FLASH.
In a single, instant, a storm of silver steel erupted across the room. Decapitated heads and severed limbs hit the floor simultaneously as dozens of mercenaries fell where they stood, dead before they even knew they had been cut.
Kenta fell to his knees, clutching the bleeding stump where his left arm used to be. I... I barely dodged that... How can he still pull off the First Step at his age?!
The room fell deathly silent, littered with the fallen vanguard. But as the dust settled, Sasaki swayed, leaning heavily on his sword, gasping for air.
That was only the first form... and I couldn't even finish the sequence, Sasaki thought bitterly, a wave of exhaustion washing over him. I really have grown old...
Suddenly, heavy footfalls echoed down the corridor outside.
"Reinforcements are here! The other five clan heads have arrived!" a survivor yelled.
Kenta dragged himself up with a bloody smirk. "Goodbye, Sasaki... You used the First Step, and you couldn't even finish us off."
"The second wave is here! They brought triple our initial numbers!" Ike shouted, stumbling back into the room.
"It's over, Commander," Kouji added, raising his blade. "Soon, the other heads will walk through those doors carrying the fresh corpses of Hayato, your precious daughter, and anyone else foolish enough to stand with the main house."
Sasaki's heart froze. Akira... I know you can't beat Endo... I'm sorry. I failed to protect you... Please forgive me...
Sasaki slowly closed his eyes, preparing to throw his broken body into a final, suicidal stand as the massive army surged toward him.
BOOM!
Kouji fell on the ground, in two pieces.
Before the front line could reach Sasaki, a sudden, blinding pressure crushed the room. The lead wave of thirty men collapsed to the floor simultaneously, cleaved clean in half by an invisible, suffocating aura of sheer force.
Sasaki's eyes snapped open.
Standing before him was a mountain of a man—standing over seven feet tall, with broad shoulders and dark, thick hair rolling backward over his broad back.
Sasaki's eyes widened, he turned his head and saw the heavy silk curtain separating the Family Head's inner sanctuary had been ripped away.
He is here. Sasaki thought.
Every surviving mercenary froze in place, paralyzed by an unbearable, crushing weight in the air. The temperature in the room plummeted.
Sasaki stared up at the giant standing before him.
Takashi Yamamoto looked down at his oldest friend, his voice deep, resonant, and carrying the weight of an absolute sovereign.
"Sasaki Shinomiya... I deeply appreciate you standing up for me," Takashi said calmly, stepping forward over the severed bodies. "I will take it from here."
"My Lord... please do not strain yourself," Sasaki urged, holding his bleeding chest. "I can still clear these traitors, my—"
Takashi raised a single, massive hand, silencing him instantly.
"Go and save your daughter," Takashi said, his dark eyes burning with absolute authority.
"But—"
"That is an order, Sasaki."
Without another word, Sasaki bowed his head, turned on his heel, and sprinted out of the chamber into the grey sky.
Sasaki sprinted through the winding estate corridors until he reached the entrance of the main dojo. Blood-soaked corpses were scattered across the courtyard path.
Where is Akira?! His heart hammered against his ribs.
Scanning the grounds, his eyes caught a grim sight—a severed human heart resting quietly in the grass.
Stepping through the shattered sliding doors of the dojo, Sasaki's breath hitched. Shisui and Hayato lay on the wooden floor, both wrapped in makeshift bandages, while Akira knelt beside them, tending to their wounds.
Shisui, barely conscious, turned his head and spotted the shadow in the doorway. "Commander...?"
Akira turned at the sound of the name. Seeing her father standing there alive, the heavy tension in her chest vanished. Sasaki stepped forward to embrace her, but before he could close the distance, Akira rushed into his arms, burying her face in his shoulder.
"Father... I'm so glad you're okay," she murmured, her voice trembling softly.
Sasaki wrapped his arms around her, gently patting her head. "You actually defeated Endo... I am so proud of you, Akira."
Akira pulled back slightly, looking up at him with a warm, genuine smile. Sasaki's eyes widened in silent shock.
Finally... a real smile, Sasaki thought, a soft warmth washing over his heart. She's always been so serious... and I could never bring myself to blame her for it.
Sasaki gestured toward the two young warriors on the floor. "What happened to those two?"
"They both fought as well," Akira explained softly. "Shisui stood beside me against Endo. As for Hayato... by the time he reached us, he was already severely wounded from taking down the other clan heads."
Sasaki gave a heavy nod of respect. "I'll take over caring for them. You need to rest."
Akira shook her head, her smile remaining steady. "No, Father. I'll look after you and those two. You're the one who needs to rest."
Sasaki offered a rare, tender smile and nodded, sitting down beside Shisui as Akira carefully checked her father's shoulder.
Shisui coughed, leaning his head back against the wall. "Commander... how were things back at the inner quarters?"
Sasaki adjusted the bandage over his arm, looking out toward the main estate complex where the sky seemed to darken with a suffocating, violent energy.
"If I were you, Shisui... I wouldn't worry about the inner quarters in the slightest."
Shisui raised an eyebrow through the pain. "Can I ask why?"
Sasaki's expression grew dead solemn as a cold wind swept through the dojo.
"Because the Monster has finally awoken."