Prologue

Kyushu, Japan

In the middle of the night, Ryuji Honda was walking towards his meeting place. He had been waiting for this moment for so long—the night when he would become a god of the sword, the greatest swordsman in Japan.

There, two of the greatest swordsmen in Japan were waiting: Musashi Miyamoto, a two-sword style swordsman, and Kojiro Sasaki, a single-sword style swordsman.

Musashi Miyamoto and Kojiro Sasaki were two swordsmen who were complete opposites, both in their sword styles and in their demeanor and personalities. Musashi Miyamoto was known for his arrogant attitude, in stark contrast to Kojiro Sasaki, who was known for his calm and gentle demeanor.

Tonight, Ryuji Honda, along with the two swordsmen, had agreed to determine who would be the greatest swordsman in all of Japan. This meeting would become a battle to settle the matter—a battle that would mark the beginning of the birth of the Sword God.

'This is the moment when I will become the greatest swordsman in Japan.'

Ryuji Honda continued walking through the forest on the outskirts of Kyushu. He passed through the towering bamboo trees, the moonlight shining brightly and beautifully, as if it was welcoming the fierce battle that would soon take place in this bamboo forest.

Finally, Ryuji Honda arrived at the agreed-upon spot. He could see Musashi Miyamoto and Kojiro Sasaki, who had been waiting for him. Musashi was crouching on a large stone, grinning at him. About five meters to the right of Musashi, Kojiro was leaning against a bamboo tree, holding his katana.

"Finally, you've arrived, Ryuji Honda!"

Musashi's words broke the silence of the night.

"Yeah, sorry to keep you waiting."

"Come... let's settle this."

Kojiro interrupted the conversation.

Kojiro then slowly walked forward, holding his katana still sheathed in his left hand.

Musashi glanced at Kojiro for a moment, then stood up and jumped down from the large rock where he had been crouching.

"Alright... let's begin this fight."

Musashi said as he dusted off his clothes.

"But just so you know, Ryuji..."

Musashi spoke as he looked into Ryuji Honda's eyes.

"Kojiro and I have decided to eliminate you. To us, you are too arrogant and conceited."

Musashi grinned at Ryuji, showing his disgust.

"As swordsmen, we must respect the dignity and ethics of our craft. But you... you've disturbed our dojos and caused fear among those around us. If you wanted a fight, you didn't have to do any of that. Of course, I would have gladly accepted your challenge..."

"Let's stop all this talk, Musashi..."

Kojiro interrupted Musashi's words, then continued,

"Because talking to a mountain creature like him is pointless."

Ryuji laughed loudly at Kojiro's remark.

"Yeah, exactly... let's stop this useless conversation."

Ryuji waved his right hand at Musashi and Kojiro.

"Come at me both of you... I don't care if you attack me together."

Without hesitation, their eyes locked sharply, their hands ready on the grips of their katana. They began to move slowly at first... then they charged at each other with speed and leapt toward one another.

At that moment, all their katana were drawn from their sheaths. The battle between Ryuji Honda, Musashi Miyamoto, and Kojiro Sasaki had begun.

Seeing the two greatest swordsmen in Japan attack him simultaneously made Ryuji Honda's blood burn with excitement. He never imagined he would fight against them both at once. This was the battle he had long been waiting for.

Ryuji decided to charge at Kojiro first. As Kojiro's sword strike came at him, Ryuji tilted his katana diagonally to deflect Kojiro's strike to his left. Then he closed the distance between them and used the hilt of his sword to strike Kojiro's face.

Kojiro blocked the attack with his left hand, but Ryuji quickly jumped and kneed Kojiro in the chest.

Kojiro was thrown back, grinning as he held his chest in pain.

From behind, Musashi charged at Ryuji with a swing of his twin swords. He swung both swords sideways toward Ryuji.

Ryuji, receiving the attack, jumped backward. He knew he had to avoid that strike. If he tried to block it, his katana would surely be knocked away, or even destroyed by Musashi's double-blade assault.

Afterwards, Ryuji leaped quickly and struck at Musashi with a vertical sword swing from above. But Musashi evaded the strike by jumping sideways, then quickly regained his stance.

Ryuji realized this would be an incredibly tough fight, one where he had to battle against Musashi Miyamoto and Kojiro Sasaki simultaneously. There seemed to be no opening in the defenses of these two swordsmen before him.

This time, Musashi and Kojiro began to surround Ryuji from the right and left. Then, they both lunged toward him together, but...

Suddenly, a blinding white light appeared between the three of them, coming from an unknown source...

A light so bright it was almost blinding...

They simultaneously shut their eyes in panic...

Wondering the same question in their minds,

'What is really happening?'

---

Toffa Village, Hensberg Kingdom, Northern Continent

I walked wearily towards the doors of the Sun Temple. My eyes scanned around, searching for a brush to use.

I found one beside a small candle on a table in the corner of the temple.

I gathered what strength I had left to run toward it. I grabbed the brush, and my blood stained it. But I didn't care.

I began drawing the summoning circle on the altar of the Sun Temple. My blood dripped onto the drawing. And what is this... are my tears falling too?

Please... hold on... endure it, Elena...

I pleaded with my exhausted body.

The magic circle was complete, and I knelt in front of it, beginning to chant my incantation.

"O deus totius lucis, da mihi gloriam tuam! Nuntium mitte ut populum tuum salvet!" (O god of all light, grant me your glory! Send your messenger to save your people!)

Blood flowed more rapidly from my hand, soaking the cloth I wore. But I didn't care.

I had to hold on... I had to!

"Pandite portas mundi... Venite heroes... Portas Heroum!"

(Open the gates of the world... Come, heroes... Gates of the Heroes!)

Then light came, shining so brightly, offering a glimmer of hope. A figure appeared, a man dressed in a dark-colored cloak wrapping around his body. He held a sword in his hand.

Hope... Hope had arrived!

Tears flowed down my cheeks, mixing with the blood that ran down my right arm.

But the hero looked at me with a gaze full of anger...

He ran towards me, grabbed my collar, and pulled my body closer to him. Then he shouted loudly,

"What have you done?"

What is this... why is he attacking me?

Was summoning him a mistake?

My body was too exhausted... It felt as though all my strength evaporated into the air.

And my tears fell faster, along with the pain and exhaustion.