Chapter 218: Tournament Day
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The appointed day had finally arrived, and Master Tanaka had instructed Noah to arrive early. The tournament was set in a mountain range, requiring significant travel time to reach the location.
This wasn’t a major issue for Noah, who had developed the habit of waking up early every day since he had gotten his shop.
After his morning routine and a quick breakfast with his father, Noah drove to the dojo through the quiet streets of the early morning city. The familiar drive gave him time to mentally prepare for whatever challenges the tournament might present.
Outside the dojo, Noah parked his car in the designated bay before entering the building he’d come to know so well over the past weeks.
At this early hour, no students were present. The training floor stood empty and peaceful, wooden swords resting in their racks while practice mats waited for the day’s activities.
Master Tanaka raised his eyes from his seated position upon hearing approaching footsteps. Spotting Noah, his weathered face broke into an approving smile.
"Are you ready?" the master asked with a calm tone.
Noah smiled back as he felt the hidden excitement in his master’s voice. He could tell that Tanaka was really excited about his participation in the tournament, and that made him feel some warmth in his heart. The old man was really kind-hearted, despite his calm, nonchalant appearance.
"Of course!"
Although Noah’s swordsmanship skill level hadn’t increased recently, his overall physical capabilities had improved dramatically. His enhanced vitality, refined aura control, and wind manipulation had all strengthened his body in complementary ways, making him significantly more powerful than during their initial training sessions.
He had also gained genuine combat experience against adept-rank magical beasts, testing his skills against opponents that could actually kill him rather than mere sparring or training exercises.
To claim he wasn’t confident in the tournament would be dishonest. While he wouldn’t use his aura control or wind manipulation against human opponents, as that would kill most, he genuinely doubted anyone possessed greater raw physical strength than he did.
Even in Esta, those at the same rank did not have the attributes he had.
However, his confidence didn’t breed arrogance. Noah understood that hidden practitioners existed everywhere, individuals who had trained for decades with natural talent that might rival or exceed his current abilities.
The world was vast, containing masters whose skills had been honed through pure dedication, talent and natural treasures.
"Sit down while we wait for Yamamoto," Tanaka instructed, gesturing toward the meditation area where they had spent countless hours refining Noah’s technique. "He should arrive soon."
Noah settled into the familiar position, his body automatically adopting the posture that had become second nature through weeks of disciplined practice.
Time passed quietly in the dojo’s peaceful atmosphere. The morning sun filtered through high windows, basking the area where Noah had first struggled with basic stances in a warm, golden glow.
The sound of an approaching vehicle broke the tranquil silence, followed by footsteps on the dojo’s front steps.
Yamamoto entered with the confident bearing Noah remembered from their first meeting—a man whose presence immediately attracted attention and respect without requiring vocal assertion.
"Punctual as always," Yamamoto observed with approval, his sharp eyes taking in both Noah’s posture and calm aura. He’s different. He looks...much stronger.
He wore practical clothing suitable for travel, but Noah could sense the coiled power beneath his normal, casual appearance. This was someone whose reputation had been earned through decades of martial arts.
"The journey to the mountain venue will take approximately two hours," Yamamoto explained, checking his watch. "We’ll have time to discuss what you can expect from today’s competition during the drive."
Master Tanaka rose from his position.
"Prepare yourself for matches that you won’t forget," Tanaka told Yamamoto with obvious pride in Noah’s development. "His progress has been remarkable."
Yamamoto’s keen gaze assessed Noah with the thoroughness of someone accustomed to evaluating combat potential. After several seconds of silent scrutiny, he nodded in agreement. Although he didn’t take Tanaka’s words too seriously.
He had simply thought that the old master was trying to motivate the young swordsman of his dojo.
"Good. Let’s see what he can accomplish against other talents."
Noah then left with Yamamoto and approached what turned out to be a large bus waiting outside the dojo.
Inside the spacious vehicle, Noah was surprised to find it wasn’t empty. Several people were already seated throughout the bus, their postures and alert expressions suggesting they shared a common purpose.
"They’ll also be participating in the tournament," Yamamoto explained as they boarded. "Practitioners from various dojos and training schools across the region."
Noah nodded with understanding, his senses automatically cataloguing the other passengers. Most appeared to be serious martial artists, their physical conditioning and confident bearing marking them as dedicated practitioners rather than mere casuals.
He made his way toward the back of the bus, instinctively choosing a seat that provided optimal visibility of the entire passenger area. The position allowed him to observe everyone while maintaining privacy.
Noah had always preferred sitting near the back in any vehicle or classroom setting. The advantage of seeing everything while remaining relatively unnoticed appealed to him.
After settling into his chosen seat, Noah retrieved his Air Max headphones and placed them securely in his ears. The journey was going to be long, according to Yamamoto’s estimate, so he decided to make the most of the travel time.
As the bus pulled away from the dojo and began navigating through the city streets toward the mountain venue, Noah selected a playlist and relaxed into his seat.
The urban landscape gradually gave way to suburban neighborhoods, then rural countryside as they headed toward the tournament location. Rolling hills and forests passed by the windows, providing peaceful scenery that contrasted with the competitive tension building among the passengers.
Passengers boarded from different locations every now and then.
Noah allowed himself to enjoy the transitional journey, using the time to mentally prepare while observing the changing landscape that would soon host his first real martial arts competition.