keeping an alternative up one's sleeve; two-stage preparation
the lower classes; the common people
much more; still more; single layer (or storey, etc.); (arch.) rather; (arch.) sooner
impossible; incapable (of doing); incompetence; inability; impotence; having no solution (of an equation)
individual match; single game
to disappear into; to be lost in; to do something under the cover of (confusion, etc.); to be almost indistinguishable; to be confusingly similar; to be diverted from (negative emotions, etc.)
smoothly; swimmingly; forthrightly; without hesitation
life and death; samsara (cycle of death and rebirth); death
to squeeze; to wring out; to narrow down; to refine
dying in vain; useless death; meaningless death
to be loath to; to balk at (doing); to grudge (doing); to take (good) care of
one's true worth; one's true self; what one is really made of
fray; fighting; brawling; scuffle
next-door neighbors; (living, sitting) next to each other
to assault with a sword; to stab at; to slash at
close friend; bosom friend; buddy; crony; chum
long-cherished ambition; satisfaction
water caltrop; water chestnut; caltrop (weapon)
and; or; and the like; and so forth; and what not
ball; sphere; bead (of sweat, dew, etc.); drop; ball (in sports); pile (of noodles, etc.); bullet
pessimism; disappointment
the opposite direction; the other way
to clash; to collide; to conflict; to meet (by chance); to come across; to run into
looking good; sounding good; (of) good appearance
useless; futile; unnecessary; needless; not on business; unrelated
notice or order handed down from above; announcement; notification; Edo-period proclamation issued by the shogunate (or a daimyo, etc.) to the concerned parties
camp (supporters of a doctrine, party, etc.); faction (of a party); military camp; encampment; cantonment
influence; power; might; strength; potency; force
group; party; team; organization; organisation; association
absent-mindedly; idly; vacantly; doing nothing
pressure; urgency; tension; imminence; acuteness
vocal sound; tone of voice
solidarity; banding together and working as one for a common cause
to overcome (opposition); to push past; to force one's way; to press and cut
extermination; annihilation
war situation; progress of a battle
bipolarization; bipolarisation
new face; newcomer; rookie; modern humans (from Cro-Magnon man onwards)
class (of students); group (of people); party; lot; bunch; crime family; organized-crime syndicate
directly under; falling perpendicularly