With measured steps, he walked inside the place as the door opened for him.
Takashi looked around, taking in the brightly lit room adorned with ancient artifacts and animal skins hanging on the walls. Paintings of countless Yokai lined the space, creatures that would be enough to haunt any child's nightmares for days.
Every inch of the room was guarded by samurai standing tall with backs perfectly straight, their presence exuding a sharp aura that overwhelmed anyone's senses.
'They're on a far higher level than me,' Takashi thought, his heart pounding with panic.
'I remember from the game, they're at least at the Flowing Blade stage.'
After the Steel Edge stage came the Flowing Blade stage, it directly boosts your stats by at least fifty points and allows you to form a faint, almost ethereal katana intent.
Thoughts flickered through Takashi's mind as he scanned the samurai surrounding him.
The warriors seemed oblivious or deliberately indifferent to his presence, their pupils fixed straight ahead, motionlessly.
Walking past hundreds of them which took a solid twenty minutes, Takashi finally arrived before a massive door.
Two women stood gracefully beside it, clad in elegant kimonos.
As they noticed Takashi, they bowed slightly and then slid the door open.
Inside, Takashi saw a rugged man reclining on a couch, smoking from a pipe. In front of him sat a cup of sake, being attentively served by three beautiful women.
The head of the Ashikaga clan, Mikado Ashikaga, the emperor who ruled this land.
As Takashi entered, Mikado didn't even glance his way, casually puffing smoke with a nonchalant air.
Takashi quietly took a seat opposite the man and locked eyes with him. As he stared, Mikado's presence seemed to grow larger, overwhelming his vision.
A crushing pressure pressed over him. Just sitting still, Takashi could feel cold sweat trickling down his forehead.
The room was silent, except for the soft movements of the three beautiful women attending Mikado, who appeared completely unaware of Takashi's presence.
After a long moment, Mikado finally paused. Slowly, he lifted his gaze to meet Takashi's.
"Hmm, son," he said with a low voice, "you seem to have grown some patience."
"..." Takashi replied quietly, "I am honored by your acknowledgment, Father."
Mikado laughed as he blew another plume of smoke from his pipe. Then, his gaze sharpened, and the entire room seemed to grow heavier, more oppressive.
"Do you know why I called you?" he asked.
"Please, enlighten me, Father," Takashi answered respectfully.
Mikado's eyes narrowed dangerously. "How did you suddenly master the First Stage of the Dance of the Radiant Ring?" The pressure intensified, pressing down on Takashi. "And don't give me that nonsense about hiding your power. Nothing escapes my eyes."
At this moment, Mikodo's crimson eyes were directly staring at Takashi as if he was glancing at his soul itself. Takashi felt a tearing pain in his neck; it was as if, if he uttered a single lie, then his head would sever from his neck, decapitating him instantly.
And Takashi might not be wrong as well, his life truly was in danger right now!
'Damn it, I can't tell this bastard the truth even if I say it. I doubt anyone will believe me.'
So what will Takashi do?
Takashi spoke with a calm expression: "I was Enlightened, father."
"Enlightened?" Mikodo stared at Takashi.
"Yes, I was enlightened when I was fighting with my opponent. I suddenly gained strength, and not only that, I was able to gain spiritual Qi as well," he explained slowly.
"Hmm." Mikodo put down his pipe and drank a sip of sake, then spoke again, "I don't believe it, a sudden enlightenment with your talent?" he scoffed.
Takashi shrugged with nonchalance, choosing to remain silent. If it was back home, he did practise the fifth amendment, right? Even as the pressure mounted on him, there was no fear on his face.
Clap!
Mikodo started to clap. "Alright, let me say that I believe you for a moment, and you truly were able to gain enlightenment and have reached the Steel Edge realm, prove it to me."
"What should I do?" Takashi asked, settling his nerves.
"Go to the Pond of Truth."