Learning about the ability to become a summoning master, Ash got word from his master and followed a path. He, Pikachu, Luffy and Jimbei headed down the path to find the shrine mentioned in a scroll. "Sensei Yamamoto wouldn't give this scroll to you if he didn't think you're ready for these trials," Usopp mentioned.

"I know, right?" believed Ash. "If I'm able to pass it, I can use all of my summons at once if I wanted to."

"Let's not," Jimbei denied. "I understand that you may be able to use your summons without fatigue, but don't let it be you going all willy-nilly. It just means that you need to be cautious, especially if you need to remember what to use to attack." Ash nodded, heeding Jimbei's warning.

"It's Ash…" shrugged Luffy. "He's got an idea of what to do in a lot of sticky situations."

"Not that I disagree," Usopp agreed in a sense. "But what are you doing here!? Don't you need to protect Grand Jipang?"

"It's all good…" eased Luffy. "It'll be standing when we get back." Ash and Pikachu scoffed to Luffy's carefree retort.

Mastery! Ash's Summoning Trials

The men soon came across a large shrine by a large waterfall rushing by the side. They awed the large structure. "Is this it?!" wondered Usopp.

"This is what Sensei said it would be if we read it right!" believed Ash.

"It's a surprise that it's out here half-a-day and not many people have explored it, like it's hiding in plain sight!" observed Jimbei. "Doesn't that bother anyone!?"

"Knowing that my Sensei came here!" understood Ash. "It would make sense that he'd tell me about what I need to do!"

"Which is?!" yelled Luffy. Ash shrugged his shoulders before they entered the shrine where it became quieter.

"The walls must be thick to muffle out the sounds of the waterfall," Usopp noticed.

"It helps in trying to think," Jimbei muttered. They reached a large mural where they saw steel artwork. Underneath a fist imprinted was the word "tai." Underneath a head was the word, "shin." Above a photo of a light ball was the word, "tamashii."

"Body, mind and spirit," Usopp read. "So, these must be what you need to do in order to master your summoning."

"So, it seems…" shrugged Ash. "From what my Sensei mentioned, he had to complete these before he became a master."

"Which explains the Pidgey that flew to Grand Jipang," Luffy assumed. "Of course, he didn't have a Mink jumping on his lap, right?" Usopp clocked Luffy in the back of the head. He fell onto the ground hard.

"INAPPROPRIATE!" yelled Usopp. Jimbei, Ash and Pikachu shook their heads.

"Only Boss…" the fishman muttered.

("What can you do?") mulled Pikachu. Luffy was knocked out for a minute.

"According to this, we need to find these markings to attempt these trials," Jimbei assessed.

"So, let's find the path and reach the first trial," Usopp suggested. Ash agreed before they stepped out and down a pathway to the other side. They journeyed down a ladder to the bottom of the waterfall before they noticed the "tai" marker.

"Here is the mark of the body!" a recovered Luffy pointed out. "But what are you supposed to do here!?" No one had a clue on how to process the situation. Suddenly, Jimbei had an idea.

"This is about body, right!?" he called. "So, I'm believing that Ash has to climb the waterfall and reach the top! And in an ancient shrine like this, souls of warriors of yester will watch this feat!" Ash wasn't sure about the trial.

"Climbing a waterfall!?" he repeated. "Are you sure!?"

"Not many humans are able to climb waterfalls!" added Jimbei. "In fact, many died just from the force of the waterfall! However, your Sensei wouldn't give this to you if he didn't believe in it!" Ash looked up the waterfall to see what he had to do.

'Sensei had to have done it himself,' he thought. 'If he can do it, so can I.' He stepped to the base of the waterfall.

"You can do it, Ash!" cheered Luffy. Ash reached into the waterfall and found rocks to hold. He soon became under the falling water viciously pounding on top of him. Finally, Ash started his climb against the watery force. He blindly reached for footholds. Each step became a foot up the waterfall. Luffy, Usopp and Pikachu scaled back up the ladder to reach Ash if he made the climb. Ash moved to the side to reach another foothold as the water battered him. One foot slipped from beneath his feet. However, he found another one in less than a second.

'A fishman can climb waterfalls with ease, but not a human,' Jimbei thought. 'Still, he's moving with such a grit on his complexion. He's still got a way to go, but I see him doing it.' Ash made his climb with steadiness. He never rushed it. After a long time, Ash was within reach of the top of the waterfall. With one more lunge, he powered himself above the crest.

"You did it!" cheered Usopp. Ash rolled over and laid on the side of the stream, labored breathing apparent. Usopp and Pikachu gave Ash cloth to dry himself.

"Thanks…" he gasped. "That was rough…"

"Tell me about it," Luffy agreed. "I'd probably struggle myself if not for my abilities."

"You would've just stretched your arm to get up here!" snapped Usopp. "That's cheating!" Jimbei climbed the waterfall as well but with little effort.

"I could do that in my sleep," he joked. "But enough about me. Let's head to the next trial." Leading, Jimbei guided the boys into a large circular room in the pathway. They soon found the next word.

"This one is 'shin,' meaning mind," Usopp read. "So, this is focusing on mind abilities."

"Talk about mental," Luffy scoffed.

"Pretty much," Jimbei agreed. "So, it has to do with the middle of the room." As they walked further in, they noticed that it was getting darker and darker.

"Guys, we might need some light," Luffy remarked.

"No, this has to be dark for Ash to be in the middle like that," Jimbei warned.

"It doesn't have to be for all of us," Usopp added. They soon reached a circle that was glowing blue. There was a red circle that was glowing before the boys.

"There we go," Luffy smiled.

"This light is for us to stand by," Jimbei believed. "The light over there is for Ash." Noting, Ash entered the glowing blue circle where he stood. The others waited behind the red circle as the blue circle vanished. Ash was in the dark. Suddenly, sounds of wood moved. Ash heard it but didn't move a muscle. He allowed a kunai to pass him. More blades came swinging at Ash. Somehow, Ash only focused on moving his head. Each blade, albeit a sword, a spear, a kunai… In complete darkness, Ash wasn't scratched by anything. Axes, sais, hooks… Nothing came close, not even a strand of hair had gone off of his head. After a long period of time, there was no more sounding wood. The circles stopped glowing and Ash looked untouched. Torches suddenly began to light up where the weapons were hanging still.

"Whoa!" awed Luffy.

"There's a hundred of these sharp blades!" gulped Usopp. Jimbei came over and saw nothing slit, nothing pierced, not a drop of blood.

"Good work!" praised Jimbei. "You passed the trial with flying colors!" Ash shrugged, a scoff to the ordeal.

"Hey, don't play it off like it was nothing," Usopp nudged. "Not many can dodge a lot of swinging blades in the dark." Pikachu agreed on Luffy's shoulder.

"We should get going to the last trial," Luffy suggested. The others turned to Luffy who seemed to believe the trial was nothing.

"Let's see you try these trials," Usopp challenged. Luffy ignored Usopp and proceeded on. The group exited the darkened arena to a small memorial, marked with a katana. Above it was a sign that read, "tamashii."

"So, what's with this sword over there?" asked Luffy. Looking closer, the katana was brittle and dull.

"I don't know, but you can't cut a piece of parchment, let alone skin," Usopp observed. "It's gotta be a sword from a legend like the Muramasa." Ash had a gasp.

"I see," he voiced. "That's got to be it: the legendary Ichiban's sword."

"You know about it?" wondered Jimbei.

"My Sensei told me about it," Ash started. "Ichiban was known as the first samurai that still lives in spirit. Legend was told that as the first real samurai, no foe would match him. He became bored for a successor, but no one was able to stand up to him. This shrine was meant for those who can overcome him and become a warrior of skill and spirit."

"I get it, but how does that translate to your summonings?" questioned Usopp.

"Only one who defeats him in battle will garner his immense spirit that he's saved for hundreds of years," Ash briefed. "Imagine that spirit into doing my summons without fear of exhaustion." He stepped to the sword. "My Sensei bowed in defeat, but he believes I can be the one."

"Well, we're here if you need it," Luffy offered. Ash nodded before he grabbed the hilt. The touch made the katana glow.

"A new challenger faces me," a voice echoed. "By touching my sword, you have challenged me. Bring out your spirit, for I accept your offer." The others gasped to the voice.

"Was that the spirit of Ichiban?" gulped Usopp.

("I think it was,") Pikachu trembled. Lights emerged before they swirled and blended together. In a new land, Ash faced a muscled and balding ponytail man wearing only wearing slacks.

"You must be Ichiban," Ash guessed.

"How do you know of me, child?" wondered Ichiban.

"Sensei Yamamoto told me of his trials before I left the temple. He sent a note saying that I was ready to face the trials. I have completed the first two trials: one of body and one of mind."

"Meaning that you need to face me to gain the spirit that has grown on me since my passing. En garde!" Ash and Ichiban clashed swords. Ichiban started to overpower Ash, but Ash pulled back and gain clearance. "The last several warriors that have challenged me surrendered. I spared their lives, but you may be asking for death." They traded swings, their swords continually clashing.

"Even though your spirit's been around for hundreds of years, you keep getting new styles."

"The knowledge is that what you have is the method that leads to this battle's resolve." With blinding speed, Ichiban raced after Ash. He flipped and used his sword to vault over Ichiban. The legendary swordsman stopped and lunged to stab Ash, but he pushed the blade away with his feet. Ichiban grabbed Ash's foot before throwing him to the ground. Ash, in spirit and in real life, winced at the pain from the slam. The others worried.

"Come on, Ash!" urged Luffy.

"You can do it!" urged Jimbei. Ichiban pointed his katana at Ash.

"There are two ways this will be resolved," he offered. "You can surrender, or you can die. If you die in battle, you die in real life." Ash looked at the situation.

"I'm not throwing in the towel that fast," he grinned before rolling backwards. His feet kicked the katana up, knocking Ichiban's balance a little. Ash followed it up with a charge. Ichiban recovered before swinging down his sword. Ash drew his sword upward, his hilt catching the katana of his opponent. Ichiban staggered from the block as Ash shoved him back with his shoulder while he spun. Ichiban recovered again, but Ash spun back, smashing the damaged hilt into Ichiban's gut. The legendary samurai lost his composure before Ash slapped the sword from Ichiban's hands. It fell to the ground and Ash pointed his sword back at him. "I see why you're a legend. It's an honor to battle you." He rested his hands and sword to the side.

"I admit defeat. Child, you have earned this power. Use it well." He offered his hand to shake, and Ash accepted. In the real world, Ash's body was glowing brightly. Everyone wondered what happened. When it stopped, Ash collapsed onto his knees.

"ASH!" they called. As soon as they reached, Ash stood to one knee. Then, he smiled.

"Trial… complete," he grinned. Luffy and Usopp gasped to the result. They celebrated to Ash's win.

"That means you can do all sorts of summons without exhaustion!" concluded Jimbei. Pikachu was also excited and ruffled Ash's hair. After the celebration, Ash took the sword and left with the rest. He brought it to Ipponmatsu to keep or forge if he wanted to before returning home. Holding Oshawott, Robin smiled to seeing Ash and Pikachu asleep.

"He put in a lot of effort today," she smiled. Oshawott also believed Ash had done a lot of work. "Well, let's get to bed, Oshawott. Only a few more days before we have our gathering." Grand Jipang was about to host some new kingdoms. It may also lead to Ash's destiny.

TO BE CONTINUED...