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Uesugi’s clan had taken over the central part of Tusa, a mountainous area which runs along the Shikoku from West to East since Youta took charge.
However, despite that the Eastern part of Shikoku, Awa, was mainly governed by the power of Tenno, providing perfect military backup, the invasion of Shogun Ueda Tsuki is claimed to be from North, Sanuki, a small province that abuts the Seto Inland Sea.No one knows if there is any conflict of interest between the Royalty in Awa and Ueda, the Head of the Guardhouse, which hindered their cooperation. But the adverse effect given by the mountainous and hilly valley in between Sanuki and Tusa to the mobility of Ueda’s troop is inevitable. Making the invasion from North sounds very fishy…
Yet these are now least concerned by Youta. The only thing that matters the Great Defender lies few hundred meters ahead of him- a troop of 5 thousands elite soldiers ready to vanquish his men upon a command. The moving flags of the Ueda are like the hungry wolves baring their fangs and claws in the dark night. Youta can barely figure out the enormous number of enemies stationing on the ridge of the small mountain. But even the irritable breathe and stomps of the enemies’ horses can shake the mountain as well as the iron will of the fearless fighters.
”How long have the enemies been there?” Youta asks Yamaguchi, a bald head samurai with long grey bread, a reliable captain and spearman.
”Almost since the sunset.”
”……what are they waiting for? They should have known that Sora has been out of town. This is the best chance to initiate the attack before dawn!?”
Wind blows from the north. A taste of salty water from the Inland Sea.
“Wizard says there will be strong monsoon tomorrow.” Yamaguchi says.
”!” Youta suddenly pulls the rein hard and shouts, “Straw! And Sulphur! The wind smells sulphur! The army on the ridge is a DECOY! They must been attacking from the other side!”
”Damn!” Yamaguchi now understands:
The troop on the ridge only consists of scarecrow (straw) and dynamite.
Ueda must have sneaked through the valley on foot these few days and attack from the West, targeting the Uesugimaru Castle, the heart of Youta’s stronghold!
”RETREAT BEHIND THE WOOD NOW!” Youta shouts as the decoy troop is released and charging down the hill. “Yamaguchi, fortify this area! Don’t let anyone pass! Captain Sukishiro, bring along 1000 men with me right now!”
Youta rides immediately towards the Castle.
The decoy troop is approaching. The scarecrows are all on fire and the dynamite tying on the horses are about to explode!
“Raise the barrier! Quickly!” Chains are straightening from the ground surface to stumble the charging animals.
BANG! BANG! BANG! Flesh and Blood splashing everywhere. While a few horses still manage to avoid the barrier and explode within Youta’s army, causing numerous casualties.
“Ueda! You Devil!” Yamaguchi screams. And through the mist of red, the real DEVILS are revealing themselves-
Around one thousand of Ueda’s elite samurais on their ride, covered in blood.
Meanwhile, Youta is rushing back to protect his city. He is overwhelmed by the blast and hustle fading behind.
”Ueda……you sacrifice your mobility and the chance of retreat just to win? Let us see whose DETERMINATION is stronger then!”
The first daylight is about to crack the darkness.
The west bank of the Uesugimaru Castle moat faces the wet land that is least populated. But a swarm of torches is now lighting up the dark sky like daylight.
Archers are rushing to the Castle wall, leading by their commander, Asano Kouichi.
”HURRY!” Motoya, with his sword drawn and standing on the wall, is the first one to spot the invaders, approaching fast, via
A bridge which was built silently by connecting a series of boats anchoring in the river bed!
“Watch out!” Asano yells to warn Motoya.
A swarm of arrows are shot up to the sky and flooding towards Motoya like a tsunami.
”TAIIIIIIIII~”Motoya swings his Holy Sword. An invisible blade is shot from the sword! This is the master stroke of the Okada clan called 【Tiger Rend】. Besides of Ryuichi, Motoya is now the only one who can perform this skill. And the Holy Sword does amplify the power of this stroke by several times! His training with Sora during their journey has made him real strong.
The REND radiates like an invisible shield and blocks all the arrows towards Motoya. But the rest still pass him and shoot down many archers just arrived the top. Asano was able to parry with his sword.
” ARCHERS! On your position!” Asano shouts. The archers rush to the fringe and shoot even without aiming.
Gigantic lanterns are raising from the ground!
”What the hell are these things?” Asano did not have to wait long for the answer. The lanterns, while reaching the proximity of the top of the wall, are shot by Ueda’s archers underneath. The flaming arrows ignite the dynamite carrying by the lanterns to explode. Many archers are blown to death. Motoya can hardly avoid the explosions. His back burns. He rolls on the floor immediately to put down the fire.
Ueda’s men are climbing up via huge ladders. Two of them dash to Motoya, still laying on the floor, thrusting with their tachis.
Asano picks up a cross bow on the ground and shoots down one of them. Motoya rolls to avoid the other one. He pulls out his tanto and stabs his opponent’s waist.
The castle wall turns to a complete chaos now.
“Motoya! Retreat! We cannot hold on anymore!”Asano is fighting his way to the stairway.
Motoya knows very well. If they retreat, the Castle should fall right at once. The enemy will open the gate and Ueda’s men can rush in immediately.
Motoya uses the tanto to block the attack and swings the Holy Sword to kills two opponents.
He bends down to dodge a slash from his back and back thrust the enemy with his sword. But he just see Asano is about to slaughter by two men. His right arm is bleeding while fighting hopelessly on his knee with his pathetic left hand sword.
Motoya throws his tanto to one of them, killing him, while Asano is just able to defeat the other. But he faints on the ground at last.
Motoya dashes to Asano. He pulls out the tanto from the body and remains in his guarding stance.
He needs to protect Asano and the exits to the Castle.
The soldiers step back behind the archers. Crossbows are loaded.
Motoya is too exhausted to perform another 【Tiger Rend】. He knows.
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Father! Bless me! Let me protect the people here!
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiLLNnfqqTq
Just when the archers are about the shoot, the dawn is breaking. A light is shinning through. A dazzling glare! Making their aim impossible.
At the first light, Motoya looks towards the East.
A silhouette is standing on the roof of the watchtower. She jumps down, descending like a feather. So elegant and enchanting that the enemies almost forget to shoot.
Two tall samurais suppress the alluring charm. They roar in anger and charge towards Motoya.
The girl, still in the air, throws her sword to them. It spins like a windmill, sweeping across its preys like a tornado.
The samurais, though responding fast enough to block the attack, still suffer numerous cuts in their armors and masks.
The REDDISH BLADE returns to its master hand. Pieces of metal fall on the ground. The two samurais faint on the ground. Their faces look inhuman with their bloodshot eyes and animals’ breathe. The muscles under the cracking armors are pulsating weirdly fast.
Sora points the Hell Blade to Ueda’s men. No one dares to advance anymore.
”Retreat!” The assault team captain yells and is the first one to climb down the wall.
Blood is oozing from her abdomen making her kimono red. But Sora still turns and smile to Motoya,
”You are doing great, Motoya. I feel proud of you.”
”You are injured! Sora!” Motoya helps Asano get up. But he worries about Sora’s wound more than anything.
”I am ok.” Sora keeps smiling and says.
Youta’s archers are positioning to fortify the west now. Oshima Ai are leading a group of female peasants and merchants to repair the malicious damages of the wall by the explosive.
“Oshima san, it is dangerous here. Please go back to the great hall downstair!”
“Okada san, this is war. Even though we are women doesn’t mean we should entrust our lives to others. We would rather help than hide!”
Ai approaches Sora after arranging works for the women.
”My friend, this is the best styptic paste of my family.” Ai passes a bottle to Sora.
”Thank you.” Yet Sora rejects. “Please help me to heal the others.”
Ai smiles and nods and run around to help the injured soldiers.
”Motoya, please take care of this spot. People down here needs me!”
”Sora, let me help you!” “No! You stay here. They need you more than me.” Sora smiles and jumps down.
It has been an hour. Yamaguchi has led the team to hide behind the woods. And their archers will shoot from inside to any invaders who tried to pass. So even the invaders has a suppressive advantage over Youta’s side in terms of number, the situation still remains sticky so far.
”How many arrows we still have here?” Yamaguchi asks anxiously.
”Thanks to Uesugi Sama! We still have few hundreds here.”
“Few hundreds…..sufficient to keep them busy for another hour.”
Everyone remains silent. They know so well. When all the arrows are exhausted, their lives will follow.
Yamaguchi suddenly kneels down in front of his team. Everyone are shocked. “What happens?! Captain! Please get up!” Few of them try to pull him up.
”I! Solute to you all! Gentlemen! Your names will be remembered forever!”
All the soldiers are sobbing.
”Idiots! Let our enemies cry! Not us!”
“Yes! Let’s fight to the death and laugh proudly til the last breathe!” “Uesugi! Uesugi! Uesugi!”
“Captain! Captain! The enemies have stopped charging!” A young soldier rushes to report the good news(?)
”Don’t be fooled easily!” Yamaguchi quickly goes outside to observe. And as expected, it is never a good news. On the other hand, he knows the end is coming sooner than they think it will.
A RONIN and A FEMALE NINJA are moving closer steadily. They both are holding enormous weapons- a huge Iron Eku and a gigantic Shuriken!
“Sakaya, let me do it. I need some fxxking warm up exercise before we deal with HER.” Ryoshi is spinning the Eku with his single hand while speaking.
Sayaka doesn’t reply. Instead she keeps walking towards the wood.
Arrows are shooting from inside.
Sayaka uses her weapon to parry. But she doesn’t slow down at all. Then she takes a deep breathe and stops,
then she spins faster and faster. So fast that the negative pressure creates a huge suction which sucks the surrounding broken spears, shattered swords, arrows and gravels to build up a giant fearsome IRON SPIDER. Its metallic legs and claws keep colliding each others generating thrilling shearing sounds!
Yamaguchi and his men are all stunned. They cannot tolerate and cover their eyes with both hands.
Sakaya lets go the SPIDER. It charges and devours everything on its path, until it had sufficient and returns to Sakaya’s hand.
A trail of blood and stumps of trees and human bodies is left. Sakaya’s face still looks dull and lifeless. She continues walking towards the inner city.
”…….”Ryoshi catches her up immediately. He isn’t astonished by the great mass destruction she has done at all. Instead his anxiety grows and almost reaches his limit-
Sayaka! Please hold out against the fxxking ELIXIR! Don’t let them take control of your mind!
Sora arrives the gate of the Castle in the East. She can hear desperate cries and rage bellows outside.
”Hold back! Hold back! We would only open the gate if we see Uesugi Sama!” The soldiers who are responsible for the gate scream in pain. They are gnawed by guilt and anxiety hearing refugees, that can be their own friends or families, begging and denouncing outside.
Sora runs to them and shouts,
“Open it now! I will take care of any consequence!”
The soldiers still hesitate. Sora pushes them apart and pulls out the lock bar with her bare hands.
“Stay back! I am going to open the gate now!” She then pushes the gate outward- a 10 feet tall wooden double swing door which weighs at least few tonnes.
Refugees swarm in. Most of them are carried by battle steeds.
Sora asks one of the peasants who has no injuries,
”Did the soldiers save you outside? Where are they now?”
”! Thank you lady! Thank you for saving us!”He still suffers from despair and wrath. “Yes! It was Uesugi Sama! He led his men from the North gate after invasion of the Royalty, and he fought his way to the inner city until he reached us!”
”So he left their horses to you and is still fighting there?”
“Yes! Yes! Oh please send someone to help him! We cannot lose him….”
Sora helps all the weak and injured inside and rides in a horse.
”CLOSE THE GATE NOW!” She then charges to the east.
The further she rides, the more worries and resentment irrupt Sora. Buildings were torn down and burnt. More bodies of habitants and soldiers are found, from infants to elderlies, women and men.
Two arrows are shot from the roof of torn down house.
Sora lays on the horse to dodge but she doesn’t slow down or fight back. Instead she cues the horse to accelerate. She has a bad feeling of what is laying ahead.
Until she comes across a battle between Youta’s assistant, Sukishiro, and his team are struggling with several samurais.
Sora lifts off from the horse and knocks down one with her knee.
3 of them slash her from the back. She parries the 3 swords simultaneously with her reverse gripped Hell Blade. She then spins 180 degree to shatter the 3 swords and side kicks one opponent on his right shoulder.
CRACK! The powerful blow breaks his clavicle, sends him unconscious. The remaining force is strong enough to send the 3 piling on top of each other.
Sora jumps and performs a heel kick on top of the pile, pressing all 3 opponents hard on the floor, cracking the tiles and sinking the lowest guy half buried. This powerful move is called 【Hill Stomped Step】轟山踏 of the Mountain House.
With the help of Sora and her overwhelming staging which effectively stuns the opponents, Sukishiro has already defeated the rest of the enemies.
”Captain, where is your Lord?” Sora asks Sukishiro, who is breathing heavily after a severe battle.
”Uesugi Sama…. We separated at a few streets ahead and tried to rescue as many our people as possible…”
”Please bring me there. I will guarantee to save him! Trust me!”
“Thank you! Sora Sama!”
Youta’s heart was aching since the moment he retreated back to the north gate of the city. He was late. Ueda’s army had already stormed the defense and forced opened the city gate. Inside the city, mobility is no longer an advantage. Ueda’s strategy to invade from the inner city on foot though unethical while causing more casualties of innocence, was clever and effective.
Youta blamed himself. He failed his promise to his people, all because of his silly wishful thinking to tie-breaking via a honorable duel with Ueda. But he simply forgot that WAR is never about honor or ethics.
Only victory matters. Your respect to your enemy never makes you stronger in the fight.
He fought in anguish and wrath. After sending all the steeds to carry those injured and innocent back to the castle, he divided his squad into small groups and spread around the city to seek survivals waiting for their rescue. The defending becomes a rescue mission now.
Right now Youta can confirm that Ueda has taken down most of the eastern part of the inner city. Around 5 out of 8 thousands enemies has invaded through the north gate and stationed at east now. Youta doesn’t know when an all out attack will be launched. All he can do is to rescue as many people inside the city as possible.
He is hiding somewhere 200 meters from Ueda’s troop now.
”Ueda has captured our people. He ties them up together and pushing them to advance as a human shield to avoid archery and catapult….”
”and advancing on foot making the progression smooth and manageable! Ueda…..a battle genius!” Youta is regretted not to have evacuated his people inside the inner city before the war.
”Uesugi Sama….what shall we do now? We don’t have any idea what is going on at the Castle as well…would it be better to…”
”NO! We must save these people!” Youta replies. But he knows he is unconvincing.
”Uesugi Sama! You are our COMMANDER! We will stay here to rescue our people! But you should leave now! You cannot die here! People need you!”
Youta’s heart is aching.
”Uesugi Sama! Please! Prepare to carry our people back to the castle!” Sukishiro and his squad manage to find their lord. He descends from his steed and rushes to Youta to deliver a message.
”Sukishiro?! What did you just say?” Youta is more than happy to see him and his squad still alive.
Youta doesn’t need to wait long to find out. A female figure just mysteriously appears in front of them, moving steadily towards the Ueda’s troop and the hostages.
“UEDA! Free these people! Do not make yourself a criminal!”
The hostages are watching Sora silently. Their eyes show no sign of hope or emotions at all.
A Girl? How can a girl be supposed to save their lives eventually?
The soldiers move sideway to make way for their shogun to show up in the middle of the crowd.
Ueda and several officers move to the front. They are the only people still riding on their steeds.
”Sora! The traitor and murderer of Tenryu Dojo! How ironic that a criminal is accusing others of striving to arrest herself?” Ueda bursts into laughter. His men follow.
Sora doesn’t fight back. Neither has Ueda’s sarcastic statement induced any adverse affection to her. She just pulls the Hell Blade out of the scabbard. Shimmering red.
”Yeah~you just remind me!” Sora’s eyes turn red.
Ueda will not take the risk. Until the Saint Fives are here, he would not confront the Successor. He pulls the rein and rides away with the officers while issuing his last command,
”KILL THEM ALL!”
Hundreds of arrows are shot from behind! At the same time, Sora points her Hell Blade towards the hostages- images of Hell Blades spread out from Sora’s back like the 【WINGS OF PHOENIX】. She yells and a hundred of Blades shoot out all at once, penetrating into the ground in front of the hostages. This is the same powerful move Haru executed to fight Morgan. But now performed by Sora and the Hell Blade, it is far more striking and destructive!
The earth shakes and blows up right beneath the hostages, sending all of them towards Youta’s side.
Youta, Sukishiro and his men charge to grab them immediately. While Ueda’s men are still stunned to respond, Youta has already carried all hostages on the back of their steeds!
The dusty air takes time to settle. The environment becomes turbid and muddy with least visibility.
Youta yells to Sora, “Sora Sama, retreat!” But the Successor doesn’t respond.
Her hand is covering her abdomen. Blood makes the ground she is standing on red.
”SORA SAMA!” Youta’s steed has already charging away when he noticed that.
Sora turns and smiles.
I will be ok.
Youta can only read her lips.
Arrows are being shot through the dusty air again. Sora grits her teeth and swings the Blade to block all the arrows!
She can flee now. But she remains here. There is one more thing she needs to confirm:
”SORA!” A giant SHIRUKEN is flying towards her.
Sora leans back her upper body just to dodge the first strike and backflips to avoid the second boomeranging attack.
She lands and feels the compression of air above her whole body, so intensified that could paralyze the movement of any living beings on Earth,
except Sora the Successor!
She places the Hell Blade horizontally above her head just to parry the EKU!
CLING!!!!!! Sora’s feet are pressed deeply inside the ground.
Sayaka throws the Shiruken again, aiming at Sora’s abdomen to bisect her!
“Cover eyes! Cover eyes!
Birdies in the cages hides!
Flying out! Flee from house!
Dusty sky the rainy pulse!
Tikky tok! Tikky tok!
Crane and turtle are shocked
Who else behind you walk~~~?”
Aki are playing alone at the great hall of the Uesugimaru Castle. She is trying to make fun with the kids who are anxiously waiting for their parents or friends outside.
”Wahhhhhh!” Aki, laying on the ground facing downward, suddenly bounces up and scares the children with her orcish face.
But they are not even paying any attention to her.
”Alas～～～～” Aki is disppointed.
”SORA, where are you? Aki is bored here….”
CLING! The Shiruken is hit airborne by the Hell Blade while the Eku sinks onto the ground.
Sora just drew a circle with her blade which firstly dissipate the Eku by guiding it to miss, then the circle continued its trail to strike on the Shiruken just before it hit its target, strong enough to blow it away.
Sora front kicks Ryoshi at his chest. The Ronin immediately blocks with his left arm. But Sora just uses the reaction force to bounce away from him.
“You….” Sora stares at Sayaka. She feels something different about the girl.
”I am not afraid of you….anymore! I must kill you this time!” Sayaka proclaims, to her own self rather than to anyone else.
Ryoshi pulls the Eku off from ground.
“Sayaka, she is not as strong as before! I believe we can win! Certainly!” He has wiped that arrogant smile off his face since this morning. On the other hand he keeps paying careful attention to his partner.
Sora slowly steps back into a narrow alley.
No! It is the kind of alley I fought her last time.
This suddenly makes Sayaka’s face look pale. The determination inside her eyes are fading….
”What the fxxk…..”Ryoshi notices these subtle changes immediately.
”Taiiiii!” Sora retrieves her sword and hits the walls with two palms. The walls in between them collapse.
“Huh!” Sayaka screams painfully while her body is shaking peculiarly
Looking through the swirling turbulent debris and dust, they barely recognize the fading silhouette of Sora.
”Not again……NOT AGAIN!” Sayaka’s hand is seeking madly inside her clothes until she takes out several black marbles in her palm.
”No!” Ryoshi holds her body from the back to avoid her to take the Elixir AGAIN.
“HUH~~~~!”
“Calm down! Baby, calm down!”
Ueda rides closely to them while staring at the collapsed alley. He is not happy with the situation obviously.
”You should have looked after her. You have promised me on that. Don’t force me get rid of you both if you gonna pull my legs once again.”
Ryoshi doesn’t reply. He keeps holding his partner tight.
”It will be ok, Sayaka.
Dead or Alive, I am coming with you.”
Youta just reaches the Castle. Without descending from his steed, he orders his men to appease the people they just rescued in the grand hall. Then he is about to leave when Motoya and Aki rush to him,
”Uesugi Sama! Where is Sora? She is supposed to go to find you?” He asks anxiously. Her wound still matters to him a lot.
”Sorry. I shouldn’t waste time here. But I promise you- I will come back safely with Sora Sama soon!” He then turns.
“I will go with you!” Without his permission, Motoya jumps onto Youta’s steed.
“Aki goes too!” Aki jumps on Motoya’s back then. The steed cannot bear the weight of three adults and is neighing painfully!
”You two getting off now! Sukishiro! Bring them their own steeds!”
Motoya and Aki get down right at once. Motoya looks embarrassed and stares angrily at Aki. While the girl finds no place to hide her shameful face.
“Sora Sama is back! She is back!” Youta’s man yells joyfully outside.
Youta gets down his steed immediately and three of them rush out the hall to the front court next to the entrance gate of the castle. They see a girl limping slowly towards them. She is leaving a blood trail on the ground.
”……I hope I didn’t miss anything here.”Sora falls on her knees. She has lost too much blood. Motoya stares angrily at Aki again. The girl finds no place to hide her shameful face again.
Sora deliberately sticks her head out to look at Aki’s face and smiles to her,
”See who else is walking behind~~~?”
”Aki not scare!” She pushes her face away. Sora laughs and puts her hand gently on her head,
”Sora is ok. Don’t worry.”
”Aki….is sorry. Aki would not hurt Sora again…”
“…..Youta Sama, what are you going to do next?” Sora asks. Now that she knows the difference in military strength between the two parties, she worries about the upcoming war should involve the innocent people here.
Oshima Ali just descended from the castle. She has another bottle of styptic cream in her hand.
”…..there is no way we can win this war by ourselves.” Youta says while looking restlessly at Sora’s wound. “We should fortify this place until the Alliance comes from the West to fight alongside us….”
Ai walks in front Youta and slaps his face hard without any warning! Youta’s men are mad. They roar and try to hold her on the ground.
“Back off!” Youta scolds fiercely and separates his men from Ai.
Ai stands up. “You promise your people to protect them by your own hand. That is why they trust you and leave their fates on your sole decision! And now that you told me to hide cowardly and pray for the slim chance that those hypocrites would errand their mercies for the people in need? I despise you, hopeless and shameless Uesugi Youta!”
Everyone are speechless. There is at least one thing Ai is indisputable-
Chance that The Alliance would come in time of need is slim.
”You are right, Ai! You are right! As long as I am alive, I should not give up my hope and fight til the end! Til the last standing man on the battlefield!”
Youta’s men yells euphorically though in their sobbing voice. They know that the great leader they feel proud of is back and they are ready to fight to death alongside him.
”I serve upon your command, Uesugi Sama.” Sora smiles and says
”Me too! Uesugi Sama!”
”Aki will fight too! Aki knows how to fight!”
“It would be my unforgettable honor to have fought side by side with you all!” Youta says in his trembling voice agitated with least anxiety but mostly excitement.
“Save that in the victory speech to your people, Uesugi Sama!”Sora replies in confidence.
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