Ken concentrated, the wind aura around him appeared to revolve and center around him. Ken thought about how he would attack the second target, Asanuma with his left foreleg. Ken said
“Asanuma, attack that target”
Ken said without pointing at which target he was referring to. Not long after, Asanuma started to react, he then charged forward strongly and quickly. Asanuma dashed towards his target with his claws and footsteps that left marks on the ground. Once he was close enough to his target that was within his attack range, Asanuma attacked this target, which was a haystack with a wooden frame, by clawing at it with the claws on his left forefoot. The target was then destroyed instantly, it appeared that Asanuma also correctly attacked the target Ken meant. Seeing this, Ken looked surprised and didn't expect it
“Unbelievable, I can control him to that extent”
Makoto looked curious
"What did you want Asanuma to do earlier?"
Ken looked at Makoto
"I just made him attack with his left foreleg and it worked"
Makoto looked a little surprised, he then thought to himself
“This simple movement can be an effective start to be carried out successfully. Ken's reasoning is very good…”
Makoto said
“Alright, because of those two things, today's training is about getting Asanuma to attack and influencing his attacks. Now let's continue to deepen it"
Ken gave a nod. On the other hand, Asanuma looked surprised
"Looks like you guys are busy with something huh?"
Hearing this, Ken and Makoto looked at Asanuma with hesitant expressions. Makoto answered
"Well that's it Asanuma, let's continue the training"
In front of them, there are still 3 other targets left. Ken does this as before and can successfully affect Asanuma's attack on the target. Makoto said
"We will continue with the next training. As I said earlier, when a sealed Yokai uses its power, it will make the period of its existence that matches its stamina quickly run out. This unfortunately cannot be prevented, and becomes a basic weakness”
Makoto's expression turned serious, while Ken looked curious. Makoto said
"If we use Asanuma to fight, what can you conclude if it has a weakness as I described earlier?"
Ken appeared to have realized something
"My weakness also means long-term combat?"
Makoto gave a nod
“Exactly, if in a long-time battle, your enemy can hold out, you won't be able to use Asanuma by your side anymore. This can become very serious if it is a life and death battle when you can only rely on Asanuma”
Ken looked surprised
"Who am I going to fight using Asanuma to the point of a life-and-death battle grandpa?"
Hearing this, Makoto was slightly surprised.
The current time is 10:05 am. Ken, Makoto, and Asanuma are practicing together, in the field in front of the shrine. Hearing Ken's sudden question made Makoto slightly surprised. Makoto looked at Asanuma who also appeared to be watching them
"You want to try explaining it Asanuma?"
Asanuma took a prone position then used his front paws as a pillow, and closed his eyes
"You explain it"
Seeing this, Ken's expression turned curious. Makoto said
“Let's just say, you fought the enemy of a Yokai like Asanuma. However, it had much greater stamina than him. In the absence of Asanuma, you must fight this Yokai with your own hands. Can you imagine what's next?"
Ken looked surprised, he then looked at Asanuma who was closing his eyes. Seeing Asanuma while thinking about his grandfather's explanation earlier, made Ken look nervous. Ken swallowed hard, then answered
“If grandpa puts it that way, maybe I really will die…”
Makoto became smiling
"Therefore, your next training will be combat training against Asanuma"
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Hearing this, Ken looked shocked
"Wa, wait a minute grandpa, is grandpa not wrong? I will really fight Asanuma? Seriously?"
Makoto answered
"I'll show you how"
Ken looked surprised, his expression then turned curious. Makoto pulled the katana sword he was carrying from the scabbard, which had a unique design, this katana appeared to immediately catch Ken's attention.
On the third of the blunt side of the blade that curved, it appears to have a solid engraving that is thicker than the blade, This extra part is outside the scabbard when the katana is sheathed, making this extra part also like the part of the scabbard. This katana sword has been seen by Ken when his grandfather took it with him before. Makoto held the katana sword with his right hand, while the scabbard he held with his left hand
"Can we spar Asanuma?"
Asanuma then took a standing position on all fours
“Anytime you want”
Makoto smiled
"Okay, I hope you don't hold back"
Asanuma smiled
"I didn't plan to hold back, I'm sorry if you were accidentally killed"
Ken looked nervous. On the other hand, Makoto appeared to be calm
"Then go ahead"
Asanuma who was 5 meters tall, started to pick up the attacking stances, he then charged quickly towards Makoto, leaving scratches on the ground, with his hooves armored with sharp armor. After Makoto entered Asanuma's attack range, Asanuma then unhesitatingly slammed his five-clawed front paw at Makoto, from above.
Makoto who was ready with his defensive stances then used his Katana to ward off Asanuma's attack. Asanuma hit Makoto's katana which used to parry with a force, causing a strong blast of wind and fire spark as their attacks collided. Seeing this Ken looked surprised, and he began to think that his grandfather didn't survive. But on the contrary, it appeared that Makoto remained firmly in place while holding Asanuma's right front leg with his katana. Seeing this, of course, made Ken surprised. Ken immediately remembered again, if he had ever seen something similar in Suga's fight. Ken thought to himself
“Again, an ordinary human withstood the attacks of a creature as big as Asanuma, what exactly happened? Physical strength?"
Before long, Ken appeared to have realized something, his attention then turned to the thing that had been attracting his attention: Makoto's Katana. Immediately remembered by Ken's similarity to Suga and Makoto, they both resisted the Yokai attack with their swords. Ken thought to himself
“They never really used their physique to withstand Yokai attacks from the start… It's because of their Katana sword”
Ken's expression appeared convinced.
After holding each other down, Makoto then threw off Asanuma's foreleg and started attacking him with his katana. Asanuma parried using his claws that armored with sharp armor on his front paws, their attacks continued to clash fiercely, causing a strong blast of sharp wind and fire spark. Ken, who was watching this fight, didn't appear to expect that his grandfather could withstand Asanuma's strong attack.
After some time sparring with Asanuma, Makoto then moved backward, out of the range of Asanuma's attack, it appeared that Asanuma did not try to approach Makoto. Makoto's breath appeared to be out of breath. While fixing his breathing, Makoto said
"Alright, let's end this sparring Asanuma”
Hearing this, Asanuma then prone again and used his two front legs as a cushion. Unlike Makoto, Asanuma didn't appear tired at all. Asanuma closed his eyes, then said
“No problem for me”
Makoto sheathed his katana back, then walked back towards Ken
"What do you think Ken?"
Ken looked surprised, he then tried to confirm his theory
"How can grandpa withstand Asanuma's powerful attack that has a huge body?"
Makoto appeared to have guessed that the question Ken would ask was this
"The secret lies not with me, but in this sword"
Makoto said while showing Ken the katana he was carrying. Ken had already guessed that there was something more with the Katana which had this unusual shape. Makoto continued talking
"This katana is made of Asanuma's armor skin"
Ken looked surprised, he then looked at Asanuma in surprise. Makoto continued talking
“Asanuma armor skin piece is harder than steel, the stronger the Yokai, the tougher their armor skin becomes. Need extra energy when forging it. From Asanuma himself, this raw material can be obtained by force, or by his own will, given his body parts, to be made into weapons. Weapons like this store their Yokai power, so that’s why they can withstand Asanuma's physical attacks. But be careful, this may not apply to other weaker Yokais, but it can still hurt them. The katana-making materials from the Yokai's body parts can be obtained by force, or voluntarily by the Yokai's themselves because their lost body parts will regenerate over time”
Ken looks surprised
“How… Grandpa got that katana raw material?”
Makoto looked at Asanuma who appeared to close his eyes for a moment. Makoto looked back at Ken, then answered
“This katana is the legacy of My Mother, as the controller of Asanuma before. Grandpa doesn't know the details, I didn't have time to ask Asanuma before…"
Makoto smiled, but there was sadness hidden behind his smile. Makoto looked at Ken, then said
"You might be able to ask Asanuma"
Hearing this made Ken a little surprised, his expression then turned nervous
“I understand grandpa”
On the other hand, unbeknownst to Makoto and Ken, Asanuma opened one eye and stole glances at Makoto and Ken, while listening to their conversation. Asanuma then closed his eyes again with a smile. Makoto said
"Therefore, now we will do sword training"
Makoto then took two bamboo katana swords that he had prepared nearby and gave one of them to Ken. Ken looked surprised
"All of a sudden, I'm not used to using a sword"
Makoto replied
"Then get used to it"
Makoto ran towards Ken, and immediately attacked him with a bamboo sword, Ken reflexively parried this attack by crossing his bamboo sword in front of him. Makoto immediately moved to the side and hit Ken's back hard enough to make Ken groan. Makoto said
"Come on Ken, don't be careless"
Hearing this, Ken entered the stances as best he could, and gripped his sword with both hands, his expression turning serious. The two of them continued to practice like Kendo training, but with more intensity and more movements, starting from the stances, then attacking and defending.
The time is now 2:00 pm, it appears Ken is practicing sparring with Makoto. Ken looks sweaty and shabby, trying to attack Makoto who appears to take Ken's attack casually. On the other hand, Asanuma appeared to wake up, and took a sitting position, watching Ken and Makoto. Makoto fends off each of Ken's attacks normally. Makoto noticed Ken's attack pattern, and as soon as he saw a gap, Makoto immediately attacked the gap, causing Ken's sword to be thrown, Makoto then pointed his bamboo katana at Ken's face. Ken looks surprised, and his breath appears to be out of breath, while Makoto is not. Makoto said
“You can be said to be talented for this sword practice”
Makoto lowered his sword
"Okay, let's rest"
Ken who was still fixing his breathing, could only give a nod.