Jayden Shiba was not normal.
By the time he turned three, he had already memorized the basic forms of Shiba swordsmanship. By five, he could wield a wooden sword with precision. By seven, his strikes were sharper than grown men twice his size.
But it wasn't enough.
Not for what was coming.
He knew his fate. He knew that, one day, he would stand against Master Xandred and his Nighlok army. He knew that his father's plan placed him as a sacrificial pawn to buy time for his sister.
But what if she failed?
Jayden refused to be a pawn.
He had to become strong enough to end this war himself.
And so, he trained.
Mastering the Sword
At sunrise, Jayden stood in the courtyard, his wooden bokken gripped tightly. His training began before most of the estate had even woken.
Thrust. Parry. Slash. Counter.
Again. And again. And again.
Sweat dripped down his face, his muscles ached, but he did not stop.
"Faster," his father's voice echoed in his mind.
The enemy will not wait for you to be ready.
Jayden pushed himself harder. His feet glided over the dirt, his blade cutting through the air with deadly accuracy.
By the time the first meal of the day was served, he had already completed a thousand swings.
But this was only the beginning.
At eight, he could carve perfect Kanji symbols in the air using Symbol Power, something that took most adult warriors years to master.
At nine, he controlled the Crab Disk, an advanced power normally reserved for experienced samurai.
The elders of the clan whispered. His father remained silent, but Jayden could tell—he was pleased.
Yet, Jayden was not.
Something was wrong.
His progress was slowing. His improvement had become too gradual.
And that was unacceptable.
So he had to push himself further.
Training Beyond Limits
Jayden had always trained in the dojo, on the polished wooden floors of the Shiba estate. But he realized something—his body had adapted to it.
It was too easy.
And easy meant weakness.
So he left the dojo behind.
Stage 1: Training in the Lake
Jayden waded into the cold waters of the nearby lake, his wooden sword in hand. The resistance of the water slowed his movements, forcing his muscles to work harder.
He practiced his sword swings, each movement becoming more refined as the water pushed against him.
For days, then weeks, then months—he trained in the lake.
His control over Symbol Power grew sharper. His body became stronger.
But soon, the lake was not enough.
Stage 2: Training in the River
If the lake had been a challenge, the river was a battlefield.
The rushing currents threatened to sweep him away, but Jayden fought against them.
Every strike, every movement—it had to be perfect.
One mistake, and the river would drag him under.
Through endless hours of training, he learned how to maintain his balance even in the most chaotic conditions. His swordplay became unshakable.
But even this was not enough.
Stage 3: Training Under the Waterfall
The waterfall was merciless.
The crushing force of the water slammed down on him like an unrelenting attack. It pounded his body, threatened to knock him off his feet.
But he did not fall.
He held his ground.
And he swung his sword.
Each slash cut through the waterfall, his Symbol Power glowing faintly with every movement.
Days turned into weeks.
He stood under the waterfall, his arms numb, his body exhausted.
Yet, he endured.
And when he finally emerged, something had changed.
His swordplay was faster.His strikes were sharper.His mind was clearer.
He had broken through his limits.
The Realization: A Sword Alone Is Not Enough
At thirteen, Jayden stood on a hill overlooking the Shiba estate. The wind carried the scent of cherry blossoms, the sky painted with the colors of dusk.
He had mastered the sword. He had refined his Symbol Power.
But as he stared at his blade, a thought troubled him.
A sword can only attack in one direction.
He thought back to his battles in the river, how the currents had surrounded him.
He thought back to the waterfall, how the force had battered him from all angles.
And he realized—a sword alone would not be enough to dominate the battlefield.
He needed something more.
Something that could control the fight completely.
Chains.
The idea struck him like lightning. Chains were versatile, unrestricted. They could bind, trap, and strike from any direction.
If he could master them, he could control the flow of battle itself.
But this… he would keep hidden.
A Hidden Trump Card
Jayden knew his father would disapprove. The Shiba Clan had always relied on the sword. Using chains would be seen as unorthodox.
So he kept it a secret.
At night, when the estate was silent, he trained in isolation.
He forged special Symbol Disks meant for chains, experimenting with their capabilities.
By fifteen, he had begun crafting personalized Disks designed specifically for chain combat.
And by the time he reached sixteen—
He was ready.
But no one knew.
Not yet.
The Path Forward
Jayden had surpassed every expectation.
He had mastered the sword. He had mastered Symbol Power. He had unlocked a new path with chains.
But his journey was far from over.
His father had a plan.
A plan that would change everything.
And soon, Jayden would have to make a choice.
Would he follow the path laid out for him?
Or would he forge his own destiny?
END OF CHAPTER