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“I am scared. Scared of myself. I do not have confidence, to suppress HER without making use of that SWORD….”
{You can! Just because that you are SORA. My Friend.}
Sora steps out from the Shrine. She looks up. The sky is clear, cloudless and lighted up weirdly by the great full moon-
An enormous phosphor glittering with its strong crimson glare, an ominous omen!
Sora closes her eyes. The picture of a MASSACRE immediately pops up in her mind. The butcher stands in the middle in a sinful laughter,
There is no one else but herself!
Sora is terrified and shocked and she has to shake her head vigorously to reset her mind and vision.
[I should stop this! I can! I swear in the name of The Dragon, and the Sword of Sora!]
The night crows make their last caws. Dawn is breaking soon.
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The Day has finally come.
The stronghold of Okada Clan is situated in the Iya Valley. The only means to get there are via 4 vine bridges that swinging above the Iya River beneath, except that you find yourself manageable to cross those turbulent waters in one piece.
Today these bridges are heavily guarded by suicide squads, who are all ready to sacrifice themselves not to protect the bridge, but to destroy or disconnect them in case of failure to stop the invader.
They are not Sora’s targets. She doesn’t and shouldn’t fight these battles. And why does she need to anyway?
Being the Apprentice of the Kami of Aqua, she can simply [command] the River to stop in front of her.
Before the squads realize what miracle is happening beneath their feet, the warrior has flew through the thrilling white waters and disappears into the jungle.
Until Sora reaches the gate of their stronghold.
All the archers have aimed from above. They are ordered to shoot to kill with no prior warning.
Only if Sora dares to make one step further.
”I am not here to fight you!” Sora yells, “tell your master, Okada Ryuichi sama, that HARU (Spring) is coming soon! If you all want to save yourself, open the gate and let me in! Let SORA help you!”
The archers are all too shocked to make a move. They know there would be an assault. They even know that the invader is tough like no others.
But the names, Sora and Haru are just too heavy for them.
The Sagas of the Dragon, one Savior, one Death! Their presence represent the final judgement of their destinies- Dead or Alive!
”Dont listen to this bitch! She is just bluffing! Shoot her! Shoot to kill!”A man standing at the guard tower behind the gate shouts. His name is Okada Kentaro, brother and the right hand man of Okada Ryuichi the leader.
”…..ignorance can kill!” Sora sighs while she hears the whoosh and thwang of the hundreds arrows above.
An Bluish Aura of vigor and vitality glows around the girl. She draws her sword quickly and steadily to block 99% of the arrows aiming at her. With her sword returning to its scabbard, she grabs the rest with her single bare hand and throws them back to their origins, malfunctioning all the ranged weapons by cutting the strings or completely dismantling them.
Knowing that it is only one inch deviation that the aims could send everyone to hell, the archers all realize their lives are at the mercy of the girl. They are simply paralyzed despite of their commander’s raging roar,
”Go grab your new bows! What are you idiots all waiting for !?”Okada Kentaro couldn’t believe that the girl can take control of the situation as easy as pie.
Everyone is thrilled until the gate slowly opens and a male figure standing fearlessly alone behind.
His name is Okada Ryuichi, the Leader of the 23rd generation of the Okada Clan. His long grey hair and bread is floating in the wind. His muscular body still holds strong despite an aging of 63 years, proudly presented half naked with only a tiger skin covering as a cloak.
”Forgive their ignorance, Sora the great swordsman! You are welcomed as my honored guest! My friend.” Ryuichi speaks in his low but loud voice.
Sora bows her upper half body, a gesture to respond respectfully to a senior, while Ryuichi returns in respect of swordsmanship hierarchy.
”I am here not to fight, but to help resolve the conflict. Ryuichi Sama. But you should bear in mind- I would not stand on either side. And the criminal charge by Yoshie Clan recently to you,” Sora raises her voice to emphasize her last statement, “you must still defend yourself in front of the Judges some day!”
”…….Ar….the Sword of Sora! I believe it the blade of Justice. And I can swear me and my clan innocent in front of God! I would find out the traitor myself and execute him by my own hands!”Ryuichi stares at Sora. The girl can feel one’s integrity and dignity inside the old man’s eyes.
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“CLOSE THE GATE! INVADER!” Outside a member from the bridge fortifying squad exhausts his last breathe in in order to warn his clan before he falls dead in front of the gate.
His body is on fire. So is the trail which led him to his last destination.
Inside the flame emerges a female figure - a girl as old as Sora, holding a sword in its scabbard is walking towards the gate.
”Close the damn gate! What are you idiots waiting for !?” Kentaro yells desperately to his men who are all fainted hopelessly on the ground. What else can they do when Death has already spelled out their fates with no pity ?
Sora turns and murmurs to herself,
HARU! You have come at last!
“Sora. What Justice are you upholding here? To protect a cold blooded MURDERER from adjudgment!? Sorry but this makes me sick to have both of us being mentioned in the same breathe…..huh!?” The girl pushes her arrogant face close to Sora’s, so close that Sora can sniffs the fragrance of her breathe.
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