The sun dipped low over Kaizen Valley, casting long, jagged shadows across the cliffs. Naku's eyes swept the terrain, recalling every detail he had observed during the day. The enemy patrols he had studied were no longer distant shapes—they were pieces of a puzzle he was beginning to solve.
A sudden rustle alerted him. From the treeline emerged a squad of Kurozane's minions, their movements precise, disciplined. Naku's hand hovered over the hilt of his sword. He did not hesitate. Years of training surged through him—muscles, reflexes, spiritual energy, and Hizakura Flow Strike technique perfectly synchronized.
With a fluid motion, Naku moved. Shadowed by the cliffs, he struck before the enemy could react. Blades flashed, and the clash of steel echoed through the valley. But unlike his earlier fights, Naku remained calm. He anticipated each strike, countered each move, and maneuvered with the grace of a predator who had spent days mapping its prey.
One by one, the minions fell. Not a single attack had caught him off guard. He noted each fighting style, each pattern, committing it to memory. This was not just a victory—it was a lesson in the enemy's tactics, a step closer to understanding Kurozane himself.
After the last minion collapsed, Naku took a deep breath, feeling the hum of spiritual energy flowing through him. His blade was steady, his mind clear. Yet, a shadow stirred in the distance—the unmistakable aura of a lieutenant, stronger than the patrols he had just defeated.
Naku's pulse quickened, not with fear, but anticipation. He understood now: defeating the scouts was only the first tide of conflict. Ahead lay greater challenges, more powerful opponents, and the lessons he would learn in these encounters would shape him into the warrior who could one day face Simo Roy himself.
As night blanketed Kaizen Valley, Naku stood atop the cliffs, eyes fixed on the horizon. He was no longer just a student or a survivor. He was a strategist, a predator, and a young warrior learning the rhythm of war.
"The tide rises," he whispered, "and I will rise with it."
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Volume 1: Origin & Conflict (~Chapters 1–17)
End