Yamato was a land of honor and war, where samurais shaped their destinies through countless wars and struggles. Power flowed through the land, and the struggle for control was endless. Beneath the surface, ancient forces stirred, their presence felt but unseen. In this world, only the strong survived, and their strength was not only in their blade.
Jinrai, a seasoned samurai of the Senko Clan, had sworn loyalty to the 2nd Prince of Yamato, Kazuki Hoshizora, who he believed was fit to take the throne. For years, the empire had been torn apart by a war between Kazuki and his older brother, the 1st Prince. The imperial court had split into rival factions, and countless battlefields had been soaked in blood.
But now, Kazuki's forces had emerged victorious after countless battles on countless battlefields. Despite the victory what they did not realize was that danger still lurked in the shadows. The war was not truly over. The 1st Prince's influence had not yet disappeared...
***
The temple sat high above a roaring waterfall, its ancient stone walls wrapped in mist, a place of peace and solitude. The air carried the scent of damp earth and incense, blending with the distant rush of water.
Jinrai and his clansmen were making their return from the battlefield, as they continued to approach the temple a strange chill crept into their hearts. Their warrior instincts warned them that something was wrong...
A voice suddenly broke the silence.
"Onii-chan! Lord Father! Everyone!"
Jinrai turned. His younger brother, Hayato Senko, ran toward them, his face lit with a cheerful smile, but behind that smile, something was hiding.
"I knew you would win!" Hayato said excitedly.
"We won the war, but some enemies are still in hiding," Jinrai replied with a faint smile on his face, as he ruffled Hayato's hair.
That night, as Jinrai prepared to rest, Hayato entered his room, carrying a small, gleaming vial. His fingers trembled slightly as he held it out.
"Onii-chan, Mother made this for you and Father. It will help with your wounds."
Jinrai accepted the vial without hesitation. Their mother rarely involved herself in clan matters, but he trusted her care. The liquid inside was odorless and unnaturally smooth. Hayato's gaze lingered on him a moment too long before he turned and left.
Jinrai sat cross-legged, uncorked the vial, and drank. He closed his eyes, channeling his Waterfall Regeneration Technique, one of the cultivation techniques of his clan, used for recovery.
At first, his mana flowed smoothly. Then, without warning, sharp pain erupted in his chest. His vision blurred. A bitter, metallic taste spread across his tongue. His throat tightened. His breath grew shallow. His veins felt like frozen rivers.
His mana, his very life force, began to collapse.
Then, from outside his room, the clash of weapons and frantic shouting broke the silence.
The door creaked open.
Hayato stepped inside. The warmth in his expression was gone. His eyes, once full of admiration, now gleamed with cold determination.
Jinrai reached for his blood-red katana, but his body refused to move. The poison had done its work.
"Why?" Jinrai gasped, his voice weak with disbelief.
Hayato smiled, empty, joyless.
"Onii-chan, you and Father were blind. The 1st Prince saw my worth. He promised me power, something you never did. The chance to lead the clan to true glory. I won't live in your shadow anymore."
Jinrai's vision darkened. "You've aligned yourself with a dying cause?" He forced the words out, each one a struggle.
Hayato's smirk did not waver. "The clan needs a new heir. A fresh start."
Jinrai's strength faded. His limbs felt like lead. His mana channels were shattered.
Jinrai was not willing to die dishonorably like this, by poisoning.
With the last of his strength, Jinrai made his choice. He grasped his katana and plunged it into his own heart.
"Wait—!" Hayato's voice cracked.
But it was too late...
***
Arcanis, Azure Dragon Continent
Jinrai gasped awake, the cold was felt in his lungs. The scent of old parchment and lavender incense filled his nostrils. His body felt strange, lighter, weaker. He braced himself for pain, but there was none. His hands looked thinner, his skin pale.
This was not his body.
Then, unfamiliar memories flooded his mind.
A name surfaced in his mind.
Valerius Von Aster.
Jinrai then realized that he had been reborn as Valerius, the Fifth Prince of the Luminous Abyss Empire, a disgraced prince, with a crippled bloodline and blocked meridians, unable to cultivate like others. And the worst of all, Valerius died by taking his own life.
The door then creaked open.
"Young Master, you're awake!"
A girl's voice filled the air, trembling with relief and worry. She had silver braids, pale skin, and wide blue eyes.
Seraphina. The name surfaced in his new memories.
"I was so scared," Seraphina whispered. "You weren't breathing last night… I thought I lost you."
Jinrai, no, Valerius, he tried to act normal, as he let out a faint smile and said in a weak voice. "Thank you for your concern Seraphina… Could you please get me something, I am hungry."
Her face lit up. "Right away, Young Master!" She hurried out.
Moments later, she returned with a tray of food, followed by a middle-aged man whose commanding presence filled the room. The scent of freshly baked bread and herbal soup lingered in the air.
Valerius sat up, meeting the man's cold, piercing gaze.
"Valerius, you've recovered," the man said, his voice deep and sharp. "Trying to end your life was foolish."
Valerius studied him. Could this be his father? The man carried himself like a ruler, rigid posture, and an unreadable expression.
"I came here to remind you that you will start at Luxombra Royal Academy in seven days," the man continued.
Valerius had a confused expression on his face as he said, "But Your Majesty, I can't cultivate..."
His father then said with his eyes squinted, "Even though you can't cultivate, you will be enrolled as a special case, it's mandatory for all royal family members, you have delayed it long enough, just try to do what you can and after two years, the academy will let you go." As he said it there was some undetectable pain in his eyes.
Valerius looked down cast nodded and said, "Yes Your Majesty I will attend then."
His father nodded slightly. "Good. Avoid trouble. I would not want to disappoint your mother."
Without another word, he turned and left.
Seraphina spoke softly. "Young Master, your food."
Valerius let out a slow breath. The weight of his new life settled over him. He somehow got a second chance to lead a new life.
Valerius then ate his food in silence. And after finishing his food he then, was sitting cross-legged on the bed, and he focused his breath inwards. He then recalled the Lotus of the Eternal Peak, his old world's cultivation technique. The technique could help him in this world, to clear his meridians, and gain his strength.
He then started circulating The Waterfall Regeneration Technique surged through his body. At first, the mana moved sluggishly, like water trapped behind a dam. Then, a pain started coming. Burning and freezing, as if his body were rejecting it.
Minutes passed. Sweat dripped down his face. His body trembled.
Then it happened, his first meridian cleared open.
He continued persisting going about clearing the second meridian as he let the mana flow through his body for the second meridian he attacked it, sweat was showing all over his body, and after a few attempts, he cleared it open.
Valerius then continued like that and after an hour he only managed to clear three meridians. His body was red and sweaty, with a lot of impurities, but he was satisfied with his result as he thought that this was only the beginning.
This time, I will not be powerless again. This time, I will not be betrayed.