EPISODE 1

CHAPTER 1

Ryota’s world was a blend of green and brown, the smell of wet earth, and the sounds of insects. There was no city sparkle, only dense forests embracing the village, keeping his rebellious spirit always suppressed. Ryota—a given name, not an inheritance—lived with one belief: he was a burden.

Since being abandoned by the riverbank when he was too young to remember his family’s faces, that trauma had taken root in his heart. Fortunately, the eyes of an elderly couple who owned an ancient dojo noticed him. The old man, whom Ryota called Grandfather, cared for him unconditionally.

Around the age of eight, Ryota became determined. “Grandfather,” his voice cracked with resolve, “teach me martial arts. I don’t want to be abandoned again. I don’t want to be a burden.”

Grandfather smiled warmly, the wrinkles on his face easing Ryota’s fears. “Ryota, my grandson. You have never been a burden. Grandfather loves you with all his heart.”

Yet the truth was bitter. In every karate or judo lesson Grandfather taught, Ryota was truly untalented. Every strike felt weak; every throw always missed its mark.

“Ryota,” Grandfather advised one evening, watching the sunset paint the sky with orange hope, “don’t force yourself to be something you’re not. Find another path. I promise, I will take care of you.”

The next morning, during his early morning run along the quiet village road to ‘improve his stamina,’ Ryota was startled. On an old notice board, a poster was displayed:

Kageyama Sword Club – Weekly Iaijutsu Training

Instantly, a fire ignited within Ryota’s soul. A sword. That might be his path.

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Sure! Here's the English translation of your text:

Ryota’s world was a blend of green and brown, the smell of wet earth, and the sounds of insects. There was no city sparkle, only dense forests embracing the village, keeping his rebellious spirit always suppressed. Ryota—a given name, not an inheritance—lived with one belief: he was a burden.

Since being abandoned by the riverbank when he was too young to remember his family’s faces, that trauma had taken root in his heart. Fortunately, the eyes of an elderly couple who owned an ancient dojo noticed him. The old man, whom Ryota called Grandfather, cared for him unconditionally.

Around the age of eight, Ryota became determined. “Grandfather,” his voice cracked with resolve, “teach me martial arts. I don’t want to be abandoned again. I don’t want to be a burden.”

Grandfather smiled warmly, the wrinkles on his face easing Ryota’s fears. “Ryota, my grandson. You have never been a burden. Grandfather loves you with all his heart.”

Yet the truth was bitter. In every karate or judo lesson Grandfather taught, Ryota was truly untalented. Every strike felt weak; every throw always missed its mark.

“Ryota,” Grandfather advised one evening, watching the sunset paint the sky with orange hope, “don’t force yourself to be something you’re not. Find another path. I promise, I will take care of you.”

The next morning, during his early morning run along the quiet village road to ‘improve his stamina,’ Ryota was startled. On an old notice board, a poster was displayed:

Kageyama Sword Club – Weekly Iaijutsu Training

Instantly, a fire ignited within Ryota’s soul. A sword. That might be his path.

CHAPTER 2

Ryota rushed to the sword club, only to return home disappointed. “Sorry, kid. The quota’s full. Try next year,” said a senior, suppressing a smile.

He sat on the dojo steps, sighing inwardly. Suddenly, a hoarse yet cheerful voice broke the silence.

“Hey, kid! You want to play with swords, huh?”

An elderly man with graying hair, missing one hand, and a mysterious smile stood before him. Ryota nodded hesitantly. “Hmph… yeah.”

“Come, I’ll teach you a bit,” said the man, pulling Ryota under a leafy tree.

The man, who introduced himself as Mura, began to tell his story. He was a former member of Ebilityz.

“Ebilityz? What’s that?” Ryota asked innocently.

Mura flinched, his smile vanishing. He fell silent for a moment, his face hardening like stone. “It… it’s something I can’t reveal. A state secret.”

Mura continued his tale. He had once wanted to join the sword club, but it was full. He recounted past tragedies: how his parents were murdered before his eyes, and how a mysterious swordsman with wind elemental powers appeared out of nowhere to save him. That trauma, combined with a sense of debt, pushed him onto the path of revenge. He trained alone with swords behind the mountains.

“Unskilled, huh?” Ryota asked, recalling his own fate.

Mura smiled. “Talent? No. But I have the Mind Ability. I can acquire extraordinary intelligence and imagination. I know what to do, strategize cleverly, predict moves, and use a sword optimally just by observing others training at the sword club.” He also told how he had traveled, participating in illegal sword tournaments for money.

One night, at the age of ten, Mura encountered a notoriously cruel gang, the Vultur Gang, kidnapping the mayor’s child. Mura, still a boy, froze between fighting, helping, or fleeing.

At that moment, a cold aura seeped through his body. Unconsciously, the sword in his hand rose and slashed, releasing a fierce Wood Element power. Mura collapsed, unconscious.

He woke up in the luxurious home of the mayor’s child. After hearing the story, the boy’s father immediately contacted Ebilityz. Mura was recruited because he possessed elemental ability and talent—it was a sign of Yang Bloodline.

Mura exhaled deeply, closing the untold storybook. He looked at Ryota, his face cheerful again, but his eyes full of warning.

“Don’t tell anyone this story, or your life will be at risk,” he whispered.

Ryota grinned, “Why are you telling me this?”

Mura stroked his chin. “Because your face… it reminds me of an Ebilityz member I once knew. And because of your ability—I can sense the Yang blood in you. Most likely, you have an element and an ability.”

Without wasting time, Mura trained Ryota for a year. The results were moderate; he had improved significantly, but he had not yet reached a fully satisfying level.

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