[Meanwhile, Yami and the girls arrived at the dojo. He unlocked the doors, revealing a spacious interior—perfect for training. As they stepped in, Yami pulled out his phone and sent his location to Jayson, inviting him over. Then they waited.]
Yahiko glanced at Misami, raising an eyebrow. "Misa, aren't you forgetting something?"
Misami's expression shifted. She hesitated before stepping forward. "Y-Yeah… Yami."
Yami turned to her. "Yes?"
She looked down briefly, then met his gaze. "I just… wanted to thank you. For standing up for me when those thugs kidnapped us."
Yami's expression flickered with mild surprise, but then he smiled gently. "No need to thank me… I can't let people close to me get hurt."
Misami blushed, just as the dojo doors burst open and Jayson strolled in with his usual energy.
"Wassup, people! Sorry I'm late!"
Yami nodded. "Perfect timing."
Misami, still flustered, muttered under her breath. "Yeah… great."
Yami turned to Jayson. "Hey, Jayson—do you know how to fight?"
Jayson flashed a grin and a thumbs-up. "Well of course, buddy!"
"Alright then," Yami said, tightening his gloves. "Let's spar. Let the girls see what they're in for."
"You're on!" Jayson shouted, stepping onto the mat.
[Dressed in training gear, Yami and Jayson bowed to each other. Misami and Yahiko stood to the side, their eyes wide with anticipation as the sparring match began.]
The dojo filled with the sharp sounds of fists striking pads and grunts of exertion. Yami moved like a seasoned fighter—his kicks sharp and calculated, aimed directly at Jayson's chest. Jayson managed to block them, his arms straining, but Yami's speed only increased.
Closing the distance in a flash, Yami unleashed a flurry of punches. Jayson stumbled back under the onslaught, barely able to defend himself. Then came the final blow—swift and precise—landing squarely on Jayson's jaw and sending him to the mat with a thud.
"Ouch, man… hold back a little next time," Jayson groaned, rubbing his jaw.
Yami chuckled and offered him a hand. "Sorry."
Misami stepped back in disbelief. "You can't seriously expect us to learn that—"
"So cool, so cool, so cool!" Yahiko interrupted, bouncing on her toes. "I wanna try! Come on, come on!"
Yami smirked and turned to Jayson. "Go grab some water. You must be tired."
"Alright! Good luck, ladies. Don't miss me too much," Jayson said, heading off with a wink.
[Yami moved to the center, setting up a training regimen for the girls. He wrote down notes and patiently demonstrated the basics.]
Warm-Up
Jogging laps around the dojo (5 minutes)
Dynamic stretching: leg swings, arm circles, hip circles (5 minutes)
Stances
Horseback stance
Front stance
Back stance
Basic Techniques
Punches: Jab, Cross, Hook
Kicks: Front Kick, Roundhouse Kick
Blocks: High Block, Low Block
Combinations
Punch–Kick–Punch
Kick–Punch–Block
Punch–Block–Kick
Drills
Partner Drills: Attack and defend, switch roles
Pad Work: Yami holds pads while the girls practice
Cool-Down
Static stretching (legs, arms, back) (5 minutes)
Yami emphasized the fundamentals—focus, discipline, and self-awareness. "Trust your instincts," he told them, "and believe in your strength. That's where power truly begins."
He demonstrated each move with patient precision, correcting their posture and encouraging them as they practiced. At first, their movements were clumsy, but under Yami's guidance, they steadily improved.
---
[Jayson returned triumphantly with boxes in hand.]
"Hey guys! I brought us some pizza!"
"I'm so hungry!" Yahiko exclaimed.
Misami smiled. "So cool of you, Jayson."
Yami sat down with them, stretching. "Thanks. I actually haven't eaten since yesterday."
They shared a meal, laughter filling the air after a hard session. But far away, in the distant mountains—something else stirred.
---
[Inside a shadowed cave, far from Tokyo…]
Y. Kaguro leaned against the wall, scowling. "Why didn't you stop time before the battle…?"
Mr. Hoffman stood nearby, his gaze fixed on Sophia's unconscious form. "To measure your strength. And hers," he replied calmly. "You've improved. Now begins Phase Two."
Y. Kaguro scoffed. "Yeah, yeah. But why the hell are we all the way out here?"
The cave rumbled slightly, the atmosphere thick with tension.
"To avoid any critical outcomes… if something were to happen," Hoffman replied, almost amused.
"You're such an asshole."
"Moving on," Hoffman said with a smirk, stepping closer to Sophia. "Let's see if this works."
His eyes glinted with malice as he took Sophia's hand, his grip firm, almost possessive. "Sophia, my dear," he whispered, voice like poison. "It's time to fulfill your purpose. You will be the instrument of Yami Saturo's downfall."
With a surge of dark energy, he activated his ability:
[
Sophia's eyes snapped open, glowing with unnatural light.
"Kill Yami Saturo," Hoffman commanded coldly.
Y. Kaguro stepped back, astonished. "I can't believe it actually worked… well, not completely surprised. You were the former God of Death..."
"Call me Hoffman," he corrected casually.
"What about the girl?"
"Don't worry. She'll complete her task… perfectly."
With a final twist of his wrist, Hoffman conjured a vortex of shadow. He and Kaguro stepped inside, vanishing without a trace.
---
[Back in the cave, Sophia stood trembling as her aura shifted—a deep crimson glow surrounded her, crackling with black lightning.]
"Must… e-eliminate… Y-Yami Saturo…" she stammered, her voice robotic, her eyes void of self.