Martial Glory, Chapter 46

Rino was a very busy woman, and what with all the business in America, she had to swiftly get back to work taking over her own companies' more in-person work. That she couldn't just deal with a remote connection and her laptop.

After all, it was still in the early two thousands... Work from home wasn't really much of a thing, and the office culture was strong.

Still once we got back to Japan, Rino got me a ride from the airport back to Ryozonpaku. My home... And as I got there, I obviously went straight to my 'Grandpa' who was patiently sitting at the edge of the back porch.

The sounds of cicadas filled the air as summer's heat hit my face as I sat across from my grandfather, who was silent for a long moment. Until he broke the silence with a sigh. "You spilled blood... Your ki reeks of shed blood, and your aura radiates extreme violence now."

I felt like a scolded child at his words. But this was a man who had reached the martial peak of this world. A man who could survive a nuke exploding right next to him with his skills and body refinement.

To say nothing of how he was just about a hundred years old, yet he only looked like he was in his fucking mid-thirties at worst with his vibrant blond hair a testament to his lifeforce.

He had every right in his experience to say nothing of our shared blood to be scolding towards me. Even if he wasn't actually scolding me.

"The blood I spilt was of monsters... Being's that had lost their human forms, lost their minds, and were twisted abominations with no exaggeration." I said quietly before I held out my phone towards Hayate Furinji after I pulled up some images of the Hunter's Licker's and even the MOLD monsters I fought in the Bayou.

There was a long pause as he scrolled through the pictures with his face darkening as he saw... That I really wasn't exaggerating.

Finally, Hayato spoke slowly. "The Martial World is split into two forms of combatants, as you know well. Those following the Killing Fist and those following the Saving Fist."

Hayato's expression darkened before he said. "I am the leader of the Saving Fist, and yet should I face such monsters... I am unable to save them with my fists. In order to save other's I would have to kill those monsters. This-"

He paused and his magnificent beard twitched as he began brushing his callused hands through his long beard in thought.

Meanwhile, I sat still for a moment before quietly adding. "The Saving Fist is to fight to save others... But some simply can't be saved. Grandfather, on the other hand, can we head inside? Fighting those bioweapons had led to changes to me that I want to show you."

Hayato nodded still clearly in thought, and we headed into the inner dojo where Hayato pulled down his robe to his waist before slipping on his boxing gloves.

"Well, come on then Jake. The Dead or Alive people have already come to invite Kasumi, Honaka, and Marie to their tournament as well. So before you get involved, I want to see where you have come!"

I blinked at that before wondering why he didn't mention Miu before. I remembered that although Miu loved training and martial arts... She didn't like tournaments and set up fights at all.

"Here I come then." I said before taking a breath, and I saw my grandfather tense as the sound of ripping cloth rang out as the back of my shirt exploded, as my ghoul-like features came out along with my wrist blades.

I even stayed still for a moment to let Hayato's eyes take in my changes before he nodded, and I dashed forward to bring my wrist blades in using the Kyotoryu martial art to enhance the cutting motion.

My grandfather back-handed the blade coming from him with the back armor plate on his glove, making a sharp clinking noise as the hardened MOLD and master crafted plate collided.

Then, as I carefully used the tendrils of the Rinkaku in my lower back to prop myself u,p as I couldn't just smash the ground or my grandfather would beat my ass for destroying the dojo's floor.

I sent a flurry of swift kicks at my grandfather who slapped aside and then after blocking a kick, he grabbed my foot before throwing me aside across the dojo.

Flaring out the Ukaku organs from my shoulders formed the soft mold-like wings that allowed me to get control of myself and as much as I wanted, the wings to shoot their hardened darts at my grandfather...

Once again, I didn't want my ass beaten for destroying the dojo.

And it seemed that Hayato picked up on my hesitancy as he chuckled and said easily. "Come outside boy. You are far too young to think about holding back against me haha!"

I on the other hand... "Are you sure that's a good idea? Woudn't exposing these things go fucking terrible for me?" I asked dryly.

To which Hayato gave me a dark look and said with warning. "Language, boy." But he still shook his head with a wry smile crossing his face.

"This world. Is more complicated than you know my grandson. You will face questions for sure, but I can tell you right now... I have seen and killed things far scarier than those glowing tendrils you have."

But just as I was about to head outside with Hayato to continue our sparring session and not hold back. A loud ringing rang out that was different from my grandfather's normal ring tone.

And his easy expression utterly died and he actually frowned as he took out a phone from his wrist wraps of all places that was an even older flip phone.

Looking at the number, he held up a hand to me and said quietly. "One second... This is important."

He answered the call and I kinda just awkwardly watched as he held the phone up to his ear and with my enhanced senses, I could hear the caller was female.

But although I could tell the gender, I couldn't understand what was being spoken. However... I could tell it wasn't good news in the slightest as Hayato's unoccupied fist clenched heavily.

Until finally he stopped giving short answers I couldn't make anything out of and he said softly. "Once again, I am very sorry for your loss Mai. Hanzo was one of my best friends over the years and, the Shiranui dojo has been a long ally of Ryozonpaku... My grandson will come to bring you here, young lady, while I go get Momiji and find out who did this."

Hayato shared a couple more words until he closed the call with a sigh and closed his eye's to take a deep breath with myself smiling wryly as I said. "Wow, I just got home, and you are sending me off?"

To which Hayato exhaled heavily and he gave me a hard look before he said firmly. "Jake, Hanzo Shiranui was a very good old friend of mine. If I had known you were alive and were in my dojo since birth... You would have likely been set up to marry little Mai with how Hanzo and I were all but brothers in blood."

Hayato's aura grew and he then said coldly.

"But just a bit ago, people invaded his dojo, and although he killed many. He fell, and at the same time. The Hayabusa clan of ninja's was slaughtered, with even the Kure clan being attacked. Big things are happening right now, Jake, and I need you to bring Mai Shiranui here where it will be safe while I go save the heiress of the Hayabusa clan who is being tracked even now."

I held up a hand and then I asked bluntly. "If Mai is so much more important emotionally for you. Why don't you go for her, instead this Hayabusa heiress?" Although I very much knew that Mai Shiranui had a guest appearance in the Dead or Alive series and thus possibly existed.

I honestly... Was drawing a fucking major blank on this Hayabusa clan? As there were a lot of assassin clans and organizations in this world alright.

Still Hayato grimaced and said somewhat coldly. "It's complicated, Jake... I promise I will explain when I get back. But you need to go now. I am sorry to drop this on you, but I need your help, and if the other master's get involved directly, any people watching will act rashly."

Finally, I nodded and then with a wry smile, I shrugged with my ghoul features retracting as I said with a grin. "Well, I get to go save a beauty on my motorcycle... I am going to hold you to those answers, you hear me old man?"

I knew there was weird shit going on with Resident Evil being here. But I had the feeling that there was more going on.