Chapter 15

**Sea Monster** is the fifteenth chapter of *Tenkaichi Nihon Saikyo Bugeisha Ketteisen* and the final chapter of Volume 4.

## Summary

In the year 1564, in Kent County, England, William Adams was born.

While he made a living as a seaman like his father, his mother trained him in a certain martial art. William's mother, though a woman she was, became a seasoned warrior by fighting as a proxy combatant in the trial by combat system that was prevalent in Europe at the time. Blessed with a superb talent for the martial arts, William's mother passed on the art of the **Dirk** **Dance**, which she had refined, to her son, who inherited her talent.

Chuckling about how Yagyu Munenori is looking forward to his **Dirk Dance**, William questions if a samurai like him can even dance to begin with. Yagyu says even he has the skill for dancing, which prompts William to comment on how that's hot. William decides to put on a little show for the audience that have gathered here before questioning if Yagyu thinks he can keep up.

Skidding the dirk down Yagyu's blade, William mocks him for lagging behind before forcing Yagyu to move his blade upward. As Yagyu questions what this is, William declares it's time to get started before pushing Yagyu back, all the while pulling Yagyu's blade along. Yagyu can't believe William is controlling his motions through the crossing of their blades. After parrying Yagyu's blade away, leaving him open, William wonders how it feels to dance with him before slashing with his dirk. To Mori Ranmaru and the audience's surprise, William manages to cut Yagyu a bit.

Chuckling, Mohri Terumoto recounts how, once anyone gets caught up in William's dancing, they can't fight of their own free will. But his true specialty has yet to come. Mohri can still remember it well: the shock he received the day he first saw William.

Three months prior, at Suo in the Choshu Domain, a retainer brought some urgent news. Mohri questioned what the meaning of this was as he was too busy trying to select a representative for the Tenkaichi. Injured, the retainer relayed how they spotted a foreign ship wrecked along the shore. But just as they went to search for any crew, the retainer claimed a beast came out of the ship.

Mohri thought his retainer was exaggerating when he said it was a beast. But when Mohri went to check it out, he witnessed a naked William Adams, standing in the middle of his retainers' corpses. Mohri thought that "thing" was a creature none should challenge: a sea monster. Mohri couldn't believe William killed dozens of his men alone. Spotting Mohri, William guessed he was the boss around these parts. As Mohri recognised that he was speaking English, William demanded he bring him girls and liquor this instant. Otherwise, he'll kill him and take his territory. At that moment, Mohri became convinced he had met the most fearsome monster in the world.

In the present, as he continues to push him back, William asks Yagyu what's wrong as his footwork has gotten slower. After cutting his arm, William clashes his dirk against Yagyu's katana as he says that Yagyu's gorgeous body getting covered in blood just makes him all the more appealing. William insists he really does need to rape Yagyu, at least once.

The audience recognise that Yagyu hasn't been able to keep his distance at all and Ranmaru exclaims it's like William is making him dance around. As Inshun wonders if this is all a part of William's plan, Mohri goes over how there is a technique in western swordfighting that is rarely seen in Japan, in which the fighters lock their blades to overpower their opponent, known as a **Bind**. William has the **Dirk Dance**, a martial art with an unusual sense of timing and distance and the **Bind** to control his opponent. Anyone who fights against William, who utilises the two as one, will struggle and drown, as if they were sucked into a vortex.

Oda Nobutada smiles and someone approaches, asking him if he's feeling worried. Nobutada points out how he's the one who's worried and he asks Takuan Soho where he's been. Takuan insists he just doesn't want to see Yagyu in the act of killing, to which Nobutada replies that he should've stayed asleep inside instead and that Yagyu will not change his ways to suit Takuan's demands. The reason being that Yagyu Munenori is a natural-born killing machine.

William questions if there's something wrong as Yagyu's whole body has become sluggish. William wonders if he wants to give up when Yagyu smirks. Noting that this is the **Dirk Dance**, Yagyu says it controls one's opponent and makes them move against their own will, which makes Yagyu call it a very dreadful and yet, very enjoyable game to play.

As William gets confused, Yagyu tells him to dance his lead now. Dragging his katana down to the dirk's guard, Yagyu proceeds to utilise a Bind and pushes William back in the same way he was. William can't believe Yagyu can use a **Bind** as Yagyu says this move is incredibly useful but still so feeble and a long way from perfection. However, Yagyu will not allow William to lift even a single finger. William questions what this sensation is as Yagyu has ensnared his limbs so quickly, leaving him unable to do a thing to resist.

William believes it feels like he's facing a great wave in human form. The audience question what's going on and as Hozoin Inshun and Sasaki Kojiro look on with interest, Ranmaru is intrigued that Yagyu is using William's own moves against him. At that moment, he notices the sky getting dark. As it starts to rain, Nobutada says the time is nigh and recommends Takuan leave if he doesn't want to watch. All of a sudden, Kamiizumi Ise-no-Kami mutters about how a storm is brewing. One of his attendants ask if he's awakened and Kamiizumi guesses this bloodlust he's feeling belongs to Yagyu. After the attendant says he is fighting most resolutely, Kamiizumi chuckles and remarks on how that's very nice.

The Yagyu Munenori of history was a samurai who was highly esteemed in many fields – swordsmanship, philosophy, politics. However, he had a hidden side, which was never recorded in history. Yagyu tells William his rehearsals are over now. As an even larger wave rocks the boat, Yagyu asks William to allow him to lead him into Hell.

It was at this moment, the true nature of the Reaper was revealed.

## Appearing Characters

* Hozoin Inshun
* Kamiizumi Isenokami
* Mohri Terumoto
* Mori Ranmaru
* Oda Nobunaga
* Oda Nobutada
* Sasaki Kojiro
* ***Takuan Soho***
* William Adams
* Yagyu Munenori