Kuryu

[At last, I could reach you, o human child] said an echoing voice.

"Who is there?" Ryo panicked a little when he heard the same baritone voice, like the first time he awakened the power.

The voice manifested itself, an enormous and long black dragon snaking above Ryo's head. Its scales are glossy black like gilded metal.

"What exactly are you?" Ryo asked while taking a step back in surprise.

[I am your Sword Spirit that bonded with that Cursed Sword of yours, Earthling has various names for me since ancient time. But my previous Master, your father, call me Kuryu because of my appearance.]

Ryo hesitated a little and then came to his senses, 'My father is the master of this kind of creature?!'

"Sword Spirits? You must be joking, you must be an A.I. or NanoTech, that's messing with my mind, right?"

[Is there any A.I. who can do this?] Said The dragon, and thus the dragon shapeshifted into tall and muscular humanoid form with jet-black scales on its whole body and landed in front of Ryo.

Ryo tumbled backwards, as Kuryu released a wave of energy when he glared at Ryo's eyes, to scan his ability. Although Kuryu's appearance was so menacing, Ryo didn't feel any malicious intent from Kuryu.

[Hmm, I see, now I understand why Ryuji is so eager to inherit me and the sword to you,] Said Kuryu, after satisfied with the result.

"What do you mean?"

Kuryu walked in a circle while he assessed Ryo's postures. [Your Yang energy is so vast, very suitable for Yin or Dark Creatures like me to inhabit.]

"So... Are you some kind of parasites or what?"

Kuryu was furious and switched his benign demeanour into vicious creatures.

[Watch your tongue, kid. I could rip your soul instantly and banish your very existence into oblivion]

After those words, Ryo realized that his soul was gripped firmly and squeezed until he can't breathe. "Alright, alright, I'm just joking, o mighty dragon."

Kuryu lowered his invisible grip and let Ryo down to his feet.

"So what's your business with me?" said Ryo as he took a deep breath.

[Ryuji asked me to guide you and make a contract with me. But you have to prove to me that you are worthy to be my master]

Ryo's mind was jumbled when he tried to understand his word. It was such unbelievable stories. But he also realized, everything was aligned from the beginning.

"Why I'd do that? I mean, everything's so fucked up on my end!"

Kuryu softly chuckled and gave a tap on Ryo's shoulder. [You can't escape your faith as Heir of Dark Sovereign, trust me and follow my guidance. I can guarantee you will prevail]

Ryo put his hands up, the more he wanted to dodge the more destiny put him in hardship.

"Fine, there is no way I could go down after all that happened after all, but first… Let me out from here, will ya?"

[It's easy, close your eyes and feel the real world beneath your feet]

Ryo closed his eyes and looked down. He could see himself lying limply on the floor, hugging his sword. And he was like being pulled by the wind and returned to his body.

***

"Ryo! Are you all right?" Katya said while making sure Ryo's consciousness had recovered.

"I'm fine, just like being thrown into a dreamland and meeting a very large black dragon,"

"Black Dragon?" Katya is confused.

"Ahh forget it, the important thing is now my Katana is complete, thank you, Mrs Katya,"

Katya was a little worried and immediately cupped Ryo's pale cheeks.

"Let's go back for now, and check on you at home," suggested Katya while helping Ryo to stand.

"Good idea," said Ryo.

After exiting the hidden library, Katya checked Ryo's body condition carefully, there was nothing strange or wrong with his body.

But Ryo could feel huge foreign energy coursing through his body, he could feel it in his every bloodstream. Not long after that, he began to feel his body normal again and decided to return to the dormitory and leave the Mansion.

***

Before sleeping, he still wondered about the black dragon that resided in the sword. 'Is he an alien, a God?'

Ryo tried to meditate and put the sword in front of him. He tried to feel again the sensation when he was thrown into the white world.

"Kuryu?" called Ryo in his mind.

[What's wrong?] The deep voice's reply made him flinch, realizing what he was experiencing wasn't a dream.

"You're really in my head?"

[I reside inside your sword, but it seems our mind is already connected]

"Hey, did you see what I saw too? And also feel my emotions?"

[Sure, but I don't really understand human emotions, it's hard to understand and very abstract]

"In fact, you yourself are more abstract than anything I know."

"...." The dragon fell silent while trying to understand the concept Ryo was saying.

Then Ryo took the ancient book given by Katya.

"Well, if you are very old, can you translate this book for me?"

[No problem, but I didn't expect that in this era, ancient cultivation like this still exists]

"Cultivation? What's that?"

[Cultivation is a way for humans to gather the forces of nature within their bodies, forge their bodies and souls so that they become stronger beings]

"Oh, I see, I understand now, but what is clear is that you look at this, do you understand this part? It shows the art of swordsmanship using a Katana, but the movement form is strange," Ryo asked by showing page after page he was referring to.

"Ah, this move, one of the basic moves using a Katana, this position is called Iai,"

"Yeah?"

"The art of pulling the katana with one swing of the arm, to end the fight with one slash, the right knee bent, the body leaning forward with the hand ready to draw the sword."

"I see, I understand a little of the principle behind these stances,"

[If you master the inner power and can use natural energy, I guarantee this technique is really deadly. Legend has it, anyone can split mountains and seas with this technique] replied Kuryu, summarizing the potential of this technique.

"In crazy times like now, I couldn't be more surprised," said Ryo.

[You're right, but with human abilities, every great warrior have their own technique, that's called Bushido]

"Kuryu, looks like you know a lot, do you know some of Ryuji's techniques?"

[Just a few, but he didn't leave any records before he ascended to the realm of the gods]

"Wait! He's actually still alive?!"

[Of course, he decided to leave earth, to take care of some matters in the upper realms]

"Why don't you come along?" asked Ryo.

[Why do you think?] Kuryu answered back, asking.

Ryo immediately realized what he meant. Kuryu had to stay on earth to protect him at the most dangerous time.

"I understand the situation now," Ryo said quietly.

[Good boy]

"Hey, can you tell me about yourself, I'm curious, how a sword has a spirit of its own,"

[My existence was born because of the human's own desire, then I, and the previous humans, made the Heaven's Covenant so that they could summon me to the world.]

"So basically you were born of human belief, then what is the Heaven's Covenant?"

[Do not think about it. That's my business, not yours]

"Then what do you think you are? A spirit? God? An Astral being or what?"

[You can think of me as the overseer of this universe, for now]

"I see, in the end, you and I are only a small part of the cogwheel of life in this universe," said Ryo while turning the pages of the book.

[Yes]

"But that doesn't mean I will follow the rotation of the other gears, I will spin my own gears," said Ryo with determination.

[Hahaha, it's interesting. I don't hate idealists, especially young people like you. I'll be waiting for what kind of destiny you will choose,]

Their conversation never reached an end. Ryo's interest in philosophy and the intricacies of life found the right person to talk to, he didn't feel the time was running very fast, and it was 5 in the morning, Ryo ended his conversation by closing the thick book.