The current time is 1:20 pm. Ken appeared curious, finding the fact that his Yokai weapon was indeed not just an ordinary weapon. Makoto continued his explanation
“The mark of ownership is the next stage of possession of Yokai weapons. In order to have ownership marks on a Yokai weapon, the user must obtain some kind of consent that the Yokai can't revoke unless you wish to withdraw it yourself. This is so that Yokai weapons can be used properly. However, there is a sealing technique that allows anyone to carry a Yokai weapon more lightly, so this is easy to trick. But it still can't be like when Yokai weapons have ownership marks"
Ken looked confused
“Is there anything more to it than my weapon being lighter when it has the ownership mark?”
Makoto replied
“Yes, but there's no need to rush, I'll explain later after you get the ownership mark from Asanuma"
Ken looked curious, and he then replied with a nod. Before long, an idea occurred to Makoto
"Since you've got your Yokai weapon, how about we start to practice using it?"
Ken's expression turned surprised. Makoto appears to remembered something
“You might need a baldric for that katana sword?”
Ken also appears to have just realized this
"That's right grandpa, I seem to need it, before getting used to using this katana sword with only one hand, haha..."
Ken laughed awkwardly.
The current time is 2:05 pm. After a short lunch break with Hirazo, Ken, and Makoto returned to the grounds in front of the shrine on the hillside in the backyard of the Takeru family's main house. They appear to be carrying their own Yokai weapons. Makoto's katana appears to be shorter than Ken’s katana, with the same length as a normal katana. On the other hand, Ken carried his katana which was sheathed and installed on a baldric (support belt to carry sword handsfree), this baldric was attached from the shoulder to the chest circumference, then to the waist circumference, and Ken's sheathed katana sword installed on the belt at the waist. Makoto said
“Alright, I want you to put all your might against me. Feel free to hurt me, or you won't be able to defeat me"
Ken looks nervous
"Okay, I'll do my best"
Ken appeared to have something stuck in his mind
“But Grandpa, are we really going to do this? I mean, the weapons we're using now are real, we might really going to hurt each other”
Makoto replied
“Therefore, this will also train you to be careful in using Yokai weapons. Don't stop unless one of us gives up or dies"
Hearing this, Ken was shocked, his expression then turned nervous
"Dead? isn't that too much Grandpa?"
Makoto smiled
"Of course, it's an exaggeration, I was just kidding, hahaha"
Makoto laughed casually. On the other hand, Ken breathed a sigh of relief. Makoto continues talking
“We only have to spar as necessary, but I can't guarantee you won't be really injured, so be careful in attacking and defending. Don't let there be any hesitation in your attacks, there's no need to hold back”
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Hearing this, Ken swallowed nervously.
Makoto pulled his katana from its scabbard. On the other hand, Ken also pulled his katana from its scabbard. They each then entered the stances and planned how to attack. Makoto held his katana with his right hand, while Ken held his long katana sword with both hands. Ken decided to attack first, he then slashed his weapon from above, it appeared that there was doubt in Ken when he slashed his katana sword. On the other hand, Makoto appeared calm, and he could easily parry Ken's hesitant attacks, using his katana. Their katanas collided, causing sparks.
They held each other attack for a while, Makoto then deflected Ken's sword. Makoto easily uses mixed martial arts techniques and knocks Ken's body down. Makoto then pointed his sword only one inch from front of Ken's face who was now sitting down after his fall. Seeing this, Ken's expression changed to surprise mixed with nervousness. Makoto said
"Didn't I tell you, don't hesitate?"
Makoto then sheathed his katana back and extended his hand to Ken. Ken took his grandfather’s hand, then stood up. Ken replied
"I'm sorry grandpa, let's try again"
Makoto replied with a nod. Makoto pulled his katana back from its scabbard, Ken gripped his sword with both hands, then pointed it forward. Each of them then entered the stances. Ken decides to attack first, but as before, there is hesitation in Ken's attack, and he is knocked down and gets up again many times. Ken attacks again and changes his attack pattern, but Makoto again manages to parry it, and deflects Ken's attack, then knocks him down again. Ken is now sitting breathlessly, and his body is dull because of dirt. Makoto said
“It's useless for you to change your attack pattern. If you hesitate in doing so, your attacks will always have loopholes”
While fixing his breathing, Ken replied
"However I think about it, I still can't find myself hurting grandpa using my katana sword, this keeps making me doubt"
Before long, Ken appeared to realize something, he then continued talking
"Wa, wait a minute, does grandpa who doesn't hesitate mean grandpa doesn't hesitate to kill me?"
Makoto sighed
“No such thoughts, if so, you are dead by now”
Ken's expression turned astonished. Makoto continues talking
“I'll give you a suggestion, how about you attack me with the intention of defeating me? Either way, there's no need to hurt me, just defeat me"
Ken appeared to have realized something, he then pounded the palm of his left hand with the grip of his right hand. Ken took the stance, he was now facing Makoto, grasped his katana with both hands, and pointed it forward. Seeing this, Makoto appeared to be curious
“Hmm… looks like you've got an idea?”
Not long after, Ken put his katana back into its scabbard, then removed it from the baldric around his waist. With his sword sheathed, Ken again pointed it forward and was about to use this sheathed katana sword to fight. Seeing this, Makoto looked surprised
“I see… but the weight of that sword is still dangerous when it hit someone”
Ken did appear to have a little doubt in himself. Ken's expression turned serious, he then thought to himself
"This way, I can at least make sure I won't cut grandpa"
Makoto smiled
"Okay, I'll play your game"
Makoto then also sheathed his katana sword and grasped it by the hilt with his right hand. Ken looks surprised
"Wait a minute, grandpa doesn't have to do the same thing as me"
Makoto replied
“I just feel like once this is over your doubts will clear up, so I don't plan on holding back when attacking you, or else I'll be in trouble”
Makoto said that because he had acknowledged Ken's ability, making Ken a little surprised, Ken then gave a nod. Ken took a deep breath, then exhaled. Ken dashed swiftly toward Makoto.
Until the next day, Ken appeared to be bouncing backward, clutching his sheathed katana, just like before. Ken pointed his sword forward, his breath appearing to be out of breath. In front of Ken, Makoto is also holding his katana with both hands and is directing it forward, it appears that Makoto's katana is also sheathed, and Makoto is also out of breath. Makoto thought to himself
“It didn't take long for Ken to be able to keep up with me after he was able to dispel doubts in his attack”
Ken dashed toward Makoto and then slashed his katana from above, Makoto immediately parried Ken's attack.
Their katana swords collided, and they then launched attacks from various slashing directions. They appear to be parrying and counterattacking each other. It appears that Ken's katana length makes his attack range far.
They appear even, the thing at stake now is their stamina. They continued to clash attacks until finally, Ken who appeared to be running out of stamina at first, then immediately moved to dodge backward, out of Makoto's attack range. Ken then stayed where he was, with defending stance. Makoto didn't appear to be chasing him, and just stood where he was, with similar stances. They appear to gasp for breath, and they both then tried to fix their breath. Makoto, who had the advantage of stamina, had managed to fix his breathing first. Makoto dashed towards Ken, Ken who is still recovering his breath, and was ready to receive Makoto’s attack.
Makoto slashed from above, Ken deflected it using his katana sword, which he held with both hands. Makoto's slash appeared so strong, it made Ken who was parrying it budge. Makoto tried to tackle Ken's leg to knock him down, but Ken was able to react quickly and parried it with the sole of his foot. Makoto immediately continued to attack with his katana, their katana swords attacks then colliding again, causing sparks.