(CLYDE'S POV)
We were all inside of the Shizume tower. It was the tallest building in town and was located in the center of the place. We had tracked down Shotokan and cornered him on the top floor.
"WARD OF FLAMES: FIREWALL!" I shouted as I casted my fiery spell. My flames blocked off any chance of escape that our target had.
"There's nowhere to go Shotokan! It's over!" Tazorac ylolk.mk.oopok
"On the contrary my foolish friends. You see, I have you right where I want you. You will not leave this place with your lives!" he said as he snapped his fingers. Multiple ninjas had appeared with weapons in their hands.
"Damn it! Now we're surrounded!" Eliza said with grit teeth.
"It doesn't matter! We will fight through all of them!" Xena said as she recited some magical words of ancient Natheo. "Spell of Binding: Chains of Retribution!"
All of the ninjas had been restrained by a bright golden chain. Tazorac charged forward with his large broadsword unsheathed. Shotokan looked uninterested as the bulky warrior began to close the distance. "Take this!" Tazorac yelled.
Shotokan, in the blink of an eye, landed about five palm strikes. The knight dropped to the floor, unconscious.
"TAZORAC!" Gabby screamed with alarm. I was forced to hold her in place to prevent any...issues.
"Gabriella, you have to relax! He'll be fine, I can still sense his mana essence. He's still alive."
"Clyde we have to intervene! Tazorac got dropped within seconds and now Xena and Eliza are struggling to beat him!" Gabriella shouted.
"No! We have our roles! Part of being an apprentice is actually listening to the mentors!" I said back.
"What happens if they lose?!" She asked.
"They won't!" I snapped back with frustration. "If it gets to that point, then they'll give us the order to step in. We are only here for backup. Not to get in the way of the real heroes." I said sternly.
Gabriella growled at me with impatience. "Fine Clyde! You better hope we get out of this."
"We will! I know it." I said. Truthfully, I was unsure, but negativity only causes issues. I was now wondering how the others were doing. Isabel isn't the...most violent person. Ever since we were kids, she's always been too nice for her own good. Not everyone deserves her kindness. Especially not that damn Shiro guy. I don't trust him with Isabel's life. If she gets hurt, I don't know what I'll do.
-The Streets of Shizume-
(SHIRO'S POV)
I was exhausted. I don't know how this stranger was able to move so fast. I mentally thanked God for him coming to a stop. He turned to face me.
"Looks like you managed to catch up...good…" He said with his bored tone.
"...Ok... what...do *Huff* want…" I asked while catching my breath. He dropped the panicked looking Isabel to the ground. She quickly got up and ran over to me.
"SHIRO!" She said as she ran to my side.
"You ok? He didn't hurt you, did he?" I asked glaring at him. I noticed the location that he brought us to. It was a big tower
"Relax kid. I just want to keep Shotokan away from the Shard of Sithilum." He said.
"Wait what?! How do you know about that?!" I asked.
"Simple. I can sense it, and so can Shotokan. Why do you think you're here?"
I was extremely confused. I didn't know what he was talking about. "I'm gonna need you to shed some light on the situation."
"I need the Shard in order to seal Shotokan away for another thousand years." The hooded figure said.
"Why? This still isn't making sense."
"A shard is needed to finalize the creation of the Hanzuname Dragon Blade. That katana is what I use to stop Shotokan whenever he appears." The hooded man said.
Things were starting to finally click. "Oh shit! You're the legendary hero of Wudai. The Blood Ninja, Haruka Blade." The hooded man chuckled as he removed his hood. A man with dark maroon red hair and silver eyes stared at me. He looked no older than his late twenties.
"Ding ding ding! Give the boy a prize! Yes I am the hero, but I cannot defeat Shotokan without that sword. You have a shard. Shotokan knows this, and will do anything to crush you and destroy the one thing that can beat him."
"Wait...how could you possibly even know about the shard?" I asked.
"One of my friends told me. As soon as he said that, a shadow flew past me and stood right next to Haruka.
"You? How did you even get here?! Do you know how long I had to sit on a shitty ass boat just to get here?" I asked the freaking wolf that I last saw in the freaking woods.
"Well hello again, hero in the making. I see you've met my master." The mutt said to me.
This is all just too weird. "Ok, all things considered, what are we supposed to do about the shard. It's kinda... inside of me…" I said
"The way I see it, we could straight up tear through your body and rip the shard out, or we harness the energy from the the shard, via...your mana essence and have you wield the sword." He told me.
"... I'll take option number two." I said nervously.
Haruka sighed and looked at me. "Of course you'd choose the hard way. Well, we need to get started right away." He said.
"What? Why?!" I asked.
Haruka snapped his fingers and a glowing book appeared in his hand. "The Book of all Knowing Knowledge. This thing knows anything and everything that I need to know." He said.
"...Ok but why though..?" I asked.
He cracked the book open and showed me. "This is why!" The book showed Clyde, Gabby and the other mentors getting chained up and shackled. "Oh shit! They got captured!"
"And by the looks of it, Shotokan is pretty fed up with their attempt to defeat him." Haruka said.
"Damn...Then that just means we got no time to lose! How do I get this sword?!" I asked panicked.
"Well for starters, we need to bring out your shitty ass mana essence. I mean... it's just...so goddamn...HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!" Haruka dropped to the ground, laughing with tears in his eyes.
"..." Wow. This was the legendary hero…
"HAHAHAHAHA!!! THAT SMALL ASS MANA FLAME!!!
AAAHAAHAAAAAHAHAHA!!! OH GOD!"
"OK! I get it...damn!" I snapped.
"Oh geez. That's funny as hell! Anyway, as know you need to up your mana. Your flame is barely even lit." He said.
"Then help me increase it then damn it!" I shouted.
"Have you tried meditating for four hundred years?" He asked. I glared at him. "Ok, I'll stop. If you're going to enhance your pitiful mana flame in a reasonable time, then you'll need some that can transfer an extreme amount of spiritual energy...hmm... I wonder who could possibly be so powerful enough to do that…"
My glare intensified. "Are you freaking kidding me?!" I asked with impatience. "YOU CAN GIVE ME THE ENERGY I NEED!"
The bastard gasped like an idiot. "WHAT?! Me? Oh I just couldn't…" I didn't find this funny… "Oh lighten up, I gotchu! Just shake my hand." He raised his hand out to me. I grasped his hand firmly. " Oh and this might hurt."
"What-AAAAAAAAAHHHH!!!" I shouted in pain. "GOD WWWHHHHYYYY!!!"
I dropped to my knees and damn near fainted. Sweat rolled down my face. A strange red aura surrounded me and gold electricity coursed throughout my body. I went through this pain for a good five minutes. When it was finally over, I slowly pushed myself to my feet.
"Do you feel it? Your flame burns much brighter now. The shard is reacting to my energy and is manifesting into something more. Your flames are wild and will need to be tamed, otherwise you'll burn out…"
"What happens when it burns out?!" I asked with worry.
"You die." He said bluntly.
"What?! I don't wanna die!" I shouted.
"Then you better get used to having a large cesspool of mana to tap into. Don't let out more than about five percent of my energy. The shard inside of you only magnifies the energy even more. Letting all of that loose before your body has time to adjust to having mana could have devastating effects and lead to horrible repercussions." Haruka explain.
"How much do I need to make the damn sword?!" I asked.
"About two percent…" He said plainly.
"... That's it? Only two percent?"
"My mana is extremely potent and high in efficiency. That plus the shards ability to enhance one's capabilities tenfold means that not much energy is needed to create such powerful weapons."
"Ok...so how do I do this now?" I asked.
"First, you must clear your mind of all doubts." He said.
"I'm Shiro Tatsugami. I have no doubts!"
"Ok…Next you must compress your mana together, until it manifest into a ball of light in front of you." He continued.
I did as I was told, compressing the energy into one point. This took a little while to do given my lack of experience but I eventually got the hang of it. A bright orb was created directly in front of me. "What now?" I asked.
"Now the last part is simple. The sword's strength comes from the determination of its wielder. Think of a goal that you are determined to accomplish." He ordered.
That was easy. I have to be the best hero and fulfill my promise to Maddie. I will beat the Man in Red and avenge my destroyed kingdom!
The orb glowed brightly and began to shift into the form of a long thin blade. The brightness died down and the sword fell into my hands. It was a long katana with golden electricity protruding throughout it. As I held it, a strange feeling came about me. I'm not sure why but, it felt like the sword was alive. It held power within it and the mana essence it contained was unreal
"Wow…" Isabel said in awe.
"Did...did I do it?!" I asked.
"Yes young one. You've revived the Hanzuname Dragon Blade. You are now it's wielder, it's master. Use it to put Shotokan in his place!" Haruka said.
"Are you sure that I should do it... I'm only a level eight Rogue…" I said.
"Maybe before, but for today, you're a shinobi of Wudai and wielder of the Hanzuname Dragon Blade. Go on and slay Shotokan and free your friends. I'll be by your side the whole time." Haruka said.
"A-and so will I. You can count on me Shiro!" Isabel said.
"This is my first time having this kind of weight on my shoulders. What if I'm not ready? I just got my mana!"
"The path of a hero only gets tougher. You have to be willing to go the distance. This is your start. Make it a good one." Haruka said.
"...Ok! Let's do this!" I shouted, pumping myself up.
-Shizume Tower Top Floor-
We were at the top floor of the Shizume Tower. This was it. It was time to fight this jackass! I can't lose here! It's time to show this bastard what I can do! My name is Shiro Tatsugami, and I will be a hero!