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.


Kanu and Nagata cuddled under the covers, content and blissful. While everyone enjoyed themselves at the party, the couple had their own private and intimate celebration. After all the awkwardness weighing them down had faded away, it felt like things were finally getting back to normal.

"Wow, Aisha," Nagata said, impressed. "You must have been really pent up."

"It has been a long time since, well, you know..." Kanu answered, her cheeks flushed. After all the stress and tension, it felt good to finally have it all released.

"But damn. You blew my mind."

"Among other things, Nagata-sama?"

"Oh, yeah."

"Well, if you're still in the mood, we can go another round."

Unfortunately, they would not be able to enjoy their post-coital afterglow for much longer or go for another round when Sousou started pounding on the door loudly.

"Hurry up, you two!"

Kanu sighed, annoyed. Couldn't Sousou wait a few more minutes? They were having a moment.

"Guess she wants a turn with you now, Nagata-sama."

"Guess so," he agreed with a pause. "...Are you OK with that?"

"She did reunite us and help us reconcile, Nagata-sama. We do owe her."

The pounding continued since the door was locked. Sousou wouldn't be able to enter unless they let her in. Nagata reluctantly left the bed and Kanu to put on his pants before he went to open the door.

"OK, Karin, let's-"

"Get dressed!" Sousou cut him off urgently. "And come with me right now!"


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

Written By: Kamen Rider Chrome

Beta Reader/Editor: Busterleader92 & Kamen Rider Goji

Chapter 57: The Face of Evil


While the festivities were still going strong in the banquet hall, Kada stepped out onto the balcony to get some fresh air. He was not alone as he found Hideyoshi leaning against the rail beside him.

"Hideyoshi-dono?" Kada questioned. "What are you doing out here?"

"Just enjoying a drink," Hideyoshi slurred as he took another swig from his gourd. "Ah, that's the good stuff."

"I think you've had enough," Kada worried. Hideyoshi looked drunk and that was a bad combination for someone with his powers.

"I need this," Hideyoshi responded firmly. "It eases the pain."

"I don't doubt that but that only dulls it temporarily," Kada retorted reasonably. "The pain never really goes away."

"No…it does not," Hideyoshi admitted. "But we all gotta cope somehow." He poured more wine down his throat.

"You're going to get one hell of a hangover drinking like that," Kada pointed out.

"That's the advantage of having my powers. I can drink as much as I want and not suffer from alcohol poisoning and I don't get any hangovers," Hideyoshi grinned, chuckling drunkenly. After he threw up all over Kosonsan's shoes that one time, he forced himself to learn how to purge his body of any toxins to avoid future accidents. "You don't have to worry about me. Yue-hime worries enough for the both of us."

"Well, I am a doctor so it's my job to worry about my patients," Kada argued. He already had headaches from trying to convince one patient to stop killing themselves.

"…I dream about it," Hideyoshi said out of the blue. "A lot. I was right there when it happened and I couldn't do a damn thing to help him. So I gotta remember, even in my sleep, I gotta relive the time my best bro died."

Nothing cured grief except time and support. Someday, Hideyoshi would have to move on. Kenshin would not want him to dwell on his death. It just wasn't healthy for him.

"What would he want you to do now if he was here?" Kada asked.

"To not worry and be happy with Yue-hime," Hideyoshi answered. "He's always telling me to just propose to her, get hitched and raise a family of little boys and girls." He let out a drunken snicker. "He was always saying stupid stuff like that. I miss him."

The two heard a commotion coming from the banquet hall.

"What was that?" Kada wondered.

"Let's check it out." Hideyoshi emptied his gourd and went inside with Kada.


Nagata and Kanu quickly got dressed and followed Sousou to the banquet hall. The petite blonde ruler looked alarmed and the couple wondered what was wrong.

They found the cause for alarm and it was a dark swirling portal that suddenly appeared on the wall of the banquet hall. It was a flat and round black circle, with wisps rising from it. The guards had been called to form a perimeter, with their spears trained on the portal, waiting for whatever may step out of it.

"Isn't this place warded?" Nagata asked. Choho and Kada had worked together to set protective wards all over the kingdom, preventing Dai Shi from sending his forces into the city and the palace. It was why the kingdom was the safest place.

"It is so whoever made this portal must be very powerful," Komei said cautiously.

Nagata saw the portal ripple and narrowed his eyes as he reached down for his sword, his silver eyes crackling with electricity.

"Something's coming," Nagata said as he started to slide his blade out of its scabbard.

All of a sudden, a figure stepped out of the portal and once they did, the black shadow portal winked out of existence.

As soon as Hideyoshi saw who it was, he snapped into a drunken rage.

"YOU!"

It was Sasuke Takeda.

"Wait, I come in peace!" Sasuke shouted as he put his hands up but Hideyoshi was not listening. He shoved the guards aside to give him a clear shot at Sasuke.

"DIE!" Hideyoshi screamed as he started to conjure water to hit Sasuke with a high-pressured blast. Immediately, Kada intervened and got behind him to pinch the base of his neck, causing him to collapse and go unconscious.

In the future, that move would be popularly dubbed the 'Vulcan Nerve Pinch' by Star Trek nerds.

"That was close," Kada sighed in relief.

As Hideyoshi was dragged away, the guards got back in position, surrounding Sasuke with their spears pointed at him. He held his hands up again, showing them that he was unarmed and he had no intention of attacking them. However, knowing what he was capable of, they were not willing to take any chances.

"Tyrant, you must be either fearless or brainless to come here alone. Now, explain yourself," Sousou commanded. He was a traitor who had sided with the enemy so he should have a damn good reason for coming here.

"Please, you need to listen to me!" Sasuke pleaded desperately. "There's no time to explain but this is a matter of life or death! Dai Shi's coming and he's-!" He suddenly stopped mid-sentence as his eyes went completely black. His composure also changed along with his expression and voice which became dark. "...Already here."

Everyone froze. That was not Sasuke's voice. It was too chilling and calm, like the voice of a coldblooded psychopath who talked about murder like he was admiring the weather.

"He's possessed!" Kada cried out and he started to chant, "Yu Mo Gui Gwai Fai Di Zao! Yu Mo Gui Gwai Fai Di Zao! Yu Mo Gui Gwai Fai Di Zao!"

The entity possessing Sasuke was unaffected by Kada's chanting. He just rolled his eyes and then gave Kada a terrifying glare that made him clamp his mouth shut.

"That's better," the entity said. He'd rather not listen to that stupid chanting. "It's so nice to finally meet you all."

"Who are you?" Sousou demanded. "What are you?"

"I think it's obvious who I am, isn't it?"

"You're Dai Shi," Nagata concluded logically and the entity smiled. He did not know how he knew. He just had a familiar feeling, the same feeling he got when they failed to stop Dai Shi's resurrection from so many months ago.

"You are correct, Seiryuu. Although, I prefer it if you referred to me as 'Dai Shi-sama', the Demon Beast King."

Everyone quickly went for their weapons once Dai Shi confirmed his identity. This entity currently possessing Sasuke's body was the supreme leader of the RinJyuKen Akugata.

"Calm down," Dai Shi said but when nobody did, he repeated, "I said, calm down." Suddenly, nobody could move, and they could barely breathe as they were crippled by immense indescribable terror. They tried to fight it with willpower alone but Dai Shi managed to overwhelm them.

"That's better."

"Stop it!" Nagata yelled. "You're hurting them!"

"Hm, what's this then?" Everyone was paralyzed by Dai Shi's oppressive Killing Intent, all but Nagata and Mitsuki who had not been brought to their knees. "You don't seem to fear death."

"Been there, done that," Mitsuki retorted, keeping his anger under control. Seeing Sousou suffer like that, he wanted to make Dai Shi burst into flames where he stood.

"Of course, how foolish of me. You've already experienced it." Dai Shi withdrew a bit of his Killing Intent to bring them some relief, allowing them to breathe easier. "How's that? Better?"

Nagata went to check on the Shoku Warriors as Mitsuki moved to Sousou's side.

"Are you okay, Karin?" Mitsuki asked as he helped her up.

"I'm fine, Mitsuki," Sousou assured him as she grasped his hand to keep herself steady, cold sweat beading on her forehead. She had faced death on the battlefield numerous times before, but the fear Dai Shi had subjected them to was unreal.

"Aisha, Rinrin, Touka," Nagata said worriedly. "Are you girls alright?"

"I'm fine, Nagata-sama," Kanu smiled reassuringly.

"I'm fine as well," Ryuubi insisted, though she looked pale as a ghost.

"M-m-me too," Chouhi shivered and he put his arms around her, comforting her.

"Sui, Sei, Ren?" Nagata asked and the girls gave affirmative answers. He looked over at Iori who had Kochu leaning against him. The Demon Dragon gave him a nod.

"Why have you come here? What do you want?" Sousou demanded, regaining her composure. She refused to show weakness in the face of an enemy.

"Peace, of course," Dai Shi answered. "Since Qiongqi was coming over, I thought it was a good chance to pass this message along."

"Bullshit," Mitsuki cussed.

"Do you wish to continue this war?" Dai Shi asked rhetorically. "If you don't, then we're on the same page. This war of ours has gone on long enough and, to be honest, I'm getting tired of it. So I am here offering you all a chance to end things peacefully. So, how about we talk terms, shall we?"

"You, the source of all this suffering, now desire peace?" Sousou asked skeptically. "You expect us to believe that after you've been trying to wipe us out?"

"Of course," Dai Shi claimed. "It's the reason behind all my actions."

"All the death and destruction you've caused, it's all for peace!?"

"Is it any different from your campaigns and conquests, Sousou Motoku? Tell me, how many people have died for the sake of your ambition?"

"You don't get to question her ambition," Mitsuki growled, his eyes blazing as he defended Sousou.

"I believe I do, Suzaku," Dai Shi clarified. "She is a ruthless warlord who won't think twice about spilling blood to conquer this land. I can practically smell all the blood on her. We are both very alike that way."

Sousou ground her teeth angrily as Dai Shi compared himself to her.

"But your ambition is filled with evil, and mine is just!" Sacrifices had to be made so she could unite the land and bring everyone together under her banner. While she may have regrets, she pushed them aside for the sake of her goal. Then all the deaths, all the sacrifices, all the blood spilled would be worth it.

"I'm sure your victims and all those who fear you will strongly disagree. You willingly send your men to their deaths and cut down anyone who gets in your way. How is that not the definition of evil?"

"But you desire to kill us all and turn us into Rinshi, like the ones in your army," Shibai spoke up. She had learned this when she used to be part of Ukitsu's faction. She had accepted his vision to change the world, but not at such a high price. It was the reason she defected to Baron.

"What you're proposing is not peace but genocide," Ryuubi argued.

"But then you will all be brought back to life," Dai Shi reminded.

"As your undead slaves? Then we wouldn't have our freedom. That's not called living."

"And that's the problem: your so-called 'freedom'. For the sake of true peace, there needs to be sacrificed and so we need to take away the source of all this chaos: free will," Dai Shi explained.

"You want to strip people of their free will?" Ryuubi questioned, aghast. "Free will is what makes us human! It's what makes us truly alive!"

"And look at what humanity has done with free will," Dai Shi retorted. "Free will is the source of all conflict. There's war, death, rape, children being abused and thrown away, with the rich growing fatter while the poor starve and suffer! Free will causes nothing but suffering! True peace can only be achieved with only one will in absolute control!"

"And what a coincidence, it's your will that is just so perfect for the job," Mitsuki scowled. "Just like every other megalomaniac, you think your way is best and everyone else is wrong."

"Have you seen any other rulers suggest otherwise?" asked Dai Shi. "Three kingdoms. Three rulers. Governors, officials, soldiers. All corrupt. All of them tear apart the world in their bid to collect power and influence. With my path, the world can exist in peace with one vision leading towards a perfected society. This flock of sheep needs a shepherd and that shepherd is me. For that to happen, I request your surrender."

"What makes you think we'll surrender?" Sousou questioned, scowling.

"What makes you think you'll have a choice? How long can you continue this war? My army has no need for food and they don't even need to rest while your supplies are finite. Even when you have Suzaku to revive your dead soldiers, how long can they keep fighting? Will they still have the will to fight, knowing that this war will never end?"

"Wait, Dai Shi-san," Nagata interjected and everyone looked at him. "If you desire peace then maybe we can figure out a better way that benefits us all."

"Oda, what are you doing?" Mitsuki demanded.

Nagata ignored Mitsuki as he continued.

"Dai Shi-san," Nagata spoke politely. "You wish to end this war and I think that's good but the way you're going about it is all wrong."

"Oh, I'm wrong, am I?" Dai Shi questioned. "And how am I wrong? If I kill you all and revive you as part of my undead society, wouldn't that end this war?"

"Alright, yes, that would end the war but then you'd only be ruling a world of the dead."

"Yes, a world that will be peaceful and no one will need to suffer anymore. Isn't that beautiful?"

"But there will be no life, no growth, no change," Nagata argued. "That's not real peace. That's just stagnation."

"You may call it that but I call it paradise. Imagine a world where everyone is equal, where there exists no conflict and nobody needs to suffer anymore. Wasn't that your goal, Seiryuu?"

"Yes, I desire a world like that but you seek to strip them of their freedom and humanity."

"Peace requires sacrifice, Seiryuu."

"Perhaps it does, but we can't just sacrifice what makes us human. However, I know that we can learn to co-exist and live in peace. I befriended a Rinrinshi, her name's Nanamomo, so I know it's possible. If we can reach some kind of compromise and work together then we can have real peace."

"You think just because you befriended one of my Rinrinshi, one who strayed from my path, that you think that we can all co-exist? Tell me, do the people of your world co-exist perfectly? Or does conflict still exist?"

"...No, it's not perfect," Nagata confessed. "Truth be told, our world is not conflict-free. There's discrimination of all kinds and we have wars but for the most part, our world is at peace."

"And yet you still have people who give in to hate. That's what I wish to eradicate and it will create a perfectly peaceful world, a utopia."

"But what about free will?"

"Free will means that you allow people to do terrible things as well, therefore free will is the root of all suffering. Only by taking that away, then the world will know peace and it will be perfect."

"But free will also allow us to do amazing things and to make the world a better place," Nagata argued.

"But you can't make everyone follow your example, can you?" Dai Shi challenged. "If you want people to follow you, you either have to use force or you make it so they don't have a choice. If you want true peace and order, you have to do whatever it takes, even if it means stripping people of their free will."

"But-"

"That's enough, Oda," Mitsuki coldly cut him off. "You're wasting your breath. He's not going to budge."

"Your path of 'peace' and your idea of 'perfect' are just means for you to dominate others," Sousou spat at Dai Shi. "You have free will and decided those ideas for yourself. By your own logic, you aren't capable of ruling either. You'd just make choices which suit your whims and desires."

Dai Shi's pleasant demeanor immediately turned sour.

"Your ignorance is telling…"

"Oh, what's this? Is the great Dai Shi-sama getting offended?" snorted Sonken. "Why? Is it because Sousou-dono's right? If you came into power, you'd just do the same things you accuse all of us rulers of doing. You'd wage war on the rest of the world and destroy everything just to rebuild it all in your own twisted vision of a perfect utopia."

"Silence! My way is different! It is best for this world!" Dai Shi snapped.

"How?" Ryuubi joined in. "You cause conflict which destroys everything and ruins the peace you claim to desire."

"I SAID SILENCE!" Dai Shi roared, a pulse of pure deadly Rinki coming off of him to shut them all up. "I will not be spoken down to by a group of ignorant children who haven't even lived as long as I have!"

"You might call these women ignorant children, but they're the greatest rulers of this land," Nagata defended.

"Oda's right. Together, they've done more to unite the people and to bring peace than your actions have," Mitsuki supported.

"What right do you have to question my ideals? You ran away from your own world," Dai Shi spat.

"We didn't like a lot about the world we came from," Mitsuki retorted. "But run away? Hardly. We were brought here where we found purpose."

"And we found something to fight for," Nagata added firmly.

"So, you decided to try to live up to your names as 'Messengers of Heaven', as 'Armored War Gods'?" Dai Shi sneered. "To follow some old prophecy that was written a long time ago?"

"We chose them as our Messengers of Heaven," Sousou spoke up. "Maybe Heaven provided them, maybe not, but they decided they would use their powers for the benefit of others, living up to the title."

"And what 'benefits' have they brought?" asked Dai Shi. "Shoku rose and fell in a short time. It has been ravaged and ruined by the cowardice and hubris of its leader. Son Go teeters on the brink of collapse with an inexperienced girl on the throne, scared and surrounded by enemies while her guardian has abandoned her. Your own empire is overburdened and threatening to collapse. Truly, the Messengers of Heaven have done a service for your kingdoms."

Nagata growled slightly, but Karasu's words came to him.

"Don't listen to him. He is only trying to bring you down and make you easier to crush."

"Shoku still stands," Ryuubi frowned, controlling her obvious fear. "The people still live. We have begun burning back the plants your agents have spread. Nagata-sama caused the ruin? How is it ruined? Buildings and forts can be rebuilt. Crops can be replanted. It is the people who cannot be replaced. Something you cannot do even with your Rinshi."

"Son Go is on the brink of collapse? I think I missed that," Sonken scowled. "Surrounded by enemies and abandoned? Obviously, you fail to notice the bonds of the Son Family and Brusa Li himself is training our guardian. I would think you would keep a better track of those who could threaten you."

"And Sou Gi is overburdened? Ha!" Sousou laughed. "Our territory stretches far, and the people are industrious and prosperous. Sheltering the people of Shoku and Son Go is hardly a strain when we have so many capable people working fields and trades. For such a terrifying leader, you fail to grasp logistics and strategy. Absolute power failed you before and once again you are proving a lack of foresight as a leader."

Dai Shi's eyes narrowed.

"And do you think you stand a chance to end my immortal army?" Dai Shi challenged.

"Immortality is a myth and it's overrated anyway," Mitsuki retorted firmly. "The fact you died so long ago proves it."

"And yet I came back," Dai Shi reminded. "Returned from the dead, brought back in an immortal and undying body."

"And you think that's enough? You demand our surrender. What do you want us to surrender? What exactly are your terms?" Mitsuki questioned.

"My Sovereigns, of course. If it wasn't for my Seal of Heaven, you would not have your powers. By right, you all belong to me."

"And who says we'll be going with you?"

"And who says you'll have a choice?" Dai Shi questioned rhetorically before he looked at Nagata. "Seiryuu, I've watched you, and I know you also desire an end to this conflict. How many have already died in your name? You understand that my way is right."

Nagata clenched his fists. He had lost count. He had led many soldiers into battle, and so many had lost their lives on the battlefield. The men he had ordered to fix Rakuyo had also died. Gien had died as well because of his foolishness and just recently Karasu had died to save him.

"I admit that I've lost people but I know that they would not want us to surrender to the likes of you," Nagata retorted.

"Then you all have a choice to make here. You can either choose to continue this war and die violently, in excruciating agony or die peacefully. The choice is yours."

"Either choice leads to death," Sousou retorted.

"Death comes to all of us, eventually, but then a glorious rebirth awaits you afterward. You wouldn't even have to wait long. I could kill everyone here in the blink of an eye right now."

"Then why haven't you?" asked Mitsuki with a cocky grin. "By the laws of the RinJyuKen, which you inspired, you have the strength so smashing the weak shouldn't be a problem if what you say about yourself is true. Yet you negotiate, try to wear us down and make us give up. You're not sure you can win, are you?"

Dai Shi lowered his gaze, his shoulders shaking. He then began to chuckle before he threw his head back in full-blown laughter.

"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" Calming down, he then looked Mitsuki in the eye. "Not sure I can win? Oh, no. I came here as a courtesy, to offer you a chance to surrender peacefully. But now I see how pointless that is."

"Enough!" Sousou commanded. "Leave my palace at once, you fiend!"

"Guess our negotiations are over. What a pity."

Dai Shi unleashed a potent wave of Dorinki which filled the entire chamber and everyone fell to their knees. The terror was even more overwhelming than before as they broke out in a cold sweat, their hearts thundering in their chests. Only Mitsuki and Nagata remained standing, unaffected by it.

"Onii-chan!" Chouhi cried in agony and distress. "Help!"

"Stop this!" Nagata shouted. "Stop this right now!"

"Seiryuu, Suzaku," Dai Shi said. "Surrender yourselves to me or watch as all you hold dear in this room suffers and dies slowly."

The whites of Nagata's eyes blackened as silver lightning crackled around them in anger while Mitsuki looked ready to burst into flames from rage.

"HENSHIN!"

[COME ON! ZHUQIAO ARMS! FLIGHT OF PHOENIX!]

[LOCK OPEN! RYUJIN ARMS! DAI RYUOH! SORA NO SEIRYU, RISE TO THE THRONE!]

"So, you wish to fight me then?" Dai Shi questioned as the two transformed. He rolled his shoulders and got into a stance. "Very well. Let's enjoy ourselves."

Meanwhile, Iori managed to resist the effects of Dai Shi's terrifying aura. He looked at Kochu who seemed to be suffocating. His eyes narrowed as he turned a furious glare at Dai Shi.

"STOP IT!" Iori roared furiously as he charged at Dai Shi.

[HAI~! MAKAIRYU ARMS! MAKAI, RYU, MAKAI, RYU, MAKAIRYUGA! HAHAHAHAHAHA!]

"Iori, don't!" Ryujin Gaim yelled.

Ignoring Ryujin Gaim, Makai Ryugen charged at Dai Shi, furiously firing upon him, only for his bullets to just bounce off him. Undeterred, once he was within striking range, Makai Ryugen went for a beheading strike with the Makai Ryugahou's chainsaw blade but Dai Shi deftly caught it with his hand.

"Thanks for offering yourself to me, Zhayu," Dai Shi said before he sent Makai Ryugen flying with a powerful palm strike. The Demon Dragon screamed as he was flung straight into the wall, creating spiderweb cracks on impact. As he collapsed in a heap, he reverted to his human form.

"Iori!" Ryujin Gaim shouted, alarmed.

Dai Shi had taken something from Iori when he blasted him away. It looked like some kind of shadowy serpent. It wiggled in his hand, trying to escape.

"Welcome home, Zhayu," Dai Shi said to the shadow wyrm which he absorbed through his hand. "Let's move this fight to a different venue, shall we?" Suddenly, Baron and Ryujin Gaim found themselves transported into a dark space with a thick fog covering the floor while pillars decorated with the RinJyuKen's banner stood around them. "Now, allow me to put on something a bit more comfortable." A metal belt materialized around his waist. It was dark and scaly, resembling a wyrm with the face acting as the buckle. "Zhayu, empower me."

The eyes of the Wyrm Buckle flashed and the sound of a gong rang from the belt as a serpentine dragon skeleton rose behind Dai Shi and closed its ribs around him. A cloud of dark smoke enveloped him before he emerged in a new armored form.

Staying faithful to the death motif, Dai Shi was now adorned in skeletal armor. His chestplate resembled a ribcage with the inverted triangle emblem of the RinJyuKen embedded in the center. His gauntlets and grieves were both ribbed and the armor covering his fingers ended in sharp clawed tips. Matching pauldrons modeled after dragon skulls were mounted on his shoulders. Finally, the helmet covering his head adapted his mask into the visor with longer horns and a black faceplate while also sporting a mane of white hair.

This was the Empowered Armored Demon Beast King Dai Shi.

"If you don't defeat me quickly, my miasma will kill your friends and that's not a death that Suzaku can bring them back from," Dai Shi warned them.

"YOU SON OF A BITCH!" Baron roared as he lunged at Dai Shi with his Ignition Booster drawn back for a punch. Dai Shi put his arms up and braced himself as the punch connected with his face and the blow sent him skidding back.

Seeing an opening, Ryujin Gaim moved at lightning speed to deliver his attack.

"DAI RYUJIN DANMAKU!"

Ryujin Gaim furiously attacked with a flurry of explosive punches but Dai Shi did not seem phased in the slightest. He just seemed more amused than anything as he blocked each punch with ease before he delivered a snap kick that launched Ryujin Gaim backward.

"A good attempt, both of you," Dai Shi praised. "But not good enough."

"Then how about this!?" Baron shouted as his blazing aura exploded.

[COME ON! OVERLORD ZHUQIAO ARMS! CRIMSON LORD OF SOARING FLAMES!]

Once in his Overlord form, Kaizer Baron threw a furious barrage of punches that sent Dai Shi backpedaling. He then struck his Executting Blade thrice to execute his finisher.

[COME ON! OVERLORD ZHUQIAO FINISH!]

Kaizer Baron spread his blazing wings and took off as his flames engulfed him, taking the form of a firebird. The phoenix cried and dove down toward Dai Shi who spread his arms to receive the attack. Ryujin Gaim put his arms up to shield himself from the explosion as Kaizer Baron emerged from the smoke.

"There, it's over," Kaizer Baron concluded as he had defeated Dai Shi in one blow. Ryujin Gaim looked around in confusion. If Dai Shi had been defeated, then why were they still here?

Once the smoke cleared, Dai Shi was revealed, completely unharmed by Kaizer Baron's finishing move. He didn't even have a single mark on him.

"Is that all, Suzaku? I'm disappointed," Dai Shi remarked. "My turn then." He immediately made his move and went on the attack, throwing a furious flurry of punches. Kaizer Baron tried to block Dai Shi's fists but his opponent easily broke through his guard to land his blows. Finally, he sent Kaizer Baron tumbling with a swift kick to his chest, knocking the wind out of him.

Kaizer Baron clenched his fists and rose back up. With a roar, the Phoenix Eye on his Ignition Booster glowed and he flashed Dai Shi with it, freezing him. With his opponent petrified, he ignited his gauntlet and went to deliver the killing blow.

Unfortunately, Dai Shi caught Kaizer Baron's fist, freezing him.

"Your tricks won't work on me, Suzaku," Dai Shi sneered before he sent Kaizer Baron flying with an uppercut.

Dai Shi spread his arms and conjured his own wings made of dark violet flames. He then charged at Kaizer Baron, turning into a dark firebird that crashed into him. The resulting explosion sent him tumbling in the air as he fell to the ground, his armor vanishing with a grunt of pain.

"Akechi!" Ryujin Gaim yelled as he ran to his friend. "Are you OK?"

"Oda..." Mitsuki groaned. "He's...hella strong..."

Ryujin Gaim looked at Dai Shi who was looking at him expectantly. He trembled in fear, but he could not stand around and do nothing. Everyone was counting on them. Narrowing his eyes and hardening his resolve, Ryujin Gaim went to confront Dai Shi. Responding to his emotions, the RyuCalibur appeared and he grabbed hold of it.

[IWAE! DAI RYUJIN ARMS! DAI-DAI-DAI-DAI-DAI TEN-O!]

Imperial Gaim faced Dai Shi, armed with his Dai Ryujin Calibur.

"That's a nice sword. I think I have something like it," Dai Shi appraised the RyuCalibur as he summoned his own sword. Darkness poured from his hand and a skeletal sword emerged from it. The sword's pommel was a miniature skull, the guard resembled a ribcage and the blade was made from a spine. It was ivory white and covered in a shroud of darkness. This was his personal weapon, the Dai Shiken (Great Death Sword).

Imperial Gaim made the first move as he charged at Dai Shi and swung his RyuCalibur. Dai Shi stepped back, letting the blade fly by before he raised his sword to parry another strike. He kicked Imperial Gaim in the stomach, knocking him back and then swung his Dai Shiken at him. Imperial Gaim raised his sword to block but Dai Shi broke through his guard to slash him across the chest. Imperial Gaim backpedaled but quickly parried Dai Shi's next slash before they clashed violently.

"Sasuke! Sasuke, can you hear me!? Fight him!" Imperial Gaim pleaded desperately as they exchanged blows.

"He cannot hear you, Seiryuu! He belongs to me now!" Dai Shi shouted as he sent Imperial Gaim flying with a powerful wave of Dorinki. Imperial Gaim managed to land on his feet and staggered before he regained his balance just as Dai Shi came at him. He quickly raised his sword, parrying Dai Shi's attack, and drove him back with a swing of his sword.

Imperial Gaim spun his sword's Ryulette and squeezed the trigger.

[RYUCALIBUR ATTACK!]

With his sword energized, Imperial Gaim swung at Dai Shi who caught the RyuCalibur on the edge of his locked blades, gazes locked as well.

"Is this all you can do, Seiryuu? Pathetic! You won't be able to save your friends if you can't even stop me! Now they'll die and it'll be all your fault!"

"NO!" Imperial Gaim loudly denied and he broke the blade lock before he punched Dai Shi right in the face, the explosive force of the blow sending the villain flying.

Dai Shi landed on his feet and rubbed his chin.

"That's right, Seiryuu. Hate me. Embrace your desire to destroy me. If you don't, your beloved friends will suffer a slow and agonizing death that they won't be coming back from."

Imperial Gaim eyed Dai Shi and hesitated. He was forced to hold back, lest he endangered Sasuke's life. However, everyone else could die if he did not finish this fight right here and now.

With a heavy heart, he made his decision.

"I'm sorry, Sasuke."

[UNLOCK THE POWER OF THE SOVEREIGN!]

After putting his Ryujin Key into the pommel of his RyuCalibur, he spun the Ryulette Spinner and pulled the trigger.

[IMPERIAL CALIBUR FINISH!]

"IMPERIAL FINAL CALIBUR!"

He pointed the face of his weapon's Ryulette at Dai Shi and slammed his palm against its back, firing an aurora-colored beam that roared towards him. Dai Shi made no move to dodge or counter as he received the attack, causing a huge explosion.

Imperial Gaim watched as the smoke and flames cleared, waiting to see if Dai Shi emerged unscathed this time as well. Instead, he found Sasuke, lying on the foggy floor.

"Sasuke!" Undoing his transformation, Nagata quickly ran over and knelt beside him to cradle him in his arms. "Sasuke, are you OK? Speak to me!"

"Nagata...he's insane...stop him...no matter the cost," Sasuke begged before he closed his eyes and breathed his last.

"I will. I swear," Nagata swore as Sasuke's body dissolved into nothing.

It was another death he would have to live with.


KRC: The Alliance has finally met Dai Shi and he is absolutely terrifying. His aura alone can incapacitate them, even kill them. Only the Sovereigns can withstand the pressure. Even then, in combat, Dai Shi proves more than a match for Nagata and Mitsuki, easily defeating the latter. Nagata also had to make a difficult choice, leading to Sasuke's death. Now Dai Shi wants them to surrender and has given them a deadline. What will they decide to do?

Dai Shi's Empowered Armored Demon Beast King form is powered by Zhayu which he has claimed from Iori. In this form, he wears the Demon Beast King Armor and is armed with the Dai Shiken. This form increases his already formidable combat prowess to frightening levels. However, we have yet to see his full power as he was using Sasuke's body to fight them. If he's this strong while controlling a puppet, how powerful is he truly?


Nagata and Mitsuki were suddenly returned to the banquet hall and upon their return, everyone seemed to be recovering. With Dai Shi gone, they were slowly regaining their strength and could breathe easier.

"Airen!" Kochu was immediately at her husband's side. She checked his breathing and was relieved to see that he was still alive. Whatever Dai Shi had done had only knocked him unconscious.

"Aisha! Girls!" Nagata went to check on his lovers. "Are you OK?"

"We are, thanks to you, Nagata-sama," Kanu smiled.

"Did you beat him, Onii-chan?" Chouhi asked.

"...Yeah," Nagata answered with a sad smile.

Mitsuki also went to make sure Sousou and the rest of his faction members were alright. Seeing Sousou look so weak, it reminded him of his late sister Karin. He did not want Sousou to suffer her fate as well.

There was something new in the room, as they found an ornate and gothic hourglass on top of one of the tables in the banquet hall. Skeletal hands rested on the top and base like two palms holding it. Black grains of sand fell from the top to the bottom.

Everyone froze as they heard Dai Shi's voice speaking in their heads.

"Seiryuu, Suzaku, Genbu, I'll spare your loved ones when you surrender yourselves to me. You have until the sand in this hourglass fills the bottom to give yourselves up and it will take you to me. Use this time to get your affairs in order. I'll be waiting. Xai jian."