The day mirrored his mindset: bright and clear, the sky unblemished by clouds or any hint of an approaching storm. An infinite chasm of space lay between him and the sun, a gulf impossible to traverse by ordinary means. Toga's thoughts were similarly unclouded, his usual aversion to muddled thinking replaced by an extraordinary calm. Today, distractions and worldly pleasures held no allure for him, a stark departure from his usual disposition.

Ordinarily, the world was a lake in which he longed to swim, where he could wade to its farthest edges and revel in the feel of water beneath his limbs. But today, he moved with a disciplined focus that was unfamiliar, rarely embraced by the dragon slayer. His life was like a tapestry once immaculate, now marred by the cuts, tears, and stains of his journey. Yet it remained beautiful, each flaw adding to its unique artistry, making it his alone. No one else could fully grasp the path that had brought him to this point. And today, he was ready to add another thread to the weave, another chapter to his story, marked by the acquisition of new skills and weapons.

Nestled deep within the heart of Aina Forest on Luluhawa Island, Toga sat with his left eye concealed, hiding his latest augmentation. Beside him, lying on a bed of verdant grass, was the mighty cleaver blade Zangetsu, resting peacefully in its dark splendor. Legs crossed, the dragon slayer gazed at a sheathed katana in his lap, its ornate hilt adorned with white and crimson-orange accents that shimmered in the dappled sunlight filtering through the canopy. It was more than a weapon; it was a symbol of his evolving journey, a tangible representation of the challenges he had faced and those yet to come.

“I have two swords now and can use them fairly well, but no one would mistake me for a true swordsman…” he muttered, sighing deeply as if drained by his own shortcomings. The realization gnawed at him, a reminder of his need to grow beyond the fiery magic that had so often been his salvation.

“I need to change that. I can’t always rely on my magic. Some battles will need more than fire,” Toga continued, his tone low but resolute. He forced himself to confront the truth: he'd been fortunate in past battles, facing adversaries who had natural weaknesses to his fire dragon slayer magic or limitations that played to his advantage. But what would he do when he encountered an opponent who could stand toe-to-toe with him or exploit his vulnerabilities? That's where Zangetsu would need to come into play, along with his latest weapon, Rengoku’s Kimetsu. He knew that to truly master these blades, to weave these new skills into the fabric of his abilities, would require not just practice but a deeper understanding of the swordsmanship that had eluded him until now.

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wc: 490/3500 (END WC Reduction of 30%)

In the dense heart of the forest, Toga relied on his instincts and the tools at hand to maintain his composure. Patience was never his strongest trait, and although gaining strength was his top priority, it usually stemmed from experience—combat and adventure where steel sharpened steel, driven solely by instinct and consequence. But that haphazard approach could only carry him so far. He needed something more sustainable, manageable, and predictable.

Resolute, he steadied himself within the vast blanket of grass around him. With Rengoku’s Kimetsu in hand, he admired the katana's vibrant, sharpened edge. His left eye remained closed, while his right focused intently on the glistening surface. Zangetsu, a massive and weighty weapon, required far more skill and strength than he could muster at this stage. Thus, mastery would have to come from the smaller katana for now. In this moment, the Kimetsu was his partner on this journey. Toga took a breath, his mind focused on honing his skills with this blade. He knew that refining his technique required precision, discipline, and patience. And so, he remained still, gathering his resolve as he prepared to wield Rengoku’s Kimetsu, seeking mastery through careful practice rather than by chance.

"Huh," Toga's nose twitched as he caught the scent of another. Turning his head, his pink hair fluttered in the wind as he set his gaze on the newcomer. "Oh, hello!" he shouted at the top of his lungs, waving energetically. His right brown eye carefully studied the figure while his nose sought further clues. The newcomer's scent was strangely familiar, even though Toga had never met this person. Oddly enough, it reminded him of Michael and Ursula.

"My bad! Was I bothering you?" Toga asked, standing up fully and dusting off the debris clinging to his clothes. "I thought I was alone, but you look strong!" He cut straight to the point, favoring a direct approach as his smile lit up his face. Toga's curiosity grew as he continued to study the stranger, noting the confidence in their posture and the determination in their eyes. This could be an opportunity to learn something new, to test his own strength against someone unfamiliar. He was ready to push his limits, to sharpen his skills in a way that mere training couldn't offer.

"Hey! This might seem odd, but do you want to spar?" Toga asked, his tone friendly but charged with excitement. He held out his hand in greeting, eager to see how the newcomer would respond.

“Oh, that was odd! My name is Toga by the way! Should probably introduce myself before I jump out the window asking for fights, hahaha,”

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wc: 450 [940]