"Oden Two-Sword Style: Paradise Fist!!!"
A violent cross-shaped slash shattered the giant stone spikes behind Shutenmaru, clearing the path down the mountain!
Immediately after, a black-clad figure with only his eyes visible descended from above, landing beside Shutenmaru and swinging his twin blades once more.
"Oden Two-Sword Style: Peach Garden White Waterfall!"
A slash powerful enough to cleave a warship horizontally tore through the air!
"BOOM!!!"
Dust and debris erupted skyward as nearly a hundred samurai were sent flying with agonized screams.
At the center of the dust cloud, Yamato stood diagonally in front of Gurd, her spiked club raised to block the incoming slash.
"So strong!"
Yamato's eyes widened in astonishment.
Though they hadn't formally crossed blades, she could sense the opponent's formidable strength from the slash alone—enough to make her take this seriously.
"Gurd, are you okay?"
The young woman quickly turned to check on Gurd, only to see an eerie smile spreading across his face.
What's going on?
A chill ran down Yamato's spine.
Every time Gurd smiled like this, it meant someone was about to have very bad luck.
"Gurd, what are you smiling about?"
"Nothing."
Gurd shook his head with a chuckle.
After waiting so long, the main player had finally appeared!
"Yamato, I have a mission for you."
"Huh?"
As the dust slowly settled, both the black-clad man and Shutenmaru had vanished, but their brief appearance had left clues.
Da Black's face darkened with recognition.
"That was Ushimitsu Kozo!"
Ushimitsu Kozo—the chivalrous thief who robbed the rich to aid the poor during the Hour of the Ox (1-3 AM). He was Flower Capital's most wanted criminal, having evaded capture for fifteen years.
The Oniwabanshu had exhausted considerable effort trying to apprehend Ushimitsu Kozo, yet each attempt ended in humiliating failure.
Da Black himself had once pursued the thief!
In all previous encounters, Ushimitsu Kozo had never engaged in prolonged combat, always escaping at incredible speeds when discovered. Never had Da Black imagined the thief's swordsmanship could be this powerful!
"Strange... why would Ushimitsu Kozo rescue Shutenmaru?"
Da Black frowned in confusion.
As a righteous thief whose conduct commanded respect, Ushimitsu Kozo should despise tyrants like Shutenmaru most of all.
There was no time to ponder further.
Gurd issued a cold command: "Shutenmaru is severely wounded. Even with Ushimitsu Kozo's help, they can't have gotten far."
"After them!"
"Yes, Lord Gurd!"
Midway down the mountain.
Ushimitsu Kozo supported Shutenmaru as they moved swiftly through dense foliage: "Hold on! I've prepared horses at the base. Once we reach them, we can escape!"
"Cough!"
Shutenmaru spat blood, his body weakening from blood loss. Yet he paid no mind to his injuries, his focus entirely on the man beside him.
Paradise Fist... Peach Garden White Waterfall!
These were techniques unique to Lord Oden!
With Lord Oden dead, the only people who could wield these techniques were his former retainers.
"Who are you really?"
"My identity isn't important."
Ushimitsu Kozo had no intention of revealing himself. After fifteen years of patience, not even his comrades could know him before the day of reckoning arrived.
The slightest slip could undo everything.
Shutenmaru fell silent.
Even without confirmation, he knew this man must be one of the Nine Red Scabbards. Using Lord Oden's techniques was clearly meant to earn his trust.
Only which specific member remained unknown.
"After them!"
"They're right below us!"
"Don't let Shutenmaru escape!"
The shouts of their pursuers echoed from behind.
Ushimitsu Kozo took a deep breath.
"We have to move faster!"
"Let go of me! I can run on my own!"
Shutenmaru shoved the other man aside, forcing himself to sprint despite his injuries.
He refused to drag his comrades down.
If it came to it, he'd rather sacrifice himself alone!
The two of them drew closer to the foot of the mountain, but their pursuers were closing in as well—so close they could practically see each other.
"Shutenmaru is right ahead!"
"Don't look back! We're almost at the base!"
Ushimitsu Kozo warned in a low voice.
The rugged terrain of the mountain slowed their escape, but once they reached the bottom, they could mount their steeds and shake off their pursuers.
Just a little farther!
Ten seconds. Thirty seconds. A minute.
Suddenly, the path ahead opened up!
They'd made it!
But the enemies before them forced both men to halt.
An ambush!
Wind Blade and Chiyo Girl stood at the center, flanked by battle-ready warriors arrayed in a semicircle, cutting off all escape routes for Shutenmaru and his companion.
And behind them—more pursuers!
No way out!
Shutenmaru's eyes darkened with despair. In his current wretched state, there was no way he could evade his enemies any longer.
"Go! I'll hold them off!"
"Don't be stupid!"
Ushimitsu Kozo snapped angrily.
He would never abandon a comrade before the very last moment. The pain of leaving Oden behind in the past still haunted him.
He wouldn't go through that again.
"Rustle—!"
The bushes behind them shook as a large group of pursuers emerged.
Gurd stepped toward Shutenmaru and his companion.
"Surrender. Maybe Orochi will spare your lives."
"..."
Neither man responded, standing back-to-back as they drew their blades.
"What a shame."
Gurd grinned leisurely and took a step back.
"Kill them!"
"Ten thousand gold to whoever takes one down!"
"Raaahhh!!!"
The warriors' eyes gleamed crimson as they howled and charged.
"Die!"
Shutenmaru roared, cleaving the first warrior in half with a swing of his sword. But more warriors rushed forward, fearless and bloodthirsty.
Madness.
The warriors fought like rabid beasts.
Killing even one of them meant wealth and glory!
"Thud!"
A blade plunged into his side!
Shutenmaru coughed up blood, his left hand clamping down on the embedded sword while his right slashed the attacker down.
But the next instant, another blade struck his back!
Enemies surrounded him on all sides!
Meanwhile, his black-clad comrade was locked in combat with a silver-haired girl—unable to lend aid, barely able to defend himself.
"Where is he?!"
Shutenmaru forced the warriors back with a swing, his blurred vision searching until it landed on Gurd. His eyes instantly burned red.
"I'll kill you!"
Shutenmaru bellowed in fury, ignoring the warriors around him, letting their blades slash into his flesh as he charged recklessly toward Gurd.
"Coming to die?"
Gurd watched him coldly, gripping the massive sword on his back.
"Clang!"
Blade met greatsword in a collision that sent shockwaves rippling outward!
Behind them, Da Black's gaze sharpened.
"Now's my chance!"
While the two were locked in combat, a strike from behind would let him fulfill Orochi's orders.
But—
Da Black gripped his hilt, hesitation flickering in his eyes.
Orochi was just an ordinary shogun. The Wisdom King was the true guardian of this land. Orochi stood no chance against him.
The choice was obvious.
But for ninjas, betrayal is an absolute taboo that must never be touched!
The blade was slowly drawn!
At the center of the battlefield.
Shutenmaru and Gurd clashed violently.
Both were power-type warriors, and the mere shockwaves from their blade collisions kept surrounding samurai at bay.
Shutenmaru, covered in blood, gripped his sword with both hands, pressing down on Gurd's massive blade, his eyes filled with primal hatred.
All his brothers were dead!
"You won't kill me like this."
Gurd spoke calmly.
Continuous injuries and combat had drained the other's stamina to dangerously low levels, posing no threat to him.
Shutenmaru's eyes burned with fury.
"You're the only one—"
"Guh!"
A sharp blade pierced through his chest!
Blood spilled from Shutenmaru's mouth as he struggled to look back.
A ninja!
Da Black silently withdrew his bloodstained longsword and retreated without a word—he was merely fulfilling Orochi's orders.
Eradicate the bandits!
"Well done."
Gurd nodded approvingly, stepping before the kneeling Shutenmaru and slowly raising his massive sword.
"Any last words?"
"Cough... Don't underestimate samurai!"
With great effort, Shutenmaru lifted his head, his right hand pulling a red cylindrical object from his chest—its fuse already lit.
Explosives!
Gurd's pupils contracted slightly.
Shutenmaru laughed wildly.
"Die with me, pirate!"
"BOOM!!!"
The explosion roared, flames surging like tidal waves to blot out the sky!
"Shutenmaru!!!"
Ushimitsu Kozo's face paled as he screamed toward the explosion, his momentary distraction proving fatal.
Yamato's gaze sharpened, Conqueror Haki erupting.
"Thunder Bagua!!!"
The furious spiked club grazed Ushimitsu Kozo's scalp.
Horrified, Ushimitsu Kozo leaped back to create distance, his headscarf slowly falling away to reveal blue hair.
Knowing the battle was lost, he immediately turned and vanished into the jungle.
"No need to chase."
Yamato shouldered her spiked club, stopping the samurai who sought to pursue the black-clad figure, then turned her gaze to the explosion site.
She wasn't worried about Gurd—Observation Haki clearly sensed his presence, meaning he was unharmed.
As the flames dissipated, a massive boulder came into view before splitting in two with a crack, revealing Gurd's figure.
"Whew, that was close!"
Gurd exhaled deeply.
If he'd been killed by fireworks, it would've been utterly humiliating—since when could bombs in this world kill anyone?
"Huh?"
His foot nudged a corpse.
Judging by its appearance, it was Shutenmaru.
"He's really dead?"
Gurd was stunned.
No matter what, this guy was Oden's top warrior—to die like this, what kind of script was this?!
Well, well, well—mission accomplished!
(End of Chapter)