So is the consensus that the mark (totally forgot about it) comes during/surviving a do-or-die situation? Funny it spreads like a disease of swordsmanship.
Funny that, because while it seems more like a boost from morale, they cut out exactly what the mark does to the swordsman. The honcho woman just mentioned that those who have already awakened "don't have a choice", and to me that sounds like they've in for something bad.