Chapter 5 – Embers After the Storm
The battlefield was quiet… or at least, as quiet as a battlefield could be after thousands had clashed.
The setting sun painted the plains in shades of deep red and black, shadows stretching long over the heaps of broken spears, discarded shields, and the still forms of the fallen.
Qin soldiers moved among the wreckage, some dragging the wounded back to camp, others piling weapons into makeshift carts. The stench of blood hung heavy, carried on the faint wind. The war drums had long gone silent — replaced by the groans of the injured and the muted shouts of medics calling for water.
In the Qin camp
Gi Ken sat cross-legged beside a small, flickering campfire. His towering frame was bent forward, wiping at the scratches and dried blood on his father's old breastplate with a rag. The metal was pitted and worn — nothing like the gleaming armor worn by the better-supplied units — but each dent and scar told a story.
His hands moved in steady circles, the leather straps creaking softly.
"Still holding together, old man," Gi Ken muttered under his breath.
One by one, his ten companions drifted in, finding their usual places around him. None of them spoke at first. The low crackle of the fire and the distant clanging of blacksmiths hammering damaged gear filled the air.
Sei Riku, always the first to break the silence, smirked.
"You clean that thing more than you clean yourself, Ken."
Gi Ken didn't look up. "If it stops an enemy blade, it's worth the effort."
The others chuckled lightly, the tension of the day slowly bleeding away. Even without words, there was a comfort in their shared presence.
Across the camp
Shin's voice was unmistakable.
"Ha! Did you see me out there today?! I took down at least twenty Wei soldiers! Hyou would've been proud!"
Karyoten, standing nearby, sighed. "You're just lucky you didn't get killed."
Shin barked his signature laugh, loud and unrestrained.
"HIH-HIH-HIH!"
Gi Ken's eyes flicked toward the noise. He hadn't spoken to Shin yet, but the kid's enthusiasm was hard to ignore. He saw flashes of something familiar there — raw drive, the same kind he once felt when he first picked up a weapon. But drive without discipline… was dangerous.
Later that night
The commanders' tent loomed at the center of camp, torchlight casting long shadows. Gi Ken happened to pass by just as the flap opened and a massive figure stepped out.
Ouki.
Even at a distance, his presence was suffocating — the tall, broad-shouldered general in ornate armor, a faint, knowing smile curling on his lips. His deep laugh rolled through the air like distant thunder.
"HO-HO-HO-HO-HO…"
Ouki's gaze swept across the camp… and for just a moment, lingered on Gi Ken and his companions by the fire.
Gi Ken met the general's eyes briefly. Something passed between them — not words, but an unspoken recognition. Then Ouki moved on, his entourage following close behind.
Companions' POV
Hou Ren leaned closer to the group. "You all saw that, right? The Great General just looked at us."
Ko Ryuu shrugged, but his eyes gleamed. "It's not luck he noticed us. We fought well today."
Gi Ken finally set down the breastplate, the metal catching the firelight.
"We're not here for his attention. We're here to win wars and survive them. Don't forget that."
But even as he said it, a small spark lit inside him. If a man like Ouki could see potential in them… their path forward might be brighter than he thought.
Later — Shin's corner
Shin spotted Gi Ken from across the camp and, without hesitation, marched over.
"You're that tall guy from the left flank, right? The one with the crazy glaive swings?"
Gi Ken didn't look up from strapping his armor back together. "And you're the loud one."
Shin blinked, then grinned. "Damn right! I'm gonna be the greatest general under the heavens, you know."
Gi Ken glanced at him for the first time. "Then I guess we're rivals."
Shin's eyes widened, then his grin widened even further.
"HIH-HIH-HIH! Don't think you can keep up with me!"
Gi Ken simply smirked. "We'll see."
The night deepens
The camp slowly quieted as soldiers collapsed into sleep, exhaustion finally claiming them. Gi Ken sat awake a little longer, his glaive resting across his lap. He could still feel the weight of the day's battle in his arms, the echo of clashing steel in his ears.
From the shadows, Sei Riku spoke softly. "Ken… whatever comes next, we'll be ready."
Gi Ken nodded once. "We will. And we'll do it together."
Above them, the stars shone cold and bright — silent witnesses to the rise of men who, one day, would shake the very kingdoms themselves.
Author's Note
This is a non-profit Kingdom fanfiction written purely for fun and entertainment. The story contains AI-assisted elements, but all creative direction and adaptation are my own.