The next morning:

Heaven, Water, Mountain, and Wind... Water in the north, and Fire in the south..." Moistened in the morning mist, Kongming's sweet voice brought me back from dreamland. "Channel Fire onto Water, and drop into Lake..."

As I woke up and then stood up, I saw Kongming stroking on the grass with incomprehensible mumble. 'What is she doing? Is she practicing a spell?' I asked myself in my mind. "Morning, princess. Is this... your morning exercise?" I asked. Kongming paid me no heed. "If you're practicing a spell, you should ask me for help..." "Nonsense! It's a Fire in Water Formation." Kongming yelled at me. "Fire in Water Formation? Is that a spell?" "Sigh, you don't know any formation and you can't spot a trap... I wonder how are you making a living as a knight and as a wizard" What she said provoked me with a tick mark on my head. "Hey! I can avoid traps! I make my living as a knight and a wizard by helping people. Insult me again and I'll electrocute you with my lightning." Lightning appeared in my hand but it did not scare her. "You still don't know anything about formations. Yama is of pure Ying and Amorphous stands for Chaos. There has to be a Beast of Yang that relishes fire but fears water."

I stopped generating lightning in my hand then spoke in my mind. 'I need to get used to the Princess and her insults. I really don't care if she is a loli, she's been getting on my nerves. But I have to let this one slide.' "I see. You plan to lure the Yang Beast to the Abyssal Alter for a better chance." "...Why would you know the Abyssal Alter?" "Because... I've been there before a year ago." "Nonsense! It's a top secret protected from common people! Who are you exactly? And how did you manage to get there?" Now Kongming was getting suspicious of me. "..." 'I can't tell her that I'm from Earth or the future. I don't know what the main characters that were sent to another world would do if they were in this situation.' "Speak up now! I don't have time for your little game! The Seven Star Formation is not yet fully developed. I need to head to the Astershire not far from here to prepare." "Hold on." "Huh? Don't try to avoid the subject!"

'Think Patrick, think! What would Kazuma, Ains, Tanya, Subaru, Naofumi, Seiya, Saito, Diablo, Touya, Kogome, Inuyasha, Taichi, Rin, Shirou, Sora, Rimuru, or Mile do?' An imagination cloud appeared above my head and played what the main characters from different Isekai Anime I've watched would do and found the answer. Then the imagination cloud disappeared and I spoke. "You can hear about my background and what I know about your plan later. But I believe it's time for our friend behind the tree to come out and say hello." "What?"

"..." The person came out of hiding and revealed to me this world's version of Mei. "Apologies. I didn't mean to pry, but I'd hate to interrupt your conversation. Please forgive my intrusion." "Hokushin Mei... my uncle's samurai?" Asked Kongming. "You know her?" I asked. "I met her at an imperial banquet a while back. She is known for Hokushin Nitoryu, a deadly art of duel swords." "Your Highness knows my name? That's... an honor. Your Highness should know my purpose, too. Please allow me to escort Your Highness back to the prince." Said Mei. 'The prince? Is she also sent by Jackal to kill Kongming?' I asked myself in my mind.

"Hold on. I was told first to bring her back." I said. "You were not the only one sent." Said Mei. "What if I say no?" Asked Kongming. "I was told to bring Your Highness back, dead or alive. Please don't make this hard for me." The samurai had her hands resting gently on her duel swords.

"... Looks like we'll have to settle our difference the hard way. A pity that we should disturb the peaceful birds in the forest..." "Wait." I interrupted Kongming. "It's the second time you've interrupted me today. Don't make this a habit!" I stepped forward as my duel wielding swords sheathed appeared on me. "Please leave the fight to me." "Huh? I have to admire your blind confidence, for a rookie knight who just avoided an obvious trap." "I've been a knight a long time and I'm not a rookie. I've also done a bit of research on Hokushin sword art. Besides, you must be tired from early morning rising. One more thing, Where did Tesla-Zero go?" "Well, about that..." "Huh?" "I... I tore down some of her parts while she's sleeping, but I couldn't seem to put them back in place." "..." "Why does it matter? I was just being curious! Or is it that you have no chance without her?" "She was supposed to be used for emergency use only. But since she's out of commission because of you, I'll fight without help." I unsheathed my Dragon Swords in the forms of Kirito's Elucidator and Dark Repulser.

"So what will it be, Your Highness?" Asked Mei. "My guard will fight you head on." Answered Kongming. "That's right, I'll fight you to defend Princess Kongming." I said to Hokushin Mei. "So be it. May I have your name before the battle?" Asked Mei. "My name is Patrick Ewing. Knight of the Dragon." "Well, my name is Hokushin Mei." Then she unsheathed her swords too. "Bring it..." My swords glowed. So did Mei's swords. Then we charged in and our swords met. The next instant, I felt a freezing wind swept by my left side, followed by a clang of 4 clashed swords.

Clank!

I had managed to block a fatal strike. I've spared and trained with the Mei of my world and she's used duel wielding like I have. I've also spared and trained with Sakura with duel wielding. So I have a chance at beating Hokushin Mei. "Hey, are you OK, Mr. Patrick?" Asked Kongming. "I'm fine... Hokushin Nitoryu is no joke." I said. "Huh? You know my moves? I guess you're not nobody after all." Said Mei. "I've spared and trained with someone like you that knows Hokushin Nitoryu. So I do know your moves." I said. "You haven't seen anything yet." The next attack came before she finished her words, but I was better prepared and saw it clearly. It came for my heart with the speed of lightning. But then I blocked it with one of my swords. Another clang. Her blades hit mine and was slightly deflected. 'I better get serious now! Better use what ever moves I can think of!'

With my strength I pushed Mei back which made her skid back. 'I'm gonna use Kirito's...' "Starburst Stream!" I charged in. I first did a horizontal swing with my right sword which then Mei blocked with her left sword, then I followed up with an uppercut with my left sword which Mei blocks too with her right sword. I jump up then I slash at her with both of my swords landing a direct hit and another one while spinning twice. I land then I do an x slash which Mei blocks with her swords. I did the rest of the technique like how Kirito would do it and with the 16th slash I pushed Mei back with my left sword. I smirked. "You liked the Starburst Stream? I learned it from this guy named Kirito who came from this land called Aincrad. I also know other moves and techniques from other people who came from different lands." Imagination illusions of my favorite main characters from the Isekai Anime I've watched appeared above me along with my favorite main characters from the fantasy Anime I've watched.

Hokushin Mei smiled. "You fight well Mr. Patrick. A samurai does not butcher the surrendered. We don't have to continue fighting. Yield now and you'll be spared" Said Mei. "Haha, Hokushin Nitoryu is always terrifying, no matter how many times you've faced it." I said. "Huh? I cannot recall fighting you before." "I told you, I've fought against another girl who knows Hokushin Nitoryu like you do." "I guess you're not surrendering yet. Well then..." Mei dashed at me with another thrust while I did the same thing only I leaned to my right and then I swing my right sword at her left. "!!!" Failing to anticipate my reactions, Mei lost her focus and very soon, she lost her balance to dodge my blade. But before I could hit her, she pulled herself away swiftly. "That was..." "Just as I expected." "What!?" "You've grown too comfortable with your duel swords." "What do you mean?" "Your habit has led to reliance... and reliance is you weakness."

Having watched two of her thrusts in close range, I was warming up to the trick and finally seized the initiative. Aim at her left!

Clank!

"Ugh..." My strike was blocked, but I also sensed hesitation in her. "Hokushin Nitoryu... One sword to attack, and the other to defend. It's like holding a sword in your right hand and holding a shield in your left hand, only your holding another sword in your left hand. You always attack with your right hand, and defend with your left." "..." "Now that I have the advantage over you, you don't quite feel at ease. Which is evident in your balance, or imbalance." "Humph, did you find out from the second attack?" "Yes, your left was clearly imbalanced. On any other day, you'd have blocked me with your left hand sword with more training. Your muscle memory kicked in and got in the way. My thrust right now just confirmed my theory. Your right hand was rigid and couldn't put up solid defense. If we were on the battlefield, I'd have bitten the dust long ago if I was defenseless. But here and now, I need every edge to win."

"Humph, everything can happen in battle. I can't blame you." Mei took a deep breath and resumed her posture. "It's an honor to fight you today. We'll know who is the better samurai in the next move." Exactly. We had both learned what the other was capable of, and the next round would decide the winner. "..." "..." "Ha!" "Ha!" A mighty blow of the earth shaking momentum. With our swords and weaknesses concealed, we gave it all. We screamed as we charged in. And when our swords met again...

Clank!

This time the clash brought a deciding tone of finale. "!" "!!! Her swords are broken." Said Kongming. On the grass not far lay the other halves of the broken swords. Mei had nothing but two stumps of two swords in her hands.

"Hmph... looks like my swords were stronger than yours." I said. "... I lost." What Mei said brought gilt to me as my face changed. "Oh, sorry.... about your swords..." Mei lifted her hand to stop me from talking. "I've been wandering blindly on the way of Ninjutsu, and this is what I deserve. A defeat for an opportunity to open up a new door of Ninjutsu training. It's a good deal to me." "Well, what about the princess..." "I lost fairly and squarely, and that's the end of it." I sheathed my swords then I went and handed the pieces of Mei's swords back to Mei. "Your Highness." "Wha-What?" Asked Kongming. "Your highness has an impressive guard." "Humph, that's for sure." "..." I said nothing. "Farewell, then." Said Mei. "Huh? You sure you don't want me to fix your swords? Tesla-Zero and I will restore them good as new in an instant once I wake her up." I asked. "No need. A broken sword cannot be reforged, the same way a dead man cannot be brought back to life. Mr. Patrick." "Huh?" "I look very much forward to sparing with you again in the future. Next time, expect Hokushin Ittoryu." "...Hmm, I feel the same." "... It's not my place to say, but please indulge me." "Huh? What do you mean indulge you?"

Mei turned to Kongming. "Your Highness, please keep an eye on Imperial Mentor Jackal. She's been shaming behind the prince for a long time." "Humph, I'm not so ignorant as to need the advice of an enemy." Said Kongming. "I won't bother Your Highness with more of my gibberish. I'll be on my way." Mei took off towards the depth of the woods and soon faded in our sight. "Phew... that's a little bit heavy for morning exercise. Wake up T now. We should get go..." A sudden and overwhelming soreness shot up from my leg.

"Mr. Patrick!! It's... blood? This much blood?!" Shouted Kongming. I looked down and saw that my leg was bleeding blood. I flashed back to when I was using Kirito's Starburst Stream. "So she did manage to hit me. Good grief." I sat down then rolled up my cloth as Princess Kongming got a herb and then chewed it up into mash then applied to my leg. It stings me because of how bitter it was but I kept calm. "Kongming..." "Don't talk. You were badly hurt, but I'll patch you up in a minute." Kongming carefully rolled silk cloth around my wound, and occasionally, her cold fingers touched my skin. I looked closer and found sweat drops seeping from her forehead, and her ornate cuffs stained with dirt and blood. Most characters in Anime help the wounded with herbs and cloth which was happening right now.

"Sorry to have you worried. I was only protecting you with everything I've had." I said. "You're a joke! You didn't notice my trap even though you avoided falling in, didn't notice the sword wound on your leg, and couldn't even cook fish! A farmer's life suits you much better!" Kongming's words were fast and furious, but her hands were slow and soft. A huge tick mark appeared on my head with an annoyed face. I wanted to threaten her to shut up with one of my Divine Keys to scare her but that would lose Kongming's trust on me. "Done." "Thank you." "Humph..." Kongming was clearly still mad at me even though I managed to beat Mei. "...We're even now." "What do you mean?" "You saved me, and I saved you. Even." "Oh... you were saying the duel with Miss Hokushin. We should probably leave here now. Besides, the "Jackal" Miss Hokushin mentioned sounds really dangerous. Kongming, wake up Tesla-Zero and we'll hit the road. Oh, you do know how to put the parts back, right?" "No way." "Eh?" "... I... I've made a mess of her. She's going to be mad at me." "Yeah, that does sound like her... But you have to own up to your mistakes." "Stop it! I... I'll wake her up now!"

A few minutes later:

"Yaaaaawn... it's morning already?" Tesla-Zero woke up. "Good morning, Miss Ironfist. How did you sleep last night?" Asked Kongming. "Huh? What's that weird smile on your face?" "Anything you would like for breakfast? I can give you a wonderful massage to start your day in a refreshing way." "Tsk, skipper, what's wrong with her? She's all of a sudden... Hey, skipper! What's with the blood on you?" "Ah... I fought against someone that was after Kongming So I defeated her but there was a wound on my leg that I didn't notice so she helped me." I said. "Wait... I've been offline for 10 hours 7 minutes?!" Shouted Tesla-Zero. "Ahem... I... I have some urgent business to..." "D*** you, fortune teller!!!" Tesla-Zero interrupted Kongming.