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scene four, ascending the ranks
For example, during one dual he had with the samurai Tan Ang liang(whose samurai nickname was apparently just the letter 'a'), it is said that the sun itself opened up through the clouds and poured out over the two, revitalizing the two shaken and tired samurai. Many scientists speculate now that, due to their personal belief, the sun breaking through the clouds may have had a psychological effect on the samurai that allowed them to catch their proverbial 'second wind'.
Regardless of what caused it, his comeback from exhaustion was what allowed the Wandering Samurai to defeat Tan in battle, ending the dual in a respectable manner. It was a stark contrast to many of the Wandering Samurai's previous duals, where his opponents were so consumed with pride that they would refuse an honorable ending, so intent upon defeating him.
Tan and the Wandering Samurai bowed to one another after their dual in a sign of respect, and parted their ways. It would only be a week later that the Wandering Samurai would face off against his greatest opponent yet in Tang Zhao rong, whose samurai nickname across the land was 'Diaz'. He was reknowned in other kingdoms for his prowess as a samurai, having protected the grand emperor of an alliance of kingdoms in one of the lands.
Despite his fame and power, however, he could not defeat the Wandering Samurai.
It was a dual that lasted for, as many have written, hours on end. Neither samurai rested until the other was defeated, and both were so physically exhausted by the end of the dual that the both of them could scarcely keep themselves balanced to bow to one another. However, it was a very close and respectable battle... one that many have reported was one of the greatest their land had seen.
The next week came and the two samurai had intended to meet again for a second dual... and this time, the Wandering Samurai had proven his greatest talent yet--he could adapt to his opponents strategies only after one dual.
Something that would come in handy later on in other battles for him.
For as time passed on throughout the lands, their emperor wished to have a new samurai to protect him and stand at his side. His current samurai, a proud one by the name of Shi Shang Hao... whose nickname was bestowed upon him by the emperor himself as 'Champion'. It wasn't that the emperor didn't wish to have Shi as his samurai any longer, either, but that Shi had quarrels with a faraway samurai and wished to settle them.
Therefore, he chose who would replace him during his stay... a samurai who the Wandering Samurai had defeated long ago.
Deng Tuo li.
Deng had been the emperor's samurai in the past and was actually replaced by Shi, so he found it only natural that the former protector become the new one again. However, the emperor also wished for new blood to come and protect him at the throne, and therefore he called to the samurai of the land.
With the sun setting over the horizon, the emperor addressed his people from his palace, speaking out over the massive crowd. It's written that, on that very day... the road was paved for the Wandering Samurai to finally start walking down the pathway to his dreams.
"My people... in these times of strife for our lands, samurai are our sole protectors. These brave men allow their lives to be put at jeapordy for the betterment of our own... and for this, we should all thank them. On this day, before the people of this land... I bring forth a challenge to the honorable samurai. A competition will be starting soon... a tournament amongst samurai who wish to join, and dual for the prestige of becomming... my protector."
This statement by their emperor caused a huge stir in the lives of the samurai, who trained more and more at night, for the clouds were beginning to let sunlight through. The shadows weren't as common in the lands... and so they sought darkness.
Many trained... many prepared in the shadows, concentrating on that single possibility that somehow, someway... they might win the tournament, that they might find a way to be their emperor's samurai.
At night, the fields were filled with samurai... and at day, there was only one.
The only one willing to train in light and dark... the only one who traveled across the lands in search of enlightenment, and the accomplishment of his dreams. One might say that he was the most dedicated of all the samurai in his time, for he put forth an effort unlike any other...
He was, of course... the Wandering Samurai, and when the time had come... he triumphed over adversity.
Three samurai fell to his sword, and when the Wandering Samurai stood before the emperor, it was revealed that he still had one final challenge to overcome, one last obstacle before his dreams could finally be realized...
He had to defeat Deng Tuo li... one more time.
From that day forward, the Wandering Samurai's training took a much more determined course.