Disclaimer: I don't own Warriors Orochi.
A/N: Wow, I left the one shot prologue without a continuation to the WO story I'm setting up. With WO 2 out, it's time to start my second WO fic. Keep in mind, the story differences that of the canon game story because some things don't suit well with me. As for pairings, please be patient. I'll edit this chapter if there's a problem.
Warrior Seven: Dawn of the Dragon
Chapter 1: Out of Nowhere Act 1
At Ueda Castle…..
Zhao Yun was captured by Orochi's forces in an alliance with Wei. Now he leaves the cage he was imprisoned, quietly making his escape. Previously, Shu was destroyed in an unprepared assault on Orochi after the incident of being warped into an unknown world. Liu Bei is dead, but learning from a Japanese warrior name Nagamasa Azai, there's a conspiracy between Orochi and Cao Pi and Zhen Ji being missing. Cursing himself for his lack of security on Shu's demise, Zhao Yun decides that he'll search for answers. First, he must find out why Orochi brought them into his world, and then learn of Wei's ambitions whether they're attached to Orochi's potency. There's something hideous about this alliance and the reason why both kingdoms are brought into Orochi's war world.
"Warped into a dimension in which we don't belong, and we lost our dynasty to the Cao family. Did Orochi bargain with Wei to destroy Shu-Han?!" Zhao Yun thinks bitterly. He exits the dungeon reaching a hall from the door he opened.
Nothing, the guards haven't monitored the hall and there's no sign of Cao Ren. Excellent, he walked faster to find the armory so he can disguise himself as a Wei soldier, one of the greatest deceptions that lead Wei into victory against the Yuan fraction.
"Hmm, the design of the castle is familiar, but the custom is rarely Chinese," Zhao Yun scanned the other side of the hall while thinking to himself.
He found the armory just a corner left towards a large room that appears to be guarded by soldiers. But the soldiers are chatting with each other, both Chinese and Japanese as Nagamasa told him.
So, both countries happen to warp into Orochi's world. It won't be long till Wei starts a war with a Japanese fraction. He's not interest in observing it, not when there's a great evil manipulating mankind. What's the point starting wars?
"With Zhen Ji missing, Cao Pi should be searching for her. Until I'm done disguising myself, I must get out of this place and seek a horse," Zhao Yun thought. He went in the armory and take some blue mail and a helmet, then seek into a room somewhere to equip the two items.
An hour later…
"Xu Huang, is our army preparing to march?" Cao Pi asked.
"Yes my lord, but I'm distraught by allowing these musket units joining us," Xu Huang referring to the rifles. He doesn't like such weaponry so destructible than fire after learning it from Mitsunari.
"Mixed opinions are always an honor to hear. These rifles will be the main arsenal of our military power now. I wanted the musket units because I want to learn just how aggressive these Japanese lords are when it comes to warfare," Cao Pi said.
"Crown Prince…" Zhang Liao quickly put his words of resentment, but Cao Pi face to Zhang Liao with an emotionless glance.
"King, and I know this kind of battle unit show a dishonorable play of military. My word is law and you must abide by the changes now that I am in command of all military affairs and succeed Wei. Father would have wanted the same way I presume," Cao Pi words put authorized tone.
"Very well, your majesty, I will take charge of the musket unit," Zhang Liao bowed.
"Your majesty, Cao Cao may still be…" Xu Huang was cut short.
"Father is presumed dead and the rest of our officers are missing. We might find father, but our main objective is to secure our new territories, Xu Huang. Do this for my father, understood?" Cao Pi turned away from his two generals and went back inside the castle.
After he left, the two generals murmured. They hardly will embrace the changes and sooner or later, they won't need the archers any longer.
"For some reason, this is going too far," Xu Huang shook his head.
"I know my friend. However, we must embrace change for the sake of the future of Wei," Zhang He patted Gongming's shoulder.
As Cao Pi went back inside to finish up a few things before he departs, he notices the soldier guarding the hall left of him as he stop.
"…….." Zhao Yun stood valiantly as the dread Wei King scanned him.
"Hmm, you don't fall asleep during duty. Now that's a competent soldier I like. I don't care if you're getting muscle strains from standing more than 12 hours in duty. If you fall asleep right now, you'll be sleeping for eternally," Cao Pi referring to an execution. He has seen a bunch of whining weaklings serving to guard the halls everyday without sleep and one of them felt a asleep at his house where he and Zhen Ji residents, the poor soldier was executed and the father grief heavily.
"……." Zhao Yun didn't lock his eye on Cao Pi and remain steadily facing directly at the opposite wall.
"Your majesty, I have the battle plans you're looking for," Mitsunari came towards the two holding the battle plans.
"Well, I wouldn't have gotten it before you. Surely, you want to be my strategist or Da Ji? Make up your mind," Cao Pi crossed his arms abit irritated.
"I'll assist you as your strategist, it's just that neither of you can be trusted yet. You allying with that vermin put me unease along with my colleagues," Ishida Mitsunari said.
"Fair enough, but don't get in my way," Cao Pi took the battle plans and prepares to leave Shinano with the Wei army.
"He's more paranoid compare to me, hm," Mitsunari followed his lord.
After the two left, Zhao Yun turns directly at where Cao Pi's presence was seen. So he has made his move, but will he return? Zhao Yun can't stay here as he must get his spear and his white horse at a stable outside. Whatever Wei is up to, it's the only lead he got to search for any Shu officers and rebuild an army to fight Orochi.
"Cao Ren is now commanding this castle on his lord's departure. He might have already found out of my escape," Zhao Yun thought.
He went outside and the world in front of him emerges. It's cloudy with the grounds mixed as a wasteland with ruined buildings seen. There's a stable at the west of his location there the white horse is there. Now he must get his Dragon Spear back in the castle right quick.
"It's not in the armory, but they didn't put it next to my cell. So where could the Dragon Spear be?" Zhao Yun went back inside Ueda castle and reach the audience where his Dragon Spear was a showcase as proof of Wei capturing him.
"And now my spear has returned to me, the proof of them capturing me is no longer a trophy for Cao Cao," Zhao Yun smirked.
"Guards! Zhao Yun has escaped from his cell! Alert the troops!" Cao Ren rushed out of the dungeon and went into the group of soldiers chatting in the room near the armory.
The soldiers waste no time and act quickly to search around the castle. Zhao Yun may have failed to escape undetected, but now is a good time to work out his skills. The prison may have hinder his abilities since his capture.
He charge after two men who saw him at the throne. The Tiger General leap into the air and swings his spear a half circle knocking the two soldiers out hard sending them against an object.
"Oofff!"
When Nagamasa and Oichi heard of Cao Ren's shouting, they went out of the quiet room they stayed in and saw the guards racing across the hall to seize the escapee.
"Oichi, I'm going to settle this with Zhao Yun. Stay in the castle till I come back," Nagamasa grabs his Impaler before he leaves, Oichi place her hand on his arm.
"You let him escape and they'll find out," Oichi said.
"I did it for a purpose, but they won't suspect me if I'm going out there to fight him," Nagamasa said. His true intentions are a fight against the Dragon of Chang Shan he learned about in history.
"He's for real, you don't have a chance!" Oichi tried to pull him back before he gets out of that door.
"If I don't find him, I won't be able to…to..learn of my resolve. Shu…they loss, they fault to restore the Han dynasty. It felt like the same way I'm fighting to restore the Ashikage Shogunate. I must challenge him," Nagamasa's arm slowly escapes Oichi's grasp.
"….." Oichi could only watch her lover leave the room joining the pursuit.
Zhao Yun leaves the castle breaking through many of the soldiers on the way to the stable. He takes his horse and mount fast. The entire land of Shinano is a land he never seen. He'll be loss, but there's a road leading north of Shinano. Where does that way lead?
"Don't let him get away! He's the most dangerous general of Shu's!" Cao Ren shouted.
"More than a danger to your clan, but not the people of this land," Zhao Yun kicked his horse and break through the musket unit before it can fire it's rifles.
"Send the cavalry! We'll pursuit Zhao Yun!" Cao Ren ordered.
"I'll capture Zhao Yun, Lord Cao Ren," Nagamasa Azai storm towards the crowd on his horse and follow Zhao Yun's trail with a few of his Azai retainers joining him.
"Make sure you don't kill him! We want him alive!" Cao Ren watch the pursuers toward the road leading north.
At Jian Ning…
The revived Shu army now lead by Xing Cai still recovering as much of it's power that was lost. As the oath sisters talk about what their next move is going to be, Magoichi and Yashihiro listen to the same girl talk while Magoichi speaks out to the aged daimyo.
"Xing Cai looks quite an empress, don't you think?" Magoichi put a mischief look showing that ladies man attitude when talking about girls especially when they're younger.
"She reminds me of my daughters," Yashihiro nodded.
"Don't most of your clan in Satsuma were raised into the samurai ways?" Magoichi questioned.
"Same as every clan in Japan, but you Saiki mercenaries adopt firearms mainly," Yashihiro said. He stares at Ginchiyo, the only daughter of Dosetsu Tachibana, it's just like her to be raise near his domain becoming a samurai woman.
Yue Ying sense an ambush in the rain forest of Nan Zhong as she halt the main army and the two other woman joined her to discuss the situation. The men guard the rear to make sure a sneak attack doesn't occur.
"No doubt this is the same site my husband sets ambushes here since we fought the Nanmans," Yue Ying got off her horse an scanned the area.
"Is it the prime minister?" Xing Cai asked.
"Let's find out, shall we?" Ginchiyo unsheathe her Lighting Blade.
Yue Ying takes out a crossbow and shoots directly at the tree pretending she's practicing her target. A young boy's voice spoke out.
"My lady, is that you?" the boy reveal himself from the bushes along with a group of other Shu soldiers coming out of their hide.
"Jiang Wei," Xing Cai happily greet the young scholar.
"If that's her boyfriend, then he has my fullest respects," Magoichi grinned.
"Except he's not the 'emperor'," Yashihiro shrugged.
"Jiang Wei, do you know what happened to Kongming?" Yue Ying asked with worried eyes.
"Before the Prime Minister's sudden disappearance, he told me to go to Nan Zhong and warn Meng Huo about Orochi's threat. Now his hordes are plaguing the tropical province. My men were camped here while assisting the Nanman tribes," Jiang Wei told the rest of the story as they listened.
Zhuge Liang could be up to something, but his disappearance leaves Yue Ying wondering if he too was captured by Orochi.
"Then we'll aid Meng Huo to defend Nan Zhong from being under Orochi's control," Xing Cai announced.
"Yes, that will be the best course of action. I do have a plan to weaken the snake's large forces, come on," Jiang Wei nodded and lead the Shu army to Yun Nan where Meng Huo's main force resides.
"Lady Huang, you told me there was the Queen of Nanman who is a fierce female warrior," Ginchiyo mentioned.
"Yes, you'll be surprise how strong she is," Yue Ying said.
The Shu army marches to the Nanman city.
At Nagayo…
The coalition lead by the Oda gathered in the place that started Nobunaga's career. The Uesugi, Takeda, Mori, and various minor daimyos sat down on their seats in each side while Oda Nobunaga is at the center of his war council.
"Lord, the scouts reported that the Wei army is approaching from the east," A soldier informed.
"Hmm. Has Cao Pi come to attract my attention? Very well, he's Cao Cao's son and I expect more from him," Nobunaga raise from his throne and orders the entire coalition to commence the troops to war.
"We're going to fight Wei lad. Hopefully, we can avenge our fallen kingdom this time," Huang Zhong patted Guan Ping's shoulder strength the young officer's confident for the next battle. Guan Ping now vows to fight for the Oda loyally.
"May I ask, Nobunaga; Wei may have sided with Orochi, but what if we try a diplomatic strategy getting them to turn against the Serpent King?" Shingen suggested.
"Heh, we don't know what that young man's reasons to joining Orochi is, but he comes to test his new position as Wei ruler against a military leader. I'm willing to put that man's leadership to test. Feel free to doubt, but don't interference with my authority. Your clan wouldn't have survived from Orochi's overwhelming forces had I not rescue you two. Hahaha!" The Oda lord chuckled. He loves seeing his subjects question him, it's like they're underestimating him.
The coalition prepares for a skirmish against Wei.
Back in Shinano….
Zhao Yun rides into the forest with the Azai lord on a hot pursuit behind his rear. When he took a road leading to the depths of the ridge, he got off his horse and hides somewhere so the pursuers won't find him. His horse quietly made no sound, then he takes off the helmet and mail he disguise himself as a Wei soldier.
The climate changes to mild temper as the thickness fog frenzy the forest. Azai troops carefully scan the forest. No fear stumble the morale of the soldiers, since it's Zhao Yun they're aftering, but Zhao Yun is just one man. He's human, not invisible and definitely not flawless, but he's good, better than most, the man who was victorious at the closing moments in the Han Zhong war. Nagamasa enlighten of his enemy's way of hiding out in these forests.
"Each of you spread out and search for him. I shall go alone to search over there," The Azai samurai ordered.
Knowing that he's the one who let Zhao Yun escape, everything went exactly as planned. He's hoping he'll find Zhao Yun in a separate area where his men won't find him. Zhao Yun did not know that it was Azai Nagamasa who orchesterated his escape and the samurai gets off his horse and slowly went directly where Zhao Yun is hiding.
"He's there alone? Good, I can get some answers from him," Zhao Yun thought. Once the samurai reach the ridge where Zhao Yun is hiding, the fugitive emerges.
"I'm alone; my men are searching the other areas in this forest. Now we shall fight as men of honor, Little Dragon," Nagamasa readied his stance holding his lance valiantly.
"So, you're the one who dropped the lockpick next to my cell. Why?" Zhao Yun readied his stance with his spear length on his shoulder pointing at his opponent.
"Fight me and I'll answer all your questions. But I have a question of my own, what would you do if your kingdom no longer exists?" Nagamasa then charged at Zhao Yun striking his Impaler at him, but his moves are parried by Zhao Yun's Dragon Spear.
"That fighting style, what is it?!" Zhao Yun shocking expression leaves much to find out everything about the greatest battle that is about to come.
Next Chapter: Out of Nowhere Act 2