A unit of Cao Cao's soldier bypass the front gate and instead opts to enter the castle from the west gate instead hoping to ambush the defenders, they moved more slowly hugging the castles walls closely as they traverse to the gate now knowing that the archers have been dealt with. The castles wall edges on the border of the forest with thick trees. Armed with mainly spears and shields they march however some stop as they hear a soft growl from the forest.
'What was that?'
'I don't know, a forest creature maybe?' A few of the soldiers start speculating on the noise before the captain of the regiment silences them.
'Don't worry about it, its probably just some boar. Beasts like that know not to attack us in large numbers. Let's keep moving. We need to occupy the castle as soon as possible by flanking the enemy.' The rest of the soldiers quickly turned silent and continued to march towards the gate however one soldiers spotted something in the forest a little further beyond the border. A faint yet alluring bright blue light emanating from the darkness. He wanted to know what exactly it was, so he broke off ranks to investigate further. It was silly he knows but he can't help it. His comrades quickly notice this.
'Hey where are you going?' One asks as he sees them getting closer to the forest's boarder. Though their comrade wouldn't respond and just kept walking closer. One decides to rush up to him and stands next to him.
'Hey didn't you hear us? Where are you going?' He questioned before he looks up to see the light as well.
'That's where, you have any idea what that is?'
'No idea.' He responded also curious of the origins.
'Hey you two what are you doing? Hurry up!' One yelled at them, breaking them out of their trance.
'Yeah we're coming!' He looks to his comrade and grabs a hold of his shoulder before walking away. The first soldier looked at the bright light though he resisted the temptation to walk further in and started to walk away. Although as he did he heard a terrifying snarl. He hesitated to look behind him however as he did all he saw was a set of sharp jaws open to reveal a large mouth. The other soldier heard him scream and turn back to find Diamondback digging his teeth into his comrade's skull as he's tackled to the ground. Diamondback looked up and stands over the fresh corpse with his circular shield in his left hand and his halberd in the right. Blood trickling from his jaws as he smiles demonically at the enemy. The soldier looked horrified and was too frightened to even scream especially as diamondback soldiers formerly yellow turbans begin to emerge behind him however instead of yellow they wear pure black tunics with black bandanas with the centre of them displaying a green serpent with its mouth open as if trying to strike its prey. Each soldier has red piercing eyes and a dastardly smirk, armed with either a single sword or axe ready to be stained. The soldier started to back up and turn to flee however the moment he turned diamondback impaled him with his halberd. It pained him so much as he looked down and sees his hands and the ground below stained in his own blood. Yet he can't scream he can only wheeze before Diamondback pushed him to the ground. He removed the halberd and crushed his skull with his right foot. He extended his halberd out to the marching unit as they all seemed eager to get into the fray.
'For the serpent!' He yelled as all his soldiers rush past him, eager to attack the enemy. Cao Cao's flanking force looked to their side to see the horde of new soldiers.
'The enemy is here too!?'
'What do we do?'
'Quick get into formation! Engage the enemy!' The captain ordered as they attempted to get into formation while moving forward as to not put their backs literally against the wall however they engaged the enemy too soon and weren't able to get into a shield wall like formation and so the Diamondbacks forces were able to overrun them. Cao Cao's troops attempted to put up a good fight however they were too fatigued and were outnumbered. They appeared too suddenly for them as the slaughter began. The captain of the regiment looked around at all the carnage around him. He saw one of his comrades get his wrist cut off as his enemy slashed his sword upwards, sliced his stomach immediately afterwards and side steps while positioning their sword perfectly to impale his skull as the body falls. He looked to the opposite side to see his comrade get tackled before brutally getting stabbed repeatedly by two enemies. He then spotted Diamondback who horizontally attacks one of his subordinates, impaling him with the halberds spikes and lifted him up in the air only to slam him down behind him. The warrior coughed up blood as he made impact with the ground. Diamondback turned and glares at the captain who doesn't move despite the screaming off his comrades echoing all around him. He deviously snarls and smirks as he beckoned the captain to come at him as he plants his halberd into his subordinates' gut.
The captain charged at diamondback while screaming his lungs out in anger, eager to get vengeance for his subordinates however Diamondback anticipated the attack and side steps it. He then clasped on to the hand tightly with his jaws as the captain crashed to his knees in pain. Diamondback smacked him with his shield in his face however instead of retracting it he instead pushed further while pulling the arm. The captain screams in agony as he felt his flesh slowly being torn away from him until Diamondback decided to finish it off. He tore his arm off from the elbow downwards.
The captain lets go of his shield and grabbed the open wound in agony as he curled his body over his missing arm. He closed his eyes forcefully due to the amount of pain he was in. He opened them as soon as he heard Diamondback demonic laughter as his arm was dropped in front of him like a toy. The captain knew he had to try and escape someway so he tried to crawl away on the floor as he lies on his stomach and more corpses of his subordinates drop to the ground. One lands next to him with his head decapitated. He gasped but continues to slowly trudge along as it seems the echoes of cheers and laughter of his enemies grew louder and louder. However soon though he gets picked up from the back of his collar. He gets immediately frightened as he heard only one set of heavy footprints which were next to him. He saw himself getting closer to the wall of Xia Pi, he wondered what's going on. Diamondback stopped when near enough to the wall and dropped the captain. As he attempted to stand up diamondback struck him with his halberd on his shoulder and dragged it further back so that the captain lied upwards looking at the sky and dropped the heavy halberd next to him.
Diamondback grabbed him again from his clothes near his neck and pinned against the wall. Diamondback saw the fear in his eyes as he opens his mouth, his breath caressed his face while he flinched trying to turn his head away. Diamondback snarled viciously as he threw him in the air vertically. At a precise moment he punched him with his shield arm causing the shield to decapitate the captain as the body dropped to the ground immediately. The head remained balanced on the shield before Diamondback grabbed his from the top of his skull and stares at it for a moment before suddenly devouring the front of his face and throwing the remnants on the ground. He picked up his halberd that he dropped before and pointed it towards all of his soldiers/
'Excellent. Now we enter the castle, rescue our allies and slay her enemies! For the serpent!' he ordered preferring not to say any long rambling speeches, at least until the battle was won.
'For the serpent!' They all shouted as they sprint in the castle. Diamondback roared loud enough so that even Pang tong and Chen Gong could hear them.
'What was that!?' Chen Gong asked, his eyes grew wide with surprise. Not expecting such a sound. Nor the chuckling of his adversary.
'That's Lady Mitsuko's reinforcements of course.'
'What? How did you of all people get reinforcements!?' Chen Gong questioned, astonished at the fact he managed to organise any reinforcements despite his spies.
'Well when your arrogance matched that of your lords of course. Hehe. A little bit poetic if you think about it. Out of all the time you wasted keeping an eye on me and not the true threat, the moment you arrogantly thought I was powerless and couldn't do anything that was when I made my move. Just out of curiosity did you not suspect anything when you heard of the yellow turban attack. Did you not think it was..odd that they suddenly attacked the castle during your absence. Almost like they knew when to attack. Now lets say they did…how would they know when to attack there?' Chen Gong stands there completely flabbergasted and took a step back.
'No…HOW!? You couldn't have possibly orchestrated that!' Chen Gong shouted, losing his composure as Pang Tong simply chuckled at him.
'Ahh but I did, I had a few scouts inform me they were in the area, it was a simple case of getting a messenger out. Then after the battle it was a simple case of making them see things from our point of view. Though I couldn't abandon Lady Mitsuko like that, I needed your eyes on me. So I had to give the reigns to someone more…qualified than myself, besides if I left you may have gotten the wrong idea, that I would abandon you without saying thanks for your co-operation. That would be quite rude no?'
'Just…just who are you!?' Chen Gong finally demanded. He needed to know who exactly he was, who could orchestrate something like this, who could outsmart him any possible way. How he could anticipate everything like so. He couldn't just be a normal man.
'My, you ask now of all times? You must really be curious now of all times, I wonder…is it because you can't stand the thought of not knowing anything about me or are you just that afraid and knowing my name could give you some form of comfort?' He looked at him with a sinister glare before chuckling once again.
'Well its only fair after all since I've known yours for a while. My name is Pang Tong or you may know me as the fledgling phoenix.' Chen Gong opened his eyes in fear and took a step back. HE was the fledgling phoenix? This damn hermit of all people? It started to become clear to him how he was constantly being outmatched. But still…he didn't expect the fledgling phoenix to be HIM of all people. But why? Why did he even bother coming here? Why did he travel away from his home province? Why did he serve the damned serpent woman!?
'Let me guess you're thinking to yourself, "why such a handsome individual would choose such a lady to follow? I mean she has nothing to her name after all." Ahh but you see there lies what's so great. Because she has nothing she's more open to suggestions, she's more humble, she's more willing listen to those that follow her rather than be an arrogant lord who doesn't listen and does whatever they want to do like an untameable beast. I mean what kind of strategist would tolerate such a thing? I mean after all to some that would be a fate worse than death no?'
'Silence!' Chen Gong demanded as Pang Tong sinisterly chuckled.
'Its true though isn't it? I'm surprised your only abandoning him now to be honest, but then again when you put all your faith in him its not just a simple case of returning to Cao Cao was it? If you simply embraced the serpent instead of treating her like a nuisance then you would've lived and be remembered. You would've joined us on this little interesting journey we're on and I do like things interesting, its one of the reasons why I joined up after all. I didn't join her to control her for my own gain like you, I just want to offer my services and guide her towards her objective, whatever that will be. I believe that's my role. However this is where your role in this war ends. This castle is your grave, this fact was sealed in place the moment you became an enemy to Lady Mitsuko.' Pang Tong's voice became darker and more ominous near the end but simply laughed heartily after.
'Oh well can't win them all can you? Don't worry I'm sure you'll be remembered throughout history. It'll just be recorded as one of many footnotes recorded as the victims of Lady Mitsuko the serpent.' That was when Chen Gong lost it, he couldn't handle this taunting and mocking any longer.
'Oh no! Not at all, I am not a footnote simply as your victim! You will be mine! I will be known as the phoenix slayer! The strategist who slain the phoenix before their wings have fully grown! That will be my legacy!' Chen Gong shouted out loudly as he opened more of his scroll which more lights came out and took the form of another squad of soldiers in a shield wall formation. Chen Gong laughed maniacally as he took a couple of steps back as the soldiers charged forward in formation with their shields high and their spears in front.
Pang Tong simply waved his fan in front of him which generated a large gust of wind which quickly blew the troops away and immediately vanished. Chen Gong gritted his teeth and he summoned more troops and moved back more. Though Pang Tong also swatted them away as if he has command of the very wind itself. Chen Gong kept continuing to summon his spectral soldiers as Pang Tong kept blowing them away however he became exhausted as a result.
'Hmm, looks like these new abilities of mine take up much more energy than I anticipated, like I'm swinging heavy weapons instead of just a fan…how interesting. Hmm, looks like he created quite a gap for me to close.' Pang Tong noticed the empty space between the two as Chen Gong started to laugh again.
'Alright phoenix, try this one for size!' A huge light emerged from the scroll however rather than spectral warriors this one was in the form of a rhino. It roared before it charged towards Pang Tong. Pang Tong swiped in front of him however the Rhino continues to charge, unaffected by the wind which surprised Pang Tong. He attacked again from the other side though the Rhino keeps charging towards him. As the Rhino sprinted towards him Pang Tong took a deep breath and tried to prepare himself. As the Rhino was about to get him Pang Tong extended his arms with the fan which generated a tornado which stops the Rhino in its track though its still simulated the movement as if stuck on a treadmill. Chen Gong had to hold on to one of the embrasures to make sure he didn't fly away. Pang Tong used all his newfound strength which exhausted him however his persistence paid off. The rhino started to be lifted from the ground and flown away. Pang Tong had to stop the attack before he collapsed. Chen Gongs feet touched the ground and the rhino crashed on the floor and quickly dispersed. Pang Tong went on his knees and panted heavily as that attack took a toll on his body he wasn't expecting.
'Haha! I got you now, this is the end of you!' Chen Gong cackles as Pang Tong looked up at him however no more lights emerged from the scroll. Pang Tong did his signature chuckle as he stood up and planted his fan on the ground.
'Well looks like we're both trying to get to grips with our new abilities, however I believe you're out of options. Which means its my victory, though don't fret you played well.' Pang Tong chuckled as he began to slowly walk forward, Chen Gong knew he couldn't retreat anymore. Even if he did, he knew he would never escape his torments, his taunts. The disgrace of being beaten by just a single hermit, even if he is the fledgling phoenix, that's all he is. A fledgling! How could he possibly match up to him of all people!? Constantly hearing his voice of torment for the rest of his life because he was unable to slay him here and now…he couldn't live with that. He throws down his scroll in anger and pulls out a sword. Pang Tong stopped.
'You will die by my hand here and now!' Chen Gong declared as he sprinted toward him. Pang Tong simply chuckled.
'Well in that case I better take my last drink then.' Pang Tong took a quick swig of his flask. As he put the flask away he stumbled backwards as if slightly intoxicated though he doesn't swallow the liquid. He felt a burning sensation inside of him ever since he first performed a wind command. If his theory was correct this would be Chen Gongs end. Chen Gong sprinted as fast as he could towards Pang Tong, this was it. He could finally get rid of him one and for all! Though when he got close enough a small breeze started to form however it didn't really affect him. Although it lifted Pang Tong's veil slightly though because of his size he still couldn't see behind it. Suddenly Pang Tong struck when he was in range. He spits out the drink but instead of liquid it was pure fire which engulfed Chen Gong. Chen Gong writhed in pain and continued to charge though all he could do was flail his arms in pain as he attempted put the fire out. He could only see the embers of the flames and just kept running blindly past Pang Tong as he took a step to the side. He just kept running and running, he just wanted to flames to stop consuming him.
He didn't see the wall turning a corner and as a result he tripped and fell over one of the embrasures, his shrieks of pain continued until a thud was heard and then nothing but the faint sounds of soldiers yelling and metal clashing echoed throughout the castle. Pang Tong sat down on the ground clearly exhausted.
'Oh that was harder than expected, however now that Chen Gongs taken care of that's one less threat for lady Mitsuko to deal with. I should also try and be a bit more careful, this new-found power of mine exhausts me a lot. I'll need to find a way to channel it accordingly, maybe one of those demons will know.' Pang Tong thought to himself as he leaned on his fan to stand up although he noticed the scroll that was discarded by Chen Gong.
'Hmm, maybe that scroll can help me understand these new powers or at the very least it could be useful for the future.' Pang Tong walked to the scroll and bends down to reach for it with his left hand. As he touched it suddenly a huge light emerged from it and started to burn Pang Tong's hand. It was like his arm was on fire and slowly turning to Ash. Though he kept a grasp on it. He wasn't about to be defeated by a simple scroll, he was too curious to see what kind of secrets would be unlocked. He crashed down to his knees in pain but stifles his screams into winces. The scroll started to turn raven black without Pang Tong noticing. The more it turned the more pain that was unleashed upon pang Tong's arm as well as how brighter the light shone. Pang Tong couldn't help but scream in agony, though he kept holding it. He figured if it was this difficult to keep a grasp of it, it had to be worth enduring this for Mitsuko's sake, as well as his own. With a final yell the light shone the brightest it ever could before suddenly disappearing. The pain subsided so quickly Pang Tong couldn't feel almost anything.
He looked down and see that his arm had completely gone! Though in place of his arm of flesh was one of shadow. Its fingers were slender and his arm was very thin, half the thickness of that of his right arm. It was a strange feeling, to Pang Tong it was like the arm was there and yet it looks like its gone. He attempts to flex his fingers into a fist which he does twice as fast than he did when it was pure flesh. He lifts it up and finds that the arm of the robe itself doesn't go through it like it would if it was something like a ghost. Pang Tong wondered what the scroll held, what knowledge it possessed. He noticed that it was black instead of red like it was in Chen Gong's hands. He opened the scroll and realised that when he touched it with his other arm there's no pain at all. It looked like the scroll was unlocked for him. As he opened it golden writing seemed to appear in front of him. Suddenly the golden glow turned jet black as a few black orbs seem to jump up and come out of the scroll. Pang Tong noticed there's no bright light this time at all, he wondered what this all meant. The orbs turned into spectral warriors though instead of pure light they were pure shadow. Armed with malicious armour and helmets and crude halberds they appeared before Pang Tong though they don't do anything.
'Well, what have we here? Come closer my friends lets have a look at you.' They obeyed and marched forward. Pang Tong examined them closely. Their armour if you could call it that looked thick and their helmets covered their face except for their eyes. Their halberds though crude looking still looked deadly enough to pierce armour and flesh alike. Pang Tong started to chuckle at this.
'Well this suddenly gotten more interesting. I wonder what other secrets this scroll had. I can't wait to unlock its powers, however first thing first our forces will need to escape once Lady Mitsuko deals with Lu Bu. If these…shadow warriors are anything like Chen Gong's soldiers, then they'll be most useful indeed.'
'Well time for you to show me what you can do, come let's get you all into the battle shall we?' Pang Tong motions for them to follow him as he started to move. The shadow soldiers marched in unity following closely behind him. Pang Tong's smirk is concealed by his veil.
A/N: Hey guys just a quick Authors note just saying happy holidays to you all and hope everything went well and will go well in the future for you. Thanks for your support even if you just read it, it actually does mean a lot as I didn't think this would be this popular considering dynasty warriors isn't exactly known for its fanfic fandom, while also considering the main character and her orientation and all that but hey must be doing something right :P . I'm also going to get a new cover for this fanfic soon thanks to a miss BunnyBrushArts. I wanted to thank her ideally when it was finished but I didn't really want too many author notes and I'm not sure when she'll be finished or when it will be uploaded and didn't really want to break my uploading streak so I decided to thank her now. Here's her link to her deviant art. bunnybrusharts . She hasn't been on there too long and doesn't have any other art pages so there's not many of her drawings online but check her out and tell her I said hello :P . I'm also thinking about doing a Q&A or a comment special sometime after I've finished this arc just for a little fun. It'll probably be a collection of one shots as its own thing after, probably more focusing on comedy or something with the characters after when I just draft ideas, again for a little more fun. I'll probably call it 'ROFK chibi edition' or something. Name's not in stone yet (feel free to suggest anything if you want this) but if you have any questions about this fanfic, want to comment or just ask something in general, feel free to ask by just commenting or PMing me and I'll see what I can answer. As you can see I actually started to actually be productive halfway through this year which I was actually quite amazed by considering how this all started off and how long it took to get to this position, but hey late better than never right? :P Seriously though, thanks for the support guys, hope you enjoyed the chapter and much more coming next year so until next chapter, sayonara.