Immortal Ninja Academy: Demon Hunting 101 by Marco Frazetta

Author:Marco Frazetta [Frazetta, Marco]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Tempest Books
Published: 2019-12-30T22:00:00+00:00

27

Kai

Yellow leaves crunched at my feet as I walked toward the peaceful sight of a pagoda in the middle of the forest. It was an impressive structure, with a stone base that had chiseled stairs leading up to its platform. Then out from this sculpted stone base rose a wooden pagoda with five stories, which in Japan was called a gojunoto. Each story had a curved roof radiating out from it, and so the exquisite building looked like five hats stacked on top of one another. Edmund stood at the top of the stairs, hands behind his back, his charcoal coat swaying in a light breeze.

“You’re late.”

I looked up at the violet sky in confusion, the rays of dawn beginning to shine through. “But Sensei Edmund, you said to be here at first light.”

“Indeed. But you see, you are a shinobi now. You knew that I was to be your adversary. A training adversary, but an adversary nonetheless. Whenever possible, you should know the terrain of where you will be facing an enemy beforehand, and anticipate any advantage you might have on them, including laying traps, studying how the terrain can be used for offense, defense, as well as the element of surprise!”

With effortless grace, he launched himself into the air, revealing that he had a sword in his hands. “What—” I dashed back, only to feel a strong thud on my back as I ran straight into him. He was so quick that he’d guessed my movement and intercepted me. Now I was trembling with him at my back and a sword blade at my throat. I could feel the coolness on my skin.

“You should always analyze your opponents, and that includes their weapons.”

As he said this I glanced down to see that the blade at my throat was a wooden one. “It’s just...” I stepped out of his hold to face him. “A practice sword.”

“It is not just a practice sword.” He held it out to me with both hands, ceremoniously. “Through this sword will be born a much greater one. This is yours now. Your bokken, or training sword. It has been infused with ki in order to withstand the strength and power of shinobi wielders.”

I took it, and examined its fine craftsmanship, the dark wood, the slightly curved blade, its precise heft. “Thank you, Sensei Edmund.”

“Don’t thank me yet. The sword is only as good as its wielder. And there is only one way to make you a truly great swordsman. To learn this art of kenjutsu, one price must be paid.”

“What price is that?”

“Suffering.” With that, he lunged at me, drawing his own bokken from its sheath at his hip.

The sound of wooden blades striking one another resounded all around the pagoda, and even within it. For three days, from sunrise and far into the night, we dueled. Edmund showed me more techniques than I could truly absorb. He showed me firsthand how the techniques worked by using them against me. Had we been regular

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