KASAKI WOKE UP. The night had been spent in the unforgiving woods, solitary and silent. A feeble ray of light pierced his eyes, signaling survival. Hunger gnawed at him, but time was a luxury he couldn't afford. The ancient oracle's words echoed in his mind: the Golden Bridge must be reached by the third day of departure, or acceptance would elude him. Although a novice to the world beyond his home, confidence fueled his steps. Uncharted and unprepared, nothing and no one had primed him for the obstacles that lay ahead on this path.
"For my family," he repeated like a mantra, a lifeline to anchor his wavering morals. Joining the ranks of the Samurai army fulfilled a childhood dream, a longing to wield a sword and embody the unwavering code of honor. Tiger Valley, once a haven, now teetered on the precipice. Misuki, the tyrant ruler of Black Gold, cast a looming shadow, threatening invasion and enslavement. "Son, you needn't march off to war. Run away," his father advised. "But, father, I won't run. Sleep won't find me if you and mom become slaves."
Kiyoro, Kasaki’s father, was no warrior; he was a simple carpenter who cringed at the thought of his son enslaved in youth. Yet, when Kasaki declared he wouldn't flee, Kiyoro offered no arguments. He sensed his son's difference from an early age—Kasaki's fiery temper and refusal to blindly obey, a trait Kiyoro lacked. He recognized the potential for a warrior in his son, a stark contrast to his own pacifist and tranquil nature.
Kasaki quickened his pace toward a narrow river. The Golden Bridge lay two days ahead, and delays were a luxury he couldn't afford. His thoughts raced to the revered master he would soon meet and the comrades he'd stand beside—young, courageous men. Excellence was his only option. The impending training was no walk in the park; competition loomed, and there would likely be those who faltered. Despite his non-warrior lineage, quitting Samurai training equated to a profound personal shame. It meant he couldn't shield his parents from enslavement. "No way," Kasaki thought, filling his bottle with the river's clear water.
He relished the warming touch of the gentle sun rays on his face as he sipped water. The day was splendid. Rising to his feet, he pondered, "Let's keep walking." His brown-leather boots echoed with each determined step, moving swiftly. The weight of his bag increased, but he pressed on, undeterred. "Tonight, sleep can wait. I'll rest when I'm at the bridge. No need to eat, no need to sleep—just reach the Golden Bridge tomorrow night," he reminded himself for motivation.
In this moment, he longed for a brother to share the adventure, but alas, he was his parents' only child. His legs twinged with pain, prompting a pause beside a large tree. A sip of water and a brief rest ensued. As he opened his bottle, he spotted it for the first time: a sizable black wolf fixed its gaze on him. The creature ascended a hill, sixty feet away, blocking his path. "I won't retreat. I won't run. North is my only way," Kasaki resolved. The wolf stalked, readying itself to strike. Casually, Kasaki drew a knife from his hip case and held his ground. In a swift motion, the wolf bolted forward.
Kasaki swiftly closed his bottle, stashing it in his bag as he stood. Without warning, the wolf lunged from two meters away, bringing Kasaki down. A desperate stab to the wolf's stomach followed, but the animal had clamped onto his forearm, biting ferociously and violently shaking its head. Overwhelmed by the pain, Kasaki dropped his knife, shielding his face to prevent a neck bite. Summoning his strength, he threw a left-handed punch, connecting with the wolf's head and forcing it to release his forearm. Kasaki rose, launching himself at the wounded wolf. This time, a powerful punch landed on its head.
The creature retreated. Kasaki held his ground, gaze locked onto the wolf, prepared for more. Yet, the wolf refrained from another attack. Instead, it pivoted and trotted away, as if losing interest in the fight. Kasaki waited until the animal vanished from sight, exhaling in relief. "That was insane," he thought, retrieving his knife from the ground. Though bleeding, the forearm wound wasn't too severe. He cleaned it with water and continued on his way.
His father's tales echoed in his mind—stories of the menacing beasts that lurked in the depths of the Wild Forest. The samurais were revered not only for their grueling training but also for braving this ominous realm alone on their journey to the Golden Bridge. Writers thrived on the spine-chilling narratives of the fantastical creatures reigning in the Wild Forest, captivating the imaginations of Black Gold's inhabitants. Kasaki, never a fan of reading, had caught wind of some insane tales. The forest stretched endlessly, ominous noises echoing around him. He strained to push forward, each step fraught with an unsettling dread.
Armed only with his knife and sheer determination, Kasaki faced the daunting unknown. Perhaps the wolf he just bested was the least of the perils lurking in this ominous forest. As he pressed forward, the possibility of encountering something more menacing, more colossal loomed. "I'll survive whatever lurks in this forest. The Golden Bridge is my destination, no matter the threat," he resolved, frowning at the rustling of branches all around him. "Alright, now what?" Pausing, he tensed his muscles, straining to locate the source of the sound. His thoughts drifted to his happy family—his hardworking father crafting furniture, tables, and chairs, and his mother tending to their home. Kasaki, once a helper in his father's workshop, reminisced about his morning routine of fetching large logs from the nearby woods to ensure a steady supply for his father's work.
Misuki, the malevolent old man, desired control over every soul, extinguishing any trace of freedom. Imposing a 40% tax on every independent worker in Black Gold wasn't enough for him; now, he aimed to enslave them. His sinister plan involved exporting all goods to distant kingdoms, hoarding the wealth for himself, and offering workers only enough sustenance to survive. Misuki's decree was chillingly explicit: the unproductive faced death. Only those deemed genuine workers would be spared, with no regard for their families. This grim fate awaited Kasaki's mother, prompting his desperate choice to venture into the Wild Forest and pursue the path of a samurai. Misuki's televised announcement echoed his ruthlessness: "No parasites in this State. Hardworking, productive lives will be spared; the rest shall die." He claimed to extend mercy to these 'parasites' if they willingly became slaves in his oil wells. However, the deplorable conditions endured by these workers often led to suicide or mutiny within months, with the imminent threat of a swift death by the sword at the hands of Misuki's guards. His mother, a gentle woman unaccustomed to hardship, would face certain death if forced into the grueling life of a slave in the oil wells. Kasaki's eyes welled with tears, a deep sense of powerlessness overwhelming him. Trembling hands, rapid breaths—he felt a surge of emotions impossible to articulate. Amidst his own thoughts, he suddenly heard it. A supernatural sense of hearing kicked in. The unbending branch, the rustle of leaves, and the cutting sound of the air—the signs were unmistakable. A slim, brown, malicious monkey approached. Lifting his head, Kasaki sidestepped just in time. The monkey plummeted, a large rock clutched in its hand, intended, Kasaki realized, for a fatal blow to his head.
"Oh, what a shame," uttered the monkey.
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Kasaki's eyes widened in surprise, a flurry of thoughts racing through his mind. "A talking monkey? How is this possible?"
"That would have made for a perfect kill," the monkey remarked, smiling. "You're fast."
"What do you want?" Kasaki questioned.
The monkey rolled its eyes, a bored expression on its face. "What do I want? What do you think, boy? I want your blood!"
"My blood?" Kasaki asked, bewildered. "Why do you want my blood?"
"You ask a lot of stupid questions," the monkey replied, closing its eyes. Then, abruptly opening them, it yelled at Kasaki, "Because I'm a monster, and I'm bored of bananas." With a swift leap, it hung from a branch, then propelled itself onto another, plucking bananas from the trees and hurling them at Kasaki. "Bananas, bananas, bananas. I'm tired of them. I want meat, I want blood!"
Kasaki instinctively shielded his face, allowing the bananas to splash against his body, an awkward sensation. In that moment, a crucial memory surfaced. The old oracle, draped in a blue, flowing robe with a twelve-inch beard, had forewarned Kasaki about the myriad bizarre creatures dwelling in the Wild Forest. "It's a perilous place, son. But if you survive, you'll emerge ready for the samurai training."
"I really must go. I need to reach The Golden Bridge by tomorrow night," Kasaki informed the monkey, who continued bemoaning the monotony of bananas.
"What?" the monkey exclaimed, abruptly halting its tirade. "So, you're a samurai student?"
"Yes, not yet, but I intend to become one after being recruited at The Golden Bridge."
"I must be on a lucky streak," the monkey grinned, revealing a pair of earrings retrieved from the top of a tree. "Yesterday, I had a feast with a boy just like you. Something strange is happening; you're the third samurai student I've encountered trying to cross the Forest in the last two days. If my luck holds, you'll be the second whose blood I'll drink."
"He's a killer," Kasaki thought, recalling the fate of another hopeful samurai. "I need to find a way to defeat him or, at least, escape."
"Enough with the games," the monkey declared. "I'm going to kill you right here, right now."
Kasaki unsheathed his knife, flexing his knees, prepared for the impending battle. "Watch out for this!" the monkey shouted, launching dozens of bananas at supernatural speed. Kasaki, agile and alert, managed to avoid many, but some still struck him. Amidst the chaos, a warning echoed in his ears—a branch unbending just above him. The bananas were a diversion. Swiftly turning, he spotted the furious monkey descending, brandishing the rock overhead. Kasaki evaded the impending strike once again. The monkey sighed, and Kasaki, tense and breathing heavily, experienced a rush of adrenaline that, surprisingly, felt rather exhilarating.
The monkey stood there, back turned to Kasaki, eyes closed, head pointing toward the ground. "I wanted you all to myself," he expressed with disappointment. "But you're leaving me no choice but to share you."
"Share me? What's he talking about?" Kasaki wondered.
The monkey whistled, and suddenly Kasaki froze in fear, hearing branches moving rapidly all around him. Before he could react, he found himself encircled by a dozen salivating, angry monkeys. "Blood, blood," they chanted frantically.
Kasaki scowled, tightening his grip on the knife. "I can't afford to lose to them. My mother's life depends on it. I must find a way to outsmart them or escape."
Unbeknownst to him, a monkey silently retrieved a rock from the ground. Kasaki's keen ears, however, caught the subtle sounds—the pick-up and the slicing of air as the rock hurtled toward him. Reacting swiftly, he dropped to the ground, and the rock found its unintended target, striking another monkey in the head and ending its life abruptly.
"You're quite the cunning human," remarked the first monkey, observing the lifeless body of its comrade. "But you're also making me very angry."
"What's the reason for wanting my blood, anyway?" Kasaki inquired.
The monkey chuckled. "I already told you—we're bored!" With that, the monkey lunged at Kasaki. Mid-air, it grabbed a branch with one hand, executed a swift balance, and propelled itself towards Kasaki. A forceful kick to the chest sent Kasaki stumbling backward. "They're incredibly fast," he thought.
Kasaki found himself disoriented in the densely foliated part of the forest, unable to discern the direction of North. Despite it being morning, the thick canopy obscured the exact source of the sun's rays. "I'll make a run for it," he resolved. "They're not that formidable. Even if I sustain a few wounds, I must press forward. I need to reach The Golden Bridge by tomorrow night."
Several monkeys agilely traversed from branch to branch, encircling Kasaki to create confusion about the impending attacks. However, their strategy inadvertently created a gap between the trees, revealing the direction of the sun. Seizing the opportunity, Kasaki launched a determined attack toward the North. He managed to slice the head of one monkey as he advanced but was pelted by numerous rocks in the process. Fortunately, none struck him on the head. He halted, realizing he couldn't let his guard down, yet advancing swiftly seemed an insurmountable challenge. Sooner or later, one of those rocks would find its mark on his head, leaving him vulnerable to the impending threat of being devoured. "Think, think. There has to be a way."
“You're surrounded,” the monkey leader declared. “There's no way you can escape us.”
“Do you think so?” Kasaki retorted, skillfully dodging the onslaught of rocks hurled at him.
“I'm sure.”
Kasaki remained composed. His acute hearing proved to be a significant advantage. The sound of the air being cut by the rocks allowed him to discern their trajectories. However, his legs began to ache. Fatigue set in, and he questioned how much longer he could evade the barrage. He recalled the old oracle's words, emphasizing that life was ultimately a battle of wills. Those with the strongest desire emerged victorious. Determined, Kasaki resolved, “I'm not backing down anymore. I'll either die trying or they'll take my life. I'm through.” With a deep breath, he pressed forward.
In an aggressive and rapid assault, Kasaki dispatched three monkeys, enduring numerous rock impacts without displaying pain or slowing down. He attacked relentlessly, recognizing the monkeys' vulnerability when he closed the distance, as they couldn't throw rocks at him up close. Moving swiftly, he evaded the rocks and leaped onto the monkeys, swiftly slicing their necks. Thirteen more monkeys fell to his blade, instilling fear in the remaining few. Hesitation crept into their attacks, and the rocks thrown at him lacked the same intensity. The leader monkey, wide-eyed in astonishment, witnessed Kasaki effortlessly cut a large rock thrown at him without even looking back. Approximately a dozen monkeys remained.
They orchestrated a surrounding attack on Kasaki, but their efforts were worthless. Kasaki seemed unstoppable. One monkey threw itself out of a branch to try and take Kasaki’s neck, but he slew him immediately. Instead of dropping his body on the ground, he wrapped his arm around the creature’s neck, using it as a shield to close the distance without receiving the rocks' impact himself. Then, he jumped high and went after the leader monkey. Kasaki pursued the monkey across several trees, unable to reach it as the animal was exceptionally fast. At one point, Kasaki was about to grab its tail, but the animal sensed his hand's contact and hurried up. Kasaki then threw his knife at it, hitting it in the back. The animal fell to the ground. Kasaki turned back, climbing down the tree to the ground, expecting a rain of rocks, but all the other monkeys were paralyzed. They began to mourn the death of their chief. Kasaki stood there, watching the dead body of the leader and all the remaining monkeys crying.
"You're free to go now," said one monkey with tears in its eyes. "Now give us Luke’s body."
Kasaki understood Luke was the dead monkey he had been using as a shield. He dropped it to the ground. All the monkeys gathered around the leader’s body, crying.
"What was his name?" asked Kasaki.
"Kunju," they told him. "He was our king. He was a good monkey, a great leader."
Kasaki kept silent.
"Goodbye, Kunju," he said softly, turning his back to the dead body and running towards the north again.
Before Kasaki had gone far, he heard one of the monkeys calling him.
"Hey," he heard.
He turned around.
"What’s up?"
"You forgot this. You’re gonna need it ahead if you wanna survive in here."
The monkey took Kasaki’s knife out of Kunju’s back and threw it at him.
"Thanks," said Kasaki, picking up the knife from the ground and starting to run again.