The courtyard was alive with the hum of anticipation. Retainers, servants, and young trainees gathered in a wide circle around the practice grounds. Word had spread quickly through the Takeda estate—Lord Takeda's son, Eugene, would face a sparring test against the senior trainees.
For days, whispers had stirred. Some claimed Eugene's recent victories against his peers were nothing more than luck. Others said he had been touched by the kami of war, his skill unnatural for one so young.
Now, the time had come to prove it.
The late afternoon sun cast long shadows as Eugene stepped into the ring. He wore a simple training gi, his bokken polished and firm in his hands. His eyes were calm, but inside his chest, his heart thumped with a warrior's rhythm.
[Mission Objective: Public demonstration of skill. Recommended approach: display calculated superiority without humiliating opponents. Purpose: build respect while minimizing resentment.]
"Understood," Eugene murmured softly, rolling his shoulders. "No need to crush them completely. Just enough."
Across from him stood his opponent, Sasaki Haruto, a senior trainee nearly eighteen years old. Tall, broad-shouldered, his hands were calloused from years of training. Haruto smirked, twirling his bokken.
"So, the young master finally decides to test himself against men, not boys." His voice carried, drawing murmurs from the crowd. "Don't worry. I'll make this quick and painless."
Eugene tilted his head slightly, his lips curving in a faint smile. "That's kind of you. But don't say I didn't warn you when it hurts."
The crowd chuckled nervously. Haruto's smirk faltered, replaced by a glare.
Instructor Ito stepped forward, raising his hand. "Begin!"
Haruto wasted no time. With a powerful shout, he lunged forward, bokken raised high. His strike came down like a hammer, swift and merciless.
But Eugene had seen it all before.
[Opponent stance: Overcommitted. Predicted strike angle: vertical downward. Probability of leaving right flank exposed: 84%. Recommended counter: sidestep + wrist strike.]
Eugene slid to the right in a fluid motion, his bokken whipping up in a precise arc. The wooden blade cracked against Haruto's wrist.
The older boy yelped, his strike faltering.
Gasps erupted around the courtyard.
Eugene didn't press the advantage. He simply straightened, his weapon lowered, expression calm. "You grip too tightly," he said evenly. "It makes your wrist predictable."
Haruto growled, shaking his hand, his face red with embarrassment. "You got lucky!"
With a roar, he swung again, this time sweeping horizontally. Eugene ducked low, rolling forward beneath the strike. He popped up behind Haruto and tapped his shoulder with the bokken before stepping back.
A clean hit.
The crowd buzzed louder. Even the retainers exchanged glances.
Haruto spun, furious now, and launched a flurry of wild strikes. Eugene parried each one with minimal movement, his bokken flowing like water, never wasting energy.
[Opponent morale: unstable. Error frequency increasing. Probability of decisive opening in 12 seconds: 92%.]
And there it was. Haruto overextended, his guard wide open. Eugene struck once, clean and sharp—the tip of his bokken thudding against Haruto's chest.
The older boy stumbled backward, air rushing from his lungs. He collapsed to one knee, gasping.
Silence fell.
Instructor Ito's voice cut through the air. "Winner—Takeda Eugene."
The courtyard erupted. Some shouted in disbelief, others in awe.
"He defeated Haruto so easily…""His movements… they were flawless!""Could he truly be…"
Eugene exhaled slowly, lowering his weapon. He walked over to Haruto, extending a hand. The older boy hesitated, shame burning in his eyes, before taking it reluctantly.
"You're strong," Eugene said quietly enough that only Haruto could hear. "But strength without precision is wasted. Train your mind as much as your body."
Haruto's eyes widened. For a moment, his anger faltered, replaced by grudging respect.
Eugene helped him to his feet, then turned to face the crowd. He bowed deeply.
"Thank you for watching. I am still learning, and I ask for your guidance."
The humility in his voice disarmed even the skeptics. Whispers spread—perhaps he was not an arrogant prodigy, but a young master worthy of following.
Later, as the sun dipped below the horizon, Eugene sat under a cherry tree, his bokken resting across his knees. The petals fluttered in the evening breeze, settling gently on his shoulders.
The AI's voice filled the quiet.
[Public reputation increased. Retainers' respect level: 42% → 68%. Trainee morale adjusted: 55% → 72%. Rivalry reduced. Probability of loyalty among peers: significantly increased.]
Eugene smiled faintly. "Not bad. Step by step, we build the foundation."
He glanced toward the practice grounds, where younger boys whispered about him with wide eyes. Their awe, their curiosity—it was the beginning of something greater.
But he knew this was just a small ripple. Beyond the walls of the Takeda estate, the sea of the Sengoku era roared endlessly. Rival lords plotted, bandits preyed on the weak, and betrayal lurked behind every bow and smile.
The sparring match today was nothing compared to the storms waiting beyond.
Still, Eugene clenched his fist. "This is only the start."
The AI's response was quiet, almost approving.
[Acknowledged. Trajectory confirmed. Takeda Eugene—the path to conquest has begun.]
As the last light of the day faded, Eugene closed his eyes beneath the falling cherry blossoms, already envisioning the battles yet to come.