At the beginning, some of them thought only of themselves—selfish, determined to survive alone. Others considered the possibility of alliances, but even they failed to truly grasp the situation.
None of them questioned the deeper reason they were here.
None of them asked the most important question—
What are we really here for?
Miyamoto Musashi cursed inwardly, rubbing the back of his neck.
“Damn it… how could I be so careless? Not fully thinking about the situation I’m in? Am I getting rusty ‘cause I’m getting old? F*ck me.”
Unbeknownst to him, the same thought echoed in everyone’s mind.
The Watcher’s form flickered faintly.
“Any other questions?”
Suddenly, Lapulapu, standing tall and unwavering, spoke. His deep voice carried a charisma that demanded attention.
“In all my life, I have never bowed down to anyone… and I never will.”
His gaze, sharp as a blade, locked onto the Watcher.
“I do not accept this for you, but for myself. I don’t need your reminder.”
His words, filled with pride and defiance, echoed through the void.
The group felt a sudden surge of motivation.
If even this man—this legend—refused to submit, how could they allow themselves to falter?
George Washington, ever composed, raised his hand slightly.
“Once we enter the battlefield, will we be provided with weapons?”
His tone, though respectful, carried the precision of a seasoned strategist addressing a higher command.
In response, a screen materialized in front of each participant, glowing faintly.
“Here,” the Watcher’s voice explained, “you may request any weapon or resource you so desire before entering the battlefield. Certain limitations apply, and if necessary, I will address you individually.”
Without another word, the Watcher’s form split into six smaller orbs of light, each one hovering silently beside a participant, offering them privacy for their requests.
George Washington's sharp mind quickly processed the gesture.
“So, this is to ensure none of us knows the strengths or armaments of the others. Clever.”
Then, another thought struck him.
“Now that I think of it. We can understand each other, despite coming from different times and places. Is this another tool to encourage teamwork?”
George Washington nodded slightly, already calculating his next steps. As the others began their preparations, he posed another question. Privately towards the Watcher
“Why did you choose us specifically?”
The Watcher’s response was immediate, its tone remaining cold and robotic, yet somehow tinged with a faint echo of curiosity.
“The main criterion was the impact you made on history—whether large or small. A bonus was placed on those who knew how to fight and survive. While not all of you are equal, each of you is stronger than the rest of humanity, even across history.”
George Washington blinked, momentarily taken aback.
“So, to the Watcher… this is the battlefield they deserve.”
Time passed as they made their preparations. Most had already finished, but—
Request denied. Certain limitations have already been reached. Number of attempts: 100. Any more will resort to all requests being denied.”
Billy the Kid grinned, unfazed. “Heh, heh… just testing the waters, no need to be stiff.”
Miyamoto Musashi’s eyes narrowed.
“This dumbass… testing the Watcher? Does he fear death at all?”
Fu Hao let out an impatient sigh, tapping her foot against the smooth floor.
“Ugh! How long is this going to take? If I knew there’d be this much waiting, I would’ve had a drink! I swear, if we don’t start soon, I’m going to punch someone… again.” She shot a glare at Billy the Kid, who smirked knowingly.
George Washington, standing with arms crossed, gazed intently at the projection screen, his mind calculating every possibility.
“Rushing in without preparation would be reckless. We need to anticipate the terrain, the enemies, and each other. Victory belongs to those who plan, not those who panic.”
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Jeanne d'Arc clasped her hands together, her eyes closed as she whispered a quiet prayer.
“Lord, grant me strength not just to survive, but to stay true to my faith. Let this trial be a path, not a punishment but salvation. I will not falter.”
“…” Lapulapu with a deadpan expression.
Billy the Kid, hearing all this, chuckled from the corner. “Geez, you lot are so serious. Relax! We’ll either win big or die trying, right?”
Fu Hao rolled her eyes. “You’re the first one I’m feeding to a monster.”
“Love you too, Queenie.” Billy grinned.
Fu Hao contemplates punching Billy the Kid to the ground.
“Now that everyone is ready, we will begin in—”
“Wait!” Miyamoto Musashi interrupted.
“Didn’t you say there are others?”
The Watcher pulsed once.
“As you have seen, I can split myself. The other participants have already prepared and will meet you on the battlefield.”
Fu Hao chuckled under her breath.
“The surprise factor, huh?”
Each of them, lost in thought, recalled their past lives—their triumphs, their regrets, and the path that led them to this moment. Now, they stood at the threshold of a new beginning.
Miyamoto Musashi closed his eyes, the weight of countless battles flashing through his mind. His calloused hands remembered the feel of every sword he had ever wielded, every duel that pushed him further toward perfection.
“I lived by the sword, and I mastered it. Each swing, each cut, brought me closer to something… but what?” His lips curled into a faint smirk. “Death never took me, no matter how much I sought it. Perhaps now… I can choose my own ending.”
Billy the Kid leaned back with a cocky grin, but his eyes betrayed a rare moment of reflection.
“Lawmen, outlaws, bullets flying past my head… that was my life. I didn’t give a damn about rules, and I never let anyone cage me in.” He chuckled softly to himself.
“Freedom… that’s all I ever wanted. Even now, I don’t care about second chances or redemption. I just want to live on my own terms, no strings attached.”
Fu Hao ran her hand over her face, her expression softening for once. The battlefield was where she thrived, but her memories drifted to the quiet nights after each battle—sharing wine together with, Wu Ding her husband, and other two primary queens, Fu Jing and Fu Shi, laughter echoing through the palace halls.
“The thrill of battle… and the warmth of those nights. I would fight a thousand wars just to live those moments again.” Her eyes gleamed with determination. “I’ll carve my way all the through, just to taste that happiness once more.”
George Washington stood with a thoughtful gaze, his shoulders unconsciously straightening as if still bearing the weight of a nation.
“A leader, a symbol, a man burdened by responsibility. I carried the hopes of millions, a weight should be never be carried by a human.” He let out a quiet sigh.
“If I get a second chance… maybe this time, I can lay down my gun, rest these weary shoulders of my, and find peace. A quiet life… a simple one.”
Jeanne d’Arc clasped her hands together tightly, her mind drifting back to the battlefields of France. She could still hear the clashing swords, feel the weight of her armor, and sense the burning flames that almost took her life.
“God sent me to lead my people… but did I do enough? And now… do I deserve this second chance?” She opened her eyes, her voice barely above a whisper. “If this is a test from You… let me prove myself once more.”
Lapulapu remained still, his white eyes reflecting memories of his homeland—lush shores, proud warriors, and ancestors whose whispers guided him through every battle.
“I stood against those who sought to take what was ours. I defended my people, my home. But the world will never stop trying to take what we cherish.” His fist clenched.
“Even here, even now… I will fight. Not for myself, but for my homeland. For those who came before me, and those who will come after.”
In that moment, their silent reflections revealed their true desires—not just for a second chance, but for the opportunity to shape their own fate. The battlefield awaited, but their hearts and minds were already fighting for what they held dear.
“Attention to all participants, we will now begin in—”
5
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1
Suddenly, Miyamoto Musashi felt his body pulled through space, weightless and formless for a brief moment before—
He landed in the middle of a vast forest, the air thick with the scent of pine and salt carried from the nearby sea. A soft breeze whispered through the towering trees, their ancient trunks stretching high, as if reaching for something unseen above.
The forest stretched endlessly, a sea of green and shadow, the dense canopy above allowing only fractured beams of sunlight to pierce through. Each ray illuminated the forest floor in scattered golden patches, contrasting starkly with the darker, more foreboding areas untouched by light.
Yet, as Miyamoto Musashi’s sharp eyes scanned his surroundings, he couldn’t ignore the unnatural stillness that hung in the air.
Leaves rustled faintly, but it wasn’t from the wind. It was something more… deliberate. As though the forest itself was breathing—watching him.
Above the treetops, where the sky should have been, there was instead a haunting sight—the next stage of the battlefield, floating high above. The middle layer, and above it the awaiting next stage, hovered ominously, casting faint shadows over the forest below.
It was an unsettling reminder: this place was no ordinary forest, and this battle was no ordinary challenge.
Miyamoto Musashi felt the weight of the situation pressing down on him, but instead of fear, a slow, familiar grin formed on his lips.
“The unknown… the unseen… a battlefield that tests more than just skill with a sword.”
The distant call of a bird echoed eerily, but even that sound seemed out of place—almost too perfect, too orchestrated.
The ground beneath Miyamoto Musashi's feet was soft but firm, each step he took muffled by the thick layer of fallen leaves and moss. Shadows twisted and flickered as the breeze danced through the branches above, giving the illusion of movement all around him.
Unease crept through him, but so did something else—
A thrill.
The thrill of the unknown. Of danger. Of challenge.
“Heh… from a cave, to a white void, and now back to a forest. I seriously need to rethink my next life choices,” Musashi mused with a smirk.
“If this forest wants to devour me, it’ll have to try harder than that.”
The air felt charged, like the moment before a storm, and Musashi welcomed it with open arms.
Then—
A sudden rustling.
Before Miyamoto Musashi could react, a monstrous beast lunged from the shadows.
A valospater-like creature, covered in thick, matted fur, with razor-sharp claws and gleaming yellow eyes, charged straight at him with a guttural roar.
Miyamoto Musashi’s instincts kicked in immediately. His hand shot to his side, drawing a wooden wakizashi—a weapon that looked fragile compared to the monstrous beast, but in Musashi’s hands, it was deadly.
“Let’s see what you’ve got.”
The creature lunged, swiping with its massive claws. Musashi dodged effortlessly, pivoting to the side, his every movement fluid and precise.
With a quick step, he slashed at its flank, the wooden blade cutting through fur and flesh like steel. The creature howled in pain, spinning around to attack again.
Miyamoto Musashi ducked under another swipe, his sharp eyes analyzing its movements.
“Clumsy… too much strength, not enough control.”
He leapt forward, planting his feet on the beast’s back and driving the wooden blade deep into its spine.
The creature let out a final, pained cry before collapsing.
Miyamoto Musashi jumped off, landing softly on the forest floor.
He smirked, wiping the blade on his sleeve.
“That was easy… disgusting-looking thing, though.”
Suddenly—
Gunshots.
Rapid and sharp, echoing through the forest, growing closer.
Before Miyamoto Musashi could react, a T-Rex-like monster covered in fur burst through the trees, barreling toward him.
And in front of it—
Billy the Kid, firing his revolvers as he sprinted backward, laughing.
“Oh hey! Nice to see ya!”
Miyamoto Musashi’s eye twitched. “Oi! Don’t bring that thing here! Lure it away!”
Billy the Kid grinned, not listening at all, still running straight toward Miyamoto Musashi.
“What the hell?! I’m going to kill that bastard,” Musashi muttered, drawing his second wooden blade, the katana and charging forward, ready to face both the monster and the infuriating outlaw.