"Swordsmanship hones both body and will," Raiden Ei lectured the resting Okuzumeshu. "Vision-wielders, with elemental power, must train harder." She nodded to Reisen Anko, who strode to the training ground's center, gripping a bamboo blade. With a casual swing, a crackling Electro blade aura lashed out, dissipating just before slicing a samurai. "Like this," Ei said. "Unleashing Electro blade aura is simple."
The Okuzumeshu gaped. Most could muster blade auras or slashes with full effort, but Ei's words stunned them: treat their ultimate move like a basic attack? Achievable in a week? Normally, they'd struggle, but Ei's guidance, paired with One System, Ten Thousand Minds and the Learning Enhancer, worked miracles. By week's end, some mastered the trick.
This wasn't true blade aura but a clever shortcut. Its power rivaled the real thing, consumed less stamina—only a thirtieth of a normal slash—and demanded finesse: decent swordsmanship and deep Electro control, at least at the Guidance level. By coating the blade with Electro and flicking it with aura technique, a samurai could unleash over two hundred slashes instead of seven or eight. Terrifying efficiency.
"Refine your elemental control," Ei told the departing Okuzumeshu. "Only then will your blade aura shine."
"Yes, Lady Ei!" they chorused, eyes gleaming with ambition.
Muttering to herself, Ei wondered, "Teaching them this shortcut—was it wise?" To her, true Electro blade aura fused element and slash seamlessly, requiring Mastery-level control—rare among mortals. The stamina cost was brutal, too. At Reisen Riou's urging, she'd devised this "heretical" technique to boost samurai strength, but overuse could skew their growth toward proper fusion techniques. She chuckled. "Few can master the real thing anyway. Next round, I'll teach advanced blade aura and archery."
"Teacher, their assignments are set," Reisen Anko reported.
"Good work, Anko," Ei nodded.
Anko smirked slyly. "So, how's Lingyi doing?"
Ei froze, then lunged. "You little—teasing me? I'll sort you out!"
Reisen Riou, back at his estate, tended three trees in his experimental cavern domain. He bumped into Tenmoku Uji, fresh from cleaning, with his two sons. "Lord Recorder! Been ages," Uji greeted.
"No need for formalities, Uji," Reisen Riou said. "You're getting on. Time for a break. Let your sons take my attendant spots."
Uji's face lit up. "Thank you, my lord!"
Reisen Riou had two attendant slots, long held by Uji and Yuu Tarou. Tarou's son, a gambling wastrel, got himself killed, severing ties. Uji, loyal and diligent, had served for years. His sons, skilled but unremarkable in martial and forging arts, lacked clan roles and remained unmarried. Reisen Riou, repaying loyalty, promoted them. With a flash of Electro, he penned a letter, stamped it with his seal, and handed it over. "Get the paperwork done."
"Thank you, my lord!" Uji beamed, thrilled his sons dodged a ronin's life and might even find wives.
"Go on," Reisen Riou said, heading to feed his trees. Uji stopped him. "My lord, the North Continent intelligence chief left word two days ago. Wants you to visit—says he's got news you'll want."
"Got it," Reisen Riou said, mind racing. "Khaenri'ah intel, maybe?" He'd tasked them to watch the kingdom. "Are they moving?"
He fed the trees, checked Resurrection's operations—flawless—then hurried to Hanamiita's tavern, a North Continent intelligence outpost. The dozing agent snapped alert. "My lord! You're here!"
"Got my intel?" Reisen Riou cut to the chase.