“Shimotsuki’s Ascent: The Sword Path of Takeda”
The sudden arrival of a man startled Lan Chan, but upon seeing Takeda's calm expression, she also composed herself, her curious gaze fixed on the man before her.
The man wore only a simple short-sleeved shirt, its buttons undone, exposing areas beneath crudely wrapped in white cloth strips. It was obvious that the bandaging was rough and hasty.
" Shimotsuki Takeda!"
Yajuro's face was stern as he looked at the young man before him, taking a deep breath.
"Why didn't you kill me?"
Faced with such a question, Takeda did not seem surprised. Instead, he grinned, his gaze meeting that of the serious man in front of him.
"A man shouldn't die in such a meaningless arena!"
"You should pursue a broader world, see a wider sky!"
These two simple sentences left Yajuro stunned.
"Then why did you step into the arena?"
"For the fight. To climb to the peak of the sword path!" Takeda replied with a hearty laugh. His carefree demeanor struck Yajuro, who stood dumbfounded.
Though spoken as if in jest, the man's tone was sincere. His goal was purely for that purpose—not for fame, not for honor.
"What about your ambition, Shimotsuki Takeda?" Yajuro asked in a deep voice.
"Ambition? If I have to name one, then, of course, it's to become the best in the world!" Takeda declared loudly, his eyes fixed firmly on the other man.
Yajuro's eyes narrowed as he fell silent. He could feel the boldness and ambition emanating from this man and, at this moment, was deeply moved by him—not just because Takeda had spared his life in their duel, but also because Yajuro saw in him a fierce, unrestrained, and graceful will.
"If your aim is to become the best in the world, then I, Yajuro, am willing to be your sword!"
Bowing deeply, Yajuro knelt, pressing his forehead against the ground. This posture, one of submission in the Land of Wa, signified his willingness to serve the man before him, to follow him as his subordinate for life.
"To be my sword, to serve me?" Takeda was slightly taken aback, staring at the man in front of him.
After a moment, he smiled. "If I need someone, you are indeed the kind of person I'd want!"
"Then I accept you! Yajuro, from now on, you shall be the first sword I wield on my path to conquering the world!"
Yajuro kept his forehead firmly on the ground.
Submitting to someone of noble birth and formidable strength was not shameful in the Land of Wa, a nation where the strong preyed on the weak.
Every lord or noble had their retinue of servants and loyal samurai.
Little Lan watched the scene unfold, her eyes full of curiosity and astonishment.
The night passed quickly, and by dawn of the next day, Takeda was met by a group of neatly dressed samurai carrying a box.
"Though I do not know why Lord Kōryō has such high hopes for you and is gifting you this blade," said the leader, bowing slightly, "Takeda-sama, this sword named Shusui carries great renown. Please do not disgrace its legacy in the future!"
Yajuro stepped forward to accept the long sword case and placed it on the table in front of Takeda. When takeda opened the box, it revealed the famous blade Shusui, its surface glimmering with a mysterious light.
Yajuro's eyes flashed with surprise, though he said nothing.
"This sword is a gift to me? Please convey my thanks to Lord Kōryō. I will visit him personally in the future," Takeda said with some surprise, but, given the gesture, he saw no reason to refuse. He nodded and smiled.
"Farewell!"
The leader bowed and departed.
Takeda picked up the long sword from the box and examined it, smiling faintly.
"A two-sword style isn't out of the question, but it will require more practice."
After breakfast, Takeda, now accompanied by Yajuro, headed back to the arena.
That day, Takeda stood on the arena stage from morning until dusk, defeating 23 opponents in succession and defending his position for 23 matches!
His performance was even more impressive than the previous day, and the name Shimotsuki Takeda began to echo across the misty lands.
On the third day, Takeda returned to the stage, achieving 30 victories and remaining undefeated. Alone, with a single sword, he stood as an invincible war Artist, unmatched by any challenger.
By the fourth day, Takeda continued his winning streak, though fewer opponents dared to step forward. The continuous battles honed his mind and further integrated Ryuma's legacy, sharpening his already formidable sword intent.
By the seventh day, Takeda achieved 100 consecutive victories, shocking everyone in the arena.
People cheered his name with fervor.
"No one can last a single round against his blade!"
"He's too strong! Takeda-sama's sword is too fast, too precise, too ruthless."
"He's like an invincible war Artist. Who can defeat him?"
Excitement swept through the crowd. It had been years since such a figure had emerged.
"If he keeps this up, he might even rival the new lord of Kuri!"
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