Ken's attention was drawn to the spells written on the paper in his hand, and he then began to read the writing on the paper scrupulously. Immediately after, Ken's expression turned astonished
“What spell is this? why use unknown language, to the point that if there's no way to read it, I can't even read it at all?”
Makoto replied
“Of course, so did I at first. From what I know, the spells were written using extinct letters and languages. Even that spell can only be read, no one in history knows its meaning”
Ken looked curious
"Okay, give me a minute to memorize it"
Makoto replied
“Okay, go ahead”
Ken then walk away and sit on the shrine steps, Makoto looked at Ken with an astonished expression.
A few minutes later, Ken appeared a little difficulty memorizing this spell, he then returned to his grandfather. Makoto said
"What about your memorization?"
Ken looked tired
"Finally, I can memorize it"
Ken returned the piece of paper that Makoto had given him. Makoto said
"You can memorize it quickly, even though the spell is long and hard to be pronounced"
Ken replied
"Yeah, but I don't think this spell is easy to memorize either"
Makoto replied
"Yosh, fine. Now try to cast the spell"
Ken nodded
“Okay, I'll say it in a none whisper way, so Grandpa can hear it clearly”
Ken's expression turned serious, he then said the spell in question. Ken appeared quite difficult even just to pronounce it. After Ken finished chanting, he looked around him and his own body, just in case something happened, but it didn't. Ken looked at his forearms, there was also no chain that appeared like his grandfather
"How's my spell, Grandpa?"
Makoto replied
“Pretty good, but you still need to improve the pronunciation even better”
Ken gave a nod. Before long, Ken remembered something, when he was attending the Takeru family honor ceremony which is usually held every year in front of the shrine
"Is this spell Grandpa always chant at honor ceremony?"
Makoto looked a little surprised
“Yes, every time the honor ceremony took place, I will recite it”
Ken gave a nod, his expression then turned astonished
“Then, what about the soul chain? It doesn't come out from my arms"
Makoto replied
“Soul chains are different things. It is something that does come from our own body, or rather our soul, to channel the power of your soul energy”
Ken's expression turned confused. Makoto continued talking
"I will explain step by step, no need to rush. This training will make you able to do it”
Ken gave a nod and looked a little nervous. Makoto continued talking
“First of all, a Yokai weapon that is marked with a possession mark will not be able to injure its own master in any way, so even if the weapon is stolen, it will not be able to injure its real owner. The Yokai weapon will also weigh more lightly than it should be, which is usually slightly heavier than a regular weapon. Yokai weapons can be made as many as possible, but ordinary Yokai weapons will tend to be monotonous in strength, though not always. While the Yokai weapon with a possession mark, its power can increase and exceed the original Yokai power. This is why sometimes you can bounce your Yokai attacks using your katana Yokai weapon. But it must be practiced regularly, or the strength will return to its original state”
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
Ken looked surprised
“Although it's hard to believe, after going beyond all this, I can understand. Please continue the explanation”
Makoto smiled
"The way to mark the ownership of a Yokai weapon is, the Yokai in question and the owner of the Yokai weapon must give each other a blood mark on the Yokai weapon and make an agreement"
Ken appeared to understand Makoto's explanation, but he then appears to immediately realize something
"But, aren't Yokais bloodless, grandpa?"
Makoto smiled while giving a nod
"You realize that quickly, I was just about to explain. And yes, Yokai doesn't bleed. But this does not apply if the wound inflicted is from a weapon made from his own body”
Ken's expression turned astonished
"How can be like that? The Yokai in question suddenly had blood or something?”
Hearing this, Makoto himself also looked doubtful
"I don't know either. But that's all, it doesn't affect anything else in the Yokai"
Ken's expression turned surprised, he then gave a nod. Makoto continues talking
"Now, you call Asanuma"
Ken gave a nod
"Okay Grandpa"
Following his grandfather's orders, Ken then took the glove puppet Asanuma near their lunch bag which was on the steps of the shrine. Ken returned to his grandfather, he then took a stance and concentrated
"Come, Asanuma"
Before long, glove puppet Asanuma began to react, pillars of black smoke began to evaporate from all over this glove puppet, swarming and spreading around it with increasing size. Within this thick and large smoke, Asanuma then emerges from this puff of smoke with a large form, as high as 4 meters.
Asanuma's attention immediately turned to Makoto and Ken who were in front of him, he then looked around. Asanuma then said
"What am I being summoned for this time?"
Ken answered
“As you can see, Grandpa and I are in training, and we need your help to make a possession mark on my Yokai weapon”
Asanuma smirked
“A mark of possession? Are you afraid of getting hurt while using it?”
Ken replied
"It's not like that, I'm aiming for the advantages"
Asanuma smiled
"Of course, I understand. You only need my blood, then we make a contract together”
Hearing this, Ken appeared a little nervous
"Okay, how do we start?"
Asanuma answered
"Smear your blood anywhere on the sword or the scabbard, as well as my blood, we then say the contract"
Asanuma paused in thought, he appeared to have realized something
"But it's not fun if we apply it normally. What if we spar, until we get hurt, then later we smear our blood to the Yokai weapon?”
Ken looked shocked until his eyes widened slightly
"Now? Are you serious?"
Asanuma smirked
"Of course, I'm serious. Next time, the Yokai you fought might be even stronger than me. You have to be prepared for all eventualities. But take it easy, we don't need to overdo it. Hurt and bloody as needed, Hahaha"
Asanuma laughed out loud and appeared excited. On the other hand, Ken looks surprised. Makoto who had been watching them for a while then interrupted
"Good idea Ken, consider it to complete our practice today"
Ken was surprised again
“Wait, it's really not a joke?”
Hearing this, Asanuma and Makoto looked at Ken while smiling. To Asanuma and Makoto, this is of course just a joke, but they don't want to spoil Ken's spirit.
Ken gulped, his expression turned nervous. Ken steadied his heart, his expression then turned serious. Ken raised his sheathed katana to his face level, then pulled it slightly from its scabbard
"Okay, I won't hold back"
Asanuma smirked
“Good, just what I wanted”
Ken then pulled his Katana completely from its scabbard.
Asanuma and Ken took their positions, now they were standing opposite each other in the middle of the field in front of the Takeru family shrine. Ken put his sword scabbard on the baldric at his waist, Ken took the stances, gripped his katana with both hands, and positioned it on the left side of his face, while pointing it upside down towards the front.
They prepared, and after a while, Asanuma decided to attack first. Asanuma dashed toward Ken until the concrete surface was destroyed. Asanuma shortened his distance from Ken quickly and stabbed his claws at Ken from above. Ken parried using his katana, their attacks collided very strongly, causing a strong blast of wind to spread around them, and sparks. Asanuma continued his attack from the front using his claws, Ken then parried it while pushing and deflecting Asanuma's attack, Asanuma looked surprised by it. Ken slashed back, and Asanuma immediately parried this attack with his claws. They then continued to attack each other vigorously, each of their colliding attacks giving rise to powerful blasts of wind and sparks. Until the next few moments, they continued to attack each other. Asanuma moved away, quickly moved in another direction, and attacked, Ken watching him closely. Ken appears inclined to wait for Asanuma to approach him, having lost in terms of fast mobility.
Some time passed, and now they were standing opposite each other breathless, and without any major injuries. On the other hand, Asanuma appeared to be almost running out of stamina to keep attacking. Ken appears to have managed to keep up with Asanuma. Asanuma thought to himself
“Ken continues to defend carefully, to prolong the duration of the fight where it will cost me. He's not just getting stronger, but also smarter…”
Asanuma appeared to let go of his alert stance and stood quietly. Asanuma then said
"Let's get this over with before I run out of stamina to make a contract with you"
Hearing this, Ken appeared a little surprised, he too then left his alert stance and put his katana back into its scabbard.