From the moment the battle was initiated Mitsuko's forces gained the upper hand. While the yellow turbans had more numbers, they did not have the requisite training to match up against Mitsuko's comparatively elite force. As a result they cleaved through the inexperienced peasants like butter. The turbans could only amass one or two kills before they're promptly cut down in vengeance. The sudden attack and exhausting march took their toll on them. Especially as Zhang Rao blends in to the turban forces entrenching himself deep within the ranks. He knew if he retreated his forces now there would be nowhere for him and his brothers to go to. No base for the survivors to continue the battle against the Han. As such he retreats deeper in the ranks in the hopes that his forces will eventually overwhelm his enemy with sheer numbers. When he thinks he's safe he stops and turns towards the enemy and gives the order for his exhausted men to charge. Though they didn't retain their zealousness compared to when the grandmaster Zhang Jiao was still alive.

They attempt to surround Mitsuko's forces however they formed a semi-circle like formation in front of the castle gates. With the centre expanding forwards towards the enemy ranks with the edges being thinner but no less than two ranks. Due to the centre of the formation advancing with their victories the yellow turbans don't really have that much of a chance to envelop the rear of the formation. In the centre of the formation Mitsuko and her officers are in the fray, cleaving their way through turban after turban each on different parts of the battle. Zang Ba and Wu Zi were located on the flanks of the centre and Mitsuko and LingQi were at the forefront.

Zang Ba stabbed one of his enemies with his glaive right in the gut. He removed it and suddenly strikes the turban next to him diagonally upwards across the chest. The enemy staggers backwards before falling before Zang Ba swings his glaive to intercept a sword just in time as the blade hovered inches over his face. Using his strength Zang Ba pushed the sword away along with his enemy as he twists with the momentum. Zang Ba quickly twisted his glaive and wildly swings in the opposite direction. Slashing the enemy's chest as the corpse flies away from the battle. He blocked another attack, this time overhead against a spear. Zang Ba easily pushed it away and thrusts his spear in the enemy's gut. His spear broke in half as he attempts to block the thrust with the polearm. He lifted up the yellow turban high in the air and throws him behind the formation where a warrior quickly finishes him off.

Zang Ba quickly charges forward with his glaive in front and stabs another enemy in the chest and used the momentum to make him crash to the ground. He thrusts into the enemy two more times before making a wild swing, taking out several enemy soldiers.

'Come, face the power of Zang Ba, warlord of the serpent!' He boasts proudly as he pounded his chest once and plants his polearm on the ground. But readies his weapon again as more yellow turbans dare to approach him.

Wu Zi deflected attack from another sword user and quickly slashes upwards. His enemy staggers back slightly before falling. He spots an enemy emerging from his left side raising his sword high. He sidestepped to the left side of the enemy and stabs him in the stomach. He puts his hand on the enemy's face and pushed him away, the corpse staining the blade with its blood as it slides off. He pushes away a spear that is thrust towards him from the right and slide up the sword to meet the neck. Promptly decapitating his enemy as the body slumped to the side. He quickly strikes down two enemies in quick succession as he slashed them in the torso one after the other. As one comes at him raising his sword overhead Wu Zi quickly sprints past him, as the enemy yellow turban strikes downwards he sliced through his right torso easily. He quickly flips his blade behind him and stabs him in the gut from behind. He keeps the blade planted in his chest before he falls on his knees as the corpse naturally slides off the blade and landed face first onto the ground. He quickly attacks upwards to deflect an oncoming sword attack from the side. The enemy had their arm pushed away. Wu Zi let go of his blades handle briefly using the momentum to let the blade flip right side up, as it did he catches it again and strikes downwards at his exposed enemy.

LingQi positioned in the vanguard of the formation cleaved her way through the enemy's rank. She strikes one enemy towards her with a single blow with one of her double-bladed spears and the same for another enemy emerging from the other side. She thrusts her spears into two separate yellow turbans, both stopping in the track. She immediately withdrew the weapons from their bodies as quick as she thrusted them. One fell backwards and the other forwards. One attempted to sneak up on her and attack her from above with his spear, however she blocks with both of her polearms. She pushes it high in the air and slashed her enemy with both of her weapons causing a huge wound in their chest. As the body made contact with the ground she quickly twisted her body and extends her right weapon slicing an enemy at the cheek bones. LingQi quickly used her left weapon to thrust backwards into a yellow turban who drops their sword as they feel their strength waning away. Their mouth starts to fill up with blood as they attempt to reach out to her. LingQi withdraws the blade from the newly formed corpse as he falls backwards as the knees started to bend.

She spots a squad of yellow turbans charge at her at once, she recoiled her left-handed weapon behind her shoulder as her crosses in front of her neck. They yell with enthusiasm, though when they were close enough LingQi horizontally slashes all enemies in front of her, knocking them all down with ease. She blocked an oncoming attack with ease with her right most blade. However, she blocked another one coming from the other side with her other blade. A third attacker was on their way attacking the exposed LingQi from the front. When they were close enough, despite the strength of her two enemies attempting to make her go onto at least one knee. She kicked the charging attacker in the stomach knocking him backwards. She glanced at her attacker on her right side first. She pushes the sword to the attacker's right side and quickly strikes horizontally with the same weapon across the chest with the blade on the opposite side. Knocking down her opponent with ease. She glanced again at the second one who has a more fearful expression on his face. She smirked slightly as she pushes the sword this time to the attackers left side and thrusts the same blade in the enemy's skull through the middle of the face. The corpse drops his weapon immediately as well as his arms limply.

LingQi withdrew the blade as the corpse fell backwards and walks towards the enemy she kicked previously who hasn't had a chance to get up. Though as he sees her, he attempts to crawl away backwards in vain that she wouldn't attack him. When LingQi got close enough she planted both of her blades in their body, one at the stomach, the other at the chest. The soldier coughs up blood and lets out a deathly sigh. She removed the weapons and readies herself again for combat as more and more turbans emerge into her view.

Mitsuko's powerful attack was technically blocked with the enemy's sword, though the blade only blocked the polearm. The tip of the crescent blade itself was implanted in the side of his head. Blood leaked out from the wound, Mitsuko removed the crescent blade and spurts of blood came out of the wound like a pipe filled with water on the edge of bursting. The body slumped to the ground. Mitsuko takes a step back with her right foot and swings her blade horizontally catching the enemy's stomach, he clutched it as he drops to his knees in the vain hope of keeping his blood in his body. Mitsuko quickly flipped her crescent blade and sliced his face below the eye line. As the corpse hits the ground Mitsuko takes a step back with her left foot this time and strikes vertically upwards. Catching a yellow turban soldier off guard as he attempted to attack Mitsuko while yelling. The enemy flies off his feet and lands 10 feet away and lands on his back. He coughed up some blood as the body hits the ground while suffering from a huge vertical wound inflicted on his torso. She spotted a soldier sprinting at her with his sword to his side. She raises her scythe high and drops it on their head. The impact caused him to slide on his knees before suddenly stopping. She raised the scythe accompanied with the lifeless corpse. It slowly slid down from the scythe and lands again on his knees lies backwards. Mitsuko cleaves a line of enemies as they charge her, knocking them down like dominos.

As they land on the ground another soldier charges towards her. Mitsuko drops her weapon on him when he's in range. He blocks with his spear and drops to one knee however he's still alive. Suddenly another yellow turban emerged from behind him and lunges at Mitsuko from his left side and strikes attempted to slash her with his sword. Mitsuko's eyes widen in shock as she lets go of the scythe with her left arm and scrambles to her concealed sword. She unsheathes it narrowly blocking the blade. Both soldiers look at Mitsuko, surprise and bewilderment were present in their faces. Mitsuko demonically smirked before pushing away the sword and stabbed him in the chest. He could only look in horror as he sees the demonic smile she wears as she withdraws the sword from his body. As the body hits the ground she glanced back at the soldier under her scythe. Still keeping a grasp on her sword, she pounded hard on the polearm, the impact was too much for the enemy to handle as his arms gave way and the crescent blade penetrated the top of the skull. The corpse is dragged down to the ground. Mitsuko walked to the soldier and planted her foot on his head and pulls the scythe out.

Due to the efforts of Mitsuko's forces the yellow turbans lose morale and start to flee away from the battle, opting to live to see tomorrow. The back lines start to flee first before eventually the whole army follows suit. Due to the hustle and bustle of the army several people were pushed and trampled over in the panic including the leader Zhang Rao who tried to calm his people down and to reorganise them. Though it was too late. The survivors abandoned him as he was shoved from one frantic yellow turban to the next until they trip. When the army flees only Zhang Rao and a few others lay on the ground. She walked up to Zhang Rao and grabbed him by the back of his collar to his knees.

'Wait come back my brothers, save me!' He ordered as he stretched his hand out however they retreated into darkness and out of sight as he lowers his arm, almost resigned himself to his fate.

'Your brothers have abandoned you.' Mitsuko whispered as she sets down her scythe and raises her sword high above his skull as he sulks his head.

'Any last words?' Unaware of the demonic smile she wore.

'You may have beaten us, you may kill me but the yellow dragon will prevail! The way of peace will be known throughout the land and you…serpent will face the wrath of the yellow dragon!' he exclaims stretching his arms out wide. Mitsuko decided that would be enough of his ramblings and plants his sword deep in his skull. Zhang Rao's right arm was raised momentarily in reflect before promptly dropping to his side. She removed the sword which was now drenched in his blood, the body lands on the ground with a thud. Her eyes start to become normal once again as she picks up her scythe next to her. She sheaths her sword before turning to her soldiers who were silent throughout this ordeal. She raised her blood drenched scythe high in the air and her forces cheer for their victory. LingQi looks around to see the celebration all around, she couldn't help but smile seeing Mitsuko victorious giving her troops confidence as well as her officers as she sees the joyous expressions on both Zang Ba and Wu Zi as she glances to the left and right respectively. She felt something…alien inside her that night. A feeling

When the castle was out of sight the yellow turban remnants stop, collapse and catch their breath.

'Lord Zhang Rao…what do we do without him!?' one exclaims exhaustedly.

'look, we just…just need to regroup and try again.' One soldier stood up to try and gain command of the troops.

'How!? You just saw how we were decimated with so few men! What hope do we have now!?'

'We may aswell just give up, lets just go home.'

'What homes? They were destroyed by the Han remember!? No we can't just go back living lives on a farm…not after all this.'

'Maybe we can just make a new home somewhere, just live our lives in peace you know?'

'You really think the Han will let us create new homes!? We should-'

'Stop deluding yourself? I agree.' A voice interrupted them with a chuckle. They all stand up and get their weapons drawn and stared at the abyss. Suddenly a torch lights up in the sight which reveals Pang Tong.

'My apologies I did not mean to be so rude. I was just merely stating the best advice for this situation.' He shrugs his shoulders as the other yellow turbans start to gather in front of him.

'Who are you? What are you doing here?'

'Oh I'm just a hermit travelling through the land is all, don't mind me. I may serve Mitsuko the serpent but that's neither here or there.'

'You serve her!? Then you are a fool to chase us alone!' the lead soldier yelled as he points his blade at him, though Pang Tong is unaffected by his threat.

'I did not come here to fight you know, I just wanted to talk.'

'Talk about what?'

'Well, the weather has been nicely lately don't you think? Hehe why would you attack a castle instead of tending to your crops?'

'As Zhang Rao said before, we wish to slay the Han.' He declared proudly. Pang Tong chuckled at his enthusiasm.

'I see, I see. How about you, do you think the same thing?' Pang Tong points to one of the other soldiers in the crowd behind the fanatical soldier who hesitantly shook his head.

'I just…I just wanted to stay alive is all.' He looks down almost ashamedly as he feels the stares of others burrowing into him.

'Really? Interesting. And what about you?' Pang Tong pointed to another one.

'I can no longer live in a war-torn land with warlords wanting power or themselves.'

'We're tired of just being ignored, that is why I joined lord Zhang Jiao in the first place.' Another one replied. More and more began to chime in with their reasons.

'Ok ok that's enough, there's far too many voices for one such as me can listen to at once.' Pang Tong holds his hands out and calms them.

'Good. Now I appreciate your reasons for attacking our castle, however it wasn't yours to attack and unfortunately while I admire your motives. Motives alone does not mean you would succeed at your goals, especially without a good leader.'

'How dare you insult lord Zhang Rao! I have half a mind to slay you right where you stand!' The soldier interrupted him.

'Good for you. However as I was saying because there's no…capable leader that will lead you through the chaos I suggest you find a warlord to serve. After all, they always need soldiers.'

'Well…who would that be? I don't wish to side with Cao Cao, I hear he's really ruthless to innocents.' One soldier replied

'Yeah and lord Liu Bei does not have a home, I don't want to keep wandering all my life.' Another soldier responded.

'Well…why don't you serve my lady Mitsuko?' The yellow turbans widen their eyes with shock.

'Wait what!?'

'It would be mutually beneficial for both parties. My lady will get some more soldiers and you will be able to get a home and a worthy lady to serve under.'

'Doesn't she serve that beast of the Han Lu Bu? We will not stoop so low as to follow the Han again.' The self-appointed leader advised.

'Hehe, do not worry about that…we have a plan for him.' Pang Tong chuckled.

'Well…she and her forces are strong.' One concluded, the self-appointed leader turns towards him in anger.

'What? Are you saying you would abandon our cause!? You would willingly serve the Han once again?'

'Do you not get it my friend? The Han is dead, there is a reason why the warlords are vying for control you know. There is no need to continue your war, that one is already over. My lady will need all your help if we are to be the victors in this war and you'll need hers to achieve your dreams.' Pang Tong explained however the leader did not believe this.

'Silence!' Pang Tong did become silent however whispers began to spread throughout the ranks.

'You should consider my offer, not everyone would be willing to use yellow turban soldiers considering what you all did.' Pang Tong chuckled however the leader demanded that he be kept silent.

'What if we don't? What if we just kill you right now!? You're all alone!'

'Then you'll kill the only person whose lady can give you what you all need.'

'And what's that?'

'Purpose.' Murmers began to get louder within the ranks.

'Do you…really think she'll accept our help? Can she really win this war?'

'Will she…give us a home?' A yellow turban soldier questions.

'Oh yes of course. However the road will be long and hard before such things are obtained. Are you still willing to serve her?'

'Ha! Of course-'

'Yes.'

'What?' The self-appointed leader turns towards his fellow brother in arms who answered him.

'Yes. If she's willing to accept us into her ranks I'll follow her.' He goes on knee and plants his weapon into the ground in front of him, Pang Tong nodded in satisfaction.

'I do aswell.' Another one chimed in.

'I do not want to die…and I surely do not want to face the serpent again in battle. I choose to follow her aswell.' He did the same as the first soldier. Soon many others did the same shocking the self-appointed leader as Pang Tong chuckled. The nerve of this hermit enraged him.

'Fine, abandon our cause! I will never betray lord Zhang Jiao or Zhang Rao. Prepare to die servant of the Han!' He grabbed his blade and charge towards him. However when he got close he found himself knocked off his feet and impaled by a crude looking pike with spikes covering the 'blade' of the weapon. He struggles to breathe as Pang tong walked up to him and crouched down.

'Tsk, tsk. You really should've looked forwards to the future and not the past. Oh well.' Pang Tong shrugs his shoulders as the man attempted to speak though the blood that's rapidly building up in his throat prevents it as he coughs it up. Pang Tong stands up and looks towards the other soldiers who wore masks of shock and fear. They see a bright light coming towards them which causes them to take a step back in caution. The light got closer to Pang Tong which his torch revealed to be Diamondback. He examines each of the soldiers he sees before them before giving them a disproving grunt.

'Now, I assume the rest of you have no objection to serving lady Mitsuko then yes?' He questions. They all go on one knee and plant their weapons deep in the soil. Pang tong chuckled at this.

'Excellent. Now in order to become a part of my lady's ranks and help achieve her dreams as well as yours, you will need more strength than you have now. Which is why I will leave you in Diamondbacks hands. He will be your commanding officer. Failure to impress him may…shorten your lifespan, is that understood?'

'Yes my lord!' they all reply in unison.

'Hehe excellent, you all should get some sleep. You have a busy day tomorrow.' Pang Tong advises as Diamondback pulls his weapon out causing the soldier cough up more blood as he exhales his final breath. The two walked away from the soldiers as they make preparations to sleep.

'So what do you think?' Pang Tong questioned.

'Hmph, they do not appear to be of much use as their battle today showed. However, I am confident I can make them warriors.' Diamondback replied.

'Good, good. Remember we need as many of them alive as possible, Lady Mitsuko will need all the men she can afford so try and not to kill too many. These aren't demons, they are just humans.'

'Then I will make them demons.' Pang tong did his signature chuckle at this.

'Good for you. I will send word when I need your forces to move but that won't be for a while so train to your hearts content until then.'

'Understood.' Diamondback lowers his head in respect as Pang Tong reaches his horse and mounts it.

'Well then, I'll leave these future warriors with you then. Take care my friend.' Pang Tong responded before he rides off towards the castle. Diamondback bows respectfully as he rides off into the darkness.