Half a year has passed since the day I finally kill the boars and having a huge feast. I never stop myself from continue to train and improve myself.
I continue to jump around the trees surrounding the camp while tying up huge sacks of rocks on my legs, arms, and torso. A simple weight training, increasing its weight every week.
I never actually dare to try it at my first year of training I might ruined my growth. And not to mention, my body won't be able to handle such weights.
I land on the final branch of the tree but I yelp as my body weights end up breaking the tree. I did a flip and manage to land on the ground properly. I let out of a small sigh of relief before sitting on the ground.
"Whew...almost screwed the landing ...." I said with a loud sigh. I take off the makeshift weights on my body and let it fall to the ground.
I went to clean myself up in the river before went to the campfire and cook some meat I got from hunting down rabbits while training my archery.
I look down on the cooked meat before biting it down. I can't help but thinking about Hanzo. It's been more than a year since my loss against him.
Can I finally beat that samurai? I can't help but doubt my current skill. I'm not exacrly strong and my skill is laughable compare to that samurai.
I slap both of my cheeks to snap myself out of my doubtful thought. I should stop having any doubtful thoughts or else it'll bit back on my ass.
I finish the cooked rabbit meat before putting the wooden skewer into the campfire. I'm still nervous, but for some reasons, my heart also beat in excitement.
I stop myself while blinking at my sudden thoughts. Since when did I start getting excited to fight someone? I start to felt horrified at my current situation.
A-am I slowly turn into a battle junkie?! How can I even think of getting excited in a battle when you could die in any moment for being a weak ass Kobold!?! Get yourself together and see the reality, Darren!!!
I slap both of my cheeks again, stopping myself from having these kind of thoughts. I got up and starts checking each of the equipments I will uses against Hanzo.
I wince as I remember how he casually admits he protects his groin to prevents getting hit on a groin, which was painful as fuck. If I'm going to beat him, I need to rely more than just my training.
Let's see what I can bring. Spear, bow and arrow, daggers, throwing knifes, stakes, healing items, leather armors. I think that might be everything I can bring.
I look at the dropped items I got from the monsters I hunt. If I succeed, I could get out of here to find someone who's willing to...
Fuck, I got my hopes up again....
I put on my armor before making sure I carry all of my weapons with me. After a year passed, my armor is now consisting of shoulder pads, chestplates, wristguards, and armored shoes. I still remember how I try and fail to crafts these necessary equipments because of my lack of skills, but trials and errors finally gave me results.
It may not be much against someone like Hanzo, but it's better than my previous attempt to fight against him while completely unguarded. Then again, I wasn't meant to fight him that time.
Right now, I have every reasons to fight him, that is to give the man a proper rest. He's a ghost and has been haunting that shrine because it is his will to guard it. To me, it feels like a cruel punishment for the dead soul. They were suppose to rest in the afterlife, but gods stop them and force a responsibility on them.
I'm putting that warrior to rest, and that's a promise I aimed to fulfill today.
Now, if I remember correctly, this is where I walk through last time, after I....embarrassingly try to hunt down a rabbit. Oh gods, why do I have to remember that day?!!
I continue to walk until I saw a familiar shrine at the other side. I gulp before I steel myself and approach that shrine. As I did, the shrine's surrounding is filled with the familiar black flame.
In front of me is Hanzo himself and he didn't look like he aged a day. We both stare at each other for a while.
"...you've grown, young Kobold." Hanzo commented. I am nervous hearing his voice, but despite that, my muzzle formed a grin.
"A year has passed, Hanzo...." I said as Hanzo look slightly surprised before chuckled.
"You finally regain your ability to talk." Hanzo commented as he got up while holding his spear. I pull out my dagger while taking my stance.
"I did.....still hard, though...." I said while looking at Hanzo look up at the sky.
".....I have a lot of stories to tell you. Perhaps, you would like to listen this old man rambles?" I was slightly surprise as Hanzo hold his spear while pointing it at me. I stare at him before grinning.
"Sure.....I miss listening people talk....." I said as we continue to lock eyes. I decided to take my first move as he blocks it with the spear's handle. I use my other hand to grab my spare stone dagger before trying to stab the eye holes on his mask, but he manages to tilt away to let the armor takes the damage.
He uses his strength to push me away but I took my chance to toss several stone daggers, which he simply knocks it away. I put down my dagger on my belt before pulling my bow and arrow before shooting several arrows at him. Hanzo simply deflects it but I manage to hit him once as it pierce his arm.
I know he's a ghost, but seeing it myself is differnet things. There's no blood coming ouf his arm as he simply pulls it out before charging me with his spear. I blocks it with my bow before pushing it away and kicks Hanzo back to create some distance.
I put back my bow before pulling out my dagger once more as Hanzo regains his composure before taking his stance again.
"Now, let me tell you a story about a Shinobi searching for their tribe's forbidden scroll."
To be continued