Chapter 4: ENTER THE GREATEST SWORDSMAN (1)

Kibe walks through the forest at night, unsure of where to go. As he looks at the lush plants growing in abundance, he decides to harvest some for the future. While harvesting, he sees a bluish light emitting from an area in the forest so he decides to investigate. Upon further inspection, he sees a young man with dark blue hair and no shirt with a jar of incense burning beside him, sitting in a meditative position with a katana in his lap. 

(Oh! A cultivator’s sitting out in these woods? What a weirdo!)

After observing him, Kibe suddenly remembers something that his father had told him. As cultivators, you should cultivate as much as possible. Strength is not everything but you will soon see that it is a necessary tool if you wish to live a stable life. 

“Well, I have been slacking on my cultivation. I’m still at the first level of the Forging Energy Stage so let’s get to it.”

 

There are seven known stages to cultivation. These are: The Forging Energy Stage, The Establishing Foundation Stage, The Conjoining Channels Stage, The Brilliant Core Stage, The Nascent Soul Stage, The Reinforced Mind Stage and The Great Deity Stage.  Breaking through stages grant large power increases, whether it be Qi based or Physically. Though cultivating heightens your chances of breaking through, it is recommended that a cultivator must only do so up to twice daily as doing it any more than that will risk being crippled by overwhelming power.

Kibe sits beside this young man and gets into a meditative position, beginning to cultivate. Before he could begin properly, Echo appears with a curious look on his face.

“Why haven't you killed him and stolen his stuff yet boss? He is defenseless.”

“The answer will not change Echo, I refuse to kill someone who hasn’t done anything wrong. Now could you leave me alone for a bit? I'm kinda busy right now.”

“Yeah, yeah but this is why they killed you last time.”

 

Echo disappears without much resistance and Kibe continues to cultivate. His body glows gold and white and his energy, though wild and unrefined, eventually regulates itself to only around the core of his body, the stomach. This goes on for about 3 to 4 hours until he wakes up, seeing the young man staring at him.

“So do the people of this town stare relentlessly without a reason or is it just you?”

The young man stands and puts his Katana on his hip.

“Well, you are the first person who would sit beside a total stranger, leaving yourself defenseless. I was just thinking about how to mess with you.”

“Awfully honest now aren’t we?”

“Truth is not what you want it to be; it is what it is. And you must bend its power or live a lie. Someone once said that.”

“What… the hell does that even mean?!”

“Nevermind. Regardless, who are you?”

Kibe smirks and stands up, extending his hand for a handshake.

“I am a descendant of the Great Kemono Family; The name’s Kibe!”

The young man smiles, seeming to remember something fond, then bows.

“My name is Asakusa Yota. My family is not one which is great but I hope you respect me nonetheless, Lord Kibe.”

“Dude. You sound like a 60 Year old. It’s creeping me out.”

 

The two shake hands and with that, they each feel each other’s strength, making them respect each other even more.

“Nevermind that. Would you like to go to my house?”

“Sure. I don't have anywhere to stay. Let’s go to a blacksmith first though because I need some more weapons among other things.”

“That is completely fine. The blacksmith in Naganohara is an exceptional one… his temper is another thing. Let us go indeed.”

Kibe and Asakusa leave the forest, heading through the gates of Naganohara and talking on the way to the Blacksmith. Kibe learns that though Asakusa does not come from a family of Prodigies of the Sword, he is still able to handle himself quite well, showing off his blade. He calls it “Hyakuya’s Tear” and it is a reddish blade with a gold and black Hilt. 

“Are we there yet? This place is huge!”

“It is just ahead. Please do remember that the Blacksmith’s attitude is not the best.”

“Yeah, yeah. I’ll be the judge of that.”

Asakusa sighs and shrugs and takes Kibe to the Blacksmith. One in there, they are met with heat as well as the sound of metal clanging.They see a man sitting on a stool creating a sword. Almost instinctively, he gets up and walks to the front of the forge, standing in front of the two.

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“Are you the blacksmith here?”

Kibe thats- 

Asakusa tried to warn him but was interrupted by the man

“Well I do not know, It’s not like you did not just see me hammering at a weapon or anything.”

A vein appears on Kibe's forehead. Echo shows up on his shoulder smiling at him. He sighs and looks at the blacksmith. 

“Surely you don't speak to all your customers like this?”

“Only the dumb ones who ask stupid questions.”

In an attempt to de-escalate the situation, Asakusa steps between both with a bag of money but Kibe puts his hand on his shoulder reassuring him while still gritting his teeth.

“Regardless, there is something I would like to buy. A longsword made of steel.” 

“It will cost you a pretty penny but I have one.”

Kibe checks his pouch and sees that he does not have enough money.

“...Did I mention that my name is Kibe Kemono? Y'know, one of the 6 Great Families?”

“Why would I care? Are you gonna hand my money or not? Your status matters not in my forge. If you came here hoping that throwing your name around would work then you can leave.I have actual customers to tend to.”

The blacksmith wipes his hands and walks back to his forge, preparing to make another weapon.

“That's it!” 

 

Kibe vaults himself over the barrier between blacksmith and customer, standing, looking down on the blacksmith with a very annoyed look.

 

“What’s this? Now you are gonna attack me?”

“No! I’ll just make my own weapon then after observing you! It seems easy enough anyways!”

“Do not disrespect the craft of blacksmithing, you ingrate! Do not make a mistake you will regret.”

“Just gimme a chance, old man!”

“I refuse! And that is not my name! It's Markos.”

This conflict lasted a whopping two hours, with neither side giving in.

“Tell ya what old man! I’ll pay you for everything I fail at.Deal?”

“Do you even have enough money to say that kid?”

“Sure I do!”

That was a lie.

“Well then do it! You will fail and leave my shop.”

“I’ll make you eat those words!”

Kibe picks up some materials and places them on a table. He picks out a mold and places it on another table next to him. He begins to heat the metal in the furnace until it begins to turn bright red then pull it out, place it on a furnace and hammer it into a good shape, using the mold. After getting a decent shape, Kibe places the metal into water to cool off. He then uses the belt grinder to sharpen the edges then creates a handle completing the sword… or so he thought.

 

[END OF CHAPTER 4]

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