The Path of Shadoryu

The Demon Army's Outpost

The dimly lit outpost buzzed with the sounds of pain and murmured conversations. The scent of blood, herbs, and burning incense mixed in the air as demons and cursed humans lay on makeshift beds, their wounds tended to by medics. The room was filled with groans of agony, the flickering lanterns casting long shadows across the wooden walls.

Maximus sat on one of the beds, his face twisted in anger and frustration. His left arm had been severed by Ryuji, and the bloodstained bandages wrapped tightly around his shoulder did little to comfort him. A demon doctor, Mia, worked on his wound, her skilled hands applying ointments and stitching flesh together.

"Miss! Treat it without using any pain relievers," Maximus commanded through gritted teeth, his crimson eyes burning with rage. "I want to remember this pain forever. This pain will remind me of that bastard. I'll kill him."

Rentaro, leaning against a wooden post, crossed his arms and sighed. "Calm down, Maximus. We know how you feel."

Akami smirked, resting a hand on her hip. "Getting beaten up in front of your crush is totally embarrassing, huh?" she teased.

Maximus shot her a death glare. "Do you have a death wish, Akami?"

"Enough, both of you," Orion interjected, his voice firm as he placed a hand on Maximus' shoulder to keep him from getting up.

Before the argument could escalate, the door creaked open. A familiar presence entered—Shion. Her silver hair gleamed under the lantern light, and her sharp yet concerned gaze fell upon Maximus.

"Are you okay? Does your hand hurt, Maximus?" she asked softly.

Maximus hesitated for a moment before replying, "Y-yeah... I'm fine. More importantly, what's wrong with that boy? Didn't you say he joined the Samurai Academy? Why was he fighting alongside Kurei-Kage?"

Shion’s expression darkened. She lowered her gaze, conflicted thoughts running through her mind. "I… I don’t know," she admitted. "Ryuji was never interested in the Samurai Academy. He wanted a peaceful life, but… last year, his father was murdered. Maybe he joined the academy to find the killer. But even so… why he’s fighting against us on the battlefield, I just don’t know."Rentaro, ever the observant one, tilted his head. "Well, you said some pretty harsh things to him, didn't you?"

Shion stiffened. Her fists clenched as a sudden wave of guilt crashed over her. Her eyes glistened, her voice barely above a whisper. "I... I'll see you guys later." Without another word, she turned and ran from the room.

Akami immediately smacked Rentaro on the back of his head. "Why the hell did you say that? You know how she’s feeling after all that!"

Rentaro rubbed his head, scowling. "I was just trying to confirm something!"

"And what exactly were you trying to confirm, dumbass?" Maximus, his frustration boiling over, growled, "Why the fuck would you bring that up now? Now she's going to cry over that bastard." His grip on the remaining part of his arm tightened. "I swear, I'll kill him myself. Making her cry like that… I can't stand it."

"Shut it! All of you!" Orion's voice boomed through the room, silencing them. His cold, commanding gaze settled on Maximus. "And you—just keep quiet and rest."

For once, Maximus complied, though his jaw remained clenched with unresolved fury.

The Journey into the Forest

A dense fog clung to the forest, the towering trees casting long shadows beneath the pale moonlight. The only sounds were the crunching of leaves beneath their feet and the distant calls of nocturnal creatures.

Ryuji and Genjiro walked side by side, their breath visible in the cool night air.

"Say… why did you want to train me?" Ryuji finally asked, glancing at the older man beside him.Genjiro smirked, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "Hmm… Why do I want to train you?

That’s a tough question." He stroked his beard thoughtfully. "I’ll answer it if you can defeat me after ten days. What do you say?"

Ryuji raised a skeptical brow. "Can I really defeat you? You look pretty strong, old man."

Genjiro gave him a hard smack on the back of the head. "Call me Master!"

"Got it, Master!" Ryuji winced, rubbing the sore spot.

Their journey continued until they reached a clearing. A small wooden structure stood at the center—an old shrine, its faded torii gate barely standing.

"Is this your house, Master? It looks like a shrine," Ryuji observed.

"You guessed correctly!" Genjiro chuckled. "This was once a place where wandering samurai prayed and rested. But it was abandoned long ago when demons began ruling these forests. One day, I found it and claimed it."

Ryuji raised an eyebrow. "So you stole it?"

Genjiro smacked him again. "Shut your mouth, brat!"

"Sorry, Master!"

As they set down their belongings, Genjiro turned to Ryuji, his expression growing serious.

"Say, Ryuji. How do you fight a hundred demons at once?"

Ryuji frowned, deep in thought. "A hundred demons? I’d take them one at a time, but that's practically impossible... To be honest, I have no choice but to rely on the demon inside me."Genjiro nodded. "At least you didn't say something idiotic. It seems impossible at first, right? But what if I told you it’s possible?"

Ryuji's eyes narrowed. "How?"

Genjiro grinned. "With Shadoryu."

Ryuji blinked. "What’s that?"

"Internal energy. Some compare it to 'Ki,'" Genjiro explained. "Shadoryu is a spiritual energy present in every living being. It flows like a hidden current, connecting the mind, body, and spirit. Unlike Ki, which is drawn outward, Shadoryu requires the practitioner to awaken their inner connection to it—understanding and commanding this flow with precision."

He continued, "It’s controlled by mental focus, emotional balance, and a deep connection with one’s true self. I’ll explain more and help you master it. Just wait till tonight."

Ryuji clenched his fists, a spark of excitement in his eyes. "Yes, Master!"

The Awakening of Shadoryu

The wind whispered through the towering pines, their branches swaying under the silver glow of the full moon. In the heart of the secluded training grounds, a shrine stood weathered with age, its stone steps leading to an open courtyard. The scent of damp earth mixed with the lingering fragrance of incense from the shrine’s lanterns. It was a sacred place—one where warriors of old once trained, where legends were born, and where tonight, Ryuji would take his first step into the unknown.

Ryuji knelt in front of Genjiro, his breath steady but his body tense. The older man, a seasoned warrior and the master of Shadoryu, stood before him with his hands clasped behind his back, his expression unreadable.

"Ryuji…" Genjiro’s voice was calm, measured. "Do you feel it?"

Ryuji frowned. "Feel what, Master?"

Genjiro tilted his head slightly, his sharp gaze watching him closely. "The weight in your chest.

 The tension in your hands. That flickering beneath your skin? That is Shadoryu."

Ryuji blinked, confused. "I don’t understand. I’ve never felt anything like that before."

A faint smile tugged at the corner of Genjiro’s lips. "Of course you haven’t. No one has ever taught you to listen." He took a step closer, kneeling in front of Ryuji. "Shadoryu is not something you force to appear. It’s already there, inside you, waiting to be acknowledged."

Ryuji inhaled deeply, trying to make sense of his master’s words. "Then… how do I wake it up?"Genjiro studied him for a moment before placing a firm yet gentle hand on Ryuji’s chest. "First, stop thinking of it as some outside force. Shadoryu is you. Your breath. Your heartbeat. The stillness in your mind when you are alone. Close your eyes, Ryuji. Don’t search for it—let it flow through you."

The night air felt heavier now, charged with something unseen yet palpable. Ryuji hesitated for a moment, then shut his eyes. He focused on his breathing, steady and controlled. At first, he felt nothing but the cool night air against his skin, the damp ground beneath his knees, the distant rustling of leaves.

Then—

A flicker.

Something deep inside him stirred.

His heartbeat slowed, each thump against his ribs resonating with a strange, rhythmic pulse—not just within him, but around him. His fingers twitched involuntarily, warmth seeping from his core, spreading through his chest like a slow-burning ember.

His eyes snapped open. "I feel it... What is this?"

Genjiro’s expression remained composed, but there was a glint of satisfaction in his gaze. "That is Shadoryu awakening. It is your spirit’s connection to the world’s flow. You cannot force it. You must feel it."

Ryuji clenched his fists, staring at his hands. His body felt lighter yet stronger, his senses sharpened. Every breath he took seemed more profound, more alive.

Harnessing Shadoryu: Control and Application

Genjiro stood and took a step back, his posture relaxed yet commanding. His voice became more serious. "Now that you can sense it, you must learn to control it. Shadoryu is not meant to be unleashed recklessly. It is a force that must be shaped by your will."

He turned towards a large, weathered stone that had been sitting near the edge of the courtyard for decades. Without a word, he raised his hand and gently placed his palm against its rough surface.

For a moment, nothing happened.

Then—

A faint vibration. The air around them thickened. A whisper of energy pulsed outward, invisible yet undeniable. The stone trembled, a hairline crack splintering across its surface.

Ryuji’s eyes widened. "How did you do that?"

Genjiro withdrew his hand, the stone now marked with a deep fissure. "That was Shadoryu, directed through my will. It can enhance your strength, your speed… even influence the world around you."

He gestured toward Ryuji. "Now, you try. Channel that pulse you feel, but direct it to your hand. Don’t force it—guide it, like a current."

Ryuji swallowed hard, then nodded. He closed his eyes once more, breathing in, feeling the pulse within him. Slowly, he extended his right hand, palm open, fingers trembling slightly.At first, nothing happened.

But then, as he exhaled—

A faint shimmer.

A flicker of blue energy crackled around his fingertips, barely visible in the moonlight. The ground beneath his palm trembled, though only slightly. It wasn’t much, but it was something.Genjiro’s expression softened. "You’re close. Don’t be afraid of it. Shadoryu is part of you. The more you let go, the stronger it will become."

Ryuji gritted his teeth, focusing harder. The warmth in his chest spread to his limbs, his arm growing lighter, his mind sharpening. He exhaled again, pushing the energy outward.The air around them hummed.

His hand glowed brighter, and this time, the ground beneath his palm cracked—not as much as Genjiro’s, but enough to leave a small indentation in the dirt.

Genjiro chuckled. "Very good. But this is only the beginning. You will learn to wield Shadoryu in three ways: through your body, through your weapon, and through your mind. Mastering these will allow you to unleash Shadoryu’s true potential."

Ryuji clenched his fists, excitement burning in his veins. "I’m ready, Master. Teach me more!"Genjiro smirked, shaking his head. "Patience, Ryuji. The path of Shadoryu is not an easy one. True mastery will take time, discipline, and more than just raw strength."

Ryuji exhaled, his muscles still tingling from the energy flowing through him. He could feel it now—like a dormant beast stirring within his soul, waiting to be awakened fully.

Genjiro crossed his arms. "This is just the first night. You still have a long way to go." His gaze turned toward the darkened sky. "Tonight was only the beginning. Starting tomorrow, at sunrise, your training truly begins. Ten days. That is the time I will give you to learn the foundation of Shadoryu."

Ryuji’s chest tightened. Ten days…

Genjiro placed a hand on his shoulder, his tone lighter now. "For now, that’s enough. Come, let’s eat and rest. You’ll need your strength for what’s to come."

The tension in Ryuji’s shoulders eased, and he allowed himself a small, weary smile. His journey into the mysteries of Shadoryu had begun.

And there was no turning back.