Chapter 4. The Start of a War
Kanoru-10 years
Kanoru stood in anticipation, eyes fixed on the center of the arena. Two fighters clashed before him, their match nearing its end. Once they finished, it would be his turn.
The fighting competition was held by the lord for 10- to 12-year-old residents of his territory. A fighter's ranking in the competition would determine their position under the lord's service.
Kanoru's goal in this world was simple—survive as long as possible. But joining the lord's service worked against that goal, as it meant he would have to fight. But he had to enter because a mortal in the ancient world is difficult to live, and even if he does not fight, it will come to him, and if he reaches the Divine Samurai rank, then the worry of not being able to live long enough will go away.
So, He had to entered the competition only for the resources granted to retainers, which would aid him on his path as a samurai then only his chance to advance to Divine Samurai Rank will increase.
He had only 20 years to reach the rank of Divine Samurai—after turning 30, the chance of advancement dropped by 90%. Without reaching Divine Samurai, he could expect to live 40 to 60 years at most. In contrast, no Divine Samurai had ever died of old age or illness before 100. Many fell in battle, but the oldest living Divine Samurai in the land was still alive at 128.
Kanoru's thoughts shattered as he noticed the fight had ended. Before the announcer could call him, he stepped toward the arena.
Halfway there, he heard his name alongside his opponent's.
Kanoru drew his wooden sword, stepped into the arena, and waited for his opponent.
Takashi climbed up after him and smirked. "Matshuda, this time I will win."
Kanoru simply smiled. "Takashi, we will see."
The referee asked if they were ready. Both nodded.
"Begin!"
Takashi charged, steam rising from his body. Kanoru's own body released steam as well, and he met Takashi's charge head-on. Their swords clashed—Takashi was pushed back. Kanoru followed up with a swift strike, disarming Takashi and pointing his sword at his neck.
Takashi raised his hands. "I admit defeat."
Kanoru gave a small nod and turned to walk off the arena.
Behind him, Takashi called out, "Matshuda, you opened the second gate!"
Kanoru ignored the question and returned to his spot. Standing there, he thought, only the lord's son will be difficult to defeat—otherwise, I will breeze through the competition.
Like him, only the lord's third son, Mori Takenaka, had opened the second gate and reached Lower-Rank Samurai. The rest were still Apprentice Samurai.
Kanoru's fights went exactly as he expected, defeating one opponent after another in just two strikes. There was no need for sword skill—only overwhelming power. When the difference in strength is twice as much, skill becomes meaningless.
But the situation changed in the last fight of the day.
His opponent stood before him, surrounded by a green energy, his skin turning red, steam rising from his body. This only happened when someone forcefully opened a gate. He had opened the second gate before fully controlling the energy released by the first gate.
Kanoru raised his sword, meeting his opponent's attack. He handled each strike with ease. If he continued like this, he would win. His opponent couldn't sustain this state for long—his body wouldn't hold up.
But Kanoru didn't plan to end the fight that way. Winning by endurance wouldn't raise his standing in the lord's eyes.
So, he shifted tactics. He started attacking back, searching for the perfect opportunity to finish the fight.
In the stands, where crowds had gathered to watch the fight, the spectators seated below erupted in excitement as Madato Tasuo fought Kanoru on equal footing. These were commoners with no samurai lineage, and their knowledge of samurai combat was limited. Seeing Madato holding his own, they believed he had a chance to win.
In the upper stands, Meriko, carried by her father, frowned as she heard the cheers for her brother's opponent. Until now, Kanoru had ended all his fights in under a minute, but this match had already lasted longer, with the opponent seemingly keeping up.
With concern on her small face, Meriko asked, "Is Brother going to lose, Father?"
Her father answered firmly, "No."
At that moment, Kanoru shifted his approach, launching a relentless offensive. Every sword strike landed, leaving no opportunity for his opponent to counter.
Meriko, seeing this, clapped excitedly. "Brother is dancing!"
Even at seven years old, she still believed her brother's swordplay was a form of dance. After four years of trying to correct her, her father had long since given up.
Laughter echoed from the pavilion above them, drawing their attention. Lord Mori stepped to the railing.
"Kanoru's sword strikes do look like a dance," the lord observed.
Her father immediately bowed. "Lord." Meriko followed his example.
Beside the lord, a woman clad in armor approached. She was Nogaro Kaomisa, one of the few higher-ranked samurai who had not yet claimed an unoccupied area to establish a town. Many higher-ranked samurai sought to do so, but it was dangerous. The unclaimed lands were infested with blood beasts, requiring higher-ranked samurai, supported by many middle and lower-ranked samurai, to subdue them.
Kaomisa watched the fight closely and remarked, "His technique looks like a dance because he's using his full strength to support each movement, making every strike flow into the next, each one stronger than the last. Tasuo is going to lose."
Her words proved true.
Kanoru's final strike landed at the side of Tasuo's neck, knocking him unconscious.
Kaomisa said, "I want Kanoru to join my team. Lord, give him to me."
Kanoru's father's eyes widened in shock. Kaomisa led the most elite cavalry unit in the territory, primarily tasked with hunting blood beasts in the wild, unclaimed lands. If Kanoru joined her team, he would never lack resources for his future growth.
Lord Mori responded, "We can discuss this later." Then, turning to Kanoru's father, he said, "My only daughter wants to learn how to make sweets. How about your wife teach her?"
Kanoru's father was stunned. "This is an honor for my wife. I will inform her after the competition and have her visit your house to discuss it."
Lord Mori shook his head. "No need for her to come. The day after the competition, I will send my daughter to your house to learn."
Kanoru's father immediately bowed. "Yes, my lord."
At that moment, Meriko shouted, "Father, Brother is leaving!"
Lord Mori said, "You may go."
As they departed, Kaomisa remarked, "You're using the same plan as your father when he sent you to learn from mine."
Lord Mori only smiled.
Kaomisa smirked. "But in the end, that plan didn't work—we didn't get married."
Lord Mori chuckled. "Really? I find that hard to believe, considering you stayed to serve me even after being promoted to Higher-Ranked Samurai."
The next morning, the stands around the arena were decorated with colorful flags. Today was not only the final competition for the 10-12 age group but also a competition between middle-rank samurai.
At one end of the arena stood Kanoru, while at the other stood Mori Takenaka. Kanoru took a deep breath, preparing for the fight. A referee stepped into the arena and announced, "The final competition between Matshuda Kanoru and Mori Takenaka!"
Hearing this, Kanoru walked toward the arena. In terms of strength, he was at a disadvantage—Takenaka was two years older, making him physically stronger despite them being in the same rank. "This fight will test my sword skills," Kanoru thought.
As they entered the arena, they stared at each other in silence.
The referee called, "Start!"
Steam began rising from both of their bodies as the fight commenced. Kanoru attempted his sword technique, but Takenaka blocked him. The fight dragged on, their wooden swords striking against each other, leaving bruises on both of them. As time passed, Kanoru found his opening—he kicked Takenaka out of the arena.
The moment Takenaka landed on the ground, a blood-covered man burst into the arena, shouting, "Urgent news! The Niwais have invaded! Urgent news! The Niwais have invaded!"
He repeated himself before collapsing from his horse. A heavy silence spread through the entire arena, and people began to leave—Kanoru among them.
Chapter 5. Sword Path and Separation
Kanoru was training with weights in his home garden after returning from the competition.
"Ahh!" He winced as he picked up a weight the wrong way, pulling a muscle. Frustrated, he sat on the ground, ignoring the dirt on his clothes.
"I can't train like this without knowing what's happening."
He knows their only southern neighbour Niwais invaded other than he knows nothing as the samurai who brought back the information was quickly taken inside the lord's house after he announce the information of the invasion in the arena.
" I was taught about the war history of our territory by Master Si."
His mind raced, trying to remember what would follow after a war started. He knew that if the battle became too intense and more troops were needed, he would be forced to participate—derailing his plan. His original goal was to train carefully until he turned sixteen, then join a team. He was confident he could advance to a middle-ranked samurai before he turned sixteen.
" Normally I will not, but with resources I will get after winning the competition, but now with the start of war, he is not sure if he will get the resources."
In this world, sixteen was considered adulthood, and under normal circumstances, one could only participate in war at that age. This was an unofficial rule, but in times of crisis, it was ignored. Anyone capable of fighting— even ordinary people— would have to join the army. Normally, samurai were responsible for protecting the people, but during crises, that duty extended to everyone.
"I shouldn't be called to fight right away," he thought.
At best, he estimated he had between one and twelve months before being summoned. If he could strengthen his body enough to open the third gate, even for a short time, it could be the deciding factor between life and death. But he knows it is impossible.
"It took my body two years after opening the first gate to open it for a short period." He had only mastered the energy inside the second gate six months ago.
"The difficulty of gate opening increases drastically after each one."
Even now, he was nowhere near ready to attempt opening the third gate.
"If I calculate it… It took me two years to open the second gate, the Gate of Healing. Since the difficulty doubles each time, I will be able to open the third gate, the Gate of Life, when I am twelve—if I practice normally."
His sword skills were adequate, and he had even developed his own sword technique by mastering the Sword Schools of Cat and Snake.
"I can reduce my sword practice from four hours a day to one and give the remaining three hours to body training, making it eight hours in total."
But he knew training for eight hours straight would do more harm than good.
Kanoru hears footsteps and looks up to see his father approaching with a worried expression. He stands and walks toward him, meeting him on the steps from the house to the garden.
"Father, what happened in the meeting?" he asks.
His father replies, "The Niwais attacked the Red Fortress an hour before dawn. The fortress was on the verge of falling when they sent a team to bring back the information."
Kanoru thought of the injured man who had returned with the message—perhaps he was the only survivor.
His father continues, "Scouts have been sent, but we already know the fortress has fallen. In two hours, I will leave to participate in the war."
Kanoru is worried for his father but puts up a brave front.
"Father, do not worry. I will take care of Mother and Sister."
His father then says, "You will also leave home tomorrow for the Black Kanji Forest camp to train and prepare for war. You could be called to the battlefield at any time."
Kanoru nodded and asked, "Father, in previous battles, whether we attacked or they did, we always received information one or two days in advance. How did we not get any warning this time?"
His father replies, "We do not know. This could only happen if our spies were compromised or if the Niwais attacked with a hidden army we did not know of."
Kanoru feels that if either possibility is true, their chances of winning are slim.
His father reassures him, "Do not worry. Even if they have an advantage, they cannot reach our town. To do so, they must cross the Kōgyoku River, which is impossible without boats. They are not known for their navy, while ours is famous in the region."
Kanoru nodded, showing agreement, but in his mind, he wondered—if they could hide an army, could they not also conceal their naval strength or gain foreign aid? Fame, after all, could also make them a target.
His father takes out a scroll from his pocket and hands it to him.
"This is from Lady Kaomisa," he says.
Taking the scroll, Kanoru asks, "What is in it?"
"She said it is an explanation of the sword path. She gave it to you because of your path in the sword."
Kanoru nodded and started to unroll the scroll, but before he could read, his father said, "I should go and get ready."
Kanoru nodded absentmindedly, his full attention now on the writing. The scroll explains the path to becoming a sword master. The way of the sword is divided into four stages:
1. Sword Wind
2. Sword Thunder
3. Sword Light
4. Sword Energy
Reading this, he realizes another way to grow stronger. Tomorrow, he would leave for Black Kanji Forest, and his previous training plan would have to be scrapped. He now needed to balance both sword and body training.
"Once I get there, I'll have to create a new training plan based on the situation."
He wonders what kind of training awaits in the Black Kanji Forest. What he knows is that the forest is famous for the Black Kanji trees used in shipbuilding, but cutting wood there is dangerous due to the presence of blood beasts. These creatures mostly remain in the core of the forest, but at times, they stray beyond it.
However, for him, the blood beasts themselves are not the biggest concern—they are rare. The real threat comes from beasts carrying traces of blood beast lineage. These creatures are not uncommon and possess the strength of lower- and middle-rank samurai.
Raising his head, he hears footsteps and turns toward the corridor just in time to see Meriko running toward him at full speed. As she reaches him, she leaps into the air.
Kanoru catches her mid-jump.
"Meriko, I told you not to do this. It's dangerous."
Meriko doesn't respond, only hugs him tightly.
"Why did you come to me?" he asks.
With a thoughtful expression, Meriko says, "Mother called for lunch."
Kanoru glances at the sky—it is indeed time for lunch. Carrying Meriko, he walks back inside the house.
After lunch, his family gathers at the house gate, watching his father prepare to leave. He stands before them, clad in armor, a sword tied to his waist and another held in his hand.
"Kanoru, this is for you," his father said, handing him the second sword. "Your practice with a wooden sword has ended. You should get familiar with this quickly. I don't know when you'll receive the call."
Kanoru took the sword, gripping it firmly. "Don't worry, Father. I'll be ready."
His father nods. "Take care of that sword. It has been passed down in our family, given to the heir when they turn ten."
"I will, Father," Kanoru promises.
His father then turns to his mother, embracing her as tears form in her eyes. Next, he knelt slightly to hug Meriko, who, for once, wore a serious expression.
"Father, take care."
He places a hand on her head. "Meriko, take care of your mother."
Finally, he hugs Kanoru before stepping away, joining the other samurai gathered at the town's gate, all preparing to leave for war.
Chapter 6. The training camp
By noon the next day, they arrived at the training camp inside Black Kanji Forest. The dense trees, primarily Black Kanji, gave the forest its name.
Standing at the back of the group, Kanoru observed those who had come to train alongside him. They ranged in age from eight to fourteen years old. Scanning the camp, he noticed ordinary people and freshly cut Black Kanji logs gathered in piles. He concluded that this must have originally been a woodcutting camp, now repurposed for their training.
A loud clap from the front caught his attention. A middle-aged man stood before them—his body strong and his presence commanding.
"Attention, everyone! I would introduce you to each other, but we don't have that luxury. The vile Niwais have invaded, so my job is to train you and prepare you for war."
He clapped again, and a man stepped forward with two open carriages full of axes.
"Take an axe and cut down one Black Kanji tree before the moon rises. If you succeed, you'll earn dinner with meat from impure-blood beasts. If you fail, you'll eat the same food as ordinary people."
His voice rang out sharply. "Start!"
One by one, the group took an axe, walked beyond the camp, and chose a tree. Kanoru glanced at the samurai patrolling the perimeter, watching over them. Taking a deep breath, he positioned himself and swung the axe.
A shockwave traveled up his arm from the impact. The blade barely left a gash in the tree. He exhaled, gripping the axe tighter.
"If ordinary people can cut down these trees, so can I," Kanoru thought. "If I do it without opening the gates, it will be even more effective training."
He kept striking the same spot on the tree for an hour before stopping to rest. His arms ached, and he examined his progress—he had cut about an inch into the thick trunk, which was nearly a meter wide. The deeper he cut, the harder it would become. He needed a more effective way.
Then, he remembered the scroll about the sword path. The first realm taught me how to strike in a way that released a sword wind with each attack.
"An axe is not a sword, but the principle should be the same," he thought.
Adjusting his grip, he swung the axe like a sword, using his entire body's strength. He became fully immersed in the motion, losing track of time.
He only snapped out of it when the tree groaned and began to fall—toward him.
Reacting instantly, he dropped the axe and caught the massive trunk. Carefully, he guided it down, ensuring it didn't damage nearby trees or hurt anyone.
A samurai approached and asked, "What is your name?"
"Matshuda Kanoru," he replied.
The samurai noted something on a scroll and said, "You can return to camp."
Kanoru nodded and walked back as the sun dipped below the horizon. The camp had changed—tents had sprung up, forming a larger settlement. A central clearing stretched from the camp gate inward, now filled with others from his group.
Most who had returned were older than twelve. Among them, Kanoru spotted Takenaka and Tasuo standing together and made his way toward them.
Tasuo, noticing him, said, "You're late. I thought you'd be the first among us."
Kanoru simply shrugged. "How long did it take you both to cut down the tree?"
Tasuo replied, "Four hours."
Takenaka said, "Around three hours."
Kanoru knew that cutting down a tree that quickly was only possible if they had opened their gates.
"You two opened your gates to cut down the tree," Kanoru stated.
Takenaka raised an eyebrow. "You didn't?"
"No, I didn't," Kanoru replied.
Tasuo waved it off. "It doesn't matter. We weren't told not to open them."
Kanoru turned to Takenaka. "Do you know the name of the training camp master?"
Takenaka nodded. "Yes, my uncle, Mori Junzo. He's a higher-rank samurai, but since he's over forty, he was assigned to this camp."
Kanoru nodded, understanding that strength usually stagnated after thirty and declined after forty—at least for those below the Divine Samurai rank.
Their conversation shifted to the war, and soon, others from their age group joined in. As the sun fully set and the moon rose high, the master of the training camp, Master Junzo, appeared.
At his presence, everyone fell silent.
Two attendants followed him, carrying a box, which they placed on a table that had been prepared in advance.
Master Junzo said, "Form a line and step forward to collect your identification scroll. From now on, without it, you will not be allowed to enter or exit the camp, nor will you receive food."
One by one, everyone received their scrolls. Inside, their names and tent numbers were written.
Master Junzo continued, "Everyone aged ten and above successfully cut down a tree. As for those below ten, don't worry—you will still receive impure blood beast meat for a week."
A wave of excitement spread among the younger children.
Kanoru felt satisfied. Eating impure blood beast meat would accelerate his chakra growth, strengthening his body.
But Master Junzo's next words quickly wiped away the excitement. "However, don't be too pleased. Those who succeeded today—only one of you truly passed the test. The rest of you failed."
Tension replaced the earlier joy.
"I said only one succeeded because none of you were supposed to open your gates to cut down a tree. The only one who followed this was Matshuda Kanoru. For this, he will receive double the portion of impure beast meat and a herbal liquid made from a 100-year-old ninjin. Matshuda, after your dinner, come to me for your reward."
All eyes turned to Kanoru—some filled with jealousy, others with resentment.
He ignored them. He was used to this reaction ever since his talent had been revealed four years ago.
"Yes, Master Junzo."
An hour later, after finishing his meal, Kanoru walked toward Master Junzo's tent. As he digested the impure blood beast meat, he could feel his chakra increasing slightly and his body growing stronger.
"Participating in the competition was the right choice. If I hadn't become Lord Mori's retainer, I wouldn't have had access to these resources before being called to war. I need to take advantage of every opportunity to strengthen myself."
Standing outside Master Junzo's tent, he called out, "Master Junzo."
A voice responded, "Come in."
Entering, he saw Master Junzo seated behind a table, a bronze drinking glass in front of him.
Master Junzo gestured toward the drink. "Drink it."
Kanoru nodded and began drinking.
As he did, Master Junzo spoke. "Tomorrow, you must cut down two trees before sunset. If you succeed, the next day, it will be three trees, and so on, until you can cut ten trees in a single day. If you maintain that for a month, you will earn a potion made from a blood beast."
Kanoru finished drinking.
Master Junzo nodded. "Sit down and refine your chakra. The liquid will help heal your hidden injuries."
While Kanoru refined his chakra in another tent, four boys sat inside a different tent, resting on their beds on the ground. Among them were Takenaka and Tasuo, along with two older boys.
One of the older boys asked, "Takenaka, I heard that the Lord wants to marry Lady Asune to Kanoru."
The other boy nodded. "Yes, my father told me to befriend Kanoru after arriving here. He also mentioned that Lady Asune is learning how to make sweets from Kanoru's mother at their house."
Takenaka replied, "If the war hadn't started, my sister would have already gone to his house. But now, she's in another camp for girls inside the forest."
Tasuo clenched his fists, his nails digging into his palm in silent rage.
His family, the wealthiest merchant family in Entori, had secured their status by aligning with the Lord. But their ultimate ambition was for him to marry Lady Asune. His father had instilled this goal in him since he was five, sending him to train as a samurai in the Lord's house at six.
Unlike those from samurai families, he had lived in the servant quarters, while his sister had been sent as a maid to Lady Asune.
At first, he had only seen it as a duty—to fulfill his family's plan. But after meeting Lady Asune repeatedly over the years, he had fallen in love with her. He had come to think of her as his.
This war was his only chance to prove he was stronger and better than Kanoru.
Closing his eyes, he drifted into sleep, his mind consumed by the thought of surpassing Kanoru.
Chapter 7. Cold Spititual Pond
At night, in the training camp clearing, the children stood waiting for Master Junzo. They whispered among themselves, occasionally glancing at a boy standing alone with a calm temperament.
Looking at him felt like looking at a sword. His presence was sharp, and when they met his eyes, a stinging pain forced them to look away.
That boy was none other than Kanoru.
He had finally completed the task of cutting ten trees in a single day. On the twelfth day, he had managed to cut nine, but for the past week, he had struggled to bring down the tenth before sundown. Today, the twentieth day, he had succeeded, felling the final tree in the last few minutes before sunset.
"Phew! If I weren't proficient in two sword schools, I wouldn't have been able to enter the first realm of the sword path."
Without stepping into that first realm, cutting the tenth tree would have been impossible.
"What surprised me most was that the axe I was using released sword wind. This isn't just the path of the sword—it's the path of the edge."
He realized that as long as a weapon had a sharp edge, he could send out sword wind, or what could be called a wind blade. If he mastered this, his attacks could even threaten a middle-rank samurai. And if he could open the third gate while maintaining control over its energy, then with the fourth gate open, he could even kill one.
His thoughts were interrupted as Master Junzo emerged from his tent, his expression serious.
He surveyed the group and said, "Those who are fifteen years old will leave the camp in a month to participate in the war."
Whispers spread among the fifteen-year-olds, while the younger ones grew solemn, knowing their time would also come.
Master Junzo continued, "Do not worry. You will not be sent to the main battlefield immediately. Our army is still holding them back at BlackRock Village. You will be tasked with delivering supplies and transporting the wounded between BlackRock Village and Entori."
After a brief pause, he added, "Some of you may be assigned to the navy. Kanoru, come to my tent after dinner."
Kanoru sat on a wooden slab on the ground, eating his dinner alone.
Around him, the children talked about their struggles in cutting the tenth tree. A few had managed to bring down the ninth, most of them from the 15- and 14-year-old age groups. The most surprising was Takenaka, who had also succeeded in cutting the ninth tree in time.
He overheard some of them praising him and whispering about whether they should ask him for advice.
Then, someone said, "I don't know why Master Junzo told us to cut down trees. It strengthens our bodies, but that can be done through other methods."
A murmur spread as the children discussed it.
One of them turned to Kanoru and asked, "Matshuda, you managed to cut the tenth tree. Do you know why Master Junzo made us train this way?"
Kanoru replied simply, "Because it helps you advance to the first realm of the sword path."
Many of them knew nothing about the sword path. Only a few did, and among them was Takenaka.
Takenaka asked, "Are you speaking the truth?"
Kanoru nodded and continued eating.
The children who were unfamiliar with the sword path immediately started questioning those who understood it.
Finishing his meal, Kanoru placed his chopsticks on his plate and closed his eyes, refining the energy he had absorbed from the nutrient-rich food. Then, he stood up, washed his plate, and left for Master Junzo's tent.
The camp was fully illuminated by the glow of the full moon.
Inside the tent, he drank a potion made from a blood beast and learned that he would be leaving with Master Junzo for a second training site.
Afterward, he returned to his tent and slept.
At dawn, Kanoru woke to the bustling sounds of the camp. Children were already heading out with their axes to cut trees.
He ran to the breakfast area, where buns were being served. Taking five, he quickly devoured them before grabbing another five.
As he ate, Takashi walked up to him and greeted, "Good morning."
Kanoru replied, "Good morning."
Takashi then asked, "Can you give me advice on how to cut trees faster?"
"What number have you reached?" Kanoru asked.
"Six trees in a day," Takashi responded.
"Think of the axe as if it were a sword and use your whole body's strength in each strike," Kanoru advised.
Takashi then asked, "Do you know what the second training method is?"
"Master Junzo hasn't mentioned it," Kanoru replied.
With that, he finished his buns, said goodbye to Takashi, and left.
Upon reaching Master Junzo's tent, he met with him, and together, they rode out on horseback, leaving the camp behind.
A short distance from the camp, the presence of wild beasts grew more frequent. At one point, they even spotted an impure blood beast—a hound.
Blood beasts resembled ordinary animals but were significantly larger and more powerful. Impure blood beasts, however, were an in-between stage, stronger than regular beasts but weaker than true blood beasts.
After a few hours of travel, they arrived at another camp guarded by a small group of samurai. Entering on horseback, they released their horses and found that the samurai were stationed around the entrance of a cave.
Kanoru followed Master Junzo inside. After walking for a few minutes, the cave widened, revealing a large pond. A white mist rose from the water, and an intense cold spread outward.
Inside the pond, he saw countless snakes with transparent bodies.
Master Junzo spoke, "This is a natural wonder—a Cold Spiritual Pond that can heal injuries. But before you can benefit from it, you must endure the bone-freezing cold. The snakes inside are Fire Poison Snakes. Once you enter, they will start biting you. Their poison will heat your body, while the cold pond will neutralize both the heat and the poison. This process will strengthen your body. The longer you endure, the better, but the clash of cold and fire will cause unbearable pain. You will wish for death. You must withstand it.
"In this camp, you will have to hunt for your own food and sleep in the open. Now, you may enter."
Kanoru hesitated for a moment before stepping into the pond, knowing the Fire Poison Snake's venom wasn't deadly—but the pain was enough to drive one mad.
The moment he entered, a bone-freezing chill consumed him, followed by the sharp sting of snake bites. He sat down in the pond with only his head above water.
From the outside, his body was frozen; from within, it burned. The pain was unbearable—he wanted to scream, but he clenched his teeth and endured.
An hour later, he rose from the pond and stepped out.
After resting and waiting for the pain to subside, Kanoru entered the pond again, enduring for an hour and ten minutes. On his third attempt, he lasted an hour and thirty minutes.
Afterward, instead of reentering, he dried his body using his chakra, put on his clothes, and walked out of the cave. He greeted the samurai guarding the entrance and discovered that Master Junzo had already left.
Stepping out of the camp, he set off to hunt for his lunch. Spotting a small animal, he dismissed it—one wouldn't be enough to fill his stomach. As he roamed the forest in search of a suitable beast, he failed to notice a leopard, larger than normal, silently stalking him.
By the time Kanoru sensed the danger, the leopard had already leaped. He only spotted its shadow at the last moment, cast on the forest floor.
Reacting instantly, he spun around, drawing his sword from its sheath and slashing at the beast.
Chapter 8. Bear Hunting and Bow Improvement
Kanoru's sword met the leopard's claw, forcing him to take several steps back from the impact. The leopard landed gracefully and began prowling around him, searching for an opening to strike. However, this gave Kanoru the chance to attack first.
He swung his sword from a distance where the blade itself couldn't reach the leopard. But Kanoru had stepped into the first realm of the sword path. As he swung, a wind blade emerged, slicing through the air at incredible speed. The leopard had no time to react. The invisible force of the wind cut deep into its belly, spilling its internal organs onto the ground. The beast collapsed, dead.
Exhausted from the technique, Kanoru closed the two gates he had opened at the start of the battle and took a deep breath. That single strike had consumed 30% of his chakra.
"Yesterday, when I used this technique for the first time, it drained 50% of my chakra. Now it's down to 30%—the potion from the blood beast must be working. My chakra reserves have increased enough for me to release one more strike."
With that thought, he approached the fallen leopard, swiftly removing its internal organs and draining its blood. Then, carrying the carcass, he made his way back to camp.
Near the camp, he stopped by a small stream to clean the body, removing its fur and preparing the edible flesh. As he entered the camp with the cleaned carcass, one of the samurai guards remarked, "Your first hunt is a leopard."
Kanoru replied, "I wouldn't have chosen it if it hadn't attacked me."
Another guard asked, "What do you like to eat?"
"Deer, boar, and red seagull," Kanoru answered.
At home, red seagull meat was eaten only during the New Year. It was said that the bird's red hue came from a trace of blood beast lineage—a distant relation to the legendary giant seagulls.
The first samurai nodded. "You'll find deer and boars along the stream. It flows south into the Kōgyoku River and north into a lake in the core area. Follow the southward stream if you're hunting them."
Kanoru nodded in acknowledgment.
The second guard added, "As for red seagulls, they nest on the cliffs by the western ocean. But hunting them requires opening your third gate and a team to fend off the other seagulls while you take one down."
Kanoru nodded again. "Thank you. I'll share some of the leopard meat with both of you after it's cooked."
The three of them took the leopard to the kitchen, seasoned the meat, and roasted it over an open flame. The aroma filled the air as they grilled it to perfection, producing four large bowls of meat. Kanoru ate one bowl immediately, then carried the remaining three outside. Handing a bowl to each samurai, he ate the third while they chatted about the forest and its dangers.
As he finished eating, the second samurai advised, "For hunting, you should practice archery. There are bows and arrows in the arsenal."
Kanoru nodded, then cleaned the bowls and utensils before heading to the cave. He took a short nap and, upon waking, entered the Cold Spiritual Pond once more to refine his body.
In this way, a week passed.
A week later, Kanoru perched on a tree branch, staring at a bear by the stream. He debated whether to hunt it. The red markings covering its body indicated it was a blood beast—more specifically, a lower-ranked impure blood beast. Judging by the number of markings, he estimated its strength to be on par with a lower-rank samurai.
"It's a bear. With its raw power, I'd normally need to open three doors to hunt it without risk."
Kanoru was in a dilemma. He had only opened the first and second doors in his body, but for the past two days, he could feel he was just a step away from unlocking the third.
"The pressure from fighting the bear might be the final push I need to open the third door."
He glanced toward the camp in the distance.
"If things go south, I can always retreat."
Having made his decision, Kanoru notched an arrow on his bow, aiming to weaken the bear as much as possible before engaging. He released the arrow, which struck the bear's shoulder. The beast roared, snapped its head toward Kanoru, and swiped the arrow away with its paw, barely injured. Then, with terrifying speed, it charged at the tree.
As the bear's strike landed, Kanoru leaped into the air. Mid-air, he heard the sharp crack of wood splitting. When he landed and turned, he saw the tree snapped in half.
The bear locked eyes with him and charged again.
Kanoru had already opened the two doors inside his body, seeking to fight under life-or-death pressure to break through to the third. Instead of retreating, he met the bear's charge with his sword, and the battle began.
For two grueling hours, both were left bloodied—Kanoru more than the bear. He felt that if he didn't open the third door within ten minutes, he would have to flee. Desperation fueled his resolve, and as he fought, his chakra pounded against the barrier blocking the third door.
With only two minutes left before he was forced to run, the barrier suddenly collapsed. Energy erupted uncontrollably. His skin turned red, steam rising from his body.
Seizing the moment, Kanoru created distance between himself and the bear. Then, with all his strength, he swung his sword. A Wind Blade shot out, cutting deep into the bear from its nose down through its mouth, neck, and belly.
The beast fell lifeless.
Kanoru closed all three gates inside his body and collapsed to his knees, taking deep breaths.
A sound broke the silence—clapping. He looked up and saw Master Junzo approaching on horseback, accompanied by two teenagers from the training camp.
Kanoru looked up. "Master Junzo," he said, attempting to stand but failing.
Master Junzo waved a hand. "No need to get up."
Kanoru nodded and remained seated, catching his breath.
Master Junzo turned to the two teenagers. "Go clean the bear." Then, facing Kanoru, he said, "I should congratulate you for killing an impure blood beast, but I won't. You took an unnecessary risk."
Kanoru lowered his head in silence.
"If, instead of us, another beast had shown up, you would be dead," Master Junzo continued.
Kanoru bowed his head deeper. "Sorry, Master Junzo. I won't do it again."
Master Junzo was right. He could have opened the third door through normal training. It would have taken days, but his life wouldn't have been at risk. In his eagerness to grow stronger quickly, he had lost sight of his goal.
Master Junzo sighed. "That said, congratulations on opening the third door. You're the first in our city's history to do so at just ten years old."
With that, he turned and walked toward the teenagers to help clean and skin the bear.
Kanoru slowly got to his feet and made his way to the stream to clean himself.
At dawn the next day, Kanoru, wrapped in bandages, sat on a tree branch near the camp, studying his bow. If it had been stronger, his battle with the bear wouldn't have been so difficult. It was just an average short bow. He needed to improve it.
He recalled a video he had seen about different types of bows. "I can't practice or hunt today, so I might as well try making a stronger bow."
His memory was flawless. After completing the first chapter of The Way of Dreams, he had gained perfect recall. When he came to this world as a dream seed, he retained that ability.
Using the knowledge from the video, he experimented with different bow designs. After testing them, he chose the Mongolian recurve bow. He crafted it using wood from the inner trunk of a Black Kanji tree and a bowstring made from a snake's vein he found in the kitchen.
The samurai guards watched as he aimed at a Black Kanji tree and released an arrow. With a sharp snap, the arrow sank halfway into the trunk. A guard retrieved it, inspecting the hole—a full finger deep. Previously, arrows from the standard short bow had barely left marks.
A guard stepped forward. "Let me try."
The result was the same—an arrow buried a finger deep into the tree. One by one, the guards tested it, all achieving the same outcome.
One of them turned to Kanoru. "I'm going to inform Master Junzo so he can report this to the lord. With this, we could gain an advantage in the war against the Niwai."
Kanoru nodded. "The faster the war ends, the better," he thought. If it ended soon, his father would be safe, and he wouldn't have to participate.
He let the samurai take the bow to Master Junzo.
Chapter 9. Red Seagulls and Pirate Ships
After creating the new bow, Kanoru used water from the Cold Spiritual Pond to wash his wounds and redress them. Exiting the cave, he found a secluded spot within the camp, sat under the night sky, and closed his eyes to sense his chakra.
Since opening the third gate, his chakra reserves had increased, and his body had strengthened. Now, even without opening any gate, his strength was already half of what it had been when opening the first. From today onward, his focus had to shift from strengthening his body to controlling the energy released from the third gate.
He opened the first gate. Energy surged through him, doubling his strength, but externally, there were no visible changes. He opened the second gate—his strength doubled again, yet still, there were no outward signs. When one could fully control the energy within the gates, the body remained unchanged on the outside.
Taking a deep breath, he opened the third gate. Energy, like fire, erupted from within. His chakra failed to contain it as it flooded his body, turning him into a red-skinned figure with steam rising from his skin. He made no attempt to control the surge, simply remaining seated. After ten minutes, he closed all three gates.
Eyes shut, he waited for the exhaustion and pain to subside. He could sustain the third gate for ten minutes before it caused serious harm. Some of his healed wounds reopened, making him realize he needed to recover fully before attempting to control the third gate's energy.
With nothing else to do, he returned to his tent and fell asleep.
At dawn, south of the Kōgyoku River, a vast war camp with thousands of tents stirred to life as the sun rose.
From the north, in a small boat, Master Junzo rowed himself toward the camp, a bow slung across his back. After receiving Kanoru's newly crafted bow and testing its power, he had ordered the camp's woodcutters to begin producing them. Once the bow was correctly replicated, he set out to meet the lord. After resting briefly outside the Black Kanji Forest, he arrived at the frontline camp by dawn.
Spotting him in the boat, a samurai guarding the makeshift port called out, "Master Junzo, why are you here?"
"I want to meet the lord," Junzo replied.
"The lord must be preparing for the morning meeting," the samurai said, stepping forward to secure the boat.
Junzo stepped onto the port. "Where is the lord's tent?"
"At the center of the camp," the samurai answered.
Junzo nodded and entered the camp. As he walked, every samurai he passed greeted him with respect. He returned their greetings and continued until he reached the central tent.
"Tsuki," Junzo called out.
A voice from inside responded, "Brother, come in."
Junzo entered to find Tsuki dressing. "Brother, why are you here?" Tsuki asked.
Junzo held out the bow. "I want you to try this."
Curious, Tsuki examined the uniquely designed bow. Taking it in his hands, he pulled the string and immediately noticed its superior strength. When he released the string, the snap echoed like distant thunder.
Junzo said, "Let's go outside the camp and test it. Only then will you understand its power."
Tsuki nodded. "Let's wait for the captains to arrive for the meeting. That way, everyone can see the bow's strength at once."
After an hour at the port, Junzo stood by his boat while Tsuki and a group of samurai gathered nearby.
Tsuki asked, "The day after tomorrow, the children will be moving to the second camp, right?"
"Yes," Junzo confirmed.
"I'll visit them as well," Tsuki said. "What do you think would be a suitable reward for Kanoru's invention?"
"For him, the best reward is practice resources," Junzo replied. "But since he consistently delivers excellent results, I already reward him regularly. Right now, the greatest reward for him would be his father's safety."
"Then I should move him to the logistics team," Tsuki suggested. "It will increase his safety."
Junzo nodded. "Then let us meet tomorrow."
With that, he stepped into his boat and began rowing toward the other side.
As Junzo rowed his boat to the other side, Kanoru remained hidden in the forest, watching the cliff ahead. It was filled with red seagulls—twice the size of ordinary seagulls, their feathers a deep crimson. He observed as they soared from the cliff, returning with large fish clutched in their beaks.
Patiently, he waited for an opportunity—for their numbers to dwindle or for one to come within range. His chance arrived a couple of hours before noon. He nocked an arrow in the newly crafted bow, made just an hour before from the tendon of an impure blood beast—a Double Horn Ox. The bow was incredibly difficult to use, requiring the strength of a samurai who had opened the first door. Even the arrowhead was crafted from the bone of an impure blood beast.
Carefully aiming, he released the arrow. It pierced through the neck of a red seagull nearby. Without hesitation, Kanoru bolted from his hiding place, sprinting toward his kill. As he lifted the fallen bird, cries of enraged seagulls echoed behind him. He dashed several meters into the forest before stopping.
Gazing down at the red seagull in his hands, he then looked up at the sky. There are about eight hours until sunset. If I time it right, I can hunt another one. This bow is powerful—if I land my shot correctly, one arrow is enough to kill a red seagull.
Returning to his hiding place, he resumed watching the seagulls, but this time, they remained grouped together and kept their distance. Undeterred, he waited patiently for the perfect moment. As the sun began to set, the seagulls gradually flew down until only two remained.
Now or never.
Kanoru aimed at one of the remaining seagulls and let his arrow fly. It struck the bird square in the chest. The wounded seagull flapped its wings frantically, struggling to stay airborne, but it drifted dangerously close to the cliff's edge. Kanoru sprinted forward, knowing he had to reach it before it tumbled into the depths below.
Just then, the second seagull launched toward him. Kanoru swiftly unsheathed his sword, meeting the attack head-on.
With all three gates open, he unleashed his sword techniques, wounding the bird repeatedly. He couldn't reveal the full power of the Sword Wind Realm at such close range, but he could still utilize it partially. The battle raged for half an hour. Blood soaked the ground, and both combatants were exhausted. At last, the seagull collapsed, succumbing to its injuries.
Kanoru turned his attention to the first seagull—it had finally come to a stop at the very edge of the cliff.
After resting for half an hour, Kanoru began his journey back to camp, carrying three seagulls in his hands. Navigating the forest at night would be difficult, so he made his way to the cliff's edge. From there, he could see the Kōgyoku River flowing south.
By following the river, he would eventually reach the stream that ran near the camp. With that in mind, he started walking leisurely along the riverbank, gradually descending from 50 meters above the water to 40, then 30, then 20 meters.
He suddenly stopped.
What is that sound? It sounds like many people talking.
Lowering himself to the ground, he carefully peered below. His eyes widened as he spotted three large pirate ships anchored by the river.
Without hesitation, he sprang to his feet and started sprinting back toward the camp.
'I have to inform Master Junzo!'
Chapter 10. Attack on Pirates
As Kanoru ran, he threw away the red seagulls to move faster. His mind raced back to a conversation with his father, which had taken place a month before he left for war.
His father had assured him that the Niwais would never be able to cross the Kōgyoku River with their weak navy, even if they suffered defeat at the frontline. As long as they held the river, they would not lose.
But now, at the very start of the war, their camp was south of the Kōgyoku River while Entori lay to the north. If the pirates launched a surprise attack from the river while the Niwais struck from the front, the camp would be surrounded and face annihilation.
Eighty percent of their territory's samurai were stationed there—if they fell, they would never recover, and the war would be lost.
With that thought, Kanoru opened two gates and ran faster.
After half an hour, exhausted and breathless, he saw the camp as the last traces of sunlight faded.
"Ren! Koizura!" he shouted, calling the names of the two samurai on gate duty that night.
Hearing their names, Ren and Koizura squinted into the darkness, spotting a figure running toward them. Just as they recognized him, Kanoru collapsed a few feet away.
Ren rushed to his side. "Kanoru, what happened?"
Kanoru gasped, "In the west... I saw three pirate ships... on the Kōgyoku River."
Ren and Koizura froze.
"What?!" they exclaimed in unison.
"What should we do?" Koizura asked.
Kanoru forced himself to stand. "We need to go inside and inform the samurai."
Ren immediately moved to support Kanoru.
Koizura turned. "I'll go and call them!"
"Wait!" Kanoru's voice stopped him.
Koizura looked back.
"Senior Koizura," Kanoru said between breaths, "take your horse and go to the first camp. Inform Master Junzo immediately."
Ren nodded. "Yes, go. We'll handle the rest."
Koizura clenched his jaw and nodded. "Then I'm going to Master Junzo."
He sprinted into the camp. As Kanoru and Ren reached the gate, Koizura galloped past them, riding at full speed toward the first camp.
Inside the camp, Kanoru pulled away from Ren's support. "Go and call them. I'll rest here."
Ren nodded and strode off.
Five minutes later, everyone had gathered in front of Kanoru.
He took a deep breath and spoke. "While coming from the cliff, I walked along the Kōgyoku River and spotted three pirate ships below."
A wave of murmurs broke out.
"They might attack the camp!"
"We have to do something!"
"But we're only fifteen people—what can we do?"
"You're a coward! I'm going to stop them myself!"
"Everyone!" Kanoru shouted, drawing their attention. "I have a plan."
The group quieted.
"We can't stop them directly—that would be like smashing an egg against a rock. Instead, we have to block them indirectly."
"How?" someone asked.
"Yes, tell us!"
Kanoru answered, "We'll cut trees and tie two or three together. Then we'll throw them into the river and then shoot their ships with fire arrows, setting them on fire."
"Fire arrows?" someone asked.
"I'll show you later," Kanoru replied. "Right now, gather all bows, arrows, axes, clothes, and animal fat oil."
Fifteen minutes later, they were ready and rode out along the stream.
Under the crescent moon reflecting in the river, they followed the water westward, ascending the slope. After some time, they stopped. Kanoru dismounted first and peered down. The pirate ships were still there.
One of the teenagers whispered, "Let's attack now! They won't be able to defend!"
A samurai suggested, "We could cut trees and drop them onto the ships. That might destroy them."
"Then let's start!" another urged.
"Wait!" Kanoru interjected. "First, we block them from going east. Then we attack. If our attack fails, they still won't be able to reach the camp before the warning arrives."
An older samurai nodded. "There may be high-ranking samurai on those ships. Even if not, middle-ranked samurai will be there. For them, climbing the cliff and reaching us would be easy."
"Let's follow Kanoru's plan," another agreed.
Ren stepped forward. "Kanoru, today, you are our captain. Whatever you order, we'll do."
The others nodded in agreement.
Kanoru inhaled deeply. "First, we ride down the slope and place a blockade in the river to stop them from heading east."
After riding down, Kanoru quickly instructed the others to cut trees and joined them. Swinging his sword from a distance, he unleashed a wind blade that sliced through trees both in front of and behind him.
Everyone used their full strength, and in just 15 minutes, they had cut down 30 trees.
Kanoru tied a cut tree to another tree by the riverbank with a rope. One end remained on land while the other extended over the river. They then secured another cut tree vertically to the first, followed by a horizontal one, repeating the process to form a blockade across the river. The last tree was tied to another tree on the opposite bank, completing the first blockade.
After that, they built two more, each ten meters apart.
With the blockades in place, Kanoru demonstrated how to make fire arrows. They then rode up the slope again to their vantage point overlooking the three ships. This time, they saw movement—lights flickering as the pirates prepared to set sail.
Without hesitation, they cut more trees and rolled them down the slope, aiming for the ships. Most crashed into the water, but one or two struck the ships, causing damage.
Kanoru then spotted pirates jumping onto the cliffside, attempting to climb up. Without counting, he drew his bow and fired, shooting down several attackers.
Realizing too many were climbing and they wouldn't stand a chance in close combat, he saw that the ships, though damaged, wouldn't be able to attack tomorrow. He shouted, "Let's go!"
Turning his horse, he dashed into the forest. The others, understanding the danger and hearing his command, swiftly followed.
Konaru glances back under the moonlight. Two or three pirates are chasing them, running faster than their horses. The dense forest slows them down as they maneuver around trees and obstacles.
"Pirates are chasing us," Konaru warned.
The other samurai turn to look.
"Middle-rank samurai," one of them mutters.
"Split up," another suggests.
"It's a forest at night. Separating will be dangerous for all of us," someone counters.
Konaru nods. "Even if they are middle-rank, we outnumber them five to one. If we fight together, we have a chance to kill them."
Ren clenches his fists. "I've been stuck, unable to open the fourth gate. A life-and-death battle might push me past my limit."
Without hesitation, he leaps from his horse. The others follow suit.
In less than a minute, the pirates close in, stopping just ten meters away.
One of them sneers. "You're all dead."
With a battle cry, the three pirates charge.
Konaru, seeing them rush forward, swings his sword. A wind blade shoots toward the pirate in the middle, but he blocks it effortlessly.
Then, the fight began—five against one.
Chapter 11. Dangerous Moment
Konaru and the other four samurai attack the middle-rank pirate together. His sword clashes with the pirate's, and the sheer force of the strike sends him stumbling back three steps.
If I were alone, the second or third strike would have killed me, he thinks.
He sees his companions also being pushed back by the pirates' strikes. Without hesitation, he lunges forward again. The pirate repels him once more, but another samurai follows up immediately.
They refuse to give the pirates even a moment to counterattack. Two or three of them strike together, yet the pirate dodges most blows and meets only one head-on.
Among the five, Konaru is the weakest. He has yet to open the third gate, and a prolonged battle will push him beyond his limits. This is his first time fighting such a frustrating battle—one where he cannot see a clear path to victory.
On paper, their combined strength surpasses the pirate's, yet while their power is divided among five, the pirate's is concentrated in himself alone.
If an ordinary person's strength is measured at one, then the first gate is two, the second four, the third eight, and the fourth sixteen. But it is not so simple. Even without opening a gate, Konaru has reached 1.5.
With the first gate, he reaches three, the second six, and the third twelve. However, he had yet to fully stabilize his strength, and his body could not endure the third gate for long. He can maintain the second gate for about four hours and the first even longer.
Meanwhile, the pirate has complete control over his strength behind the fourth gate. Even without opening a gate, he can overwhelm an apprentice samurai. If this battle drags on, they will lose.
Konaru shifts his focus—not on how to kill the pirate, but on how to make the pirate realize that fighting them carries its risks. If the pirate believes killing them is too dangerous, he might retreat. However, there are not just one but three pirates. If any one of their three groups falls first, the others will be in grave danger.
As he fights, his mind races, searching for a way to survive. He scans every memory he has since arriving in this world, looking for anything that could help. At last, his thoughts settle on what he once read about the sword path.
The first path is Sword Wind—controlling the power of the wind through the sword. He is in this realm, but only at the initial stage, where he can attack with wind from a distance. The next stage allows the wind to surround his sword, enhancing close combat and doubling his strength. He has only been able to use this ability partially, but now, he forces himself to wield the wind in close combat.
His sword clashes with the pirate's. This time, he is only pushed back one step. His blade moved too fast, closing the distance before the pirate could fully unleash his strength. A glimmer of hope sparks in their group—they can hold their ground.
But now, Konaru is in danger. The pirate focuses entirely on him, recognizing him as the greatest threat. Between dodging and defending, the pirate launches relentless attacks. Even if it meant risking injury, he struck at Konaru.
Konaru understands. If he were in the pirate's position, he would target himself, too.
At this moment, a buried ability awakens—perfect recall. He can remember everything since birth. Using this, he experiments, channeling wind energy in various ways. Some attacks hit harder, some move faster, some take unpredictable angles, and some weaken the enemy's strikes before they land. As he fights, he studies the wind, memorizing how it behaves with each movement.
After an hour, he has mastered attacking with wind in every possible way. But now, his chakra is nearly depleted.
He distances himself from the battle and takes a chakra pill for the first time in his life. The pill lives up to its reputation—bitter and unpleasant—but he ignores the taste. His mind is elsewhere, analyzing the different ways he has used the power of the wind. Among the eighty directions he tried, he searched for a common point. He doesn't find just one—he finds thirty-six.
These discoveries form the prototype of thirty-six sword moves.
As his chakra replenishes, he rejoins the fight, seeing that his teammates are struggling to hold their ground. He began using the thirty-six sword moves he had developed, and to his surprise, he lands a thin cut on the pirate's wrist.
When the pirate retaliates for injuring him. This time, he doesn't have to step back. A narrow wind wall forms in front of his sword, slowing the pirate's attack before it reaches him. This made the power behind the pirate's attack the same as him, and the two cancelled each other.
"Why does my body feel so familiar with these thirty-six moves?"
As he fights, a realization dawns on him. He searches his memory and finds that thirty of the thirty-six moves are derived from the Sword School of Cat and Snake—two styles he is highly proficient in. He hadn't recognized it at first because these thirty-six moves were his creation. When using them, he can release his full strength effortlessly.
However, the Sword School of Cat and Snake was not designed for his body. Until he fully masters them, he will never be able to use those styles at his peak.
So, there is some deviation among them.
As the battle drags on for two hours, exhaustion sets in. Kanoru's team, along with the other two, started showing signs of fatigue and frustration.
Then, a horn sounds in the air.
The three pirates exchange glances and retreat without hesitation.
No one gives chase. Fatigue weighs on them all—their clothes drenched in sweat, some bearing injuries. More importantly, they know the pirates are stronger. One by one, they collapse onto the forest floor.
Kanoru says, "Let's rest, then observe the pirates."
The others nod in agreement. Once the exhaustion fades, they rise and make their way toward the river. Halfway there, they break into a run. Emerging from the forest, the sound of battle reaches them—coming from the blockade they had set up.
At the cliff's edge, they peer down.
A battle rages in the river. Amid the wreckage of the three damaged ships, an intact fourth ship looms—larger than the rest. Their gazes shift to the center of the river, where Master Junzo clashes against a high-ranking samurai pirate.
From the shouts below, they catch the pirate's name—Devil Lu.
One of the teenagers asks, "Can Master Junzo handle him?"
Silence.
Fifteen years ago, no one would have doubted it. But Master Junzo's strength has waned, from a high-ranking samurai to a middle-rank.
Watching the battle unfold, Kanoru felt a growing sense of confusion. By all logic, Master Junzo shouldn't be a match for a high-ranking samurai.
Chapter 12. Battle with the pirates and Asuna
Under the crescent moon, two figures clash in the middle of the river, their battle sending ripples across the water as they move as if on solid ground. One warrior's sword strikes with overwhelming force, each swing generating gusts of wind that churn the river into waves. The other moves with the grace of the wind itself, deflecting every attack at precise angles, preventing his opponent from unleashing his full power.
On both riverbanks, warriors fight fiercely, bodies collapsing onto the ground or drifting in the current. Hidden among the trees on one side, children and teenagers fire arrows from cover, their silhouettes barely visible in the moonlight.
Fifteen figures stand atop a cliff, silently observing the battle below.
Kanoru decided that how Master Junzo was able to fight could be figured out later. He looked around at his group. "Let's go help them." The others nodded—there was no choice. If their forces were defeated, they wouldn't survive for long either.
Just as they were about to descend the cliff, someone in the group shouted, "Look! More ships are coming from the western ocean!"
They squinted, spotting a black flag with a spider emblem.
"I know them," a samurai said grimly. "I was guarding the last trade when they attacked our ship. If Master Negi hadn't been with us, we would've been wiped out."
Ren's expression darkened. "If Master Negi was needed to stop them, then they must also have a higher-rank samurai."
Kanoru clenched his jaw. "We need to warn them to retreat."
Without hesitation, he sprinted down the slope, drawing his bow in one swift motion. He fired rapidly as he ran, each arrow finding its mark. By the time he reached the battlefield, ten pirates had already fallen.
Switching to his sword, he scanned the chaos and spotted the middle-rank samurai pirate he had fought earlier, now locked in a fierce duel with one of their own middle-rank samurai. Without wasting time, Kanoru unleashed a wind blade from his sword. The pirate, too engrossed in battle, failed to notice in time. The blade cut clean through his back, and he collapsed, dead.
The samurai fighting him turned to Kanoru, recognizing him. "Kanoru! Are you alright?"
"I'm fine," Kanoru replied. "But we have to go."
"Why? We're winning," the samurai said, confused.
"Another pirate ship is approaching."
The samurai's expression shifted. "Then we have to retreat."
Kanoru nodded. "I'll call Master Junzo. Sir, you gather the others."
Without waiting, Kanoru sprinted toward the riverbank, shouting, "Master Junzo! We have to retreat!"
Deflecting another strike from the pirate captain, Master Junzo asked, "Why?"
Kanoru raised his sword just in time to block an attack from a pirate. "Another pirate ship is heading this way!"
The pirate before him was a lower-rank samurai like Kanoru. Deflecting the attack, Kanoru channeled the power of the wind into his sword, eliminating all resistance. His blade moved too swiftly for the pirate to react—a thin red line appeared on the pirate's neck before he collapsed, clutching his throat.
Kanoru ran toward the forest and spotted Takashi and Takenaka among the children, firing arrows from cover. He joined them, loosing arrows at the enemy.
A few minutes later, his eyes landed on the pirate captain, who was blocking Master Junzo's retreat. Kanoru took careful aim and fired an arrow. The pirate captain noticed and deflected it with his free hand, but the momentary distraction was enough—Master Junzo seized the opportunity and broke free.
Like a storm, Master Junzo tore through the pirates still engaging their samurai, cutting a path for retreat. Kanoru watched closely, sensing the wind surrounding Master Junzo's body. *He's in the final stage of the Sword Wind realm.*
With Master Junzo leading the charge, the samurai on Kanoru's side retreated into the forest, while those on the opposite bank withdrew toward the front line.
Seeing the pirate captain coming after him, Master Junzo unleashed a ten-meter wind blade. The pirate captain barely managed to defend against it, but in that moment, Master Junzo vanished into the forest. "Let's retreat to the first camp!" he ordered.
The group immediately turned and fled.
Two hours later, Kanoru lay on his bed inside the tent where he stayed during his time in the first camp. From morning until now, he had neither rested nor eaten. As exhaustion took over, he closed his eyes and fell into a deep sleep.
The next morning, he woke up and found Takashi meditating on his bed. Sitting up silently so as not to disturb him, Kanoru got out of the tent.
Half an hour later, he was having breakfast while observing the commotion in the camp. The girls had been moved here, with the boys occupying the western side and the girls the eastern side. Kanoru scanned the area, looking for a senior samurai to ask about the current situation.
As he searched, he spotted Ren approaching, his right arm wrapped in a bandage. Kanoru hadn't realized Ren had been injured after they had charged down the slope last night.
"Senior Ren," Kanoru called.
Ren noticed him and quickened his pace.
When he reached Kanoru, Kanoru asked, "How were you injured?"
"A pirate cut my arm," Ren replied.
Kanoru nodded. "Senior Ren, what's the situation now?"
"At dawn, the Niwais besieged the frontline camp. Master Negi and Master Junzo, along with their forces, are fighting the pirates."
Kanoru nodded again. "What about us?"
"We've been given a rest day. Tomorrow, we'll join Master Junzo in battle."
Kanoru stood up. "Then I should go train."
Ren gestured toward his breakfast. "I'm going to finish eating first."
Kanoru left the camp and walked toward a pond nearby. It was far enough from the camp that few people went there but close enough that wild beasts usually stayed away. Reaching the pond, he climbed a tree and sat down to meditate.
Tomorrow, he would join the war.
After a brief 30-minute meditation, he began practicing sword techniques from the School of the Eagle.
There were five sword schools in this land—Cat, Snake, Eagle, Wolf, and Mantis. He was already proficient in the Cat and Snake styles. Mastering them would take time, but with his strong foundation, he could familiarize himself with the other three.
He focused on the Eagle style, practicing each movement carefully. After every sequence, he recalled his actions, analyzing them for mistakes before repeating the motions. His goal was to make the techniques instinctive to his body.
Engrossed in training, he didn't notice he was being watched—until the sound of a cough broke his concentration.
Two girls stood nearby, observing him. He stared at them in silence until one of them spoke.
"I didn't mean to disturb you, but I saw you practicing the Eagle sword style. I'm proficient in it too, so I wanted to train with you," she said.
Kanoru asked, "Who are you?"
"Oh, sorry! I'm Mori Asuna," she replied.
Kanoru raised an eyebrow. "I'm Matsuda Kanoru. I'd be glad to practice with you."
Both girls gasped. "You're Matsuda Kanoru?" they exclaimed, staring at him.
Asuna studied him and said, "You look different from the competition day."
The other girl added, "Yes, his skin is darker, and there are cuts, but he is definitely Matsuda Kanoru."
They exchanged whispers before Kanoru interrupted. "Do you want to practice or not?"
Asuna snapped back. "Yes, yes, I do!" She unsheathed her sword and stepped forward.
Kanoru said, "No opening gates—we'll only use sword skills."
Asuna nodded, and they began sparring using Eagle sword techniques.
Twenty minutes later, Kanoru was defeated.
Asuna jumped in excitement. "I beat Kanoru! My brother couldn't even do that!"
While she celebrated, Kanoru closed his eyes, replaying the fight in his mind and reviewing his mistakes. After two minutes, he opened his eyes. "Let's go again."
"Okay!" Asuna agreed eagerly.
This time, their duel stretched for an hour with no clear winner.
Kanoru finally said, "Let's stop and take a break."
Breathing heavily, Asuna nodded. "How did you improve so quickly?"
Kanoru shrugged and closed his eyes again, analyzing their fight. He could feel himself nearing proficiency in the Eagle style.
Opening his eyes, he felt hunger creeping in but didn't want to return to camp. His gaze fell on the fish swimming in the pond.
Wading into the knee-deep water, he moved swiftly. In five seconds, he caught and killed three fish.
Stepping out, Asuna asked, "What are you doing?"
"I'm hungry. I'm going to cook these," Kanoru replied.
"I want one! And one for Mika," Asuna said.
Kanoru gathered dry wood. "Why do you think I caught three?"
After collecting enough, he cleaned the fish, started a fire, and began frying them.
Chapter 13. Asuna and New Command
After finishing his fish, Kanoru decided to bring spices next time he left home. The meal had been plain, and he preferred some flavor.
He realized that sparring with Asuna a few more times wouldn't significantly improve his Eagle-style sword technique. To master it, he needed consistent daily practice. Now, only two styles remained unfamiliar to him—Mantis and Wolf.
As he watched them finish eating, he asked, "Are either of you proficient in Mantis or Wolf sword styles?"
Asuna took another bite, chewed, and then answered, "Mika is proficient in Mantis style." She turned to Mika. "Right, Mika?"
Mika, still chewing, quickly swallowed. "Yes, Miss."
Kanoru asked, "Miss Mika, will you help me train in Mantis style?"
Mika finished her fish, tossed the bones into the pond, and washed her hands. "Of course."
Kanoru glanced at Asuna, who was still sitting between them.
Asuna noticed his stare and blushed. "What?"
"You're in the middle," Kanoru replied.
"Oh!" She quickly got up and leaned against a tree at the edge of the clearing.
Kanoru unsheathed his sword and looked at Mika. "Start."
They began sparring, using only Mantis-style sword techniques.
As they fought, Kanoru realized Mika was highly proficient—far more than Asuna in Eagle style. If skill could be measured, he estimated himself to be 20% proficient in Snake and Cat styles, Asuna about 5% in Eagle style, but Mika was at least 40% proficient in Mantis style.
Kanoru was unfamiliar with Mantis techniques, but thanks to his never-forgotten memory, he retained every move his teachers had taught. If he trained carefully, he could replicate them perfectly. His solid foundation in other sword styles helped him hold his ground, but he was constantly on the defensive, reacting at the last moment before Mika's strikes landed.
Mantis style was built on speed and precision—every strike aimed to kill with unrivaled swiftness. Each of Mika's attacks targeted a vital point.
Fighting her felt like balancing on the edge of a cliff—one mistake, and he would fall. He reminded himself that this was just training and that they were using the blunt side of their swords. Still, the intensity was real.
He forced himself not to rely on other styles to defend. But after half an hour, he made a mistake.
Mika's sword smacked Kanoru's arm.
Since they were using the blunt side, it only bruised him. Seeing the swelling, Mika, unable to stop in time, dropped her sword and clutched his arm. Tears welled in her eyes. "I'm sorry! I couldn't stop in time."
Kanoru stepped back, slipping out of her grasp. He circulated chakra around the bruise, and slowly, the swelling faded. "Look, it's gone," he said, showing her his healed arm.
Asuna, who had been watching, remarked, "You've mastered the second opening and even unlocked the third gate."
Kanoru nodded. "Yes. Didn't you see the competition a month ago? I have already gained control over the second gate's energy."
"No," Asuna replied. "Back then, steam was coming off you when you opened the second gate."
Kanoru smirked. "Why wouldn't I master it in a training camp with such rich resources?"
Curious, Asuna asked, "What did you receive?"
"For ten days, I had herbal liquid made from a hundred-year-old ginseng. Then, ten days ago, I was given a potion made with the blood of a blood beast."
"Wow!" Asuna exclaimed. "Even as my father's only daughter, I never had access to such resources."
"I completed every task on time, so I was rewarded," Kanoru said. Then, turning away, he added, "Don't disturb me. I'm going to meditate."
With that, he walked to the edge of the clearing and sat down against a tree.
Asuna and Mika watched him leave. Asuna murmured, "This is the first time I've seen my father invest so much in training a samurai outside the family."
Mika replied, "He's not an outsider."
"What do you mean?" Asuna asked.
"I heard rumours that Lord wants you and him to marry in the future."
Asuna muttered to herself, "So, because of me, he got these resources… No. If the war hadn't started, maybe. But in a war where survival is uncertain, Father wouldn't have given him so much unless he saw his potential."
Mika nodded in agreement.
Asuna straightened. "Let's train, too. Tomorrow, we'll be on the battlefield. We may be in the archery unit, but we should be prepared for close combat as well."
Asuna and Mika clashed, Asuna using the Eagle style while Mika wielded the Mantis style. Leaning against a tree, Kanoru watched, his thoughts drifting to the last sword school he had yet to familiarize himself with—Wolf Style. He recalled the instructor's demonstration, visualizing the movements in his mind.
Standing up, he walked toward them and said, "Mika, you're not using your full strength."
Asuna agreed. "Yes, Mika. Use your full strength, or how will I improve?"
Mika hesitated. "Lady, I'm afraid you'll get hurt."
Kanoru stepped in. "I'll join Asuna to fight you."
Mika nodded, and the three trained together until the sun began to dip below the horizon. Then, they returned to camp.
As they entered, many eyes turned toward them—curious, jealous, and knowing looks. Kanoru paid no attention, heading straight to his tent to change and clean himself. Afterward, he had dinner and returned to rest.
Tomorrow, he needed to be at full strength. He decided against night training and planned to meditate until midnight before sleeping.
Halfway through his meditation, someone called his name. Opening his eyes, he found the middle-ranked samurai he had helped yesterday.
Kanoru stood as his tentmates, including Takeshi, watched curiously. He stepped outside. "Sir."
The samurai said, "Master Junzo wants to meet you."
Kanoru nodded. "Then let's go quickly."
They walked in silence, navigating through the tents and the bustling camp. Reaching a clearing, they crossed it and arrived at Master Junzo's tent.
The samurai called out, "Master Junzo, Kanoru is here."
A firm voice responded. "Come in."
Kanoru entered and found Master Junzo seated with Takenaka, Asuna, and several unfamiliar samurai. Bowing, he greeted Junzo.
Junzo spoke, "If not for your efforts yesterday, the pirates would have launched a surprise attack on the frontline camp."
Kanoru replied humbly, "That was my duty."
Junzo nodded. "I have another task for you. Tomorrow, I will send a team of 100 lower-ranked samurai who can control the energy in the second gate, along with 10 middle-ranked samurai, to the eastern hills."
He continued, "Our spy reports that a small Niwais force -20 middle-ranked and 130 lower-ranked samurai—has separated from their main army and is heading east. We believe they plan to cross the river. Shikichi,"—he gestured to the middle-ranked samurai who had fetched Kanoru—"will be the captain. You, Kanoru, will be the deputy captain."
He looked at them both. "Your goal is not to defeat them but to block their crossing and prevent an attack on the city."
Shikichi and Kanoru answered in unison, "We will follow your orders, Master Junzo."
After discussing the details, Kanoru left to rest. Since they had to depart before dawn, Shikichi took charge of informing the team and preparing supplies for their stay in the eastern hills.
Being only ten years old, Kanoru's role was limited to combat, which suited him fine. With no interest in logistics, he left the preparations to Shikichi and returned to his tent.