I realized that the translation of Zhang He was wrong for this and the previous chapter; it's supposed to ChouKOU not ChouSHI; just that, so I just reupload to fix. I don't know how and why I translate it wrong, but now it's done. Can't do anything about the previous chapter 14 I think, so from here on out, it's Choukou.

Apologies for the delay, even though I said that it will be uploaded on the same day; Sick, School, For Honor, School, Kong: Skull Island, and more School. A lot of stuff happen pretty much. I said that I'm 90% done last time, but it actually took longer than I thought to get to 100%; sorry for any confusing part towards the end.

In addition to all this, I'm going to work more on Character Sprite Design which will be uploaded on my Youtube channel. Worked on Kan'u (at least one sprite), if you guys want to see me do another character, PM me or comment it in review or any of my videos. The more I work on these, the more likely I can focus on writing the chapters faster due to inspiration. You guys want more detail on this, go check out my profile.

Didn't you know? I have a Youtube Channel for this Fanfic Story! Go check it out: OrangePhenomenon

Thank you for your patience and here you go:

Chapter 16: Aftermath — The Result of Guandu

Sousou's units retreated out of Wuchao just as went up in flames fully. Sousou managed to seize all of Enshou's good supplies, and set a blaze to the rest of her supplies. Splitting their army up, Chinkei, Chintou, Kayuu, Kaku, and Ten'i, were responsible for delivering supplies back to Kanto Castle. While the remaining officers consisting of Sousou, Syrus, Ryofu, Chinkyuu, and the new recruited Choukou, proceeded to seize Enshou's main camp.

Meanwhile, Enshou — being clueless and careless as ever — was in the midst of raiding Kanto Castle which her other strategists and guest generals insist her to do. Despite their large army, they still haven't managed to break through Kanto Castle's defenses much to Enshou's frustration. Denhou was left behind at a nearby garrison, assigned to wait for her lord's return. She was dismissed from her position as Head Strategist due to her constant failures like the ones at Baima, Yanjin, and the previous Kanto Castle attack.

"This is taking forever!" Enshou complained angrily. "What's taking so long? We did better last time, why can't we do the same this time?"

"My lady, please be patient for results," A strategist pled her. "The scoundrel Sousou's forces will tire out through fighting such vast numbers. It's only a matter of time before her men and officers give up through our sheer numbers."

"Grrrr… we've been fighting for hours now!" Enshou shrieked furiously. "I'm starving right now. How many soldiers we have out there fighting?"

"About 30,000 of them,"

"Then make a 100,000 — no make it 300,000!" Enshou demanded.

"Eh~~~~~~~~~~, 300,000~~~, that's practically three-fourth of our new reinforcements we brought." The strategist squealed in shock.

"I don't care, just get this done already!" Enshou yelled. "My stomach right now is all grouchy and I don't like it! So hurry it up!"

"Reiha-himesama~~~~" A voice called Enshou from afar. The pissed off and upset Enshou turned to see Denhou riding up to her. Denhou quickly got off her horse and rushed over to Enshou's carriage, panting and sweating in fear and despair.

"What is this, oh Maachi-san," Enshou grumbled. "Here I thought it was someone important. Look at you, all smelly and worn out; how unsightly of you to appear before like that."

"Reiha-himesama," Denhou gasped for air, "now is not the time for formalities. It's just as I thought of what was going to happen. Wuchao is…"

"Didn't Enshou-sama order you to keep watch of the camp Denhou-dono?" A strategist interrupted abruptly. "Being here, wouldn't that mean that we have no place to return too? Enshou-sama has instructed you to keep watch of it so that we don't have to return to our main camp."

"That's right, that's right," Another strategist joined. "But you being here meant you're defying Enshou-sama's orders. You actually dare show yourself in front of her after committing such treason!"

"Silence, all of you," Denhou snapped back at the scheming strategists. "What do you all know; utterly useless in giving our lord strategy to work. Works of strategists? Peh, rats can scheme better than what you all can think up. Your slanders have cost us many battles already; the lives of General Ganryo and General Bunshuu could have been saved if your stupid pigheaded suggestions didn't push them into being reckless!"

"Such language Maachi-san," Enshou frowned in disgust. "You're quite impudent right now."

"Enshou-sama, such words can't go unpunished." A strategist whimpered. "We're being blamed for what she's done."

"It's the truth," Denhou snorted. "You all — oh the heavens, you fools distracted me from the main reason I'm here!"

"Enshou-sama~~~~,"

"Maachi-san, I think you said enough," Enshou growled in fury. "Someone, drag this fool of strategist out of my sight, such disgrace will soil the En clan's elegance!"

Two soldiers came immediately and grabbed Denhou who struggled to break free.

"No wait, let me go!" Denhou demanded. "I have an urgent report Reiha-himesama needs to know! It's important!"

"Enshou-sama, whatever you do, don't listen to her!" A strategist slandered. "Denhou-dono is trying to sway you into withdrawing again! We cannot retreat now!"

"Then have our 300,000 of our troops storm Sousou's camp already," Enshou commanded. "No excuses go defeat Sousou now."

"300,000~~~~~~~~~~~" Denhou screamed in shock, hearing Enshou's outrageous command.

"Uh… yes, right away my lady," The strategist reluctantly complied.

"Wait, you fool, pigheaded, buffoon, idiot, you call yourself a strategist?" Denhou exploded in anger. "How could you just simply follow such inconceivable command? Sure, Reiha-himesama makes more outrageous demands but it's the strategist job to lead her down the right path!"

"Get her out of here!" Enshou roared in anger.

"Wait, Reiha-himesama~~~, you have to listen!" Denhou pleaded desperately. "You can't do that! The army will perish without supplies! You'll lead the soldiers to their deaths!"

"We have plenty of supplies at Wuchao coming, there's no need to be afraid of Sousou." A strategist discredited her.

"Ignorant arrogant know-nothing, why do you think I'm persuading not too? I've been trying to tell you all this!" Denhou yelled. "WUCHAO HAS FALLEN~~~~~~~~!"

Denhou's words echoed across the battlefield, sending shivers down Enshou and the strategists' spines.

On the other hand, her scream brought rejoice to Sousou's officers like Kakoton and Soujin who were defending.

"They did it," Soujin smiled.

"Hmph, you did not fail me Syrus," Kakoton mumbled to herself. Tears ran down her eye as she smiled up to the heavens. "The heavens have made their decision…" She took a deep breath, and then returned to her serious self again. "You did not fail me, so I won't fail you." She raised her blade up and bellowed. "Wuchao has fallen; the battle is good as won everyone! Slaughter the enemy before you and let's seize Enshou's head! Bathe our enemy in sea of blood so that we may march forward to our destined future~~~~!"

"Ooaah~~~~~~~~~~~" The warriors of Sou-Gi thundered.

"Impossible…" Enshou cried in shock, turning to Denhou with a face of despair. "That can't be true."

"It's true Hime-sama," Denhou sobbed. "Chinkei and Chintou betrayed us! They were scouts of Sousou the whole time. They led Sousou's units secretly behind our lines somehow to Wuchao, and attacked it. The results: General Choukou defected, we lost Wuchao, and all our supplies we stored up have reduced to ashes!"

"What you say~~~~~~~~~~," Enshou shrieked in horror. She ran up to Denhou and grabbed her by the shoulders. "All our supplies have been destroyed by that pipsqueak?"

"We don't have any more supplies left." Denhou whimpered.

"Heh totally lies," A strategist sneered, much to Denhou's shock.

"What's that?" Denhou barked.

The strategist turned to Enshou once again. "My lady, this must be a ploy of Denhou's to get us to withdraw from battle again." The strategist accused. "I mean think about it my lady, how could it be possible for such thing to happen?"

Enshou stopped panicking and looked at the strategist in confusion. "What do you mean?"

"Let me ask you Enshou-sama, how could Sousou take Wuchao without us knowing?" The strategist argued. "We have all our troops stationed all over the battlefield, how could an enemy unit slip by without any detection?"

Enshou thought for a moment much to Denhou's dismay.

"You have a point,"

"This must be a trick of either Denhou or Sousou," The strategist suggested. "Sousou probably fear you winning this time so she sent a false report to Denhou-dono to make her think that Wuchao is under attack."

Enshou nodded. "A trick of the pipsqueak huh," Her concerned look turned into the same prideful face, laughing to herself of her 'cleverness'. "Oh-ho-ho-ho-ho-ho, Oh-ho-ho-ho-ho-ho, Oh-ho-ho-ho-ho-ho, oh that Sousou brat, how dare she try to make a fool out me by tricking me like this. Luckily though, I'm too smart for that."

"No Hime-sama," Denhou gasped in despair. "You're making the wrong decision. It's true; Sousou has personally led 10,000 soldiers and attacked Wuchao! If you do not hurry back to reinforce the main camp, we will lose this war! Please Hime-sama, reconsider your decision!"

"Maachi-san," Enshou smirked. "You've done enough already. I know that the scoundrel brat tries to trick you, but you have been saved due to my superior intellect. Be grateful, I was thinking of executing you for your failures and treachery, but now that I realized you were simply falling for tricks of Sousou I shall spare your life. You may go now."

"No, Hime-sama~~~" Denhou pleaded.

"She must be tired from worrying so much," Enshou sighed with a concerned look. "Men, please take her back to the camp, and make sure she gets proper rest."

"I don't need rest Hime-sama~~~~~," Denhou denied, shaking off the soldiers who grabbed hold of her. "I need you to listen!"

"I don't need to listen anymore of your words," Enshou suddenly turned back to her nasty side. "I forgive your incompetence, but not your impudent slanders! You have nothing but your unbearable words to back up your claims, I was quite a fool to have listened to them in the battle. Now, be off with you before I change my mind about your execution."

"Fatuous…" Denhou finally snapped. After all her work and service dedicated to work for Enshou, she finally snapped from Enshou's incompetence. "Hime-sama was the only one I see fit to be my lord and master. I thought I could dedicate my work in your service to make you the true ruler of this realm! Hime-sama is… a fool, a buffoon, an idiot, stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid~~~~~~~!" She screamed in retaliation. "I dedicated my heart and soul to you, but you let these monkeys tear us apart so simply? Oh the heavens have abandon me, the slanders of the vilest has made my queen nothing more than a common insufferable fatuous lord~~~!"

Now it's Enshou's turn to snap. "I have no idea what most of the stuff you said, but I take that as a massive insult to my name and my noble clan's name!" Enshou thundered in fury. "Take her back to the main camp! I don't need such impudent fool by my side! Take her back there and slay this bitch immediately!"

The soldiers yanked Denhou back, dragging her as she cried in tears. "Oh the heavens have forsaken us! Heaven's will is with Sou, but not with En!" She continues to repeat the latter phrase in despair as she was dragged off.

"That Denhou really done it," Enshou scorned. "I'm hungry and upset now." She turned back to her remaining officers under her. "Now, send 300,000 at Sousou's forces immediately!"

"Report~~~~" A messenger came running from behind. "Urgent report,"

"Report, reminds me of her already." Enshou turned to a soldier. "You, go cut the man down and dispose of him. I don't want to hear anything about report unless it's about our victory here!"

"Uh…" The soldier hesitated.

"Well," Enshou scolded at the hesitating soldier. "Are you going to do it, or should I have you executed with him?"

"Y-yes ma'am right away," The soldier dashed off quickly and slayed the messenger before he could make his report.

"In any case, march forth!" Enshou commanded. "Send more of our men out there and take down Kanto Castle! I do not care how many it takes, make it fast and seize Sousou's head immediately for your lord!"

Enshou's attack pressed on, but made no progress. The ending result was a total of over 300,000 casualties on Enshou's side with no gain whatsoever, while Kakoton and the others only lost about 17,000 soldiers and managed to repel the enemy forces.

Enshou was forced to retreat back to one of her base to rest. A massive banquet was held that night for the army for their hard work at Kanto Castle.

Meanwhile, Syrus and Sousou marched together on Enshou's main camp, while Ren, Chinkyuu, and Choukou went to seize other bases and convert other officers to defect as well. Seizing the main camp, many officers and soldiers defected to Sousou. While she's at it, she interrogated many and executed those she deemed worthless or untrustworthy to eliminate future corruption within the army.

The following morning, upon reaching the main camp, Denhou was captured by Syrus and Sousou. Hearing the incident of what happened to her; Sousou broke down in laughter of Enshou's foolishness and incompetence.

"Useless, utterly useless," She laughed. "The initial battles made me think that Enshou was a grand threat to my ambition, but now hearing this she's worse than I thought! Indeed she's unparalleled; she is truly unparalleled when it comes to incompetence — I have to applaud her along with those fools who follow her!"

Syrus sighed and shook his head in shame. "I knew Yuan Shao is historically an incompetent lord, but Enshou takes the cake on this." He muttered to himself. "She'll go down in history as the queen of idiocy and incompetence."

Sousou looked down at the tied Denhou who was too shameful to look at her. "If only if Enshou listened to you, she could have actually won against in war and strategy." Sousou grabbed Denhou by her chin and grinned. "Enshou is a fool, your talents and skills are wasted on her. Sad that even up to now you're still loyal to her."

"Hmph, my lord maybe incompetent, but she has the charisma of a leader." Denhou defended her lord. "She's spoiled, foolish, gullible, and greedy, but with proper guidance she could be a good lord to follow."

"Unfortunately for her, you're not the person she needed to guide her." Sousou sneered. "You yourself, Denhou, was reaching for something that is beyond your league — that goes the same for Enshou. You have no idea what were your flaws and limits, foolishly trying to seize control of things that is beyond your capabilities."

Denhou shrunk, feeling more ashamed than before.

Syrus knelt down to the captive strategist. "It was indeed beyond your control, it was impossible for you to change things on your own." Syrus comfort her. "Hopefully, you learned from your mistakes and flaws demonstrated in this battle."

Denhou frowned and fell quiet. Syrus stood up and looked at Sousou.

"So hearing all that, that means Enshou herself have no idea that Wuchao has fallen." He assumed.

"Hmph, what an idiot that Baka-Enshou is," Sousou mocked. She seemed to lost interest in Enshou's stupidity. "I swear, such stupidity can't be allowed to live in this realm of turmoil. Though I'm not surprise that she hasn't notice, her view only goes as far as the back of her hands."

"That's harsh… but true," Syrus agreed reluctantly. "She should be informed of this incident by now since Wuchao is still burning. (Seriously how much fire did we use there? It's like as if we anticipated that Enshou won't notice it on the first day it burns)"

"I don't like this battle at all." Sousou grumbled, biting her thumb. "I was actually amused when Denhou was helping Enshou, but now that a bunch of foolish idiots who call themselves strategists taken her place the battle became dull and stupid. Somehow even I can't find the reason to blame her totally for this."

"I don't like this either." Syrus nodded. "Enshou is stupid, but she was this stupid until they took the reign of strategists. We blame her stupidity, but she was practically guided to where she is."

Sousou turned to Syrus. "Then what do you think I should do then?"

Syrus sighed. "You should meet up with Choukou-chan again and go with her to catch Enshou." He suggested. "I personally want to lead my units to hunt down these bastards. No doubt they all are going to flee once they know that Wuchao has fallen. I'll hunt them down and kill them for ruining this battle."

He turned to Denhou, "You don't mind if I bring her along do you?" Syrus asked Sousou.

"I was planning to execute her, why bring her?"

"Out of pity," Syrus replied frankly. "Pretty sure she too wants to see the people who slander her get slaughtered."

Sousou snorted and walked away. "Do as you wish then," Sousou granted permission. "I'll see you at Enshou's base."

Sousou left the camp with her personal units to join up with Choukou. Syrus untied Denhou who scurry away from him in disgust and fear when he did.

"Wha-wha-what do you plan on doing to me?" Denhou shrieked. "I know I'm quite a beauty, but still doing this and that just because you won and…"

"—whoa, whoa, whoa, calm your pervert mind there. That's not why I asked to keep you." Syrus denied immediately. "I want you alive when Sousou-chan wants you dead."

"Right, right, is what you say," Denhou snorted in mockery. "I'm not a fool to fall for that, I'm too smart for your charms."

"You learned nothing, didn't you?" Syrus frowned weakly.

"You want to keep me alive? I hardly doubt it." Denhou criticized. "You're the one who ruined me and made Enshou distrust me by killing General Ganryo and General Bunshuu! Why would I trust you?"

"Uh… wait… about that…"

"Oh~~~~~~~ I don't care anymore!" Denhou lie down on her back and spread her frail limbs out much to Syrus's dismay. "Winners get to do whatever to loser while the loser has no right to complain! Do as you please with me!"

"—Hey~,"

"Use me to fulfill your carnal desires; I'm going to die anyways in your hands, I might as well not die a virgin! We're both good looking anyways, so I guess it's fine if I was to be ravaged by you…"

"—Whoa, hey wait a minute!"

"Okay, I'm ready! Go ahead, come at me! I have nothing to fear anymore! Violate this body to your heart content…"

Syrus pounced on top of laying Denhou and…

PESHI~~~~~~~!

… Bitch slapped her across the face senselessly to shut up her babble.

"Bitch, listen to me~~~~ I'm sorry for slapping you~~~~~!" Syrus raged upon slapping her.

Denhou fell silent, holding her slapped cheek in confusion.

"I'm not a ravaging beast or a sexual predator of any sort!" Syrus yelled in self-defense. "I genuinely want to save your ass, I want you to live~~~~~~ dammit!"

Denhou blinked in confusion. "You're… you're going to kill me?" She wondered.

"No,"

"You're… not going to violate me?"

"NO," Syrus backed off from Denhou and pulled her back on to her feet. "I don't understand how and why I am getting labeled as a pervert or some wanking sexual predator when I have done no such act that would offend someone."

"That's odd then," Denhou wondered, cupping her chin. "Enshou-sama said that you that you are a notorious horny animal who only thinks with the beast from below and that in the past you have ravaged thousands of beauties whom you first charmed, then lured to a dark alley, and then commence pleasing yourself using them…"

"ENSHOU~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~" Syrus boomed ferociously. Dat Bitch~~! "I really am going to have a serious talk with that woman once I get my hands around that neck of hers!"

"So…" Denhou frowned weakly. "It's all a misunderstanding…"

"Yes," Syrus palmed his face in shame and embarrassment of the misleading information. "And about Ganryo and Bunshuu…"

We returned to Enshou's side again where a messenger finally managed to deliver the report that was a day old.

"You're lying," Enshou yelled. "You mean today right, they attacked today right?"

The weeping messenger shook his head. "No my lord," He wept, "It's true, Wuchao was attacked and burned yesterday! Sousou personally led the charge at night and raided the base. General Choukou seems to have also defected along with the strategists Chinkei and Chintou!"

The strategists stared at each other with cold sweats, fearing for their lives now.

"But that's impossible," She denied the report, "How could she slip behind our defenses though? It doesn't make sense at all!"

"It doesn't matter how my lord, the fact is that it happened!" The messenger persuaded. "The smoke and flames could be seen from here, Wuchao is still burning as of right now!"

Enshou didn't ask any further. She along with the other strategists and generals stormed out to see for their selves. To her horror, in the direction of her supply depot, the smoke and flames rises — not as high as yesterday — beyond the horizon.

Enshou collapsed to her knees. "What, what have I done…" She gasped in realization. Reality finally caught up to her.

"Damn, if we knew this earlier we wouldn't have asked for that feast yesterday," A general grunted. "Now we're definitely out of supplies."

"Why weren't we informed of this before?" Another general asked.

"We sent a messenger back here yesterday to request reinforcements, sir," the messenger whimpered. "But since there were no responses or reinforcements, we sent another nine messengers. The first messenger said that his message managed to reach Denhou-dono, she must have known about this."

Enshou gawked painfully, remembering what happened yesterday. The world she thought she knew suddenly began to collapse around her.

"Denhou-dono knew about this?" A general gasped. He looked around searching. "Well where is she? She should have reported to us yesterday."

The strategists averted their eyes and backed away from the group, trying to avoid Enshou's gaze. Denial, regret, and fear filled their faces.

"She was… telling the truth…" Enshou mumbled under her breath. "She was trying to warn me…"

"Where is Denhou-dono, someone speak up?" A general demanded. "What happened to her?"

"Uh well…" A strategist spoke up, and waddled to the general. "You just don't know General," The strategist whispered, trying to lie his way out and make himself look like he doesn't know anything. "Yesterday, Denhou-dono came and made a ruckus for Enshou-sama. She criticized our lord so our lord ordered her to be dragged back to the main camp and executed."

"Oh, there was such an incident?" The general wondered. The strategist nodded suspiciously. The general sighed. "Damn, if Denhou-dono was not so hot-headed; she should have reported the incident at Wuchao at the very least."

"Kyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~" Enshou shrieked in agony and pain. Her hands clinched her head, her fingers and fingernails dig into her hair, and her eyes and mouths opened wide as she scream.

The generals gathered to help their lord, trying to help snap out of her agonizing trance. The strategists on the other hand slowly backed away, slipping away from the scene and vanished from the camp.

The generals helped Enshou back inside the main tent as she cried her heart out.

"What do we do?" One general wondered.

"I don't know, but we have to do something." Another general replied.

"Hey, all the strategists disappeared!" Some other general realized. "Where they ran off to?"

The room was in a panic. Enshou is having a meltdown; the generals were disoriented on what to do; and the sniveling strategists have fled. The camp was in all confusion.

News of Sousou's forces closing in to Enshou's base spread even more panic and fear in the camp.

"No supplies, our leader is like this, there's no point of me staying here. I'm off,"

"I already got my pay already; it's not worth staying for more if I'm going to die here."

"I'm not working for a crazy woman; I won't stay here to die with her either."

One by one, each of Enshou's recruited generals left her side. Soon, even soldiers started to leave as well; either deserting or went over to Sousou's army to surrender.

When Enshou slowly came back to reality, her camp was empty out. The only people within the camp were her and her personal maids. Seeing the sad sight, she looked up and cried, "Heaven's will is with Sou, but not with En!"

The Battle of Guandu finally ended with an overwhelming victory for Sousou.

Sousou entered Enshou's camp with her forces with her officers, who came earlier than her, waited for her arrival.

"Hmm…" Sousou thought as she looked around the camp. "Strange, I thought there would have been more dead bodies here."

"Indeed it is strange Karin-sama," Kakoton agreed as she walked with her cousin. "When Shuuran and I arrived, the camp was practically empty. I knew that we slaughtered a lot of generals along the way here, but I didn't think that they all left."

"Who is stupid enough to stay here after hearing that we're coming?" Jun'iku cackled wickedly over their easy victory. "My guess is that they all abandoned Enshou and just so happen to run into us while they're escaping."

"So where is Enshou anyways?" Sousou wondered. "Did she put up any resistance?"

"No ma'am," Kakoen replied. "When Aneja and I found her, she looked like she went into a very depressive state."

"We tied her up for you," Kyochou continued. "Do you want us to bring her to you?"

"Mm," Sousou nodded. "Let's get this over with, time end all this once and for all."

Kyochou disappeared to fetch Enshou. Everyone gathered in the camp's main tent before Sousou. Moments later, a tied Enshou waddled in to be brought forth to Sousou who sat on her throne waiting.

"Well, well, well, look what we have here." Sousou smirked. "Look at you, suddenly appearing over there? Usually it's the other way around where I'll be the one standing while you'll be sitting here instead."

"Hmph, save your words brat," Enshou snapped back. "It's just so happen that I let you win this battle, that's all."

Sousou raised an eyebrow and looked at Kakoen. "I thought you said that she was depressed, why is she like this? She seems fine to me." She whispered to her cousin's ear.

"Well hearing of Karin-sama's arrival must have snapped her out of the trance." Kakoen suggested.

"Dammit, I wanted to see what an Enshou look like when she's in despair." Sousou complained.

"I heard that midget," Enshou snapped. "Curse you and vile schemes! It's because of you Ryuubi, I lost Toshi and Iishe! I swear I'll kill you to avenge them!"

Sousou laughed joyfully, humored by Enshou's empty threat. "Enshou will always be Enshou." She joked. "It's through your incompetence that has brought you here in the first place. You lack the skills to make you competent, you barely have any military warfare experience, you can't figure out what's wrong and what's right! You criticized those with talents and find ways to ridicule them when you find them a nuisance. Your view of the world is so simple and puny compare to many other warlords out there. If there's anyone out there to blame for your lost it is yourself and the lack of brains you have. Honestly, how could your almost 500,000 lost to my 250,000 — the fact that your reinforcements of 400,000 was reduced down to 100,000 in a day shows how incapable are."

"Oh Sousou, to think that you underestimated me that much," Enshou snorted. With a prideful look she laughed. "I, the noble, beautiful, and elegant Enshou Honsho, am the most beautiful across the land! Of course with the heed of my call hundreds will flock to me! A wave of my gorgeous hair and thousands will die for me! A true leader I am to be able to gather thousands under me who are all willing to die to serve me!"

Everyone frowned sadly at Enshou's weak comeback. Are men of this time really that dumb? They all wondered.

"Wow, and here I am feeling sad for you." A masculine voice joined the conversation.

Syrus appeared behind the tied Enshou, who immediately glared at him with fire in her eyes.

"You~~~," Enshou growled.

Syrus rolled his eyes. "I see that all this crap here didn't affect you, despite that you exactly what went wrong."

"Ha, I don't know what you're talking about?" Enshou denied modestly.

"Oh I don't know, how about the fact that everyone abandoned and betrayed you because they knew you were useless." Syrus poked fun of her. "You shouldn't be happy that you wasted over 300,000 lives in one day. That's not something you should be proud of."

"You don't tell me what to do."

"Ah Syrus, just in time," Sousou greeted him. "I need your help on deciding for me."

"Huh, what's that?" He inquired curiously.

"I know I should kill her for sending thousands to their deaths, but somehow I feel like it is men's stupidity that drove them to serve and die for her." Sousou presented her dilemma.

"So… you don't want to kill her?" Syrus wondered.

"I don't feel like it anymore or at least it's not worth my time."

"Karin-sama," Soukou spoke up in disagreement. "What do you mean by that?"

"That's right Karin-sama, you should kill her already." Jun'iku argued. "She already cause enough problems for you, keeping around a useless sack of cow fat will only stench up the place and cause more problems in the end."

"Useless sack of what," Enshou barked furiously.

"Karin-sama," Kakoton stepped up. "If you do not find it worth your time, then let me do it so we'll be done with it."

"Hmm…" Sousou groaned, uninterested on what to do with her nemesis.

"Oh, what's the matter? You're too scared to kill me brat?" Enshou taunted. "I knew you don't have the guts to kill someone as beautiful as I am."

"Enshou-sama, please stop it," Choukou pleaded her former lord. "Do you want to die or something?"

"You shut up, Choukou," Enshou yelled. "You betrayed me for this brat?"

"Eh, well…" Choukou blinked nervously. Her eyes trailed up to Sousou who smiled back at her. Her heart began to beat faster and harder, and her face flushed bright red. She held her rosy cheeks and squealed like a fan girl. "Gyaaaaaaaaaah~~~, but Sousou-sama is so cute and adorable! She stole my heart away at Wuchao and… I already promised my body to her tonight, something that I can't wait for! Oh please twilight night, come soon, ooh please come soon~~~~~!"

Kakuka collapsed after a massive nosebleed from Choukou's fantasy. Everyone froze, feeling quite disturbed by Choukou's squealing and body wiggles.

Geh, another rival, Jun'iku, Kakoton, and Soukou thought dreadfully. Their eyes suddenly trailed down Choukou's sexy figure and outfit, fueling their hearts with more dread. This love rival is overwhelmingly overpowered, is it even possible for us to win?

Sousou smiled down at Enshou. "So much for being the most beautiful across the land huh," Sousou teased Enshou, trying to hold back her laughter; much to the latter's chagrin.

"My name is Choukou, my style name is Shungai, but you all may refer to me by my true name after I go through initiation with Sousou-sama tonight: Yukibana." Choukou introduced herself to the other Gi generals who don't know her.

"Chinkei Kanyu, please refer me to my true name as Tou." Chinkei reintroduced herself. She patted her daughter's shoulder. "This here is my daughter, Chintou Genryuu."

Chintou bowed to her superiors and fixed her glasses. "Please call me Suu; I'll be in everyone's care from now, it's nice to meet everyone." She replied with a deadpan voice.

Everyone greeted the new members of Gi briefly before returning to Enshou's case.

"Anyways, Enshou," Sousou returned her attention to her. "Do you really asking for death here?"

"Hmph, obviously not," Enshou snorted. "I still have a score to settle with you. You let me live, and I will one day seek vengeance on you. I'll kill you with my bare hands… somehow."

"All right fine, I guess I have to kill you then."

Kakoton prepared to draw her sword much to Enshou's dismay. Before she could draw the blade fully, Syrus quickly stopped her.

"Syrus, now what," Kakoton pouted. "What's the meaning of this?"

"Hold on will you Shunran," Syrus stopped her. He turned back to Enshou. "Enshou, I know what you're thinking."

"Ha, like hell you do." Enshou muttered.

"Well I'm reading your thoughts with my powers, so yeah I do know." Syrus confessed much to Enshou's disgust. "It's pointless for you to point vengeance at Sousou-chan. She's not the one responsible for Ganryo and Bunshuu's disappearance — if you're going to direct it at someone, it should be me."

"Huh," Enshou's eyes sharpened as she looked up at him. "You, you took them away from me?"

"Uh… yeah…" Syrus replied weakly, scratching his head. "I told General Kan'u to do it, I planned all that."

"You…" Enshou trembled in anger. She charged and pushed herself against his body, shoving her face up close to his much to his shock. "If I was untied right now, I'll strangle you to death."

"Well… you can try…" Syrus laughed weakly. "Why is she tied up?" He asked Sousou. "I mean, you all really afraid that she'll try and attack Sousou-chan with her bare hands?"

"Uh… well…" Ukin mumbled, trying to think of the reason.

While still leaning up against him, Syrus slipped his hand behind the too distracted Enshou and loosened her binds much to everyone's surprise.

"Aw, wait Syrus," Sousou tried to stop him.

"Kyaaah, I'll kill you now~~~~~~" Enshou screamed as she lunged up at him. She grabbed a hold on Syrus's neck and wrapped his legs around his arms and waist, trying her best to strangle him. Syrus on the other hand is unfazed and merely put up an amused and entertained face, much to Enshou's annoyance. She shook him wildly as she screamed, "you think this is funny? Is this funny to you, huh? You murderer, killer, animal, beast…"

"—Stop with the name calling…" Syrus pled. "I still need to have a serious talk about your name calling and fantasized description giving."

Everyone merely watched in confusion and chagrin as Enshou rode him while trying to choke the life out of him. The scene really irritated Sousou. That idiot…

Enshou stopped shaking him and focus all her strength on her hands, squeezing as hard as she can, but nothing fazed him.

"You done yet," Syrus wondered.

"You took them away from me…" Enshou's rage suddenly subsided and turned into sadness. Tears came running down her eyes instead as she cried. "First Toshi… then Iishe… you took them all away from me you monster! Are you satisfied, you took everything away from me! My friends, my victory, my destiny, all of it are gone because of your interference! Just die why won't you, just die, die, DIE~~~~~~! "

Her grip around Syrus's neck loosens as she slid down to ground onto her knees. She covered her face with her hands as she cried. "You could have taken just my life… why… why did you take them away from me…" She sobbed.

Syrus took a deep breath and knelt down one knee to her. He patted her head gently.

"Why won't you die…?" Enshou wept.

"Because Enshou, you're too weak." Syrus replied softly. "Your scrawny hands aren't strong enough to strangle anybody."

"Even at this end you still picking on me," She whimpered.

"Well, you're annoying, stupid, dumb, ignorant, greedy, prideful… stupid, but at least…" Syrus bobbled his head. "At least you truly have a kind heart underneath all that."

"Do as you please with me, just kill me already…" Enshou bawled. "I don't want to live if Toshi and Iishe are not here with me!"

"Uh…" Syrus paused with a nervous look on his face. "Hate to break it to you Enshou… but you might want to choose to live then."

"…eh…" Enshou mumbled, confused on what he meant.

"Huh," Everyone else gawked in misunderstanding.

"Don't tell me…" Jun'iku muttered under her breath.

Syrus rose back up to his feet and turned to the entrance. "Okay, you three heard it now." Syrus called out. "You can come in now. Please convince her to live before she commits suicide."

To everyone's surprise, especially to Enshou, Ganryo and Bunshuu came in along with Denhou: all alive!

"They're alive?" Chouryou gasped. She dashed over to Syrus. "I thought Kan'u-san killed them back at Baima and Yanjin."

"Actually no," Syrus confessed. "Both were indeed attacked, but I douse General Kan'u's blade with a strong paralyzing concoction. So what looks like a kill, it's actually them getting injured. When their units fled in fear, I went to go pick up their bodies and heal them before they actually died — in the case of Bunshuu where Enshou was present to watch. I had to secretly fetch her when everyone's attention was on Butterfly Mask and General Kan'u."

"Man, I almost died for real too," Bunshuu complained. "Thank goodness that weird Butterfly Mask came to duel Kan'u, otherwise I would have been left to root back there."

"Hmm… come to think of it," Choukou wondered. "From the reports, Ganryo-chan's body was never recovered. I don't know what the case of Bunshuu was, but it seems like Denhou-dono and Enshou-himesama forgot."

"Well, a lot of things happened." Denhou answered honestly. "I guess you could you had a warrior's burial? That saying of 'the battlefield is where a true warrior is to die at and laid to rest at', I think that's how it's worded."

"After patching them up, I just stuck them in a sack and carried them back to Kanto Castle and let Yue take care of them." Syrus explained what happened next. "Of course, I couldn't let them run away, so I actually had their bodies stuffed into barrels with their heads out."

"Uh… yeah that was quite a shock for us." Ganryo sighed in dismay.

"Seriously, I thought only my head and Toshi's head was the only things that survive." Bunshuu puffed her cheeks. "I couldn't feel anything neck-down. It was weird."

You can't possibly be alive if all that remains is our heads Iishe, Ganryo thought sadly.

Ganryo and Bunshuu turned their attention back to Enshou, who was frozen in awe at the sight of her two subordinates.

"Reiha-sama," Bunshuu grinned.

"We're back," Ganryo greeted with a weak smile, tears slipped down her cheeks. "We're sorry for making you worry."

"Iishe… Toshi…" Enshou mumbled their true names while cupping her mouth with her hands. A tear slip from her eyes, and she leaped up towards the two surprised maidens. She managed to wrapped her arms around the two's neck and embraced them tightly. Her tackle almost knocked the two down if it was for Denhou's assistance, who barely managed by supporting the two. "Waaaah~~~, thank goodness you both are okay! You're alive! You're alive! You're both alive!" She blubbered

"Yeah, yeah, we're alive, Reiha-sama," Bunshuu gawked in embarrassment. She and Ganryo both patted their lord's back.

"I'm not dreaming right? I'm dreaming aren't I?"

"No, no, not at all Reiha-sama, we're really alive." Ganryo insured her lord. "There, there, it's all right."

Enshou's constant stream of tears touched Ganryo's and Bunshuu's hearts, resulting in the two suddenly breaking down to tears as well.

"Reiha-sama~~~~~~, we thought you'll be a goner without us~~~!" Ganryo whimpered.

"Waaaah~~~, we thought you were dead by now!" Bunshuu sobbed.

"That's mean Bunshuu-dono," Denhou commented on Bunshuu's response.

Hearing her voice, Enshou took noticed of Denhou who was looking that scene passionately. "Enshou-himesama," Denhou greeted with a hand-saluted. "Forgive me for my incompetence and for being useless to you."

"Maachi-san…" Enshou smiled. She released her two favorite companions and walked over to her loyal strategist.

"I'm sorry," Denhou bowed her low. "As a strategist I should have done better to persuade others to follow. I knew that there were jealousy and competition within the ranks, yet I let it slide thinking that I was too clever to fall into a disgraceful state."

Enshou pulled Denhou into her, hugging her when she did. "It's okay Maachi-san, it's okay," Enshou comforted her. "It's not your fault. Those other fools were merely inferior to your intellect so they plotted against you. Greed can bring out the foulness within people's souls."

Isn't she going to apologize? Technically, all this is her fault. Syrus sighed as he thought in slight irritation.

"Don't ever leave our side again." Enshou ordered. Her words touched the dedicated Denhou's heart. "I'll never forgive if you do. I need you. We need you."

"Enshou-himesama," Denhou mumbled. She started to cry on Enshou's shoulders, hugging her back for her compassionate words.

"Um… this is a very sad and disgusting sight, but we're not done with you all yet." Jun'iku grumbled in repulsion, breaking up the touching scene.

Enshou and her group turned back to Sousou's group, returning back to the initial spot where Enshou was supposed to stand. Her subordinates lined up next to her.

"So let me remind all you again here, in case you all have forgotten." Sousou sighed as she slowly return back to seriousness. "The Battle of Guandu is my victory here, and you all are my war prisoners now."

"Uh… yes…" Denhou answered for her lord.

Sousou looked at Enshou. "So, do you want to fight anymore, Enshou?"

"Uh… n—

"I'm asking Enshou." Sousou scold Denhou, interrupting her answer and silencing her. She slowly looked back at the other blonde commander. "Do you want to fight me anymore, Enshou?"

"…" Enshou bit her lips and looked to ground, thinking about what to say. Her subordinates looked at her with concern, worried whether their lord will give the wrong answer. Enshou took a deep breath and looked back up to Sousou. "No… I'm done."

"So you admit defeat?" Sousou questioned.

"…yes," Enshou puffed her cheeks in irritation.

"As the winner then, I will be taking all the territories that you have conquered, including your own." Sousou announced.

The announcement startled Bunshuu and Ganryo.

"Wait hold on, that's taking our home away." Bunshuu argued.

"You're saying that if we submit, we'll lose our home?" Ganryo gasped.

Denhou sighed and shook her head. "The winner gets the spoils you two." She reminded the two. "Besides, it's not like we have the right to say if she's planning to kill us anyways. With us dead, there's no need to ask, she'll just take."

"Uh… oh…" Bunshuu realized, "right… she could do that too."

"This is just one of Sousou's mind games to see if Enshou-himesama is willing to let this go or not. In a way, it's humiliation." Denhou explained Sousou's point.

"…mmm," Enshou grumbled, understanding Denhou's explanation.

"Well is that all right with you?" Sousou sneered. Her question made Syrus's face frowned in dismay. He knew this is Sousou's sadistic side speaking, trying to attack Enshou verbally after bottling up all her frustration over her foe. The years of frustration over the fatuous lord are all finally coming up.

Enshou puffed her cheeks again and averted her eyes. "Yes, yes, you can have it all." Enshou gave up and openly submitted. "Bingzhou, Jizhou, Youzhou, and Qingzhou, you can have it all, I don't care anymore. Do whatever you want with them, best of luck making sure they all cooperate with you then."

"Hmph, I see," Sousou chuckled triumphantly. "All right then, so you're all right being a homeless beggar on the street then I tell you too then right?"

"Ah…" Enshou let out a small shriek of dissatisfaction, but held it back. "Sousou-san, what's the point of asking me such question?"

"I don't know, what is the point?" Sousou teased her. "You tell what it is?"

"Geh… you…" Enshou couldn't find the words to reply and merely puffed her cheeks again in irritation. "Mm. . . . . . . . . ." Enshou paused for moment. "… Whatever, of course it's going to be that way. I lost after all, I have no home, and I'll probably be on the streets somewhere. Honestly, what kind of stupid question is that if the answer is so obvious?"

"Hmph, all right, all right, sorry," Sousou laughed joyfully. "I just need to make sure that you're not capable of being something else like a street performer, an idol, or a hunter. Guess you're incapable of being anything else but a beggar."

"Eeeek~~" Enshou shrieked as she stomped the ground in anger.

Sousou merely giggled along with the other Gi officers. Enshou's three subordinates and Syrus merely puffed a sigh in dismay.

"Anyways, I've changed my mind," Sousou continued the humiliation of her foe. "I don't want to see any beggars in lands, certainly you will not be the first."

Enshou's three subordinates sighed in relief.

"How about a stress reliever," Sousou thought with a smile. "You get to live within my palace, I'll feed and take care of you, but whenever someone isn't feeling well you'll be tied up naked for them to whip you around."

"Oooh~~~~~~~" Jun'iku, Soukou, and Choukou chanted in support, looking very interested in the idea.

"That's practically a pet or a slave then." Tei'iku commented.

"It could be quite sexy to see Enshou-hime's face like that!" Choukou clinched her fist with a burning passion. "S&M foreplay~~~~~~~~~~"

Kakuka nosebleed and collapsed to the ground. Syrus frowned in disturbance of the idea.

"This is getting out of hand…" Syrus mumbled to Kakoen.

"It… kind of is…" Kakoen sighed in agreement. "Karin-sama is having too much fun with Enshou."

"Wha~~~~~~~~~~~," Enshou squealed in horror. "Just because your body is so flat and not gifted, you want to try and ruin mine — and I'm not an M player!"

"That's not the problem here~~~, and you don't need to tell us that!" Syrus and Denhou yelled, acting as tsukkomi ["straight man" in a comedy duo].

"Oh~~~~ Whatever, do what you want with me," Enshou blabbered. She was tired of Sousou's teasing and questions of humiliation. "Kill me, humiliate me, enslave me, eat me, and hell I don't even care if you or anyone else violates my beautiful godliest body to your hearts content! Just do whatever you and be done with it so I can be done with it!"

Everyone went silent instantly and frowned in disgust and dismay. They all finally realized that they're joking around and teasing too much, and that they're getting off topic.

Sousou cleared her throat. "Okay, jokes aside." She returned to her serious self. "Enshou, two more questions then."

"Pfff, more…" Enshou whined.

Sousou crossed her pale legs and leaned her head on her hand which her respective elbow that rested on her raised knee. "Tell me Enshou, do you want to die?"

Enshou frowned in disappointment. She slowly averted her eyes from Sousou and answered, "No, of course not…" She replied stubbornly.

"Hmph, all right then," Sousou nodded. "Then… do you want to live?"

Enshou was slightly confused, pausing before answering. She looked to her sides to her subordinates, and then utters one word with a confident smile. "Yes."

Sousou closed her eyes and smiled. She looked back at her defeated foe. "I almost want to spare you, you know." Sousou confessed. "I feel like, it's impossible for you to be a threat to me as long as I keep within my arm reach."

"Ew…" Enshou replied in disgust. "You want me that bad?"

"EW, no, gross, not like that," Jun'iku interjected. "It's a figure of speech you idiot!"

Sousou sighed. "I plan on keeping you in my city and put you under permanent house arrest. But…" She looked to her subjects. "My advisors and officers advised me to kill you, fearing that you'll cause disturbance under my rule." She looked back at Enshou. "What do you think? Should I let you live, or should I just kill you?"

Enshou smirked, and turned that smirk into her favorite laugh. "Oh-ho-ho-ho-ho~," Her laugh was more prideful than ever much to everyone's confusion. "Oh Sousou, Sousou, Sou Moutoku, you claimed to be so smart, yet you can't even figure out a simple decision like this? How sad, I'm surprised you decided to fight me when you have no idea what to do with me after!"

Sousou's subordinates got irritated by Enshou's insult. Her annoying noble laugh stopped as she faded from joy to confidence. "You should know Sousou from this battle here." She explained. "I have so many around me to persuade me to do something, yet with so many ideas popping around; I can't pick out which one I liked most. The result, hmph, I cast out those who were truly dedicated to me, and fail every time to gain an advantage over you. From seeing this, isn't it obvious what needs to be done?"

Enshou's reasoning for her prideful act earlier not only touched but also shocked everyone in the room. It was once in a life-time that Enshou actually made sense with logic and past experience. It was so touching that it even threw Sousou off guard, for moment she thought Enshou was a threat after all.

Enshou sighed and shook her head. "If everyone else you trust here say kill me, then why not?"

"Reiha-sama~~~~~~" Ganryo and Bunshuu yelped.

"Enshou-sama…" Denhou gasped.

Enshou smiled at the three passionately, and then return her attention to Sousou. "I have but one request though before I die," Enshou asked.

"…what's that?" Sousou asked, feeling a bit uneased with Enshou's sudden request.

"If I die here, you have to make sure to take care of Iishe, Toshi, and Maachi-san," Enshou requested. "That's the only thing I ask of you."

"Eh~~~~, Reiha-sama~~~~," Ganryo and Bunshuu cried again, collapsing down and grabbing Enshou's soft legs.

"Enshou-himesama, please don't!" Denhou did the same as the other two as she pleaded. "We have dedicated our lives to serve you, from life to death. If you die, what's the point of us living as well?"

"Yes, Reiha-sama," Ganryo cried. "If you die, then I shall you to the grave as well!"

"Well… if Toshi… and Reiha-sama die, then I might as well die too!" Bunshuu bawled.

"You three…" Enshou frowned sadly at the three crying girls. She smiled gently. "Please you three, stop. You're ruining my socks and skirt."

"Reiha-sama / Enshou-himesama~~~~~~~~~~" The three yelped as continue to cry.

Everyone frowned uncomfortably as the crying scene returned.

"Uh… hello," Syrus tried to interrupt the crying. "Can I say something? I mean my opinion hasn't exactly been voiced yet."

The crying stopped immediately as the three looked at Syrus helplessly.

"What do you mean by that?" Enshou grumbled.

"Your opinion does not matter," Soukou snorted. "We all spoke up and majority of us say to kill her."

"Uh yeah… if that's the case," Syrus looked up to Sousou. "Then why when I arrive, Sousou-chan asked for my opinion? Doesn't she want to know what I'm thinking and up to?"

"Wha, shut up over there." Jun'iku growled violently. "A traitor has no voice in an important matter like this."

Syrus crossed his hands and looked at Jun'iku and Soukou with an unamused face. "Really, this is important?"

"Yes of course it is?" Soukou snapped back immediately.

"Really," Syrus repeated as he pointed to Enshou. "This is important?"

"Yes," Jun'iku pouted, looking at Enshou.

"Really~~~~," Syrus asked again. 'This… important,"

"…Y-yes…" Soukou suddenly hesitated on her answer, as suddenly her temper subsided into slight dismay.

"Really~~~~~~~~,"

"Uh…" At this point Jun'iku's and Soukou's thoughts shifted to Syrus's way, understanding Syrus's point. "Well…" Jun'iku muttered. "I guess… not…"

"What the, what happened you two?" Chouryou was puzzled by the sudden change. "Why not now, how…" She turned to Syrus. "How did you…"

Syrus sighed. "I understand that it's important to take care of the results of this battle," Syrus explained. "That important stuff should be things like what to do with Enshou's land, how to govern your lands now that you doubled in size, who should you assigned to govern those provinces, or what important things we should be looking for in the new claim lands like letters from other lords to Enshou or possible traitors or rebels."

"Uh huh," All the war generals except Kakoen, Soujun, and Soukou nodded.

"Now think about this," He pointed at Enshou again, much to confusion. "Do you think this is important enough for us to be concern with now?"

"Nope," They all shook their head. A light bulb went off in their heads as they thumped their palm. "Ah, we understand now."

"Curse you Syrus Gojimura," Enshou muttered under her breath, clinching her fists. "Even now you make fun of me." Seems like she understood what Syrus meant too — not fully, but at least she knew he was making fun of her.

"So with that being said," Syrus returned to the subject. "I think I should have the right to voice my opinion. Am I right you two?"

"Uh… yeah, we get it, we totally get it," Soukou and Jun'iku agreed miserably in unison, waving their hands for him to proceed. "Go ahead, we don't care you jerk."

Syrus cleared his throat and looked at Sousou who trying to hold her laughter back with her hands.

"Anyways, may I Sousou-chan?" Syrus asked for permission.

"Oh… yeah, go ahead." Sousou calmed herself and granted the permission. "Let's hear it, must be something outrageous to you thought about."

"Mm, okay," Syrus nodded and hand-saluted her, "I believe that it's safe to keep Enshou around and let her and her subordinates live."

"What~~~~~" All of the warriors of Gi gasped in shock.

"Go on," Sousou insisted. "Entertain me with your foolishness and stupidity,"

"Okay—Hey, I heard that," Syrus gawked at Sousou's insult. He cleared his throat. "Enshou maybe the enemy commander of this battle we should execute… but it's not worth it."

"And why is that,"

"Enshou can't be a threat to you as long as she under your surveillance," Syrus explained. "With the proper guidance and people, she can be controlled. She also still has her uses to you Sousou-chan."

Sousou raised her eyebrow in confusion; in fact everyone was confused by what he means by her still having her uses. To mostly everyone, Enshou and Usefulness does not mix at all — practically polar opposites.

"Think about this Sousou-chan," He continued. "You have all of Enshou's territories now, but what is stopping others from seizing them from you. If you kill Enshou now without resolving and ensuring that those territories are absolutely under your control, no doubt word will spread that Enshou has died and the provinces are ripe for the taking by the governors that are already there. Without Enshou, they'll no doubt try to seize each other's land meaning you have to get involve and send your army to fight and subjugate them."

"Ooh, meaning we'll be spending more to fight again." Kakuka understood. "If Enshou's alive, her subjects would not dare revolt. In other words, Enshou to them are still their lord and she's actually keeping them in check."

"Exactly," Syrus agreed. "So until you personally remove those not in your favor, keep Enshou around so to keep those regions calm, otherwise more lives will be lay to waste. I'm sure that the lords of those regions will agree to serve without revolting if they knew that you spared Enshou — demonstrating that you're not a ruthless conqueror who kills everybody who stands in your way."

Chintou stepped forth and hand-saluted her, "Sousou-sama, I believe this is the best course of action." She agreed. "With many wars and battles ahead of Sousou-sama's path, resources are needed to supply your future campaigns. If there are revolts within those lands, no doubt we'll not only lose more troops and also devastates farmlands and cities which are potential sources for supplies in result of stopping the revolts."

Kakuka stepped forth in agreement with Chintou's foresights. "Sousou-sama, with our battle against Enshou, we have already exhausted our supplies to wage wars. From Chintou-dono's reasoning, I inclined to agree with Syrus-dono's voice in keeping Enshou alive for the time being, so that we may recover from our wounds and restock our supplies for possible future campaigns. We should pursue peaceful means before war, thus we have to make sure that the northern lands that we once own by Enshou do not revolt."

Tei'iku stepped forth. "It may not be the best idea to keep Enshou alive, but it will make the subjugation of her former lands more efficient and easier. As cited from second chapter of The Art of War, when doing battle, seek a quick victory; a long battle will blunt weapons and diminish ferocity. Preserving one life for the easy victory over the land, the heavens is testing your leadership and wisdom, Sousou-sama."

Sousou nodded and cupped her chin, gently stroking it with her small index finger. "Very well then, as much as I don't like it, you all made a valid point." Sousou finally decided. "Very well, for the time being I guess… Enshou's life will be spared."

Enshou's three subordinates beamed up in joy and happiness, hearing that their lord isn't going to be executed. Enshou herself was shocked and relieved that she somehow managed to get off the hook and evaded death; she could believe the words she heard.

"You hear that Reiha-sama, Sousou is actually willing to spare your life!" Bunshuu cheered happily.

"Thank the heavens," Denhou weep happily. "I was sure that she was going to kill you Enshou-himesama~~~~~~!"

"You're not joking are you Sousou?" Enshou wondered.

"Pfff, if only," Jun'iku booed. "The moron brought up a point, keeping you around will at least save Karin-sama some time and energy in dealing with your lands. So be grateful that she decided to spare you this time."

"Well, you should be more thankful to Syrus-dono actually," Kakuka corrected. "After all, it is his idea."

"Hmph, you gave me too much credit Keifa." Sousou agreed. "With all you wanting to butcher Enshou, I'm sure that we would have ended up fighting a bunch of pointless revolts."

Enshou and her subordinates turned to Syrus. Enshou's puzzled look slowly turned to a suspicious gaze, making Syrus looked at her with a raised eyebrow of confusion.

"I don't understand…" Enshou grumbled. She crossed her across her chest and straightens herself up — returning to her usual noble pose. "I thought you want me dead ever since our battle at Touka Village. Why save me here?"

Syrus blinked in confusion. He scratched his head, trying to figure out a way to explain his reasons without confusing her and simple enough for someone like her to understand.

"Well…" Syrus started. "I'm not exactly mad about your attack on Touka Village. I'm not upset that you took Touka Village hostage to use Ryuubi-sama against us. I think you have it all wrong actually." He put his hands in his hips and shook his head in dismay. "You're kind of annoying and irritating but I don't want to kill you."

"Then why save me? There's absolutely no reason for you to save me… unless…" Enshou gasped in horror. Her face cringed in disgust as she raised her hand to slightly cover her mouth. "Unless you find me so beautiful and magnificent that you wish to enslave my body to fulfill your dark carnal desires since the beginning?"

"…" Syrus slid away in shock and awe of Enshou's accusation. He cringed. "You have one nasty mind to think that I'm that low of a scum to do that."

"Well, am I wrong?" Enshou snapped back.

"Of course you're dead wrong!" Syrus frowned with a cringed look. "I only want to save you because I simply don't want you to die. What's wrong with not wanting someone to die?"

Enshou fell silent and frowned in slight dismay. She still doubts Syrus's intent in saving her, believing that he's after something else.

"There's no way I can believe that." Enshou denied Syrus. "It's hard to believe that such a man such as you have no carnal desire for beautiful women such as myself. Are you some kind of eunu…"

"—No, ew, gross, my family jewels are still intact for your information." Syrus denied immediately.

"Then why?" She demanded an answer. She couldn't just settle with a plain simple answer and wanted the truth behind his action of saving her.

"Because that is what Ryuubi-sama would want." Syrus confessed out loud.

The room fell in silent when Syrus paused after his true motive was revealed to everyone. Sousou's eyes sharpen as she carefully listened to what Syrus has to say.

"Everyone in this room has met and knows what type of person Ryuubi-sama is." Syrus pointed out. "Many of you would call her a fool, an idiot, narrow-minded, a simple person who can't see the bigger picture — unfit… to overturn the chaos that plagues the land for many years already. Others will consider her a hero among others for her compassion for the people, her virtuous and incorruptible nature, and the desire… to save all the lives she can save — friend or foe. Her desire to save the empire extends out to not only those close to her, but those who she believes in: Yue, Sousou-chan, Sonsaku, The Emperor, and even you Enshou. She doesn't hate or despises you all, in fact, she cares and trusts all you; that's why when you meet her, she always look like she doesn't have a care in the world. It's because she has so much confidence in all of your abilities, some things that she lack. She knows that with all of your capabilities, you all should be able to overcome things without necessarily needing bloodshed to settle things." He looked at Enshou with a burning spirit in his heart which reflected on his determined gaze. "I believe in Ryuubi-sama's trust in all of you and her desire — her dream. She knows that her compassion and ideals alone can't achieve that, which is the reason why I'm here. Of course we know that there will always be bloodshed along the way, but the very least it's our job and duty to minimize it by settling things without many deaths."

Syrus paused once more and took deep breath. "That's why I planned the grand escape of the whole Touka Village. That's why I had General Kan'u faked Bunshuu and Ganryo's death instead of killing them. That's why I betrayed Sousou-chan to save Ryuubi-sama. That's why I abandoned the battlefield to save Sonsaku down at Go territory. And that's why I plead for your life." Syrus bellowed, clinching his fist tightly as he explained the previous events of this battle. "I did all of that for the sake of fulfilling Ryuubi-sama's dream of a benevolent rule and a world of forgiveness."

His declaration echoed throughout the room, sending chills down many of the female officers' spine with his speech. His words buried deep into everyone's head, some of it constantly echoed in their thoughts. One of those people was Sousou, who is in a conflicted state of fascination, disbelief, and anger. She was quite captivated by Syrus's compassionate speech about Touka, but confused why such a person such as himself would willingly go through such lengths to accomplish an unrealistic delusion. She clinched the hand rest of her throne, digging her nails into the fine wood. She's quite upset that Syrus is infected by Touka's outlandish ideology, believing that he's been brainwashed to ignore logical reasoning and practical solutions, and pursue the unreal and irrational fantasies.

"Ho, a world of forgiveness you say?" Enshou smirked in mockery of Touka's belief. "So that's why you're saving me? It's not like you want to save me, it's just that you've come to forgive me is what drove you to save me."

Syrus nodded. "You got the bits of it. I forgive, and so I want to save you because I do not believe that you need to die to solve our current situation."

Enshou nodded with a smirk. She began to chuckle happily, but then reverted back to her noble laugh. "Oh-ho-ho-ho-ho-ho-ho-ho~~~," She laughed in her usual noble pose. She has fully returned to her noble way as she arrogantly stared back him. "I see, I see now, it is all clear to me now! My beauty and elegancy has brought you to forgive my past actions, thus you feel like it's your duty above all else to protect and preserve my eternal beauty, and save me from my predetermined demise. All for the sake of following a fool's fantasy, you've played well Syrus; oh you played well you poor mutt. But hearing that you're mentally impaired, I'll forgive you for what you've done. To save yours and Ryuubi's faces then, I'll accept your offer of saving my life."

"…" Syrus held a derp straight face, unable to find any words to say otherwise. The discussion went on long enough anyways and this is Enshou — could say it was almost expected from her that she'll interpret all that into something like that. He simply face-palm and sighed in disbelief.

"You sure you don't want to just kill her?" Chouryou whispered, nudged him with a gentle elbow jab as she asked.

"Forget it, let her be delusional." Syrus muttered, still in face-palm state.

Sousou sighed and stood up from her seat. "All right, since you suggested all this in the first place, guess I have no choice but to leave her in your care then." Sousou frowned.

"Uh… yeah…" Syrus mumbled.

"Good luck keeping her on a leash; you're going to need it." Sousou snorted in mockery. "Your idea, your responsibility I guess."

"I know, I know." Syrus nodded sadly. "I wouldn't want any of you girls taking of them anyways."

"Hey what's with the negative attitude over just on taking care of us?" Enshou yelled. "And why do we need to be taken care of by him of all people?"

Sousou's glared over to Enshou in irritation. "You have taken up enough of my time already." Sousou growled, much to Enshou's dismay. "Now you have a problem with the person I place in charge of watching you losers? Are you asking me to have someone else take care of you, Enshou?"

"Uh… well…" Enshou stuttered in fear. She knew what Sousou meant on the last part.

"Uh no, no, of course not, Sousou-dono — I mean Sousou-'sama'," Denhou shrieked in a panic. "We'll gladly be under his care, right everyone?"

"Yes, yes, yes, there's no problem." Bunshuu played along. "He saved our lives and all, and Sousou spared us so there's no problem, no problem at all."

"We will humbly accept and follow your orders." Ganryo joined in hastily. "Syrus-dono is chosen by Sousou-sama to look after us. So generous of you, very generous, do not worry for sure we will not cause you any more problems! We swear!"

Sousou continued to glare until Syrus finally gave his new followers orders after seeing her scary face.

"Uh, Denhou-chan," Syrus requested the strategist hastily. "Now that you all are under my command, why won't you, Enshou, and everyone else head over and join up with Ren and the others. They'll take you back to our camp for the time being. They should be waiting for you outside; I'll meet up with all of you later."

"Uh, yes, yes, right away." Denhou agreed. "Then excuse us, we'll be leaving now. See you all later."

With that, Denhou signaled Ganryo and Bunshuu to grab ahold of Enshou. The two quickly dragged their lady out of the tent and towards Syrus's group outside the camp, disappearing almost instantly from Sousou's sight.

Sousou sighed and crossed her arms. "Finally, that's dealt with." She finally turned her attention back on Syrus, glaring at him with a somewhat discontent face.

Syrus smiled weakly back at her, feeling a bit guilty for keeping Enshou alive. He shrugged his shoulders at her with the weak smile.

She didn't react or respond to his shrug, but her cold stare at him seem to have lessened.

"All of you leave," Sousou ordered. "Let's get ready to go home."

"Ooaah~~~," Sousou's subordinates chanted in delight.

Everyone began to head for the exit of the tent. Just as half of the officers leave, Syrus turned to head on out as well.

"Syrus," Sousou's voice suddenly stopped him, along with a few others such as Sousou's cousins and the strategists. "Stay, stay here with me."

Syrus turned back to her reluctantly. "Does it have to be now of all times? I have Enshou to deal with…"

"—she along with your units can wait," Sousou interrupted. "It's an urgent matter that I need to speak to you about… in private."

"An urgent matter," Jun'iku wondered. "Then Karin-sama, we can help as well…"

"—you all wouldn't understand." Sousou's harsh words shot Jun'iku curiosity down. She looked back at Syrus with an intense gaze. "It's about our conquest's future… our future."

Syrus gawked under his breath, not liking how Sousou worded on purpose to sound like a misunderstanding. Just as he thought, many who were left took the bait. The cousins excluding Soujin and Soujun, and the strategists excluding Tei'iku, all gasped in horror and shock with their mouths drop to the floor. Soukou and Jun'iku glared in rage at him after they fazed out of shock, while Kakoen, Kakoton, and Kakuka looked back and forth between him and Sousou in confusion. Soujun looked surprised… Soujin remained indifferent… and little Tei'iku simply smirked at Syrus and giggled to herself much to Syrus's embarrassment.

"Sousou-chan…" Syrus muttered weakly in slight irritation of her bad habit of teasing her subordinates.

"Huh, what was that?" Sousou corrected harshly. She crossed her arms and glared at him once more. "What's my name Syrus?"

"Sou…" Syrus repeated, but trailed off when he realized what she meant. He looked at the others for a bit, and looked back Sousou with a cautious look. He let out a small sigh and weakly smiled, praying that it's the right answer she was looking for. "I mean… Karin-chan…"

Her intensive glare suddenly turned to the usual bewitching gaze she always gives him as her frown turned to a proud and arrogant smirk. "That's a good boy," Karin sneered, much to everyone shock. She glanced back to everyone else and waved her hand. "Leave us," She repeated herself.

"Uh… yes…" Her subordinates stuttered and bowed their heads.

Everyone but Syrus and Karin of course made their way to the exit of the tent. Each of them passes by Syrus to give their opinion of what just happened.

"Good job getting Karin-sama's approval," Soujun whispered cheerfully. She skipped off and left.

"Nicely done, keep up the good work Syrus-dono." Soujin whispered, and bowed in respect — still with a deadpan gaze and monotonic tone. She waddled out.

Soukou grabbed him by the collar and yanked him down to her level. "Impressive work out there, I admit. But with this, I am going to advise you to stay out of my way." Soukou whispered. "I'm not going to let Karin-sama reward you any further than this so easily." She let out a cute 'Hmph' and arrogantly walked out.

A loud thump hit Syrus's shin which came from a furious and jealous Jun'iku. "Don't think I'm going to get friendly with you any time soon because of this." Jun'iku hissed. "You and I are sworn enemies now! I'll do whatever it takes to kill you!" She stormed out as soon as she finished letting off some steam.

Kakuka already fainted with a massive nosebleed. She's being helped out by Tei'iku on leaving. Tei'iku merely glanced up to Syrus with her usual look and gave him a beaming thumb up. "Ah, my name is Fuu," She reintroduced herself officially. "And this is Rin-chan. She wants you to call her by that from now but this happened…"

"Uh huh…" Syrus mumbled.

Rin staggered out with Fuu's assistance.

As Syrus watch the two leave, his head was suddenly gripped tightly by a pair of soft hands. His head cranked back forth with tremendous force to see Kakoton being the culprit behind the death grip.

She stared into his eyes with an awkward look. "Well… it-it's official now…" She stuttered in embarrassment. She was trying her best to keep eye to eye contact with him. She flushed bright red. "You can call—no, you must—no not that either. I mean… call me Shunran-chan from now on — I mean, Shunran! Yeah, Shunran is my true name! Remember that!"

She toss his head to ground causing him to comically fall to the side as left with stiff limbs, exiting quickly though with a red face.

Still on the ground, Syrus see the last person, Kakoen crouching down to him with bright smile. "Forgive Aneja's behavior; she can't express herself honestly most of the times." She apologized. "It seems she has taken a liking of you since she allowed you to call her by her true name."

"I can see that…" Syrus grumbled frankly. He slowly sat up to her.

"Likewise, you may call me by my true name officially now Syrus." Kakoen granted him permission. "Call me Shuuran for now on."

Shuuran slightly bowed in respect to Syrus and walked out of the tent normally.

Now it's just Syrus and Karin left within the tent. Syrus rose back up to his feet and turned to the blonde. From the heavy atmosphere, he could guess what Karin wanted to talk about that she deemed urgent. He rolled his lips against teeth before licking them as he proceeds to break the tension between them.

"So… I guess this is it now." Syrus started. "The ordeal has been done, our promise broken. All is left is…"

Karin rose up from her throne and walked up to him. "Penalty… I know." She muttered. "That's what I want to talk to you about."

Syrus shrugged his shoulders and smirked. "So you don't trust me on this?"

"It's not that," Karin denied. She crossed her arms and puffed out her small chest. "I'm just disappointed in you — disappointed that you did all this for her of all people."

"I explained my reasoning already didn't I?"

"Your reasoning and her ideals are all fools' talk; they're nothing than more delusions of hapless irresponsible commoners who believe that world can change through feelings." Karin denounced harshly. "A world of turmoil, yet she believes that she can solve everything by merely talking and making friends? That's not how the world works; she is denying what's in front of her and what needs to be done!"

"It's not a delusion, it's a dream."

"Dream, please, even you know that such a 'dream' is totally ridiculous! There are so many other warlords out there who would not hesitate to kill her and her people, yet she's willing to not fight back and let her people die for her! Where's the logic in that? The world cannot be save by soft words and friendship! It can only be saved by order and reinforcing that order upon others! Why can't you see that my way is the only way to bring forth a new world?"

Syrus shook his head. "No Karin-chan," He corrected. "I don't think you understand what I'm trying to get at here."

"What part am I not getting?" She demanded a proper and clear answer.

"Don't you see Karin-chan? There's always another way." Syrus chuckled as he tapped her by the nose. "I said it before, you see Ryuubi-sama's dream as nonsense. I see it… as an opportunity to try something new."

Syrus walked pass Karin and around her. "Imagine it, a world where no one dies in vain — world where everyone can work together to keep the peace, where everyone's goal and dreams are realized." Syrus illustrated. "Toutaku, Enjutsu, Sonsaku, and Enshou, in my history they died in vain, unable to change the world with their hands. They should have died in this history as well if that was only ending history have to offer. The fact that they're still alive because of our effort shows that history is still being written. There is another ending… and I'm trying to get us there in which Ryuubi-sama also envision."

Karin clinched her fists, irritated by hearing Touka's name. "Inconceivable, absolutely ridiculous and appalling," Sousou yelled. "You chose to follow a path that is impossible to create Syrus! People will die all the time, now and in the future! You can't save everyone even with your almighty powers! Stop being so arrogant thinking that you can do this and that without any consequences, you'll only end up reaching for something beyond that you can control and fall dead in your tracks!"

"True, you're absolutely right." Syrus nodded as he stood in front of Karin. "There's a high possibility that I can't save everyone now, and there will be consequences for changing history in which can affect the outcome of all this. I may end up in the wrong ending and end up dead because of it."

"Then why do you still pursue it you idiot!" Karin clenched Syrus by his shirt when she screamed at him. "You're going to kill yourself in the process of achieving such fantasy! With your talents, it's not worth your life to chase after a reality that does not exact!"

The two stopped the conversation as Karin huff and puff in anger. After a slight pause, she buried her face into his broad chest, crying as she wrapped her arms around him. "Silva-chan told me this." She confessed. "She said that you're trying not to change history but recreate it. By doing so, you yourself may end angering higher beings out there who will do whatever in their power to kill you. You're only close to immortal as you said, but that doesn't mean you can't die. In worst case scenario, you could disappear with no way to return."

Syrus was left speechless. He didn't expect little Silva to explain to Karin about the possible results and penalties of rewriting history which was known as Time Paradox. By rewriting history, he himself may get ejected from the world if he continues to tampering with it. There's also the concept that has always linger in the back of mind when he decided to set out to change history: the Butterfly Effect.

This concept in this situation he's in would allow him to do what he wants with world, but the side-effects will be drastic and catastrophic. The things he plan and intend to do, may as well lead him down the worst case scenario. A perfect example was the recent Sonsaku rescue from assassination; while it's true that he saved her, but there's a chance that by saving her now in the future it may lead to a premature fall for the whole faction in the worse way possible.

The horrors and nightmares he has when thinking about these two concepts. He wants to help; he wants to save everyone from utter destruction in the future that he knows. Though this is indeed a massive risk as he may be able to set out to do what he wanted to do or end up destroying this world just as history ejects him; it's either soar sky high or crash or burn to the ground.

"I don't want you to die…" Karin cried, embracing him tightly. "Just… stop, stop this absurd scheme of yours… forget the delusion of Ryuubi and stay by me."

Syrus silently embraced her back gently and let out a small sigh. "…" He leaned his head down close to Karin's ear and whispered. "I'm sorry… I can't…"

Karin's whimpering halted. Tears were still running down, but her eyes widened in shock of what she was hearing.

Syrus shook her head. "I already done so much already, I can't stop now." Syrus replied softly. "I'm not doing this just for Ryuubi-sama, Karin. You're one of my reasons I'm willing to push on with this dream. If there's a chance that that dream could become a reality, it's a dream worth pursuing. There will be a lot of pain and suffering I will go through, but I won't stop… because I can take it."

He reached for Karin's small shoulders and gently lifts her off his chest. Her teary eyes slowly made contact with his eyes. It was a touchy moment between the two since it's actually very rare to see Karin cry for his sake in which he didn't piss her off to the point she cries. He smiled and wiped her eyes with one of his hand.

"I'm going to do this Karin-chan." He repeated. "Even with this ordeal that we need to settle soon, I'll keep going with Ryuubi-sama on this dream so that I can save you and everyone else."

Her sad look suddenly turned to quick anger and frustration again; Karin pushed Syrus away and wiped her own tears in embarrassment and irritation. She snuffed away her last tear and tried to return to her cold posture to bottle her emotion again.

"Is that it, you simply don't care about yourself?" Karin snapped at him again. "You definitely are going to follow that foolish girl's delusion no matter what happens?"

Syrus took a deep breath and nodded. "I swore to her that the dream of saving the world by saving everyone will become a reality. Her age of benevolent rule where everyone will live happily in harmony will come; Karin-chan too will be part of that dream."

"That future will never come!" In anger, she drew her new sword that Soujin presented her before the Battle of Kanto, the Seven Star Conqueror's Sword. "Don't assume that I'll join her cause in attempt to create such apparition of hypocrisy and madness, it will never happen!"

Syrus sighed and shook his head. "I'm not forcing you, but this is the reason why our paths are not going the same way Karin-chan. You have your path, and I have mine. You're right, I shouldn't assume such thing to happen… at the very least, not right now." Syrus removed his shirt as his dorsal spikes grew from his back. "When the time comes, I'll personally come and talk to you about it."

"…" Karin grit her teeth as her eyes trailed to Syrus's back.

Syrus looked at her sword and nodded amazement. "The famous Seven Star Sword, known to be Sousou's prized weapons and treasure in history. Known for how sharp the blade is, it's able to cut other things for instance metal like butter. Surely it's powerful enough, since it seems to be embedded with some sort of magic." He knelt down on his knees and turned his back to her. "We have an agreement to carry out,"

"The Tenkara Kanraku Agreement," Karin mumbled as she gazes upon Syrus's dorsal fins. "Our agreement to make sure you will not betray me, to keep you on a leash."

"If the agreement between us is broken, then I would present you an opportunity to cripple me to the point that I can no longer be a threat to you or anyone else out there — a chance for you and everyone else to make your own history."

Karin approached Syrus's dorsal fins as he knelt there, still gazing upon the magnificent sight. With her empty hand, she slowly reached out and strokes the spiked spine. The spikes pulsed and flash lightly as she stroked it, sending a slight tingle through Syrus's body.

"Beautiful," She uttered. "So by merely gripping these spikes will cause pain to you?" She gently gripped on the spikes, but released immediately once she realized it actually hurts him.

"It's a birth defect," Syrus gawked weakly from the slight stress of his spine. "My parents have them, but apparently I'm the only one with such a weakness."

"And this is where your monstrous powers come from…" Karin confirmed as she continue to stroke the dorsal spikes gently.

"So as penalty for breaking our agreement," Syrus continued the re-explanation again. "You will cut these spikes down to cripple my powers, that's the penalty shot." Syrus took a deep breath once more and explained the last part. "The last part is delivering me another strike to my broad back…"

"As a way to resign your position," Karin frowned sadly. "Meaning you would no longer have any reason to stay."

"Yeah…" Syrus nodded quietly. "Once this is over, I will have no rights to stay within your territory. Which means this is our good byes."

Karin clinched his sword tightly as she brought the blade up to eye levels. She stared into the blade to see her reflection, seeing what kind of face she was making. It was the usual cold yet concerned look much to her chagrin. She stared back down to Syrus's dorsal fins, and grits her teeth.

"I know this hard on you Karin-chan," Syrus tried to comfort her, much to her dismay. "But you have to do this if you have any chance of making the future you desire. It's really not like you to hesitate for someone like me."

"Shut up, I know that," Karin snapped back. She raised her sword high above her head with two hands. She took a long deep breath, exhaling slowly as she looked down at his spines. "So… once I cut these… you'll lose your powers…"

"At the very least, I'll start losing my powers." Syrus replied. "I will have to use my powers carefully, but by the time you see me again I should be half empty or so… I think."

Karin maintained her striking stance, returning her focus on Syrus's exposed weakness. "Then the second cut…" She mumbled quietly. "The second cut would mean…"

"The ties between us by contract will end officially." Syrus answered. "From there, I'll leave immediately to rejoin Ryuubi-sama and General Kan'u."

The blonde conqueror bit her lip in dismay after Syrus's last answer. Her arms began to shake, again hesitating on her decision.

If I cut him down now, he'll be crippled and justice to us will served. Karin thought deeply. She closed her eyes and pondered. But then he'll leave immediately afterwards to rejoin them. If I don't cut him down, he'll be force to stay, but then he'll have no obligation to follow my orders. I can't risk him sabotaging everything I need to do, the last thing I need is him being an insider for my future enemies. In addition, everyone else would want justice done upon him for the stunts he pulled off in this battle.

Her hand began to shake even more, realizing this she tried to snap out of her concerns and refocus. Her heart began to race, she started to sweat and breathe harder now.

I don't want to do this… but it's going to happen anyways when we get back. She dreaded the future. She knew that when they return and file the report to the Imperial Court, a lot of the ministers would push her to execute Syrus instead. Of course she could always remove them using her position, but then that would ensues more chaos within her faction — something she can't risk. This is not the time to turn the whole empire against her like what has happen with Toutaku case. Now was the time for her to suck up her emotion and do what needs to be done.

Her heart was racing wildly now. She could feel the blood in her body boiled intensely as if her body was on fire. Her face was drenched in sweat now and her sword in her hands began to shake violently. Her grip on the handle slightly loosens, but somehow remained in her hands. Her eyes widened viciously as if they were dying to pop out, water began to form and cloud her vision.

Just before the breaking point, in that small brief moment of time… both Syrus and Karin's mind thought alike…

In that moment, their thoughts synced as the single thought appeared:

… I'm sorry…

"Aaaaaaah~~~~~" A shrill scream exploded from Karin's throat. She summoned all the strength she had to fix her grip on the sword's handle, and gather every little ounce of concentration she had to swing the sword with all her might. With a powerful overhead swing…

PIKA (Thunder sfx in Japanese) ~~~

The sky crackled above the camp. A brief moment after the flash of lightning and sound of thunder, droplets slowly fell to dirt ground. Soon the speed of the droplets from above picked up as it began to pour over the camp and the battlefield.

Chunks of an unknown hard material clumped to the ground in the tent, rolling to the side of the two. A chunk rolled up to Karin's boots, we see that the unknown chunk looked like a spiked violet crystal but in reality it's actually bone. The chunks were glowing bright red briefly, but after a few blinks they faded and never shined again.

Karin began to pant heavily in horror and her body locked up after she dropped her sword. She dropped to her knees and stared bitterly at what she has done.

All of them, every single fin on his back, were cleanly sliced off cleanly. It wasn't a perfect cut that removed all the violet fins, but it was enough to see that the famous dorsal fins of a descendant of the Kaiju King were destroyed in one clean cut.

The sight horrified Karin, sending cold shivers down her body, actually bringing her body temperature down from the shock. She looked at her hands once more, seeing them shake violently in dismay of what they have done. She knew that she has done something terribly wrong…

She clinched her shivering hands tightly and closed her eyes tightly. She drew her hands up to her chest and tilted her head down to hide her face. She slowly leaned in and rested gently on Syrus's broken back. She buried her face behind his right shoulder to hide it in case he was going to look back her.

"Was this right…?" Karin whispered weakly. "Was this what you wanted?"

There was a pause for moment before Syrus smiled without looking back at the troubled Karin. "It's all right…" He mumbled. "You did great…"

Karin shook her head. "Please…" Karin begged him. "I can't do this anymore… I don't have any strength left to let you go…"

"…" Syrus sighed and nodded. "I know…"

Karin's clinched fists loosened as they slowly and weakly slid their way up Syrus's back up to his shoulders. Her hands were cold and clammy as they slightly grip the broad shoulders.

"Stay… stay with me," Karin requested softly. "Three days, just give me three days; I want you to stay by me even though you want to leave. In those three days… I will do everything in my power, everything necessary, to convince to abandon her and live for me. By the third day if I can't do it, then we'll continue this… but as of right now, I don't have the strength…"

Syrus could feel Karin's shivering behind him, understanding that she indeed lost the will currently to continue. The action just now was truly painful to her since she was conflicted on whether to strike him down or not. He didn't realize up until now how Karin felt for him — a sharp spike pain stabbed his heart upon realization.

With another smile he nodded quietly. "All right… all right…" He agreed, but then warned. "By the end of the third day then… I hope you're ready to hear the same thing again."

Karin snorted and let out small smile of relief. "Then I'll just cut you down once more when that time comes." She whispered into his ear.

After a minute of calming down, Karin rose up to her feet and exited the tent and into the rain. Of course as The Conqueror, she returned to her usual self as if nothing happened, though many would notice that the looks in her eyes as she left seems more cold and filled with despair. She staggered her way slowly to rejoin her subordinates who were getting ready to return to the capital.

Syrus on the other hand was left behind in the tent, still remaining in the same position of kneeling with his back turned to exit. About 10 minutes past since Karin left, and he didn't move one bit.

He wanted to make sure that no one around to witness what was going to happen next. His optimistic smile he held up until now suddenly died down to a small concerned frown.

His body was drenched in sweat now and the warmth of his body left him. His body began to twitch and his muscle pulsed. He tilted his head upward to sky and took one deep breath before whispering:

"…Ryuubi-sama…

…

General Kan'u…

…

… I'm sorry…"

Blood splattered out from his mouth violently like an explosion after holding it back for so long. With no energy left, Syrus Gojimura, the son of Kaiju King, Godzilla, fell forward and collapsed.

His vision fell to a blurry sight of his left hand which had the prized Digi-Watch equipped. Though a blur, he could see that the tubes were filled with red, a red liquid spewed from the hand creating a puddle around his bloody hand.

He heard a muffled noise from somewhere but it died out to nothingness as his vision faded into darkness…

TO BE CONTINUED…

Spoiler for next chapter: Probably going to be a long one.

Another remainder: Kan'u Character Sprite Design Video has been uploaded on my channel recently! Go check it out: OrangePhenomenon!