"So...the Shinto Universe...wonder where we're...whoa…" Luffy said, looking out at a monastery. "Oh...we're going to meet with more samurai."
"Hmm...I know this temple. It was rumored to have once been the home of a wandering ronin." Tetsu said.
"Yes...I remember those rumors." Shizaku said. "He also wielded a slaying sword."
"Interesting." Miriam said.
"So, what will we expect to run into here?" Fulgore asked.
"And...what of these...slaying swords?" Ainz asked.
"They were a series of blades crafted by a skilled swordsmith. Each blade able to slay one specific thing." Shizaku said. "My Ryuzaki is part of that series."
"And if I had to hazard a guess, is the Masakado a blade in that series too?" Hope asked.
"Sadly no. Masakado is crafted by someone else from as far as I've seen it. It doesn't even originate from the Shinto Universe." Shizaku said.
"Same could be said for the Zangetsuto then." Al said.
"It does make sense. After all, The Color God Indigo claimed to have made the blade himself." David said. "It wouldn't have made sense for it to be a part of the series if it was made in a completely different universe, don't you think?"
"Despite being named after a well known samurai, yeah." Ace said.
"Either way...if there is a treasure...it would likely be whatever sword the samurai possessed." Tetsu said.
"Sounds like something you'd want to add to your growing arsenal of blades." Ichiro said. "And be closer to fulfilling that promise of yours."
"I will not!" Tetsu said.
"What? But…" Ichiro said.
"As a Japanese man...even you should know there is no honor in stealing a long lost samurai's blade." Tetsu said.
"Oh, right. The thought slipped my mind. My apologies, Tetsu." Ichiro said.
"Geez, we say the stupidest things sometimes." Mermista said.
"Implications aside, I still wonder what we are going to run into while we're here." Nesma said.
"Well, this universe is said to be replicant of Feudal Japan of sorts, so probably people and creatures inscribed in Japanese myth." David said before looking to Kabuki. "Hm? Is something wrong? You've been quiet the whole way here."
"Is it about your clansmen?" Philia asked.
"Hm? Oh, I'm sorry. I've just been… thinking." Kabuki said. "Before I met you all, I was a masked assassin who took many paths. I've even tried to kill David. And now I return home with you all."
"You tried to kill him, really?" Dynasmon asked.
"It was a contract." David said. "She was hired by Copernicus Pendragon to get me and Hope out of the running in the WBC."
"Sounds pretty petty, if you ask me." Sachiko said.
"Trust me, you don't know half of the stuff that he ended up trying to get away with." Leia said.
"But now that she pledged her servitude to Ishihara, she's at risk of an encounter with her old master, I would assume." Cheetah said.
"It should be fine. The oni normally dwell in the mountains. We aren't anywhere close to their territory." Shizaku said.
"I know. I just get scared coming back to my home universe from time to time." Kabuki said.
"It's okay to be scared, Kabuki. But we're all here with you, so you're not alone." Hope said.
"Thank you." Kabuki said.
"Yeah, you got nothing to worry about." ZS assured Kabuki. "Now, let's get into this dungeon!"
The group managed to make their way inside where they were greeted by a voice.
"Ah… I have been wondering when someone would arrive." the voice said.
"So… Are you the one?" David asked.
"Yes… I am Ryunosuke Yamabuki. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintances." the voice introduced.
"The Wandering Ronin…but...you are supposed to have…" Tetsu said.
"Died? Heh...I've lived and died multiple times." Ryunosuke said.
"And throughout those lifetimes, you have proven to be a fierce warrior throughout many bouts, never to suffer a single defeat in combat. Is that true?" Kabuki asked.
"What? No way… No one is that strong...is he?" David asked.
"No...she's right. I've never suffered a single defeat." he said casually.
"If he really is as skilled as he claims, I'd imagine that it won't be easy getting to him either." Toya said.
"Yes. Before I can ascertain if you are worthy of challenging me, there are a few trials you must conquer on the way." Ryunosuke said. "Bring him out." he said as a few beasts wheeled out a badly beaten man.
"No way...is that…" Miriam said.
"Zangetsu?" Al asked.
"This one came here a few days ago to try and claim my sword. I was forced to fight. But even after suffering 10 continuous defeats, he still wants more. So...first trial...make this man lose the will to fight." Ryunosuke said.
"You want to take this one, Miriam? You've been searching for him for so long." Mayumi said.
"Yes, it would be best if Al and I confront him." Miriam said as she and Al approached the wounded Demon Hunter and kneeled down to him. "Zangetsu? Zangetsu!" she said, trying to wake him.
"Don't...speak to me now." he spoke as he got up on his feet. "I need to..beat this man."
"Zangetsu, please stop. You've done more than enough. Miriam and I have been looking for you." Al said, barring his path.
"I doubt it would be easy to convince him, Al. It's as he said before back in the castle, carnage is the language he speaks." Miriam said. "We may have to stop him by force."
"You can fight me...but...you must beat that person before I accept anymore rematches." Ryunosuke said, pointing to Miriam.
"Of course…" Zangetsu said.
"Miriam." Hope said. "No matter what happens, you'll find closure right?"
"Yes. Whether Zangetsu lives or dies after this, I shall keep my promise." Miriam said as she summoned Blue Rose and pointed it at Zangetsu.
"Wait. He doesn't have his blade." Asta said.
"Oh...no worries...I gave him a spare." Ryunosuke said as Zangetsu drew a long katana.
"Defeat Miriam...get the rematch." he said.
"Something is odd. Zangetsu never acted this way before." Miriam said to herself.
"What's going on with him?" Al pondered.
"He is a slave to his desire." Ryunosuke said. "Specifically...his desire to defeat me. I've seen it in many men. They will do anything to satisfy their innermost desires."
"It's sad, but it is sometimes a fact of life." Cheetah said.
"If that is the case, then I will do what I must to free you from this." Miriam said. "I'm sorry."
(Cue- The Tiger Warrior- Killer Instinct)
The two then charged towards each other and clashed their blades before Zangetsu did a shadow step and prepared to strike Miriam from behind before she dodged it as Zangetsu then channeled fire onto his katana and executed a sword slam from the air as it caused a small explosion of flame.
"I will… defeat you! No matter who… no matter what! I must defeat that man!" Zangetsu said.
"Zangetsu… you're no longer the man I knew. I don't know how long you've been like this, but I understand what must be done so that you may find peace." Miriam said.
The two of them continued to battle, clashing blades as Zangetsu furiously attacked. Miriam evaded each strike as she waited for an opening. He raised his blade up high before Miriam found her opening and unleashed a number of slashes on the man before he fell before her.
"M-Miriam?" Zangetsu muttered. "W-What happened?"
"Zangetsu." Miriam said as she held him up. "It's alright, it's over now." she said as Al ran over to them.
"No...I...I lost again. Please, let me…" Zangetsu said.
"Apologies but the agreement was clear. You will never fight me. Your losing streak will forever stand." Ryunosuke said.
"Damn it…" Zangetsu growled.
"Zangetsu, have you forgotten everything we've done in stopping Dominique and Gremory? Does that mean nothing to you?" Miriam asked.
"All that matters is being the best. And I must best him to do it! Let me fight again!" Zangetsu said.
"I've given my answer and you've had your turn. Now it's these young folk who will have their chance." Ryunosuke said.
"Hey, before anyone says anything, I'd like to ask Zangetsu a question." Alkal said. "What comes after being the best?"
"Don't mock me. You wouldn't understand." Zangetsu said.
"He means, what's left? After you finally succeed in that endeavor, what's left for you afterward?" David asked. "You'd only subject yourself to a life of constant battle with no end in sight."
"And not the fun kind of battles, either." Mark added. "Once you're the best, once you've gotten to the point where no one can beat you… what's left to do? There's nothing left to aspire to, no challenge to overcome, nothing that can excite you anymore, nothing! You'd just be a fighting machine, going day in and day out, a being without emotion or purpose beyond the next battle in an infinite line of them, without anything to enjoy about them. Is that really what you want?" he asked, staring into Zangetsu's eyes.
Zangetsu wasn't able to respond as he couldn't believe what he just heard.
"And that's why he set up all of these trials. Because...it's his own way of asking for a release. He has already lived that kind of life, several times possibly, and he doesn't want anyone else to end up like him." Cheetah said. "As the boys said, you'd only live a life of constant battle. Hollow...empty… Unable to feel any kind of emotion at all outside of combat."
"Zangetsu…" Miriam said. "It's time you stopped fighting."
"It's just as Alkal and Cheetah said. Fighting for the sake of fighting...is a hollow experience. All you'd have left is a sad existence with no one to share it with." Alphamon said.
"I'd listen to them, you know. They're all saying this from experience." Revali said.
"I suppose...I really am a fool." Zangetsu said.
"Now...enough of this display...let's head on inside...you have a trial or two more before facing me." Ryunosuke said heading into the monastery.
"Yeah… Let's go. It's time to see what he has laid out for us." David said.