Furaya Reizo (1)

Day 14 Jan 2043, two weeks after the emergence of Qi on Earth.

Japan.

In a dimly lit, sparsely decorated room, a young man sat cross-legged on a simple bed, gripping a wooden sword. The young man, with short black hair and a face marked by delicate features—pale skin, a straight nose, and small red lips—looked almost childlike in his concentration.

His eyes were closed in deep meditation, and the faint breeze from the open window rustled the pages of an ancient book resting on the floor before him. A mysterious book, with pages written in a strange language not seen until two weeks ago, but now a hot topic around the world.

The book, its cover worn and inscribed with the title [Wind-Sword Cultivation Technic], was written in a script that had been a mystery to the world until two weeks ago. Now, it was the talk of every corner of the globe.

Unbeknownst to the young man, minute green particles—almost invisible to the naked eye—began to gather around him, drawn to the wooden sword he held. The sword, an ordinary piece of craftsmanship, absorbed these particles, channeling the natural energy into the boy's body.

*Bang!*

A surge of power coursed through his veins, spreading like wildfire through his entire being. He felt his bones crack and reshape, becoming denser and stronger. His muscles tightened, gaining a new resilience, while his skin hardened, becoming like tempered steel. The sensation was overwhelming, yet exhilarating.

As the Qi flowed through him, a small amount settled in his dantian, the core of his being, while a tiny fraction returned to the wooden sword. There, the energy began its subtle work, fortifying the wood, making it stronger and more resilient. The changes were imperceptible to the eye, but the young man could feel the difference.

"Finally!" he exclaimed, his eyes snapping open, glowing with a new vitality. He stretched his arms, marveling at the newfound strength coursing through his body. "So this is what it feels like to reach the First Stage of Body Tempering!"

Rising from the bed with a newfound grace, he positioned himself in the limited space of the room. The wooden sword felt different in his hands—heavier, yet perfectly balanced. He adjusted his stance, every muscle in his body primed and ready, and prepared to unleash the power he had just awakened.

He gave two consecutive horizontal blows with all his power.

SLASH!

SLASH!

The air seemed to shudder in response, as if cleaved by the sheer force of his blows. He could feel it—a surge of raw strength, at least four times greater than before. The sword's movements were so swift that faint afterimages lingered in the dimly lit room, a testament to his newfound prowess.

A grin spread across his face, and laughter bubbled up from within, spilling into the quiet room.

"Haha!" he laughed, the sound echoing with exhilaration. "Just in time! With this power, I'll dominate the preliminary tournament with ease!"

*********

His name was Furaya Reizo. He was fourteen years old and, like most youngsters, had an energetic personality.

Living in a poor district of Japan, Reizo's parents worked tirelessly in a factory, yet they formed a loving and supportive family. Most afternoons, Reizo could be found at the local dojo—the only one his parents could afford—where he trained diligently. The dojo's master, recognizing his potential, had taken a special interest in him, personally overseeing his training.

This journey began five years ago when Reizo accidentally stumbled upon the dojo. The master, amused by the boy's enthusiasm, had invited him to train. But it didn't take long for the man to realize that the kid had a natural talent for swordsmanship. From that day forward, Reizo trained every day, honing his skills alongside the other students.

Everything changed two weeks ago when Reizo discovered a mysterious book. After showing it to his master, Reizo's life took a dramatic turn—he was accepted as a direct disciple. Now, every child in the dojo practiced the techniques described in that enigmatic tome. Although Reizo wasn't sure which cultivation level his master had attained, he knew one thing for certain: he was the first disciple to reach the First Stage of Body Tempering. The realization filled him with pride, and he couldn't help but puff out his chest at the thought.

Today was the day of the preliminaries for the National Young Swordsman Tournament—a prestigious championship aimed at preserving tradition, teaching values, and encouraging physical exercise among the younger generation. This program was adopted by Japan a few decades ago as a response to the alarming rise in obesity that had plagued Japan in recent decades.

But for Reizo, today was more than just a tournament. It was the beginning of his story, the first step toward realizing his dream: to become the greatest swordsman on Earth.

In a rush, Furaya Reizo got his kimono and left the house. It would be a shame if he lost by W.O.

**********

The preliminary would be held in the biggest dojo in town, called Shiroi Buki Dojo of Martial Arts.

Despite the leaps in technology and the rise of augmented reality, which had somewhat overshadowed martial arts in recent years, there remained a dedicated group of enthusiasts who cherished both training and spectating. Reizo was among them.

He dashed past the kitchen, snatching a taiyaki and stuffing it into his mouth as he hurried out the door. He was already running late to catch the bus!

Then, an idea struck him.

"What if I use Qi to run faster?" he wondered. The book had provided some guidance on cultivation, but it hadn't delved deeply into manipulating Qi within the body. It focused more on the basics.

Determined to experiment, Reizo took a moment to steady his breath, a technique he had mastered during his training. He stopped in the middle of the sidewalk and focused on feeling his dantian. As he concentrated, the green energy surged through his body, channeling into his legs with full force!

Suddenly:

Boom!

With an explosive burst of power, his feet shot off the ground at an unprecedented speed. For a fleeting moment, it felt like he was soaring.

"Wait!" he shouted, realizing his feet were no longer touching the ground. Without balance, he shot forward, flying through the air for more than four meters!

*BANG!*

Furaya Reizo collided headfirst into a light pole.

[Ouch! Oh gosh, my head.] He stood there dazed for a moment, rubbing his throbbing head and assessing the damage. [Thank goodness it's not that bad…]

Unfortunately for him, the sound of his head colliding with the pole had been loud enough to draw attention. People around him stared in astonishment.

"What's wrong with that kid, jumping into a light pole like that?" Furaya overheard an older woman whispering to another.

"He must have some sort of mental disorder…"

Scratching his head in shame, Furaya got up, still a bit dizzy, and did his best to ignore their comments. Hiding his face, he quickly fled from the scene of his embarrassment.

[Damn it! I'm not used to this power yet.] He had just broken through and thought he had everything under control. Never in his wildest dreams had he imagined that Qi would be so powerful that he'd have to adjust his own strength. [I should probably get a better handle on this before the tournament…]

Reaching that conclusion, Furaya decided to practice using small amounts of Qi in his legs as he continued toward the bus station. It wasn't easy—he almost stumbled several times—but after a few minutes, he managed to reach his destination alive.

Soon, he was on the bus heading toward the richest part of town, where the dojo was located. Silently, he watched the luxurious lives of the wealthy unfold outside the window as he focused on controlling the Qi within his body.

As Reizo sat at the back of the bus, his gaze wandered out the window, observing the bustling streets. Most people outside were equipped with the latest augmented reality glasses, a cutting-edge device developed by Robotics Alliance Industries. These glasses were more than just a gadget—they functioned as a mobile computer, phone, and video game console all rolled into one.

The glasses had real-time scanning capabilities, allowing users to analyze their surroundings and overlay a 'new world' onto reality. The success of these glasses was so immense that Robotics Alliance, in collaboration with the government, had built hundreds of exclusive zones around the city for their use. These zones, known as the "Augmented World," had quickly become a sensation, drawing in crowds eager to experience the enhanced reality.

As the bus passed by a park, Reizo's eyes lingered on the children playing with their augmented reality glasses, while their mothers admired the 'exclusive' scenery of the city center through the same device. A pang of envy struck him. He knew there was no chance he'd ever own one of those glasses—the cheapest model cost no less than ten thousand dollars, an amount that could feed his family for over a year.

[One day, I'll be the best swordsman on Earth and earn enough money to take care of my parents!] he vowed silently, clenching his fists tightly. A deep sigh escaped him, but the determination in his eyes remained unwavering, his resolve as strong as ever.