"General Budo, may we inquire about the reason behind our summons?" Run mustered the courage to ask as he followed behind the said general. The moment Budo entered the assigned room that Wave, Seryu and him were placed in, he swiftly ordered the three of them to follow him, leaving them no choice but to hasten their steps to catch up with the general's brisk pace.

Without bothering to turn his gaze towards Run, Budo replied, his voice tinged with authority, "His Imperial Majesty has issued a directive to assemble a select group of individuals, and the three of you are among the first batch to arrive." His words carried weight, accentuating the gravity of their summons, and leaving the trio stunned with a mix of astonishment and disbelief.

Never in their wildest dreams had they imagined that the Emperor himself would call upon them to come to the Capital.

While Wave simply saw it as a great honor to work under the Emperor himself, both Seryu and Run had other thoughts in mind.

To Seryu, the news of being noticed by the Emperor, a symbol of justice akin to her revered Captain Ogre, filled her with a profound sense of joy.

To Run, it was an opportunity that he has long waited for. It was a chance to help the Empire from within. With the Child Emperor taking the lead in cleaning the Empire via the execution of the former Prime Minister, he was fully aware that it was only the beginning. Run wanted to be by the Emperor's side to help him anyway he can.

Moments later, as the late afternoon sun bathed the training grounds in a warm glow, Budo stood before Wave, Run, and Seryu, confusion marking their faces as they suddenly found themselves in an empty space.

"If you wish to serve the Emperor, I will ensure that you are qualified for such a task," General Budo stated, his words filling the air with tension.

Positioning himself on the other side of the training ground, Budo assumed an authoritative stance. "We will spar. I would personally like to see how powerful you three are without your Imperial Arms," he declared. With a confident look on his face, Budo continued, "Come at me."

The three recruits exchanged glances, a mix of determination and uncertainty visible in their eyes. They knew this would be a challenging test, pitting their skills against the seasoned general.

Breaking the tension in the air, Seryu with her unwavering determination immediately charges towards Budo. Her biological Teigu in the corner could be seen cheering her own, "Kurooro!".

Seryu started her assault with a lightning-fast roundhouse kick aimed at Budo's head. With remarkable reflexes, Budo swiftly ducked under the kick, allowing it to sail harmlessly through the air. Without missing a beat, Seryu transitioned into a rapid series of punches, throwing jabs and hooks towards Budo's torso. But each punch was met with a well-placed block, as Budo effortlessly shielded himself from her strikes.

Undeterred by Seryu's relentless assault, General Budo showcased his unwavering defensive prowess, skillfully evading and effortlessly blocking each of her increasingly intense attacks. Wave and Run stood in awe, their eyes widening in astonishment as their comrade's strikes failed to make any significant impact against the highly skilled general. It was apparent that Budo's speed surpassed Seryu's by a significant margin, despite the weight of his imposing armor.

Noticing that Seryu would easily lose if they didn't help, Wave proceeded to charge at Budo's flank while Run proceeded to throw multiple knives at the General's openings, both aiming to exploit any weaknesses they could find.

However, in a sudden burst of speed, Budo swiftly reacted, delivering a powerful punch directly into Seryu's stomach, causing her to release some saliva from her mouth and sending her flying several feet away.

Following the devastating blow, Budo's attention shifted seamlessly to the incoming barrage of knives. With lightning reflexes, he used his left hand, protected by thick armor, to deflect each knife effortlessly. The blades ricocheting off his impenetrable defense, scattering through the air. In a remarkable display of coordination and precision, Budo's right hand swiftly snatched the last deflected knife from mid-air.

As Wave lunged forward, his sword poised for a swift strike, Budo's reaction was instantaneous. Using the knife he had just caught, he positioned it expertly, blocking Wave's incoming sword strike with resolute determination. The clash of metal resonated through the training grounds, a testament to Budo's impeccable timing and mastery of combat.

"The two of you clearly have more fighting experience than her. Unconsciously, the two of you used your comrade to study my movements", Budo stated, his voice carrying an undertone of admiration for Wave and Run's resilience. Without missing a beat, he transitioned from defense to offense, launching a flurry of strikes with the knife in his hand.

Wave, caught off guard by the sudden shift, struggled to parry the relentless assault. Each blow from Budo's blade threatened to overpower him, testing his endurance and skill. Despite his best efforts, Wave found himself being pushed back, his movements becoming increasingly defensive.

Meanwhile, Budo's focus never wavered. His eyes darted between Wave and Run, sensing the opportunity to exploit their momentary distraction. Just as Run prepared to throw more knives, Budo swiftly closed the distance, grabbing the arm of the unsteady Wave with a grip of iron.

With a display of raw strength, Budo effortlessly lifted Wave from his feet and propelled him towards Run. The unsuspecting Run, caught off guard by the unexpected assault, instinctively attempted to dodge, but the airborne Wave collided with him, sending them both crashing to the ground.

As the dust settled, Budo stood tall, his gaze unwavering and his expression unchanged. He had effortlessly neutralized their coordinated attack, dismantling their strategy with calculated precision. It was clear that his experience and skill far surpassed their own.

The training grounds fell into an eerie silence as the combatants prepared for the next phase of the intense battle. The sun dipped lower in the sky, casting long shadows across the field, amplifying the intensity of the confrontation.

"Aside from the girl," Budo stated, his gaze shifting towards Seryu, "the two of you have barely passable physical strength". His words cut through the air with a hint of dismissiveness, causing Wave, Run, and Seryu to exchange glances.

Slowly rising from the ground, the three individuals watched Budo unfastened the cape draped over his shoulders. The cape gracefully slid down his arms and pooled at his feet, leaving him unencumbered.

Confusion mingled with curiosity mark their faces, unsure of the significance behind Budo's action.

"Now, we shall see how good you are with your Imperial Arms," Budo declared, his voice resonating with a mix of challenge and intrigue. As his words hung in the air, a surge of electricity crackled and danced across his body, with electric sparks flying in the surroundings.

The stage was set. The clash that had begun as a test of physical prowess now transformed into a battle of Imperial Arms.