Chapter 19: Aoki style

The next day, Aoki officially began his training in "Aoki-ryu."

However, Mizuno Kengo was nowhere to be seen.

"Junior Brother Aomura, I'll start by teaching you the basic moves of Aoki-ryu. Once you've mastered them, Master will take over your training," Keisuke Akiyama explained.

After Aoki joined the dojo, he adopted the name Aomura to fit in better.

"I understand," Aoki replied.

The distinction between beginner and advanced classes was clear to him.

In addition to Aoki, five others were in the junior class. They seemed to be well aware of the dojo's situation and did not object to the arrangement.

Keisuke hesitated, then pointed at Aoki's bamboo hat. "Junior Brother Aomura, will wearing that hat affect your practice?"

"I have a skin condition that prevents me from being exposed to sunlight," Aoki explained calmly.

Keisuke was taken aback and quickly apologized. "I'm sorry, Junior Brother Aomura!"

"It's fine," Aoki waved dismissively. "Don't worry about me. I'll observe the moves and practice them on my own in my room."

Keisuke thought for a moment, then nodded. "Alright, if that works for you."

Keisuke's movements were precise and fluid, reflecting a deep understanding of Aoki-ryu.

As Aoki watched, he mentally practiced the moves, breaking them down and reorganizing them in his mind.

After class, he returned to his room to start practicing while the memory was still fresh.

But before he could begin, there was a knock at the door.

Aoki opened it to find Keisuke standing there. "Is something wrong, Brother Keisuke?"

"Junior Brother Aomura, are you free this afternoon?" Keisuke asked.

Aoki shook his head. "I was planning to practice what I learned. Do you need help with something?"

Keisuke sighed in relief and smiled. "Perfect. I'll teach you more after lunch."

"Brother Keisuke, you don't have to do this," Aoki said.

With his exceptional intelligence and memory, it wasn't hard for Aoki to recall the moves perfectly.

Keisuke was adamant. "Since you've come to our dojo to learn, it's our responsibility to teach you. Besides, your joining us has already been a great help!"

"Then I appreciate it, Brother Keisuke," Aoki agreed.

Having someone to guide him was definitely beneficial. Keisuke, with his thick eyebrows and big eyes, was genuine and kind-hearted.

In the afternoon, Keisuke arrived as promised.

They trained together, the hours flying by until evening approached.

The sun dipped into the horizon, casting a brilliant red across the sky and sea.

Aoki practiced the basic moves of Aoki-ryu, executing them with speed, precision, and fluidity that belied his beginner status.

As he finished, Keisuke approached, brimming with excitement. "Junior Brother Aomura, I knew it! You're a natural talent in Aoki-ryu!"

"Thank you, Brother Keisuke," Aoki replied, pleased. The Aoki style suited him perfectly.

Aoki had been pondering how to develop his own combat system. Unlike swordsmen, who could build their skills around breathing techniques, the diverse abilities and characteristics of demons required a unique approach for each individual. There was no one-size-fits-all method for demons; he needed to create his own fighting style.

Starting with Aoki-ryu had been a fortunate and fitting choice. With his high intelligence, keen adaptability, and agility, Aoki made rapid progress in mastering the techniques.

Choosing to join Aoki Dojo had turned out to be an unexpectedly wise decision.

Keisuke didn't linger. After arranging for another lesson the next day, he hurried to his master's residence.

Entering the room, he found his master gazing at a painting.

It was a portrait of his fiancée.

Mizuno Kengo gently closed the painting. "Keisuke, why are you here? Is something the matter?"

Keisuke's mood sobered. "Master, our new Junior Brother Aomura shows exceptional talent. He's the most gifted student I've ever seen. Shouldn't you consider taking him as a formal disciple?"

Mizuno Kengo's expression grew serious as he thought for a moment. "Let's observe him for a while first. We need to consider both talent and character before accepting formal disciples."

Keisuke nodded. "I understand."

After a moment of silence, he couldn't help but ask, "Master, is there still no news about Junior Sister?"

Kengo Mizuno shook his head slowly, his once straight back bending slightly under the weight of worry.

In the days that followed, Aoki immersed himself in his studies.

As a demon, he didn't need sleep. With proper nourishment, his physical stamina was nearly limitless. As long as he remained mentally focused, he could continue studying and training indefinitely.

His dedication and exceptional talent allowed him to master and understand the basics of Aoki-ryu rapidly. To avoid alarming Keisuke, he deliberately masked the extent of his progress.

...

"Another girl has gone missing?"

Aoki spent some time each day searching for traces of demons to clear his mind.

So far, he had found nothing.

Meanwhile, the disappearances continued.

"Yes," Keisuke replied, his face twisted with anger. "She was supposed to get married in two days!"

"How brazen!" Aoki muttered.

Even the demons like Gyutaro and Daki operated under the cover of the entertainment district. Who was this demon to act so recklessly?

Moreover, why couldn't he find any trace of it?

"Aomura, we're heading to the izakaya for drinks. Want to join us?" someone called out, interrupting Aoki's thoughts.

"No, you guys go ahead. I have something to take care of today."

"Still planning to practice? Aomura, you're really dedicated."

"It's late, so I need to work harder. Take care, everyone."

Aoki waved them off, feeling more at ease with his dojo mates. While they weren't particularly close, there was no animosity between them either.

After leaving the dojo, Aoki headed straight out of the city.

He planned to train outdoors today. Practicing indoors required careful control of his strength to avoid damage. While this helped refine his control, he also needed to be familiar with his full power.

Finding a secluded spot, Aoki activated his "space shuttle" ability and teleported several times until he reached a dense forest.

The thick canopy blocked out most of the sunlight, casting the forest in a quiet, dark shadow, making it a world apart from the brightness outside.

The ground was littered with broken stones and tree fragments, a testament to the intensity of previous training sessions.

Aoki removed his hat, tightened his sleeves, and approached a large stone covered with fist marks.

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