I took a break from writing because of writer's block but now I'm back. PM me if there are any plot holes, I will try to fix them.
I hope you guys like it.
It was the moment that Amaterasu had feared the most. She was on the balcony of her castle, gritting her teeth as she watched the burning creature tear throught the Ama-no-Ukihashi. The bridge that comnected Takamagahara and the human world was extremely fortified. The most powerful magic casters of the Shinto mythology and even Amaterasu herself combined their godlike powers to create a defensive barrier on the bridge but even after all their effort, the only thing it ever accomplished was to delay the creature's inevitable advance.
With another deafening roar, the creature gave another push which finally shattered the barrier completely. Without deplay an unending legionaries in cohort formations began pouring within Takamagahara. Infantries, feral beasts and cavalry were in the ground while swarms wyverns were in the sky. The giant creature that destroyed the barrier was on the front of them all, leading the e tire army forward.
And standing on top of that creature were eight individuals, surrounding a single person like a protected shield. With a hand-sized doll in the palm of his hand, the ruler of the army stepped forward, his eyes locked onto Amaterasu from afar.
"I made one of your brothers a servant and tore the other one into bloody shreds... I wonder what your fate is in store for you... Amaterasu..."
A few days ago
It was chaos on the streets. Riots and looting could be seen on each corner of the town. The news have spread throughout the nation at what seemed to be armies from ancient times were fighting an army consisting of samurai warriors. Most, if not all, found the news outrageous and downright ridiculous but after seeing the carnage of the war, a complete destruction of the town and the monstrous creatures that were on a rampage sparked fear and panic on the masses.
Many intended to flee the c, knowing their location was close to where these fantasy armies were sighted.
When the JSDF finally arrived at their town, the people were relieved to know the army's presence. However, their intentions were far from what they thought when they saw that the soldiers were accompanied by an army of samurai.
"No! Please don't!"
"You bastard!"
"Please, just take the children! Just the children!"
The entire place was in chaos as thousands of JSDF and the samurai warriors basically looted the city. Soldiers violently raided house after house, forcibly taking anything valuable from silver and gold to jewelry to simple raw cash.
The soldiers horded these valuables into the back of their military trucks to be taken out of the town in a series of convoys. The many of the civilians begged the military to spare their belongings but were completely ignored. Others resorted violence, fiercly defending their possessions, but as mere civilians, they were no match from the trained soldiers and many have lost their lives after being gunned down by them.
"Take everything!"
Susanoo, the God of the Storm and Seas hovered over the town, commanding the joint force of samurai and human soldiers under his command. He was tasked to gather resources to fund the Shinto forces for the war by Amaterasu herself. As a result, he led his forces to plunder the human settlements throughout the region. City after city, town after town and village after village, Susanoo emptied everything with its valuables and sent it all back to Tokyo.
"Why are you doing this!?" The man shouted angrily at a JSDF soldier. "You should be helping us damn it!"
"These are all ours!" Another cried out. "You can't just take it from us you thieves!"
"Get back! Get fucking back!" The soldier shouted, pointing his rifle at the citizens, causing them to retreat back,
Despite their outcries, the soldiers continued to ignore them.
"Do not resist the inevitable mortal humans!" Susanoo's voice echoed throughout the entire town. "The enemy is upon is soon. Offer your riches to the Goddess Amaterasu and by her hand you will rise from the ashes of this war!"
"Warhead 273 has been successfully detonated, Lady Amaterasu"
"Warhead 129 and 211 have both made impact"
Amaterasu sat on her throne in Takamagahara, staring at multiple projection screens in front of her which she used to communicate with the human high command which was stationed back in Tokyo. Bandages were wrapped around her body beneath her robe to cover the burnt marks from her previous battle. She had ordered her best mages to heal her wounds with the help of her own godly powers but even that combination failed to completely erase the wounds, only managing to turn it from a mortal wound to a minor one.
"Lady Amaterasu, four missiles are currently ready to launch"
Amaterasu looked at the map which showcased the country of Japan. On that country, a large chunk of land which where Tokyo was the center of, was covered in the color blue while a larger chunk which surrounded the city of Gifu was covered in red. The last chunk was in yellow which surrounded the city of Kyoto.
The blue portion showcasing the territory Shinto, the yellow being the youkais and the red for all the captured territories by enemies, the Azrallian Empire. Throughout the captured territories within the red zone, several spots on which cities, villages and towns were located, were marked with red dots each..
These were the zones on which the Goddess have destroyed by nuclear warheads.
"Launch those four missiles immediately" Amaterasu reached out and pressed four spots on the map. "One warhead for one area"
"Yes, Lady Amaterasu"
Ever since Amaterasu have heard the news that the Azrallian Empire have captured the city of Gifu. She had ordered the human government of Japan, which was under her authority, to make use of the nuclear arsenal that she had stockpiled throughout the years, bombarding each settlement on which Azrallian forces were possibly hiding.
Beforehand, she had ordered over a hundred missiles to launch directly at the city of Gifu on where the Blood Lord was supposedly at. However, not a single warhead successfuly hit the city. Instead, they all exploded before they could even come close to it.
Whether it was the generals, the Praetorian Guards or even the Blood Lord himself was responsible did not matter to her. The city was well protected and no missile could ever destroy it.
"Even the most powerful weapon created by humanity could not bypass their defences" Amaterasu gritted her teeth. "What does it take to kill these monsters!?"
So instead of directly destroying Gifu, Amaterasu bombarded the regions surrounding city, creating a radioactive buffer zone between the forces of the Azrallian Empire and the Shinto. This is to try and weaken the Red Legions or at least slow their advances.
She knew that they were coming after she had angered the Blood Lord so she did not hesitate to use every available asset she had in order to defeat them, whatever means necessary.
Inside a bar within the city of Gifu, a certain blonde young man sat on one of the many chairs by the counter with an entire bottle of alcohol in hand. Saji Genshirou scowled before chugging down another load down his throat. He was not much of a drinker but after the things that he experienced recently, he was more than willing to drown himself drunk at least once.
The bar was completely empty with the exception of him and the bartender, whom he forced to pour him a drink. The owner had closed the bar due to the lack of customers until the blonde arrived. He was upstairs in his apartment when he heard the locked door downstairs was violently opened. He quickly rushed downstairs and found the blonde already sitting by the bar with the front door almost torn off, barely hanging on from a single hinge.
Saji's eyes darted upwards as he heard the TV news talking about the city they were currently in.
"A-As of now... what appears to be an army from... medieval times... is marching out of the Gifu City with strange, otherworldly creatures mixed amongst the humanoid soldiers" The reporter told to the camera while they broadcast a live feed within a flying helicopter above. Judging from her voice alone, she was completely nervous and downright afraid but still managed to continue her story. "Other reports claim that there are at least three to four thousand inhabitants within the city which are likely hostages taken by these strange people"
Saji raised an eyebrow at what the reporter said. She claimed that the humans still within the city were trapped hostages. For all he knew, these humans were not trapped and they were certainly not hostages. There were less than the estimated numbers that the reporter claimed since his friend, Issei Hyoudou, allowed the humans to leave whenever they liked without precaution. The ones that did remain were the injured casualties during the battle, the ones that still continue to recover from their wounds and were unable to leave.
"As far as we know, the prime minister had been forced to resort to nuclear weapons, which someone have been illegally under the possession of the government in secret. These warheads have been used throughout the city where these medieval armies have been sighted but we have also recieved reports that even the cities that reported to be free of these supernatural individuals have also been destroyed by warheads"
Saji narrowed his eyes in anger. He had already heard from the Azrallians about Amaterasu using numerous nuclear warheads throughout the entire nation. Practically half of Japan was already under fire because of her bombardment and was showing no sign of stopping. The only places that were not effected with the bombs was Tokyo, Kyoto and the surrounding regions around it, obviously because it was where their forces were. Gifu also remained untouched by the bombs since it was heavily protected by the Azrallians. The nearby cities, villages and towns surrounding that city however, were unfortunately all reduced to radioactive wastelands.
Countless lives have been lost, whether they were part of the supernatural world or mere human civilians.
"Old man" Saji called out to the bartender, who reacted faster than he should and turned his head to th blonde boy. "Shouldn't you try going out of your bar? You know that you're allowed to stroll the streets right?"
"What makes you so certain of that?" The bartender asked. "Didn't you see what's out there?"
"Of course" Saji responded without hesitation. "I was just outside before I got here"
"I don't want to go outside, not with those soldiers all over the place" The bartender said. "Unless I run out of food and water, I'm staying indoors"
"There are food, water and shelter within the evacuation zone, old man" Saji pointed out. "You won't get enough money by opening this bar with no customers"
"Are you crazy? I'm not going there!" The bartender exclaimed. "They said that in the evacuation zone, the people are being treated generously but I don't buy that! Not after what they did to the city!"
"There's no need to be afraid" Saji assured him.
"Even so, I don't want to go out there!" The bartender said firmly. "All the good rumors about that place might even be some kind of trick to get the rest of us. And even if they provide food and water, how are you certain that they didn't put anything in there!? For all I know the food that people eat might turn them into... mindless slaves to be recruited within their army after they lost soldiers against those samurai!"
Saji could clearly see that the bartender was panicking, to the point that his fear was driving his imagination wild. That certain state of mind could spark fearful rumors which could spread like wildfire amongst the people.
"I'm sure you're worrying about nothing, old man" Saji assured him again. "If you just behave and not get in the way of those soldiers, you're as safe as you can be"
"I apologize if I don't believe that"
"I don't need you to believe, I just need you to understand. One day, you will see that the person who you claimed to be a conqueror turned out to be your liberator"
The bartender just stared at the young blonde silently. He didn't understand what he meant by his words. It might be from all the alcohol that he consumed but there was no way that the person responsible for all the mess to be a liberator.
Saji finished his bottle and placed a bunch of money on the counter, way too much for just a few bottles of alcohol.
"You can fix the door with this and still have a lot to spare" Saji said before getting up and heading to the exit. "You probably need it more than I do"
"W-Wait! Are you going outside!?" The bartender asked. "I thought you know what's out there!"
"I told you before..." Saji stopped by the door and turned his head back to face the bartender. "You're worrying about nothing"
Those were his words before he stepped out of the building, leaving the bartender inside.
Once outside, Saji spread out his devil wings and flew away. Once in the air, the blonde could clearly see the wyverns flying overhead, just one of the many groups that patrol the skies of the city. He could also see a few small cohorts of infantry, marching in perfect formation and patrolling the grounds. It was safe to say the only the Azrallians could be seen outside the streets since not a single human had dared to step out of their homes or out of the evacuation center.
But what caught his attention the most was the huge parade of Azrallian forces nearby. A long line of legionaries in cohort formations marching through the streets of the city of Gifu, advancing towards the outskirts of the city. The soldiers moved as one with machine-like discipline. Their feet hit the ground at the same time that it slightly shook the ground beneath them. Cavalry and feral beasts aligned both flanks of the infantry line, pushing aside obstacles in their way such as concrete debtis and abandoned vehicle. Wyverns flew in the skies in symmentric V-formations, blanketing the streets with a multitude of shadows from above.
In charge of these march were the Azrallian generals, which were scattered throughout the formations.
On one of the top floors of the highest building of Gifu, Issei Hyoudou, the Blood Lord and the absolute ruler of the Azrallian Empire, watched through the floor-to-ceiling glass wall as his army paraded on the streets below. He was dressed not in his armor but in casual clothes, consisting of a plain white shirt and black pants, hardly the suitable outfit for their creator according to many of his subjects.
Issei's face was stoic as he shifted his gaze at a certain area on another part of the city. A large crater remained where the plaza previously was. After the nuclear bomb was detonated, nothing remained of what was previously the plaza. All of the humans and samurai were all annihilated, including thousands of legionaries. The Praetorian Guards reacted quickly and created a barrier to contain the explosion and saved the city but the damage had already been done with and the lives were already lost.
Issei then looked down at the doll in his hand. It was a half-burnt knitting doll that was small enough to fit perfectly on the palm of his hand. He picked it up after the aftermath of the explosion. He didn't know who the owner was but it was clear that it was a small girl, probably not even in her teens yet. There were no little girls on the Azrallian and Shinto sides so she must have been a human.
Which meant that she was also one of the humans that had been caught within the blast.
"There is no need to be so tense all the time, my beloved"
Issei's train of thoughts were cut short when he heard his name being called. He turned around and saw the most beautiful woman he knew, sitting on the black lounge chair. She was dressed in her usual black tight-tiffed dress made by high-end flexible fabric of the best kind perfectly captured her magnificent body structure which completely oozed with bewitching beauty and allure. With a wineglass in hand and legs crossed, she relaxed on the lounge chair without a care in the worked.
"Have a seat a enjoy some wine with me darling"
With a flick of her fingers, one of the group of maids that stood in a line on the side. She took a bottle of wine, fresh out of a bucket of ice and poured the glass that was on top of the wine table right beside an empty black lounge chair that was meant for him.
"You're awefully relaxed, despite the situation we're currently in" Issei said.
"Patience is needed to become a great leader, my beloved" Veronica said before quickly taking a sip of her wine. "Our forces might be strong but with no strategies and poor leadership, our enemies will inevitably take out one legion at a time. Cool your mind first then we'll discuss our plans"
Issei had no choice but to admit that Veronica was right. He would love nothing more than to unleash all the legions at the Shinto and youkai and destroy them as much as possible but rushing those kinds of things will only end up in disaster. A slow and certain victory was obviously a much more preferred method than a quick and reckless one.
Deciding to accept her invitation, Issei walked to the lounge and sat on the very comfortable chair. He took the glass of wine and drank it, feeling the sweet taste in his mouth as the liquid poured down his throat.
"The Sapphire Rose Wine, produced by the best winery of the Azrallian Empire" Veronica said with her usual permanent smile. "This is one of the countless bottles that have been preserved for over a century now. The owner of the winery was also nice enough to name it after me and Vladima since it is in fact our favourite of all wines, so what do you think?"
"It's good" Issei simply said, he doesn't drink any alcohol, especially wine, but he had to admit that it tasted amazing, to the point where he actually preferred to continue drinking, instead of setting it aside.
"We have recieved reports that the realm of Hades had been retaken by the greeks" Issei said. "How are our forces there?"
"Unfortunately, all six Red Legions died and the generals were injured" Veronica said. "Primus had managed to order their retreat at the last second, preventing them from sacrificing their lives to maintain our hold in the realm at the very end"
"Where are they now?" Issei asked.
"They are recovering back in the empire" Veronica responded. "Their wounds are severe but they will be able to recover soon, shall we assemble an attack force to retake the realm?"
"No, that won't be necessary anymore" Issei said. "The only reason we took it in the first place was to revive Aiko, but now that she's back with us we don't need it anymore. If only we pulled our forces back after that, they wouldn't have died like that"
"Now that you are able to use your resurrection ability, loosing legions will not be a problem anymore" Veronica said. "You should not concern yourself over the deaths of your subortinates for it is only temporary"
Even after Veronica had said that, Issei still couldn't shake off the negative feeling of the fact that tens of thousands of his own soldiers giving up their lives for him. Even when the soldiers had failed to defend the realm of the dead he was still considering rewarding them for their valiant sacrifice. In fact, he was planning to reward every soldier that die for the empire, including the ones that had died in the war against the Shinto and youkai factions. The upkeep for providing rewards to each and every soldier that died in battle would be incredibly high but since the Azrallian Empire practically has almost unlimited supply of wealth, it should not be a problem.
He was planning to discuss the issue to Veronica and Primus after the war.
"Are there news from the front?" Issei asked.
"Our forces have encountered some resistance on the field" Veronica said. "However, these were merely small pocket groups rather than a full army. The cities and towns they tried to defend are now under our control"
"It doesn't matter how many cities we occupy" Issei said. "We won't be able to defeat our enemies unless we take their capitals"
Tokyo and Kyoto, the capital cities of the Shinto and youkai territories of Japan.
Kyoto is governed by the youkai faction, administrated by the Nine-Tailed-Fox Yasaka herself. Humans make up the majority of the population but far from contact with humanity, a city filled with youkai is can be found in Kyoto. A youkai city where every monsters, spirits and otherworldly monsters reside.
On the other hand, Tokyo is governed by Amaterasu of the Shinto faction. Unlike Yasaka and the youkai, Amaterasu rules with more control over the city. The entire human parlament, including all the ministries and even the prime minister himself, were all very loyal to the goddess, who granted them such important positions in the government in exchange for their servitude. The bridge of Takamagahara, Ama-no-Ukihashi, was located within the heart of Tokyo, making the city serve as a buffer zone between the human world and Takamagahara.
"However, we cannot afford to gather our forces in one place so easily" Veronica said. "The deranged goddess have been bombarding our legions nonestop. The generals might be strong enough to fend off a few missiles but they are still unable to fight off the sea of radiation that the explosions leave behind. I estimate that almost half of the island of Honshu has been reduced into radioactive wastlands, the place is practically inhabitable. It would be difficult for our legions to march through these areas"
"Difficult, but not impossible, I assume" Issei pointed out, causing Veronica to curve up a smile.
"Yes, it is certainly not impossible" Veronica said before taking another sip of her wine.
"I've also heard about the strange light to the east" Issei said. "Do you inow anything about that?"
"Amaterasu is using her powers to surround Tokyo within a 100 kilometer radius of solar energy" Veronica pointed out. "Vladima ordered a few battalions of our forces to march inside this aura and ended up burning to a crisp within seconds upon entering. Not only that but Susanoo is raising an army of samurai, kami and even humans to defend the city which are not showing any signs of burning even within the solar energy"
"It seems this field is only hostile to us and not to the Shinto" Issei pointed out. "We would need to get rid of the solar field first before we could deploy our legions to Tokyo"
"The generals would be able to penetrate through the light using their own power" Veronica said with confidence. "However, I suggest that we must occupy Kyoto first. Not only is Kyoto closer to Gifu than Tokyo but it is less defended too, we need to take out the youkais out first before we focus our attention on the Shinto"
"The Shinto will not sit idly by when we attack their allies" Issei said. "There's a huge possibility that they might provide reinforcements to them"
"Good" Veronica responded. "Let the Shinto come and aid their allies, let them step out of their goddess' light and right into the spears of our legionaries"
Issei couldn't help but notice how Veronica's change of behavior. Before, she was too focused in preserving their forces as much as possible. But now that he had obtained his ability to resurrect his creations, she was no longer concerned on how much of their forced are lost.
"Our scouts have reported that Yasaka had begun a mass evacuation in Kyoto" Veronica said, changing the subject. "Both youkai and human civilians are being transported to the farthest reaches of the south, away from the battlefield"
"If Yasaka went out of her way to evacuate her people then she must clearly care for them" Issei pointed out.
"If you allow it, we could send our forces to where she's evacuating them" Veronica said. "One legion should be enough, I suppose"
Issei turned to look at Veronica.
"You're suggesting that we kill these people?" Issei asked.
"Yes" Veronica nodded. "Slaughtering Yasaka's people will be a good way of avenging the ones that died in Kuoh, is it not?"
"These people are humans, normal humans, they have nothing to do with our war in the supernatural" Issei said. "I won't allow it, leave them be"
"If that is your command then so be it" Veronica shrugged. "However, these are technically Yasaka's people. She and Amaterasu butchered the inhabitants of your hometown like animals so you have all the right to do the same thing to her people"
"I will say it again, I refuse to kill without any purpose, Veronica. If I am forced to shed blood I will do it but if I can avoid it then I will undoubtedly avoid it. If I kill these people, who have nothing to do with us, I won't be any diffirent than Amaterasu" Issei said before getting up from his chair and standing up right. "I am not like my former self Veronica, I am not Vladimir of the old Azrallian Empire. I am Issei Hyoudou, the new Blood Lord, I will do things my way and if I say there will be no mass slaughters then you will obey me, is that clear?"
Veronica was slightly taken aback from her beloved's sudden show of dominance. It was a feeling that no one could give her other than the person she loved the most. The rush of adrenaline she recieved from that display was so overwhelming that her entire body began to shake uncontrollably. Without thinking anything else, she dropped her half-empty wineglass to the floor without hesitstion, where it shattered into pieces, and quickly got down on one knee while lowering her head in front of Issei and placing her right hand on her chest.
"I obey as you command, my beloved!" Veronica shouted, her tone was absolutely filled with joy and excitement, her eyes glowing bright purple as her dark energy radiated throught her body.
"Once we have control over Kyoto, we will begin the march to Tokyo" Issei said before his eyes darted towards the small doll in his hand.
"And when we have our grip around both cities, Takamagahara will be the only place left for our enemies to seek shelter" He continued, his voice was calm yet burning with rage. "And the second our forces enter Takamagahara... we will ensure that everything that they have done is repaid in blood"
Inside the top floors of the largest shrine within Inner Kyoto, the leader of the youkai faction, Yasaka, hugged her one and only daughter, Kunou, as gentle as she could possibly do. Her daughter embraced her in retur as tears poured uncontrollably down her cheeks and onto the shrine-maiden robe that her mother had donned.
"D-Don't leave me, mother!" Kunou cried out, gribbing her mother's robe in desperation.
"You must go Kunou" Yasaka said in a soft voice. "This place is not safe anymore"
"Then come with me!" Kunou begged. "Come with us mother!"
"I can't, my dear" Yasaka bit off her lips to try and hold back her tears, she needed to be strong not only for the youkais that serve her but for every inhabitants of Kyoto, including the humans themselves. "I need to be here, the people need me more than ever"
"B-But mother... if you stay here... you... y-you will..."
Yasaka pulled Kunou closer to her, her hands that wrapped around her daughter were visibly shaking from the intense emotions that overwhelmped her heart. Despite desperately maintain a steong demeanor, teara started to appear from the sides of her eyes.
As the mother and daughter embraced each other, a crow-like youkai that was known as a tengu, approached the two and said "Lady Kunou, it is time" He reached out to gently pull the daughter but she desperately clung onto her mother for dear life.
"No! I don't want to!" Kunou cried out.
"You must go now, Kunou" Yasaka said as she tries to push her daughter off of her but she stubbornly refused.
"No! I don't want to!"
With the assistance of the crow youkai, Yasaka eventually shrugged Kunou off of her. She cried while reaching out for her mother but the tengu pulled her away.
"Keep her safe... please!" Yasaka told the tengu, her tone practically begging him rather than ordering him as a subordinate.
"With my own life, Lady Yasaka" The tengu said firmly.
Yasaka stood up and turned around, ignoring the cries of her daughter as she and the tengu entered a glowing magic circle.
"Mother!" Kunou cried out one last time before the magic circle finally transported them away.
With her daughter gone, silence enveloped the room. Yasaka stood there alone for a few seconds, refusing to move as the doors nearby opened.
"Lady Yasaka" The first generation Sun Wukong entered the room. "We have recieved reports that our last line of defence is under siege by the Azrallians"
"Send reinforcements immediately" Yasaka quickly said.
"Pardon milady, but shouldn't we just pull back our forces from the front to regroup with the rest of the army here in the city?" Sun Wukong asked. "We should barricade Kyoto as much as we can before the Azrallians arrive"
There was a brief moment of silence for the nine-tailed fox to think before speaking again.
"How is the evacuation?" Yasaka asked.
"We have evacuate a large number of people away from the city, both humans and youkai alike" Sun Wukong said. "But there are still many more that remain"
"Then we cannot allow a battle to take place here" Yasaka said. "We must buy as much time as we can so that we can evacuate every citizen"
"I am afraid we are unable to do that Lady Yasaka, there are far too many inhabitants to evacuate within this short period of time" Sun Wukong said. "We must arm every able-fighting man and woman that are still within the city and prepare for the onslaught"
"I refuse to send ordinary individuals to battlefield" Yasaka said. "These people have no combat experience whatsoever and will only die in battle"
Unlike the Shinto faction, the youkai faction did not focus improving their military prowess after the war. So compared to the Shinto faction, the number of forces under Yasaka's command was lacking. She did not set up any mandatory conscriptions or use humans to bolster her forces like what Amaterasu has done. Most of the inhabitants of Kyoto, both humans and youkais, were all civilians and would only serve nothing but meat shields to be thrown into a grinder if she were to send them to battle.
"Have we recieved any word from the Shinto?" Sun Wukong asked.
"None, Amaterasu has been quiet after our plan to take out the Blood Lord failed" Yasaka said. "She continues to bombard the areas where there are strong Azrallians sightings. I doubt she will lend us their aid"
"So we are on our own..." Sun Wukong trailed off.
A heavy atmosphere enveloped the room as silence took over.
That only lasted a few seconds until a fox youkai, one that was similar to Yasaka's own species, appeared out of a haze of blue flames before kneeling before his leader.
"Lady Yasaka, Lord Sun Wukong... our defence line has been breached..."
"Already?" Sun Wukong exclaimed in shock.
He had only recieved word that the line of defence was under siege just a while ago. While he knew that it would not halt the Azrallian advance, it would at least hold them off for a few hours at least but they managed to got through sooner than expected.
"The Praetorian Guards were too powerful milord, we were unable to fend them off" The fox youkai said. "Our scouts have also sighted that the Blood Lord himself was also present at the scene"
"So the Blood Lord himself is heading this way..." Sun Wukong turned to the nine tailed fox nd asked. "What are you planning to do now, Lady Yasaka?"
Yasaka closed her eyes for a moment. It was possible that she could just abandon the city but evacuating by herself and leaving her people to die was something she absolutely refused to do. Defending the city was also not an option as the enemy forces are vastly superior to their own. She did not want to resort to it but there was only one thing left for her to do to save her people.
She only hoped that the Blood Lord will spare her people.
The youkai faction had constructed a series of defences and fortifications that stretched for miles. Multiple Japanese castles formed a wall a hundred meters high made out of concrete and steel However, whatever the defences was before, it was now in a near-state of ruin. Multiple fortifications have already collapsed while the others barely remained standing. Fires were spreading all over the street, creating dozens of smoke columns that rose up towards the sky. Corpses from both opposing sides literred the everywhere like leaves in the fall, leaving pools of blood that were left to dry on the soil..
In total, 10 Red Legions have attacked the city, consisting of 200,000 legionaries, 80,000 cavalry, 20,000 feral beasts and 40,000 wyverns. One of the generals that led this force was General Darius Varn, one of the three generals that led the invasion of Hades' realm. With both ferocity and valor, Darius led the assault on the fortifications, which was defended by no more than 70,000 youkai warriors and were led by Youkai Elders.
The battle was fierce but it didn't take long until the Azrallians achieved victory due to their vast superior numbers. The Azrallian side lost several thousands of their forces during the battle and more were injured, however the Shinto and youkai forces were completely defeated, most of their forces were either been killed, captured or have fled the battlefield beforehand.
A decisive victory.
After the battle, Darius divided what remained of his infantry into two groups. The first group was tasked to tend to the wounded all the while gathering the corpses, both friend and foe, to be tossed to a large bonefire within the center of the city square. The second group was scattered throughout the city to search for any enemy survivors that could be hiding. From ruined buildings and open streets to collapsing subways and dirty sewers, the legionaries searched relentlessly.
Eventually they would find small groups of enemy warriors which the legionaries wasted no time and apprehended them all, locking them by groups in iron cages where they were to be kept as prisoners of war. The ones thateused to surrender and continued to fight were eventually killed, dragged into the streets and was slaughtered in the open before the corpses were taken straight into the city square where the bonefire was at.
Issei stood on top of a ruined castle, overlooking his forces from above. His eyes were stoic as he watched as the influx of arriving corpses that eventually formed a small hill of bodies on which the feral beasts feasted on the lifeless meat while the infantry continued to toss as much of the bodies to the fire.
Ever since he began their advance to Kyoto, the Azrallians have captured every city, every town and settlement that was under the youkai faction's control, slaughtering any youkai present there before raising the Azrallian flag, much to the horrors of the human inhabitants there. Issei had lost count on how much youkai they have slaughtered in the process. The prisoners that they captured were sent back to Gifu which already numbered in the thousands.
"You should not let it bother you too much, my beloved" Like always, Veronica stood nearby. "We are at war"
"I know that, no matter how I feel I won't let myself get distracted too much and hinder my goals" Issei turned his head towards his guard. "Are there any defences left between us and Kyoto?"
"None" Veronica smiled. "Kyoto is open for us to take right now"
"Good" Issei said with a nod.
Issei walked forward, eventually stopped by the edge. He stared down at the battlefield from above as a thin layer of crimson energy radiated around his body. Concentrating his powers, Issei slowly raised both of his arms upwards as he chanted the word.
"Arise"
At his command, a few of the Azrallian corpses started twitching. The wounds that causes their deaths during the battle began to close as the blood thst they have shed returned back into their bodies in floating streams.
One by one, the corpses were brought back to life, rising up from the ground as both their flesh and their armor returned to their normal states. The horses also rose from the grave alongside the riders, who immediately mounted them again. The once desceased feral beasts roared as the spears and arrows that were impaled throughout their massive bodies popped off like leaves in the fall as the wyverns spread out their wings and sored through the skies.
With just one word, each one of the thousands of Azrallians that have fallen in battle, both man and beast, came back from the dead.
"Now we march to Kyoto" Issei said.
For more than a hundredth time, Rias paced back and forth across the room. She, along with her childhood friend Sona, have been stucked in the same room that Ajuka transported them to and ever since they have not been allowed to go outside. The entire room was placed under a barrier to prevent them from using their teleportation magic and the door outside was guarded by the maou's elite guards. Rias also tried to contact her brother but considering that both Ajuka and Serafall were the ones that brougt them their, it would be safe to assume that even Sirzechs knew their situation and probably allowed it. If he didn't, then he should have done so ething by now.
As much as they wanted to, they could do nothing but remain in that room.
"This is ridiculous!" Rias exclaimed. "Are they just going to keep us here while they ignore what's happening in Kuoh!?"
"It appears so" Sona, who was sitting on the sofa the entire time, responded.
"To think that the Shinto would attack the town like that..." Rias said. "Do you think Issei could defend Kuoh against them?"
"All we could do is hope" Sona said.
Since they were cut off from the outside world, they have no knowledge of the well being of the town at all and could only do nothing but hope for its safety.
At that moment, both girls suddenly heard muffling noise coming from outside the door which caught both their attentions. Growling noises followed by loud thuds and slashing knives were beard before everything went silent.
The two of them stared as the door opened and came in a very familiar person.
"Silvers!"
Silver Le Roux, with knife in hand, entered the room.
"I figured you'd be here" Silvers said as Rias ran up to him and hugged him tightly.
"I'm so glad you're here!" Rias said, embracing her friend tightly.
Caught off guard, Silvers wrapped his arms around Rias and returned her genture.
"Same here" He responded.
"What are you doing here Silvers?" Sona asked.
"I'm here to take you girls with me" Silvers said. "We're going to Kuoh, or at least what remains of it"
"If you can take us there then do it!" Rias said. "The Shinto is attacking the town and we need to be there!"
"I've heard of the attack" Silves said. But unfortunate the town is..."
Both girls saw how Silvers' expression turned grim.
"I think it's best to just show it to you" Silvers said before he quiclly created a magic circle for the three of them to return to Japan.
Esdeath, one of Azrallia's renowned generals, stared into the distance while mounting a white horse. Behind her, a long line of legionaries standing in perfect formation, as far as the eye can see. Their spears raised upwards and their shields held up front. Beside her was her fellow generals, five in total including her. They were stationed on a small hilltop with a forest behind them, overlooking the city of Kyoto in the distance in front of them, ready to march at a moment.
Standing on both sides were two of his Praetorian Guards, the Sapphires sisters. Veronica to his right and Vladima to his left. To his rear were two more of his guards, the First Vampire, Moka Akashiya and the Greatest Swordsman of the Azrallian Empire, Zoro Roronoa. All four surrounding Issei, ready to guard him with their lives if necessary.
At that moment, a shadow appeared in front of Issei and out came the leader of the Fourth Elite Divisions, Mirajane Strauss.
"Supreme One, the youkais have sent an envoy, bringing word from the Nine Tailed Fox" Mirajane said, landing on her knees and lowering her head. "Shall we let them proceed?"
"Let them through" Issei nodded.
"At once" Mirajane obeyed and disappeared from the same black mist that she arrived from.
A moment later, a group of youkai on horseback arrived. Eight riders in total, flying the banners which contained the sigil of the Youkai Faction under Yasaka's rule. On the front of these riders was none other than the First Generation Sun Wukong himself.
"I am an emissary of the Youkai Faction of Kyoto, I bring word personally from Lady Yasaka" Sun Wukong said. "She invites the Blood Lord into the city to negotiate with her"
"Yasaka is the one requesting to negotiate but instead of her crawling on her knees out here, she sends an emissary instead" Veronica pointed out. "Such disrespect on your end, youkai"
Despite showing visible signs of displeasure from Veronica's words, the youkai warriors remained quiet. They could not afford to be the ones sparking the Blood Lord's anger, especially with his army so close to their capital. But even after insulting their leader, Sun Wukong maintained a calm expression.
"Yasaka invites our beloved to the capital... forgive me for accusing but it sounds like you are trying to lead him into a trap" Vladima said. "Knowing that you cannot defeat us in terms of military force you resort to assassinating the head instead, is that a fact?"
"We can assure you that our intentions are clean" Sun Wukong said truthfully. "We are not vile snakes who take pleasure in these types of schemes, Veronica Sapphires"
Veronica narrowed her eyes slightly at Sun Wukong's words for indirectly referring to her.
"Lady Yasaka only wishes to negotiate, nothing more" Sun Wukong assured them further.
"This has got to be a trap" Zoro said. "Supreme One, allow me to go in your place. I will report whatever the nine tailed fox has to say to you in full details"
"If that is so then allow me to accompany you Zoro" Moka said. "My servants will act as our sacrificial pawns in case something goes wrong"
"No, I'll go" Issei said, cauing the guards to turn to him. "Yasaka is willing to meet up with me in person and as the ruler of the empire it's my duty to face her"
"If that is what you desire then as the Praetorian Guards we shall act as your escorts" Veronica said. "I doubt the fox will try anything stupid if she doesn't want her precious little Kyoto to burnnto the ground"
"Esdeath, I leave the legions under your command" Issei called out.
"Yes, Supreme One" The general said, lowering her head.
Issei then turned to Sun Wukong and said. "Take me to Yasaka"
A magic portal appeared and three individuals stepped forth.
Silvers, Rias and Sona.
The two girls looked around and saw that they were in what seemed to be in the middle an aftermath of some battle. Craters and ravines were seen everywhere as large, black-coloured rocks covered the landscape as far as the eye can see. Not a single tree nor alone wildlife could be seen anywhere, it was just a destroyed landscape.
"Where are we Silvers?" Rias asked. "I thought you said you'll take us back to Kuoh?"
Instead of an immediate answer, Silvers lowered his head to the point of which his bangs shadowed over his eyes.
"This is Kuoh Rias..."
Rias blinked, staring at her friend in silence. Sona looked at Silvers strangely, not sure if what she heard was right.
"What do you mean?" Rias asked, dumbfounded.
"This is the town of Kuoh" Silvers repeated. "Or at least... this is where it used to be"
Rias' eyes widened as she turned to look at the landscape once more.
This is the town of Kuoh, Silvers' words repeated in her head.
"It can't be..." Sona mumbled with a shaky tone.
"This is the aftermath of the battle between the Azrallian Empire against the Shinto and Youkai factions" Silvers explained. "The fighting was fierce and the town did not survive"
Rias fell on her knees, her face frozen in shock at the scene before her. Tears flowed uncontrollably from her cheeks as her entire body shivered. Sona was in the same state as Rias, stunned in disbelief at what she saw.
"No... No!" Rias cried out, covering her own mouth with her hands.
"What of the people Silvers?" Sona asked. "Don't tell me they have..."
"That I don't know" Silvers responded. "I was only informed about this after the battle"
"It's gone..." Rias lowered her head in grief. "Everything... is gone!"
"It's okay Rias" Sona approached her friend to comfort her, wrapping her arms around her to tightly as Rias cried out, her tears soaking through Sona's clothing.
Silvers could only close his eyes as he heard Rias' cries. He clenched his fists tightly and gritted his teeth in anger.
"You will pay for this... Issei"
The youkai guards opened the two large entrance doors of the shrine, making way for Issei and his four Praetorian Guards, who followed Sun Wukong inside. The shrine was large yet empty, with no guards posted in sight. The guards scanned the place for any sign of ambush or some sort but could sense no one other than themselves. But despite not sensing anyone, they refused to lower their guard even for just a second, surrounding Issei as he walked in the middle of them.
Sun Wukong continued and finally led the Azrallians to the main hall of the shrine, a specious area with high ceiling and beautifully decorated walls.
In the middle of the hall was the ruler of the Youkai Faction, the Nine Tailed Fox, Yasaka.
Dressed elegantly in her white shrinemaiden attire, Yasaka sat in seiza-style, a traditional Japanese way of sitting properly. Her hands were folded on her lap, her eyes closed as she waited patiently.
"Lady Yasaka" Sun Wukong called out. "I have brought the Blood Lord of the Azrallian Empire, as requested"
Hearing this, Yasaka slowly opened her eyes and saw the Blood Lord standing in front of her, his guards forming a small perimeter around him.
"Welcome to Inner Kyoto, Blood Lord" Yasaka said, lowering her head to greet her 'guests'.
"We meet again, nine tailed fox" Issei said, his tone was stoic as his eyes gazed down upon her.
"I thank you for bringing them here Sun Wukong" Yasaka said, turning to the monkey-youkai. "I'll take it from here, please leave the shrine and prevent anyone from entering. I must speak to the Blood Lord alone"
Sun Wukong was visibly shocked on how Yasaka was willing to be alone in a room with not only the Blood Lord but with four of his Praetorian Guards as well. There was no telling what the Azrallians will do to her which greatly worried him.
But in the end, he had no choice but to obey her words.
"Yes, Lasy Yasaka" Sun Wukong said, placing everything on her hands as he left the room.
With the First Generation Sun Wukong gone, the atmosphere grew heavier.
"What should we do now our beloved?" Veronica asked. "We have Yasaka all alone right in front of us"
"If you want her head then please allow one of us to do it" Vladima said. "There's no point in dirtying your hands in filthy youkai blood"
Despite sensing the overwhelming intent to kill from all four of the guards, Yasaka remained calm and poised.
"No, leave us"
The guards didn't expect such an order from their creator. They were ready to kill Yasaka, torture her, brutalize her to their heart's content until Issei was satisfied. But they didn't expect him to order them to leave.
"Of course, our beloved" Veronica said before she quickly turned around and headed to the exit.
The other three followed her lead right after, closing the large sliding doors after stepping out, leaving Issei and Yasaka all alone in the hall.
"I have placed a barrier around this room" Yasaka said as she slowly stood up. "No one can hear any sound within this room from the outside"
"Are you going to try to kill me now?" Issei asked, ready to fight back if Yasaka planned to end his life.
"No" Yasaka shook her head. "I plan to surrender Kyoto to you"
Issei narrowed his eyes.
"The youkais have suffered many losses throughout this war and we have no means in defending the city from your forces" Yasaka explained. "I surrender the city to you, all I ask of you is to spare my people in return"
Issei remained silent, keeping his gaze at her.
"If you are willing to accept my terms and spare my people..."
Yasaka began to walk forward, slowly approaching Issei and stopping within arm's length. Issei's expression remained unchanged as he watched Yasaka began to take off her robe right in front of him. Issei then realized that she wore no undergartments underneath her outfit but despite that, she continued to strip down until she had nothing left.
"I will fully offer myself to you"
Yasaka stood right in front of Issei, fully exposed, not a single clothing on her body. Her skin was flawless, her figure was voluptous. Despite completely naked right in front of a man, Yasaka showed no signs of covering herself at all, she had already decided on it. To sacrifice her own body was the only way left for her to try and spare her people from the Azrallians.
Issei began to raise his hand outwards. Yasaka closed her eyes, ready to endure how the Blood Lord will ravage her body until his satisfaction.
But all of her preparations were all for naught when Issei unexpected gripped her throat tightly.
Yasaka's eyes shot open as she gasped for air. She was completely caught off guard by this. She immediately used her hands to try and loosen the Blood Lord's grip around her throat but despite being a powerul youkai herself, she was powerless against his grip.
"Did you think that offering your body to me will erase what you have done?" Issei asked, his tone as merciless as his grip around her throat.
Yasaka flailed her body around as she desperately tried to break free. She could feel legs growing weak until she finally fell on her knees. She could barely breath and was quickly running out of air.
Yasaka had known herself to be a very beautiful woman. Her beauty combined with her alluring figure made her one of the most attractive woman in the supernatural world. Men would always gawk at her beauty, to the point that it seemed normal to her already. After the death of her husband, she had recieved many suitors, more than she could count, offering themselves to her in marriage or a chance to taste her body even for just one night.
However, she had turned them all down no matter how desperate they were.
She had hoped that with such beauty she would be able to prevent the Blood Lord from massacring her people.
But then she realized that she had been naive.
"You said that no one outside could hear us in here... good"
Yasaka grunted in pain as a strong fist landed on her abdomen, sending her crashing to the floor a few meters away from the one that hit her. Issei approached Yasaka as she tried to get up. She screamed as Issei violently grabbed her hair and raised her up.
"You attacked Kuoh"
Issei landed fist to her face, shoving her back to the floor.
"You destoryed the town!"
He quickly grabbed her hair and punched her face again which sent a splash of blood to the floor. She cried out in pain as Issei kicked her while she was on the ground, sending her flying across the hall.
"And you killed them!"
Issei extended his palm and used his energy to pull Yasaka towards him. As she got close, he landed another strong fist to her abdomen which made her cough out a mouthful of blood which splattered across the floor. Yasaka fell back to the floor, gasping. Issei then raised his leg and kicked her face again, causing her to fall flat on her back.
Issei continued to brutalize the nine tailed fox, landing back to back punches and kicks with enough force to shake the entire hall. Yasaka could have fought back but what good would that do? Her intentions were to surrender in the first place and if she did fight back the Blood Lord would just order his legions and raze the entire city.
So she decided to just take it all in.
Issei then landed one more punch straight to Yasaka's face, sending her straight to the ground, her blood splattered across her face as she laid on the floor in agony.
"It's odd" Issei said, staring down at the bloodied youkai by his feet. "Even after what you did, beating you like this doesn't bring me any satisfaction"
He raised his hand up and formed a sword made out of blood which she aimed the tip right towards Yasaka's throat.
"I should just finish this here and now" Issei said, his eyes glowing bright crimson as he stared down at the bloodied nine tails.
"I w-will offer my life... but please... s-spare my people..." Yasaka said, barely getting the words out of her mouth. "They are... innocent... they have nothing... to do with the war..."
"The humans that you and Amaterasu killed in your little attack were also innocent" Issei said. "You're begging me to spare your people's lives... what about the lives of the ones you butchered?"
Yasaka remained silent, unable to answer him.
"They were innocent humans, they have nothing to do with the war" Issei said. "They were just like the people you're trying too hard to protect"
"I know of my sins... Blood Lord... and I know that... I have regretted killing them" Yasaka said. "If there... was a way for me... to avoid taking their lives during that battle... I would have done it"
"Everything wouldn't have happened if you and Amaterasu didn't attack in the first place" Issei said. "Their blood is in your hands"
"I know... I admit that..." Yasaka said. "However... do you admit... your sins as well... Blood Lord?"
"My sins?" Issei asked.
"Like me... the blood of the innocent is in your hands as well" Yasaka said. "You have taken... countless of innocent lives... when you waged your war... against all of us at that time"
"I am not like the Blood Lord in the past, I'm different person!" Issei shouted. "I'm not like him!"
"You might have changed your appearance... changed your speech... and overall personality... but other than that... I could still see the same being... that plunged the world into chaos in the past" Yasaka said. "Everything around you... is still covered in blood"
It struck Issei light a sword. Those were merely just words, words from a dying woman. And yet, it effected Issei more than any physical wound.
I could still see the same being... that plunged the world into chaos in the past.
Was it true?
It can't be!
He was different.
He was not Vladimir.
He had changed!
Everything around you... is still covered in blood.
Issei saw the blood that covered Yasaka.
He saw the blood that was on his hands after brutalizing her. But at that moment, Issei suddenly realized that the blood wasn't only on his hand but also on his wrist, then his forearm and so on. It was at that moment when he finally realized that his face and his body too were covered in Yasaka's blood.
Blood.
"If my life is what it will take to save my people... then I will gladly offer it" Yasaka said, closing her eyes and awaited her end.
Issei raised his sword up, his hands shook uncontrollably.
And with a loud roar, Issei brought down the sword, hard enough to pierce through even the wooden floor.
The sword impaled right on the center of Yasaka's chest.
The blade went through her torso and pierced even the wooden floor she laid on, hitting her vital spot.
However, it did not kill her.
Yasaka's eyes shot open as she felt no pain despite feeling something pierce right through her body. She looked down and saw that the blood sword that impaled her began to transform back into liquid blood as it slowly entered her body through the wounded it inflicted.
"Why did you spare me?" Yasaka asked, desperate for answers.
Issei's eyes darted downwards.
"I could have killed you here and now" Issei said with a cold tone. "But after what you said to me just now, it's more preferrable to show you that you are wrong about me"
The Praetorian Guards were then called back in by Issei which they immediately obeyed and entered the shrine. Yasaka had already put back her shrine maiden outfit before the guards arrived.
Upon entering the hall, Veronica's eyes shifted to the nine tailed fox on the floor, the bruises on her body and all the blood did not go unnoticed. Next she turned to her beloved and saw the blood splattered on him which she was entirely sure did not belong to him.
It did not take her much to realize what had happened which caused a smile to appear on her face.
She never knew her beloved was capable of doing such a thing.
"Yasaka has surrendered to us, Kyoto and the youkais are under our control now" Issei announced. "Moka, you stay here and make sure the youkais are under our control, take half of our forces that we've brought here"
"Yes, Supreme One" Moka responded.
"Zoro, take the nine tailed fox back to the empire and have Primus imprison her there" Issei said. "She will be our bargaining chip to make sure the youkais stay loyal"
"At once, Supreme One!" Zoro responded.
"Veronica, Vladima, you two will go back to Gifu with me along with the other half of our forces" Issei said. "We will regroup with the other legions and push forth towards Tokyo"
"Yes, Our beloved" The Sapphires Sisters responded.
Issei turned back to Yasaka, who remained silent the entire time.
"Betray me and you will see Kyoto burn to the ground and all of your precious youkais" Issei said with stern voice.
Yasaka remained silent, only lowering her head slightly in response.
Issei refused to kill the humans that Yasaka was trying to evacuate from Kyoto. Despite being the Blood Lord, he still somewhat considered himself a human and will try to avoid getting them involved with the conflicts of the supernatural world.
However, he felt little remose for the youkais and was willing to slay them the moment they try to rebel.
And thus, the Azrallian flag was raised above Kyoto.
On the outskirts of Gifu City, the King of the Olympian Pantheon, Zeus, hovered over hills, overlooking the city in the distance.
"Go forth and destroy these wretched empire!"
Zeus raised his hand and four mighty lightning bolts struck down from the heavens above.
On each of the struck ground, massive multi-limbed beasts rose from the ashes.
The Hecatoncheires.
Each one, which possessed fifty heads each, simultaneously releasing terrifying roars that thundered throughout the horizon as they advanced forward. Their hundred arms held various types of weapon that were large enough to match their own sizes.