Shin found a quiet spot away from the bustling activity, his presence a brooding shadow against the cave wall. He watched as Ka Ryo Ten moved among Shou Bun Kun's soldiers, a flurry of compassion as she distributed their limited rations. Many of the soldiers were injured, their grimaces visible even in the dim light.
Tsunade, with two warriors assisting her, had already begun her methodical work, her hands glowing faintly as she healed wounds, from deep gashes to fractured bones. The efficiency of her healing was a marvel, drawing quiet murmurs of awe from Shou Bun Kun's men.
Ka Ryo Ten, noticing Shin's isolation, beckoned him over. "Come on, Shin! Don't sit there sulking. There's enough for everyone." But he remained rooted, lost in his own thoughts.
Ei Sei, meanwhile, had drawn Shou Bun Kun aside, his expression grave. "Shou Bun Kun," the young king began, his voice low and firm, "explain to me why your plans failed. Every report indicated success was within our grasp."
Shou Bun Kun, his face etched with fatigue and shame, bowed his head. "Your Majesty, everything was going precisely according to plan. We had secured the decoys, prepared the escape routes, and were moving swiftly. Until... we were stopped by an unthinkable enemy." His voice faltered, remembering the terror of that night.
"That night," Shou Bun Kun recounted, his eyes fixed on a distant point, "General Ou Ki descended upon us like a demon. He cut down a number of our soldiers with casual ease, before forcing me to turn back, to abandon the decoy. To abandon Hyou." A bitter taste filled his mouth. "He outclassed me in mounted combat, Your Majesty. His strength... it was monstrous." Shou Bun Kun shifted, uncomfortable. "I questioned him. Why would he interfere? Why abandon his neutral stance for this?"
Ei Sei listened intently, his gaze unblinking.
"He merely laughed," Shou Bun Kun continued, a tremor in his voice. "He said he was doing it for his 'love of battle.' That he was tired of the merchant state Qin had become, that he longed for the days of the shining king, for true warfare." Shou Bun Kun shook his head in confusion. "I agreed with his sentiment, Your Majesty. I too long for the days when Qin was forged in steel, not haggled over by coin. But I still did not understand why he would fight me. We once fought alongside each other, long ago." Shou Bun Kun clenched his fist. "He said... he felt that if he fought me, he might just find that feeling he longed for again. The thrill of a worthy opponent."
The memory of the duel made Shou Bun Kun visibly shiver. "We continued our duel, weaving through hilly terrain. Ou Ki remarked that it would be the perfect place for an ambush. And he was right. My ambush troops, hidden in the hills, poured out to protect the carriage and me. But Ou Ki... he had anticipated it. He had his own ambush troops reveal themselves, turning their conflict into a small battle. I lost, Your Majesty. I was thrown from my horse, fell into a river, and barely survived, clinging to a branch for what felt like an eternity before my remaining men found me."
He finished, looking up at Ei Sei, expecting condemnation.
Shin, who had been listening intently from his secluded spot, could hold back no longer. He strode forward, his voice raw. "What happened to Hyou?!" he demanded, staring at Shou Bun Kun.
One of Shou Bun Kun's soldiers, a lean man named Heki, stepped forward, his face etched with sorrow. "Come, Shin," he said gently, gesturing towards the small group huddled by the fire. "Join us. You deserve to hear what happened to your friend, from the beginning."
Shin hesitated for only a moment, then sat down, his gaze fixed on Heki. Heki took a deep breath, his voice heavy with the weight of memory. "After Lord Shou Bun Kun fell from the cliff and into the river, we were surrounded. Soldiers of Sei Kyou and the Ketsu Shi Faction. The carriage with the decoy—with Hyou—was encircled. Our morale was starting to crack. We were outnumbered, and our commander was gone."
Heki's eyes seemed to glaze over, reliving the moment. "But then... Hyou leaped out of the carriage. He was magnificent. He kicked an enemy from his mount, sending the soldier crashing to the ground. Then, on horseback, with the king's standard in his hand, he encouraged us to continue fighting. He ordered some troops to go find Lord Shou Bun Kun, then, noticing a number of enemy troops coming from a hill on our left flank, he didn't hesitate. Hyou charged them himself, engaging the troops alone. The last time I, and the rest of Shou Bun Kun's remaining soldiers, had seen him... he was still heavily engaged in battle, fighting like a true general. We fled, Shin. We left him. We mourned for Hyou in shame." Heki's voice cracked, and tears streamed down his face. Other soldiers bowed their heads, their own grief and shame palpable.
Shin sat motionless, the story painting vivid, heartbreaking images in his mind. Hyou, fighting like a demon, pursuing their shared dream even in death. Ka Ryo Ten sat beside him, silent for once, her usual boisterous energy replaced by a solemn quiet. She didn't know what to say, what could possibly be said. What was going to happen next?
After a long while, the silence heavy with unspoken grief, Shin slowly stood up. He walked towards Ei Sei, his gaze firm. "Ei Sei," he said, his voice direct, addressing the king without formal titles. A few of Shou Bun Kun's soldiers flinched, shocked by his impudence, but Ei Sei merely offered a small, forgiving nod, accepting the boy's raw honesty.
"I never really had a plan to become a Great General," Shin admitted, his voice quiet but resolute. "I was just... going to follow Hyou. He was the one with the direction. He was my path." He looked at Ei Sei, his eyes filled with a new kind of desperation, but also a nascent fire. "With him gone, I have no direction. So... how can I become a General?"
Ei Sei met Shin's gaze, his expression solemn. "You cannot, Shin," he answered plainly. "Not as you are now. You are a slave. Only nobles and regular citizens are recruited into the army, let alone given rank."
Shou Bun Kun stepped forward, his voice gentle. "He speaks the truth, Shin. To become a general requires years of service, of proving oneself in countless battles. It is an arduous path, even for those born into the military." Heki nodded in agreement, his own ambition for rank well-understood.
Shin listened, his jaw tightening. He finally understood. This was the wall. The wall he and Hyou had always known was there, but never truly confronted. It wasn't just about strength; it was about status. But then, a new resolve hardened his gaze. He wasn't aiming for a mere general. He was aiming for a Great General under the Heavens. That required more than just fighting for a lord; it required a king.
He looked at Ei Sei, a fierce determination burning in his eyes. "I will help you take the throne back," Shin declared, his voice clear and unwavering. "But in return, you must free me from being a slave. And you will give me a portion of land."
Ei Sei's eyes widened imperceptibly, a flicker of surprise, then a slow smile touched his lips. He saw the fierce spirit, the unwavering resolve. This was a man who understood the stakes, and the power of a bargain. "Agreed," Ei Sei said, his voice firm, sealing the pact.
With his direction chosen, a new purpose forged in the crucible of loss and ambition, Shin vowed inwardly to work even harder toward his goal. This wasn't just Hyou's dream anymore. It was their dream. And now, it was his.
Later, as the others settled into an uneasy rest, you pulled out the worn leather-bound volume you'd acquired from the System Store long ago. This was the Comprehensive Knight Training Manual, a rare find from the One Piece world that you'd been waiting for the perfect opportunity to implement. You found Erza conducting a quiet patrol, her senses constantly alert.
"Erza," you said, holding out the manual. "A moment of your time. This is part of what I meant by 'training.'"
She took the book, her brow furrowing slightly as she examined its ancient, yet somehow pristine, cover. "A training manual?"
"Indeed. This isn't just about physical drills. This outlines a tiered system of advancement for true warriors, from the very basics to the highest echelons of power. It's how we'll elevate the fighting prowess of our summoned warriors, and perhaps even ourselves." You leaned in, your voice dropping slightly. "And it's intricately linked to the Dragon Element I recently gained, a power that courses through me and that I can now begin to cultivate in others."
You began to explain, tracing the diagrams and text within the manual. "The path to becoming a true Warrior, as laid out here, involves several distinct ranks, each with its own training regimen, its own trials, and its own unique boons."
"First, there is the Page. This is the foundational stage. To rank up from a Page, one must demonstrate basic combat proficiency, unwavering discipline, and absolute loyalty to their lord and comrades. The training here focuses on rigorous physical conditioning – strength, endurance, agility – coupled with basic weapon drills like mastering fundamental sword forms and spear thrusts. It's all about building the bedrock of a warrior. Upon completion, a Page gains a minor boost to their physical stats and unlocks a fundamental offensive technique: the Page's Thrust – a reliable, straightforward piercing strike."
"Next comes the Squire," you continued, flipping to the next section. "To become a Squire, one must win significant battles or complete crucial missions. This tests their practical combat application and tactical awareness. The training for Squires involves more advanced weapon techniques, small-unit tactical drills, and grueling endurance marches. They also begin to learn rudimentary leadership principles and, crucially for us, are introduced to basic energy channeling, specifically how to draw upon and manipulate the nascent Dragon Mana within them. A Squire gains a moderate increase in physical stats, improved combat prowess, enhanced reaction time, a slight expansion of their Mana pool, and learns the Squire's Sweep – a versatile, wide-arc attack designed to control the battlefield or counter multiple opponents."
"Then, the truly formidable rank: the Knight," you stated, your gaze meeting Erza's. Her eyes, already sharp, now held a keen intensity. "To earn this rank, one must achieve a significant, pivotal victory in a major conflict, or successfully lead a force in a crucial, high-stakes battle. This demonstrates not only their individual mastery but their ability to influence the tide of war. Knight training focuses on mastery of advanced combat styles, precisely channeling Dragon Mana into powerful, explosive attacks, strategic command of larger military units, and refining individual dueling techniques. Upon becoming a Knight, they receive a substantial increase in all combat-related stats, a significant growth in their Dragon Mana pool, enhanced durability, and a much deeper, innate connection to the Dragon Element. Their signature move becomes the Dragonheart Strike – a devastating attack infused with raw dragon power, capable of tearing through formidable defenses."
You paused, a thoughtful look on your face. "And finally, the highest rank detailed here: the Dragon Knight." "To achieve this, one must face a truly monumental challenge: they must slay a dragon. This speaks of supreme power and absolute control over the Dragon Element. Their training involves deep mastery of Dragon Element magic, the leadership of entire armies, advanced strategic command, and immense spiritual fortitude. They gain a massive increase in all attributes, unparalleled mastery over the Dragon Element, and unique passive abilities, sometimes even an aura that inspires allies or terrifies foes. Their ultimate technique is the Dragon King's Fury – an attack embodying the full, unleashed power of the Dragon Element."
Erza listened, her eyes fixed on the manual, then on you. A slow smile, one of profound understanding and grim satisfaction, spread across her face. "This... this is an impressive system, My Lord. And the Dragon Element... it explains much of what I felt when you summoned me. It will make our warriors truly formidable." She snapped the book shut. "Consider it done. I will ensure Kaelen, Akane, and their pages begin this training immediately."
With the new command structure settled and the training goals established, the group began to prepare for the uncertain journey ahead, knowing that with every passing moment, their enemies would be closing in.