It had been a week since Rika Yozakura, the rumored 'Queen of Ocean,' arrived in India. She'd swiftly taken over the management of the household staff in Sam's building, but the novelty had already worn off. With Allya and the others gone for school and the academy, the large apartment felt stiflingly empty. Rika, bored with the quiet, decided to start teaching at the academy as well. But that left a problem: Allya's safety. Rika solved itefficiently, posting two trusted members from her division to stand watch.Rika walked into the kitchen, finding the source of the morning's clamor.
"Uesha. Good morning, everyone," Rika said, her voice cutting through the noise.
"What is going on today? You all are making too much noise," she observed.
The hallway was a scene of chaos.
"Kirito, where is my school dress?!" Allya shrieked. "Kirito, where is my journal?!" Asuna followed. "Kirito, what are you making for the lunch box, Reno?!"Kirito, juggling a spatula in one hand and a lunchbox in the other, snapped, his frustration boiling over.
"Allya, find it yourself! And... and guys, I am a human, not a damn Robot!"
Since Sam left for Japan, the house had turned upside down. Even though Sam had divided the chores before he left, the most intensive tasks—cooking, managing the kitchen, and ensuring the general flow of the house—still rested squarely on Kirito's head.
At the Academy, the students were lined up in the central training grounds.
"Alright, everyone, eyes forward, come here," Yuki instructed. "Yes, Sir!" the students replied in unison.
Kirito leaned closer to Asuna. "What is going on?" "They said we have a special class today," she whispered back.
They all joined the rest of the student body, standing before Yuki and two imposing officials.
"Then, let's begin," Yuki announced. "For the next month, you all will receive direct training from the Captain of the Third Division."
"The Third Division?!" A collective gasp swept through the crowd.
"What was that? Shocking," Kirito mumbled, glancing around.
"You don't know?" Reno asked him. "No, not a bit," Kirito confessed.
"The Third Division is the strongest division in the Dark Knights. Only the most selective members get a chance to join. And their Captain is Rika Yozakura. She is the younger sister of the Grand Master, Shinkai Yozakura. She is also known as... 'The Queen of Ocean,'" Asuna explained, her voice hushed with reverence.
"Yes, you all guessed right. Rika Yozakura, Queen of Ocean," Yuki confirmed.
A young girl stepped into the arena from beside Yuki. She wore a pristine white battle suit, a katana strapped to her back, and had striking white hair and sharp green eyes.
"It's been a time, Yuki-san," Rika greeted him casually. "You have grown up too much, Rika," Yuki replied with a fond smile.
Rika turned to face the students, her expression hardening into one of absolute authority.
"Good morning, everyone. I am Captain Rika Yozakura of the Third Division. Starting today, for one month, I will train you. So, get ready. I am not going to be easy on anyone of you."
The students were immediately motivated to train under the strongest captain. All except Kirito, who was contemplating something entirely different.
Rika continued her speech, her green eyes scanning the crowd. "If anybody wishes to check their strength against mine, just raise your hand. I promise I will give my best against you."
A heavy silence fell over the students. They all knew there was no match for a captain of her caliber, a woman capable of becoming a Supreme Admiral. Yet, she only ever served to command her squad.
But one of them was not thinking that way. A single hand slowly rose into the air. Silence, then a rustle of clothing.
"What?!" the crowd gasped. "He must be crazy, there is no way he can win," Lucious muttered, aghast. General disbelief. "What?" Asuna whispered. "Why?" Reno questioned.
"I... I will fight you," Kirito stated clearly.
Rika's lips curved into a challenging smile. "Interesting. Let's do it, then. We will fight in the Arena."
"Yes," Kirito replied, a genuine smile of confidence on his face.
They all moved towards the combat arena.
I am not fighting to win today. Yesterday, I missed my chance because I didn't give my all, Kirito thought, adjusting his grip. But today, I will crush my limit. And for that, fighting an opponent you can't defeat is the best training, because it raises your hunger to win to an extreme level. Kirito is intensely focused and internally resolved.
Rika and Kirito stood face-to-face. Rika unexpectedly presented Kirito with a katana.
"Take this. It will help you," Rika said.
Kirito's eyes widened slightly. "Yes, this is what I was thinking. A sword with a white grip and white cover... It is Lugia. This is the first time Sam's books have truly come to work!" Kirito smiled.
"You didn't tell me your name," Rika prompted.
"Kirito Kaizawa, Fifth Grade," he responded.
"Let's see what my brother taught you," Rika said, stepping back.
Kirito unsheathed the blade with a clean shing. He held it with both hands, taking a low stance, the sword held horizontal at eye level.
"Awake, Lugia!" Kirito commanded. A deep, resonant hum
"Huh, I knew it," Rika commented softly.
"What does he do to the Captain's sword?" David wondered from the sidelines.
The sword began to glow with a pure blue light. In a flash, Kirito was in front of Rika. He swung the sword from up to down with all his strength. The powerful whoosh of his attack. But just before the blow landed, Rika took a small, quick step back,
maintaining a safe distance. She still didn't take him seriously. Rika is calm and dismissive.
"Not now," Kirito muttered.
He immediately readjusted his grip, stepped forward, and attacked Rika again and again. But none of his attacks connected. Rika dodged them as if it were child's play.
Then, the pattern of Kirito's attack suddenly changed.
Lugia is a water-type blade. It has the power to store water mana and release it all at once. This is the correct time to use it, Kirito decided.
Lugia began glowing with an intense blue light. When Kirito dropped his next attack, a water blade shot out from the tip. Rika only barely managed to dodge it, having completely forgotten about the blade's latent abilities. A powerful shooo-kush as the water blade shoots out.
"That was nice, Kirito-kun. You surprised me," Rika said, a genuine smile gracing her lips.
Rika was finally taking the duel seriously. She raised her hand and began to cast a spell on Kirito.
"Sea Dragon's Roar!" Rika shouted.
A colossal water dragon formed above Rika and lunged at Kirito. It was far stronger and exponentially bigger than anything Kirito had ever created. A thunderous ROAR and the massive splash of the water dragon forming.
"What the heck, that is Rika's spell!" Reno yelled.
"Anti-Hollow Water Prison!" Kirito countered.
Kirito cast his defensive spell, but he was barely able to stop the power of Rika's spell. His body shook with the effort.
"Aah... Aah..." Kirito was breathing heavily, sweat pouring down his face. Heavy, ragged breathing.
She only used a single spell, and to defend it, I had to use more than half of my mana, Kirito thought, exhausted. Kirito is completely spent and defeated.
Rika suddenly vanished and reappeared directly in front of Kirito. She gently, almost condescendingly, petted his head. A soft whoosh of movement, followed by a gentle, condescending pat.
"You lose, dear," Rika said sweetly.
Kirito fell back with a jerk, landing hard on the ground.
"Huh, I knew he could never beat a captain," Lucious declared smugly.
Rika turned to the shocked assembly of students.
"And now, everyone, you all will receive a minus ten on your monthly assignment."
"But why?" Asuna stammered.
Everyone was in shock after hearing this arbitrary punishment. General confusion and mounting outrage.
"This was a little test to check your confidence. Kirito is the only one who passed this test," Rika announced, folding her arms. "But for passing, he gets ready for a triple minus mark."
"This is partiality!" the students cried out in an angry grumble. A collective, furious grumble of protest.