As the warriors helped pack up the camp Mitsuko arrived, everyone was deadly silent as they all noticed Mitsuko's new arms. She was fully aware of this, since as soon as she met their gaze they quickly shifted them to the side or on the ground. As they walk past soldiers, the snakes stare at them curiously while tilting their head slightly. Morale was low in the army but hopefully she'll be able to revitalise it. As she was walking around she's approached by Diamondback with his huge halberd being carried over his shoulder with one arm and his circular shield in the other arm.
'My lady, the camp is packed up and the warriors are ready to depart. They're awaiting your orders.' Diamondback stated as he bows his head down.
'Good, I want to speak to them before we depart. It looks they may need it.' Mitsuko responded.
'As you wish my lady.'
'By the way, where is your demon friends, Gyuki and Dodomeki?' Mitsuko asked as she scouts around the camp but nowhere to be seen.
'Heh, those two have kept themselves to darkness for a good while it seems like. I suspect they're around and will hear what you will say however do not worry about that.' Diamondback reassured her.
'Ok…gather the soldiers and I'll just hope I don't fumble my words.'
'At once my lady.' Diamondback bowed again briefly before walking off to gather the warriors.
'Mitsuko? What are you trying to do?' LingQi questions.
'To be honest I have no idea. Trying to steel myself for the future I guess.' Mitsuko sheepishly with a lopsided smile before exhaling. Before long Diamondback managed to gather the troops together making Mitsuko nervous. She was never one for taking control like this but with everything that's happened recently, as she was approaching the camp with LingQi she started to reflect on everything and found she wasn't really that great of a leader. If she was going to change this country to help make the future a bit brighter, she realised she needed to try and be a better leader. And she felt the first step would be to address her soldiers. Whether or not she wanted the responsibility for their lives is irrelevant. She had them now and she needs their help to make her world a reality. She had no idea what it will look like but she thought it had to be better than the one she lived through.
As the soldiers gathered around near the front of the camp, Dodomeki and Gyuki stayed behind though lurking close.
'I wonder what's going on.' Dodomeki stated as he saw the soldiers gathering round.
'I dunno either but it seems like lady Mitsuko is gathering them for something.' Gyuki pointed out as he saw Mitsuko climbing up on some rubble at the centre of attention with her snake arms.
'Wait…why does she have her arms activated now?' Dodomeki mused. The last time she had them like that was last night. Though he theorised that she would bring them out in dire perils or when she's angry or something. Yet here she is, her normal self wearing them like it's the norm for her.
'Would this be the work of that human again?' Dodomeki thought to himself. Gyuki glanced at Dodomeki for a moment before turning to face Mitsuko. He didn't have a chance to talk to Dodomeki about what he envisioned last night. The uproar of soldiers started to die down as Mitsuko stood on a mount of rubble to make herself be seen by everyone. She felt hundreds of pairs of eyes stare at her. She never did do well with so many people watching. Though that was version of Mitsuko that was long gone. Today is a new start for her. Soon only the wind blowing could be heard aswell as the chirping of several birds as they fly over the remnants of the camp. As she stood up on the mount of rubble to see everyone her mouth felt instantly dry, her heartbeat skyrocketed as she looked around at all these soldiers under her command. She took a deep breath and exhaled with everyone looking at her with anticipation while some were staring at her snake arms.
'So I'm not going to lie to you. I know our situation is rather...well shit. No land to call our own and we've been wandering around for a while with no end in sight. We've been down on our luck ever since we escaped the mass flood attack in Xia Pi castle. I know some of you may have been having second thoughts about this whole thing. About me and some of your more…exotic allies lets say.' Mitsuko started. Soldiers started to whisper to each other. The rest of them stare at Mitsuko and her new arms as they slither in the air with Mitsuko looking nervous. Mitsuko shut her eyes for a second before immediately opening them to reveal her right one being slitshaped with a lilac colour with a pure abyss black pupil.
'However! Do you know what I see in front of me now in every one of you?' The soldiers just looked at each other bewildered by this question as Mitsuko's voice boomed louder.
'Survivors! All of you so far has survived whatever this world has thrown at us. Random yellow turban incursions, skirmishes with Cao Cao, the flood attack at Xia Pi. Even the wrath from the forces of the mightiest warrior in the land! We have survived and we will continue to do so! The schemes and trickery of Chen Gong didn't stop us from taking any glory in battle. Cao Cao didn't stop us slaying his soldiers. The mighty Lu Bu didn't stop us from escaping his doomed fate with the rest of his men!' Each word Mitsuko spoke boomed more and more with authority with soldiers looking up and nodding in agreement. Mitsuko glances at her feet before continuing.
'Although I must admit, I wasn't given any position of power like I have now. Due to my inexperience I realise I didn't do my best at leading you thus far and for that I'm sorry. That ends today though!' Her voice boomed once again.
'I may still be a little inexperienced when it comes to this and I was…a little lost. Now for the first time in a long time I can think with a clear mind as possible and now know what I want to do. No…what I need to do. I was able to see what the future held for this world…and it wasn't an enjoyable future. Nothing changed under these warlords rule. Not for the future I witnessed. Tyrants still ruled the world and the people suffered. And they were fearful. The rich and the upper class created a system that trapped the people. They became too scared to rise up against their oppressors. They all felt powerless to do anything about it. They accepted their role as beneath them. Allowing others to exploit them and pick on those that were isolated.' Mitsuko's anger became apparent as her serpent eye turned blood red as those of the snakes who grew to become a little more aggressive as they hissed, startling the soldiers at the front.
'They think they could just do as they please and step on anyone, hurting them…abusing them and causing them to suffer for their own pleasure. That is not a future I want for us! I will not stand by and let that happen. Not anymore! And neither should you, is that what kind of future you want your future offspring? To be essentially enslaved and abused for simply being different? Do you want a world where its run by incompetent greedy idiots? Just like the eunuchs that started this whole thing!?' Mitsuko questioned her forces. Whispers are heard throughout the ranks with a few "no's" being heard but that was unsatisfactory for Mitsuko.
'I said is that a world you want!?' She questioned again, this time more authorative. Every single soldier yelled "no!" in unison. Mitsuko had a lopsided smirk after that.
'Of course you don't! You're all intelligent to know that's a shit world to live in! But that is a paradise to some pretentious nobleman…people like Dong Zhuo. People who exploited the chaos for their own nefarious deeds. Before all this, I was one of those that just accepted things. I felt powerless, unable to do anything so I accepted the way things were despite how bad the situation was. But no longer! I now have strength, strength to change this world! These new…acquaintances of mine are proof.' The snakes screech as Mitsuko announced them, attempting to break the ice on her new arms. They slither in the air as the warriors look at them in awe.
'These were unexpected, you can probably imagine my surprise when I woke up with them. These are symbols, symbols of how far I come. But there's more yet to go though as I'm about to embark on a journey that there's no going back from. These other warlords dying for power…they know not of your prowess, your true strength, They each fight for their own vision. Their visions are not like mine though. They don't see what the world will be like, they don't know what the future holds for their offspring. They don't know your plight, your personal struggles. No…they're not worthy of my allegiance, of your allegiance. I decided that I will take the mantle and I will conquer China!' Mitsuko's serpent eye along with those of her snakes turn back to her lilac purple.
'I know full well the position we're in which is why we will bide our time before making our move. I no longer can simply stand by allow these warlords to bicker among themselves, I can't just stand by and let the future I witnessed be realised! I want to build a world where everyone has a place, that no one will feel isolated or alone. A world where everyone is equal, where discrimination and greed is not tolerated, where crimes are justly punished while those that need help get the help they need! A world without unjust suffering! I know that may seem unrealistic and we have plenty of obstacles still in our way of achieving even the first step of that dream. That still doesn't mean I'll yield, I refuse to let that world materialise again! I refuse to be a bystander any longer. I'm going to make my mark in history!'
'The odds are stacked against us its true, but again, we have fought against the odds before. Our survival is proof of that! We can do whatever we need to do, build whatever future we want! We just need to take care…of the opposition.' Mitsuko's smirk grew into a sadistic smile.
'Let them try to stop us. Let them try to stifle our progress of a better world, a better tomorrow. They will all fall in the end. With our strength!' Mitsuko's left snake instantly revealed its large blade out of its mouth.
'And our determination!' Mitsuko's right snake instantly protruded its crescent blade.
'We will stand victorious over them all, those that would dare stifle our progress will be put to the sword! I cannot allow anyone to jeopardise our dream, our world. Though I know I cannot do this alone. So if you are willing to give me a chance, follow me and I will guide you to a better world, a better tomorrow for all of us! Only together can we forge ourselves a better future! I will be your leader! Although for the moment we will need to play it smart for the moment, once we get allies and more people join our cause then we will give our opposition more of a reason to fear us! Will you join me and fight for a future worth living for!?' Mitsuko questioned. All the soldiers cheered as they raised their weapons high. Mitsuko look towards some of her officers like LingQi and Pang Tong to the side as they nodded or smiled with approval helping Mitsuko feel a little more at ease before they she faces the soldiers with a new reinvigorated look in their eyes. Diamondback chuckled as they nodded in approval, Gyuki roared to show his support.
'Excellent, then lets move out! Lets make this land ours!' Mitsuko announces as both of her snakes swallowed their weapon back inside them and screech loudly as one of them points towards the direction where they're going to. Immediately the small army moves out, ready to fight whoever dares oppose the serpent. She joins everyone at the ground level as LingQi, Diamondback and Pang Tong gathered around her.
'A fine unexpected speech my lady, is this the path you're happy going back. I know you said you know full well you can't come back from, that still doesn't mean I can't be concerned.' Pang Tong questioned as he tilted his head.
'Yeah I'm sure. As I said I refuse to be a bystander of this any longer.' Mitsuko replied. Pang Tong chuckled at her response.
'Excellent, we wouldn't want you to regret anything now. We'll follow you on your path of the conquerer my lady. I can't wait to see the world you create.' As the officers and Mitsuko talk Dodomeki and Gyuki stay behind. Gyuki walked towards them but stopped as he realised Dodomeki wasn't next to him. He looked behind him to see Dodomeki glancing on the ground. He walked up in front of him.
'hey brother we're heading out now you ok?' Gyuki asked with concern however Dodomeki was silent for a few moments before responding.
'Heh…I'm glad I got to witness her growth…I didn't think this situation would happen back then. If only she didn't have to suffer…' Dodomeki trailed off, as soon as Gyuki was going to press him further Diamondback interrupted.
'Hey we're heading out.' He stated bluntly before Dodomeki rushed past them.
'Noted.' He responded as he passed them, not stopping for either one of them as they looked at each other.
'Have you found out what's wrong with him?' Diamondback asked.
'Not yet, he seemed different now though, I'm not sure why though but I am going to get to the bottom of it though.' Gyuki responded as they start to follow his blood brother.
A/N: Hey guys DMZ here, thanks for getting through this so far and keeping up to date. It really does brighten my day when even now I get notifications of people interacting with this fanfic. I did want this up by the beginning of the week however I'm currently trying to get a new cover pic however the artist haven't finished it so I thought I may aswell just upload the chapter now and the art when its done. By the time this gets uploaded I should have a discord server up and running called 'DMZ's literature club' or something bad like that. If I change it I'll go back and edit this bit. So you'll be able to chat to me and other people about other things. I don't normally host discord servers so you got to bare with me a little bit while I organise that. I may do a few streams every now and again and I'll be able to give you some regular updates, ideas that kind of thing. From there you can also read a bit of my original sci fi story if you want as well and see how I deal with more original content. Hopefully with this I'll be able to interact a little more with all of you so I think that will be cool. But yeah that will be all for now, hopefully I can get back now into my regular upload schedule but I do hope you enjoyed the chapter and I'll see you in the next one, sayonara.