowing behind her glasses.
Without waiting for a response, Kaio lunged forward. Her movements were lightning-quick, like a storm breaking loose. The spear in her hands moved so fast its tip blurred, leaving faint trails in the air.
Ayana barely managed to raise her sword in time, meeting the attack head-on. The sound of wood crashing against wood reverberated through the clearing, the force of the blow sending vibrations up her arms and forcing her grip tighter on the hilt. The sheer strength and speed of Kaio's assault felt like standing against a raging tempest.
Kaio gave her no time to breathe. The spear twisted and spun in her hands, flowing like water as it came at Ayana in an unrelenting flurry. Ayana sidestepped one strike, narrowly dodging, and retaliated with a slash aimed at Kaio's shoulder. But Kaio was faster, pulling back with a fluid motion as her spear whirled defensively.
"Not bad!" Kaio called out, her grin widening. "But let's see how long you can keep up!"
Each strike from the spear pushed Ayana to her limits, her muscles straining and her breath growing heavier with every parry. It was clear Kaio wielded her weapon as if it were an extension of her own body.
Another sudden lunge—faster this time. Ayana barely blocked it, her legs wobbling under the pressure of the impact. The bamboo sword slid against the spear's shaft, and the tip of the weapon grazed her shoulder by a hair's breadth.
Kaio smirked, anticipating Ayana's next move. She feigned a thrust to the right before twisting mid-strike, swinging the spear in a deadly arc from the left. Ayana instinctively retreated, adjusting her stance into a hasso-no-kamae position, ready to deflect the next assault.
For a moment, they both froze. Their heavy breaths echoed louder than the rustling leaves around them, and Kaio's fiery gaze burned with unmasked excitement.
"You've got some skill," Kaio admitted, tilting her head slightly in acknowledgment. "But this is just the warm-up."
Before Ayana could respond, Kaio was on her again, her attacks more ferocious and unrelenting. Each strike felt like a calculated attempt to overwhelm her entirely.
But Ayana didn't crumble. This time, she stopped playing defensively. When Kaio's spear lunged toward her, Ayana shifted her weight to the side, evading the strike with a smooth pivot. As Kaio's momentum carried her forward, Ayana turned sharply, swinging her sword toward Kaio's arm.
"Whoa! Did you see that?" Panda shouted, his voice brimming with excitement. "This girl's not messing around!"
Kaio barely managed to deflect the counterattack, her expression briefly flashing with surprise. Yet, as she stepped back to reassess, a flicker of respect replaced her grin.
"Interesting..." Kaio murmured, a sly smirk creeping across her lips. "Now I really want to know who you are."
Raising her spear again, Kaio's eyes gleamed with untamed excitement. "Alright, shy girl—shall we keep going?"
Ayana tightened her grip on the bamboo sword, her expression unwavering. She was ready.
The real battle had just begun.