Dojo

Stepping out from the portal, I felt slightly lightheaded, but it was only mild discomfort, and I shrugged it off as I looked around for an exit from this portal station. It was like the one I just came from, although this one is most likely right in the middle of Creese City, a city in the novel known for having lots of dojos and martial tournaments.

As I navigated my way out of the portal station, I tapped the bracelet I have, which doubles as a smartphone, the equivalent of a flip phone in this world. It took a couple of tries, but I finally found a map feature. I typed my destination in the holographic search bar and started off on my journey.

As I walked, I started to plan out my future throughout this world. After I'm done with business here, I should be able to grab a decent weapon before being forced to attend Aurora Academy. I checked the date, which would be the 3rd of Sextiles, the equivalent of August, a month from now.

During the academy arc, there were several issues that the main cast had to deal with, such as attacks from demons and zombies and even an all-out battle between a Monster Alliance general and the principal of the institution. But I will have to focus on my goal right now.

After finishing up my inner pondering, I looked in front of me and saw a humble dojo. It looked as if someone had been taking care of it with the utmost importance. It was clearly an older building, as the other buildings looked way more modern. Right before I walked in, I paused and checked on something I had forgotten about the whole time.

—STATUS—

Name: Kain Adams

Race: Human

Rank: F

Strength: F

Endurance: F-

Agility: F+

Mana: F-

Luck: G+

Charm: E

Stigma:

 Absolute Mana Control (Read more)

 ???(Locked)

Spells:

None

Arts:

None

Skills:

None

————-

"Question marks?" This might be that fourth gift that the god was talking about. I tucked my thoughts and wonders as I looked at the unlocked stigma.

Stigma are skills that hold a lot more power compared to normal skills and couldn't be learned like normal skills. All skills worked on mana while stigmas can be fueled by various other things. Stigmas are completely unique to the user as no two stigmas can be the same. Usually you can never own more than one stigma but it seems I am an exception. 

"Absolute Mana Control?" It sounded like the stigma I got was going to be overpowered! I felt a smile appear on my face as I willed for more information on the stigma.

[Absolute Mana Control:

 This stigma allows the user to manipulate any mana within a 10-meter radius, whether it be in a spell or in the atmosphere, although this cannot be used to control the mana within a living organism. This stigma comes with a price as using it will put extreme pressure on the user's mind from the inside and can cause brain damage.]

I carefully read the description of my stigma, and my smile faltered for a split second; with a stigma this powerful, it would be idiotic to think there wouldn't be some type of drawback. Stigmas were skills that were etched into your soul since, although it was more like a unique soul signature as no two stigmas could be the same. Using this stigma, I could definitely achieve my goal at this moment. With newfound confidence, I walked into the dojo and immediately yelped as I felt a gust of wind and a sword pressing against my neck.

"Who are you?" a deep grizzled voice asked from behind me. I knew if he didn't like my answer, I would die.

''If you're the owner of this dojo, then maybe a possible student?" I answered nervously. I'm not proud to admit this, but I think I might have peed myself a little.

***

In a humble dojo, a man named Kirito was cleaning up after a long night of training. His mind was blank; he was just focusing on how the mop moved back and forth. With the way he acts, you would just see him as a sad old lonely man, not as an S-ranked awakener, and not as a man who is categorized as a stage 5 threat by the demons and known as the "Blade Calamity."

Kirito Musashi was simply an empty man; he was long retired from fighting demons and assisting in the war against the Monster Alliance, and he now spent his days fixing up his family's dojo.

The man didn't have any family, as they were long gone, having died during the monster's first invasion. He watched his wife and teenage son die while he was fending off a horde of monsters with his ancient katana. That day is now being dubbed the 'Grand awakening.'

Ever since that day, he has been in a blind rage for around 100 years. Yes, that was right. With the help of Mana and his own 'techniques' his lifespan practically tripled; he even still looked like a middle-aged man.

After calming down from his blind rage, he finally settled down in his family dojo, which has been passed down from generation to generation. He decided that with all his remaining time, which was very long, he would pursue the sword and try to become the best he could until he dropped dead.

As he was cleaning the door to the dojo, there walked in a boy with black hair and orange-colored eyes who held an expression that was a mixture of determination and confidence.

Kirito tensed his leg muscles and shot towards the boy. He got behind the boy while putting his sword on his neck and asked, "Who are you?" Kirito asked, wondering if it was one of the tricks of the demons or Monster Alliance to get his guard down; it wouldn't be the first time they had tried to assassinate him.

''If you're the owner of this dojo, then maybe a possible student?" The black-haired teen replied, clearly frightened.