Who sabotaged me?

I am at the dojo, practicing sword techniques, but when I swing hard and fast the wrapping of the sword handle dissolves in my grip. As I'm staring in shock at my hand I hear the sword blade rebound off the brick wall. Who sabotaged my sword?! The phrase "Who sabotaged me?" keeps echoing and repeating.

Afterwards, I'm packed up, leaving the dojo, and walk outside. The sidewalks and paths are gone. I don't recognize the area outside. There is only one path, packed dirt and pebbles, hemmed in by a sea of paper boxes, piles and piles of cases of paper and newspapers fills the outdoors; boxes stacked and packed so tightly, there is only one way to go. No backwards, only forwards.

I follow the only path. It leads to a commercial district, and a subway stop. Ahead of me, there is a tall slender man wearing a hakama. He speeds up, vanishing into a once solid world dissolving into mist.

Relevant context: The beginning section of this dream is a real memory.

-PF Anderson
Dream occurred 2/11/2025