In a fractured Japan during the Sengoku Jidai—an age of endless war, treachery, and lost honor—a man with no name walks north. His sword is broken. His loyalty is buried. His story is only beginning.

Once a samurai of the noble Tsukimura clan, Riku no Kuro now wanders as a ronin. Branded a traitor and hunted by a corrupt new regime, he carries nothing but a ruined blade and a memory too heavy to discard. But in exile, he discovers a forgotten rite: the Tetsumei, an ancient oath that binds a warrior’s soul to his weapon. Through this ritual, Riku is no longer just a man—he becomes a blade forged in silence.

Joined by Yuki no Tora, a cynical outlaw archer, and Lady Hanae, the daughter of the slain daimyo, Riku embarks on a path that cuts through haunted villages, ruined temples, and ash-laden fields where the dead never rest. What begins as a personal journey turns into a quiet rebellion against the Cult of the Cycle, a secretive sect led by Rensei, a monk without a shadow who transcends death not through the body—but through names.

To defeat them, Riku must face more than enemies of steel. He must confront visions from his past, ghosts that whisper forgotten truths, and echoes of who he might have become. As he nears the heart of the cult, he must choose between vengeance and sacrifice. Can a man without a master become a legend? Can a name be broken like a chain?

“The Masterless Warrior” is a lyrical epic of sword and soul—where mysticism, memory, and honor collide in a world as beautiful as it is brutal. A story about breaking cycles, resisting the voice that says “come back,” and choosing to burn… even when no one expects you to survive.

Blending Japanese-inspired fantasy with poetic prose and spiritual tension, this novel is perfect for readers who love introspective heroes, mythic journeys, and the quiet power of choosing one's own fate.

The Other Side of the Hallway