Chapter 49: Uppercut!
Wind-Breaker, huh?
It was a sharp, resounding name. The swordsmith, knowing that Natsuya had originally trained in Wind Breathing, nodded to himself. To name his Nichirin weapon immediately suggested that he was a man who truly cherished his gear.
"Because this is an entirely new weapon classification," Tamamaru continued his technical explanation, "the forging process, the tempering, and even the structural balance are all experimental."
"Even with our most precise calculations and trial runs, we cannot guarantee that this first generation is perfect."
Speaking of experimental weapons, the smith couldn't help but recall some of the bizarre requests the village had received over the years. Whips, morning stars, piano wire, syringes... compared to those, a pair of katar-style fist-blades was actually relatively straightforward.
"Therefore, it is vital that you test them in actual combat. Feel the grip, the weight distribution, the momentum of your swings..."
"Any slight discomfort or anomaly, no matter how small, must be recorded in detail."
The smith offered a smile, though it remained hidden behind his Hyottoko mask. He turned back to Natsuya, his gaze burning with artisan pride.
"This is merely a [Prototype]."
"The final version requires the user's personal feedback to reach perfection. Sir Kokonoe, if you ever have the chance to visit the Swordsmith Village in person to discuss your insights with the Chief and the other smiths... only then can we forge a truly peerless Wind-Breaker that feels like an extension of your own arms!"
Natsuya nodded, though he was a bit distracted by his UI. "I'll keep a log. If I ever make it to the village, I'll be sure to consult with you."
Wait, as expected...
The moment he equipped the new weapon type, a new notification pinged in his System Panel.
[Detected Weapon Swap: New Type Identified]
[Current Category: Katar/Fist-Blades (Standard)]
[Breathing Style Technique Mastery Significantly Decreased: 100%
→\rightarrow→ 13%]
[Proficiency can be regained through combat and training.]
It was exactly as he thought. Changing the weapon type meant he couldn't use his Breathing Style "Sword Forms" at full efficiency for a while. Compared to a katana, the kinetic chain and movement patterns of a fist-blade were fundamentally different.
Natsuya set down the new Nichirin blades and drew Master Kang the Third from his waist, performing a few test slashes.
[Detected Weapon Swap: Standard Category]
[Current Category: Katana (Standard)]
[Breathing Style Technique Mastery Significantly Increased: 13%
→\rightarrow→ 100%]
[Proficiency for this category is at Maximum.]
Got it. Proficiency is tracked per weapon class.
The swordsmith, seeing Natsuya alternating between the two, assumed the boy was comparing the material feel and balance. He bowed deeply.
"In that case, I shall take my leave. I will not disturb your training any further."
With that, he departed as quietly as he had arrived, vanishing into the Yokohama night.
Watching Natsuya shadowbox with his "new toys" like a kid with a Christmas present, Igarashi Uzen finally spoke.
"So this is the path you've chosen for yourself? Cutting-gauntlets? Or rather, bladed short-arms?"
"I'm not questioning your judgment, but... trading the reach of a katana for a short-range weapon? Isn't that a bit reckless?"
"It's not a replacement," Natsuya explained. "It's a secondary. To be honest, I've always felt katanas were a bit too 'fiddly' for my main build."
"The blades are sharp, sure, but they have terrible durability. They chip and snap too easily."
"Besides, in terms of armor penetration, attack speed, and combo transitions... short weapons actually have a much higher ceiling."
Igarashi adjusted his glasses. "You must understand, however, that in a real fight, the one with the longer reach has a natural advantage. A fist-blade cannot compete with a katana on that front."
Natsuya nodded. "I know. 'An inch longer is an inch stronger,' as they say."
It was like basketball—the guy with the longer wingspan always reaches the rim first. A long weapon allows you to hit the enemy before they can even get close, and the tip of a swinging blade generates much more centrifugal force. It has a higher "Room for Error."
"But... back home, there's a second half to that proverb."
"An inch longer, an inch stronger; an inch smaller, an inch nimbler."
Reach has its advantages in open battlefields or frontal charges. But in complex terrain, the advantage of short weapons cannot be ignored. In a narrow alley or a dense forest, a short blade allows for fluid, high-speed movement, whereas a long spear or a Greatsword would just get caught on the surroundings.
Daggers, punch-knives, and butterfly swords—they were designed for the "Messy Fights" outside of formal duels. They were easy to deploy, fast to swing, and worked as both offense and defense simultaneously. They were low-drain, high-uptime weapons.
In games like Assassin's Creed, the hidden blade is the king of close-quarters stealth for a reason. And in my time, tactical knives are standard issue for a reason.
"Most importantly... I'm just used to knocking people out with my fists."
In the year 2099, what weapon did a hardcore action gamer trust most? The "Iron Fists" forged through years of playing Martial Artists, Monks, and Street Fighters. That, and "American Iaijutsu"—drawing a .44 Magnum.
Besides, he wasn't a purist. He still had three "Supreme Grade" katanas strapped to his back if he needed the reach.
Igarashi looked thoughtful. "'An inch smaller, an inch nimbler'?"
For him, this was a tactical perspective he had never considered. He had never heard that proverb in Japan. Is it a secret transmission from the Ryukyu Islands? Or maybe the Ainu?
He didn't pry. Instead, the young Hashira offered an invitation.
"Kokonoe. Want to spar? Let's see how these 'Short-Arms' hold up."
Natsuya flashed a confident, hungry grin. "I thought you'd never ask, Aizen-senpai."
Sparring with a dummy was boring. Sparring with a real human—especially a Hashira—provided a massive boost to XP and training efficiency. And since it was Igarashi Uzen, Natsuya didn't have to worry about accidentally "one-shotting" his opponent.
"It's Uzen, Kokonoe," the man corrected with a sigh.
In the courtyard, the autumn leaves hadn't turned red yet, but the air felt heavy and condensed. Natsuya gripped the handles of Wind-Breaker, tightening and loosening his fingers to adjust to the haptic feedback.
"Senior, I'm not holding back. Watch your HP bar."
Igarashi adjusted his glasses and nodded. "By all means. Give me everything you've got."
The Hashira assumed a simple, unassuming stance. He looked like an ancient tree rooted in the courtyard, his gaze as calm as still water.
"Begin, Natsuya. Show me how your short blades compare to a katana."
The moment the words left Igarashi's lips, Natsuya moved.
He didn't use a Breathing Style. He relied entirely on his raw 189 Power Level and the specialized footwork he had mastered across hundreds of other games.
He seemed to slide across the ground.
In a heartbeat, he crossed the ten-meter gap, crouching low to slip into the "Dead Zone" of Igarashi's lower guard.
He threw a punch. It was coiled and ready like a kinetic shell.
A normal person would have tried to parry or sidestep immediately. But Igarashi didn't. Through his Sen-no-Sen insight, he saw clearly that this punch was a feint.
Sure enough, Natsuya's left was a distraction. The real "Killer Move" was his right.
A short, explosive thrust coming from below at a wicked angle.
An Uppercut!
Igarashi took a casual half-step back, letting the sharp wind of the fist brush past the tip of his nose. He flowed into a counter-slash, his blade descending like a waterfall.
But Natsuya was already a step ahead—literally. He stepped deep into Igarashi's personal space ("The Pocket"), using his elbow to precisely jam Igarashi's wrist before the sword could reach its full swing velocity.
Most sword techniques require space and distance to generate power. If you can enter the "Comfort Zone" of the arc before it forms, even the most legendary technique will whiff.
The Storm Hashira drifted back another step, breaking the "Clinch" and escaping Natsuya's relentless follow-up.
He was internally shocked.
This Junior... his technical skill and combat IQ are far beyond his age.
That mix of feints, the "Jamming" of the sword draw, the perfect timing... that wasn't something you learned in a dojo. That was the result of hundreds of "Live-Fire" battles.
No, even more than that. To reach this level of "CQC" (Close Quarters Combat), a normal person would need thousands, if not tens of thousands, of life-or-death encounters.
Igarashi sighed in admiration. My Junior is a literal monster.
He didn't know that in Natsuya's "compressed time," the boy had "grinded" through more games than Igarashi had had hot meals. In a way, Natsuya truly was a "Hundred-Life Veteran."
☆☆☆
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