No one cheered anymore.
The victory over Urakami had lasted only moments.
The red-armored soldiers had fled. Their banners had fallen into the snow. Their leader lay frozen outside Minami Kyoto, dead beneath Yukihime's silver spear.
Then the ground began shaking.
Now, every person near the ruined gate stood silent.
Hanzo stared beyond the walls.
The huge dark figure was getting closer.
Each step it took shook the broken streets of Minami Kyoto.
Loose stone fell from damaged roofs.
The shattered gate trembled.
Snow slid down from the walls in pale sheets.
The creature was too large to understand properly. It rose above the distant trees, its horns cutting through the darkening sky. Four arms hung from its body, each ending in long claws. Black hair moved around a pale face with empty dark eyes.
The red chains that had once coiled around its body were gone.
Hanzo saw Norihiro lying in the snow behind it.
