3rd PoV

Vagabond walks into the bar after a mission of arresting 5 orange players, followed by Asuna from behind.

Asuna: Do you really have to beat them up?!

Vagabond: It's called self-defense. You want me to stay there and get stabbed? 

Asuna: One of them is a girl!

Vagabond: So?

Asuna: So?! Have you not learn manners?!

Vagabond: Oh. I'm very equal. I just beat people up, be it, girl or boy.

Asuna: Just where did you get that... *pinches the bridge of her nose*

Vagabond: I train with both girls and boys back in the club, what do you expect? At least they put up a fight better than the ones just now.

Asuna: You're unbelievable...

Vagabond: Yeah, yeah, whatever.

???: My, my~ if it isn't Vagabond himself~!

Vagabond: Oh. Argo. Any news with the message I showed you?

Argo: Hmm... Sorry to say, no. I can't help you with it.

Vagabond: I see.

Argo: But Prodigy of Edo? No idea what is it. There are so many prodigies during the Edo period!

Vagabond: Guess I'll have to figure it out myself...

Vagabond gets up and walks towards the exit before getting stopped by Asuna.

Asuna: Where do you think you're going Mr. Vagabond? Abandoning your duties?!

Vagabond: What duties? I already finished mine. If you want help, do it yourself or get someone else. Real combat is an effective teacher you know?

Before Asuna can continue her banter, Vagabond has already exited the bar. He walks around the town before deciding to go outside of town to kill some mobs. He also tries to develop some techniques but to no avail as all the techniques tend to be impractical.

Vagabond: Guess. I need to have better wits.

He starts to walk around as he hunts mobs until he came across a path that directs him to a cave. He figured something interesting might be in there so he might as well come back tomorrow to check it out until-

???: I... Ke.... Da...

Vagabond stops and draws out his Daito, looking around in waki-gamae stance. Moving his eyes, side to side, looking around, not turning his head. Ears twitching and he tries to catch some hints to know where the mysterious voice is coming from. He. For the first time in his life. Other than during his matches, is in high alert.

???: I... Ke... Da...

He catches the voice this time and turns his eyes, then his head to see the source comes from the cave. With his guard still up with stance, he approaches the cave slowly as he enters it. He saw light, coming from the end of the cave, not far away from where he is coming from.

???: Go... od... Ke... ep... Wal... king...

Vagabond keeps going until he exits the cave. There, he sees a rather nice looking Japanese house. The design is similar to the one he sees in the Edo era from the books he read back in the days.

???: You've... Fi... nal... ly... a... rrived... *cough cough*

Vagabond: Show yourself!

As soon as Vagabond said those words, the wind blows strongly as the leaves from the trees at the courtyard blow towards him. He still has his guard up in his waki-gamae. Out of the corner of his eye... He sees a shine. By instinct, he pivots his foot as he spins his body, dodging a thrust and there. He witnessed it. A leaf. Getting hit by the thrust. Even though it's just one single thrust. The leaf gets obliterated as he heard "Tak! Tak! Tak!". His eyes widen as the assailant stops, sliding on the ground. His back was turned but he can see what he's wearing. A blue haori, with the Japanese word "Makoto" written behind it.

???: Ah... You... dodged... that huh? Im... pres... sive...

Vagabond: You... You are...

The figure turns around as he looks at Vagabond, pointing his katana at him

Vagabond: Okita Souji!

Okita: Ah...? You... Know... A... bout... Me... You... Reminds... Me... Of... Hi... Ji... Ka... Ta... *cough cough*

Vagabond stood in disbelief. The man standing right in front of him. Is the well-known. Okita Souji of the Shinsengumi!

Okita: You... Are... Blee... Ding... I... Ke... Da...

Vagabond gives a surprised look before feeling bit of blood dripping from his cheek. A small cut, made by Okita's thrust.

Suguha PoV

Suguha: Senpai... I'm sorry...

I'm looking out at my senior who is lying in front of me with his gear. The rest of the club members left after giving him a visit. Same goes to his rival from the Kyudo club. We've been visiting him every week just to make sure that he will come back. For him to play this game just to be able to feel what he have lost... Wait... Why is there?!

Suguha: N-Nurse!

3rd PoV

Suguha left the room while yelling for a nurse as it reveals Y/N Ikeda's face have bit of blood dripping down from his cheek, as if it got cut by a sword.

Meanwhile Vagabond is wondering to himself.

Vagabond: 'Strange... Why is there blood? Isn't the game supposed to show no blood at all? And... Why does it feel so real?'

Okita: What... ever... hap... pens... here... will... af... fect... your... bo... dy... Guard... Up...

Okita gets into chudan-no-kamae. Vagabond follows along in a Joudan-no-Kamae with Kirin activated as they both get into a stare down, waiting for the right moment to strike.

Okita: 'This guy... Hi-no-Kamae... It's as if...'

In Okita's point of view, he's seeing a stance that is open to any attack. But an attack from that stance can be devastating. Looking at Ikeda, it's as if...

Okita: 'He's a Pillar of Lightning and Flames...'

Vagabond: 'Chudan-no-Kamae... One single thrust is already enough and I'm good as dead. His infamous Sandanzuki. I want to experience it first hand while I can see it!'

Okita slides his foot a bit to the back as his stance soon changes into the thrusting stance. Vagabond, not phased by it is waiting for the attack to come. The battleground turned quiet from the stare down. Until. The wind blows as leaves are flying in front of them to the ground. It's as if by- no. That's the moment. That's the moment when the Sandanzuki came! Vagabond seeing the incoming thrust was entranced by it. For him, it's a technique... So beautiful... So fast... He snapped out of his cloud of thoughts and trying to time it with a counter. For Okita, it's as if he's going to cut down a pillar that's supporting the heavens. And for him, that's his greatest achievement if he did so.

The thrust came. But it cuts Vagabond's waist a bit. Okita's eyes widen in surprise as he instinctively uses his legs to push himself to his right as he dodges a downward slash that cuts his belly a bit. He slides back as he looks at Vagabond.

Vagabond: Tch. Not deep enough.

Okita: Tru... ly. Like... a tower... supporting... the... heavens... And strikes... Down... Divine... Punishment...

Okita says as he rushes towards Vagabond to deliver a slanted upward slash. Vagabond steps back to dodge the slash before countering with a single hand thrust towards Okita's neck only for him to pivot his foot before using the momentum to turn and change his attack into a low sweep kick, successfully making Vagabond fall on the ground back first. Okita goes for a downward stab to end the fight only for Vagabond to roll away and gets up immediately.

Vagabond: 'Tch. This is going to be hard!'

Okita: What... will...  be... your next move... I... Ke... Da...?

Vagabond looks at the house before taking out his shoto and throws it towards Okita. Okita simply sidesteps to dodge it only to receive a side kick to the right side of his waist. He felt the hit as he see a horizontal slash aimed at his neck in the corner or his eyes. He put up his katana to block and clash with it before pushing Vagabond away. Vagabond jumps back intentionally before running into the house.

Okita: I... See... So... It's... This... Game...

Okita soon chases Vagabond into the house. He entered as he was brought to the living room of the house. There, he can only see a table, paintings. Nothing else. No Vagabond in sight. He put his guard up as he look around, observing his environment. Even a little movement is already good enough of a clue for him. He keeps scanning the room when suddenly, part of the sliding door burst towards him. Okita quickly turn around to cut it in half to see no one. But in a split second. As the 2 halves are falling down. He saw Vagabond pushing away the other half of the door as he went for a horizontal slash. Okita caught by surprised quickly blocked it but was pushed away from the strength of Vagabond's swing. Okita regains his balance until Vagabond came, not allowing him a single room to breathe, keeps sending continuous slashes as Okita keeps blocking, losing his balance before his back hits the wall and both swords clash.

Okita: You... Hide behind... The door... To cover... Clever...

Vagabond: To hear that from a prodigy, thank you!

Okita pushes Vagabond's Daito away as he starts to send his own barrage of slashes coming from the sides and above. Vagabond keeps blocking and blocking until he found a chance to parry it to deliver a counter in the form of a downward slanted slash, cutting Okita from left shoulder to his right waist. Blood sprays out as Okita gets slashed. He kneels on one knee on the ground with his katana supporting him.

Vagabond: If. You're not caught off guard by it. I'm sure. You can defeat me.

Okita slowly gets up, stumbling and panting and he gets into his stance.

Okita: You... Are... Truly... A good swordsman.... It's as if... You've lived through... Thousands... No... Millions of... Duels... And come out... alive... So this... Is the power... Of the new era...

Okita looks at Vagabond is he sees an image of Hijikata Toshizo, standing before him.

Okita: Hiji... Kata... I'm... Sorry...

Okita points his sword at Vagabond. He can tell what's coming next. Okita is putting everything he got. Into this one final thrust. Vagabond answered by getting into a relaxed stance. There. The last Sandanzuki. Was unleashed.

Okita suddenly burst forward in great speed to land a thrust only for Vagabond to counter it by parrying Okita's katana, twirling his daito, changing it into a reverse grip. He uses his wrist to hit down Okita's, making him lose balance and thrust the pummel of his Daito at Okita, making him tumbling back not before turning his wrist again, slashing Okita across his throat as blood sprays out. Okita held his throat as he kneels on the floor. There. His final moments... He sees his comrades, flashing through his eyes as Hijikata was standing in between the group of Shinsengumis.

Okita: Hijikata. My comrades... I'm sorry... I'm unable to join your last battle... Together...

Hijikata: Dumbass.

Okita: ?! H-Hijikata!

Hijikata: No ones blaming you, you know? You can't fight because of your condition. And we all know that. So. Don't you dare. Don't you fucking dare! DIE WITH A SENSE OF REGRET!

Okita: B-But-

Kondo: Idiot. If you bear a sense of regret as you die, we. As all will bear it together. Cause, we. Everyone. All of us. Are the Shinsengumi! And you too. Okita-san.

Okita: Kondo-san...

Okita looks at all of his comrades as tears runs down his cheek.

Okita: Everyone!!!

Vagabond gets his daito ready as he does a clean slash at Okita's neck. His head flew in the air as Okita's eyes sees Vagabond. There... His last thoughts...

Okita: 'Y/N Ikeda... Thank you. So much.'

Okita thoughts as his head fell down on the tatami floor. Vagabond swing his Daito around, cleaning his blade before sheathing it. He walks out of the house, picking up his Shoto and sheaths it before deactivating Kirin.

Vagabond: You. Sure have a great memory huh, Okita-san?

He left the place. And there. Lies Okita's head with his eyes closed, with a small smile.

Vagabond PoV

I made it out to the other end of the tunnel before hearing rumblings as the tunnel was soon covered with rubbles, closing off the small dungeon completely.

Vagabond: Rest in peace, Okita-san.

He walks away as he receives a message.

"Rewards for completion of the quest, The Prodigy of Edo has been sent to your inventory box and a new skill has been added!"

Vagabond: What?

Vagabond opens his inventory as he sees the name of the weapons.

"Kojiki Kiyomitsu"
"Kiku-Ichimonji Norimune"

Vagabond: These swords... They are Okita-san's!

He went to check the skill list to see if any new skills are added and there it is.

"Mumyou, Sandanzuki"
Description: An attack so fast that that it's almost untraceable by the naked eye. 3 thrust in one attack that breaks through even the strongest defense.

Vagabond: Kayaba. Just what are you planning?

Vagabond thought is he walks back to the town.

To Be Continued

Glossary:- 
-Waki-gamae: A stance where the user holds their blade at their side with their pummel pointing up. It's mostly used for hiding the range of their blade.

-Hi no Kamae/Joudan no Kamae: A stance, as described in the story, where it's open to attacks but the damage cause by it's downward slash can be fatal. Hi no Kamae also means Pillar of Flames.

-Kyudo: Japanese martial art of Archery.

Author: Wonder why it takes long to update? Thinking of sword fight ain't easy especially when you're trying to entertain people. And. Babysitting 4 to 5 months old ain't in easy job. Also. With the current events. Please take care of yourselves, stay in doors. That's all. Thank you for reading this poorly made book (in my standards that is...)