After having woken up and reassessed the situation, the Azuma forces gave chase eastward. All the way to the enemy's stronghold. A sturdy castle surrounded by innumerable men and probably dragon-kin hidden in the thicket of warriors too. Surprisingly, they had chosen to retreat all the way to the land they were supposed to defend, surrendering almost all that they had conquered.
Their backs are against the hard cold wall.
However. Both sides consists of almost every warrior the archipelago has to offer. No matter who loses, the winners will be instantly given the entirety of Azuma. A long and deep history and culture stands on the line. Threatened to be burned and lost to time.
A battle for one's right to exist. Lose here and no hope will remain. Fight and live or fall and die. There is no choice to be made. Only the voices of instincts in every living being inhabiting the land. Fear and uncertainty bloom richly on the battlefield, as do hopes, dreams and most importantly- wishes. Wishes for the present, past and future as infinite at the starry night sky. Each little light joining together to fuel a great fire.
And there are not only those bathing in the scorch of the blaze. Some are here only to momentarily heat themselves by the fire. Visitors that do not belong here. Some wiser and more powerful than others. Enjoying the spectacle of battle.
Haruto stood among the front lines of the Iiyama army. No matter how much Daiji objected, he was going to participate in this final battle. Even if he wasn't part of the elite force, he would focus on hunting down the ring-bearers.
The three clans' armies stood all lined up and ready to leap into battle at the drop of a hat. Anticipation was in the air. Each person's muscles tensing from the pressure. Everyone felt something slightly different with the two extremes being excited and terrified.
The castle city in front of them was surrounded by a high and thick stone wall as well as a moat hindering any progress. Sieging it would be taxing. And if the ring-bearers were hiding on the other side, the situation would drive them even deeper into despair.
In front of them, outside the city gates stood the hypnotized army. They feared nothing as they fought and fell with a series of deranged smiles upon their bloody faces and wounded bodies. Happily throwing themselves into the meat grinder at the prospect a bloodbath and ecstasy.
Disgusting.
Haruto feels something strongly poke at his stomach, making him sick.
He is still just as revolted by the sight of them as he was at Seigo's Shackles. The warriors had been briefed on the ability of the rings. Manipulating people's negative emotions to the extreme and in many cases twisting it into bliss.
The sooner the rings are destroyed, the sooner he can feel healthy again. To regain that feeling, he will gladly fight, refining his abilities all the while.
...
In the rear, Siegfried along with the rest of the small elite force watch over the field. The terrain is mostly flat with a small hill where they're standing. The green grass stretches as far as the eye can see. All the way till the ocean resting on the far horizon beyond the city. Only couple of mountains in the far distance behind them.
He doesn't even know the name of it. Not that he really cares. To him, the castle where Kagutsuchi most likely resides glitters like a golden treasure. Before Kagutsuchi can take the field, they will ambush him in his "home".
Jin and Daiji are wearing their armor as they should, while Siegfried is sporting his favorite vest and standard outfit. And Yuu is already busy drinking sake from one of multiple gourds attached to his hip.
Clouds are beginning to gather in the blue skies above. Will rain dampen their spirits? We'll see. But for Siegfried, a little rain is always refreshing. Feeling rain droplets upon one's face and body is wonderfully relaxing and even with no rain, he feels a little relief.
"Jin. Would you be so kind as to start off the battle with a "Bang"?"
"Call me Koyanagi."
Jin looks at Siegfried reluctantly and slightly exasperated before giving in once again to his request as Siegfried is still no back to full strength.
He places his hand at his right hip, gripping a red "dansen uchiwa", a war fan with a multicolored rope attached to the hilt. He takes it in his hand and lays it flat on front of himself, closing his eyes and speaking words laced with authority.
"[Red flames light ablaze]."
As he speaks, he lifts the fan fluidly up over his head. Above him flames sprout out of thin air into four spheres of crimson fire. Each of them a diameter of two meters. Their incredible heat transmitting down to Siegfried and the others.
As the fires swirl around itself, ready to burst at any moment, Jin opens his eyes, narrowing them and glares at the enemy army. His grip on the war fan strengthens and he swings it down in a vertical arc. Each of the spheres blasting off with high speed at his signal.
Friend and foe alike are amazed by the spectacle and before anyone of the dragon-kin army can react, all of the red fires make contact and explode into a sea of flames engulfing the area around the impact zone.
The Azuma warriors are momentarily frozen in place, unsure of what they should do. As if to spur their beating hearts, the fire within them reaffirms them. The dancing flames are reflected in their eyes and their wishes are flaring up inside of their hearts.
The heat grows hotter and hotter all the way until it's like a scorching drought.
"Uooooh!!"
A war cry erupts somewhere in the thicket of soldiers, and another, and another, spreading rapidly. Moments later, every warrior in the Azuma army is sprinting at full speed forward, roused by the fiery performance and each other.
The ground tremble mightily, the warriors charging full speed into a battle, a bloodbath. The enemy isn't even disoriented as their fellows burn to ashes, laughter and smiles reigning supreme in a place they absolutely should not.
Blades are drawn. Metallic sounds echo across the grassy fields. Flesh is cut and bled. But even louder than that is the laughter of the hypnotized. Manically they shiver as they shout at the sky in mad pleasure.
Haruto is at the forefront cutting down one after another, already doused in red blood not even minutes after they had begun. Unleashing attacks while limiting the strain on the body as much as he could. Allowing him to conserve his strength for a longer period.
I used so much energy during my encounters with them last time. I have to spare my strength as much as I am allowed to. And my eye and arms are still not fully healed.
He was still covered in bandages. The most noticeable parts being his left eye and arms from the elbows down. Though the pain had mostly subsided, it still hindered him. His lack of experience with a state like this led to him having to spend more time with enemies that he would normally instantly defeat.
Weaving and circulating Ki more effectively than before, he is able to wield greater strength and skill. However, he couldn't see as much as he could before and he wasn't always able to swing his sword with the same precision.
So while he had greatly grown, his current strength convulsing up and down due to the injuries. Over eagerness or otherwise foolishness would only lead to a quick and worthless death. Though he knew, he couldn't reject his true nature.
"Uaagh!"
The fire in his heart leads him onwards. He holds his wish close and proceeds into the battle. His last keen eye thoroughly observing the surroundings, keeping himself aware and searching for ring-bearers.
He began to feel a growing tingling in his hands. It had started out as nothing, but now it was steadily growing with each swing of the katana. During this battle, Haruto would be introduced to a new level of pain that eclipsed anything he had felt previously.
...
"Looks like we're here..."
"Dis is gonna be one helluva fight!"
"Could you keep it down!?"
"Now, now. Stop arguing. We're here and that's all that matters. Now it's time to finally meet this guy properly face to face."
By the large gate of the castle stood the elite force made up of Siegfried and the three great clan heads. Siegfried had concealed them with magic and sneaked past the enemies unnoticed thanks to their own warriors causing a huge ruckus for them.
Standing outside the door, each of them held a different emotion within them. Daiji had a concerned expression that had remained since their last encounter with Kagutsuchi, even though he was passed out at that point. In contrast, Yuu and Jin were much more energetic. Yuu gulping down some sake from a gourd and overly excited while Jin was irritated by his lack of concern.
Lastly, Siegfried was filled with a different emotion altogether. Upon his face, a gleeful smile was carved. A smile conveying the same curiosity as when he had first heard about Kagutsuchi. While fear still lurked in the far edges of a corner, Siegfried trampled it further in and instead listened to his heart thumping with excitement.
With each of his hands on the doors, he pushed them open with greater difficulty than expected.
Still not in the green, huh. I'll have to just makedo.
As he glanced down at his hand, Daiji cut in front of him. Advancing with steps of confidence. As if telling Siegfried that he could depend on them. All he could do was give an embarrassed smile, feeling thankful for his friend.
But I'm not alone. This is just what I have longed for, for so long. Even if this isn't how it will be then, this is a good test run for now.
Siegfried, immersed in his own thoughts did not notice the face his dear friend was making at that very same moment.
...
There were no guards at all inside. Neither hypnotized nor dragon-kin. It felt as if the place had been completely abandoned. Less like a stronghold and more like a haunted castle. But still they continued further in and up.
"Ya sure the guy's really in here? If I had ta guess, it seems the army outside is guarding an empty castle?"
"Don't worry, he's definitely here... I can feel a really oppressive Magical Energy from above us... But there's something else that's been bothering me."
Siegfried crinkled his nose in disgust from an awful smell, or sense that he had felt. Narrowing his eyes and closing his mouth tight shut as if denying whatever was in the air entry.
"Ever since we entered, I have felt a growing feeling of death. I'm beginning to smell it too."
"You're right. I feel it also. What on earth could he be doing?"
Jin was also just as wary. His hand strongly gripped his war fan and his calculating eyes looked up, wanting to pierce through the floorboards above them and observe Kagutsuchi lurking there directly.
"I think you can guess. Taking into account what he is and this presence of death, I would say it's pretty clear what he's doing."
Daiji who was leading the advance halted for a mere moment before continuing. Without looking back he asked.
"And. What is that...?"
A bead of sweat trailed down his chin as he spoke. Feeling something similarly to what Jin was experiencing while still toughing it out. And without a hint of malicious intent Siegfried spoke the conclusion he had evidently reached.
"He's feeding."
They continued up the steep wooden stairs that creaked for each step they climbed. They did so until they reached one of the highest floors. A single thin door stood between them and the dragon-kin Kagutsuchi.
When they opened the sliding door, a strong and putrid smell burst through the tiniest crack, filling the air with a powerful stench of flesh and blood. Along with the smell, an overwhelming feeling fell over the four. As if pushing them down from above.
A sound of flesh being torn apart could be heard. Inside, Kagutsuchi sat, minding his own business. Meat hanging from his teeth and blood dripping down. Munching by a large pile of bones. Bones bigger than an animal's. Finishing the chunk of meat he was holding, he licked the bone clean, not sparing the group a single glance till he was done.
The eyes that fell upon them were just like the ones Siegfried had experienced last time. The scrutinizing and focused gaze of a predator. His vertical pupils totally focused on Siegfried specifically.
As he slowly raised himself, the pressure his aura exerted more than doubled in power. Forcing the assassins to stand completely paralyzed. All but Siegfried, who had already experienced this feeling was forced to slightly bend down in response to the incredible oppressiveness. Gritting their teeth and gripping their weapons tightly.
Daiji and Yuu stood in the front while Siegfried stood behind and shielded Jin in the back. Siegfried turned and placed his hand on Jin's shoulder. The next thing he knew, Jin was filled with the strength to oppose the pressure.
Befuddled by his own ability, Jin looked down to his hands to find them completely calm and soothed by the warm Ki circulating in his body. Thanks to Siegfried he was no longer afraid of the four-armed dragon-kin.
Before he could let this moment go to waste, Jin swung his war fan upwards and spoke with full authority.
"[Rise]."
"Interesting."
Now, Daiji and Yuu were also able to resist the feeling that had paralyzed them. Their muscles eased a little up and their hearts relaxed. The first hurdle for facing Kagutsuchi had been overcome.
"Welcome. I have been expecting you."
"Hello yourself."
Kagutsuchi and Siegfried still held an unbreakable eye contact as they exchanged a small greeting. The others stood there, a little unsure of when the fighting would begin.
"So, what's that you're eating? People."
"Ordinary humans are worthless to eat. All it amounts to is empty feeding. It serves no purpose. These are dragon-kin like myself. Too weak to accomplish anything now but still good enough to strengthen me."
"Cannibalism then?"
Kagutsuchi was unwavering. Not letting a single thing be shown on his reptilian face. A creature like a wall. An unreadable book one could not understand from sight alone.
"I see you are strong enough to withstand my presence. Surprisingly it isn't long ago since that happened last. But I would expect someone like you to be able to overcome this."
"Someone like me?"
"A wizard. I felt like I recognized you the last time and after searching my memory I'm sure."
That sentence didn't really make sense to Siegfried. Had they met before? No they couldn't have. Siegfried would have remembered if they had.
"I can't say I remember meeting someone like you. I don't even know anyone named Kagutsuchi."
He played it off jokingly while Kagutsuchi's stare was still just as intense.
"I know it's you. Aldebrand. The young and eager apprentice of Athanasius."
For the first time, something changed inside Kagutsuchi. An intense emotion boiled inside and transferred to his aura with a fiery rage.
Siegfried's joking manner completely vanished at Kagutsuchi's words. His silly smile vanished and his eyes turned dead serious. Just like Kagutsuchi, his own voice increased in intensity. At his words, his very own allies felt an ice-cold chill run down their spine. Most shocked of all was Daiji.
"Who are you?"
One could feel the air's temperature rapidly decreasing with each passing second of silence. Siegfried held a dead-cold stare and Kagutsuchi held a blazing inferno of anger.
""Who are you?"! Tch. I guess you wouldn't remember. Even after what you did to us that day, long ago. After you left us for dead while you ran off home! Running away from the Dragon Continent! Cradling that good for nothing king."
He brought out his enormous glaive which none of them had noticed until now. Gripping it so hard that the metal rang out in pain. Making the air cower in fear. His intensity reaching new heights.
"Because of you! We who remained stranded were forced to endure this hell for two hundred years! It wasn't until we were approached by that man that we could return home."
"What man?"
Siegfried asked, but was ignored by Kagutsuchi. It seems he wouldn't listen to anyone right now. Siegfried sensed a large amount of Magical Energy swirling inside of Kagutsuchi. Right before he realized it, Kagutsuchi had already raised his head backwards, drawing in large quantities of air.
"! -Move!"
Just as he shouted out, the heat of the room increased manyfold. An orange glow peeked out from the small gaps between the dragon scales. His immense Ki retreated into his body for a moment. With a roar, the Ki was released together with incredibly bright flames spewed out of his jaws. Instantly transforming the comfortable temperature that had been into a scorching desert.
The flames spread quickly toward where they had just stood. The next moment everything that came into contact with the dragon-fire was instantly gouged out and promptly turned to ash. In the aftermath of the breath attack, fire was raging the structure and a giant hole had opened to the outside.
In the room, Kagutsuchi stands with a slightly ragged breath. Tiny flames leak out of the corners of his mouth. But even so the grip of the glaive is firm and the oppressive Ki does not wane in the slightest.
As the dust settled and the sun's rays shone through from outside, four silhouettes revealed themselves. Covered in a couple of scratches and some minor burns, but nothing more serious than that. This result was all that the dragon-breath had amounted to this time.
...
"Koff, koff! [Extinguish]!"
At Jin's beck and call, the flames ravaging the castle were instantly snuffed out of existence. Leaving only the black stains behind.
Having dealt with one threat, it was time to move on to the next -who had just disappeared. When the smoke and dust had gone away, Kagutsuchi disappeared from their sight. Daiji and Yuu who had lunged in close were completely dumbfounded.
In the following instant, he reappeared right in front of Siegfried and swung his glaive. The sounds of metal clashing rang out and Siegfried was hurled back into a wall, letting out a groan. His back ached.
The left hand that had blocked the strike was tingling from the pain. It was hard to even close the grip around the sliver sword. When he looked up, he saw Kagutsuchi's eyes still completely locked onto him. Proving to be perfect for Daiji and Yuu who closed in from behind and unleashing each of their attacks.
However, once again Kagutsuchi disappeared and repapered. This time behind Daiji and delivered a solid punch to his undefended side. Shattering his armor and sending him colliding with the wall as well. Yuu managed to jump back and avoid the following attack and put some distance between the two.
Kagutsuchi stooped in and swung his glaive, but the strike was narrowly dodged by Yuu's flexible muscles. After dodging, Yuu swung his katana at Kagutsuchi's stomach. As the blade closed in, Kagutsuchi swung his available arms and redirected the strike away. Leaving only a shallow cut.
He sent both of his left arms in for a counter and was once again eluded. But Kagutsuchi noticed something strange. Even though Yuu had perfectly dodged his attacks, his movement was terribly wobbly. Like a drunk.
Which he was, in fact. The sake he had been drinking finally kicked in and robbed Yuu of his rationality. Probably only able to fight due to his drunken reflexes. He moved backwards in zigzags while smiling like an idiot.
"~Hic~ Hehe.. I cut ya! Ha! I kut ya! Ya grean risard! ~Hic~"
"~Sigh~ This is foolish. Fighting like that will only get you killed. I was fired up, but you ruined that. So instead, repent in Hell for your actions!"
Kagutsuchi placed the upper two of his four arms on the cold steel of his glaive and drew a horizontal arc. The slash travels instantaneously through the air and cuts everything in it's path. Diagonally that is. Missing Yuu completely.
"-Huh?"
The moment he exclaims, Kagutsuchi stumbles where he stands and manages to catch himself just before falling. He's filled with confusion. How could that have happened?
His sight becomes, "weird". It was hard to describe, but the best way would be that he was gazing at waves traveling through everything. Distorting the appearance of objects and people alike. Unable to perceive the distance between himself and Yuu.
He starts to feel happy. A happiness spurts out and overshadows all of his rage, culminated over a long, long time.
"Hehehe."
He laughs. He tries to hold the it in, but it escapes despite his best efforts. Everything seemed so silly and outrageously funny at the moment. He couldn't help but laugh. At his enemies himself and the world.
"Harharhar!!"
"Hehehe!!"
Both of them laugh together in splendid harmony. They had been trying to kill each other and now they were laughing hysterically. Jin, who was at the side of Siegfried was not the least bit shocked. He had heard about this before. About the National Treasure of the Nakagawa clan.
After a bit, the laughing died down and the drunken duo caught their breaths. Their bodies heaving up and down as they slowly regained a little of themselves.
"Huaa~... Hehe. Now dat I cut ya, you gonna hafta suffer wit me."