The river still ran red. Crows circled above the battlefield, their cries carrying across the valley like a funeral dirge. The body of Satomi Yoshihiro had long been carried downstream, but the shadow of his pride lingered in the silence of his fallen banners.
On the ridge, Eugene's army gathered. Defectors and Spears alike cheered, voices rising as one. For the first time, the valley echoed not with fear, but with the thunder of unity.
Yet Eugene did not raise his arms in triumph. He stood still, his gaze distant. Victory was a knife with two edges—it cut his enemies, but it also drew the gaze of greater foes.
And already, one such gaze was fixed upon him.
In Kai Fortress, General Ishida stood before the war table. Reports of Yoshihiro's death lay scattered across the surface, each written by a shaken scout or desperate retainer. The banners of Satomi were fallen, their army shattered, their lord slain by Eugene's own blade.
The other Takeda commanders murmured uneasily.
"The boy has drawn too much attention.""He commands more men now than half our border lords.""If left unchecked, he will become a second Oda Nobunaga."
Ishida silenced them with a single glance. His fan snapped open, then closed again with a crack like thunder.
"Make no mistake," Ishida said, voice low and hard. "This Eugene is no ordinary child. He fights not with armies, but with the hearts of men. He takes starving soldiers and turns them into zealots. That is more dangerous than swords."
One retainer bowed. "Then we march against him, General?"
Ishida's eyes narrowed. "Not yet. The wolves must circle before they bite. If we move too quickly, we may only strengthen his legend. No—we will let his army swell until it strains his resources. Then, when his new men demand more than he can give, we will strike."
His words hung like smoke in the chamber. Around him, the lords nodded reluctantly.
But Ishida's thoughts remained sharp. If he is to be crushed, it must be clean, absolute. No half-measures. For if he survives even once more… he will rise beyond our reach.
Back in the valley fortress, Eugene convened his council. The mood was celebratory, but Eugene's face remained calm, almost cold.
Hiroshi leaned forward, eyes gleaming. "We did it, my lord. Satomi is finished. His men have flocked to us by the hundreds."
Captain Inoue nodded, though his expression was more cautious. "But many of them are still unsettled. They turned to you out of hunger, not loyalty. Feed them, and they will fight for you. Fail, and they will scatter."
Lady Aiko's voice was smooth as silk. "Already, the wolves watch from Kai Fortress. Ishida will not sit idle forever."
Eugene placed a hand on the map spread before them. "Then we will not sit idle either. Satomi's fall has given us soldiers, but soldiers alone cannot sustain a kingdom. We must turn this valley into more than a fortress. We must make it a home."
The AI pulsed in his mind, a cold reminder beneath the heat of his ambition:
[Resource assessment: food supplies strained. Estimated two weeks before shortage if no new source secured. Recommendation: secure agricultural lands or seize nearby storehouses.]
Eugene's eyes narrowed. "Then our next war is not against Ishida. It is against hunger."
The following days were a whirlwind of motion. Eugene dispatched squads to secure nearby villages, not with fire and sword, but with rice and order. Where Satomi's men had once taken by force, Eugene offered protection. Farmers who had hidden in the forests returned to their fields, reassured by his calm authority.
"When the harvest comes, you will not be robbed," Eugene promised one trembling farmer, placing his hand upon the man's shoulder. "You will give a share, and in return, my men will defend your homes."
The farmer's eyes filled with tears. "A lord… who does not take all?"
Word spread faster than marching soldiers. Villages that had once cursed the very sight of banners now raised Eugene's pennon willingly.
His army swelled not only in men, but in spirit.
Yet the wolves drew closer. Scouts reported increased Takeda patrols along the ridges. Smoke signals flickered in the distance, messages carried between Ishida's allies.
In the council chamber, Hiroshi slammed his fist onto the table. "We must strike first! If we wait, Ishida will gather all Takeda's strength against us!"
Captain Inoue shook his head. "A premature strike will doom us. Our men are still learning to fight together. Half are farmers who only yesterday laid down their sickles."
Lady Aiko's eyes glittered. "Both of you are right. If we wait, Ishida grows stronger. If we move now, we risk collapse. But there may be a third path—divide his allies before he gathers them."
Eugene listened in silence, then spoke with the calm certainty of one who saw the board beyond their sight.
"Wolves fight best when united. But wolves also hunger. If I can turn one against another, Ishida will be left grasping at shadows."
His finger tapped the map—specifically at the Imagawa lands to the south.
"The Imagawa resent Takeda's grip. If we offer them alliance, or even just the illusion of favor, Ishida will hesitate. He will not know whether to strike at us or guard his own flank."
Inoue's brows rose. "You would pit them against each other."
Eugene's lips curved faintly. "Exactly. While they snarl and snap, we build."
The AI's voice confirmed his instinct:
[Probability of diplomatic success with Imagawa: 42%. Probability of creating Takeda hesitation: 68%. Outcome: increased survival window 4–6 months.]
That night, Eugene stood alone atop the battlements. The valley below glowed with firelight, his men resting, his new villages stirring with life. For the first time, the fortress did not feel like a mere outpost—it felt like the seed of something greater.
Lady Aiko joined him, her robes whispering in the wind. "You have become more than a samurai," she said softly. "You are becoming a ruler."
Eugene's eyes stayed fixed on the horizon. "A ruler must do more than fight battles. He must see the wolves before they strike. He must build a realm that cannot be devoured."
Her gaze lingered on him, unreadable. "And yet, the wolves draw nearer."
Eugene's hand rested lightly on his sword. "Then let them come. The bear has fallen. Now it is the wolves' turn."
The moonlight gleamed off the steel, as though answering his vow.
Far away, in Kai Fortress, Ishida stood upon his own walls, gazing toward the valley. The reports of Eugene's growing strength lay in his hand.
His lips pressed into a thin line.
"The boy grows bolder," he murmured. "But let him. The higher he climbs, the farther he will fall."
His fan snapped shut with a crack.
"Summon the wolves. It is time we tested this so-called genius."
The game had shifted.The bear was gone.And now—the wolves approached the gate.