"Now," Ghost said, settling into a formal teaching stance that radiated authority and centuries of accumulated wisdom, "we begin with the absolute fundamentals. The first thing you must learn is how to hold the sword properly, not just the grip, which you've already discovered through instinct, but the entire body posture that allows for maximum effectiveness and power generation."
He demonstrated the basic kamae, or ready position, his entire form becoming a study in perfectly balanced tension. His feet were positioned for optimal stability and explosive mobility, his knees slightly bent to allow for instantaneous movement in any direction, his spine straight but not rigid, his shoulders relaxed yet ready to generate devastating power at a moment's notice.
"Your body is the foundation from which all techniques spring," he explained as Fenix attempted to mirror his deceptively complex posture. "No matter how perfect your sword work becomes, if your stance is fundamentally flawed, your techniques will remain weak and easily countered by anyone with proper training and experience."
For the next hour, Ghost guided Fenix through the subtle adjustments necessary to achieve proper form. It was far more complex than it appeared from observation, every joint, every muscle group, every angle of bone had to be positioned with mathematical precision to create the optimal platform for sword techniques.
"Wider stance," Ghost corrected, using the tip of his blade to gently tap Fenix's ankle. "You're trying to prioritize mobility, but you've sacrificed stability in the process. Find the perfect balance point where you can move quickly in any direction without losing your ability to generate explosive power."
Fenix adjusted his position carefully, feeling the difference immediately in how his weight distributed across his feet and legs. The new stance felt awkward at first, like wearing clothes that didn't quite fit, but as he settled into it and allowed his body to adapt, he began to understand how it created a foundation that could support devastating movement while maintaining perfect balance.
"Much better. Now let's work on the basic cutting patterns. In traditional katana combat, there are eight fundamental strikes that form the bedrock foundation of all more complex techniques and combinations. Master these eight cuts with absolute precision, and you will possess the tools necessary to face any opponent with genuine confidence."
Ghost moved into the first position, his blade held high above his right shoulder in preparation for a vertical strike that seemed to gather potential energy from the very air around them.
"First Strike, the straight cut from above. This is the most direct and powerful of all attacks, designed to split an opponent cleanly from crown to pelvis with overwhelming downward force. Observe the entire movement sequence, not just the path of the sword itself."
He executed the technique in slow motion, allowing Fenix to see how every part of his body contributed to the strike in perfect coordination. His feet shifted to provide the optimal launching platform, his hips rotated to add devastating rotational force, his shoulders and arms descended in harmony, and the blade itself followed a path of geometric precision that seemed to cut through reality itself.
"The true power comes from your entire body working as a unified system, not just from your arms and shoulders," Ghost explained as the demonstration concluded with the blade stopping mere inches from the ground. "Your legs drive the initial motion upward from the earth, your core transfers that energy through your torso, and your hands guide the blade to its intended target. Arms alone produce weak, ineffective cuts that any competent opponent can easily parry or deflect."
Fenix attempted to replicate the movement, his first try clumsy and poorly coordinated. The blade wobbled uncertainly as it descended, his footwork was hesitant and mistimed, and his body mechanics were completely wrong from start to finish.
"Again," Ghost commanded with patient authority. "Focus on the proper sequence—feet first to establish the foundation, then hips to generate rotational power, then shoulders to transfer that energy, finally hands to guide and direct. Each element must flow smoothly into the next, like water flowing inevitably downhill."
They spent the better part of an hour working on just this single fundamental technique, with Ghost making constant corrections to Fenix's form and timing. Gradually, through repetition and careful adjustment, the movement began to feel more natural and coordinated, though Fenix could tell he was still years away from achieving the fluid perfection his mentor demonstrated with casual ease.
"Adequate for now," Ghost finally declared. "The second cut, a diagonal strike that follows the natural line from shoulder to opposite hip. This technique combines the devastating power of the vertical cut with an unpredictable angle of approach that makes it significantly more difficult to defend against."
The morning progressed with methodical instruction in each of the remaining fundamental cuts. The third, a horizontal strike aimed precisely at the midsection to bisect an opponent at the waist. The fourth, a reverse diagonal that mirrored the second but approached from the opposite angle to confuse defensive timing. The fifth, a rising cut that could disembowel an opponent or knock aside their weapon to create an opening for devastating follow-up attacks.
Each technique was broken down into its essential component elements, practiced slowly until Fenix could execute the basic movement without losing his balance, then gradually increased in speed and intensity as his muscle memory began to develop and strengthen.
"The sixth, a lightning-fast draw-cut that strikes as the blade leaves its sheath," Ghost demonstrated, his katana appearing and disappearing so quickly that Fenix's eyes could barely track the movement. "This is perhaps the most dangerous technique in the entire katana arsenal, because it allows a skilled swordsman to launch a lethal attack from what appears to be a completely passive, non-threatening position."
"The seventh, a intercepting cut that simultaneously defends against an incoming attack while delivering a precise counterstrike," he continued, his blade dancing through complex patterns that seemed to create multiple layers of defense while maintaining constant offensive pressure. "And finally, the eight, a blood-shaking flick that clears the blade after combat and prepares it for clean resheathing."
By the time the sun reached its zenith and began its slow descent toward the western horizon, painting the hilltop in gradually shifting shades of gold and amber, both student and teacher were covered in honest perspiration. Fenix's arms ached from the unfamiliar motions and constant repetition, his legs trembled from maintaining proper stance for hours without relief, and his mind buzzed with technical information that would take weeks of practice to fully process and internalize.
But there was something else growing alongside the physical fatigue, a deepening sense of connection to the weapon in his hands that transcended mere familiarity. Black Soul was beginning to feel less like a foreign object imposed upon him by circumstance and more like a natural extension of his will, a channel through which his intentions and desires could be given physical form and devastating expression.
"That's sufficient for today," Ghost declared, though his tone carried satisfaction and approval rather than exhaustion. "You've absorbed about as much technical information as anyone can reasonably process in a single intensive session. Tomorrow we'll begin working on combinations and transitions, how to flow seamlessly from one technique into another without pause, hesitation, or wasted motion."
Fenix nodded gratefully, his newfound respect for the katana's incredible complexity having grown exponentially throughout the long morning of instruction. What had seemed like simple sword swinging from a distance had revealed itself to be an incredibly sophisticated martial art that demanded years of dedicated study to achieve even basic competency, let alone true mastery.
"Can I ask you something?" he said as they began the process of resheathing their weapons with the same ceremonial precision and respect that had marked their initial drawing.
"Speak."
"Why the katana specifically? I mean, I understand that you believe it suits my nature, but what makes it superior to other weapon paths available to warriors?"
Ghost was quiet for a long moment, his ancient crimson eyes gazing out over the valley below where the lights of the estate were beginning to twinkle in the gathering dusk like earthbound stars.
"It's not superior in the sense of being objectively better than every other weapon in all possible circumstances," he finally replied with characteristic honesty. "A master of war hammers could crush even an expert katana wielder if the tactical situation favored overwhelming force over precision. A polearm specialist has inherent advantages of reach that no sword can match through technique alone. Even bare-handed fighters can be devastatingly effective when they achieve true mastery of their chosen art."
He turned to face Fenix directly, his expression serious but not stern, carrying the weight of hard-won wisdom.
"But the katana demands more of its practitioners than most other weapons do. It requires not just physical skill and endless practice, but philosophical understanding and spiritual development. It teaches patience, discipline, precision, and deep respect for the power you wield. Most importantly, it creates warriors who are deadly when necessary but not bloodthirsty by nature, powerful but not inherently cruel."
Ghost's hand rested on his sheathed blade, the gesture unconscious but filled with reverence accumulated over decades of partnership between warrior and weapon.
"In a world where strength too often leads to corruption and the abuse of power, the Way of the Katana produces warriors who remember that true strength comes with the absolute responsibility to use it wisely and justly. That philosophical foundation, more than any technical advantage, is why I chose this particular path for your development."
As they made their way down the winding hill toward the estate, Fenix carried Black Soul with a completely new understanding of the weight, both physical and spiritual, that he had accepted when he took the weapon into his hands and committed himself to its mastery.
The next five months would test every limit he thought he possessed, would push him far beyond the boundaries of what he currently believed possible, and would either forge him into the warrior this dangerous world desperately needed or destroy him completely in the attempt.
But as the first evening stars began to appear in the darkening sky above the ancient sakura tree, Fenix felt genuinely ready to embrace whatever trials and tribulations lay ahead on his chosen path. He had found his way forward, selected his weapon, and committed himself to a journey that would transform him in ways he couldn't yet begin to imagine.
The real training was about to begin, and with it, his transformation from a merely gifted boy into something that legends would remember.