We do not own Koihime Musou or Kamen Rider Gaim. They belong to their respective creators. We just thought this idea would be fun and decided to give it a try. If you like it, then that's great. If you don't then we tried. Anyway, come along and let's see what you think.

Braco sat upon Shirokumahime's former throne as he watched the magical projection screens. They were used by their former leaders to observe their enemies. He was amazed by how easily the Femme Fatales could spy on their enemies, but such a system was wasted on them. All they did was sit and watch, not use any of the information they got. He was glad that he took over now. Finally, the RinJyuKen Akugata would be the fearsome force it was meant to be. As he watched the screens, he saw the armies converging upon Touka Village and smirked as he saw who was leading them.

"The White Tiger, the Vermillion Phoenix and the Black Turtle. So, not only did they survive but now all of our prey has decided to gather in one place. How convenient," Braco observed. His subordinates were so sure their venom would be able to kill the Armored War Gods, but these were no ordinary humans, so an ordinary technique would not destroy them so easily.

This was a perfect opportunity. He had warned the Shoku Warriors that he would return. He might as well make good on that promise. With all the Armored War Gods who wielded the power of the Sovereigns gathered in one place, it would be easy to take them all out at once. This way, he could claim the power of the Sovereigns once their chosen wielders were vanquished and cripple the other kingdoms by taking down their Armored War Gods. The other Venom Fists had defeated the Armored War Gods before, but the sudden loss of their newly gained power had forced them to withdraw before they could finish the job.

The Seal of Heaven, which sat on the throne's armrest, glowed with a dark power as its eyes focused upon the screens. The same glow surrounded Braco's eyes as he eagerly looked forward to the complete destruction of their enemies.


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

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

Beta Reader/Editor: Busterleader92

Chapter 4: The Sovereigns Assemble


Days passed since the call to their allies was sent out and the Shoku Warriors were trying their best to keep their morale high while their leader was in a coma. It wasn't easy. They worked hard during training, but it was depressing during meal times. The food just didn't taste as good without Nagata's presence.

The Shoku Warriors took shifts to look after Nagata, a routine that started since the day he first went comatose. They sat at his bedside, praying silently, hoping he would recover and awaken. Karasu had protested this arrangement, insisting she could take care of Nagata by herself, but she eventually conceded that he needed around the clock care and protection, something she couldn't provide alone, no matter how much she insisted on it. She would have to trust them for now.

Right now, it was Karasu's turn to look after Nagata. As she sat by his bedside, she heard a knock at the door. She would've snapped at whoever was on the other side, but then the door opened and she saw that it was both Kochu and Riri.

"What is it? What do you want?" Karasu asked, a bit more harshly than intended.

"Riri wanted to give Nagata-sama something," said Kochu. Riri stepped forward and Karasu watched as Riri handed her something. It was a set of drawings and a flower.

"I drew these for Nagata-niichan," Riri said innocently.

Karasu accepted the drawings and looked at them. Some of them depicted Nagata in armor, while others showed him with everyone. She even found a drawing of herself with him in their Rider forms. It seemed that little Riri saw everyone as part of her family, including Karasu. She was touched by the gesture, and the flower was a nice touch.

"Thank you," Karasu said as she accepted the gifts sincerely. "I'm sure he'll appreciate them once he wakes up."

"The drawings are for Nagata-niichan. The flower is for you," Riri clarified.

Karasu blinked, surprised. "For...me?"

"You just seem so sad all the time, Onee-chan. I wanted to give you something to cheer you up."

Karasu stared at the flower in awe. She had gotten gifts before, but they were usually from people who wanted to benefit themselves from knowing her. The only gifts she ever appreciated were from Nagata, with the rest being tossed away like trash. Now Riri was offering her a gift just to cheer her up. It was just a regular flower, but it was still a good present.

"Thank you." Karasu gave Riri a genuine smile, not the one she usually wore before a bloodbath. The little girl beamed back as Kochu smiled before the two bowed and left the room together. Karasu stared at the drawings and flower. If anyone else had delivered them, she would've just torn them to shreds. Riri, however, had not earned her ire like everyone else in this castle. She was just an innocent little girl.

Karasu placed the drawings down on a nearby table with the flower on top before turning her gaze to Nagata. Like Riri, she wanted him to wake up as well.


During the time she wasn't watching Nagata, Karasu trained hard. She worked herself to the bone and even burned the midnight oil. She was exhausted each time she finished with her daily training, but she felt that the results would be worth all the extra work she put in. She needed to be strong and to be perfect, in order to protect Nagata.

When Ryuubi found her, nearly passed out from exhaustion, the redhead went to help her. She looked at Karasu with no small sense of pity. She knew the heiress was hurting. They were all hurting. Karasu was just trying to numb the pain by training.

"Are you alright?" Ryuubi reached her hand out to her, but Karasu smacked the offered hand aside instead.

"I'm fine!" Karasu snapped as she used her scabbard to help herself back to her feet. She didn't need any of their help! She was strong! She was stronger than all of them!

Ryuubi retorted, "Idunn-sama, please listen to me! I know you're training yourself so you can be strong enough to protect Nagata-sama, but you won't be able to help him if you hurt yourself! We're all working hard as well, but we can't do this if we don't support each other. So please, stop hurting yourself like this!"

Karasu didn't spare Ryuubi another glance as she dragged herself back to her room. She had no need for pity or sympathy. She just needed to be alone.

Ryuubi continued as Karasu walked away, "I understand how you feel! We all love him! That's why we're working so hard to protect him and this place! That's why we need to work together! It's the only way that we can become strong!"

Karasu walked away from Ryuubi, ignoring the rosette. She ignored her words, her look of sympathy, and also how much she claimed she loved her Naga-kun. She just couldn't stand looking at her right now.

Karasu arrived at her room and slammed the door shut behind her. She was angry at everything, especially those girls. While Nagata's current condition was Braco's fault, she still held them responsible for putting Nagata in danger in the first place. And how dare Ryuubi even imply she understood how she felt? She was already tempted to take up her sword and cut them down. It was getting harder and harder to resist the urge. The only thing stronger than her urge to kill those girls was her desire to make Braco pay.

Killing those girls would be too easy. They already trusted her and thus would not expect an attack from someone they believed to be their friend. Disposing of the bodies would hardly be an issue either. With her powers, she could easily open up a portal and dump their bodies in Helheim to rot in the forest. It was called the 'Land of the Dead' after all, and thus a fitting place to dispose of their corpses. The only problem she could see was Nagata asking where the girls were once he noticed their disappearance. She would be able to lie to him and tell him they were off on a mission. Of course, as the lord, he would have to approve of those missions first. Plus, they would have to send him letters, and Karasu wasn't sure she could forge any convincing letters from them. She had many skills, but forgery was not one of them.

And then there was Iori Tokugawa. He was suspicious of her, she could tell. He didn't entirely trust her. Ryofu Hosen was suspicious of her as well. With how the redhead's pets reacted to the heiress, there was no doubt in Karasu's mind that Ryofu suspected that she was not really a good person. The former To Faction general seemed like the type to believe her animals if they sensed that someone had ulterior motives. It was annoying but hardly foolish. After all, it wasn't like she was truly on their side. She only cared about Nagata and was only keeping up with this farce for his sake. She would continue to pretend being their friend, to put them at ease and lower their guard. Once the chance presented itself, she would take Nagata home with her and they would be together, happily ever after.


One fateful day, Touka Village received the arrival of three armies. They arrived at the same time and their banners identified their allegiance.

One army held red flags with Baron's personal symbol, which resembled his helm, being displayed proudly, identifying themselves as the Crimson Guard. In the lead, riding on a warhorse, was Mitsuki Akechi, aka Armored War God of the Ultimate Spear Baron, Sousou's Crimson Enforcer and the leader of the Crimson Guard. Hanging from his belt was the sword Shibai had offered to him as a gift so she could join his group.

Flanking him, on warhorses of their own, were the four women who made up the core of the Crimson Guard. The two women riding on his right were his second-in-command Gakushin and his chief engineer Riten. The two women riding on his left were his bodyguard Ukin and strategist Shibai. Behind them, 500 members of the Crimson Guard marched.

Originally, Ukin was supposed to be Mitsuki's main strategist. However, Shibai was more intelligent and capable than her because of her wisdom and skills as an interrogator. Fortunately, Mitsuki wasn't someone who would toss someone aside without a good reason. He decided to make the bespectacled dual-wielder his bodyguard instead so she would have a role to play as one of his lieutenants. Mitsuki officially took Shibai as his strategist mainly for her effective interrogation skills. Her acupuncture skills were also a bonus.

Mitsuki was joined by Haru Hattori, the Armored War God of the Ultimate Fist. He only brought along himself, his gear, and his fists. While he may not be bringing an army, he could be just as effective as one. His fists would be a great help in facing their enemies.

The second army that was making its way towards Touka Village held green flags with Zangetsu's symbol, which resembled the crescent-shaped crest that was usually mounted on his helmet in his Rider form. The army was being led by Masataka Miyamoto, the Armored War God of the Ultimate Shield Zangetsu, the White Devil of Son Go.

Zangetsu's personal army was known as the Moon Brigade, and they wore green and white uniforms with his symbol on their backs. These men carried Lockseeds in special utility belts and wore white headbands which also had Zangetsu's emblem on them. There were 450 of them and they marched in formation behind Masataka who was riding a white stallion. Riding next to him was Shuutai, his bodyguard. The Moon Brigade were also being escorted by members riding Tulip Hoppers, Suika Arms, and Dandeliners.

The third army was being led by Kosonsan, who was riding her own white horse with Hideyoshi riding next to her on a brown horse. She rode confidently with the Armored War God of the Ultimate Hammer riding beside her. Marching behind them was Kosonsan's army, and she had brought 340 men to aid their allies.

Ryuubi, Kanu, and Komei greeted the arriving armies as representatives of Shoku. The armies stopped in front of Touka Village's wall before the leaders dismounted to meet up with Shoku's representatives.

"Welcome to Touka Village," Ryuubi greeted. "I apologize that it wasn't under more pleasant situations."

Masataka replied, "Well, this is an emergency, after all. It's only natural that you call for help."

"So, it's true then. Oda was beaten," stated Mitsuki.

"Indeed," Kanu admitted.

"Was he able to put up a fight until the end?" Mitsuki asked.

"He fought valiantly until the end."

"Good." Mitsuki wasn't disappointed. Nagata only lost because his opponent was superior, not because of his own weakness. Of course, these were Kanu's words alone. Perhaps she didn't want to paint her lord in a bad light.

"At least he survived," Haru added optimistically. "Don't worry. If I know my buddy Nagata, he'll bounce right back."

"Thank you," Kanu accepted his kind words.

When Komei and Shibai locked eyes, they immediately recognized each other.

"Ara, it's been a long time, Komei-chan," Shibai greeted sweetly.

"It's nice to see you again, Shibai-san," Komei returned the greeting with a smile.

Mitsuki looked between them. "You both know each other?"

"During my travels to gain knowledge, I visited Suikyo-sensei to study under her for a bit. That was when I met Komei-chan," Shibai answered. "I never thought I would ever meet her again, but perhaps fate has brought us together."

"I am glad to see you again, Shibai-san. I'm surprised you've joined Sousou's army," Komei said.

"Oh, I didn't join Sousou-sama's army. I'm simply Baron-sama's personal strategist," Shibai clarified. Komei blinked, confused. Wasn't Baron also part of Sousou's army? What did Shibai mean by that?

"While I'm glad for this happy little reunion, we need to set up camp. Sera, you can go and catch up with your little friend later," ordered Mitsuki.

"See you later, Komei-chan," Shibai smiled as she followed Mitsuki. Komei smiled back and waved, her cheeks pink. During the short time they spent together while Shibai stayed with her and Suikyo, the two of them became close friends. The older woman also introduced Komei to the world of adult literature and erotica. Back then, Komei was just an innocent girl, until Shibai lent her some of her books. Komei was fascinated by the stories of love and the ultimate expression of love.

"It must be nice to see an old friend, huh, Shuri?" asked Ryuubi.

"Yes," Komei smiled. Perhaps, once this was all over, she and Shibai could sit down and trade stories. Perhaps Shibai would recommend her a few new books while discussing strategies.

Kosonsan approached Ryuubi and said, "We came as soon as we heard."

"Paipai-chan! You're here!" Ryuubi hugged her dear childhood friend.

"It's Pairen!" Kosonsan corrected before she sighed. "Of course I'm here, Touka. You said you needed help."

"I noticed you only brought Gridon-san," said Ryuubi.

"Well, there's a good reason for that. You see, I needed to leave Kurokage and Kayu to hold the fort in my absence," Kosonsan explained. Honestly, she was reluctant to leave the two of them behind in light of the threat. Still, she needed someone to protect her city while she was away.

"Well, you can't just leave your city unprotected, correct?" Ryuubi understood.

"Indeed. So, how is Gaim-dono doing?" Kosonsan asked.

"He still hasn't woken up," Ryuubi answered sadly.

"I see. How are you holding up?"

"It hasn't been easy, but Nagata-sama once told me that one day I would lead in his place. I just never thought that the day would come at such a cost."

"If he trusts you to take his place, then he sees your potential, and I have no doubts in his judgment," Kosonsan spoke encouragingly. This caused the redhead to receive another tight hug from her rosette friend. This also caused Kosonsan to feel Ryuubi's generous assets against her own chest. This made Kosonsan cry a bit at how Ryuubi was most well-endowed.


The three armies set up campsites outside Touka Village's perimeter while the main officers entered the gates. There were introductions to be made as Iori presented the newest Armored War Goddess to them.

"And this is Karasu Oda, aka Armored War Goddess Idunn," Iori introduced. "She's Nagata's cousin and she joined us fairly recently."

"It's nice to meet you all. I hope you will take good care of me, sempai-tachi," Karasu bowed.

"Eh, 'sempai'?" Haru blinked.

"Well, you have been Armored War Gods far longer than I have. As your kohai, I should show respect. Isn't that right?" Karasu said.

"Yeah, sure. I guess that makes sense."

"So you're Oda's cousin?" Mitsuki asked skeptically as he looked at Karasu.

"Second cousin," Karasu corrected as she targeted them all with scrutiny. Nagata had told her about them and she wanted to know if they lived up to his words of praise or otherwise.

"Yeah, even I was surprised when I first met her," Iori added.

"How did you arrive in this world?" Masataka questioned suspiciously.

"The same way you all did," Karasu answered vaguely. She wasn't going to give details to people she just met, even if they were supposed to be allies.

"Well, nice to have you onboard," Haru gave her a welcoming smile.

"So, what exactly are we dealing with here?" Hideyoshi asked. "Ryuubi really didn't give much detail besides the fact that Nagata was defeated and you guys desperately need our help."

"Braco, and most likely the Five Venom Fists," Iori answered.

"Yeah, we had a run in with their members ourselves," said Mitsuki.

"All of you were assaulted by the Venom Fists as well?" Iori asked.

They nodded.

"So, could you explain the situation?" Masataka asked.

"Braco was the one who defeated Nagata. He swore that he would return to finish the job. We believe that he might be bringing reinforcements, including the Five Venom Fists, to destroy Touka Village and take over Shoku. So we thought having the power of three Sovereigns could put the situation in our favor," explained Iori.

"Stacking the deck in your favor is always a good strategy. Always expect that your opponent might be stronger to be better prepared for them," Masataka agreed.

"There's more," Iori added. "Braco took the Seal of Heaven."

That made the visiting Armored War Gods went silent as they blanched from hearing that bit of information.

"I'm sorry, but did you say that the RinJyuKen now have the Seal of Heaven?" Hideyoshi asked as the color drained from his face.

"Yes," Iori confirmed.

"Well...it-it's no wonder you called us if you think they're all going attack your kingdom," responded Hideyoshi shakily as he wiped his forehead.

"So, the situation is truly dire then," Masataka frowned seriously.

"Are you OK, man?" Haru asked Hideyoshi who looked pale.

"I don't think so. Excuse me, but do you mind if I took a walk t-to soothe my nerves?" Hideyoshi asked before leaving the group.

"Not gonna comment on his weakness?" Iori asked Mitsuki.

"He had the guts to come here. I'm not about to insult him for that," Mitsuki replied.


Hideyoshi needed to take a walk to soothe his nerves. Facing the Five Venom Fists was quite the tall order. He really shouldn't be so scared. He had fought many monsters before. Yet, the thought of facing five of the deadliest warriors the RinJyuKen had to offer was just so intimidating. He and Kenshin had fought both Maga and Sorisa, two of the Venom Fists, and were soundly defeated. Not just beaten, but could have been killed if they hadn't backed off. Now all five of them might be headed here?

That wasn't what scared him the most. He could handle knowing the Five Venom Fists were coming, but to find out that they had the Seal of Heaven in their possession was just too much for the bookworm to handle.

As he walked down the corridor, he ended up bumping right into a couple of maids. When he saw who they were, the petite maid gasped as she saw him.

"Hideyoshi-kun!" Totaku threw herself at Hideyoshi and hugged him tightly.

"Eh, Yue-hime?" he reacted.

"I've missed you," Totaku spoke softly.

"I've missed you too, Yue-hime," Hideyoshi smiled as he hugged her back. He then addressed Kaku, "And hello to you too, Ei."

"Hello as well, Hideyoshi. How have you been?" Kaku asked with a smile.

"Well, Kosonsan-dono has been keeping me busy with handling the finances and protecting her city," Hideyoshi answered proudly as he adjusted his glasses. "So how about you? How have the two of you been?"

"I've been taking charge of things here while looking after Yue," Kaku smiled proudly as she fixed her glasses as well.

"I see Nagata still has you working as maids," Hideyoshi noted by their outfits.

"It's not so bad, really. He hasn't actually made any kind of inappropriate gestures towards us and he pays well," Kaku shrugged. "Yue's been learning a lot about housekeeping."

"Really?" Hideyoshi smiled at the petite girl who smiled back. "That's interesting."

"Indeed. She'll make a good wife for a very lucky man someday."

Hideyoshi and Totaku both blushed at what the bespectacled verdette was implying. Kaku smiled in response. She was like a big sister to Totaku so she was overprotective of her best friend. She made sure nobody hurt or bullied her. She also made sure that no man who wanted to only take advantage of Totaku could get close to her.

She didn't believe any man was good enough for Totaku until she met Hideyoshi. He managed to earn her respect and from the way both he and Totaku interacted, she knew there was an obvious mutual attraction. Totaku even confessed to her that she was in love with the glasses-wearing Armored War God. Well, Kaku couldn't complain. Hideyoshi was as protective of Totaku as she was. If there ever was a man she could trust to be with Totaku, it was him.

"How are Miyabi and Kenshin doing?" Totaku asked.

"Yes, where is Kenshin? I was actually expecting him to be here too. He's not the type to refuse a chance to fight," Kaku added.

"Kosonsan-dono ordered Kenshin and Miyabi to look after her city while we're here. I kinda wish she hadn't. I could really use Kenshin's backup right now," replied Hideyoshi.

"Hideyoshi-kun, you can do this. I believe in you," Totaku smiled encouragingly.

"Yue's right. You earned the power of the Sovereigns. As long as you believe in yourself, you can do this," Kaku added in agreement.

"Thanks, girls," Hideyoshi smiled. He really needed the morale boost. He just hoped he could maintain a positive attitude until the day came. "Anyway, I'm going to take a walk aside. I'll see the two of you later."

"Why don't you spend some more time with us now?" Totaku asked cutely. Hideyoshi fought hard to resist her cuteness. It was how she got them to do anything for her. She was just too cute to resist.

"Sorry, Yue-hime, I just need to be alone right now." Excusing himself, Hideyoshi stepped out of the castle so he could take a walk and look around the village.

Prior to their arrival, the villagers had all evacuated. Homes were left behind and businesses were closed down. If there weren't soldiers present, this place would've looked like a ghost town. It was a bit dreary, but war always created a negative atmosphere. It was a necessity at times, but never a good thing. These soldiers were here to fight to defend this place, putting their lives on the line to make sure it wouldn't fall. That was pretty noble.

He then spotted a couple more familiar faces. There were Ryofu and Chinkyuu, with all of their pets with them. The animals weren't leaving, no matter how much Ryofu coaxed them.

"Ren, Nenene," Hideyoshi greeted his two friends.

"Hideyoshi," Ryofu acknowledged.

"Hey!" Chinkyuu waved. "You're here!"

"It's been a while, hasn't it?" Hideyoshi smiled.

"It sure has, four-eyes," mocked Chinkyuu good-naturedly. Hideyoshi rolled his eyes but smiled nonetheless.

"It's good to see you again," Ryofu greeted sincerely, but Hideyoshi observed that the redhead was upset.

"What's wrong?" Hideyoshi asked.

"Ren-dono's been down since Gaim fell in battle," Chinkyuu answered.

"I failed him," Ryofu sounded disappointed. "I was supposed to protect him."

"Ren-dono, it wasn't your fault."

"Nenene's right, Ren. I heard about how the fight went down. If I know Nagata like I think I do, I know he wouldn't blame you for what happened. The one to blame is the one who hurt him," Hideyoshi spoke sternly. Ryofu was his friend and while he no longer harbored any romantic feelings for her, he still hated to see her cry.

"So, are you going to finish this guy off like you did to Chojo?" Chinkyuu asked hopefully.

"I actually have a few new tricks up my sleeve that I've been hoping to try out."

"I hope to see them."

"You might get that chance."

"Gridon-sama!" a soldier yelled as he found Hideyoshi with Ryofu and Chinkyuu.

"What is it?" Hideyoshi asked.

"Your presence is required at the Round Table, sir."

"Guess they've already started the meeting," Hideyoshi sighed. He thought he could have more time to gather his thoughts.

"You should go," Ryofu prompted.

"Yeah, there's no way they can start without the Four-Eyed Black Turtle," teased Chinkyuu. Hideyoshi rolled his eyes at the mock-title she had given him but smiled nonetheless at her attempt to cheer him up.

"I guess I shouldn't keep them waiting then," responded Hideyoshi. He had come here to aid his allies, and after seeing Totaku, Kaku, Ryofu and Chinkyuu again, he managed to regain his confidence. This was the place his friends called home. For them, especially his beloved Yue-hime, he would defend it.


Mitsuki, Hideyoshi, Masataka, Karasu, Haru, Iori, and Ichiro were present and assembled at the Round Table. Earlier, Iori had returned with his brother. When Ichiro heard about what had happened, he didn't even stop to consider and just accepted the request. There was no hesitation in his decision. Iori's home was in danger and as his big brother, it was Ichiro's duty to help him.

Iori was leading the meeting because he used to watch the series which originally depicted the RinJyuKen Akugata, JyuKen Sentai Gekiranger. That meant he had knowledge about Braco and the Five Venom Fists. Everyone else knew about them, but it was Iori who still clearly remembered the Five Venom Fists.

"Braco told us he would return. We need to assume that he won't be returning alone, and I don't just mean with an army of Rinshi," started Iori. "We need to consider the idea that he may be bringing along his entire team, the Five Venom Fists."

Haru raised his hand. "I remembered watching that show when I was a kid. I vaguely remember them."

"That's because they appeared early in the series as an elite group of warriors from the RinJyuKen Akugata. After their defeat, they were never mentioned again. That's why a lot of people forgot about them," Iori explained.

"Except for you," Mitsuki concluded.

"Yes, so now here are the basics: the Five Venom Fists consist of Snake-Ken Master Braco, Toad-Ken Master Maga, Centipede-Ken Master Kademu, Gecko-Ken Master Moriya and Scorpion-Ken Mistress Sorisa," Iori listed.

"You know, if the RinJyuKen had a Tiger-Ken Mistress, a Crane-Ken Master, a Mantis-Ken Master, a Snake-Ken Mistress and a Monkey-Ken Master, they could form their own Furious Five," Haru joked. This earned him glares from the rest of the table. "What?"

"This is no time for jokes," Iori berated Haru, causing him to sink in his seat. "I'm sorry, but we need to be serious about this. Our lives, as well as the lives of our comrades, may depend on this knowledge."

"But aren't three of us here juiced up by the Seal of Heaven?" Haru asked, referring to Hideyoshi, Masataka, and Mitsuki. "They can just go Super Mode and wipe the Five Venom Fists out."

"We may be powerful, but that doesn't mean we're invincible," Mitsuki shot back sharply.

"We need a strategic advantage, meaning we need to study our enemies," added Masataka.

"It's true. We need to know what we'll be facing so we can come up with a plan to go up against them," agreed Hideyoshi.

"Well, my strategy is always just to hit them really, really hard until they stop moving," Haru spoke up.

"That's a good idea, but we need to hit them hard and be smart about it. Now, let's listen to my little brother," said Ichiro.

Iori started talking again, "Alright, here's an overview of the Five Venom Fists. These five are not only masters of their individual JyuKen styles, but each of them can produce venom with different debilitating effects. They have venom that can cause a high fever, nausea, paralysis, agonizing pain, chills and ultimately death."

The Armored War Gods who had faced the Venom Fists before were very familiar with those symptoms. After all, they had a chance to experience them personally.

"Kenshin and I fought a couple of them. Sorisa stung us with scorpions to give us a fever and Maga did something to give us the chills," said Hideyoshi.

"Did he do anything? Touch you with anything? Did his weapon pierce your armor?" Iori asked.

"It's nothing like that, but he was throwing bombs that released a very smelly gas," answered Hideyoshi. "I think that's what caused it."

"Must have been toxic fumes," Masataka concluded.

"Chills and a fever. Man, that must not have been good," Haru remarked sympathetically.

"Indeed, it wasn't," confirmed Hideyoshi. "How about you guys?"

"Hattori, Marcus and I were all paralyzed by Moriya," answered Mitsuki.

"Fuyu suffered from intense pain after his own encounter with Kademu," added Masataka.

"And we ended up exposed to Braco's venomous Ki," finished Iori. They all felt like they were going to vomit because of the effects of Braco's Ki. In fact, after some time of being exposed to it, a few of the Shoku Warriors actually vomited. Was it just a delayed reaction? "Their venom is dangerous, but what makes them even deadlier is the mastery of their secret techniques, their Hiden Ringi."

"Some kind of secret technique?" Haru inquired.

"Yes, but we'll go over them later. I already have an idea of how we can beat them."

"What's the plan then?"

"Divide and conquer. We'll separate them, cut them away from their army and each other to engage them separately."

"If that's the case, I demand the right to fight Braco," Karasu volunteered.

Iori immediately shot her down, "No."

Furious, Karasu immediately rose to her feet. "Why not!? Have you forgotten that he nearly killed Naga-kun!? As a member of his family, I have the right to avenge him! It's a matter of honor!"

"We are not here to deny you that right, but you need to consider the fact that you could be killed as well if you were to confront Braco alone," Iori explained to her.

"I don't care!"

"But Nagata will! He will blame himself if anything ever happened to you, and I don't want to be the one to tell him that you won't be coming home!"

Karasu immediately shut up after that. Iori was right. Nagata would be devastated by her death. She took a deep breath and calmly sat back down.

"I apologize for my outburst," said Karasu.

"I accept your apology. Believe me, I know how you feel," Iori replied sympathetically. If anyone had hurt Kochu or Riri, he wouldn't rest until he avenged them.

"So, we separate them and fight them individually. Who will end up fighting who then?" Mitsuki asked.

"That's what we're going to be deciding here. But we may need to be worried about Braco the most. He took the Seal of Heaven. That means he'll be more powerful than before, more powerful than Chojo," answered Iori. As strong as Chojo had become, she was ultimately a regular human woman. Braco was a complete monster and a high caliber martial artist to boot. Whatever the Seal of Heaven turned him into would chew up Chojo like nothing.

Hideyoshi's expression soured at the mention of Chojo. Oh, he remembered how much he hated her for keeping Totaku hostage in order to usurp the throne. She was a nightmare after her demonic transformation. Fortunately, she was gone now.

"Hey, here's a crazy thought. What if he decides to share the Seal of Heaven's with his pals so they could all power up?" Haru suggested.

Iori blinked and responded to the unexpected question after a brief pause, "...That...that is an excellent question." He never considered the idea of Braco sharing the power of the Seal of Heaven. He came up with plans that focused on Braco keeping all the power for himself. What he remembered from the show depicted Braco as selfish, ambitious and willing to use his own comrades as pawns. But what if he did end up sharing all that power? It was a frightening thought. They needed a contingency plan.

"Fighting just one monster empowered by the Seal of Heaven is scary. Fighting five of them is going to be a completely horrific nightmare," Ichiro grimaced.

"Only this is a nightmare we won't be able to wake up from," Hideyoshi blanched as he wiped the sweat from his brow. "We're so fucked."

"I say we go all out and transform straight into Sovereign Arms at the start of the fight," suggested Mitsuki.

"Is it wise to go all out so early in the fight?" Ichiro asked.

Masataka seconded, "If the opponent decides to use the power of the Seal of Heaven, that means we must respond in kind."

"Fight fire with fire," Mitsuki agreed.

"That sounds good for you, but what about the rest of us who don't have Sovereign Lockseeds?" Haru asked. Besides Mitsuki, Masataka and Hideyoshi, the strongest Lockseeds they had in their possession were A-Class. Haru himself had an S-Class Energy Lockseed too, but that still may not be enough.

"We'll just make do with what we have," Iori answered resolutely. He was still keeping Masataka's GenesisDriver and Melon Energy Lockseed, but he was also hoping that his new power would emerge. Ryugen-Yomi's presence would be really appreciated at the battle, but Iori had yet to uncover how to do it and bringing out the power to change into that form.

The next couple of hours were spent discussing the Five Venom Fists while formulating strategies and plans on how to beat them. They decided to bring in the strategists to help them. Iori had shared what he knew about the Five Venom Fists with them. The other Armored War Gods also shared their own accounts from personal experience. Their own input could make all the difference and decide the outcome of this battle.


For the next several days, preparations were made to fortify Touka Village. Braco promised he would return and there was a high possibility that he was going to come back with an army to raze their home to the ground. Using the time they were given, the Armored War Gods trained in Helheim Forest. It was the only place they could train without giving away anything.

Since the armies of the Alliance came and gathered together, allies who had fought and survived together during both The Fall of Rakuyo and The Siege of Korou Fortress used their time together to reconnect and catch up. Mitsuki and Masataka would frequently check in with their respective kingdoms. Being away for any extended period of time would provide their enemies with the opportunity to attack. That was not something they could afford. While Touka Village and Shoku were at risk right now, they prioritized their own kingdoms. They needed to be vigilant as carelessness could bring ruin. They just couldn't leave the places they called home defenseless.

Masataka also sent out soldiers on Dandeliners to perform aerial reconnaissance and scout the area for their enemy's arrival. They were also ordered to not engage the enemy. While the White Devil was willing to take risks, he wasn't one to take on unnecessary risks if he could help it. The Dandeliners might be able to slow Braco and his forces down, but it was too risky and dangerous to intercept the enemy. What they needed was information on how many soldiers Braco was bringing with him. That way, they could prepare accordingly.

Another bit of strategic thinking was to maintain the illusion that Nagata was dead. Braco believed he had killed the Blue King of Shoku and they would continue to have him believe that. Nobody but the Shoku Faction's inner circles and their fellow Armored War Gods knew that Nagata was still alive, despite being in a death-like state. He was vulnerable right now, and if their enemies knew that he was still alive then there would be another attempt on his life. As long as the enemy believed that he was dead, they would leave him alone.

When Masataka accepted Ryuubi's request for help, he had to argue with Sonken to let him go. Honestly, he could understand why she wouldn't want him to go. She was afraid of losing him again. She didn't want to lose another loved one. So, they made a compromise. Masataka would be allowed to aid the Shoku Faction but he wouldn't be going alone. He would be bringing an army and Shuutai along to accompany him. Shuutai felt this was fair as she wanted to redeem herself as she had failed to protect him before. Sonken was hesitant, but she didn't want to look like she was turning her back on her allies. So, with great reluctance, she permitted it.

Currently, Masataka was sitting in the castle's garden, under a gazebo with Iori and Shuutai. The Demon Dragon had called them here because he had something important he needed to do.

"There's something I need to return to you," confessed Iori as he revealed that he was in possession of Masataka's GenesisDriver and Melon Energy Lockseed. Masataka was silent as he looked at both items.

Shuutai was speechless. She believed that they were still with the imposter but it would appear that Shoku's own Demon Dragon had retrieved them.

Iori grew uncomfortable with the silence and asked, "Well?"

"I'm not going to ask how you got them, but I think you should keep your hands on them for now. I have a feeling you're going to need them," Masataka advised him.

"Zangetsu-sama?" Shuutai questioned. Was he really declining the return of his own equipment?

"Are you sure?" Iori asked.

Masataka answered, "Considering the nature of our enemy, we are going to need all the help and power we can get our hands on."

Iori considered Masataka's words deeply. He was right. In the next battle, they would need to use all the power they had at their disposal. Masataka pretty much gave him permission to use his gear, and Iori would make sure it was put to good use. Nise had used Zangetsu-Shin's appearance as a villain, now Iori would redeem Zangetsu-Shin, making him a hero and protector.

"Anyway, I'm leaving them in your care, for now, Tokugawa-kun. But rest assured, I am going to want them back," Masataka added. "Thank you for being honest and for the tea." He and Shuutai finished their tea and left Iori with his equipment and his thoughts.

As they walked away, Shuutai asked, "Zangetsu-sama, are you sure it's wise to allow Ryugen-dono to use your equipment?"

"He needs it more than me right now. Besides, I can tell he wants to pay Braco back for what he did to Oda-kun," Masataka answered.

"So, you just want to help him," she concluded.

Masataka confirmed, "Exactly. Friends are supposed to help each other, after all."

Shuutai rarely argued with Masataka's reasoning, lest it caused him harm. She understood what he was doing now. By allowing Iori to use the GenesisDriver and Melon Energy Lockseed, he was providing an ally with the means to access more power.

She always admired Masataka since the first day she met him and was overjoyed when she was assigned to him as his bodyguard. They kept a strictly professional relationship, but sometimes they acted like friends. He was even amused by her love for cats, something that would seem embarrassing considering her occupation. Too bad he would be marrying Sonken soon. Shuutai would've loved to have him as her husband.

She hid her feelings, of course. It just wouldn't be appropriate. Besides, how could she compare to someone like Sonken, their queen? She was just a soldier and Sonken was royalty.

As Iori sat in the gazebo, he took out his Budou Lockseed and compared it with the Melon Energy Lockseed. Would the power of Zangetsu-Shin be enough or should he try to awaken Ryugen-Yomi?


Kanu went to check up on Nagata. She put on a brave front for others. After all, she was the Black-Haired Bandit Hunter and Gaim's top general. She had an example to set. However, she was not just a warrior. She was a young woman at well. Gently, she stroked his cheek. He felt so cold. Fortunately, he managed to survive a lethal venom that absolutely killed its victims. According to Braco, his True Poison could also resurrect the dead. That kind of ability could be counted as a miracle. But coming from someone like Braco, it sounded more like a violation against nature, a curse, an abomination.

Kanu gently held his hand in hers and pleaded, "Wake up please, Nagata-sama. We need you." She loved him so much and she missed hearing his voice and seeing him like this just hurt so much. "I need you."

Karasu glared at Kanu as she spied on her from the doorway. Scowling, she turned her back and walked away. She walked past Mitsuki who was on his way to Nagata's bedroom. The two gave each other a glance before they continued on their way.

Ryofu stood guard in front of Nagata's bedroom door. When she saw Mitsuki arrive, she allowed him entry.

"Kanu," Mitsuki greeted curtly as he entered the bedroom.

"Ah, Baron-dono," responded Kanu. He noted the trace of tears on her face but did not comment.

"How is he?"

"Kada-sensei says he's stable. According to him, it's a miracle that Nagata-sama even survived."

"I stopped believing in miracles a long time ago. What happened here is that Oda has an incredibly strong will to live."

She noted a hint of respect in Mitsuki's voice but did not comment.

Mitsuki looked directly at Nagata's comatose body and said, "You better wake up, Oda. You and I have unfinished business."

When Mitsuki heard Shoku was in trouble, he did not hesitate to come to their aid. He had two reasons for coming here.

The first reason was that he owed Nagata a debt for saving Sousou's life.

The second reason was that Mitsuki wanted to test his new power against the Venom Fists. They were supposed to be elite fighters so this was his chance to see how he held his own against them in a fight. This time, there would be no holding back.

"Hey, does anyone mind if I come in?" Masataka asked as he entered Nagata's bedroom.

"Zangetsu-dono," Kanu greeted with respect.

"What are you doing here?" Mitsuki asked.

"I came to see Oda-kun," Masataka answered. "Tell me, does he still have his SengokuDriver?"

"It's right here," Kanu answered as she pulled the blanket away to reveal that Nagata was still wearing his SengokuDriver. Locked inside the Drive Bay was the Kachidoki Lockseed.

"You haven't removed it?" Masataka asked.

"We couldn't. We tried, but it just won't come off. We fear we may harm Nagata-sama if we tried to be more forceful, so we left it alone," Kanu answered.

"And the Lockseed wouldn't come out either," Masataka assumed. Kanu confirmed with a nod. "I guess this is for the best. Not many people know this, but when someone is wearing a SengokuDriver they can use Lockseeds as a replacement for food. I found this out when I spent an entire day in my armor and never went hungry."

"So he won't starve?" Kanu asked, sounding relieved and amazed.

"No, he will not. So you won't have to worry about him going hungry or being malnourished," he reassured her.

"That explains why I don't feel so hungry after I use mine," realized Mitsuki. That was good to know.


Another day came. Kaku woke up early as she usually did. As the head maid, she had responsibilities and duties to perform. She also needed to pick up the slack. Most of the maids had evacuated with the villagers. She couldn't blame them. They were afraid of an imminent large-scale attack. Unlike them, Kaku was no stranger to danger and war. She was once a military strategist after all.

Kaku also woke up early so she could wake Totaku up. Her best friend tends to oversleep so she would need a wake up call.

After a quick bath and changing into her uniform, Kaku went to wake Totaku up. She didn't even knock and simply opened the door.

"Yue, it's time to wake up!"

And then Kaku froze right in the doorway.

Totaku was in bed, but she wasn't alone. Lying under the covers with her, with an arm draped over her, was Hideyoshi. The petite maid was snuggled up against him.

Their clothes, undergarments included, were lying at the foot of the bed.

Once the verdette managed to process all this, she reacted as expected.

"AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!"

This woke up the sleeping couple and when they saw Kaku, they attempted to cover themselves with the blanket and reacted the same way.

"AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!"

"AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!"

"AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!"

It was a three-way scream fest that woke up the rest of the castle.


"What is it, Kenshin?"

"I think my bro just got lucky."

"That's nice. Now come back to bed."

"OK, Miyabi."


"We thought we were under attack," Karasu admonished. "Why were you screaming bloody murder?"

"I apologize. I just saw something that startled me," replied Kaku.

"Want to talk about it?" Karasu asked.

Kaku shook her head and answered, "I would much rather forget about it and carry on with my duties, Idunn-sama."

"Where's your partner?" Karasu asked and Kaku shuddered.

"She's attending to Gridon right now."


Haru and Ichiro were with the rest of the soldiers in the castle's courtyard, getting ready for the upcoming battle. The soldiers were currently going through drills and training while the man in Nanban Barbarian attire was doing stretches with Haru to get warmed up.

Haru Hattori was a strong warrior. In fact, among the Armored War Gods, he was one of the strongest in terms of hand-to-hand combat. The only weapons he needed were his fists, enhanced either by his Kurumi Bombers or Coco Boxers. He also trained hard every day. In the morning he would do 100 push-ups, 100 sit-ups, 100 squats, and finish his daily workout with a 10-kilometer run.

He did this every single day, without fail.

Haru admitted he got the idea from reading a manga. At first, it was difficult to accomplish each and every day, but he gradually got used to it. The pain was something he could have done without, but 'no pain, no gain'.

"Hey, Hattori-kun, Tokugawa-san," Masataka addressed both Haru and Ichiro as he found them in the courtyard.

"Hey, Zangetsu. What's up?" Haru asked.

"Oh, nothing. I'm just glad that you guys are here right now. I mean, I know Tokugawa-san's here for his brother, but you must be really brave to help us out, Hattori-kun," Masataka smiled.

"Well, yeah. Me and Nagata are tight like bros," Haru answered.

"I'm just amazed Ensho let you come here."

"Well, you know Reiha-chan. She can't say no to me," Haru grinned.

"Still, it's just so heroic that you're really willing to risk your life to help out a friend."

Ichiro cocked an eyebrow. "Excuse me, but is something wrong?"

"Why would you ask, Tokugawa-san?" Masataka wondered.

"You're acting a bit strange, Miyamoto-san," Ichiro pointed out. "You're acting oddly supportive and positive."

"Yeah, he's got a point," Haru agreed.

"No, I'm just glad that you're here to help us against a powerful enemy, that's all," Masataka reassured them. Unfortunately, he failed as realization dawned on Ichiro.

"You think we're going to die!" Ichiro accused.

"Wait, what!?" Haru cried out.

Masataka denied, "No I don't!"

"You do! You seriously do!" Ichiro insisted.

"Look, OK. I'll be straight with you. According to Tokugawa-kun, Braco has the Seal of Heaven. The last enemy we had that used that Seal of Heaven was a human who got turned into a raging she-demon. Braco's an actual monster with martial arts training and mastery of Rinki. Plus, he has friends. Hideyoshi-kun, Akechi-kun and I at least stand a better chance since we have Sovereign Lockseeds. I was only trying to help you feel better with words of encouragement."

"By giving us a false sense of hope? You're pretty much saying that we don't stand a chance," Ichiro accused. "Thanks a lot," he added sarcastically.

"Yeah, that's not cool, bro," agreed Haru.

"Well, look at the bright side..." Masataka trailed off into silence.

Ichiro glared after a moment of awkward silence. "You know, when you say that, you should follow up with the 'bright side'."

"I know," Masataka conceded shamefully. Despite being a leader himself, he wasn't very good at pep talks. It was why he always left those kinds of speeches to Sonsaku. He somehow could make people feel worse with just a few words. He probably should've kept his mouth shut to avoid this awkward situation. This was why he could never be student council president and just remained the secretary.

Still, he could give advice just fine. It was why Sonsaku made him Sonken's personal advisor. Though he suspected that was her way of making sure that they spent more time together. He was Sonken's fiancé after all.

"Look, we're all in this together, and I'm pretty sure we got this. What can possibly go wrong?" spoke Haru.

Ichiro facepalmed. Haru Hattori had just jinxed them.


Karasu was in her bedroom. She had her hand clenched tightly around her Ringo Lockseed. Her usual calmness was replaced with utter rage.

"Braco..." she growled. "You're mine."

The snake kaijin dared to hurt her beloved Naga-kun. He was going to pay, even if she was going to have to kill him over and over until he ran out of fangs to bring himself back to life.

There was a knock at her door and Karasu looked up to see Chou'un and Bacho standing in her doorway.

"It's time, isn't it?" Karasu asked as she put on her mask.

"One of our scouts just returned and informed us that Braco and his army will be arriving soon," Chou'un answered. Karasu nodded. She got up and followed them out.

"You know, I've been meaning to ask. Why do you like to wear that mask when we go out to fight?" Bacho asked.

"It helps to strike fear in the hearts of my enemies," Karasu answered matter-of-factly.

"Does it really work?"

"The screaming bandits would agree."

"I can see that happening. It's very well made," Chou'un concurred. Whenever she went out as Kachou Kamen, people always looked at her in awe. Well, that was what she believed at least.

"Thank you," Karasu accepted the compliment. While she did not like how much influence these girls had on her Naga-kun, they were her cousin's beloved friends. Until he woke up, she would have to protect them.

Though, it would be better if they didn't insist on spending so much time with him.

"Alright, Sei, Idunn-sama. Let's show those bastards what happens when they mess with us!" Bacho said excitedly. She was looking forward to avenging Nagata. When he didn't wake up, she had cried herself to sleep. He meant a lot to her and to see him in such a state was painful.

Chou'un felt the same way. Even though she enjoyed teasing Nagata from time to time, he really was a good friend who tolerated her rather flighty moments. It wasn't like she went AWOL on purpose. She was just out gathering information. She was good at it too. Only, she always did it without permission or informing anyone. No wonder he always got upset with her and hid away her precious menma. She was fond of Nagata and felt helpless when she saw him in such a horrid state. Her grip was firm on her Dragon Fang.

It was time to go to war.


"It's time," Hideyoshi said as he put on his SengokuDriver and turned to face Totaku. He took her hands in his and spoke reassuringly. "I'm going to fight, Yue-hime. This time I will protect you."

"Be careful, Hideyoshi-kun," Totaku said to him.

"I promise, Yue-hime. I will be back," swore Hideyoshi.

The two shared a kiss. It was such a beautiful sight as Kaku watched approvingly.

"I love you," Totaku said to him.

"I love you too," Hideyoshi smiled before he went and left, holding his Xuanwu Lockseed. Totaku had faith in him. He could not-would not fail her. He promised to come back to her and that's exactly what he was going to do.

"He'll be back, Yue," reassured Kaku.

"I know he will, Ei-chan. He is after all my Armored War God," Totaku smiled.


Mitsuki was taking a dip in the river. Wearing only his pants, he used a bucket to splash water all over his body. Standing nearby, with her back turned to him, was Ukin. As his bodyguard, her job was to protect him. But, the temptation to look over her shoulder was beginning to overwhelm her. Her face was flushed and her glasses were fogged up as she tried to control both her breathing and heart rate.

"Hey, Baron-sama! Are ya done yet?" Riten called as she suddenly showed up, causing Ukin to shriek.

"I'm done, Mao," Mitsuki responded as he stepped out of the river. Riten licked her lips at his fine physique and Ukin nearly fainted at the sight of her topless leader. He picked up his towel that was lying on a boulder and began drying himself.

"Everyone's getting ready to go and are waiting for you," Riten informed him as he got dressed. Ukin hid her face with her hands as Mitsuki put on his shirt before putting on his coat.

"Thank you for informing me, Mao. Sawa, let's go," Mitsuki ordered.

"Hai!" Ukin jumped and followed Mitsuki. Riten walked alongside her bespectacled friend and grinned.

"So, did you enjoy the view?" Riten teased.

"Please, don't tease me about that!" Ukin responded in a hushed tone.

"Come on, you're his bodyguard now. Enjoy the perks. I know I would."

"That sounds dirty!"

"Oh, come on. Don't tell me you're not the least bit attracted to our commander."

"What are you two talking about back there?" Mitsuki asked.

"Nothing, sir!" Ukin denied.

"Just having a conversation between friends, Baron-sama," Riten added.

"Fine, but remember that we'll be heading into battle soon, so I want you two to stay focused. I don't want to lose any of my lieutenants if I can help it."

Ukin and Riten were touched by his concern for them, but they already knew how much he cared about them. Ever since he made them his personal lieutenants, they never once regretted the decision to stick by him. He had handpicked them personally, but they were the ones who wanted to stay with him.

Mitsuki and his two lieutenants rejoined the rest of the Crimson Guard. Gakushin was preparing them for battle.

"How are the men?" Mitsuki asked. "Are they ready?"

"Yes, Baron-sama," Gakushin confirmed. Mitsuki gazed towards his men. Assembled before him were the soldiers under his command, ready to fight, kill and die in his name. They were among the best of the Crimson Guard and they would perform their duties loyally and without hesitation.

Mitsuki raised his voice and shouted, "Crimson Guard, today we're going to be taking on those undead zombie bastards! So, I want you to do your best to send them back to their graves where they belong! Can you do that?"

"YES SIR, BARON-SAMA!" the soldiers chorused.

"Let's give them hell!" Mitsuki yelled and the soldiers roared in agreement.

"Sir, we've spotted an army coming to our location," a Crimson Guardsman reported to Mitsuki.

"Is it the enemy?" Mitsuki asked.

"No, sir." the Crimson Guardsman shook his head.

"Then who is it?"

"You may not like it, sir."

"Just tell me."

"It's…"


"Oh, darling~!" Ensho cried as she flung herself into Haru's arms. The Ultimate Fist caught his fiancée in an embrace as she kissed him.

"Reiha-chan, what are you doing here?" Haru asked, surprised.

"Well, I couldn't have you fighting without my support, so I sent a message back to Iishe and Toshi to mobilize our army. They needed to pick me up at Sou Gi first before we came to join you," answered Ensho.

Ensho was in her family's battle armor, the same armor worn by Bunshu and Ganryo. The girls were carrying their signature weapons and looked ready for anything.

"You can count on us, Haru-sama!" swore Bunshu.

"Yes, we'll back you up!" claimed Ganryo as she shouldered her war hammer.

"Ah, you girls..." Haru smiled, touched by their concern. "Come here. Let's bring it together." He put his arms around them in a group hug, with Ensho sandwiched between her two advisors.

Mitsuki palmed his face but watched his mouth. Ensho was useless as a commander and warrior, but she could still get people to listen to her. Her vassals were better warriors than she was. At the very least, she brought along extra soldiers that could be used as cannon fodder.

"You know, I see it but I still don't understand how they're a couple," Hideyoshi observed Haru and Ensho's interaction.

"Love is blind, I guess," Ichiro commented.

"He's probably a beast in the sack," Iori suggested.

"Really, Iori?" Ichiro deadpanned.

"Do I need to remind you that you got married to a woman you barely knew and also consummated your marriage in the same day, Onii-san?" Iori shot back. Ichiro had the decency to keep silent.

"Whatever the reason she's here for, our forces have increased in numbers. That's all that should matter," said Masataka. Statistically, he stood to lose fewer men if there were reinforcements from the other factions.

"Hopefully Hattori can get her up to speed," remarked Mitsuki.


"Alright, deep breaths. Deep breaths..." Ryuubi repeated to herself like a mantra.

Ryuubi stood before the assembled soldiers, ready to give a speech. Usually, it was Nagata who would be giving the speeches, but he was currently unavailable due to his condition. That was why she would have to boost the soldiers' morale. They needed their spirits lifted for the battle that was to come.

"Everyone!" started Ryuubi and all eyes were on her. "You are gathered here today to defend your home-our home together! The home that Gaim-sama gave his life for to protect!

"I must warn you, the enemy we are facing has indeed defeated Gaim-sama! They also say that they will return and no doubt they will bring an army! I plead with you to not show fear in the face of such an enemy! Just because Gaim-sama is not with us right now, it doesn't mean he is not with us in spirit!

"Hope, courage, justice and determination! Those are the ideals that Gaim-sama lived by and are the same ideals we must follow! We have asked for the aid of his fellow Armored War Gods, including the ones who have been chosen by the Sovereigns! They will fight with us! Follow them as you would follow Gaim-sama! Fight not only in his name but for your home and for everyone in Shoku the same way Gaim-sama would!"

There was a moment of silence before a soldier loudly cheered and applauded. This was followed by more applause and cheers from the soldiers and then a loud roar of agreement from the gathered soldiers. Ryuubi smiled and she turned to look at her friends who all smiled in approval. She may not be able to fight as well as Nagata, but she was still able to inspire people as well as he could.

"That was wonderfully done, Touka," praised Kanu.

"Yeah! You really nailed that speech!" added Chouhi happily.

Ryuubi confessed with a smile and a blush, "I only said what Nagata-sama would've said if he was here right now."

"Not a bad speech," Mitsuki admitted. What Ryuubi lacked in terms of expert fighting capabilities, she more than up for it with her charisma. Her words and the conviction she put behind them managed to strengthen the resolve and morale of the soldiers.

"I'm really getting pumped!" Haru cheered as he pounded his fists together.

"Good job, Ryuubi Gentoku," Masataka praised.


KRC: This was one heck of a chapter for me to write. A lot of planning went into this as well as revisions to get to this point. I mean, it's strange after reading what you write and realize there's something missing or just something that's not needed. I look forward to your reviews. I've enjoyed myself greatly while writing this and I hope you enjoy yourselves just as much by reading. Feedback is also greatly appreciated. Please Fave, Follow, and Review. Oh, and one more thing: I don't do requests. You can give me ideas, but I may not do them.

TFP: Well, the battle for Shoku is about to begin. All the players are set and they are just waiting for the battle to start. It's a powder keg ready to explode and the spark is about to be dropped. What more can we say? Let the epic battle of the ages begin!


An evil army of the undead was marching its way towards Touka Village. Leading the march were the four members of the Five Venom Fists. Banners holding the images of the Five Venom Fists' signature animals were carried and raised proudly by the Rinshi.

Back in the RinJyuDen, Braco sat on his throne while monitoring everything via the viewing screens. He wore a sinister smile as he looked forward to the upcoming slaughter. His eyes flashed purple as the Dorinki pumped through his body.

Soon, Touka Village and the rest of Shoku would be nothing more than a dead wasteland. And once they were done with Shoku, the rest of the nation would follow...and then the world.


AWG CHIBI OMAKE #4: THE LEAGUE OF LITTLE LOLIS

"I call to order this meeting of the League of Little Lolis!" Sonshoko announced.

"Our first order of business should be to change the damn name," grumbled Juniku.

"The name stays!" Sonshoko objected. "Now, can anyone tell me what our league is all about?"

"To show even small boobs are good," Hoto said as she raised her hand up.

"And we're great even if we don't get boobs," added Chinkyuu as she raised her fist.

"And that even little girls like us can be good lovers," Komei said as she also raised her hand.

"Exactly!" Sonshoko nodded. "For too long we have been overshadowed by big boobs! I mean just look at them!" She pointed on the blackboard which had pictures of all the girls with big breasts posted on it. "How can we compete with that?"

"By being cute!" Hoto chirped.

"By being adorable!" Chinkyuu proclaimed.

"By being moe!" Komei suggested.

"Exactly! If we can't win with sex appeal, we'll win with cute appeal!" announced Sonshoko. "Now onwards, League of Little Lolis! Let's show everyone that the Little Sister Appeal can still work!"

"YEAH!"

"What have I gotten myself into?" Juniku mumbled.

And so began the Anti-Boob Revolution.

"DOWN WITH BIG BOOBS!"

"BIG BOOBS ARE GREAT!"

"DOWN WITH BIG BOOBS!"

"BIG BOOBS ARE GREAT!"

The Little Loli League met fierce opposition from the Nanban Barbarians who supported and love big breasts. Nagata stood on the sidelines with Ichiro.

"What the hell is happening?" Nagata asked.

Ichiro could only shrug helplessly.

"DOWN WITH BIG BOOBS!"

"BIG BOOBS ARE GREAT!"

"DOWN WITH BIG BOOBS!"

"BIG BOOBS ARE GREAT!"

"You know what? I'm just going not interfere and let this all play out. You want to go get something to drink?" Nagata asked.

"Sure," Ichiro accepted.

"DOWN WITH BIG BOOBS!"

"BIG BOOBS ARE GREAT!"

"DOWN WITH BIG BOOBS!"

"BIG BOOBS ARE GREAT!"