I mentioned last chapter that I'd wrap this up in two chapters, but it looks like I'll take a bit longer.
I'm gonna introduce more characters than I initially wanted into this so that's the main reason. Hope you don't mind.
Well, have a hopefully good read.
A cry resonates in the woods surrounding Mt. Yougou. Animals are scurrying off in a hurry through the leaves and grass, startled by the strident sound piercing the quiet of the nature. Between the swaying shadows under tall trees is spread the blue sky and its sun, shining strong, flashes and glimmers.
A wide eyed survivor of the carnage which just took place, is running haggardly, taking in short breaths as he does so. His entire group got decimated before his eyes, and his pursuers do not let go of his trail.
Darkly clad in samurai armors, the murderers are after his fleeting life, laughing cruelly as they hunt the fleeing prey.
"By the Almighty Shogun...! They do not... leave me be do they...?!"
Cursing under his breath, the traveler holds onto his backpack straps, keeping the weight balanced on his back to run more efficiently. Hope is thinning by the second as his executioners are about to catch up...
"HIIIYAAAAAA!"
A different kind of cry rings in the vicinity, surprising all present. The victim lift his face towards the sky, beneath the boughs. The shadow of a massive man plunging forward, making his entrance, was furtively caught in his field of vision. Sporting an attire leaving his bust and belly visible, the being is white haired, horned with two red protuberances. He holds a giant spiked bat and proceeds to get swiftly between the pursued & the hunters.
"So you're the ones who have been taking my turf to be yours?! Little ruffians, I'll make short work of you busybodies!"
In his energetic and overly loud tone, the man shouts threats at his enemies, giving the person in distress a sense of relief, weirdly enough.
"Oi. That's... Arataki Itto!" Mentions one of the Nobushi.
"So what? We're six and there's more in the base, he can't possibly-"
The partner in crime cannot finish his sentence as the gigantic weapon makes its way to his face in an instant, the one named Itto blitzing towards his position with disorienting speed. The target of the attack gets hit plainly, a loud 'thud' thundering about as it does, shaking to the core the remaining enemies.
"Move it! Back to Hajime and the others! We'll be back, you monster!" Screams the assailant now turned sufferer, running away as he does so.
Itto wants to give chase but his protege, now released of all tension inhabiting his body, drops on the ground. He decides against it, providing aid to the lone survivor of the assault.
"Are you alright?" He asks, with assurance.
"I- I'm fine... Thank you... so much... they were so many and- and...! I couldn't... save anyone! I'm not a fighter!"
Realization dawns unto him, feeling guilt at what he considered cowardice and betrayal in his running away from the horrifying scene.
"It's alright, young one! Not everyone is fit for the battlefield, which is why I'm here!" Claims Itto, his fists resting on his waist, taking a stance brimming with confidence.
Having made sure the civilian went back to secure routes outside the woods, the self-proclaimed captain of the gang after his name is now climbing back into the hostile territory. The testimony from the guy he just saved slightly has him on edge; to be exact, he had been told the ronin's leader displayed unworldly powers and odd manifestations of elements.
"A Vision bearer, huh?"
Voicing his statement out loud, he quickened the pace towards his former hideout. The pungent scent of dead bodies makes its way to his sharp nose... and thus, his resolve heightens. Itto is more than convinced that the bloodshed to happen is nothing else but a necessity, to ultimately stem the crimson tide.
The lone, large frame can be seen advancing on the path it assuredly beats with its feet. The clamor from the rowdy invaders grows louder. Surely by now, the escapees have informed their leader of his coming. Itto's grip on his weapon tightens, the breeze flowing through his pearly locks and caressing his bare skin does nothing to appease his animosity towards them.
"You'll pay for what you've done here, savages. Just you wait..."
Approaching the mount, the tall and slender General of the Tenryou Commission is running at a steady pace, her bow firmly strapped at her back. Never departing from the trodden routes, no hostiles are to be met this far, but she knows the situation is about to change in the coming minutes, as she'll step into the woods.
'It's been a while since I last came near the location. The last time was when the Traveler was meeting with Yae Miko.'
Visiting the shrine or the mount itself was rarely an occasion for her, as her duty calls for patrols closer to civilization. It's somewhat of a good thing to Sara. She doesn't really like dealing with the grand priestess of Narukami; she always feels like she's being scrutinized, analyzed and played with. As if she is being judged by a superior being, in the very fabric of its existence. Even though she holds tengu genes, and holds pride in it, her inferiority to the overseer of the shrine is nevertheless painfully apparent to her. It's a frustration she will never admit to anyone but shamefully gathers in her bosom.
Having penetrated the woods by now, her field of vision is narrowed by a fair margin. A lot of trees are obstructing her sight, the light barely pierces through the leaves which stand upon them, and the ground is leveled in various ways, creating blind spots everywhere.
As soon as her focus intensifies, a sudden sound fends the quiet atmosphere. An arrow is flying at Sara's position with tremendous speed.
"Naive." she mutters, under her breath, evading successfully the sneak attack with a graceful back-step motion. Her garb flutters lightly like the wings of a bird, as she moves away effortlessly.
"There!"
Immediately, she draws her bow and fires an arrow of her own towards the area her mind swiftly pinpointed as the origin of the attack. And that arrow flies true, finding her mark in an instant. A cry of agony followed by an insult echoes in the canopy.
"Argh, that stupid bitch!"
"Hmpf. If only you were more of a man and withheld that pathetic yelp, I wouldn't even have known I hit you."
Dashing at extreme velocity towards the position she heard that from, her intent is clear. Capturing the enemy and extracting information before delving further into the territory. She has trained all her life, and every day even now, for this purpose. Eradicating the menaces to the Almighty Shogun's country is her reason of existence, how could she face her the next time she comes out of her palace if she can't even keep it safe in her absence? Unthinkable!
And yet, this utmost devotion to the task, the dutiful attitude she always confidently displays may be put in jeopardy; there's but a single step between promptitude and temerity. A step that could prove fatal in battle.
The slightest bit of impatience she shows gives an opportunity for the bandits to trap the black winged woman in an electric contraption laid down at her feet. Her lack of composure in that split second was enough to miss that structure a few centimeters away. Powered by four small-sized crystals imbued with the Electro element, linked through a conduct in the ground, it is forming a squared prison around her.
"Wha-" She expresses her surprise out loud, as her arms come into contact with the electrifying walls, burning a part of her sleeves.
"Serves you right, dumb slave to the so-called Almighty! Hahaha!"
Her opponents reveal themselves while boasting about their success. They're amounting to seven individuals and were hiding behind rocks, trees or the plateau above her spot.
"Hajime is going to love this. He's always wanted to have a go at this bitch. I'm sure she'll act all docile under his care, puhahaha." Mentions one of the Nobushi, gulping down on a sake bottle he holds in his right hand.
"I almost want her for myself. It's only us dudes in this place, I'm getting lonely, y'know?" Says another, laughing along his comrade.
"You bastards... as if I'd ever lay with scum like yourselves. I'd rather die." Venomously spits Sara, with hardly disguised hatred in her words.
"Ooohoho. You hear that, brothers? Being all feisty like this..." Licking his lips, the one placed behind her approaches the cage with nonchalance.
"I don't give... a damn about... Hajime! She's... MINE...!" Painfully drawing air between his words, the one injured by Sara's arrow is holding his right arm and sending a heinous look towards her.
"She'll... pay for this... dearly... by my hand...!"
Holding out a strange pendant with some semblance of gem inside it, he makes sure it comes directly in Sara's sight. The gem glows a bright purple, almost blinding the trapped General. All at once, a sharp pain takes to her head. She immediately holds it between her two hands, wincing in discomfort.
"Aaagh... what is... this... you swines...! AAARGH!"
Falling to the ground, she prostrates herself, falling prey to the immensely agonizing feeling, to the point she almost wants to vomit.
"Works like a charm, heh. That's what you get for defying us, woman. What was that about not wanting to lay with us? I already see you on the ground, ready to welcome our warm embrace!"
A disgusting and ominous statement comes from the lips of the pendant holder's friend stationed at his right.
They proceed to deactivate the barrier capturing the woman, and surround her with haste, while cackling as demons would. Sara has completely collapsed to the ground, her limbs lightly spasming and spread out on the woods' moist soil beneath her; she's defeated and can absolutely not defend herself in the state of disarray she is in. In total submission of the pain assaulting every fiber of her being, the mighty Kujou Sara is now fully helpless.
"Time to dig in! Oh, the lucky bastards that we are! Look at that frigid beauty!" Joyfully shouts one of them, proceeding to put a hand on her shoulder, in order to hurriedly rob the victim of her clothing.
"Your lives are forfeit, despicable ronins. The wait is over, miss Kujou."
A feminine voice sings a prophetic threat, sounding serene and beautiful yet hauntingly sinister. A rush of powerful water erupts from the center of their position, precisely on Sara's own, taking the form of a jellyfish. Its explosive power is undeniable, as all foes are expeditiously ejected a few meters away with great force, while protecting the person it spawned upon. The masked woman on the ground is thus residing inside the ethereal and liquid creation, showing signs of progressive relaxation; it looks like the jellyfish directly alleviates her pain, which subsides in a matter of seconds as Sara's features visibly display more serenity.
"D...Divine Priestess...?" Having regained composure, the Shogun army's leader manages to recognize the person landing before her with such elegance that time might as well been stopped in that instant.
The stunning woman, descending from her previously high position, is wearing a particular kimono, more akin to a coat at first glance, the ensemble resembling the features of a mermaid in the way it is cut. It sports nuances of blue and indigo, the white ends making parts of it look like waves. Her hair, pink and light blue at the tip, flows freely behind her like the ebb and flow of the tides, and her mostly purple eyes rests upon the fallen form of the General of the Tenryou Commission.
"Sangonomiya Kokomi has arrived." She says, as an act of self introduction, before resuming. "And I could say I have been on time."
Her summoned magic dispels itself, having achieved its purpose. Sara, with renewed strength, feels good enough to stand on her feet again.
"I'm deeply ashamed that you had to see me like this, and had to save me on top of that. But such apologies will have to wait. Let's take care of-"
A massive school of fish, born of thin air, forms around the formerly expelled enemies, as per Kokomi's commands which follow a brief movement: a swirling motion of her entire body and a swift raising of her right arm, as if representing a tidal wave. Every bandit get scooped up and brought down with intense momentum, utterly rending them unconscious.
"Are you okay? Any more pain?" The princess of Watatsumi Island asks with calm but worry altogether, not paying even one more second of attention to the nefarious men she knocked out with ease.
"I'm... better, thanks to you." Sara bows thankfully and respectfully. "I'm most blessed by your arrival. I take it your reconnaissance unit had informed you of these wicked fiends."
"Indeed. Gorou gave me worrying intelligence on the enemy, such that I deemed necessary to come in person. I'm glad to have taken such a decision in light of this situation you were caught in."
Dignified as ever, the Divine Priestess makes an account of the reasons behind her presence.
"It's a dangerous opponent. More than one might think at first glance, miss Kujou. Let us press on with an alert mind. I do not like what I've heard. Oh, and do not touch that pendant." She adds, cautiously picking it up thanks to one of her conjured fishes of water.
"This is... a Delusion?!" Exclaims Sara, slightly shocked at the sight now that she can take a look at it without its blinding brilliance from before.
"So it seems. It concords with what I've been told about their leader." Replies the pink haired girl, before looking ahead, to the plateau above them leading to a deeper part of the woods. "My unit will be following us soon enough. I've acted as vanguard not to raise too much attention from their defenses. Sometimes, the king must venture ahead of his subjects for a most unexpected conquest of the board."
"As expected of you." Sara smiles, reminded of her tactical prowess which definitely gave her a hard time back when they were enemies. The leader of the Resistance didn't manage to evade her army for so long by chance.
"I will prove myself worthy this time." She adds, with regained confidence.
"I'm in your care, General."
With invigorating gentleness, the young but ruthless strategist acknowledges the words of her former opponent, before advancing towards their next destination.