"I know opinions are already being thrown around about that guy, but… What do you guys think about him?" Dynasmon asked.
"He does seem to be strange but...this is no doubt the legendary ronin." Tetsu said.
"I agree. Even if he does happen to have a few...eccentricities." Sectonia said.
"At least he's giving us a chance to earn that blade." Shizaku said.
"Any chance you know which one it is?" Gemini asked.
"No...he has it sheathed. I won't be able to identify it until he draws it." Shizaku said.
"In that case, I think the better option would be to pass his trials for the chance to see it for ourselves." Rhatla said.
"That does seem to be the best way." Miriam said.
They soon entered the next chamber as the ronin sat down as he started drinking a bit.
"I can see you're the type to indulge in these kinds of drinks as well." Kurochi said.
"So...uh...next trial?" ZS asked.
"Hmm? Oh yeah...we're still doing this. I dunno uh...as a samurai...balance is required so...each of you must...balance a glass of water on your heads without spilling a drop. Over...that." he said pointing to a large chasm.
"You have that...in your temple?!" Meowth said.
"Eh." Ryunosuke said.
"Well, he's got to keep that mentality up somehow." David said. "Just stay calm, and don't move too fast."
"It's a weird mentality." Ace replied. "I mean no disrespect of course."
"Who cares." Ryunosuke said.
"Ugh...this guy is gonna be a pain." Subaru said.
"Well, whatever reason he's giving us, I say we go for it." Kabuki said.
"Wow, no hesitation from her." Valfor said.
"Hold up, if each of us do this, we're gonna be here all day AND all of the next day." Eddy pointed out. "Now, I'm just speaking pragmatically here, but isn't there a way to shrink that estimated time?"
"Okay...you get a special trial just for that comment. You must cleanse the floor of impurity with this magic stick of purity." Ryunosuke said, tossing a mop to Eddy.
"..." Eddy was silent, slowly lifting his hand up towards Ryunosuke before Mark softly pushed it down.
"Eddy, no." Mark said sternly.
"But…" Eddy said.
"You saw what he did with Zangetsu. You can't win against this guy." Mark said.
"Besides, you think we're gonna suffer? Think about how things were back in the day." David said.
"He's got a point. Devotees would subject themselves to these routines for weeks on end, if not months." Cheetah said.
"Fine, whatever, let's do this whole balancing act challenge." Eddy sighed.
And so, they continued to follow challenge after challenge that the lone samurai had set for them. Balancing water over chasms, standing still for periods at a time, even practicing swings with wooden swords.
"Hmm...you've all done well...now...the final test. You must pass through...the doorway of mystery." Ryunosuke said, pointing to a door.
"Yes...this is all going to...be…" Theo said, opening it. "This...this door just leads outside."
"Yes...you mysteriously go back outside. Thanks for the entertaining afternoon." Ryunosuke said.
"Well, thank you for everything you have taught us." David said, bowing to him. "Although… The fact that we were put through all of this had a much deeper meaning than I'm sure any of us were expecting."
"Yeah, yeah. Sure." Ryunosuke said.
"Hmm… I noticed something a bit...odd in your behavior." David said. "You didn't really sound all that confident about everything you put us through."
"You remember what we said before when we were confronting Zangetsu, right?" Fulgore asked.
"Not really. I just wanted that guy out of here." Ryunosuke said.
"Was that really the case, though?" David asked.
"Ugh...look. You seem honest so I'm going to level with you all. I get idiots like you begging to fight me all the time. I beat them with ease. It's not fun anymore. So I put them through these stupid trials to make them quit and then I can get back to my peaceful life." Ryunosuke said.
"Doesn't it get lonely like that, though?" Kabuki asked.
"I hate people. Begging me to join in wars, to protect their nobles and royals...just stupid people who can't fend for themselves." Ryunosuke said. "Now...please leave."
"Sure...you know what? No...we're not leaving." Tetsu said.
"Tetsu… You seem very serious about this." Jesse said.
"I am a samurai. I take the pride of these people first and leave my own emotions behind. I allowed us to proceed through all this but...I cannot let this man continue on like this. I demand a fight." Tetsu said.
"Pass. You guys aren't worth my blade." Ryunosuke said going back to his drink.
"Ah...I see….that's fine. The great ronin...has turned chicken." Tetsu said as Ryunosuke gripped his drink glass as it cracked.
"You...you want to repeat that?" Ryunosuke asked.
"You heard me...you big fat chicken." Tetsu said.
"Hmm….fine." Ryunosuke said, tossing his drink away. "I'll enjoy severing that head from your body."
"Stand back, everyone. You do not want to get between these two." Guy said.
"Yeah, something tells me this is gonna get ugly." Stahn said.
"This is going to be enjoyable." Ryunosuke said as he drew his blade.
"Good." Tetsu said, drawing a sparkly looking blade. "The Fairy Blade. Attack with your best!" Tetsu said swinging it as magic flew at Ryunosuke before it was cut asunder. "So I see…"
"The Mahokoroshi...the Magic Slaying Blade." Ryunosuke said.
"That blade can finish off anything magic or anyone who uses it." Shizaku said.
"Well...that makes things a bit easier." Tetsu said, sheathing the sword he drew. "Guess I gotta change tactics." he said, drawing something much different.
"No way...that sword is…" Reflet said looking at the bone looking sword.
"Sword of the Creator...Replica!" Tetsu said.
"The same sword that Byleth used. How does he have it?" Ace asked.
"It's a replica blade that was forged for him." Jexi said.
"Sure, like other replica blades, it's not as powerful as the real blade." Zacian started.
"Yes...this blade has no crest stone. So...for a power source...it uses the user's own lifespan as its power. Which is why it can only rest in my hands. My lifespan for the moment…" Tetsu said as the sword flared up."...is endless."
"He's immortal?!" Ajna said in surprise.
"I see...he was cursed by the phoenix." Shizaku said.
"The Phoenix's curse...you were foolish enough to…" Ryunosuke said shaken up for a moment before he calmed himself. "Yes...well...it matters not. I shall slay you where you stand, immortal fool!"
"If you feel so confident...then why not test your mettle?" Tetsu asked.
Ryunosuke charged in as his sword was raised high, as he brought it down, it hit the other sword only to bounce off.
"What?!" Ryunosuke said. "But...it is magic, is it not?"
"No...just bone and life." Tetsu said as he pulled his blade back and swung, the blade expanding like a rope as it slashed the ronin to pieces.
"Damn...this...is impossible. How can…" Ryunosuke stuttered as Tetsu approached him and picked up the blade he had been using.
"You know...I was against stealing from a dead samurai...but knowing the kind of person you are now...I retract my statements." Tetsu said.
"It's just as Cheetah and Alkal said at the entrance. Once you are sucked into a life of constant battle, there is no end in sight." David said.
"Ugh...I...see…" Ryunosuke said as he fell lifeless.
"Ishihara...I apologize if this visit was not what you had expected." Tetsu said. "But I could not stand by and let this man proclaim himself a samurai."
"He was grinding my gears a bit too with the way he was talking. I appreciate all of the training he put us through, but...I think you made the right choice in the end." David said. "As Cheetah said, he has possibly already lived a life of constant battle several times, seeking some sort of release. But...with a life like his, there was only one release...death."
"Yes...and if he does come back...least he will be empty handed." Tetsu said. "The Mahokoroshi is now under my protection."
"Yeah...now let's get outta here." Eddy said as they exited out of the door of mystery.
"Well, at least that trip wasn't a complete waste." Kabuki said.
"Yeah, despite all of that, it was quite the workout." Jesse said.
"And we got a sword out of it." Ethox said.
"Yes. Although now there's only one stop left in our little tour." Cheetah said.
"Yeah…" Theo said, taking out the Asterisk from the Fantasia of Lights. "The Adventure Universe...so we can find the guild that was holding these."
"I wonder what other guilds we'll be running into while we're there." Nesma said.
"That is a little difficult to answer." Ivy said.
"Hmm?" Ultra pondered as his phone buzzed. "Yes!"
"What is it?" Theo asked.
"During our first encounter with Canaan, I took a picture of her and put it up on a site that finds people. Someone picked it up and found her." Ultra said.
"Well...don't keep us in suspense. Where is she?" Cobalt asked.
"Hmm...the picture looks like she's in some cafe in some medieval looking town?" Ultra asked.
"Hmm...Oh...she's in Little New Tokyo." Cobalt said.
"Uh...what?" Theo asked.
"It's a settlement that was started by Japanese visitors who ended up in the Adventure Universe and settled. It's actually close to where the last dungeon was sighted." Cobalt said.
"So, we should make our way over there." Belladonna said.
"Let us go then." Miriam said before looking back. "(Goodbye, Zangetsu.)" she thought.