The current time is 9:00 am. The sky was clear, with the sun shining gently. On the field in front of the Takeru family's shrine, Ken and Makoto were standing facing each other, about to continue their training. Ken's expression turned curious
"Has grandpa ever done this before?"
Makoto replied
“Yes, 2 times before”
Ken looked surprised
"Two times? Who are they, Grandpa? Didn't the Takeru family not do this anymore?”
Makoto nodded
“Yes, but a select few of the Takeru family are obligated to inherit this technique so it doesn't extinct. I don't think the Takeru family itself really wants to give up this… power?”
Ken's expression turned astonished
"I think I can understand that…"
Makoto smiled
"Someone of the people I helped pull out the soul chain was your uncle, long ago. And the other one is someone who is outside the Takeru family”
Saying that Makoto's expression showed that something was bothering him. Seeing his grandfather, Ken looked surprised. Makoto continue talking
“Before we do this, there's one thing I want to tell you. Pulling the soul chain out would be painful to do, so I hope you are prepared”
Hearing this, Ken appears more and more nervous
"Grandpa is very encouraging to say that..."
Makoto replied
"I won't lie to you. I'd better say it now because I hope you don't overreact which might lead to failure"
Ken had made up his mind
"Alright, after training so far, I won't back down"
Makoto smiled, he then gave a nod
“Alright, now listen to my instructions. First of all, hand over your katana sword to me”
Ken then drew his sword from its scabbard, he then gave it to Makoto. Makoto concentrated, he then brought his hand down, and 8 soul chains burst out from his forearms, 4 chains from his right forearm, and other 4 chains from his left forearm, the soul chain with solid carving, and at the end of the chain is a sharp spear tip. Makoto controls this chain, which is then wrapped around Ken's Yokai weapon like this chain is an extension of Makoto's body
“You can use the scabbard to support your body to keep you stable”
Ken's expression turned nervous, and he then gave a nod. Ken plunged his scabbard into the ground and gripped it tightly. Makoto pointed the tip of Ken's Katana towards Ken’s chest and prepared to stab him
“Get ready… you can close your eyes if you want”
Ken's expression turned serious
"It's okay Grandpa, I have to see it. Besides, I might never be ready for this, so just do it”
Makoto's expression turned serious, and he then gave a nod. Makoto then steadied his stance.
Makoto took a deep breath, he then stabbed Ken’s Yokai weapon into Ken's chest with a fast motion, making Ken look surprised. It appeared that Ken was in shock until his eyes widened, and he felt a tightness and excruciating pain in his chest, like a stabbing pain that should be from his katana sword
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“Arghhh!!!”
Ken screamed while gripping the scabbard tightly and trying to maintain his consciousness and sanity. Ken almost couldn't take it anymore, Makoto pulled back Ken's Yokai weapon, and now, it appears that the eight soul chains of Makoto had tied other eight similar soul chains. As soon as Ken's sword was pulled out, the other 8 chains burst out from Ken's chest, this chain was Ken’s soul chain. Unable to hold the pain any longer, Ken finally fell to his knees, his body shaking frantically, and cold sweat dripping down his body.
Makoto's soul chains then untied from Ken's soul chains, then released from Ken's Yokai weapon, which Makoto was holding. The soul chains that bursts out from Makoto's forearms then retracted back into Makoto's forearms. Ken appeared to be frozen in place with a gasp, and 8 soul chains of his soul dangled forward from his chest. Unable to withstand the shock in his body, Ken finally fell unconscious. It appears that the soul chains dangling out of his chest is slowly pulled back into Ken's chest. Ken's vision grew blurry until finally, everything went black.
The time is now 4:30 pm, Ken slowly opened his eyes, and his body felt heavy. With some difficulty, Ken took a sitting position and looked around. He found himself lying on the bed in his room. Near his bed, his sheathed katana Yokai weapon was leaning against the wall, and glove puppet Asanuma lying on a nearby decorative nightstand. It appears that glove puppet Asanuma eyes are closed, indicating that he is still sleeping and recovering his energy. Ken looked around, it appeared that he was alone in this room. Ken held his chest which had been stabbed by his katana Yokai weapon before, and now he didn't feel any pain at all. Ken's expression turned confused
“The pain is like my sword actually pierced me, it's hard to believe it doesn't leave a trace now…”
Ken looked at the clock on the wall
“About an hour I have passed out”
Ken then realized that there was a note on the agenda notebook sheet on the nightstand on his left, he took it and read it:
"If you don't feel well, rest first. As for the use of the soul chain, shall I teach you in the next training… or now? If you have anything to say, call me anytime.
Regards, Makoto”
Ken then put this note back on the classic nightstand next to him.
While still on his bed, Ken felt his body, and he didn't feel anything wrong. In fact, he was perfectly fine. What happened earlier feels unreal to Ken now. Ken then took a sitting position on the edge of his bed, and he then got up from there. Ken took his smartphone from the top of the nightstand near him, he then called his grandfather. Before long, Makoto answered Ken's call
"Hello? Yes, how are you doing?”
Ken replied
"I'm fine Grandpa, but because of that, I just feel weird..."
Makoto replied
“Yes, it's because your body isn't really hurt, it's your soul that's affected. Only the pain is real"
Ken replied
“That's right, I fainted from the shock… luckily I didn't die”
Makoto replied
"I'm sorry Ken..."
Makoto sounded guilty. Ken replied
"No need to apologize, Grandpa, I guess there is no other choice? Oh right Grandpa, I want us to just continue today's practice because I feel healthy now”
Makoto replied
“It's true, it's normal for you to feel that way. Well, if you want to continue, meet me at the main house practice hall, at 5 this evening. Don't forget to bring your Yokai weapons and Asanuma"
Ken replied
"Okay Grandpa, see you later"
They then ended the call.
The appointed time has arrived, Ken is now walking down the corridor to the practice hall at this house. It appears that Ken carries his Yokai weapon in his left hand, and the glove puppet Asanuma he wears in his right hand. Ken walks while looking at the glove puppet Asanuma who is now in a literate state and his expression is frowning. Not long after, Ken arrived in front of the dark brown wood shiny porcelain colored tall double doors, Ken then opened them and walked in. Inside the practice hall, Makoto appeared to have arrived and stood facing the tall window, looking at the scenery outside. Makoto immediately noticed Ken's arrival, he then turned to face Ken
"I appreciate your spirit, now we will practice using the soul chain"
Ken's expression turned serious, and he then gave a nod.
Ken and Makoto are now standing opposite each other in the middle of this practice hall, not too far apart. Makoto said
"Now try to get your soul chain out"
Ken looked towards his forearms and looked confused. Ken tried to direct his hands in various directions, but nothing happened
"I can't feel my soul chain Grandpa, how do I do that?"
Makoto appeared to have expected this
“The soul chain is not a tool, but a part of your own body, or rather part of your soul. What you need is to think of it that way, with a strong will”
Makoto concentrated, he then fling his right hand towards his right, not long after, 4 soul chains burst out from his right forearm, and dangled long forward, then fell on the floor. The chain soon began to move and was now standing near Makoto like a snake.
Seeing his grandfather, Ken looked amazed. Ken concentrates, he then flings his right hand to the right. But again, nothing happened. Ken concentrated again and tried the same with his left hand, but still, nothing happened. Because of this, Ken's expression turned confused. Makoto then said
"Carefully feel something turbulent within you, then move it, as if you were moving the rest of your body"
Hearing this, Ken's expression turned serious, and he then gave a nod.