Chapter Text
Ichigo had somewhat of an idea of what to expect, but he didn't expect that his new sensei would be such a slave driver. But the boy didn't complain or moan, this is what he asked for, this is what he wanted. He had made his bed and he's going to lie in it.
He'll get stronger this way, and the stronger he gets the more threats he is able to protect his friends and family from.
The first few days were him doing Vergil's assessments, making it known to his sensei how far his body can go. He also kept going to karate by Vergil's advice. He's going to fight the monsters that took his mother and he needs to be good at it.
The boy felt relief when Vergil's assessments were finished and now they would move onto the actual training.
He was a bit disappointed when that means more specific exercises for physical condition and expanding his limits, added with weapon training.
Vergil mainly focused on sword play, teaching him various battle stances and katas from Kendo to Iaido to Iaijutsu. Although the strangest part was that no blade felt right in Ichigo's hands, they would always fell wrong. He brought this up to his sensei of course, but Vergil wasn't too worried.
"You'll perhaps find a blade worthy of you boy... But the question is are you worthy of it?"
"What do you mean, Sensei?"
"The blade I wield is no simple sword you can request to be forged by a weaponsmith. It is special." Vergil started, slowly drawing out the blade out of its scabbard, the sword seemed to sing as it did. "The Yamato, a legendary Devil Arm that can cut through anything, including time and space. In the hands of a normal person, it can't do much." He did a practice swing. "But..." The white haired man sheathed the blade, thumb underneath the tsuba as he readies to draw it again. "When it's in the hands of someone knowing and is capable of drawing out its true strength." It only seemed like he pulled the Yamato out of its sheath a bit and then put it back in with a shnk. However, a nearby group of barrels were sliced in an instant. "Then it turns into a deadly and loyal weapon, following the commands of those who are worthy of being its master."
Ichigo's eyes widened at the display. "A-a Devil Arm?"
"Yes..." Vergil nodded. "Devil Arms are placed into three different categories: Pure, Artificial, and Aura. Although there are some overlap between these categories, there's still major differences between each of them."
"Pure Devil Arms are the souls of subjugated demons, willingly or unwillingly turned into a weapon. The subjugator is deemed as a worthy master for besting the demon in combat alone."
"Artificial Devil Arms are ones created by the trophies collected from slain demons. Those usual accept masters that have strong wills."
"Aura Devil Arms are when a subjugated demon soul doesn't take the form of a weapon, but rather the pure form of it's abilities, infusing itself with its newfound master, thus allowing the infused to use them however they wish."
"Pure and Artificial take forms of weapons, and all three bestow the wielder some kind of ability the subjugated demon had. However, in order to use the powers of a Pure or Artificial Devil Arm, the user must have them currently equipped." He finished explaining. "You might on day attain a Devil Arm of your own, it's highly probable to happen to those who walk the path of Devil Hunters."
"I could have one? Like Yamato?"
Vergil chuckled a bit, amused by the excitement and wonder in the boy's eyes. "Not quite, all Devil Arms are unique in their own way. You may come across one that is powerful, but doesn't hold the same power or abilities as the Yamato. However..." He had gotten serious again. "Without strength, without willpower, you won't be able to do much with one. Might controls everything, without power you cannot protect anyone, let alone yourself. And one must be motivated to attain the strength they seek. You were motivated that night, when you asked me to teach you how to slay demons. You must never let that fire die. Or else you'll stop growing strong."
Ichigo nodded, showing that he understood what Vergil was telling him.