Chapter 19: The Eighth Sword

"They must often change, who would be constant in happiness or wisdom." - Confucius

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|KOJIRO|

"That's enough Shin-kun, take a break first." I said and hand him over a towel.

"Thanks gramps." He said and took the towel from me and starts wiping the sweat all over his body.

I made him practice his own swords style today, I can't believe how much he have grown. I can't be any more proud, I can even tell that he have surpassed me already.

After teaching him the three fundamental swords, he mastered it in just half a year and he created his own variations of sword skills.

Including the three fundamental swords, I have seven different sword skills, derived from the original three, I only taught him the original three. But who would've guessed that he'll be able to create nine more in total of twelve. Shin-kun is indeed gifted, he's making this old man proud.

I looked at Shin-kun who's taking a break beside me, I just can't helped but to smile while looking at how strong he has become.

"You're hair is longer now, huh?" I uttered and I felt that he became a bit conscious.

"O-Ofcourse it will get long, gramps! I didn't cut it for three years since the start of our training." He said and his ears starts to turn red. His embarrassed reaction is always a refreshing sight for me.

That's right, it's been three years since we started training. Despite me having just a bit of magic powers inside me, I can feel that his magic is also starting to grow.

Little by little, he's awakening his true powers, just like the powers inside his mother Azrael-chan when she's not suppressed. His eyes also turns golden yellow because of the immeasurable magic inside him. That golden yellow eyes reminds me of his Uncle Uriel and his Aunt Gabriel.

Those two have the same golden yellow eyes, but Gab-chan only has a golden yellow eyes in her left eye and azure blue on the right.

But sadly... In those three years, we also heard about a heartbreaking news... Lion-kun... They said he died fighting against The Demon General of the West, Abaddon the Death...

It was a huge blow to us specially to Aria-chan who is the closest to Lion-kun cried for days... I can't utter a single word when I heard the news. That young man was like a son to me. It broke my heart one of my son also passed away because of the Demons. I wonder how Merlin-chan and Luther-kun reacted when they heard the news...

We also decided to set a grave for him beside the graves of his brother and sister, along with Ayame.

The death of their uncle gives them even more motivation to become stronger specially to Shin-kun. I know they want to become stronger to avoid this kind of meaningless deaths again...

While me and Shin-kun are taking a break, I decided to duel him as his last lesson from me. I don't have anything to teach him anymore, currently he's even stronger than both me and Ro-kun. This time, it will be up to him on how he will make himself stronger.

"Shin-kun, you've grown stronger haven't you? Care to have a duel with this old man?" I said and stretched my body.

"Are you sure, gramps? You're like, eighty years old now, right? Can you still fight?" This young lad is underestimating his old gramps, huh? I must teach him another lesson.

"Come at me you idiot grandchild of mine, this old man will rip you to pieces!" I said and laugh to provoke him, despite him being strong, he's still immature towards provocations.

"You've got some guts, gramps. I'll show you that I'm the new strongest swordsman now!" He said and threw a wooden sword at me and make his battle stance.

It's still high noon right now, the sun won't be setting soon and it's a perfect time for us to have our duel. If I fight him head to head at night, he'll beat me in an instant.

Shin-kun's strongest element is darkness manipulation, at night, he can hide his presence and he can manipulate shadows, he's like an expert assassin that can eliminate his target in split seconds.

It's best to fight him in the morning. Even though he's strongest area is darkness magic, that still doesn't change the fact that he can manipulate every element there is including light just like Azrael-chan. He's so strong as if he's cheating. Azrael-chan and Ro-kun indeed made a monster, I just can't help but to laugh.

"Are you ready, gramps?"

"Come at me, Shin-kun." After I said those lines, he immediately change his stance into the Ganryu, third stance.

"O-ho, so you're planning to finish this early, huh? I won't give you a chance!" I uttered as I also change my fighting stance to the Ganryu, first stance. I have to strike first before he does!

I took a deep breathe and gathered my Ki in my hands and send it to my sword. I draw my sword quickly and sent a Ki Blades flying towards him.

That is my fourth sword, Ki Slash. I will gather my Ki in my hand and transfer it to my sword and send it flying towards my opponent in a form of blades similar to wind blades.

He dodged it my leaping in the air. It's my chance! Shin-kun might be strong, but this old man has enough experience! I did another first stance, and this time, a direct attack!

I rushed towards him and strike him with my first sword, Swallow Strike. I tried to use my full power to strike him, powerful enough to blew away the dust around us, but it seems like he manage to stop my attack half-way.

When the dust cleared up, I just can't helped but to grin and shake my head in disbelief. Irregular guarding, first sword's worst counter. He used the tip of the hilt of his sword to stop my attack.

He knows he can't parry that strike, so he used the hilt of his sword and with the correct angle, he stopped my attack without putting too much effort. He is indeed a genius.

"Are you surprised, gramps?" This kid is getting cocky isn't he? Time to teach him a lesson.

"Not bad, Shin-kun!" I said while laughing and throw a reverse kick at him which he manage to block using his forearms.

I'll strike him once more! I did the third stance this time, and rushed towards him. I put my strength in my right arm as rush at him, and with the perfect distance, I used my sixth sword, Sen Sutoraiki.

Using my immeasurable speed and precision, I'll strike him with fast and powerful thrusts as if he's being striked by countless thrusts at the same time because of it's speed.

I though I would take him down with just that but he just steps back even more to avoid all of my strikes!

When the gap is widen between us, he returned his hands to his waist and took a deep breathe. First stance, huh? What is he- No... No, no, no! Goddamn it, I can't let him use that technique or I'll be doomed! I immediately switched to third stance and attack him but I'm a few seconds late! That crackling lightning sound! That's his fifth sword!

"Raikiri!" Goddamn it! I hold the top of my sword to block his attack and brace myself from the impact.

In just a blink of an eye, he's already infront of me and strikes my with one of his powerful attacks. His wooden sword is covered with lighting! I prepared myself for the worst but before his strike hit me, his wooden sword turns to ashes...

I-I was... Saved?

If Shin-kun's wooden sword withstand the power of his attack or if he only has a better weapon, I don't know what might happen to me. I guess broken bones will be inevitable.

"What?! What he hell happened to my sword?!" He said when he realized that his sword has already turned to ashes. Damn, I feel so lucky, I could imagine what might happen to me if that attack hits my body.

I lightly hit him with my wooden sword sword and returned it to my waist. "Are you planning to kill your grandfather with that strike?! You don't know how to hold back, do you?"

"My bad, gramps, I got carried away." He said and laughed awkwardly as he rubs the part of his head that I hit.

I looked at him while he's busy wiping his sweat. I gaze at the sky and smile, I guess it's time for him to wield that sword.

"Shin-kun! I have something to give you, I'll get it inside the house first, stay here and wait for me." He nods at me so I went inside the house to pick up the Muramasa.

Shimizu-dono used up all his powers to forge this sword, he gave up on his power of eternal youth just to forge this sword. This will be his last masterpiece.

The sword Muramasa holds the power to absorb the wicked souls of the enemies and turns it into his own power, but if this sword is used for mercy killing, the wielder can choose if he will store the soul, absorb it, or purify it.

This sword can be divine or cursed depending on it's owner. This will be the perfect weapon for Shin-kun. I trust he will put it to good use.

I went outside the house and went to where Shin-kun is and handed the sword over to him. He seems a bit surprised but he accepted the sword wholeheartedly and bow.

"Thank you for this wonderful sword, gramps. I'll put it to good use." He said which made me smile. I went closer to him and gave him a warm hug.

I'm already old, I know that sooner or later, I will take my last breathe and leave both him and Aria alone in this world. But even so, I'm satisfied, I know that the two of them can survive this world even without me, so I'll just treasure my remaining years with them.

"Come, Shin-kun, let's test that new sword of yours." I said and the two of us walks towards a clear field near the forest.

"Like, what are we gonna do gramps? Another duel or something?" Is this kid for real? Does he really plan to kill me as revenge for making him do impossible tasks in the past?! He do hold some grudges, doesn't he?

"No, stupid! Do you plan to kill your grandfather?!" This kid is making fear for my life for the first time.

I saw a giant boulder not too far from our location so I dragged him near it. It will be the perfect target practice.

"Go and slice that boulder up." He gives me a questioning look and said.

"Are you sure, gramps? Isn't that boulder too big?" This kid, he doesn't even know just how strong he is...

"Just slice it! Or I'll spank your butt with this wooden sword!" I still know this brat's worst fear, I can't help but to laugh.

"Chill gramps! I'll cut it okay?!"

He closes his eyes and took a deep breathe. He used a normal fighting stance this time and when he opens his eyes, he slashed the boulder and split it in half like it was just a piece of paper.

That was a perfect slash... I have nothing more to teach him...

I let him train alone with his sword, he kept on swinging his sword when I noticed that someone is lurking around the bushes in the forest.

I don't know who are they, but there's so many of them, if they are demons, I think Shin-kun and I can handle all of them.

I noticed that Shin-kun also stopped swinging his sword and walk towards me, and it seems like he already noticed them too.

"How many?" I asked.

Shin-kun closes his eyes and tries to feel the presence of the enemies and their count.

"More than twenty." He answered. I sighed and good thing I always carry my sword with me, there's a lot of enemies, this fight will take a while.

"I see, prepare to engage." I said and unsheathe my sword but Shin-kun is still remain frozen as if he felt something unusual.

"G-Gramps... They're not demons... They're humans!" He screamed and more than twenty humans revealed themselves fully equipped with weapons...

What's going on? Why are humans planning to attack us?

"It's him right? The young man with long black hair?" Said by one of the enemies as they surround us while walking closely to close the gap...

"Kill them!" Goddamn it! I don't know what's happening but these humans indeed plans to kill us! And their main target is Shin-kun! I won't let that happen! Not on my watch!

"Shin-kun! Kill them, don't hesitate!" I said and charge at the enemies that are planning to attack us.

I switch my stance to the third stance and use my third sword Yatagarasu.

I pierced the heart of one of our enemies and my ball of Ki hits the other two.

I'm currently surrounded by nine enemies, I have to defeat them fast and back Shin-kun up. I don't want to use this because it will strain my body for a moment but I don't have a choice.

I switched my stance to first stance, and reversed my grip at my sword and took a deep breath.

"Sasaki Ganryu-style, seventh sword, Final Flash." I put all of my Ki and gathered it into my arms, and perform a large swing causing my entire body to swing and a cyclone of slashed engulfs my surrounding like a tornado.

I think I got most of them, I need to help Shin-kun now! I was about to run to where Shin-kun is when I felt a cold iron blade stabbed my back that penetrates through my chest...

T-Th-They... Got me...

I vomit blood as the man who stabbed me pulls his sword that was pierced in my body...

I was careless... I should've finished them all off before planning to leave... and now this is my end...

"I got the old man! Finish up that young boy!" I heard the man that stabbed me as the planned to engage Shin-kun...

I-I can't let that happen... I won't let them hurt my grandchild!

I grabbed my sword and use it to support myself as I slowly stand up to my ground.

"W-wh-where do... You t-think you're g-going... I'm n-not d-dead yet..."

I can feel the blood coming out of my mouth and nose... I've already lost tons of blood but I can't give up just yet...

"You're still alive, old man? Let me end your suffering..." the man said as he and his comrade charge at me all at once...

It's getting harder for me to breathe... and my vision is starting to become blurry... I'm loosing my consciousness...

Lion-kun...

Ro-kun...

Azrael-chan...

Ayame...

God... The almighty creator...

Just this once... Give me some strength to save Shin-kun... That's all I want... I beg of you... Please...

I felt a strong pressure of power behind my back as if someone is pushing me... It feels like Lion-kun, Ro-kun, Azrael-chan, and Ayame are giving me their strength...

All of you... You have my gratitude...

This is it... My final task as his master and grandfather...

"Kill him!" I heard them scream, but I focused myself on this final attack...

I raised my sword and and gathered up all of my remaining strength into one single strike...

I felt the pain of the swords of my enemies that pierces through my body... But it doesn't matter anymore... This will be the end...

"Sasaki Ganryu-Style, final sword..." I uttered and with the last ounce of my strength, I slashed the enemies infront of me...

That was my eighth sword... a new one... it still has no name yet, but I know a perfect name for it...

"Eighth sword, The Sword of Shin..."

That's right... it's a perfect name...

My body fell to the ground as I tried to catch my breathe... It's.. I-It's all over now...

"I'm coming, Lion-kun... Ro-kun... Azrael-chan... Ayame..."

But I still have something to say to Shin-kun... So I can't die just yet... But this won't take long, so please...

"Wait for me..."

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End of chapter 19