The pain was sudden, sharp, and fleeting. One moment Eugene was seated at his desk, eyes half-closed from exhaustion as the blue glow of his computer monitor bathed his apartment in pale light. The next, there was a flash of screeching metal, the sound of shattering glass, and then—nothing.
So this is it, huh? His last memory was of headlights cutting through the night as he stepped off the curb. Then darkness swallowed him whole.
But death, it seemed, was not the end.
When Eugene opened his eyes again, he was not lying in a hospital bed or floating in some endless void. He was in a wooden room, the faint scent of tatami mats filling his nose. A paper lantern flickered gently in the corner, casting shadows across sliding shoji doors. His head throbbed as if splitting, but his body—his body was not the same.
His hands were smaller. His skin was smoother. A polished bronze mirror leaning against the wall reflected the face of a boy, perhaps twelve or thirteen, with sharp black eyes and finely cut features. Long, tied hair fell to his shoulders. He wore a simple cotton yukata, the fabric rough against his skin.
Eugene sat up quickly, his heart hammering."What the hell…?"
[Welcome, User.]A voice, mechanical yet oddly calm, echoed in his mind.
He froze. "…Who's there?"
[Initializing system link. Neural synchronization complete. AI Combat and Strategy Interface is now online.]
"…AI? In my head?"
Eugene's jaw tightened as fragments of memories not his own began flooding his mind—memories of samurai, of castles and banners, of endless fields of war where men clashed with blades and spears. He clutched his temples, gritting his teeth as centuries of history poured into his skull.
When the haze settled, clarity followed.
This was not the world he knew. This was Japan. Sengoku Jidai—the Warring States era. An age of chaos, where daimyo warred for dominance, where loyalty and betrayal walked hand in hand, and where blood soaked the earth more often than rain.
And he was no longer Eugene Tanaka, the burned-out strategy gamer and part-time military history nerd from modern Tokyo. He was now Eugene Takeda, the only son of a minor lord whose lands bordered two ambitious clans.
"…I've been reincarnated." His voice trembled, but a strange smile tugged at his lips. "Into the Sengoku era. Of all places…"
[Correction: You have been reborn in a parallel version of the Sengoku period. Certain historical events may diverge. Predictive analysis available upon request.]
"Parallel Sengoku?" Eugene muttered. "So not exactly Nobunaga's timeline. Interesting…"
The AI's calm tone continued.
[As per integration protocols, you now have access to the following support functions: Combat Training Acceleration, Tactical Analysis, Enemy Scan, and Battlefield Simulation. Would you like a tutorial?]
Eugene let out a sharp laugh. He was terrified, yes, but also exhilarated. The strategist in him, the gamer who had spent nights conquering kingdoms in Total War and Civilization, felt a rush unlike anything else.
"No tutorial needed," he said. "I've played enough games for this."
Still, he needed answers. He stood, pacing the small room as his mind raced."So… my father's a minor lord, and I'm his heir. Which means I'm already on the board. If I play this right, I won't just survive—I'll rise above them all."
The AI hummed quietly in his head, like a companion.
[Ambition detected. Setting personal objective: Unification of Japan. Probability of success with current resources: 0.3%. Recommend immediate resource expansion.]
"Zero point three percent, huh? Better odds than real life." Eugene smirked. "Fine. Let's aim for the impossible."
The sliding door creaked open, and a stern-faced retainer in his forties stepped inside. His name surfaced instantly from Eugene's inherited memories—Sakurai Genzo, his father's loyal vassal and one of the few men who had watched over him since childhood.
"Young master," Genzo said, bowing slightly. "Your training begins in the courtyard. Lord Takeda wishes you to attend."
Eugene blinked, then nodded smoothly. "Of course." His voice carried a maturity that startled even himself.
Outside, the courtyard was alive with the sound of clashing wood. Young trainees—sons of retainers—swung wooden swords, their movements sharp but unrefined. Armor glinted in the sun where seasoned instructors barked orders.
Eugene stepped into the yard, and all eyes turned to him. He was the lord's heir, the boy whispered to be "strange," too clever for his age. Some mocked him; others feared him.
"Takeda Eugene," the instructor said gruffly, tossing him a wooden bokken. "Face Morita."
A larger boy stepped forward, grinning cruelly. He had beaten Eugene many times before, when the former Eugene was timid and hesitant. But this time was different.
Eugene caught the bokken, feeling its weight. His AI immediately activated.
[Opponent: Morita Jiro. Strength: 7/10. Speed: 5/10. Technique: 4/10. Recommended tactic: feint left, strike to ribs.]
The fight began. Morita rushed forward, swinging wildly. Eugene sidestepped, his movements sharper than even he expected. He feinted left, then brought the wooden blade slamming into Morita's ribs.
The boy collapsed, wheezing. Silence fell across the courtyard.
Eugene lowered his weapon, eyes calm. "You left your flank wide open."
The other trainees murmured. Genzo's lips curved into the faintest of smiles.
In that moment, Eugene realized something: this world was no longer a nightmare. It was an opportunity.
That night, Eugene lay in his room, staring at the flickering lantern light. His hands still tingled from the fight.
The AI broke the silence.
[Analysis: Your reputation as a prodigy has increased. Retainers and rivals will take note. Probability of assassination attempt within two years: 41%. Recommend preparation.]
Eugene exhaled slowly. So it begins.
"Listen," he whispered, "if this is the Sengoku era, then war is inevitable. Betrayal is inevitable. And death…" He looked at his reflection in the bronze mirror, at the determined eyes staring back. "…death will only take those too weak to grasp their fate."
He clenched his fists.
"I won't be weak. Not this time. If I've been given a second life, I'll use it to climb higher than anyone before me. Daimyo, shogun, emperor—it doesn't matter. This land will belong to me."
The AI chimed softly, almost approving.
[Objective registered: Become the most powerful man in Japan.]
Outside, the wind rustled through the pines. Somewhere in the distance, a war drum echoed faintly in the night.
And thus, the legend of the Genius Samurai began.