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Braco stood from his throne as he witnessed all of his comrades fall one by one on the viewing screens.

Maga. Croaked.

Sorisa. Destroyed.

Moriya. Obliterated.

Kademu. Gone.

They had all fallen.

"Everyone has been destroyed?!" he cried out in shock before he smiled darkly.

He was the only one left.

"...Good."

All according to plan.

With his comrades slain, it was finally time for Braco to enter the fray. But first, he needed to give himself a little power boost.

The Seal of Heaven should take care of that.

He lifted up the Seal of Heaven and called out, "Dorinki of the Venom Fists! To me!"

From the ashes of his fallen comrades, streams of dark energy flowed into the sky and gathered into a murky purple cloud. It darkened the sky as everyone gazed up at the eerie phenomenon. Then, the purple cloud simply vanished as soon as it appeared.

The cloud reappeared, hanging above Braco. He gazed up at the cloud and watched as bolts of energy crackled erratically around it. He held up the Seal of Heaven to the cloud. Suddenly, a bolt of dark lightning came down and struck him directly. Instead of screaming in agony, he laughed with glee as he felt his body absorbing his comrades' energy, making their power his own. Gradually, the color of his scales began to change. His scales turned into a deep shade of purple and silver as his eyes turned pitch black.

Braco had plotted this entire scenario perfectly. He planned for his comrades to perish so he could absorb their Dorinki, taking their power, skills, and techniques for himself. While he could've done them in himself, he didn't have to since the Armored War Gods could do it for him. Besides, he still needed his comrades to soften up his prey, which they did so well. The Armored War Gods should be worn out by now.

Braco's black eyes glowed as an eerie purple shine surrounded his eyes. He spoke with a sinister hiss, "Now, let's begin the eradication of the Armored War Gods."

And in a flash of dark violet light, he was gone.


Sangokuden Armored War Gods Saga: End of the Armored War Gods

Co-Written By: Ten-Faced Paladin and Kamen Rider Chrome

Beta Reader/Editor: Busterleader92

Chapter 6: The Cobra Strikes


Initially, the Rinshi had the advantage. While their numbers had been cut down at the beginning of the battle, the Rinshi were undead beings and thus could not fall victim to the afflictions that could affect all living things: exhaustion and loss of stamina. The soldiers and their generals were fighting against relentless odds, and while they may have strength and stamina, both were in limited supply. Already, many good men had fallen but still they fought so that the enemy would not overwhelm them.

Fortunately, reinforcements came just in time from an unexpected source. The female barbarians, led by Ichiro's wife Shamoke, had come to their aid. They brought along their barbaric might and savage beasts to fight alongside the Alliance. Reinvigorated by their presence, the Alliance Army rallied together to fight against their foes.

With the barbarians bolstering their forces, the Alliance Army now had the advantage as the Rinshi's numbers were rapidly falling. It would appear that they would be able to rip victory out of the jaws of defeat.

Of course, in a war, things could still take an unexpected turn. The tide could change at a moment's notice. And that change was marked when one of the elephants suddenly fell. Heavily armored Terracotta Beetle Warriors soon entered the battlefield, each of them armed with deadly weapons. Soldiers screamed as they were torn to pieces and crushed by the might of these golems. Even the barbarian women were powerless as they were beaten to death by their brutal assault.

"Where did those things come from!?" Bacho shouted.

"They were probably placed on standby just in case the Rinshi weren't enough," Chou'un answered with a frown.

Another elephant fell after trying to stomp on the Beetle Warriors. It fell as its neck was snapped before the Beetle Warriors moves on to finish off the rest of the soldiers.

Zangetsu's Moon Brigade actually expected this and quickly summoned up their Lockvehicles. Suika Arms moved to engage the Beetle Warriors as Tulip Hoppers hopped alongside them. However, despite the Suika Arms being deployed, the Beetle Warriors proved to have far superior strength as they knocked the Suika Arms down. The Tulip Hoppers tried to blow them away, but they were destroyed with their pilots killed.

Kanu gritted her teeth as she witnessed the Beetle Warriors decimating their forces. It seemed that Braco had planned out everything. It took the Armored War Gods all their might to take down only two of these armored living statues before, but right now their most powerful warriors were occupied with the Venom Fists. Meanwhile, Ryofu was back at the castle so she could look after Nagata.

Idunn should have a good chance against just one of those Beetle Warriors, but she could just as well be overpowered by them if they decided to gang up on her.

They were screwed!

Gakushin, Riten, and Ukin regrouped as they watched the Beetle Warriors taking out their men with ease. Their cries of pain before they expired reached their ears and filled them with dread. Gakushin's eyes narrowed in determination.

"Sawa, Mao," Gakushin prompted. "It's time we used them."

Riten's lips spread into a grin which revealed her teeth. "Oh yeah! I've been waiting for you to say that!"

Ukin argued, "But Baron-sama said not to reveal them unless it was an emergency."

"This definitely qualifies as one," Gakushin countered. "Besides, Baron-sama put me in charge, remember?"

"Yeah, Sawa! Come on!" Riten encouraged.

Ukin was hesitant but the situation was dire. With these Beetle Warriors decimating their forces, she could not deny that this situation qualified as an emergency. Locking hardened eyes with her longtime friends and fellow lieutenants, the bespectacled swordswoman nodded.

The three reached into the bags they carried with them and took out their blank SengokuDrivers. These were among several that were recovered from the White Clothes and confirmed to still function. Not wasting any time, they strapped on the SengokuDrivers and the devices generated their silver belt straps around their waists, securing them.

They took out and activated the Lockseeds they carried with them. Gakushin unlocked a Kurumi Lockseed, Riten unlocked a Tomato Lockseed and Ukin unlocked a Durian Lockseed. Not wanting his lieutenants to use the same kind of Lockseeds as the Kurokage Troopers, Mitsuki had given them Lockseeds that fit their fighting styles.

[KURUMI!]

[DURIAN!]

[TOMATO!]

"Henshin!" the Crimson Guard Girls called out before they locked in their Lockseeds and hit the Cutting Blades to slice them open.

[KURUMI ARMS! MISTER KNUCKLEMAN!]

[DURIAN ARMS! MISTER DANGEROUS!]

[TOMATO ARMS! MAIRU, INTO THE BATTLEFIELD!]

The Armor Parts descended from Helheim and dropped on each corresponding girl. They generated the Kurokage Trooper Ride Wear suits before disassembling to form their armor. In the blink of an eye, their signature Arms Weapons materialized and the three armored girls charged at the Beetle Warriors.

Batai, who caught sight of the shocking transformation, could only comment, "Well, that's new."

Idunn saw it too. She hadn't expected this.

Swinging her Duri Noko, Ukin slashed at any Rinshi within her range. The sharp serrated edges sliced through the flesh of the Rinshi, rendering them harmless as they dropped to the ground like puppets that had just had their strings cut. Swinging them around, she effortless cut down the Rinshi. She just felt suddenly reenergized.

Nearby, Gakushin was breaking in her new Kurumi Bombers by breaking several Rinshi. Her fists shot forward and exploded their heads on impact. She then performed a roundhouse kick, sending more Rinshi flying into the air as they exploded. The Kurumi Arms fully complemented her bare-handed fighting style. Each punch she threw held the force of an explosion and her kicks were also enhanced to crush her foes' bodies.

Not too far from her was Riten who stabbed some Rinshi in a row with her Tomaspear. She thrust the blade straight into their chests, driving it into their non-beating undead hearts, and watched as they crumbled to ash right before her eyes. She twirled her Tomaspear around into a reverse grip and stabbed into a Rinshi that lunged at her from behind. The blade cut right through its skull and it collapsed to the ground once she withdrew her weapon. She twirled and swung her Tomaspear, driving back a few Rinshi before she attacked them savagely.

"Regroup!" Gakushin ordered as her comrades gathered with her. The Crimson Guard Girls aimed their sights on a lone Beetle Warrior that had been killing their men. It was armed with a massive war hammer and each swing it made shattered bones and crushed men to paste.

Gakushin gave the order.

"Take it down!"

She leaped into action, followed by her friends. The Beetle Warrior didn't notice them until Gakushin's foot collided with the side of its head, making it stagger. Spotting the armored female warrior, the Beetle Warrior raised its war hammer to crush her. However, it never got the chance as Riten jabbed her Tomaspear into its chest, sending it stumbling backward. Narrowing her eyes, Ukin aimed for its hands and jumped up. She swung and slashed at the hands holding the war hammer, disarming the Beetle Warrior. As it made a grab for her with its right hand, Gakushin's punch shattered the appendage before it could reach her sword-wielding partner.

"Hit it!" Gakushin swung her fist down and hit the Cutting Blade to execute her finisher.

[KURUMI SQUASH!]

"Oh yeah!" Riten obeyed.

[TOMATO SQUASH!]

"OK!" Ukin complied.

[DURIAN SQUASH!]

Their weapons glowed as they charged up with energy. They lunged at the Beetle Warrior and attacked simultaneously. Gakushin threw a punch that hit it in the chest while Ukin slashed it across the waist as Riten stabbed her Tomaspear into its chest. It did not know what hit it as they struck and the terracotta golem was destroyed instantly, shattering to pieces.

"Ah, yeah! We got this!" Riten cheered as she raised her Tomaspear triumphantly.

"Don't celebrate just yet," Gakushin cautioned. "We still have more of them to take care of."

A nearby Beetle Warrior witnessed what they had done and suddenly charged right at them. Its body ignited with purple Rinki before it tackled right into the girls for a brutal takedown.

It was performing a kamikaze attack.

The resulting explosion tossed the girls to the ground, violently canceling out their transformations. Their SengokuDrivers detached from them and landed on the ground. Their Lockseeds remained intact as they popped out, but the SengokuDrivers took damage and would not be able to function now.

"Ow...so much for our debut..." Riten groaned as she picked herself up. How unfortunate that their time as Armored War Goddesses was a short-lived one. Gakushin helped her friends rise back to their feet. They might've lost the armor, but not their fighting spirit. They would not fail Baron now.

"Come on, girls! Baron-sama is counting on us!" urged Gakushin.

"You got it, Nagi!" Ukin complied as she drew her twin swords. She ignored the aches and pains and continued to fight with her friends. However, the battle was going to be hard to win without their armor.

Meanwhile, Ryuubi was growing weary. All this fighting was sapping their strength. Exhaustion clearly showed on her face as she brushed her sweat-soaked bangs out of her eyes. The Beetle Warriors were just too strong for them. Idunn was able to take care of them by herself, but even she was showing signs of fatigue.

[COME ON! RINGO SQUASH!]

Raising her sword, Karasu conjured fifteen glowing apples that hovered above her. She then sent the apples flying and they exploded as they hit the Beetle Warriors, destroying a few but leaving the rest still standing despite taking heavy damage. Gritting her teeth, Idunn rushed forward and bashed the nearest Beetle Warrior with her shield. The multiple cracks present on its body showed that it was on its last leg and her attack had shattered its body to a million pieces, leaving only its legs standing.

"For...Naga-kun..." Idunn panted as she motivated herself, pushing herself to keep fighting. The Lockvehicles aimed at the Beetle Warriors she had weakened and blew them up. Unfortunately, some of the remaining Beetle Warrior retaliated and destroyed the Lockvehicles, killing their pilots in the process. Gritting her teeth again, Idunn aimed her glare at them and fired off another attack.

[COME ON! RINGO AU LAIT!]

A gigantic red energy apple shot towards the Beetle Warriors like a missile and destroyed them all.

"That's for Naga-kun..." Idunn whispered as she tightened her grip on her sword and shield. There were still plenty more of those Beetle Warriors. Hopefully, she had thinned the herd with that last move.

"We need a miracle right now," prayed Ryuubi as she panted. She had not trained all her life like her friends. She wasn't a warrior like them, but she was still standing in the battle despite everything. They may die today, but none of them would die with regrets.

Miracles were rare and far between, but they could come from somewhere, or someone, you least expected.

"A miracle, you say? Then allow the Lovely and Beautiful Chosen to give you one!" a familiar voice rang out. All of a sudden, a pink blur impacted with a Beetle Warrior and shattered it to pieces.

The mysterious pink blur was revealed to be Chosen, with smoke billowing from his fist. A smile was plastered on his face as his eyes narrowed dangerously.

"Oh, it's been so long since I've had a good workout!" announced Chosen gleefully as he tore away his shirt, revealing his muscular physique for all to see. He tore away his pants next, a cringe-worthy sight as he was completely naked, save for his signature pink thong. Cracking his knuckles, Chosen charged at the Rinshi and the Beetle Warriors with a monstrous yell.

"Now, let's play! ORA, ORA, ORA, ORA, ORRRAAAAAAAAAA!"

Normally, the sight of Chosen in his signature pink thong was enough to repulse anybody. It was a fact he took advantage of frequently. One time, he drove away an entire army just by flexing his muscles and winking at them. Another time, they just froze up at the sight of him in his full glory, some even vomiting as they witnessed the abomination. It was truly a frightening sight and nobody wanted to get close to Chosen because of that, fearing the worst.

The Rinshi were no longer human, but deep down even they could feel fear, terror, and disgust. They were downright freaked out when the musclebound monster in a pink thong came charging at them. Even the soulless Beetle Warriors felt the urge to run despite being emotionless automatons.

"ORA, ORA, ORA, ORA, ORA, ORA, ORAAAAAAAAH!" Chosen bellowed as his fists sent Rinshi flying. The Beetle Warriors targeted him, but their weapons were unable to pierce his flesh. His muscles were like impregnable armor and the strange man smiled as he performed a ballerina spin, shattering the Beetle Warriors with his kicks alone.

"Who in the world is that!?" Idunn demanded. She had seen some messed up things in her life, and had experienced trauma as well, but Chosen was just something she wasn't prepared for. Just who was he and why was he only wearing a thong!? The mere sight of him was causing her to experience uncomfortable shivers. Just looking at him made her want to vomit. He was just so gross! She would need some major brain bleach to purge his image out of her mind.

The generals of the Shoku Army and the lieutenants of the Crimson Guard just gaped at Chosen before they recovered and rejoined the fight. Now with Chosen aiding them, they now stood a chance.

However, Chosen didn't intend to stay for long. He was just here to help buy them some time.

Suddenly, fireballs rained down from the sky and blasted the Rinshi and Beetle Warriors to smithereens. The Rinshi began to scatter as the fireballs rapidly dropped on them, decimating their forces. As the Rinshi scattered, spikes of stone jutted out of the ground. They sprouted like weeds, bursting out without warning and impaling the Rinshi. Finally, a torrent of water blasted into the undead army, washing them away. Miraculously, the torrent avoided the Alliance, only splashing a bit on them as the water washed the Rinshi away.

"Baron-sama!" Ukin cried happily as she spotted her commander in the sky. He looked just majestic like a phoenix as his wingspan was spread to its full width, with an aura of flame radiating off him like the sun.

"CRIMSON GUARD! WE ARE THE SACRED FLAMES OF SOUSOU! BURN ALL THAT STAND IN OUR WAY!" Baron commanded.

The sight of him, and hearing those words, triggered something in the surviving Crimson Guardsmen. It was like a fire had been lit as their morale was boosted instantly while their spirit was revitalized. They roared and attacked the Rinshi furiously.

"He has such a way with words, doesn't he?" Riten grinned at Gakushin who smirked right back.

"Zangetsu-sama!" Shuutai cheered as she saw Zangetsu standing on a pillar of earth. He was truly a sight for sore eyes. She had been so worried for him when he left but realized she had no reason to be. He came back like he promised.

Jumping down from his perch, he shot forward as he accelerated. His blade sliced through the Rinshi in his path. He took a hard right, taking every Rinshi in front of him before he took a left and went straight before skidding to a halt in front of his bodyguard.

Seeing that Shuutai was alive, Zangetsu only had one thing to say to her.

"You did well," he praised and she beamed despite her exhaustion.

"Gridon-dono!" Kosonsan yelled out happily as she saw Gridon surfing towards them on a wave of water. She was just so glad to see that she hadn't lost one of her Armored War Gods. It wouldn't do very well for her weak reputation if she ended up losing the one Sovereign she had working for her.

"Did somebody call for reinforcements?" Knuckle asked with a smile after he sent the Rinshi flying with his Marron Bombers.

"Haru-sama!" Ensho, Bunshu, and Ganryo exclaimed in joy.

"You're alive!" Ensho cried happily.

"Was there any doubt of my survival?" Knuckle asked rhetorically. "Now, ladies. How about we put these zombies down for good?"

"Hell, yeah!" Bunshu cheered.

"I'm with you, Haru-sama!" said Ganryo.

"I'm with you too!" added Ensho. "In spirit!"

Ganryo and Bunshu rolled their eyes. Typical Ensho.

Ryugen-Yomi noticed that their army had gained reinforcements in the form of wild beasts and the female barbarians that had tamed them. He also saw a very familiar female barbarian leading them.

"Hey, Onii-san. Is that your wife?" Ryugen-Yomi pointed at Shamoke.

"Yeah, looks like she got my message," Chulainn smiled. "I figured we may need some extra help, just in case."

Ryugen-Yomi was surprised by this when he felt a pat on his shoulder. He turned to see who had touched him and recoiled at the shocking sight of Chosen.

"Hello, boys!" Chosen waved.

"Aaaahhhh!" Ryugen-Yomi pointed his Yomiyari at him. "Don't do that!"

"Sorry about that. Anyway, I think I'll leave you boys to handle things from here," Chosen smiled as he started to withdraw from the battle.

"Eh, Chosen!? When did you get here? And where are you going?" Ryugen-Yomi asked while cringing at Chosen's appearance.

"I'm needed elsewhere. Ciao!" And with that, the strange man in a pink thong ran off and vanished in a dust cloud.

"That is a very, very strange man,' Chulainn commented as Chosen left.

"We know," Ryugen-Yomi agreed.

"He should really keep his pants on, like all the time," Chulainn commented. "Maybe just glue them on so he doesn't get a chance to rip them off again."

Ryugen-Yomi was thinking Chosen could've stayed to help. On one hand, he had great strength and power which could give them an advantage. On the other hand, he would probably cause all their soldiers to lose their fighting spirit at the sight of him.

Yeah, considering their options, it was probably for the best that Chosen left. At least he helped to significantly thin their enemies' numbers before he had to leave.

Meanwhile, the Alliance Army and their Armored War Gods' allies were finishing off the rest of the Rinshi. The undead RinJyuKen footsoldiers were overwhelmed. Initially, they had the advantage in numbers, but even that wasn't enough against the strength and skill of the Alliance. The arrival of the Armored War Gods pretty much cemented the Alliance's victory.

Gridon's hydrokinesis gave him quite the advantage as he blasted the Rinshi with boiling hot water. Conjuring water whips, he lashed them out at the Rinshi surrounding him. He then conjured tentacles of water that wrapped around the Rinshi and squeezed them to oblivion.

Zangetsu was using the earth as his weapon as he sent rocks flying at the undead footsoldiers, crushing them with large boulders. The ones that managed to get close to his proximity were instantly cut down by his sword. He still maintained his acceleration skill, able to move at high speeds in short bursts. It was what made him one of the deadliest warriors of Son Go.

Baron used his flames to burn the Rinshi to ash as he rained fireballs down upon them. The Rinshi turned to ash instantly as they were hit by the red hot spheres. Using his talons, he swooped down and slashed at them, causing them to drop in pieces. He continued this pattern of fireballs and talon slashes as the bodies piled up and turned to ash.

Ryugen-Yomi fired his Budou Ryuhou and killed many Rinshi with the aid of his wife and brother. Nobody questioned it when Ryugen-Yomi appeared in his Yomotsuheguri Arms, or they didn't have the luxury to question it at this time. Kochu was worried when she saw her husband in that Arms, but chose to focus on the enemy instead. Their shots struck the enemy, taking them down. Kochu's rate of fire was impressive for a human and even Chulainn had to admit that her skills would be unparalleled back in their world. Some Rinshi rushed towards them, ignoring the arrows, but Ryugen-Yomi and Chulainn managed to cut them down to size with their weapons.

Knuckle was sending them flying with punches and the airborne Rinshi exploded to dust in midair. His fists were a deadly weapon and each enemy he hit was too broken to get right back up as they turned to dust. He punched rapidly and relentlessly, hitting his mark, and showing no mercy to these hopping zombified freaks.

Idunn wasn't idle either as she sliced the Rinshi apart with her Sword Bringer. The Armored War Goddess felt someone's back against her own. Looking over her shoulder, she saw that it was Chou'un and the bluenette smiled at her comrade as they battled against the Rinshi that lunged at them. Chou'un's Dragon Tooth Bident pierced their bodies before she slammed them to the ground while Idunn blocked their spears with her shield before using her sword to slice them apart.

"I'm glad we have you on our side," Chou'un said to Idunn.

Idunn only acknowledged the comment with a nod before returning her focus to the battle.

"That was the last of them!" Kanu reported after she brought her Green Dragon Crescent Blade down on a Rinshi and wiped the sweat from her brow. The surviving soldiers all cheered. However, their celebration would soon be interrupted as a cold and foreboding feeling swept over them.

"Wha-wha-what was that?" Chouhi asked as she shivered.

"Look!" Bacho pointed at the purple cloud that was floating in the sky before a dark lightning bolt came crashing down. The bolt struck the earth and caused an explosion that created a thick smoke cloud. The force of the lightning strike nearly knocked everyone off their feet as the ground trembled.

"What was all that about?" Knuckle wondered.

When the smoke cleared, they had their answer.

Braco was standing in the middle of the crater created by his shocking arrival. His head snapped up, causing everyone watching to involuntarily flinch and take a step back in fright, startled by the motion. He smirked confidently as he leered at everyone who stared back at him. He cracked his neck from side to side as a dark aura radiated from his body. Gridon, Baron, and Zangetsu, who could now sense Ki thanks to the Seal of Heaven, felt how chilling and unforgiving that aura was.

"Who wants to try and take me on?" Braco challenged.

When Idunn saw Braco, she felt incredible anger erupt inside of her. The memory of that day was still so vivid in her mind. She had been counting the days, hours, minutes and seconds, all waiting for this moment. This creature had hurt her beloved Naga-kun, and now he was going to pay. Miraculously, her fatigue had ebbed away at around the same time Braco showed up. Her exhaustion faded completely as she was fueled with rage.

Ignoring the shouts of protest around her, Idunn screamed furiously and charged towards Braco.

"YOU'LL PAY FOR WHAT YOU DID TO NAGA-KUN!"

Idunn screamed as she slashed at Braco, only for him to block her strike as he crossed his Yojato together and caught her sword.

"I see we have a challenger," smirked Braco as he landed a kick into her stomach, sending her tumbling.

"Oda-san!" Ryugen-Yomi went to help her up but she slapped his hand away.

"No! Don't interfere! He's mine!" shouted Idunn as she took out a Lockseed.

It was Nagata's Orange Lockseed.

[ORANGE!]

"Naga-kun, please fight with me," Idunn prayed as she performed an Arms Change.

[LOCK ON! COME ON! ORANGE ARMS! HANAMICHI ON STAGE!]

Her Ringo Arms vanished as the Orange Armor Part landed on her head. It then disassembled and folded onto her body. Finally, the Daidaimaru appeared in her hand in a splash of orange juice. Charging towards Braco, she slashed at him with the Daidaimaru, prompting him to use his own swords to parry her. He broke through her guard and landed a brutal slash that sent her reeling.

That had to hurt, but she wasn't about to give up just yet.

[PINE!]

The Pine Armor Part dropped out of Helheim and slammed into Braco before Idunn performed another Arms Change.

[LOCK ON! COME ON! PINE ARMS! FUNSAI DESTROY!]

Twirling the Pine Iron, Idunn narrowed her eyes as she sent it soaring towards the target. The heavy spiky head of the flail bashed into Braco repeatedly, causing sparks to erupt with each impact. Agitated, Braco caught the Pine Iron by its chain and broke it before he hurled the Pine Iron back at Idunn. Instead of dodging, she leaped up and kicked the Pine Iron back into Braco, knocking him back.

[COME ON! ICHIGO ARMS! SHUSHUTTO SPARK!]

As Braco was recovering from the violent impact, Idunn began hurling copies of the Ichigo Kunai at Braco. The explosive kunai all detonated on impact as Braco raised his forearms to shield himself from the barrage.

[COME ON! CARAMBOLA ARMS! KIRA KIRA SUPERSTAR!]

Idunn switched forms and tactics again as she hurled the Carambola Stars. While the Ichigo Kunai were limited to only a straight flight path, the Carambola Stars could curve in the air to attack Braco's unprotected areas and blind spots. Braco was sliced by the flying chakrams and gritted his teeth in irritation before he used his Yojato to deflect them and throw them to the ground.

"Is that all you got?" Braco demanded.

"I still have more where that came from!" Idunn snapped.

[COME ON! BLUEBERRY ARMS! ALLONS-Y, EN GARDE!]

Wielding the Berrapier and Blue Gauche, Idunn landed a series of swift strikes upon Braco. Her speed allowed her to bypass his defenses and he let out a hiss of pain from each successful strike. He was sent backpedaling and looked up to see Idunn coming at him to run him through, but he countered as he thrust his Yojato forward, hitting her directly in the chest.

Idunn wasn't about to give up so easily. She was going to avenge Nagata with everything she got. She would not give up until she put this monster down for good.

[COME ON! PAPAYA ARMS! CHOP AND HACK! NEVER LOOK BACK!]

Idunn blocked Braco's swords with the shaft of the Papaya Chopper before she shoved him back with her increased strength. She then raised the Papaya Chopper up and brought it down fast. She landed a clean vertical chop across Braco's chest, sending him reeling. She then performed a horizontal chop followed by two diagonal slashes before she struck him with the flat side of the Papaya Chopper's halberd blade. Both his Yojato flew out of his grip and landed a distance away. Tossing the weapon aside, Idunn changed back to her default Ringo Arms.

[COME ON! RINGO ARMS! DESIRE FORBIDDEN FRUITS!]

"THIS IS FOR NAGA-KUN!" Idunn yelled as she executed her finisher.

[COME ON! RINGO SQUASH!]

Idunn jumped into the air as energy gathered in her Sword Bringer. She then descended upon Braco in order to cut him down.

CLANG!

Idunn froze as Braco caught the blade in his right hand before it could make contact with his head. He lifted his head, his eyes meeting Idunn's visor.

"I can normally appreciate such ferocity, but all you've done has only served to annoy me," Braco said as he raised his free hand. "Daijaho." He fired a blast of Dorinki directly into Idunn, bringing a scream out of her lungs as she was blasted away from him. Smoke arose from her chestplate as she groaned in pain from his attack, with the Lockseeds she carried scattered on the ground.

"Damn...it..." Idunn hissed and groaned as she gritted her teeth. It was a miracle that her armor had not deactivated from such a brutal attack. It probably had something to do with the nature of her Lockseed.

"So, who's next?" Braco dared.

Gridon, Baron, and Zangetsu could sense Braco's Ki and knew it was no longer just his own. Having fought his teammates, they could feel the power of the other four inside of him. They quickly realized that it was a mix of his comrades' Dorinki, including his own. That meant that he had the power of all Five Venom Fists inside him.

"Well, who's next? Come on then. Show me what you got," Braco challenged. That was all the encouragement they needed as the Armored War Gods charged into action.

Knuckle reached him first and struck Braco with a vicious right hook. He then buried his fist into Braco's gut before he rapidly threw a barrage of punches into Braco's chest. The pistons pumped with each strike, adding more force in order to inflict more damage with each punch thrown.

"Take that! And that! And some of this too! ATATATATATATATATATA!" Knuckle yelled as he landed his punches. The combo was finished with an uppercut directly into Braco's chin. Knuckle thought that would be enough. However, Braco wasn't fazed one bit as he looked down on Knuckle.

"Is that it?" Braco deadpanned. "My turn then."

Braco's fist collided with Knuckle's face, cracking his helmet and sending him flying. Braco immediately found himself under assault as Ryugen-Yomi and Chulainn fired at him with their weapons. Zangetsu, Gridon, and Baron soon joined them as they blasted him with their own elemental power. Energy bullets, energy arrows, fire, water, and stone collided with Braco as he just stood there, taking it all.

Dust and smoke enveloped Braco. Suddenly, Braco leaped out of the smoke cloud. Summoning his Yojato, he aimed for the closest target and slashed Ryugen-Yomi across the chest. Chulainn swung at him with his Sonic Arrow, but his swing was deflected before Braco kicked him right between the legs. Chulainn doubled over before Braco kicked him in the spot again, tossing him up into the air, before landing another kick in the same spot to send him soaring across the air.

"I got you! I got you!" Knuckle shouted as he caught Chulainn. "I got you! Are you okay?"

"My...dick...hurts..." whimpered Chulainn, causing Knuckle to grimace.

"Yeah, I saw. Three direct hits. Sucks to be you," Knuckle sympathized.

Braco darted towards Zangetsu who erected a wall in front of him. The Snake-Ken Master smashed through but found his opponent had vanished. He found a hole on the spot and seconds later Zangetsu burst out of the ground behind him. Braco turned and blocked the Musou Saber with his Yojato.

"Hah!" Baron blasted Braco with a stream of flames from his right.

"Hi-yah!" Gridon attacked from the left with boiling hot water.

Braco raised his arms to defend himself from their attacks before he spun in place, releasing a wave of Dorinki that negated their attacks and knocked them back. His Yojato vanished again so he could use some bare-handed techniques.

"Centipede-Ken! Ringi!" Braco glided towards Zangetsu. "Okumansho!" He hit Zangetsu with the Thousand Billion Palms, knocking the wind out of the White Devil. He then shifted his attention to Baron and struck him with the same Ringi before repeating the same move on Gridon.

"Daijaho!" Braco sent Gridon reeling with his Rinki energy blast. He then turned as Baron was getting up and blasted him too.

[HAI~! YOMOTSUHEGURI SQUASH!]

Alerted by the SengokuDriver's callout, Braco looked up to see Ryugen-Yomi coming at him with a flying kick. Braco jumped up and countered.

"Scorpion-Ken! Ringi! Hisho Shuben Kyaku!"

The Flying Vermillion Whip Kick connected with Ryugen's Dark Dragon Kick. The latter's knee buckled from the impact and the former's foot connected with his chest, knocking him painfully to the ground.

[SUIKA ENERGY SQUASH!]

Baron watched as Chulainn came at him with the energized Sonic Arrow.

"Sasori Buto!"

Braco danced out of the way, bobbing and weaving from Chulainn's attack. Chulainn aimed, but couldn't fire in time as Braco smacked the Sonic Arrow aside and then kneed him in the groin again. He pulled his leg back and kicked Chulainn in the same spot again, putting him down to his knees and in pain.

[COME ON! ZHUQIAO SPARKING!]

"RAAAAAGGGGHHHHHHH!" Baron roared as he took off into the air and dove towards Braco with intent to kill. The flames surrounding him morphed into the shape of a massive phoenix. Casually, Braco summoned up his Dorinki to use a defensive move.

"Taiyupao."

A gelatinous fluid coated Braco's body as he raised his hand to catch the attack. The flames were put out and Braco was now holding Baron by his wrist. He squeezed the Crimson Phoenix Enforcer's wrist tight, dragged Baron towards him, and blasted him in the face with a Serpent Cannon blast. Baron painfully tumbled through the air before he landed on his back.

Zangetsu caught his second wind and rushed towards Braco. The Snake-Ken Master prepared for him but then found his arms being bound. There were leafy vines wrapped around his limbs and around his waist. Looking over his shoulder, he saw an open Helheim portal.

Idunn was responsible as she took control of the vines.

[SOIYA! BAIHU SQUASH!]

The Musou Saber glowed and flashed as Zangetsu performed a furious set of slashes across Braco's chest. Sparks flew with each strike while Braco was unable to defend himself.

Well, that wasn't completely true.

"Deigyokudan!"

The cobra face on Braco's chest spat out and bombarded Zangetsu with Maga's signature Mudball Bombs. They exploded and Zangetsu reeled from the impact and the horrible smell. Braco ripped himself free of the vines and turned to face Idunn who lunged at him with her sword. He caught her Sword Bringer by its blade, grabbed her by the throat, and slammed her back to the ground with enough force that it sank beneath her.

"You can join Gaim in the afterlife," Braco threatened as he raised his free hand to give her a taste of his True Poison.

"You first," Idunn gritted.

Knuckle landed a roundhouse kick right into Braco's face, knocking him away from Idunn. Chulainn and Ryugen-Yomi fired at him with the latter using his Yomiyari to fire bolts of energy at the Cobra Rinrinshi. Baron flew down and slashed Braco across the face before Zangetsu sped from his left to slash him across the chest with the Musou Saber.

Braco's eyes narrowed as the Armored War Gods attacked him before he unleashed a wave of Dorinki that knocked them back. He didn't forget Chulainn as he once again kicked Ryugen-Yomi's brother in the dick to send him sprawling to the ground again.

Chulainn weakly whimpered as he lay on the ground in a fetal position.

"Wow...I can't believe how many times he kept hitting you in the dick..." Knuckle observed.

Chulainn whimpered in response.

"Is that all? I was expecting more from you so-called guardians of humanity," Braco taunted.

The Armored War Gods surrounded Braco to try one last attempt to finish him off.

"Let him have it!" Ryugen-Yomi ordered.

[HAI~! YOMOTSUHEGURI SQUASH!]

[SUIKA ENERGY SQUASH!]

[COME ON! RINGO AU LAIT!]

[COCONUT SPARKING! JIMBER MARRON SPARKING!]

[SOIYA! BAIHU AU LAIT!]

[COME ON! ZHUQIAO AU LAIT!]

[COME ON! XUANWU AU LAIT!]

The Armored War Gods simultaneously unleashed their attacks, hitting Braco hard with their power.

"Toad-Ken! Hiden Ringi! Taiyūpao!"

Unfortunately for them, Braco had access to Maga's Secret Ringi, coating himself in the impregnable barrier the Toad-Ken Master was infamous for. Now enhanced by the Seal of Heaven and collective Dorinki of his comrades, he was able to block the Armored War Gods' attacks. In retaliation, he ignited his Yojato and unleashed a circular slash with them, knocking down the Armored War Gods as sparks exploded from their armor.

The Armored War Gods had fought with everything they had, only to be effortless beaten by Braco as he used his fallen comrades' techniques against them. Their skills sure came in handy, and with the added energy boost he got from absorbing their Ki, he easily held his own against the Armored War Gods. They couldn't even hurt him as he countered, blocked, dodged and withstood everything they threw at him before he blew them away with the techniques he had stolen from his fallen comrades.

"That was a valiant effort, but ultimately pointless," mocked Braco.

"He's like a tank. He's taken everything we can throw at him and he's still standing," Gridon groaned in both pain and exhaustion.

"We can't give up just yet!" Zangetsu encouraged. "Everyone's counting on us!"

"That's right! We hit him again! If that doesn't hurt then we just hit him harder! Never surrender!" Knuckle declared.

"And then burn him to ash!" Baron growled.

Braco scoffed. While he could admire their courage and determination, he found their persistence annoying too.

"You should realize that it's pointless to fight me, Armored War Gods. If you surrender, I can make your deaths quick and painless," Braco offered.

"As my friend Kenshin would say: 'Fuck that noise'!" refused Gridon in defiance.

"You don't seem to understand. Three of you possess the power of the Sovereigns, and yet I've managed to overpower you all. I possess the power of the Seal of Heaven, and now I'm unstoppable!" bragged Braco.

"Chojo had its power too, and yet look at where she ended up," Ryugen-Yomi pointed out.

"Then I will not make the same mistake and wipe you all out right now!"

"I don't think so!" Ryugen-Yomi protested loudly as he rose to his feet. He yelled as he charged straight at Braco. The Cobra Rinrinshi casually parried Ryugen-Yomi's Yomiyari with his Yojato before slashing him repeatedly across the chest. A slash sent Ryugen-Yomi tumbling, but he rose on one knee and summoned his Pitaya Ryujin Hou.

[HAI~! YOMOTSUHEGURI SQUASH!]

Ryugen-Yomi fired a shell encased in dark energy, sending it zooming towards Braco. Even if it didn't kill Braco, it should be at least able to severely hurt him.

Ryugen-Yomi seriously hoped this would kill him.

"Scorpion-Ken! Ringi! Guren Shuben Kyaku!"

Encasing his legs in Dorinki, Braco performed Sorisa's signature Crimson Lotus Vermilion Whip Kick. The power and speed of the upside-down tornado kick deflected the shell, much to Ryugen-Yomi's shock, causing it to harmlessly explode high in the sky. Flipping back onto his feet, Braco fired his Serpent Cannon attack at Ryugen-Yomi, knocking him to the ground.

"Iori!" Chulainn cried helplessly as Ryugen-Yomi lay painfully on the ground.

"Airen!" Kochu screamed in worry.

Ryugen-Yomi groaned in pain but managed to pick himself back up. He forced himself to his feet despite the pain.

"What do you think you're doing?" Braco questioned.

"Do you think we're just going to let you destroy this place? Do you think Nagata would allow that?" Ryugen-Yomi shot back.

"Who's 'Nagata'?" For a moment, Braco wondered who Ryugen-Yomi was talking about before he finally got it. "Oh, you mean Gaim, don't you?"

Ryugen-Yomi continued, "He didn't give up until the end, just like a hero! While he's not with us, we will protect this land in his place, as heroes!"

Braco scoffed, "Heroes? What a sad joke. What do you people even hope to accomplish? Even with your power now, you stand no chance of winning while I possess power granted to me by the Seal of Heaven and the Dorinki of my fallen comrades! I am invincible!"

Ryugen-Yomi countered angrily, "That's just power that you stole! Now I want you to open your eyes, Braco! I want you to see the power that I have found within myself! Feast your eyes, Braco! This is the power of my burning wrath!"

Ryugen-Yomi brandished the Yomiyari as a dark aura burst from his body. It erupted like an intense flame, but it was chilling instead of warm.

Braco eyed Ryugen-Yomi curiously. Now this development might prove interesting.

As Ryugen-Yomi ferociously attacked Braco, Baron, Zangetsu and Gridon gazed at him. Instead of awe and curiosity, they were looking at Ryugen-Yomi with caution. They could sense Ki now and the energy coming off of Ryugen-Yomi wasn't anything good. In fact, it was dark. However, it might just be the power they needed to turn the tide.

Braco staggered back with each strike, not even trying to evade or defend himself. Ryugen-Yomi just kept landing blows, unconcerned by his opponent's lack of retaliation. One last forward thrust sent Braco backpedaling several feet.

[HAI~! YOMOTSUHEGURI SQUASH!]

The Grapes of Wrath and Sin Trident glowed as the Yomiyari charged up with energy. Braco just stood there, observing Ryugen-Yomi as he prepared to execute his finisher.

"Take this!" Ryugen-Yomi shouted as he thrust his energized Yomiyari at Braco's chest. This should defeat Braco once and for all.

How naive.

Ryugen-Yomi aimed for Braco's heart, but the leader of the Venom Fists deftly caught the weapon in his hand. The Sin Trident's glow diminished as the attack did not properly connect.

"This power, where did you get it from?" Braco asked, interested. When Ryugen-Yomi didn't answer, he concluded, "Oh, I see. You don't know, do you? Well, let me tell you what I do know. It feels familiar. In fact, it feels similar to the energy that we RinJyuKen Akugata members use to make ourselves stronger."

"What are you getting at?" Ryugen-Yomi demanded as he released his grip on the Yomiyari and pulled out his Budou Ryuhou. He squeezed the trigger and fired but Braco deflected the shots with the Yomiyari.

"I'm saying that you're using Rinki right now, just like us. Now how did someone like you awaken that sort of power? Could it be that you have darkness inside of you?" Braco pressed on as he tossed the Yomiyari aside.

"I don't know what you're talking about," Ryugen-Yomi denied.

"Don't lie. All living creatures have darkness in them. Even the ones who claim to be pure of heart. They take the form of negative emotions like fear, anger, jealousy and hatred. Even now, you're using your hatred for me to fuel that power of yours. Very good, but strong emotions like that can be a double-edged sword and..." Braco suddenly blurred out of sight and was instantly within Ryugen-Yomi's personal space.

"Backfire," Braco finished as he pressed his hand against Ryugen-Yomi's chest. Suddenly, Ryugen-Yomi felt his energy being drained from him. Braco smiled as he siphoned the dark energy from Ryugen-Yomi's body before releasing him. Ryugen-Yomi staggered back and fell on his rear. His armor flickered before changing into his regular green Ryugen Ride Wear with the regular Budou Arms.

"Delicious..." Braco hissed as Ryugen groaned in exhaustion. "I see you're feeling drained. That's the cost of using any power you don't even understand. Now you see the consequences."

"You...bastard..." cursed Ryugen weakly.

"Now then, with nobody able to stop me, it's time we ended this," Braco decided.

"Don't you dare!" Kanu snapped furiously. Clutched in her hand was Nagata's Orange Lockseed. When Idunn had dropped it, she had gone and picked it up. It was the one thing that reminded her of Nagata the most. Chouhi also stood up, clutching the Ichigo Lockseed in her hand. Chou'un picked up the Blueberry Lockseed while Bacho chose to pick up the Pine Lockseed. Ryuubi also picked up the Carambola Lockseed as Kochu picked up the Papaya Lockseed.

"What now?" Braco was getting tired of these interruptions.

"No matter what, we will stand against you. We won't allow you to defeat us!" Kanu declared.

"That's right! We'll fight you no matter what!" Chouhi exclaimed.

"By my honor and my father's honor, we won't let you win!" announced Bacho.

"For my friends, I won't fall," decided Chou'un.

"For my family, I will not surrender," Kochu added.

"Everyone here won't allow you to win. Nagata-sama didn't give up until the end, and neither will we! Though he doesn't stand with us right now, he is still fighting with us!" shouted Ryuubi in defiance as she clenched the Lockseed in her hand tightly.

"How foolish..." Braco shook his head. However, he had to commend them for their courage. Many would fall into despair at this point, but their wills were stronger than expected. It would take more effort to break their resolve.

Perfect.

Braco would enjoy every moment as he slowly broke their spirit before he finally gave them the death they deserved.

The six of them unlocked the Lockseeds. This resulted in six Berserker State Inves jumping out of the Helheim portals to confront Braco. He stared curiously at the summoned Inves, the group consisting of a Seiryuu Inves, a Byakko Inves, a Komori Inves, a Lion Inves, a Yagi Inves and finally a Kamikiri Inves.

"Go!" Kanu and the girls ordered the Inves to attack. They immediately swarmed Braco and savagely lashed out at him with vicious strikes. Braco let the blows land, sparks bursting off on impact. He didn't feel anything but irritation at their attempts to harm him.

The Byakko Inves lunged for him but Braco buried his whole fist into the Inves' chest. The Byakko Inves roared as it exploded. Raising his Yojato, Braco slashed at the rest of the attacking Inves and they were all destroyed within seconds, slashed to death by him.

The girls weren't done yet.

Kanu and Chouhi attacked once the Inves were destroyed, lunging towards Braco. He made no move to avoid or deflect their attacks. He just spread his arms as they came at him. He did, however, blink when the Green Dragon Crescent Blade and Viper Spear glowed.

Braco was struck across the chest by the two sworn sisters. He expected to feel nothing.

What he felt instead was a burning pain as he recoiled and yelled, "ARGH!"

A look of surprise was etched on his face as their weapons actually hurt him.

Bacho and Chou'un were next as they thrust their spears forward. Braco didn't allow them to hit as he caught their spears. However, pain once more registered as he recoiled and released the weapons, his hands smoking as if he had just been burnt.

"What's going on!?" Braco demanded. His eyes widened as Ryuubi came at him with her Dragon Claw Sword.

It may have seemed like any ornate weapon, but the Dragon Claw Sword was a gift from the dragon god. It was therefore also known as the Ryujinto (Dragon God Sword). It was a mythical relic of great power and Ryuubi was using it on Braco.

The sword left a gash across his face, spilling dark blood to the ground as he yelled, "IT BURNS!"

Gridon couldn't believe his eyes, "They're actually hurting him."

Ryuubi smiled but her smile soon fell as Braco drew his arm back to strike her. Suddenly, several arrows pierced Braco and he howled in pain as the arrows exploded.

"That was for my husband," Kochu told him coldly.


The Shoku Warriors laid their weapons on the ground as Kada sat cross-legged facing them. He began to chant and perform hand seals. His body glowed as he pointed his fingers at the weapons which began to glow as well.

"I've blessed the weapons. They should work against Braco now," Kada assured them. While he was a doctor, he did know a number of techniques which could harm supernatural entities. They had helped him improve his Ki-medicine techniques over the course of his training. Against the RinJyuKen, they were essential.

Kanu picked up her weapon as her sisters-in-arms did the same.

"How do they work?" Chouhi asked.

"Think about hurting him then hit him as hard as you can," Kada explained briefly.

"Thank you, Kada-sensei," Ryuubi said gratefully.


"So, you had your weapons blessed," Braco realized as his injuries slowly began to heal. "Impressive, but that still won't be enough to stop me!"

The Shoku Warriors ignored him and instead attacked as one. They infused their weapons with the desire to destroy Braco and aim to strike him down. However, he had anticipated this and sent them flying with a repelling force. The girls tumbled along the ground as the glow of their weapons faded.

"Ow..." Chouhi groaned.

Braco shouted, "You all want to be heroes, is that right? Then meet your end like those who dared to try and become heroes! Now prepare yourselves! This will be the end of the Age of the Armored War Gods and the beginning of the Age of the RinJyuKen!"

Braco unleashed his Dorinki and spread it out for a wide area effect. Everyone caught within its range became overwhelmed with crippling nausea and fell to their knees. It wasn't just nausea that they felt. As he had augmented himself with his comrades' Dorinki, he also gained the ability to generate a venomous pulse that affected people the way their venom did. All around him, soldiers and warriors fell as they suffered from horrible nausea, agonizing pain, terrible chills, sweltering fever and freezing paralysis.

"Ugh...I don't feel so good..." groaned Knuckle as he fought the urge to vomit. He didn't want to end up with his puke filling up his helmet. That was just gross.

Braco aimed his dreaded gaze towards Ryuubi. He went and picked her up by her neck to look into her eyes. He lifted her off the ground, her feet kicking ineffectively as she tried to struggle out of his grip.

"I'll start with you, Ryuubi Gentoku," Braco hissed as he tightened his grip. Ryuubi gasped as she tried to pry Braco's hand off, only to feel overwhelming despair and fear. Was this truly the end? Were their efforts all for naught? After so many battles and victories, was today the day that it would all come crumbling down? How quickly things tend to change.


KRC: OK, so we see Braco enter the fray and he completely dominates the entire fight. He even hits Chulainn repeatedly in the dick. He should have learnt how to dodge. You try and count how many times he was hit in the dick. Hopefully, the armor protected him from any permanent damage. He does have a barbarian wife to satisfy. Anyway, points for the girls for fighting back and dealing damage. Seems the desire to avenge Nagata is strong in them. Unfortunately, it didn't amount so much. He's pissed and now he's about to kill Ryuubi. Will there be a miracle?

TFP: And Braco seems to be winning the fight. His absorption of his comrades' Dorinki seems to have pushed him to a nearly invincible level. None of the Armored War Gods seem capable of stopping him and all of their planning seems to have failed. We're at the crisis point and Nagata is down for the count. Is this the end?


A scout from the battlefield came to report on what was taking place. The news sounded good as the Armored War Gods and the Alliance Army seemed to have beaten most of the enemy forces. He claimed that the Armored War Gods had defeated Braco's comrades and were now confronting him. However, he also reported that they weren't having an easy time against the enhanced Cobra Rinrinshi.

When Komei heard this, she feared the worst as her friends might perish against Braco. She prayed for a miracle.

Meanwhile, Kada was still performing the strange ritual upon Nagata's body. Sweat rolled down from his face as he concentrated. He prayed that this would work or they were all done for.


"...Helheim...? What am I doing here? How did I get here?" Nagata wondered as he looked around. Indeed, he was in the eerie foggy Forest of Helheim. All around him were alien plants and the Fruits of Helheim hung from vines wrapped around trees. All of a sudden, he let out a cry of pain and held his chest and head.

"You need to wake up, Nagata..."


AWG CHIBI OMAKE #6A: WELCOME TO HELL

"Where are we?" Maga wondered as he looked at his surroundings. It was a dark wasteland with fire. Lots and lots of fire.

"Maga-kun?" Sorisa asked as she found her husband.

"Sorisa-chan! You're here!"

"And you're alive!"

"Guess again, morons," snarked Moriya as he approached with Kademu.

"We're in Hell," Kademu said as he pointed at the demons torturing their fellow defeated Rinrinshi. "We're definitely in Hell."

"So that means we're dead?" Sorisa asked fearfully. "Again?"

"Eyup," Kademu confirmed. "And this time we're not coming back to life."

"Well, as long as Maga-kun is with me, I can deal with it," said Sorisa confidently.

"And as long as Sorisa-chan is with me, I can handle anything," added Maga.

"Ugh, even in Hell you both make me sick," gagged Moriya.


AWG CHIBI OMAKE #6B: INTERVIEWS

"Once more my least favorite part of the job is...recruitment interviews..." Mitsuki groaned.

"It can't be that bad, can it?" Shibai asked.

"A lot of people want to join the Crimson Guard because of Baron-sama's fame. They also think it will enable them to woo girls," said Gakushin.

"What would give them that idea?" Mitsuki questioned.

Gakushin and Shibai cocked an eyebrow at him. Did he seriously just ask that?

The door opened and Ukin came in to report, "Baron-sama, everyone, the applicants have all arrived."

"Alright, let's just get this thing over with," Mitsuki began.

They interviewed the first applicant.

Mitsuki started, "So, you want to join the Crimson Guard?"

"YEAH!"

Gakushin questioned, "Any special skills?"

"YEAH!"

Shibai inquired, "Would you please describe them?"

"YEAH!"

Irritated, Mitsuki asked, "Is yelling the only thing you're good at!?"

"YEAH!"

"Next!"


"No, you don't have to demonstrate sword swallowing right now!"

"Next!"


"We don't need you juggling knives!"

"Next!"


"No, this is not the place where you ask to join the Yellow Turbans! That's not even scheduled for today!"

"Next!"


"So, my girlfriend says that she won't marry me unless I show her how manly I am. That's why I want to join the Crimson Guard," applicant #23 claimed.

"Thank you for giving us your life story," Mitsuki remarked as both Gakushin and Shibai looked bored. "So, tell me, what is it that you can contribute as part of the Crimson Guard?"

Applicant #23 stood up and demonstrated his kung fu. However, to an expert fighter like Gakushin and an experienced warrior like Mitsuki, it just looked like a man yelling and flailing his arms and legs in an attempt to punch and kick.

"Alright, you may stop now," said Shibai. "You may go now."

"Does this mean I got the job?" Applicant #23 asked hopefully.

"Don't call us, we'll call you. Next!" Mitsuki said.

"23 applicants and we still haven't gotten any potential recruits," groaned Gakushin.

"Is it usually this bad?" asked Shibai.

"Believe me, it's not easy to find potential members with all these freaks applying, and this can take a long time," said Mitsuki as he emptied his cup of tea. He wished he had wine to get the edge off. "So, how many do we still have left?"

"That was our 23rd applicant so we still have 145 more to go just for today." Gakushin looked at the list as she crossed out their latest applicant.

Mitsuki banged his forehead on the table.

This was going to be a long day.