Chapter #5The test is interrupted by: Pseudonym   Ethan reentered the dojo and was stood agape for a moment. He had been expecting some sort of simple elemental magic demonstration task or perhaps an obstacle course to sneak through. What he saw instead in the dimly lit, shadowy den was something else, something he had never witnessed before in person.
The gong had not, in fact, been struck to indicate the next section of the test. It had been struck by accident.
There, in the front of the dojo, his grandfather was fighting some kind of intruder. The assailant looked younger, bigger, and far more muscular. He had long, shaggy blonde hair, wore little clothing, and used a style of Kung Fu that Ethan had never seen before. He seemed to be using his power, striking ferociously with a constant barrage of blows. Ethan's grandfather was staying calm and fighting back, mostly using deflection techniques. In fact, Ethan had never seen some of the moves his grandfather was doing, either. They seemed to him to be some highly complex, advanced ninjutsu.
As his grandfather sensed that Ethan had entered the dojo, he suddenly called out - "Watch out! Above!"
Ethan barely had time to look up before a heavy kick knocked him down. Whoever had hit him had struck him from above and behind, but Ethan barely had time to consider how he had been ambushed before he bounced on the ground, and was kicked a second time. This time, Ethan reacted a little better, although the two kicks did do some serious damage. As he sailed through the air from the impact from the kick, Ethan did a double-flip in the air before landing facing his opponent and drawing his katana in one smooth motion.
He was surprised to see that his opponent was a girl about his own age. She was pretty, slim, short, wore little clothing and had shaggy blonde hair. It seemed to Ethan that she was probably the other assailant's daughter or relation. As she saw Ethan's katana, she shrugged in a "well if you must" sort of way, and picked up a large battle-axe she had dropped on the ground earlier. Ethan was surprised at her physical strength despite her small, slender appearance.
Nonetheless, Ethan charged at her, confident in his skills with the katana. Together they matched blows, and Ethan immediately recognized that she was using the same weird style that the other assailant used. She was using her strength, power, and the heavier weight of the battle-axe to try to deal damage with a powerful, decisive blow. But although she was much stronger, Ethan was much quicker, and the battle turned to a stalemate. Ethan was trying to anticipate her blows to try to land quick counter-attacks, but she was so quick with her own movements that catching her was tricky with his sword.
After trading some blows, Ethan spotted an opportunity. As she swung her axe, Ethan suddenly dropped low and kicked up, knocking the axe out of her hands. The axe went swinging across the room, but Ethan had dropped down faster than he could move his katana out of the way. The axe struck his katana, and shattered it instantly. Now it was the girl's turn to appear confused as Ethan got back up.
"Who are you?" she asked.
"I should ask you the same" asked Ethan.
Just then, both kids turned around as they heard Ethan's grandfather cry out. Somehow, one of the assailant's punches had managed to hit him, and the assailant was showing no mercy, wrestling his grandfather to the ground and relentlessly grappling him into submission. Seeing this, both kids stopped their battle and ran over - then looked at each other. Ethan knew if he tried to interfere, she would destroy him ... and vice versa. All they could do was watch.
And then, just as Ethan feared it was all over for his grandfather, a shadow construct hit the assailant from behind. At this, the assailant got up and grabbed the girl's wrist. "Let's go, Astrid" he said. And the pair ran off.
In the shadows, Ethan ran over to his grandfather, who was lying motionless on the ground. "Grandpa!" he yelled.
Ethan knew only basic first aid, but he didn't have a cellphone yet so wasn't sure where the nearest phone was to call for help. But on getting closer, he noticed his grandfather was still conscious.
"I'm hurt" his grandfather admitted "He was just too strong."
"Who were they, sensei?" asked Ethan.
"The man I was fighting was Sune, a whose father Bjorn was a friend of mine when I was a boy" explained Ethan's grandfather "He is an expert in Glima, the Viking martial art. He has studied the ancient runes carefully, and trained his body relentlessly for many years. The girl I do not know. She was mostly observing him from what I can tell. I believe he is her sensei."
"But sensei, why are they fighting us?"
"Sune ... disagreed with some of Bjorn's teachings about Glima" said his grandfather sadly "Now Sune is taking out all of his father's associates to prove his style's superiority. But I am too old now to fight back as effectively as I once could. As for Bjorn, well ... he went missing shortly after his falling out with his son. I do not know if Sune was responsible, but one thing is clear - Sune is still out there, taking his revenge."
Suddenly, Ethan's grandfather undid his own black belt and held it out to Ethan.
"You have passed this grading" he said "And for your attempts at defending my own life, you have my thanks. My boy, you are now a ninja of the Shadow Serpent clan. I am impressed with your bravery, your dedication and your skills. And I also sense in you a greater power, one still waiting to be unlocked."
"Master, you are weak" replied Ethan "I cannot accept this while you lie here dying."
"It is because I am lying here that I give this to you" explained his grandfather "The task of defending the honor of the Shadow Serpents is now yours as well as mine."
Ethan wept as he kneeled down beside his grandfather's fallen body, clutching the black belt he had been given. In the distance, the siren of an ambulance could be heard.  indicates the next chapter needs to be written. |
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