Chapter 16

## Chapter Chronology

**The Greatest Loser** is the 16th chapter of the "*Shuumatsu no Valkyrie: Record of Ragnarok*" manga series.

## Summary

In all his life, Kojiro Sasaki has never won a single fight. In the closing years of the Sengoku Period, in Echizen of Ichijodani Castle Town, Kagekatsu Toda is teaching his pupils how to wield a sword. After beating one of them, he huffs about how they've been slacking. He attempts to tell them how a moment of weakness can be fatal, only for a young, yawning Kojiro to come into the Toda Dojo. Kagekatsu calls him brave for coming in so late and Kojiro thanks him for the praise, much to Kagekatsu's frustration. Deciding to whip him into shape, Kagekatsu throws a wooden sword to Kojiro and delivers a downward slash.

Kojiro successfully blocks against it, much to Kagekatsu's delight and to the wonder of his pupils. They then exchange a number of sword slashes. At a certain point, Kagekatsu disarm Kojiro. Kagekatsu attempts to keep attacking but Kojiro immediately says he gives up.

Kagekatsu questions if he really calls himself a warrior and tells Kojiro if he can't fight with his sword, use his hands. If he can't use his hands, use his teeth, asserting that he has to struggle until the end. However, Kagemasa Toda tells Kagekatsu to knock it off and says to his older brother, Seigen Toda, that there's no reason for Kojiro to be here as he possesses no talent. Seigen asks Kojiro why he gave up so easily and Kojiro explains that, even if he tried 100 times, he can't beat Kagekatsu and if he injures himself trying, he'll only damage his future prospects.

Kagemasa says it's like he's a budding merchant, causing Kojiro to once again thank him for his praise, even though both Kagemasa and Kagekatsu insist they aren't praising him. Seigen asks if that's true and Kojiro replies that he's shameful to admit it, much to the amusement of everyone in the dojo. Both Kagekatsu and Kagemasa had erred in their judgement since they did not know the true nature of Kojiro. In a forest, Kojiro hangs from a branch upside-down, wondering how to win against Kagekatsu. He contemplates training up his arm strength but decides that leg strength is more important, given their different physiques. Kojiro then notices a rabbit hopping by.

Dropping to the ground, Kojiro closely observes the movement of the rabbit and copies it, realizing this is what he needs. Kojiro, instead of training in a dojo, decided to learn from the nature around him. When the rabbit begins to get away, Kojiro hops after it, only for that to lead both him and the rabbit off the edge of a cliff. After climbing up and grasping the dead rabbit by its ears, Kojiro decides to train up his body using meat. At night, Kojiro eats some fish while closely observing a standoff between a frog and a snake. The snake attempts to attack the frog, only for an eagle to swoop in from the sky and pick up the snake as it holds the frog in its mouth. Kojiro also decides to observe beasts that exhibit the flow of battle.

Each time he lost, he would refine his skills for victory. That is the talent Kojiro possesses. At the Toda Dojo, Kagekatsu is continuing to train his pupils. From the entrance, Kojiro apologizes for his lateness. Kagekatsu questions where he's been for the last year and a half, only to be shocked to see Kojiro gained a considerable amount of muscle.

Kojiro asks if Seigen is in and Kagekatsu is speechless, questioning what Kojiro's been doing. Kagekatsu then requests a match and Kojiro states it took 146 tries for him to beat Kagekatsu before declaring he's already surpassed him and thus, isn't interested in fighting him again. When Kojiro attempts to walk past him, Kagekatsu is insulted by Kojiro's words and tries to swing his wooden sword at him, only to imagine the sensation of Kojiro slashing him in half. With his hand held up to stop Kagekatsu from charging, Kojiro says they should stop it here. Sweating, Kagekatsu then bows and admits it's his loss. Seigen comes in and admires Kojiro's change. Kojiro reveals he came here to ask Seigen to display his technique to him. Seigen decides to oblige him.

After picking up a wooden sword, Seigen dares Kojiro to come at him as the visage of a tiger appears from behind him. After that day, Kojiro never returned to the Toda Dojo. Many years later, a blind Seigen travels to Kojiro's house and greets him outside. Seigen admits he's been curious since Kojiro didn't come back and Kojiro invites him in. Seigen takes a step inside and despite being blind, he imagines a group of pupils from the Toda Dojo. Touching a wooden pillar covered in sword slashes, Seigen wonders what kind of training Kojiro has been putting himself through. Kojiro states it took him 4 years and 9 months to surpass everyone at the dojo and it's revealed that Kojiro's entire house is covered in sword slashes while the names of everyone he surpassed are stuck on paper on the walls.

Seigen realizes Kojiro didn't do this to show others but merely to advance his own strength before finding a giant sword slash near a wall with Seigen's name on it, prompting Seigen to realize that Kojiro has surpassed him too.

After Kojiro serves Seigen some tea made from random leaves, Seigen offers to recommend Kojiro to become an instructor for the Asakura family, even positing that Kojiro could become the lord of a castle himself. Though flattered, Kojiro rejects Seigen's offer and reveals he'll be moving on as there is no longer anything that interests him in this region. Seigen asks where he'll go from here and Kojiro decides to aimlessly travel, losing all the way. Few historical records trace Kojiro's journey after he left Seigen's dojo.

Yet despite that black spot in Kojiro's history, the one thing people know for sure, is that Kojiro kept up his losing streak. At the Itto Dojo, Ittosai Itto manages to take down Kojiro. Ittosai comments on how Kojiro lacks training and Kojiro admits defeat. After surpassing Itto, Kojiro moves onto the Yagyu Dojo, where he requests Sekishusai Yagyu to show him his technique. After Sekishūsai disarms him, Kojiro gives up. Once he surpasses Sekishūsai, Kojiro comes into contact with the Sword Saint, Nobutsuna Kamiizumi, and requests a match.

After Kojiro loses, he looks up to the rainy sky. Much like dry soil thirsting for rain, Kojiro continued to seek out foes he couldn't beat. Day after day, he'd lose and begin coming up with ways to beat his opponents. At night, Kojiro sits in front of a waterfall, meditating with a sword. Without looking, he kills a bird in the sky. The narrator states that the reason why he was absent from history until "that day" was simply because he continued to lose, all the while climbing to the peak. After surpassing Nobutsuna, Kojiro begins eating again. Thus, History's Greatest Loser was born.

In the present, while sitting down, Kojiro says he isn't interested in dying today but knowing that surrendering this time won't cut it, he humbly bows and asks Poseidon to show him his technique. However, Poseidon doesn't even acknowledge him and keeps looking down. Sighing, Kojiro stands up. Gripping his **Monohoshizao**, Kojiro inwardly states that he can't turn away now, for the sake of all those who have paved this path for him. If he ran, he could no longer hold his head up high. As Seigen, Kagekatsu, Kagemasa, Ittosai, Sekishusai, Nobutsuna, Musashi Miyamoto and Iori Miyamoto watch from the stands, Kojiro lifts his **Monohoshizao** above his head. This move creates a strong force of wind. After taking in a breath, Kojiro begins the fight and charges at Poseidon. He delivers a single downward swing with all his might, only for Poseidon to easily sidestep the attack.

Lifting his trident, Poseidon prepares to stab Kojiro through. The **Monohoshizao** is 1.5 times heavier than a regular katana. According to all known laws of inertia, halting its acceleration was said to be impossible. However, all of the experience Kojiro had accumulated gave birth to his ultimate technique. A supremely swift strike, capable of catching a swallow, with turning speeds surpassing 200km/hr: **Tsubame Gaeshi**. As Poseidon's trident comes down, Kojiro quickly halts the blade before reversing it and slashing upwards, beating the speed of Poseidon's thrust. The Tyrant of the Seas reacts quickly, moving back, causing **Tsubame Gaeshi** to only cut off a small part of his hair. Ares is dumbfounded that a Human beat Poseidon's swing and Hermes calls what he sees rare – revealing Poseidon is actually looking at Kojiro in the eye, shocked himself.

Noting that he's finally met his gaze, Kojiro greets Poseidon.

## Characters in Order of Appearance

* Kagekatsu Toda
* Kojiro Sasaki
* Kagemasa Toda
* Seigen Toda
* Ittosai Itto
* Sekishusai Yagyu
* Nobutsuna Kamiizumi
* Poseidon (No lines)
* Brunhilde (No lines)
* Göll (No lines)
* Odin (No lines)
* Huginn & Muninn (No lines)
* Loki (No lines)
* Musashi Miyamoto (No lines)
* Iori Miyamoto (No lines)
* Ares
* Hermes