In a certain forest, the sound of two wooden swords clashing could be heard. The holders of two swords were earnestly trying to land a hit on each other. They were the hero of Courage, Monzono Kagura, and the Zodiac Brave of Tiger, Blade.

Clack! Clack! Clack! Whack!! Thud!!

The clash ended with a single hit landed and the body collapsed on the ground while holding her head. Kagura got teary eyed as she looked at Blade.

“You’re still rushing forward as usual. Your rhythm of battle was quite stable at the beginning but as the battle prolonged, your tendency of getting reckless increased rapidly. You must fix that bad habit of yours.”

He said.

“Yes, shishou!!”

She bowed toward Blade.

“Now, rest for 5 minutes. After that, we’ll redo our spar.”

He said. Kagura nodded and searched a spot under a tree.

“Say, Shishou.”

She called Blade.

“You said you’re the Zodiac Brave of Tiger. Does that mean there are 12 of you?”

She asked.

“Yeah, that’s right. I can’t disclose everyone’s identity to you but Mana is also one of them.”

Blade said.

“Eh?!! Mana-chan too!!”

Kagura was surprised.

“She’s the Brave of Rooster. That girl is quite strong you know. Her Ougi is even more troublesome then mine.”

He said.

“And she’s also strong?!!”

She was in deeper surprise. Blade stood up and gripped his wooden sword.

“Break time is over. Get your sword.”

He said.

“YES!!”

She stood up.

“Ah, by the way, I’ll show you my technique which is the closest one to my Ougi in term of power.”

He said. Kagura quickly readied her stance.

“[White Tiger Secret Sword Style – Sacred Beast Manifestation]”

He said. As soon as he said that, his body emitted faint silver aura. The aura oozed out from his body and took a form of 3 meters tall white tiger that glared at Kagura. Blade was staying silent and looked at Kagura with sharp gaze.

Kagura gripped her sword tighter. She tried to concentrate but the feeling she got from the white tiger aura was nothing but danger. She wasn’t aware that her body was unconsciously trembling. Sweats gathered at her brows and they flowed down on her cheek.

“[Roar]”

Blade swung his sword. The manifested tiger opened its mouth. At the same time, a strong shockwave spread from his location. Dirt and rocks were sent flying with Blade as the center. Kagura put her guarding stance. The shockwave was quite powerful that she got pushed back for 2 meters.

She wasn’t aware that actually Blade hasn’t used any serious skill yet when he was training her. On their spar, Blade never used any technique except parrying and counterattacks before. This was the first time she saw him using a skill.

“Kuh!!”

Kagura fell on her knee.

“Is this the true might of Zodiac Braves?”

She muttered.

“That is right and wrong. This is indeed Blade’s might but this isn’t the might of a zodiac brave.”

She gasped when she heard a little girl’s voice behind her. From who knows when, Mana was already squatting behind her. She was holding a bag of dried berries in her hand.

“That sword is sharp, but right now, that’s not Blade’s true sword. He’s currently feeling anxious because our lord was in danger but we couldn’t be by his side.”

She said. Kagura was lost of words when Mana said that solemnly.

“It should have been enough, Blade. It’s almost time for lunch.”

Mana called out. Blade retracted his aura and lowered his sword. Kagura who saw a spectacle of a girl with younger appearance was able to stand calmly inside such strong aura.

“Mana-chan!!!!!!!!”

Kagura leaped at her. She hugged her tight and rubbed her cheek against Mana’s.

“Stop that, Kagura-chan. It tickles.”

Mana said while trying to push her back. Mana didn’t refuse her hug but her act of rubbing her cheek made her uncomfortable. This was the usual scene every time Mana called Kagura and Blade for meals.