The World's Greatest Swordsman

???: “And the winner of the 3v3 tournament of Chaplice Hill is yours truly! The Valiant and Shy Archer: Ryoko! The Defensive Tank Warlord: Okasaki Noburu! And, finally, the Invisible Warhammer: Ezekiel Nikushimi! Congratulations. Your reward is 3000 death tokens along with any one wish that we can provide. Please state your wish individually.”

Ezekiel: “Teeheehee, we all want the same thing. Our buddy Ryoko here saw some interesting things earlier that he told us about. I’ll speak for us all in this wish. We want to go to the surface, wherever that is.”

???: “Indeed, that is a mighty fine wish. We have enjoyed your stay here. We wish you the best of luck, but let me warn you, if you ever come back down here, you will never leave again.”

The announcer said this in a menacing tone as if to threaten them to never enter Deceased Paradise again. There had never been a wish like this before, but he was able to do it. A beam of dark light came down from the sky and lifted them upwards. The audience questioned what was going on, eager to understand their wish.

???: “Huh? The surface? What’s the surface?”

???: “What is going on here? Weren’t we born here?”

The light disappeared along with the 3 of them. The announcer spoke once more among the confusion in the crowd.

???: “Ah please settle down, settle down. I will explain everything. Please look up into the sky and you will understand what is happening.”

Everybody in the crowd looked up including the contestants. Their eyes turned blank. Their pupils were dilated and their minds seemed lost. People began to walk out of the arena onto the streets without question. Before they knew it, they were back to normal again, but their memories had been wiped all except for one person who never looked up out of a hunch. Her name was Kanna Kisejoro.

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Arata: “Bring the swordsmen together. I don’t care what it will take. You have the most say amongst them. This world is crumbling. I can’t do everything by myself. I’ll fight you if I have to, Michiaki Sen: Conqueror of Evil. This World’s Greatest Swordsmen.”

In front of him stood a middle aged man with a beard. His long dirty blonde hair reached down to his shoulders. He looked disheveled. His clothes were ragged and his brown boots were dirty. Farm animals ran around in the back behind him.

Michiaki: “Now, now, nobody calls me that anymore. I go by a different name. There is no need for that right now Arata. These crops aren’t going to farm themselves.”

Arata: “Why do you hide out here? In the middle of nowhere, farming endless crops that I could enhance with a simple chaplet over and over.”

Michiaki: “Where is the fun in that? Hard work reciprocates for itself, Arata. Look, this carrot will be so good in stew tonight. Would you care to join me?”

Arata: “No. I’m not here for that.”

Michiaki: “Yeah, yeah. You never are. How many times have you been here in the past year? If I recall, this is the…6th time. The conversation hasn’t changed and the answer won’t either. Sure, I could use a chaplet and grow this in a second, but where is the fun in that? Where is the authenticity? Where is the merit?”

Arata: “You never make any sense.”

Michiaki: “And what about you? What does your strength provide you? Are you happy? Are you satisfied with helping others all day long? Don’t you preach merit to others or are you just hiding behind your words?”

Arata: “I don’t care about my happiness. If I can help others with my strength, then I will. I won’t sit back and watch the world burn like some people.”

Michiaki: “That’s your choice. That’s not other people’s choice. Some people have passions and dreams. Good for you for pursuing them. Let me ask again for the 7th time now, are you happy with your choice?”

Arata: “Yeah, sure, whatever. I’m happy. Now, go bring the swordsmen together. There are beings in this world that I cannot handle by myself. Anomaly’s keep popping up everywhere that shouldn’t exist. This world is nearing its end. I can sense it.”

Michiaki: “Now, now. Don’t say that. You’re strong. I know you are. One of the strongest for sure…Oh, look at this beetroot. I will put that in the stew also.”

Arata: “You’re only 51 years old. You became the number one swordsmen in the world at the age of 7. Nobody could beat you. Why have you fallen?”

Michiaki: “First off, that is not true. There are plenty of strong people out there. This world balances out itself. I may be strong, but there is always a counterpart that comes along hence the anomalies you stated. Face it Arata, no matter how much good we do, evil always comes back.”

Arata: “Is that not the point of the strong? We are always there to protect those who cannot help themselves.”

Michiaki: “Hold it now Arata. Isn’t that contradicting your own words? If I recall, you swore to destroy this world when your brother died.”

Arata: “Say that again…”

Michiaki: “I did not mean to offend you. I am simply farming my crops. I have a good yield this year. I think it would do you some good to come inside and eat. My wife and kids would love to have you.”

Arata: “I don’t want your stupid food.”

Michiaki: “How does it feel to be strong, Arata? What’s it like in your head? Does being strong make you weak? I thought I was strong until I had kids. There is a different type of strength that exists when you bring someone into this world yourself, but it also brings out a weakness in you. It makes you stronger than ever, but also more weak than ever. Is that how you feel right now?”

Arata: “I don’t have time for weakness.”

Michiaki: “So the little boy at the funeral for his brother that cried a river of tears and swore to help this world isn’t in there anymore?”

Arata: “Watch it.”

Michiaki: “Oh, my bad. I’m just tending to my crops. Looks like they are all done and picked. I need to plant more tomorrow.”

Yui: “Hey, Michiaki, the kids are waiting for you. They are getting hungry.”

Michiaki: “I’ll be right there honey. Tell them daddy is coming inside…That’s what I fight for, Arata. I see my family everyday and it puts a smile on my face. If I’m away from them, then who is here to protect them? I will not leave it in the hands of another.”

Arata: “I can put people here in place of you. Strong people. They can protect them for a while.”

Michiaki: “No. That is what you don’t understand. I didn’t choose to be strong with a sword. For some reason, this world gifted it to me. I did my duty and I helped many people, but just like you, I struggled to not be able to save everyone no matter how strong I was. It haunts me to this day. But, what can I do? I moved on and I try to move on everyday. I have a family that relies on me. Nobody else will protect my family but me. If they were to get hurt while I was not here, then I would not forgive myself. There is already too much I have not forgiven myself for.”

Arata: “Tch! I’ll be back here in a month. Someone needs help. That answer better change when I get back.”

Michiaki: “Goodluck Arata Sanji…Coming Yui!”