Chapter2:The Mysterious samurai
Samurai: "So. The rift spits out another broken thing."
He drew his sword, the blade humming with unstable energy.
Samurai: "Let's see if you're worth saving."
Shinji barely rolled aside as the sword split the earth where he'd lain.
Shinji (panting): "Oh come ON—"
The sword split the earth where Shinji's head had been. He rolled through the dirt, spitting blood as he scrambled to his feet. The samurai stood motionless, his blade still buried in the ground. Moonlight glinted off his horned helmet as he yanked the sword free in one fluid motion.
Shinji (panting): "Who the hell are you?!"
The samurai answered by sheathing his sword with terrifying precision, the scabbard clicking shut like a death sentence.
Samurai: "Draw your weapon."
Shinji's empty hands clenched into fists. Before he could speak, the samurai moved.
[HP: 100%]
The first punch lifted Shinji off his feet. The knee to his ribs came before he hit the ground. Something cracked.
[HP: 82%]
Shinji (gasping): "Ghk-!"
Dirt filled his mouth as he landed. The samurai's boot pressed down on his back.
Samurai: "No weapon? Then die like a dog."
Shinji saw the killing draw coming - the slight shift in the samurai's stance, the fingers tightening on the hilt. He rolled as the blade flashed past his throat, close enough to feel the wind of its passage.
His hand found a broken katana in the grass.
[ITEM ACQUIRED: BROKEN KATANA]
[DMG: 5-8]
[DUR: 12/20]
The samurai's boot came down on his wrist. Shinji swung his other fist blindly, connecting with something hard. A grunt. The pressure lifted. He grabbed the sword and swung.
CLANG!
The samurai parried effortlessly, but Shinji was already moving, driving forward with his shoulder. The warrior took a single step back.
Samurai: "Better."
The real fight began.
First Exchange:
The samurai's horizontal slash nearly tore the broken sword from Shinji's grip.
[DUR: 10/20]
Second Exchange:
A thrust grazed Shinji's side as he twisted away. His counter-slash met only air before the hilt smashed into his face.
CRUNCH.
[HP: 65%]
Shinji spat out fragments of teeth. The coppery taste of blood filled his mouth.
Third Exchange:
A feint high, then Shinji's legs were swept out from under him. The sword came down - he rolled, feeling it sink into the earth beside his head. His kick connected with the samurai's wrist, sending the weapon flying.
For a heartbeat, they both froze.
Then Shinji was moving, broken sword aiming for the exposed throat. The samurai caught his wrist and twisted.
CRACK.
[HP: 48%]
The sword fell from numb fingers. The samurai's knee drove into Shinji's chest as he hit the ground.
Samurai: "You fight like a cornered rat."
The boot pressed down harder. Shinji's vision swam as he clawed at the samurai's face, thumb finding an eye socket. The howl of pain was satisfying.
The backhand sent him skidding across the dirt. The samurai raised his recovered sword for the final strike-
"Enough."
A fox-masked figure emerged from the bamboo. The samurai's blade stopped mid-swing.
Fox Mask: "He's passed."
The sword returned to its scabbard. The samurai spat blood onto the ground.
Samurai: "Barely."
Shinji's world faded to black as the fox mask loomed over him.
[HP: 31%]
[STATUS: UNCONSCIOUS]
When he awoke, the scent of incense stung his broken nose. Bandages covered his chest. His mouth ached where teeth should be.
The fox-masked man sat across from him, sipping tea.
Fox Mask: "Welcome to the dojo."
Shinji tried to speak, but only managed a pained groan.
Fox Mask: "Rest. Tomorrow you learn how to really fight."
The door slid shut behind him, leaving Shinji alone with his pain and the fading notification in his vision:
[NEW QUEST: SURVIVE THE TRAINING]
Shinji woke to the sound of rain pattering against the wooden roof. Every muscle in his body screamed as he sat up, his bandaged ribs protesting the movement. The hut was empty except for a fresh set of clothes folded neatly beside him - a dark blue training gi with reinforced stitching at the shoulders.
[HP: 47%]
[STATUS: MULTIPLE FRACTURES HEALING]
He touched his mouth gingerly. The broken teeth had been removed, leaving tender gaps that made his tongue instinctively probe the empty spaces. A clay cup of bitter-smelling tea sat cooling beside his bedding.
The door slid open without warning.
Fox Mask stood silhouetted against the gray morning light, his wooden mask expressionless as ever. In his hands he carried a long, cloth-wrapped bundle.
Fox Mask: "You heal fast. Good."
He tossed the bundle onto Shinji's lap. The wrappings fell away to reveal a plain wooden bokken - a practice sword, its surface worn smooth from years of use.
[ITEM ACQUIRED: OAK BOKKEN]
[DMG: 3-5]
[DUR: 50/50]
Shinji (hoarse): "What am I supposed to do with this?"
Fox Mask tilted his head slightly. "Stand."
Every movement sent fresh waves of pain through Shinji's body as he struggled to his feet. The bokken felt awkward in his grip, its balance all wrong compared to the broken katana he'd wielded yesterday.
Fox Mask drew his own sword - a real one this time, the steel gleaming dully in the dim light.
Fox Mask: "First lesson: how to hold your weapon."
Before Shinji could react, the sword flashed out in a horizontal cut. The bokken went flying from his hands, his fingers going numb from the impact.
[DUR: 48/50]
Fox Mask: "Wrong."
Shinji retrieved the bokken, his face burning with humiliation. He adjusted his grip, copying what he'd seen in samurai films.
The sword came again. The bokken stayed in his hands this time, though the impact sent shockwaves up his arms.
Fox Mask: "Better."
For hours they repeated this move,Fox Mask attacking, Shinji desperately trying to maintain his grip. His palms blistered and bled, the rough wood grinding against raw flesh.
[HP: 42%]
[STATUS: HAND LACERATIONS]
Just when Shinji thought he might collapse, Fox Mask sheathed his sword.
Fox Mask: "Enough for today."
He tossed Shinji a small clay jar. Inside was a pungent salve that stung like fire when applied to his wounds.
Fox Mask: "Tomorrow, we begin footwork. If you're still alive by week's end, perhaps you'll learn something useful."
As the door closed behind Fox Mask, Shinji noticed something carved into the base of his bokken - a single kanji:
忍
*Note from writer(ax):忍 means Perseverance.*
[NEW OBJECTIVE: MASTER BASIC SWORD GRIP]
[TIME REMAINING: 6 DAYS]
Outside, the rain continued to fall, each drop sounding like the ticking of a clock counting down to his next trial.
To Be Continued—--------->>
Ax/april/21
Error 2250 chapter 2
Chapter 3 coming soon hopefully since It took me 2 hours to write this detail by detail I even had to search Google for alot of words to make this a better reading experience.