Metal could be heard clashing at an unimaginable rate of speed. A samurai battled a warrior in a green tunic on a bamboo platform. They appeared cordial, but the intensity was suffocating. Link knew he wouldn't be able to keep up this pace much longer and that without magic, Mitsurugi would triumph. But those were the terms they agreed to- no magic, no bow, no tricks, just swords. And Link's sword, the powerful Masters Sword was designed to repel evil, against a fellow warrior of justice like the samurai before him, it was only a sword.

Just when link was at the point of exhaustion, Mitsurigi stopped without warning. "You win" he said. "How? you're not even tired." asked link. Mitsurugi replied "You beat the challenge, not me. I wanted proof that you were a warrior and not just a magic user with a tool belt. I may be the most skilled warrior, but you are the hero of time. Only you can banish the evil that plagues our worlds. Take what you came for. Our treasure is yours now." With that, he disappeared in a poof of smoke. The center of the platform they were fighting on sparkled and a chest appeared as the dozens of spectators bowed on a knee.

Dahn Da Da Dah, his small glowing fairy Navi exclaimed as she does every frikkin time he opens a chest. He pulled out a grey tunic that was ironically the same size and look as his green one only grey. It even had a matching hat like his. Amazing. Navi spoke again:

"The Samurai Tunic, treasure of the Mitsurugi Clan. The rare kageyoshi silkworms kept by this clan feed on minerals and spin a unique alloy silk that the gieshas weave into armor. This Tunic is their finest work, it cannot be cut or punctured yet its light, comfortable and wears like fabric. But be careful, it still won't protect you from the force of the blow, you just can't be cut or stabbed. Wear it with pride."

Link walked off of the platform and was surprised my Mitsurugi. "You are nearing the fabled Soul Calibur. Its less than a days walk in that direction. But beware, you won't be the only warrior seeking the weapon. I suggest you rest at here at our clan compound. You may feast and prepare yourself to leave in the morning. I know you're eagar, but you won't be effective starved and exhausted." "Those were two valid points" thought Link. As eagar as he was, he was even more hungry and tired. Link nodded in agreement and accepted the samurai clan's hospitality. With that he followed them into their main dining hall.

-MEANWHILE-

Cassandra walked through the abandoned town alone. She was looking for food, a bath, and new clothes. There was little left of her usual blue and white outfit. Her battle with Astroth left her hungry and filthy. Why the person responsible for the golem's creation would fail to omit the greatest vulnerability of the male anatomy left her confused. It also enabled her to achieve victory with scrapes and bruises as opposed to cuts or broken bones. It also gave her a sense of satisfaction to combat the widely accepted notion that men were always better warriors by defeating in them in the most painful way.

She came upon a fruit cellar in an old tavern and to her fortune there was some dry aged beef and cheese, fresh water, and even a wine selection. Provisions were hard to come by with the world in such chaos, let alone luxuries like these. With that in mind, she put her weight issues aside and regained her strength with all the food she could eat. She never liked thinking about her weight. 5'10" and 138 pounds wasn't exactly ideal for a woman, in fact it was far heavier than ideal. Even tho the had a fantastic figure with no fat to be had, the number bothered her. She would frequently rope heavy stones to her ankles along her journeys to keep in optimal fighting condition. She knew it was all muscle, she knew she had the best of both worlds because her muscles were strong, but not at all huge or ripped. Only her abs were that defined. All this and she was still self conscious. On top of that, her sister was missing and the soul edge had covered the land in an oppressive negative aura that drove people mad.

She went to the inn next to the tavern and after making sure it was empty, found a bath tub and medical supplies. She washed up and sanitized her scrapes. She looked at her tattered outfit on the floor. As much as she liked it, she would need new clothes which was the next order of business before turning in for the night. She hadn't noticed anywhere that sold clothes in the two little rows of buildings that was the town. She would have to hope for some to be laying around the inn. She went to what appeared to be the inn keepers room and became optimistic as it obviously belonged to a woman. She looked in the wardrobe and was annoyed to find an assortment of dresses that looked like the belonged on a southern belle. "How can I fight in these" she spat angrily to herself. Even the underwear on the top shelf was all girdles and bloomers, also not suitable for combat. Now visibly aggravated, she walked to a fancy chest with a well known warrior clan symbol on it. Neatly assorted inside was a navy blue leotard, a green coat with armored shoulders, brown thigh high steel toe boots with matching brown fore arm braces, and a black hair ribbon. She pulled it all out hoping for more fabric, but that was it. "Apparently, this 'is' the underwear" she sighed as she looked at the leotard. She was used to a skirt, but this would have to do. At least the hair ribbon offered her a way to hold her hair back since her favorite headband had been broken in her last fight. She decided to thank the former warrior turned in keeper that left these behind even though she was no longer there. She surmised that this was a warriors outfit with a history and decided to wear it with honor.

She slid into the leotard and noticed the previous owner must have been a half foot shorter than she was. Despite being very tight and consequently revealing, but it was still extremely comfortable and gave her a level of support and mobility she had never experienced anything close to. She put on the green coat and her face went beat red. It barely reached her hips on the sides and covered nothing below the waist in the front. This outfit was obviously designed to allow freedom of motion. Even the boots weighed nothing. She donned the rest of the accessories and tied her hair up with the ribbon leaving some hair free to hang in front of her ears.

She went up to a room and kicked back in a chair to polish up her sword and shield and wind down before bed. As she did, she looked out the upstairs window in the direction she would go in the morning. She knew the Soul Calibur was within 20 miles, she could feel it. She could finally destroy the soul edge and end her quest. But it was really her sister's quest. If she ended it they could both go home. She had a sort of taste for the state of chaos things were in. She never had normal interests, never had friends, never a boyfriend. She couldn't even recall ever speaking to opposite sex unless it was to buy a sword, challenge him or them to a fight, and taunt them during and after the battle. Beyond her sister, Cassandra was a loner whose interests were limited to swordplay, baking, and reading. She liked life that way and that was just that, she thought before she fell asleep.