Kojiro Sasaki/Plot

## Ragnarok

Third Round • Fifth Round • Sixth Round • Seventh Round • Eighth Round • Ninth Round

## Past

### History's Greatest Loser

Although he didn't really take his training at the dojo seriously and sometimes showed up late, he was a talented swordsman who could block some attacks from the instructor of the Toda dojo, Kagekatsu Toda, but surrendered as soon as he started losing. This angered Kagekatsu and he scolded Kojiro, telling him he should continue fighting even with his teeth had he loses his sword and his arms. Seigen Toda, the master of the dojo, asked Kojiro why he surrendered.

He explained that, even if he had fought against Kagekatsu 100 times, the results would remain consistent, giving up in order to avoid receiving an injury. The fencing instructors mocked Kojiro, saying that he does not want to damage his prospects as a budding merchant. No longer interested in training at the dojo, Kojiro decided to train in the wild, learning from the animals and nature. Six months later, he returned to the dojo, having appeared much more stronger than prior.

Kagekatsu offered Kojiro to spar with him, but the young swordsman rejected the offer, saying he has already surpassed his instructor. When Kagekatsu charges at him, Kojiro effortlessly demonstrates that he could kill his challenger with one attack. The man kneels and admits defeat, which confuses Kojiro. Seigen approaches the scene and Kojiro explains that he came to challenge the master of kodachi himself. The old swordsman defeated Kojiro, and that was the last time he would return to his dojo.

Years later, Seigen visited Kojiro and, upon entering his former student's house, visualized powerful figures of every person that Kojiro has surpassed through arduous training, Seigen included. Kojiro later travelled across Japan encountering various sword masters and martial artists and losing to all of them. But through those defeats, Kojiro Sasaki studied their movements and found ways to counter them while improving his own swordsmanship by incorporating their moves into his own style.

At the age of 26, Kojiro was defeated and even killed in a duel by Musashi Miyamoto. During the duel, Kojiro considered surrendering before the fight turns into a deathmatch, but decided that if he were to do so, he would regret it for the rest of his life. Both men felt immense respect and kinship towards each other during the fight. Kojiro's regret in his dying moments was that he did not get to fight against Musashi a little longer.

## Ragnarok

After his death, Kojiro trained constantly by simulating every single movement and technique of the swordsmen and animals that he saw when he was alive. He has faced their images ten of thousands of times and surpassed all of them while also mastering their moves.

400 years after his death when all of the gods decided to end all of humanity, Brunhilde pointed out a clause known as Ragnarok which gives humanity a fighting chance. All of the gods rejected the idea until Brunhilde insulted their pride. Kojiro Sasaki was one of the peak human warriors selected to participate and fight against the gods in Ragnarok.

### Third Round

Before the third battle, as Brunhilde was struggling to pick humanity's countermeasure against Poseidon, Kojiro Sasaki appeared behind her as an old man and volunteered to fight in the third round. At first she was skeptical due to his appearance until Kojiro demonstrated his dexterity by gracefully catching a falling jug of milk with his sheath without spilling a drop. He then nonchalantly proceeded to drink the milk and eat some discarded pieces of pie from the floor.

Kojiro explained that his style's evolution never ended, making his potential old age his golden age. At some point after this, Hrist performed Völundr with Kojiro and turned into his nodachi, **Monohoshizao**.

Kojiro arrived on a small fishing boat, traversing the oceanic terrain and stopping at the small platform in the middle. Initially after his introduction in the arena, humanity doubted his ability to fight.

Among his contemporaries, Iori Miyamoto, Seijuro Yoshioka, and Inshun Hozoin, wondered why Musashi isn't the one representing humanity. But when Kojiro Sasaki drew out his sword and stilled the water around the arena, the swordmasters, including Musashi, shed tears and admitted that Sasaki is unparalleled under the heavens. For a short time since the start of the match, Kojiro scanned Poseidon and wasn't able to find any way to attack him without being killed.

Kojiro then sat down saying that he didn't want to die, surprising everyone in the audience.

After some thought, the swordsman humbly asked Poseidon to demonstrate his technique, in hopes of gathering more information about the sea god's movements, but Poseidon did not even acknowledge Sasaki's presense.

Despite not seeing any way to survive even the first exchange, Kojiro decided to attack in order to not embarrass himself in front of other swordsmen, opening with his best move, **Tsubame Gaeshi**. The attack missed, only managing to cut off some of Poseidon's hair. This angered the god of the seas, and he started advancing on his opponent, which was so rare that it shocked the gods. Poseidon used **Amphitrite**, but Kojiro dodged every thrust, because his scanning ability allowed him to predict them.

The sea god then whistled and started adding a little more strength to his attacks. Kojiro was unable to react in time and reveived a wound on the left side of his abdomen. Poseidon then mocked the swordsman, smiling at him derisively. The gods in the audience erupted in cheers for their representative, but Poseidon stared them down, forcing the arena to fall silent. Sasaki asked why he does not accept support from his fellow gods, to which Poseidon replied that supporters are unnecessary to those who have attained perfection.

Kojiro was disappointed to hear this and called it a pretty sad existence. This remark filled the god of the seas with tranquil fury, and he attacked Sasaki with **Chione Tyro Demeter**. Kojiro continued to learn to evade Poseidon's attacks as he observed them and later used **Ganryu Ougi Torakiri** when he found an opening for a counterattack, but his blade was immediately shattered by Poseidon's trident.

Kojiro then picked up the broken half of the blade with his other hand and asked the god if he ever lost himself and trained until the sun rose, or if he ever cried tears of gratitude for those that made him stronger, or if he ever felt love towards his opponent in a fight to the death. Poseidon didn't respond. Apologising, he stated that he knew Poseidon never felt any of that. Kojiro said that the sword represents the history and the hearts of all swordsmen, and that he would never lose to someone who never considered the hopes and dreams of others.

Poseidon looked at the swordsman dismissively, but as the human finished his speech, the two pieces of his broken sword emitted pillars of light and reformed into a katana and a kodachi, having performed a *Re Völundr* using the sword's broken halves. Now using the **Niten Ganryu Ougi**, Kojiro offered to continue the fight. Despite the entire audience being amazed at the development, the god of the seas called Kojiro a worm, remaining completely unimpressed, and attacked him.

Kojiro used the techniques of the swordsmen he fought against throughout his life to avoid all of Poseidon's attacks and promply counterattack, leaving Poseidon covered in wounds. In response, Poseidon whistled and smiled, showing Kojiro that he was only now about to get serious. The god of the seas continued to increase the speed of his thrusts, inflicting more wounds on the swordsman, as if, in the face of Kojiro's masterful techniques, Poseidon was only interested in turning the battle into one of pure strength. Poseidon used **Medusa Alope Demeter**, instantly retaking the initiative.

Overwhelmed by Poseidon's assault, Kojiro started to lose hope, feeling a drowning sensation facing his opponent's inumerable attacks. He then he heard all of his fellow swordsmen chant his name, giving him the motivation to fight back. Kojiro's scanning ability evolved further, allowing him to scan all of creation at once. He successfully defended against all of Poseidon's attacks and closed the distance with him by using extremely fast footwork.

Kojiro counterattacked Poseidon's thrust with **Soen Zanko Banjin Ryoran**, cutting off the god's right arm, but Poseidon still continued to use his broken trident with his other arm until it was immediately also cut off. Having only his teeth left, Poseidon furiously bit on his weapon's shaft and tried to stab Kojiro. Kojiro finished the combo with a cross slash, the same move that ended his earthly life. Poseidon angrily cursed at Kojiro as his torso fell to pieces.

Kojiro humbly celebrated his first victory in all his existence. After the end of the third match, Kojiro was about to collapse due to fatigue and blood loss, but Hrist turned back to normal and caught him.

She then walked out of the arena with him to help him with his wounds.

### Fifth Round

Outside of the arena, Soji Okita, and Isami Kondo took Buddha's side and faced off against Loki and the Seven Lucky Gods. Kojiro joined them as well, not being fond of sitting in one place for too long. The conflict was cut short when Zeus and Odin arrived at the scene. Kojiro then joined his fellow Japanese swordsmen and headed to their room to watch the fifth fight.

### Sixth Round

Kojiro was present at Buddha's introduction in the sixth round. When Buddha spoke through the gjallarhorn to the audience and bluntly told them he is fighting for humanity, the entire audience, including Kojiro, were shocked by the declaration. Kojiro was then accompanied by Hrist, as they both anxiously watch the match between Buddha and Zerofuku, who was later absorbed into Hajun. Kojiro was later seen celebrating Buddha's victory with Hrist.

### Seventh Round

Kojiro watched the beginning of the seventh round alongside Hrist, Isami Kondo and Soji Okita in Soji's room. When Qin Shi Huang hit Hades with **Tortoise Ripple**, Hrist asked the swordsmen how Qin was able to throw off Hades' technique with just a puff of air. Kojiro explained the concept of Qi, and how even a simple puff of air to the crux of an attack's power can destabilize it. Kondo notes that in a moving battle, the crux of the flow of Qi would be near impossible to detect, to which Sasaki confirms, but points out that Qin seems to have found a way to do so. Okita expresses his interest in wanting to spar with the king, to which both Kondo and Kojiro concur with.

When Hades begins to whistle and hum after cutting himself open, Kojiro clutches his abdomen, realizing the tune is the same as Poseidon's. When Hades uses **Ichor: Eos** to destroy Qin's left shoulder, Kojiro, Soji and Kondo all note that it seems to be over. Hrist asks them why, to which Sasaki explains that Qin will be unable to block Hades' blows now that he can't use **Heavenly Hand of Defense** or **Tortoise Ripple**. He's shown to be dismayed when even Qin's **Shi Huang Yan Cut** fails to hit Hades, but Okita says that Qin still has life in his eyes, leading Kojiro to wonder if Qin has a plan to counter Hades.

When Qin Shi Huan catches **Ichor: Eos** with **Heavenly Hand of Defense** through his sword, Kojiro is surprised to see Qin trying something so brazen, but is further shocked when Qin uses **Tortoise Ripple** on Hades' spear, destroying it and winning him the battle. After the round ends, Hrist asks how Qin mustered to the strength to break **Desmos**, to which Kojiro explains that he didn't. He says that Qin caught the spear, and in that split second used an air bubble to disable Desmos' Qi point. Hrist is surprised that even a spear had a Qi point, to which Kojiro explains that regular spears do not, but **Desmos** was made a living weapon by having Hades' blood spilled on it. Hrist wonders if that was enough to destroy the spear, to which Okita further elucidates that Qin also used **Heavenly Hand of Defense**. Hrist is confused, saying that the technique failed previously, but Kojiro points out that instead of circulating the power of the attack through his body like Qin usually does, he instead circulated the remaining power **Desmos** had inside Alvitr, as she had become an extension of his body through Völundr.

Hrist finally understands, expressing that she was initially concerned about the pair, but is glad they had good chemistry. Kojiro concurs, saying that Alvitr was impressive and full of surprises, also complimenting Qin, stating that he was the most worthy of the title of king across human history.

### Eighth Round

Kojiro watched the beginning of the eighth round alongside Hrist, Isami Kondo and Soji Okita in Soji's room. When Nikola Tesla managed to hit Beelzebub with his **Tesla Warp,** he was wondering how did he "dissapeared", and later, reacting on Tesla's amazing speed. He was later seen comforting Hrist after Tesla and Göndul's death.

### Ninth Round

Kojiro watched the ninth round between Apollo and King Leonidas along with Soji Okita, Isami Kondo and Hrist. During the round, Kojiro expressed surprise, along with his fellow spectators, when Apollo was able to land an especially strong blow to Leonidas' face directly after binding and immobilizing his arms. Later on in the round, Kojiro, along with Hrist, looked impressed by Leonidas' speech about why he was fighting.

In the final stages of the round, when both Leonidas and Apollo were preparing their final attacks, Kojiro waited in anticipation of their clash, as did the rest of the audience. When the arrowhead for Apollo's **Argyrotoxos** shattered upon impact with Leonidas' **Phalanx Lambda**, Kojiro was very shocked. But the final clash was ultimately won by Apollo and after Leonidas was sent to Niflhel, Kojiro said it was a match to be proud of, praising Leonidas for never flinching against the Sun God and facing him head-on.

Soji expressed jealousy of Leonidas rather than praise and when Kojiro asked him why, Soji told him that he wanted to die in a spectacular battle as well, having died from illness instead.