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"Must you go?" Mei asked as Mitsuki prepared to leave. A week had passed since he took care of the loan shark and his goons for Mei and the orphans. Now, Mitsuki was going to leave them to seek Sousou.
"I have to," said Mitsuki. "There are things I gotta do." As much as he appreciated Mei for letting him stay, he could not take advantage of her hospitality forever. As nice and peaceful as it was, staying here would do him no good. He needed to go out and explore this world he found himself in. He also needed to find out the reason he was here in the first place and why he had been given the powers of Baron. There must be some kind of purpose for him.
"The children will miss you."
"And I'll miss them too."
Mei could see that he was not going to change his mind. She could see it in his eyes that he was resolute. She could not stop him so she could at least give him her blessing.
"Promise you'll come back then?"
"I promise."
Mei would always welcome him back. This orphanage had become his home and a place for him to come back to.
"At least let me prepare some food for your trip," Mei offered.
"Thank you," he accepted.
Mei made him some rice balls, packed them up for Mitsuki, and saw him off with the rest of the kids. He exchanged goodbye with the kids, promising to return and visit soon. They all looked up to him as a big brother and wanted him to stay, but not even the puppy-dog eyes could prevent him from leaving.
One of the kids gave Mitsuki a drawing of him with everyone to remember them by. He smiled as he kept it and went on his way. In a way, Mei and the orphans had become his surrogate family. He swore to repay them for their kindness.
After giving them one last goodbye, Mitsuki set off on his journey.
"Alright, next stop Sousou," Mitsuki decided. He was hoping to use his power to impress him. Serving him might give him an advantage in this world.
Sangokuden Armored War Gods Saga: End of the Armored War Gods
Co-Written By: Kamen Rider Chrome & Ten-Faced Paladin
Beta Reader/Editor: Busterleader92
Baron-Hen Prelude Part 4: The Crimson Enforcer
"Ugh..." Mitsuki's face twisted in disgust as his feet sunk into the muddy ground. He was following a shortcut to Sou Gi's capital which meant crossing the swamplands. Not only did it smell bad, he was also getting mud on his shoes. He was fine with roughing it out, so he endured it, but he still hated walking through the swamp.
It had been days since he left Mei and the orphans. Lacking a horse, he had no choice but to travel on foot. He should not be very far from the capital. If he continued this way, he might make it by nightfall. He had no plans on making camp in this mosquito-infested place.
Suddenly, Mitsuki heard a noise. It sounded like a fight was taking place. Trusting his gut, Mitsuki followed the noise and came across a battle as two groups of soldiers fought. He hid behind blades of tall grass as he watched the battle. His eyes fell upon a young woman in a red dress with long black hair. She was wielding a sword and using it to cut down her enemies. She had to be the most beautiful woman he had ever seen.
He saw arrows falling near her and realized there must be archers nearby.
"Enemy archers! Take cover!" she commanded.
The soldiers obeyed, meaning she was their commanding officer. If there was one thing Mitsuki found attractive, it was a woman with authority. Mitsuki watched as they used the trees for cover as the archers fired upon them. The archers were probably perched in the trees, firing from above. It was a cunning tactic, though not really Mitsuki's style.
As the battle continued, Mitsuki felt a rush of excitement and adrenaline urging him to participate. His heart pounded in his chest as his senses sharpened. He did not want to remain a bystander for much longer and so he strapped on his SengokuDriver and took out his Banana Lockseed.
Looking toward the woman-in-red, Mitsuki chose his side.
"Henshin."
[BANANA!]
In the middle of his transformation, Mitsuki leaped from his hiding place just as an arrow was being fired at the woman. As it was coming at her, Baron planted himself in front of the woman. She gasped as she saw him just as the arrow was about to hit its target.
[COME ON! BANANA ARMS! KNIGHT OF SPEAR!]
With a swing of his Banaspear, Baron deflected the arrow and then looked over his shoulder at the woman who gaped at him.
"You okay?" he asked.
"Ah...ah...Yes," she nodded, quickly regaining herself. Looking about, she tried to see where her troops stood. "Karin-sama! Where are you?"
"Karin?" Baron asked, surprised and confused. That was the name of his late sister. What a weird coincidence.
"I'm fine, Shunran." A petite blonde stood up and stepped forward to rally her troops. Baron froze when he saw her.
"...Karin?" Baron whispered. It was like looking at a ghost. She resembled his late sister, with the same hairstyle and she even had her name too. This was way too much to be a coincidence. She had some blood splattered on her outfit, but she did not seem bothered by it. She looked at Baron, acknowledging his presence, and then took charge.
"Bring out the archers! Shoot them out of the trees!" 'Karin' commanded.
"Shoot the little tramp down!" someone from the enemy lines shouted, seeing a perfect chance to take out the enemy commander.
Baron saw red when he heard this and charged at the enemy troops. He let out a ferocious yell as he hit the Cutting Blade of his SengokuDriver twice.
They would never know what hit them.
[COME ON! BANANA AU LAIT!]
Baron drove his Banaspear into the ground. All of a sudden, an absurdly gigantic banana burst out from underneath a tree, splitting it in half. The archers perched on the tree cried out in shock and terror as they were flung to the muddy ground.
Baron was not quite finished yet. He was just getting started.
[COME ON! BANANA AU LAIT!]
More gigantic bananas sprouted explosively from the ground, causing explosions which spooked the enemy soldiers as they were sent scattering.
"AUGH!"
"WHAT IS THIS?!"
"WHO IS THAT MAN!?"
[COME ON! BANANA AU LAIT!]
Baron continued his assault, making giant bananas burst out of the ground as he destroyed the archers' perch. They fell from the air, landing painfully in heaps. They scrambled to regroup as Baron delivered one Au Lait finisher after another.
"Kill him! Kill him!"
Enemy swordsmen charged at Baron to cut him down. His reflexes kicked in and he parried their swords. He then retaliated as he pierced their armor with his lance, taking them down with ease.
'Shunran' and 'Karin' both watched Baron, with different reactions.
'Shunran' was astounded by what she saw. He was powerful, she could not deny, and he was wrecking the enemy forces with shocking ease.
'Karin', on the other hand, saw a possible ally that could be brought to her side. Like 'Shunran', she could not deny that he was powerful. She knew talent and potential when she saw it. If she got him on her side, then his power would be hers to command. He would help her to realize her ambition and with how fast he was taking out her enemies, she might actually do it ahead of schedule.
It did not take long for the battle to end in 'Karin's' favor once Baron was finished. What remained of the enemy troops fled from the battlefield, their will to fight broken by Baron's appearance. 'Karin's' own men cheered as if the Heavens had granted them victory.
Baron turned to face 'Karin', 'Shunran', and a young woman garbed in a blue dress. She had short blue hair with a bang hanging over her right eye. Like 'Shunran', she was easy on the eyes and she was also holding a bow with a quiver of arrows hanging from her shoulder.
Nobody said anything for a full minute as they sized each other up. Baron noticed that the two tall girls with 'Karin' kept their guards up. He might have helped them in battle, but they knew nothing about him. That was a good mentality to have. Just because he had helped them, it did not mean he had their trust, yet. He would work hard to earn their trust and maybe they could help him find Sousou.
"Who are you? What is your name?" 'Karin' asked Baron. Their eyes met and he realized she wanted to meet the man beneath the mask. He closed his Banana Lockseed, causing his armor to vanish in motes of light, revealing his true appearance to the three women and their forces.
"I am Baron," Mitsuki replied simply.
"Do not be so disrespectful to Sousou-sama! Show proper respect!" the bluenette snapped when he did not bow. She might've been grateful that Baron saved her sister, but she would not tolerate any disrespect towards her lord.
Mitsuki cocked an eyebrow. When did he disrespect Sousou? He did not see the famous warlord here, just three women and their soldiers. This was actually strange when he thought about it. According to history, women did not possess any military authority during this era, so how were three girls able to become commanding officers?
"I will when I decide Sousou is worth respecting. I actually came this way to see if Sousou was worth joining up with since I heard he was one of the strongest out there," Mitsuki responded, not feeling intimidated.
"Then you found me," 'Karin' said with a critical frown. "I am Sousou Motoku."
Wait, what?
"You? You're Sousou Motoku? One of the most powerful warlords besides Sonsaku Hakufu and Ryuubi Gentoku? You?" Now Mitsuki was surprised. He was sure this girl was their leader with how everyone was showing her such respect, but he never thought she was Sousou. "I expected Sousou to be taller and a man. Are you sure you're not his daughter?"
"I am the one and only Sousou Motoku. What ridiculous rumor said that I was a man?" Sousou frowned, not liking the fact someone was saying she was a man and commenting on her height. She was superior to any man.
Also, who the hell was Ryuubi Gentoku?
"I guess I just got my facts wrong," Mitsuki replied, relaxing. He at first believed he was in the past, but it was more than that. Either the history books got it wrong or he was in some kind of alternate version of the Three Kingdoms Era. A gender-bent version of Sousou implied that. "Well, Sousou, may I join your army?" asked Mitsuki, causing several eyebrows to rise. He knew how blunt he sounded, but he always got to the point. She had seen what he could do and he hoped it was enough to impress her.
"You're strong and powerful," Sousou admitted. "I could use someone like you as an enforcer."
"An enforcer to a loli?" Mitsuki wondered under his breath. He was rational enough to see that Sousou was not his late sister. His sister was dead and buried. But the resemblance was uncanny and he could not bring himself to refuse her.
"Excuse me?" Sousou asked.
"Nothing. So am I in?"
"Oh, you've made a very good first impression alright, but let's see if you can truly earn your place," Sousou challenged.
Prove himself, huh? Wasn't helping them win enough? Perhaps Sousou wanted to see more of what he could do. Well, Mitsuki was up for a challenge. He followed Sousou and her troops out of the swamp. Along the way, he learned that 'Shunran's' public name was Kakoton Genjo and the bluenette was her sister Kakoen Myosai. They were both Sousou's generals.
He really had ended up in a world that was an alternate version of the Three Kingdoms Era, which had female versions of the warlords and generals. Who else was gender-bent in this world and would there be even more surprises?
"Thank you for saving me," said Kakoton as she walked alongside Mitsuki.
"It's no problem," he replied. He could tell that they were going to be good friends from now on.
"Argh!" Mitsuki cried out as he was knocked to the ground by a blow to his torso. His wooden practice sword lay beside him as he rubbed his chest.
"Had enough?" Kakoton taunted as she shouldered her own practice sword.
Mitsuki scowled as he picked his sword back and rolled his shoulders before resuming a ready stance.
"The only way I'm going down is if you kill me," Mitsuki challenged.
"And then you'll bring out your armor?" Kakoton questioned.
"We'll see if you manage to knock me down again," Mitsuki answered, grinning viciously.
"Oh, this will be fun," Kakoton smiled, fired up to resume their sparring match.
Watching the sparring match were Sousou, Sousou's strategist Juniku and Kakoton's sister Kakoen. Juniku was a petite girl like Sousou who wore a cat-ear hood. Hard to believe she was a strategist, but Mitsuki did not argue.
After meeting Mitsuki, Sousou had offered him a place in her army. She considered making him an enforcer, but he still needed to prove himself to her. He might have impressed her with his armor and power, but she wanted to see if he could fight without them. If he proved to be nothing but a mere weakling without them, then she had no need for someone like him.
Sousou was not surprised when Kakoton vouched for their new recruit. After all, the armored young man had saved her life. Sousou did understand that Kakoton now owed Mitsuki a life debt and Sousou did owe him for saving the life of one of her beloved generals.
Juniku, however, was not happy about a man possibly joining their inner circle. Maybe he'd be useful as a grunt, but he had shown some impressive power during the previous battle. Kakoen remained neutral, just waiting to see if Mitsuki could prove himself worthy of a place among them.
Kakoton and Mitsuki's wooden swords ended up in a blade lock as they glared at each other. Momentarily, Mitsuki found himself admiring the woman with long black hair. She was a beauty, and not just in terms of looks which were not bad in his eyes. She had an amazing figure and a lovely face, but it was her strength that was her most attractive quality. He cared little for girls who wore makeup to show themselves off like peacocks. He wanted a real woman who had a fire burning within them. He wanted a woman with fiery passion, iron will, and an impressive willpower.
It was why he wanted to join Sousou. She may not be exactly like Cao Cao, but she was a close equivalent. Plus, she resembled his late sister Karin. He had this desire to impress her and prove himself to her, to show her that he could be of use to her. He may hate the idea of serving others and following orders, but he wouldn't mind if Sousou was the one to command him. And he wanted to prove he could fight even without his armor.
Kakoton and Mitsuki broke apart, panting. He wiped some sweat off his brow and grinned. Kakoton returned the smile. During their melee, the black-haired general had sized him up. His willpower was formidable. No matter how many times she knocked him down, he still got back up. Resolve and tenacity like that could help him go far. When their eyes had met, she could see a burning spirit, one that would not bow out without a fight.
In their army, men served as mere subordinates and while he would still serve as Sousou's subordinate, he would have much higher authority than all the men in their forces. Kakoton would like to have him on their side, but Sousou's words were law, and while Kakoton owed him her life, she would not let him win so easily.
Mitsuki appreciated that. He respected that and he was glad that he earned Kakoton's respect. Now, he would earn Sousou's approval and a place as a member of her inner circle.
The two warriors shouted and rushed at each other with swords swinging. Kakoton made a move to strike his head, but he sidestepped the wooden blade, causing it to fly by his face. But she saw this and swung again but he ducked. Kakoton took her chance and kicked him in the head, knocking him back. She then kicked him in the stomach, knocking him to the ground.
Sousou sighed in disappointment, Kakoen frowned as she reflected Sousou's mood, and Juniku internally cheered. Mitsuki was once again beaten.
"Looks like I won again," Kakoton remarked, standing over Mitsuki.
"Not yet," Mitsuki retorted as he tripped Kakoton with his leg and knocked her down. She gasped and tried to get up, but Mitsuki just grabbed her arm and twisted it, forcing her to release her weapon. He then twisted her arm behind her, causing her to cry out in pain before his other arm wrapped around her neck.
Mitsuki was not afraid to fight dirty. He did not believe honor applied in combat. It was winning or losing, survive or die, and he would not be beaten when he had a chance to take advantage of an opportunity to achieve victory.
"I said it before, Kakoton," Mitsuki whispered as he tightened his hold, choking her. "The only way I'm going down is if you kill me." He did not intend to hurt her. The hold was meant to choke her until she passed out. "Now, concede."
This went on for a few seconds as Kakoton was slowly losing consciousness. Her struggling weakened and yet she did not say the word "surrender".
It was Sousou who decided to end it.
"Enough," Sousou ordered.
Mitsuki complied and released Kakoton who coughed and gasped for breath.
Kakoen gasped as her eyes widened in surprise while Juniku's jaw hit the floor. The strategist may look down on Kakoton's lack of intelligence, but she still acknowledged the red general's strength and believed she would beat Mitsuki. What she lacked in brains, she made up for in skill and strength. It was why she was part of Sousou's court. Logically, without his armor granting him his power, he would've easily been beaten by Kakoton. Instead, he was the one who was victorious and not her.
Mitsuki looked down at Kakoton as she glared at him. She might owe him her life, but she did not appreciate being humiliated.
"If you're going to gloat then get it over with," she spat. Instead, Mitsuki offered her his hand.
"I don't see a point in gloating, plus I would not do that to an ally," he told her sincerely. Kakoton blinked, stared at the hand with some hesitation before she accepted it. He pulled her back up to her feet. "By the way, you're very strong. I would not expect any less from one of Sousou's generals."
"Thank you, Baron. I also apologize for underestimating you," Kakoton apologized.
"All I did was seeing a chance and took advantage of it," Mitsuki returned.
"That was a very unconventional way to win a duel."
"I'll teach it to you if you want."
Were they flirting?
"Baron! Kakoton!" Sousou spoke up, causing Kakoton to go silent as she stood at attention. Mitsuki just stood casually as he faced Sousou. "You both did well."
"So, did you like what you see?" Mitsuki asked with a smirk. Juniku fumed at the casual disrespect but remained silent out of respect for Sousou.
"You're adequate. Of course, as a Messenger of Heaven, you'd obviously have the skill to wield your armor," Sousou answered. Mitsuki did not know what a 'Messenger of Heaven' was, but it did not matter to him. What really mattered was that he was in and would soon become a part of Sousou's inner circle. It was just the place he wanted to be. "Now, swear your allegiance to me."
Mitsuki was not the type of person to submit to anyone, not unless they deserved it. However, as Sousou resembled his little sister, he could not find it in him to refuse. But first things first, if he was going to swear his allegiance and lend her his strength, he was going to make this a bit more dramatic.
Mitsuki strapped on his SengokuDriver and took out his Banana Lockseed. He unlocked it and loaded it into his SengokuDriver before slicing it open with the Cutting Blade.
[COME ON! BANANA ARMS! KNIGHT OF SPEAR!]
The Gi Faction witnessed as Mitsuki transformed before them. They saw the armor descend from the Heavens to envelop his head before his suit materialized. Once Mitsuki's armor formed, transforming him into Baron, he raised his Banaspear then turned it upside down so its tip touched the floor. He got down on one knee and bowed his head.
"I, Baron, swear my allegiance to Sousou Motoku. I will fight in her name, I will fight to aid in her ambition, and I will fight for her," Baron vowed. "This I swear."
This would've been a good and touching moment, but then they all heard a ruckus coming from outside the throne room. All of a sudden, the doors were thrown open as a couple of guards went flying into the throne room.
"SOUSOU!" the creature demanded as it stomped into the throne room. Judging by its appearance, it was male. His body was a deep muddy brown color and built out of rippling muscle. He had skull-shaped shoulder pads and a series of bangles on his wrists. His chest resembled the face of a buffalo with the horns curled back to go over his shoulders. The buffalo face even had a nose ring. His head was frightening, bone white like a skull and set in a vicious sneer with rings hanging from his ears. Finally, he had a pair of large buffalo horns on his head.
"A demon!" Juniku cried.
"I've come for Sousou Motoku! Give me Sousou Motoku!" the beast-man demanded.
"And who demands my presence?" Sousou retorted.
"I am Kyuugi! Master of the RinJyu Buffalo-Ken!" the beast-man, now identified as Kyuugi, said. "And Sousou Motoku will come with me!"
"How dare you!?" Kakoton snapped angrily as she prepared to fight, drawing her sword to defend her lord. Her sister was at her side, with an arrow nocked in her bow, ready to be fired.
When Kyuugi saw Kakoton, he saw the color of her dress. He froze and then began to huff and puff out of his nose. His eyes turned red. In fact, his entire vision turned red as he huffed and puffed more intensely. He was literally fuming with steam spewing out his nostrils as a blazing aura surrounded his frame.
"Red...red...red..." Kyuugi repeated as he scraped the floor with his foot, preparing to charge. He let out a roar and charged. "REEEEEEEEEED!" He went straight for the group but he did not manage to get close.
[COME ON! BANANA SQUASH!]
Baron thrust his Banaspear at Kyuugi, surprising the beast-man and knocking him off course with a giant banana. The beast-man was sent tumbling into one of the throne room's pillars and the resulting impact caused the room to shake.
"What was that?" grumbled Kyuugi as he picked himself up, knocked out of his fugue. "A banana?"
"It's Baron," Baron corrected and when Kyuugi got a good look at him, the Rinrinshi's yellow eyes were focused on the color of his Ride Wear suit. "Now, if you're here for a fight, how about you try me on for size?"
However, Kyuugi was not listening. He saw red again as he let out a roar, his aura exploding from his body.
"REEEEEEEEDDDDDDD!" Kyuugi roared angrily and charged straight at Baron. Baron prepared himself for the Rinrinshi's attack. "BUFFALO SHOKAKUDA!"
Kyuugi pointed his head at Baron and slammed into him. Baron cried out as he was lifted up by the horns and then sent crashing into the wall. Kyuugi then grabbed him by his own horn and punched him repeatedly in the chest.
"Red! Red! Red! Red!" Kyuugi said with each punch. "REEEEEEED!"
For the first time since wearing the armor, Baron felt pain as each blow rocked his body. He tried to free himself from Kyuugi's grip, but the beast-man held firmly.
"Get off me!" Baron struggled to free himself.
Suddenly, several arrows hit Kyuugi in the back. The sudden penetration caused the buffalo beast-man to release his prey and turn angrily at Kakoen who had her bow aimed at him. Spotting Kakoton, he let out a roar as he charged for her.
"REEEEEEEDDDDD!"
"Oh, no you don't!" Baron leaped onto Kyuugi's back and grabbed him by the horns. The buffalo beast-man tried to angrily buck him off, roaring furiously, but Baron kept a firm grip on the horns as to not be thrown off. Baron hung on for his dear life as Kyuugi attempted to throw him off. On one occasion, he had seen a YouTube video of a man riding a steer. The steer had tried to buck the rider off as the man tried to keep himself from being thrown off. Baron wondered if it was just like what he was experiencing.
Baron noticed quickly that Kyuugi went crazy whenever he saw the color red. Kakoton's dress was red and Baron's Ride Wear suit was red as well. Whenever Kyuugi saw anything wearing red, he attacked them without warning. That gave Baron an idea.
If Kyuugi was too busy attacking anything wearing red, he would not go after Sousou. However, the only thing wrong with that plan is that he would kill Baron, then Kakoton, before going after Sousou. Sousou would have to put a lot of red things between herself and Kyuugi to keep him at bay, and that was not a permanent solution.
"REEEEEEEEDDDD!" Kyuugi changed tactics. Instead of trying to throw Baron off, he turned his back to the wall and began slamming himself against it. Baron took the brunt of the force and released Kyuugi's horns, falling on the floor as a result. The beast-man then turned around and raised his foot to smash Baron's head in, but then Kakoton came and slashed Kyuugi in the back. The beast-man turned around to face the woman who dared to strike him and Baron's eyes widened.
"Kakoton!" Baron cried.
"I owe you my life so now we're even!" Kakoton yelled and she sidestepped when Kyuugi came at her. He ran past her and straight into a pillar, smashing right through it instead. Kakoton offered her hand to Baron and he took it before she helped him up.
"Be careful. Red makes him go crazy," Baron warned.
"Yeah, I noticed," Kakoton acknowledged as Kyuugi shook the rubble off his body. "He's after Karin-sama."
"Yeah, and he'll smash us to bits before he does," Baron replied.
"What do we do?" Kakoton asked and Baron took out another Lockseed. It was the second Lockseed in his collection and just the thing he needed for this fight.
"Just give him an even more irresistible target."
Baron unlocked the Lockseed.
[MANGO!]
"Mango?" Kakoton repeated, confused.
"Mango?" Juniku, Kakoen, and Sousou echoed curiously.
The Helheim portal opened above Baron as his Banana Arms Armor vanished, leaving him in his Ride Wear suit. As the metal mango hovered over him, Baron unlocked and removed the Banana Lockseed from the Drive Bay before replacing it with the Mango Lockseed.
[LOCK ON!]
The war trumpets went off, getting Kyuugi's attention, causing him to turn his head towards Baron. The beast-man let out a roar and charged straight at him.
[COME ON! MANGO ARMS!]
The Mango Armor Part opened up and quickly landed on Baron's body. The front of it folded forward, revealing a red chestpiece resembling muscular pectorals and a six-pack that looked like cubed mango. He had shoulder pads of a similar design and his helmet sported new horns that curved downward. He also sported a cape.
[FIGHT OF HAMMER!]
Kyuugi came right at Baron as Kakoton retreated to avoid being impaled by the horns. As soon as the beast-man got in close, Baron caught the horns and held Kyuugi in place.
When Baron first put on the Mango Arms, he noted how his physical strength was increased. This allowed him to rival Kyuugi's own strength while he was consumed by his red-induced berserker rage. He pushed back against Kyuugi who tried to push him back as well, but it was Baron who had the upper hand as he lifted Kyuugi off the ground and then tossed him across the room.
As Kyuugi crashed to the floor, Baron summoned his weapon in a splash of mango juice. It was a mace that resembled cubed mango with a long silver shaft called the Mango Punisher. Baron gripped the shaft tightly.
"REEEEEEEDDDDD!" Kyuugi roared as he came at Baron, ready to use his Buffalo Colliding Horns Tackle. The red aura surrounded him, enveloping him like an angry red fireball.
The thing about berserkers was, while powerful and unstoppable, they were also predictable. Once in range, Baron slammed the Mango Punisher into Kyuugi's face, causing him to stagger. Baron continued to land one blow after the next, landing a series of strikes. He did not let up as he performed a chain combo of blows that did not give Kyuugi a chance to counterattack.
One last swing slammed into Kyuugi's chin, knocking him down.
"Now, time to finish you off," Baron decided as he hit his Cutting Blade three times.
[COME ON! MANGO SPARKING!]
"Ha..." Baron took a deep breath as his Mango Punisher glowed. Kyuugi was getting up and he saw red again when he laid his eyes on Baron. Ignoring the glowing mace, Kyuugi lunged right at him.
"REEEEEDDDDDD! DESTROOOOOY! KIIIIIILL! REEEEEDDD!"
"SEI-YAAAAAH!" Baron yelled as he swung the Mango Punisher with all his might, crowning Kyuugi. The force of the blow caused a shockwave which rippled through the air, slamming into everyone present. The explosion that followed blew them away.
Baron took a deep breath and shouldered his Mango Punisher. Should he say a snarky one-liner? It was not really his style.
He looked to Sousou who smiled with approval.
"Welcome to my army, Crimson Enforcer Baron."
She even had a title picked out for him.
Crimson Enforcer Baron.
He liked it. A lot.
Mitsuki was given a room in the palace by Sousou. Now that he was under Sousou's employment, he now had a salary. He would send some of the money he earned to Mei to help her buy supplies for the orphanage.
Mitsuki did not carry anything but the clothes on his back and his equipment, so he really did not have a lot to unpack. As he looked around his new fully furnished room, he considered how he was going to decorate it. He could have a chess set made. With the money he earned, he could commission a craftsman to make him one. As he put his SengokuDriver down on the table, there was a knock on his door.
"Come on in."
The door opened and Kakoen entered.
"Oh, it's you, Kakoen."
"Baron."
Mitsuki remembered that she had given him a cold reception earlier at the swamp, but she was only wary of his intentions. He did not blame her. It was a good idea to be cautious of strangers. He might have ulterior motives so it would be a bad idea to drop her guard around him. It would be so easy for an assassin to infiltrate their ranks by posing as an ally.
As one of Sousou's generals, Kakoen was a strong woman and Mitsuki would not mind getting to know the cool beauty more intimately. But first, he needed to earn her trust. He was not worried about that, however. Helping them out at the swamp and protecting Sousou should earn him some brownie points.
"So, did you come to welcome me?"
"Actually, I'm here to give you my thanks. You protected Sousou-sama and for that I am grateful."
"Don't mention it."
"I would also like to thank you for saving my sister's life before. Sousou-sama may not say it, but she is grateful too, and she would surely have been as devastated as I if my sister were to fall in battle. It might've been an honorable death, but we would much prefer to have her alive."
Mitsuki did not really need Kakoen's thanks but he accepted it anyway. He was not the kind to ignore someone who was in danger if he could do something about it. At least saving Kakoton's life and helping them in the swamp got Sousou's attention. His actions in protecting her from Kyuugi further reaffirmed his position.
"We're comrades now, Kakoen. You can trust me to protect Sousou and watch your backs."
"Quite true. Therefore, allow me to formally welcome you to Sou Gi. It would be an honor to fight alongside you, Baron."
"It's my honor too, Kakoen. Oh, and tell the loli I'm happy to be onboard."
Kakoen blinked in confusion.
"Loli?"
"Oh, you know. Sousou."
Kakoen's lips were set in a line as she cocked an eyebrow in disapproval.
"She may not appreciate you calling her that."
Mitsuki shrugged.
"Trust me. She'll get used to it or kill me for it."
"She just might..." Kakoen warned, though whether she was joking or not, he could not be sure.
Mei was sweeping in front of the orphanage. Nearly a month had passed since Mitsuki left to join Sousou. She had not received any word from him since and she was worried. She hoped that nothing terrible had happened to him. But then, maybe he just simply forgot about them. After all, working as an officer under Sousou was supposed to be prestigious.
Mei shook her head quickly, casting away such negative thoughts.
'No, Mitsuki-san is not like that!'
She believed in him and that he would keep his promise.
As she continued sweeping, she spotted a horse and its rider approaching. Curious, she put her broom down to see who it was. She let out a gasp once she recognized him. The children were too busy playing to notice, but they soon stopped when the rider stopped and dismounted.
It was Mitsuki. He had returned!
The children excitedly crowded around Mitsuki, welcoming him back. He smiled warmly in return and ruffled their hair.
"Mitsuki-san, you came back," Mei greeted with a smile.
"I told you I'd be back and I got you something," Mitsuki replied as he handed her a satchel. She opened it and gasped at all the money inside. She smiled beautifully at the Crimson Enforcer.
"Mitsuki-san, thank you."
Meanwhile, elsewhere, in a mysteriously undisclosed location...
"No! Dammit! No! I had it! I had it in my hands! Damn it! Damn it all!" Saji screamed in frustration once he found himself back in Ukitsu's lair.
"Oh, you're back, Genpou-dono. I'm guessing you failed to retrieve the mirror," said Ukitsu as he saw the young man had returned empty-handed. Quite the pity.
"You think!? Now how will I get my wish now!?" Saji snapped angrily.
"Don't worry. There will be new opportunities, but it seems that the wheels of fate are turning in a totally new and unexpected manner," Ukitsu spoke with mysterious reassurance.
"Stop talking in riddles, Ukitsu and say what you mean," Saji demanded impatiently.
"Oh, you'll just have to see for yourself, because the world has changed in a way that you could not have possibly imagined."
Ukitsu opened a bamboo scroll entitled 'The Celestial Chronicles'.
Mitsuki Akechi...
An orphan who lost everything...
Transported to an alternate Ancient China with a SengokuDriver and Lockseeds which were originally toys but made real by the same magic that brought him to this strange and dangerous era...
He had proven himself to Sousou and made a member of her faction...
And so began the legend of Armored War God Baron of the Ultimate Spear, Sousou's Crimson Enforcer…
"And there you have it," Topper concluded the tale as the silvery screen vanished. "The story of Mitsuki Akechi's arrival in Ancient China and how he became the Crimson Enforcer. I will keep watching him and the rest of the Armored War Gods as there are still more stories to tell. So please come again if you wish to see more. Thank you and good night."
KRC: And there it is, Mitsuki's story and how he became Sousou's Crimson Enforcer. Also, this chapter features Kyuugi, another Buffalo-Ken user. I know that Gyuuya appeared in Season 3 and became a giant, so this Kyuugi could be related to Gyuuya, hence the similar appearance and mastering the same Beast-Fist style. They could be brothers. Gyuuya didn't say he had a brother, but he did not say he did not have a brother. Let's just say and if possible, they don't see eye to eye and they're not on speaking terms about each other. Plus, I needed a climactic fight scene to really sell this. In a way, this was almost like Gaim Gaiden: Kamen Rider Baron as it features Baron fighting a buffalo-like monster that went berserk. Kyuugi's hatred for the color red is probably not one of the weirdest mental disorders I've ever had portrayed by a Rinrinshi's, but at least I was able to apply it here. OK, anyway, this pretty much shows how Mitsuki joins Sousou and why. That is the story I was planning to tell. He needed to join the strongest so he could have a way to survive and repay Mei for her kindness. Joining Sousou seemed like the best idea. He just needed to impress her. So, there you go.
I wanna give special thanks to Kamen Rider Goji and Busterleader92 for their help.
GKoh: After having such a nice read, here's a nice Omake for dessert. Note that this is all just non-canon.
"Armored War God Music Video - Reverse Rebirth"
Artists: Issei Hyoudou, Mitsuki Akechi & the Crimson Knights
It was nighttime in Kuoh Academy. In the auditorium, a large audience had gathered. All of them had been invited by the school to watch a talent show. So far, it had been entertaining. They had seen a magic show and even some lion taming. Although, one had to wonder how a dangerous act like that could have been approved.
Among the audience were the members of the Occult Research Club. They were eagerly awaiting their friends' performance. Asia was in her seat, tending to Rassei who was a handful as usual. Irina held a camcorder to record what could be an incredible show alongside Issei's mother who also had one.
Rias smiled at the antics before noticing Karin finally arriving with her entourage (the Gi Faction). Before Karin could sit down, Keifa wiped the seat clean to ensure it was worthy of her mistress' bottom. Rias and Karin sweatdropped with the latter feeling slightly more embarrassed by her strategist's behavior.
Sitting with the Occult Research Club was Ravel Phenex and she too was waiting in anticipation for the next act, but only because of who would be performing.
The MC introduced the next act.
"Up next, give it up for the Crimson Knights!" the MC announced.
Appearing on stage were several young men and women. Playing the instruments were Yuuto Kiba, Nagi, Mao, and Sawa. Yuuto was on electric guitar with Nagi on bass, Mao on drums and Sawa on keyboard. In front were the main vocalists. They were Issei Hyoudou and Mitsuki Akechi who both wore nice suits and holding fedoras.
After the snap of fingers, the band started playing their instruments. With that, Issei and Mitsuki placed the fedoras on their heads and Issei walked up to the mic. When the spotlight shone on him, Issei began to sing passionately.
Issei:
Why can't I follow my heart?
There should be no reason to give up
Issei passed the mic over to Mitsuki who sang the next verse passionately. His beautiful brown eyes were seen by many girls who swooned after experiencing an orgasm.
Mitsuki:
Dreams have suddenly left me
And disappeared…And I can only send it off
Issei/Mitsuki:
Don't look back
Issei:
It's never too late
Mitsuki:
The thrown medal—heads or tails
Suddenly, the lights flashed, illuminating the stage in a cascade of colors. The band was at their peak with Mao banging the drums with the ferocity of a school of piranha. Sawa, in the meantime, was getting carried away as she hit her keyboard furiously.
Issei/Mitsuki:
Now change your life. Reverse the tears and you'll be reborn
Issei:
Now open your eyes
Mitsuki:
Ah, if you feel the brightness
Issei/Mitsuki:
Development reverse, rebirth
Issei:
If you take that one step
Mitsuki:
A new vision
Issei/Mitsuki:
Is born here!
The performance was becoming more and more exciting with the audience becoming infected by the music. Rias and Karin couldn't help but wear big proud smiles on their faces.
Mitsuki:
Even if you know your weaknesses
Issei:
If you don't control it you'll have to carry it as it is
Issei/Mitsuki:
Can't take back!
Mitsuki:
You cannot take back the past
Issei:
But you can freely reset feelings
Issei/Mitsuki:
Now change your life! Reverse frustration and you'll be reborn!
Mitsuki:
Now as much as you like
Issei:
Ah, shout out to the sky
Issei/Mitsuki:
Situation reverse, rebirth
Mitsuki:
Once more, for your dreams
Issei:
Swear to fight again
Issei/Mitsuki:
Here!
Suddenly, everything went dark with the spotlight shining on both Issei and Mitsuki who stood motionless.
Issei/Mitsuki:
Don't lose yourself
In order not to let your true self
Issei:
Be stolen,
Mitsuki:
Or be lost
Issei:
And to
Mitsuki:
Protect it
Issei/Mitsuki:
Now change your life, Reverse the tears and you'll be reborn
Suddenly, a large cloud of smoke enveloped the two young men. Once it dissipated, the two men were revealed, now wearing their signature suits of armor. Issei wore red dragon-like armor while Mitsuki's resembled a phoenix. The audience excitedly erupted in cheers. Ravel whistled at the brilliance of her fiancé and her son from an alternate universe.
Issei:
Now open your eyes
Mitsuki:
Ah, if you feel the brightness
Issei/Mitsuki:
Development reverse, rebirth
Issei:
If you take that one step
Mitsuki:
A new vision,
Issei/Mitsuki:
Here! It's the rebirth!
Mitsuki:
Now take.
Issei:
That one step.
Issei/Mitsuki:
Create your own legend
Once the song ended, the entire audience got up from their seats to applaud the band. The bespectacled Sawa was having a rough time catching her breath while Yuuto dropped his electric guitar and saw the massively happy crowd before staring at Issei and Mitsuki. The two gave each other nods of respect before they turned and walked away in opposite directions as the curtains closed.
