The shadow of the past: The genesis of the legendary swordsman

Musashi Miyamoto, the man who defied the gods themselves, was much more than just a warrior. He embodied the very spirit of battle, a being forged by pain, blood and an indomitable desire to become invincible. But to understand his greatness, you have to delve into the depths of his past, where every scar tells a story.

Musashi was born in a small Japanese province, in a humble village surrounded by mountains. From childhood, death became his companion. His father, a fallen samurai, taught him the art of combat as soon as he could walk, but without tenderness or warmth. "Life is a battlefield", he repeated, hitting the young Musashi hard, his hands covered in chalk and sweat.

At the age of 7, his father left home after a violent altercation. Musashi, now alone, took refuge in nature, observing animals to understand their movements, looking to their instincts for answers that men would not give him. Every day, he practised with a stick, hitting tree trunks until his hands bled.

At the age of 13, Musashi faced his first serious adversary. An itinerant samurai, arrogant and sure of his strength, challenged the villagers in search of easy glory. No one dared to confront him, until the young boy showed up, armed only with a stick.

The battle was brief but brutal. Musashi, using his quickness and ability to anticipate, disarmed the man and hit him with such force that he never got up again. It was the first time he had tasted victory, and also the fear that comes with it.

Whispers began to circulate: a child prodigy, a demon in human form.

At the age of 16, Musashi left his village to travel the lands of Japan, challenging any adversary who crossed his path. He perfected his style, based on two swords: one for defence, the other for attack. This approach, which he later named Niten Ichi-ryū, was revolutionary, combining brute force and refined strategy.

Every duel was a lesson. Facing a master of the spear, he learned the importance of distance. Against an archer, he discovered how to exploit blind spots. Little by little, he developed a unique philosophy: "Victory does not depend on strength, but on clarity of mind".

But Musashi's path was not one of glorious victories alone. At the age of 21, he took part in the Battle of Sekigahara, one of Japan's greatest civil wars. It was a bloodbath.

Amid the screams and bloods, Musashi realised that there was nothing noble about war. He saw samurai, once honourable, descend into madness, slaughtering indiscriminately. This experience changed him profoundly. After the battle, he isolated himself in the mountains for months, meditating on the meaning of life and death.

It was during this retreat that he developed his concept of Ken Zen Ichinyo: the unity between the art of the sword and spirituality. For him, fighting was a sacred act, a dance with death.

At the age of 29, Musashi faced his most formidable rival, Sasaki Kojiro, a master swordsman known for his 'Sharp Swallow' technique. This duel, which took place on the island of Ganryū, remains engraved in history.

Musashi arrived late, deliberately, to destabilise his opponent. He used a simple stick that he had carved into an oar during his boat journey. The battle was short but intense. With incredible speed and precision, Musashi broke Kojiro's blade and defeated him in one blow.

However, this victory did not bring the satisfaction he had hoped for. He watched his opponent fall, realising that each duel took him further and further away from his humanity.

In the years that followed, Musashi gradually gave up duelling. He devoted himself to writing and painting, seeking to pass on his knowledge in other ways. His book, The Book of Five Rings, became a reference not only for warriors, but also for philosophers and strategists.

He taught that the way of the sword was a metaphor for life: "To triumph, you have to understand the forces at play, adapt and strike at the right moment.

Musashi died at the age of 61, in a cave where he had been meditating for months. Or so the legends say. Some say that he reached such a level of enlightenment that he transcended death itself.

It was this immortal essence that led him to represent humanity in the tournament against the gods.

As Musashi stands facing Quetzalcoatl in the divine arena, his gaze is imbued with the wisdom of his years and the determination of a man who has never stopped fighting.

Every movement of his body, every beat of his heart is a tribute to his past. He murmurs to himself:

"Every battle I have fought has prepared me for this moment. It doesn't matter if she's a goddess; I'm the spirit of war incarnate."

And so, the man who has transcended the limits of humanity prepares to face one of the most powerful gods in history.