Chasing Dreams

In an unknown location far from human civilization, in a secluded area near the mountains, there lives a boy named Ryu, who happens to turn 16 years old today. An official age where you can participate in a magic exam to join the magic guilds in order to make a name for yourself.

However, Ryu doesn't have an ounce of mana in his body, making him an outcast; additionally, his background as a commoner automatically ranks him among the lowest of the lowest. With all odds against him in this harsh world, one would assume he would give up and lose hope, however he paid no mind to that.

'I will come out on top and live the way I want.'

His only option was to join the mercenary guild. A place where one had to risk their lives to hunt, carry out suicidal missions to obtain supplies, and explore places one should never traverse. The quests ranged from meaningless tasks to impossible requests, such as slaying Necrosia - the Dark Empress, an ancient being known as a goddess to some and a diabolical monster to most.

*Huff puff*

"1000!" Ryu shouted at the top of his lungs, finishing the last sword slash as the wood sword broke into pieces. Leaving the training grounds as, he headed for the natural hot springs nearby to relax. He had been working hard these past few weeks and needed to relax in order not to overwhelm himself.

Standing at 173 cm tall and with a frame filled with 69 kg of pure muscle, Ryu's body, while covered in light battle scars, remained impressive.

Although his build stood out, his most distinctive features were his eastern looks; his dark raven hair and dark black eyes were like a void, so mysterious yet fascinating. They were uncommon in the Arathia Kingdom, where he was headed, making him stand out even more.

Drying himself and wearing the plain white shirt and black trousers he had bought with him earlier, he headed down towards the small village where he was brought up. He reached his hut, where his stepfather, Haru, was waiting for him.

...

"The time has come, Ryu, for you to explore the world and unravel its vast secrets."

"I know Haru; I cannot thank you enough for teaching me all these years." Spoke Ryu.

"Don't mention it, kid; it's my role to ensure you grow as strong as possible." Haru spoke as he looked towards the young man he had raised from a young age.

"Here, before you go, I have something for you. Happy birthday," Haru said as he handed Ryu a long and slender sword with a slight curve. The handle was wrapped in a sturdy cloth that provided a comfortable grip, while the circular-shaped metal hand guard added weight and balance to the sword; a sword he's never seen in his life.

"From where we are, it is called a katana; its name is Muramasa, the same sword used by your father."

'Used by my father, huh?' Grabbing the katana, he tested it out by swinging some slashes. Although it was his first time, it felt as if he had swung this sword more than a billion times.

"Alright, now try injecting it with ki; something amazing will happen," Haru instructed.

*Woosh*

The lighting in the room suddenly flickered on and off. The katana suddenly turned pitch black and gave off a more sinister feeling than before.

'As expected of Royhei's son, like father, like son,' Haru thought.

Ryu questioned Haru, "What is this?"

"This blade turning black is no coincidence; it's a sign that it has chosen you as its new master. Consider this katana a unique kind of sword, an ego sword, if you must. Like yourself, your father lacked the innate mana needed to become a mage, which is why the best blacksmith in our country crafted this blade with the aid of skilled mages. Its true power is only available to those with Ki. Even I was unable to use it, it just goes to show how terrifyingly powerful genetics can be, hahaha."

'This sword sure is interesting; Muramasa was it.' Ryu thought as he shifted the blade.

"Now try thinking of the katana disappearing from your hand and reappearing," Haru added.

Just as Ryu thought of it, Muramasa disappeared into thin air. He tried using his ki to sense its whereabouts, but he couldn't sense anything.

"Look at your wrist, kid."

Looking down at his wrists and seeing a small tattoo of the Muramasa katana wrapped in thorns. He was amazed and a bit perplexed. He tried calling the sword back to his hand with various methods, but nothing seemed to work.

He tried imagining the sword in his hand; he tried shouting its name, but still, the sword didn't appear. Ryu closed his eyes and focused his mind on the image of the sword. He commanded it to appear before him. He could feel his ki surging through his body, and sure enough, the sword once again appeared in his hand.

"Unfortunately, that's all I know about Muramasa. Like I said before, it's an altered-ego sword, a rare piece unknown to most. Alright, enough talk. It's time to part ways. I must also go and prepare for the Grand Return," Haru said.

Not questioning the last part, Ryu nodded while bowing. The sincerity and appreciation in that bow made Haru smile as he pulled Ryu into a hug.

Ending the hug, he turned away from Haru, taking a long look at the nearby mountains before heading straight towards the so-called 'haunted forest." And thus, finally, Ryu's true adventure began. His first destination was Luminaria, the capital of the Arathia Kingdom, 1840 km westward.

...

Ryu was heading towards the direction of a dense forest, an area notorious for being home to dangerous mutated animals and plants that were far from friendly. However, Ryu was no stranger to danger. He had spent years training and honing his skills, and he was confident in his ability to face whatever lay ahead.

He estimated that he could reach the other side of the forest in approximately 2.5 days if he maintained an average speed of 8.96 mph.

As he ventured deeper into the forest through the dense foliage, Ryu was constantly alert for any danger that might appear. The air was thick with the smell of decaying meat, and the only sounds were rustling leaves and snapping twigs. Mutated animals prowled the undergrowth, their eyes glowing with an otherworldly intensity. Dangerous plants snaked out towards him, their thorny tendrils reaching for his flesh.

In a fluid motion, Ryu willed the image of Muramasa into his mind, and in an instant, the sword appeared in his grip. With a deft slice, he cut down the thorny vines that sought to ensnare him, clearing a path through the dense foliage.

"Grrr"

But his focus was broken as he felt a sudden presence behind him. Ryu spun around to face a pack of wolves; their eyes gleaming with hunger as they quickly closed in.

Their piercing eyes glared at him, and their snarls filled the silence. Ryu took a defensive stance, his grip tightening on Muramasa. He knew he could take on multiple wolves at once, but he was conscious of sneak attacks. Ryu took a deep breath, calmed his mind. The moment he charged it with ki, the blade emitted dark flames which temporary blinded the wolves momentarily before they charged at him.

Upon noticing that, Ryu's eyes remained fixed on the alpha wolf as it lunged towards him, jaws wide open. He sidestepped the attack and deftly swung Muramasa, cutting a deep gash in the wolf's side. The alpha wolf growled in pain and retreated, circling around Ryu with its pack.

Unbothered, Ryu kept his eyes on the alpha wolf, the biggest of the pack. His movements were fluid and precise, and he easily dispatched the weaker wolves.

The blade was so sharp that it cut through flesh and bone like paper. Ryu was amazed at how well the katana performed in battle. It was as if it was an extension of his body.

As the pack grew angrier, seeing their fellow members fall, Ryu's focus intensified, and he became even more agile and lethal in his movements. The wolves continued their frenzied attacks, but Ryu dodged, blocked, and countered with ease. As he fought, he could sense the alpha wolf's presence growing closer.

Without warning, the alpha wolf pounced, but Ryu was ready.

With a quick move, Ryu grabbed the alpha wolf by the neck, preventing it from biting him. He then slammed it against the trunk of a nearby tree before severing its head with a single, swift strike of Muramasa.

The remaining wolves of the once-large pack howled in terror as they witnessed the fall of their leader. The wolves fled from Ryu while whimpering in dread.

Ryu wiped the blood off Muramasa by a quick slash as it disappeared back into the tattoo seal on his wrist.

He then continued on his journey, feeling more confident than ever. He knew that he had a long road ahead of him, but he was more than ever determined to make a name for himself and to prove to the world that even someone without mana could be a great hero.

He had Muramasa, his new weapon, and his years of training. He would achieve his dream. With that thought in mind, Ryu continued his journey towards Luminaria, ready for whatever challenges lay ahead.