Masanori raised a hand, signaling his men to stop. "Enough," he said, his voice cold and commanding. "Leave us. There's no point in you fighting him. It's like asking an ant to take down a wolf."
The samurai hesitated, their confusion evident. One of them spoke up, "But, sir—"
Masanori silenced him with a glare. "OUT!" he bellowed, his voice echoing through the inn. "All of you, leave now. Once I'm done with this boy, we'll celebrate by taking everything this town has to offer—including its women."
The men exchanged uneasy glances but dared not defy him. They quickly filed out of the inn, leaving Masanori and Kuroi alone in the dimly lit room.
Masanori turned back to Kuroi, his lips curling into a cruel grin as he drew his sword. The blade gleamed in the lantern light, its edge sharp and deadly. He pointed it at Kuroi. "You know," he began, his tone almost conversational, "we could use someone like you. A fighter with your skill could climb the ranks quickly. Wealth, power, women—it could all be yours."
Kuroi's expression remained cold, his grip tightening on his sword. "I have no interest in working with scum like you," he said, his voice steady and unyielding.
Masanori's grin twisted into a snarl. "Fine. Then you die here, boy!"
With a roar, Masanori lunged forward, his sword slicing through the air with incredible speed. Kuroi reacted instantly, raising his blade to parry the attack. The clash of steel rang out, the force of the blow reverberating through his arms.
Masanori's strength was overwhelming. He pressed forward, his blade grinding against Kuroi's as he forced him back. Kuroi dug his heels into the wooden floor, straining to hold his ground, but Masanori's raw power was undeniable.
"You're strong," Masanori said through gritted teeth, pushing harder. "But strength alone won't save you!"
Kuroi grunted as he shifted his weight, using the momentum to twist his body and break free from the deadlock. He slid to the side, narrowly avoiding a follow-up slash from Masanori. The blade missed him by inches, embedding itself into the table behind him.
Kuroi took the opportunity to strike, his blade arcing toward Masanori's exposed side. But Masanori was quick, twisting his body to deflect the attack. The force of the parry sent sparks flying as their swords collided again.
"You're quick," Masanori said, a hint of admiration in his voice. "But you're still just a boy."
He stepped forward, unleashing a flurry of powerful strikes. Kuroi blocked and dodged as best he could, each clash of their blades sending shockwaves through his arms. Masanori's attacks were relentless, each strike heavier and faster than the last.
Kuroi's breath came in ragged gasps as he struggled to keep up. He knew he couldn't match Masanori's strength head-on. He needed to find an opening, a weakness he could exploit.
As Masanori brought his blade down in a powerful overhead strike, Kuroi sidestepped and countered with a quick slash to the man's arm. The blade grazed Masanori's armor, drawing a thin line of blood.
Masanori growled, his eyes blazing with fury. "You'll pay for that!" he roared, swinging his sword in a wide arc.
Kuroi ducked under the strike and rolled to the side, coming up in a crouch. He steadied his breathing, his eyes locked onto Masanori's every movement.
The two swordsmen circled each other, the tension in the room palpable. Masanori's brute strength clashed with Kuroi's speed and precision. Kuroi dashed forward, his sword slicing through the air with precision and speed. The blade cut across Masanori's stomach, leaving a deep gash that oozed blood. Masanori staggered back, clutching his wound with one hand, his face twisting in rage.
"You little bastard!" Masanori roared.
He lunged forward, delivering a powerful kick to Kuroi's chest. The force sent Kuroi flying through the inn, his body crashing against a wooden support beam before collapsing onto the floor. The impact left splinters scattered around him as he struggled to get back on his feet, his breathing ragged.
Kuroi rolled onto his back, gripping his sword tightly as he tried to steady himself. But before he could fully recover, Masanori was already charging at him, his sword raised high.
The moment Masanori's blade came down, Kuroi reacted instinctively, raising his own sword to block the attack. The force of the blow sent shockwaves through his arms, and Masanori pressed forward, using his superior strength to drive Kuroi back.
"You're nothing but a child playing with a blade!" Masanori growled, his face inches from Kuroi's as their swords locked.
Kuroi gritted his teeth, his muscles straining under the pressure. But he refused to give in. With a quick shift of his weight, he drove his knee into Masanori's leg, causing the larger man to falter. Seizing the opportunity, Kuroi followed up with a swift kick to Masanori's face, sending him stumbling back.
Masanori recovered quickly, his fury only growing. He reached out with one arm, grabbing Kuroi by the collar before he could react. With a roar, Masanori hurled him across the room like a ragdoll.
Kuroi's body smashed through the thin wall of one of the inn's rooms, debris raining down around him as he landed hard on the floor. He groaned, pain radiating through his body, but he refused to stay down.
As he pushed himself to his feet, he could hear Masanori's heavy footsteps approaching Kuroi steadied himself, his breathing heavy as he leaned against the broken remnants of the wall. His mind raced, the weight of the fight pressing down on him like a heavy stone.
This guy... he's strong. Real strong, he thought, his eyes locked on Masanori as the towering man stalked toward him, his sword glinting ominously in the dim light. And he's not slow either. I might be faster, but it's not by much. This could go either way.
He wiped the blood trickling from his mouth with the back of his hand, his grip tightening on his sword. But I know one thing: I won't die here. Not to the same kind of scum who killed my father. I'd rather get eaten by a bear than let this bastard take me down.
Masanori's heavy footsteps echoed through the room as he approached, his face a twisted mask of fury and amusement. "Still standing, huh?" he said, his voice dripping with mockery. "I'll give you credit, boy. You've got guts. But guts won't save you from me."
Kuroi didn't respond. Instead, he lowered his stance, his sword held firmly in both hands. His mind was clear now, the fear and uncertainty replaced by a razor-sharp focus.
Masanori grinned, raising his sword. "Let's see how long you last."
Kuroi's muscles tensed as he prepared for the next exchange, his mind racing through every possible move, every possible counter. I just need one opening, he thought. One chance to end this.
And with that, the two warriors charged at each other once more