CHAPTER 9: THE TRIAL BEGINS

The morning sun was just beginning to rise, casting long shadows across the courtyard. Kazuki stood in the center, gripping the hilt of his sword tightly, his palms slick with sweat. The training grounds were larger than he had anticipated, with rows of Lord Takeda's men standing at the edges, watching with keen interest. The murmurs of the crowd filled the air, a mixture of curiosity and amusement at the sight of the young stranger who would soon face one of their own.

Jiro stood at Kazuki's side, his expression as stoic as ever. "Remember, stay calm and focused. He'll try to intimidate you, but don't let it rattle you. Keep your movements precise and measured."

Kazuki nodded, though his heart was pounding in his chest. "Right, precise and measured. No problem."

Jiro glanced at him and added, "And don't die. That would be embarrassing."

Kazuki gave him a sideways look. "You're really great at this pep talk thing, you know?"

Jiro's lips twitched into the barest hint of a smile. "I do my best."

Kazuki exhaled slowly, trying to steady his nerves. He could already hear the mocking laughter of the men gathered around the arena. They didn't expect much from him—he could see it in their eyes. They thought he was just a boy, out of his depth, and ready to be humiliated.

"Ready yourself," a booming voice interrupted Kazuki's thoughts.

His opponent stepped into the courtyard, a mountain of a man with thick muscles and a battle-hardened face. He carried his sword as if it weighed nothing, and his grin was filled with confidence. His name was Shiro, and judging by the way the men around the courtyard greeted him with cheers and jeers, he was something of a local favorite.

Kazuki swallowed hard. "I'm supposed to fight that?"

Jiro crossed his arms. "Focus. Size isn't everything."

Kazuki shot him a look. "Says the guy who doesn't have to fight him."

Shiro stepped forward, his voice booming as he addressed the crowd. "I'll go easy on you, kid," he taunted, his grin widening. "Wouldn't want to hurt you too bad in front of all these people."

The crowd laughed, and Kazuki's face burned with embarrassment. He could feel his frustration rising, but he forced himself to keep calm. He had to be smart about this. Charging in recklessly would only get him knocked flat on his back.

Lord Takeda, seated on a balcony overlooking the courtyard, raised his hand to signal the start of the match. "Begin!"

Shiro lunged forward without hesitation, his massive sword coming down in a powerful arc. Kazuki's instincts kicked in, and he sidestepped just in time, feeling the rush of air as the blade sliced through where he had been standing. The ground cracked under the force of Shiro's strike.

"Fast," Kazuki muttered under his breath, his heart racing.

But Shiro wasn't done. He spun around, his sword coming at Kazuki from another angle. This time, Kazuki managed to raise his own blade to block the strike, but the impact jarred him, sending shockwaves through his arms.

"You've got some reflexes, kid," Shiro said with a laugh, stepping back for a moment. "Let's see how long you can keep dodging."

Kazuki took a deep breath, trying to calm himself. Shiro was toying with him, enjoying the sport of it. But Kazuki knew he couldn't afford to stay on the defensive forever. He had to make a move, and soon.

Shiro came at him again, faster this time, his sword slicing through the air with deadly precision. Kazuki ducked and rolled, avoiding the blade by a hair's breadth, but Shiro was relentless. Each strike came harder, faster, forcing Kazuki to retreat step by step.

The crowd's laughter and jeers echoed in Kazuki's ears. They were enjoying the show, watching him struggle against Shiro's overwhelming strength. But Kazuki wasn't about to giv

Kazuki's breath came in short bursts as he kept dodging, each of Shiro's attacks growing more forceful. His arms were starting to ache from the constant strain of deflecting blows, and the edge of panic crept into his thoughts. He needed to find a way to turn the tide before Shiro wore him down completely.

Jiro's voice echoed in his mind. "Stay calm. Wait for the right moment."

Kazuki's eyes flickered over Shiro's movements, searching for a pattern, a weakness—anything he could use. The towering warrior was confident, almost careless, relying too heavily on his brute strength. Shiro didn't respect him as an opponent, which meant he wasn't guarding himself as carefully as he should. That was his opening.

Shiro grinned, sensing Kazuki's exhaustion. "Running out of steam already, kid? I haven't even broken a sweat yet."

Kazuki didn't reply, his focus sharpening. He tightened his grip on his sword and took a deep breath. He couldn't overpower Shiro, but maybe he didn't need to.

As Shiro charged again, Kazuki didn't dodge. Instead, he planted his feet and angled his sword to catch the full force of the strike. The impact sent a shockwave through his body, but Kazuki had expected it. Using Shiro's strength against him, he redirected the force, letting it carry him into a spin.

Before Shiro could react, Kazuki darted to the side, his blade flashing in the morning light. He aimed low, targeting Shiro's legs—an area the larger man had left unprotected. Kazuki's sword slashed across Shiro's calf, drawing blood.

Shiro let out a roar of surprise and anger, stumbling back. The crowd gasped, their laughter abruptly silenced. For the first time, they were seeing the young stranger as something more than a punching bag.

"Not bad," Shiro growled, his expression darkening. "But you'll pay for that."

Kazuki didn't wait for him to recover. He pressed the attack, his sword moving with a newfound speed and precision. He couldn't match Shiro's power, but he didn't need to. He had to be faster, smarter—constantly moving, constantly shifting.

Each time Shiro swung, Kazuki dodged just enough to stay out of range, darting in and out like a shadow. He aimed for weak spots, striking Shiro's exposed arms and legs, chipping away at his defenses. The larger man was growing more frustrated, his movements becoming sloppy as he tried to keep up.

Finally, Kazuki saw his moment. Shiro raised his sword for a massive overhead strike, leaving his chest wide open. Kazuki surged forward, slipping under the larger man's guard and delivering a precise strike to his torso. His blade didn't cut deep, but it was enough to stagger Shiro.

With a grunt of pain, Shiro dropped to one knee, his breathing labored. He glared up at Kazuki, but the fight was over. The courtyard fell into a stunned silence as everyone realized what had just happened.

Kazuki stood there, his chest heaving, his sword still at the ready. He could hardly believe it himself. He had won.

Lord Takeda, who had been watching from his elevated seat, stood slowly. His expression was unreadable, but there was a glint of approval in his eyes. "It seems your pupil has more than just promise, Jiro."

Jiro, who had watched the entire match without saying a word, stepped forward with a small nod. "He's still learning."

Takeda's gaze lingered on Kazuki for a moment longer before he addressed the crowd. "This trial is over. Kazuki has proven himself worthy."

The crowd murmured in disbelief, but no one dared challenge Takeda's authority. Shiro, still kneeling, gave Kazuki a begrudging nod. "You've got skill, kid. I'll give you that."

Kazuki exhaled slowly, lowering his sword. His body ached, and he could feel the bruises forming, but he had done it. He had passed the trial.

As the crowd began to disperse, Jiro approached him, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Not bad, Kazuki. Not bad at all."

Kazuki looked up at him, still catching his breath. "I thought I was done for."

"You almost were," Jiro said, clapping him on the shoulder. "But you kept your head, and that's what matters."

Kazuki gave a tired smile, the adrenaline still coursing through his veins. He had survived his first real test, but he knew this was just the beginning. Ahead of him lay even greater challenges—challenges that would push him to his limits and beyond.

But for now, he had earned his place.