Echo

Amakakeru Ryū no Hirameki

We walked back in silence to Hiko's hut, the air heavy with unspoken tension. I could feel the weight of Kenshin's thoughts as he stepped beside me, still shaken from his earlier attempts and, no doubt, steeling himself for what lay ahead. Hiko, striding in front of us with his usual confident air, glanced back only once, eyes narrowing as if warning us not to lag behind.

Once there, Hiko wasted no time. He gestured for Kenshin to stand in the center of the clearing. "Now," he began, his voice low and unyielding, "we'll begin the final steps of the Hiten Mitsurugi-ryū."

Kenshin gave a firm nod, his body tense yet ready. I held my breath, leaning against the wall, and couldn't help the feeling of dread that crept over me. I remembered this part of my own training—how it had tested every ounce of my strength, both mental and physical. Watching Kenshin prepare to face it made my stomach twist with nerves. "Kenshin, listen closely," Hiko said, his tone sharper than usual. "Stand perfectly still. And keep calm. If you so much as flinch, things will turn ugly very fast."

Kenshin glanced at me, a flicker of doubt in his eyes, and I gave him a reassuring nod. "You'll be fine," I whispered, though I wasn't sure if I was reassuring him or myself.

Taking a deep breath, Kenshin focused on Hiko, his expression resolute. "I'm ready."

"Then we'll begin," Hiko said, unsheathing his sword with a quiet, deadly grace. "There are nine vital points in kenjutsu, and every style seeks to attack or defend them. Hiten Mitsurugi-ryū is no exception—but we go beyond the standard approach."

With that, Hiko lunged forward. In a blur, he flashed past Kenshin, his sword moving so swiftly that it was almost invisible. Kenshin stood perfectly still, just as he'd been told, but I could see his eyes widen in shock as he felt the slight sting of Hiko's blade grazing him in nine different places. Small, precise nicks appeared on his body—shoulder, chest, side, neck, wrist, each a testament to Hiko's devastating precision.

"This," Hiko said, straightening, "is the Kuzu Ryū Sen. Using the Shinsoku of the Hiten Mitsurugi-ryū, it strikes all nine vital points in an instant. There is no defense, no evasion, only complete annihilation."

Kenshin's mouth dropped open in awe, and I could see the shock written all over his face. I remembered feeling the same way, feeling as if I'd just witnessed something inhuman, impossible. "Kenshin," Hiko continued, "I expect you to master this technique. Perform the Kuzu Ryū Sen against me."

Kenshin blinked, still processing what he'd just seen. "But... Master, I've barely even—"

"There is no 'barely,'" Hiko interrupted, a touch of impatience in his tone. "You either succeed or you don't. Do it now."

Swallowing, Kenshin tightened his grip on his sword. This was it—the make-or-break moment. Taking a deep breath, he raised his blade, focusing every ounce of his energy, and in the blink of an eye, he lunged forward, mirroring Hiko's movements, aiming to land all nine strikes in an instant. The air was filled with a resounding clash as their swords collided in a blaze of energy and speed. I could barely follow their movements, but as the dust settled, Kenshin was sent flying back, crashing into the ground with a force that made me wince. Kenshin lay there, dazed and blinking up at the evening sky. "But... I did everything right. I used the Kuzu Ryū Sen."

"Yes, you did," Hiko said, his voice carrying a slight mocking edge. "But it's not enough to know the technique. Your body, your stance, your very spirit must be refined to handle such power. You lack the physical attributes to give the Kuzu Ryū Sen its true edge."

Kenshin's face fell, doubt clouding his features as he pulled himself to his knees. "So... I can't master it. I'll never—"

"You always jump to conclusions, don't you?" Hiko let out a rare chuckle, crossing his arms. "Did I ever say that the Kuzu Ryū Sen was the ultimate technique of the Hiten Mitsurugi-ryū?"