Mitsuko's forces gathered at the front gates before they ventured forth shortly after the scouts to guide them towards the village. Dodomeki volunteered to press forward and scout forward to look for any mystics or black mountain bandits. Mitsuko didn't want to let him, though she thought he would go ahead without her orders anyway. She ordered him to give him regular updates by the hour, at least this way there would be regular intervals where he would have to come back for a short rest at the very least. She figured Dodomeki would be too anxious to fully relax however it reassured her to see him at the camp if only for a little while. Dodomeki agreed and performed his duties as he was ordered to. Every hour he would return for which Mitsuko would keep him around for as long as she could to give Dodomeki a break. Though every second he waited with the rest of the forces before scouting out he was anxious to return to the field as soon as he could. He noticed that his breathing was a little slower as well as his actions. He figured it would be nothing though as he didn't notice it as he was scouting around.

Various soldiers started to feel woozy as they started to sweat uncontrollably as heat started to build up inside them. Their fellow soldiers quickly started to get away from them, even if they felt better afterwards. Though after a day or so they fell back into normal rank and file after not having any other symptom of sickness. Diamondback assured Mitsuko that it was nothing to be concerned about. Mitsuko although had her doubts she forged on. The journey itself was uneventful however eventually they reached their destination of a small village with various fields of crops surrounding it. The main army stayed quite far away as Mitsuko and her officers barring Dodomeki and Gyuki as they were scouting marched forward. The farmers look at Mitsuko's entourage and look at each other nervously as they saw them traverse through a narrow path separating the fields. They whisper to each other with suspicion as they kept their eyes on her as they passed her. Unable to look away from her unusual appearance. Though when she glances back at them with her serpents hissing with hostility towards them, they quickly avert their gaze and try to act busy. As the officers marched halfway through the pathway another met them. He was an old man being escorted by two men dressed in all black with goatees and stoic looking faces armed with crude hand axes. He wore an annoyed expression on his face as he examines Mitsuko and her entourage.

'Who are you people? Why do you disturb us?' He expressed his distaste for their presence which got Mitsuko annoyed but she had to put on her diplomatic face.

'Greetings, my name is Mitsuko and we come from a city to the east around 5 days of travelling. Unfortunately, due to circumstances our food supplies have been diminished as of late. We have heard that you had a stockpile of food. We wondered if you were willing to trade your food with us.' Mitsuko explained. She was wary about mentioning the bandit queen so she presented it as herself. At least that's what she used to justify herself as she had to admit, speaking as if it were her own city felt…right despite the short time she spent there.

'Sorry to hear your position but I refuse. I only trade with the black mountain king, Zhang Yan.' The village leader responded bluntly. Mitsuko was taken aback by his response. Surely he could be persuaded right?

'Is that so? You have a lot a lot of food though, would you not be able to share some at least with us?'

'No. I have no desire to help you.' He stated. His attitude was starting to annoy Mitsuko as she bit her tongue and continued.

'May I ask why? Is it money? We can provide double on whatever Zhang Yan is paying.' The black mountain bandits looked at Mitsuko suspiciously and raised their weapons slightly. Mitsuko's entourage did the same as if meeting the threat of attack head on.

'Zhang Yan has been good to my people, he lets us flourish and kept us safe within the chaos of the land. He didn't conquer us, he helped us bring prosperity to this village. He protected us against other bands of bandits. He was the one that protected us when we needed it the most. He established himself as the rightful king of the mountains. He earned out trust. You on the other hand…serpent have nothing. We haven't heard of you at all, you never bothered to help us when we needed it, yet you demand help when you want it. You have nothing to your name. The black mountain bandits control these mountains, if you're not with him you're against him. I'm not sacrificing my relationship of our saviour to you.'

'Do you really think he's doing this out of his own generosity?' Mitsuko retorted.

'He's not the one with an army behind him. So go back to where you came from and get someone else to assist you. I have no desire to help someone at the expense of my people. Take your army and go back less you earn the wrath of Zhang Yan.' He turned around and walked away along with his escort.

'Why you!' LingQi and Diamondback lunges forward angrily however Mitsuko put her serpents in the way of both of them, preventing them pursuing the elder as he retreats.

'Leave it. Lets go.' Mitsuko ordered in a clearly annoyed tone and walked away. Diamondback snarled and LingQi raised her weapon once before instantly lowering it in annoyance. Mitsuko and her entourage made their way back to the camp while the black mountains talked to the elder in secret in his house.

'You did well to disillusion her of any hope.' One said to her.

'I don't care, I just don't want anything to get in the way of our mutually beneficial partnership.' The chief replied.

'Quite, however she certainly fits the description of the serpent. She talked of a city in the East. I should go and inform Zhang Yan regarding this.' The other black mountain stated to his partner who nodded in response.

'Yes of course, with luck she can tell us where this bandit queen resides.'

'Do whatever you wish, just make sure the army stays far away from here. Last thing we need is this village to be a warzone.' The chief stated.

'Do not worry, we'll take the fight to them. We'll leave in the morning.'

'What? The morning!? There's an army outside our doors!' The chief responded angrily. The last thing he wanted for his people was death to barge in on their doorstep.

'Do not worry, this serpent isn't a bandit. She doesn't seem the type to be otherwise she wouldn't have bothered with negotiations. She would've attacked now if she had any intention of bringing your people harm. Besides I wouldn't get far without resting.' The first bandit responded as he yawned. The elder just growled quietly, he didn't like this. But when has Zhang Yan ever steered him wrong?

'I don't like this, but all right. Just leave as soon as possible.'

'As you wish.'

Meanwhile back at the army camp Mitsuko and her officers gather in a tent with Gyuki crouched outside poking his head in, trying not to catch the tent with his large tusks.

'The nerve of him! Denying our lady's request like that.' Diamondback stated as he slammed his fist on a table with a quick map of the village and the surrounding area.

'Yes, however his words were clear. It seems negotiations seems to have failed. Does our lady know what we should do next?' Pang Tong enquired to Mitsuko as she crossed her serpent together like arms looking annoyed with her serpents hissing loudly. This chieftain…hoarding food and only trading to Zhang yan instead of people who need it. Even if she had doubts about the situation and understands that he can't just give food to everyone who asks for it. It doesn't change the fact she's been asked to get this stockpile of food for her. However she had to admit he was right in the sense that Mitsuko did have nothing going for her at the moment. Somethings she's looking to change of course but that doesn't change the present. She asked herself how she thought just talking to them would work? Now that they negotiations failed what should she do now? She looks at her officers who look at her with expectation of leadership in their eyes.

'Well, what do you all think we should do?' She asked, trying to buy time for herself.

'Hehe, tough one to say for certain. We could try another village however the chances of finding one are slim and with our resources too sparse to conduct a thorough search its unlikely finding food for the bandit queen will be our only priority and we'll be back at step one when we first set out on our journey.' Pang Tong chuckled.

'Maybe it should be prudent if me or Gyuki made a visit. Make him see the error of his ways.' Dodomeki recommended.

'Tch, all you would do would invite unwanted attention. They'd get out of there and get more reinforcements heading in our direction. With as slow as you're getting that's not a good idea.' Diamondback retorted.

'What was that? You doubt me?'

'At this moment yes!' The two began to argue. Mitsuko sighed, she didn't really want to backwards. She glanced around to see LingQi staying silent as she rested her head on her hand as they shook a bit. Though Mitsuko had a feeling it wasn't due to nervousness, though she did stay quiet these last few days.

'Hey LingQi, what do you think?' She questioned, checking to see if she's ok. It took her a couple of seconds to respond, like her mind was elsewhere.

'My apologies my lady, would you mind repeating that?'

'I said what do you think we should do?' LingQi stayed silent for a while as everyone stared at her, anticipating her answer.

'I think…we should just take it by force. They have no real defences, if negotiations have failed then we should just take what we need by force if they defy you. Isn't that the type of monster you are?' LingQi stated. Mitsuko went silent, that was not the answer she was expecting from her…however she started to laugh to herself. The officers look at her with a confused expression on her face. The words echoed by the bandit queen emerged from the back of her mind. "By any means necessary."

'Of course, its so obvious. I've been trying to solve things with diplomacy. I've given them a chance to act, however since that has failed I need to resort to force. I cannot afford to hesitate despite them not being soldiers.. How strange…I know I'm going to call for the murder of 'innocents' not soldiers…yet I feel nothing. Is this a good thing or a bad thing?…hehe, I suppose it doesn't matter does it?'

'LingQi's right. The bandit queen wants this food by any means necessary. That means we don't need to worry about their safety. Yes they may not be soldiers but if they stand in my way we should show them no mercy. A shame, I was willing to work with him. Pillage the village, take the food and burn the fields. We'll put a strain on Zhang Yans food supply at the same time. Get the troops ready. We move out immediately. Dodomeki, you go forward and look for a vantage point. More than likely those black mountain guards may get help and inform Zhang Yan of our city. Make sure they don't escape. The other villagers can flee if they so wish. They'll be too afraid to remember our discussion with their leader anyway.'

'As you wish my lady.' Dodomeki bowed respectfully at Mitsuko.

'Everyone else, organise a band for attack. But I want to make it clear. If any of the soldiers are going to kill them then do it. I don't want them prolonging their demise and I certainly don't want them to…pleasure themselves lets say during this attack. Do I make myself clear?' She questioned. If they were going to die, she didn't want them to suffer, there was no need for them to do so.

'Yes my lady.' They all respond in unison. They exit the tent and get ready for the attack.

Night came around. Most of the peasants were getting ready for bed while some of the others were just getting up getting ready to tend to their specific crops while keeping on the lookout for various crows and other birds looking to swoop away with their hard work. As they were getting ready, they heard something off in the distance. Some wondered what it was, some thought it was just animals hunting each other. One walked forward away from his crops to get a better look as he hears the sound getting closer. He squinted his eyes as walks closer to the sound trying to get a better view. Suddenly he saw them. Soldiers running towards them yelling and armed ready to kill. Fear quickly overtaken him as he stumbled backwards and quickly fled back into the village.

'We're under attack! We're under attack!' He yells out loud, trying to warn the others. The rest of the villagers that were trying to rest quickly exited the building and saw the army rushing towards them. At the back was Mitsuko who was walking with no sense of rushing when suddenly her serpents slithered high in the air and demonically screeched loudly like a battle cry, sending terror to their hearts. They all screamed in terror as some fled and some tried to hide in their houses. The leader of the village rushed out to see the situation. As he saw the horde of soldiers coming their way he grimaced. He was assured this exact thing wouldn't happen! He tried to find the black mountain guards who appeared behind him.

'I thought you said she wouldn't attack here!' He immediately shouted in anger towards the bandits.

'I didn't think she would, why would she bother with negotiations and wait until now to attack! We'll have to leave immediately. This village is lost.' One of the guards said to the other.

'Agreed.'

'Hey hold on, you're supposed to help protect us! You were supposed to make sure this doesn't happen! That was our agreement'

'Lord Zhang Yan agreed to protect you against other minor bandit raids, not a full out invasion. The village is lost, I recommend fleeing as soon you can. Lets go brother.' The other guard nodded as they started to walk away.

'Wait a minute you're not abandoning us!' the leader puts his hand one of the black mountain bandits who turned around and quickly punched him in the face. Knocking him to the ground as blood trickles from the side of his mouth.

'We don't do this lightly however we are not going to be sacrificing lives needlessly for a hopeless situation like this.' He responded as they both walked away. He struggled to get up as the soldiers started to flood in. Some that are holding torches set fire to the fields. Soldiers that met any villagers met a quick end. The few guards that were there were quickly struck down as they couldn't flee fast enough. Fields were set ablaze, houses were destroyed as Gyuki smashed them while others were embraced the fires. Food was pillaged including the storehouse. One black mountain bandit tried to stop a particularly aggressive soldier as he couldn't escape quickly.. As they smack their axes together and initiate a deadlock the soldier felt his symptoms worsen as he hacks up black blood and vomits over his face. He screams in agony as he feels the hot temperature of the black liquid makes him feel like his face is melting. The soldier tackles the black mountain bandit to the ground and starts hacking the body. After mutilating the body the soldier produces an inhuman monstrous roar as his eyes exudes a blood red colour before getting back up and tries to torch another field in front of him.

A sinister soldier entered the house where he just finished killing a man. The body slumped to the ground and looks up to see a woman holding to what seemed to be her daughter no more than 7 and had a sinister smile on his face as he walks up. They hold each other as the soldier walks towards them. He forcibly rips the daughter from her arms and pushes her away. She quickly crawls away towards the wall who could only watch as he pushes her to the ground. However immediately he was sliding on the floor away from her and gets lifted from his foot by a serpent. The serpent lifts him high in the air and brings him to eye level with Mitsuko who looked at angry as the other serpent hisses aggressively at him.

'h-hi my lady.' He stuttered trying to appear innocent to lady Mitsuko. She wasn't having any of it.

'Do you remember receiving any orders direct from me?' She questioned sternly. The soldier darts his eyes away from her hateful gaze as he tried come up with an answer.

'Y-yes.'

'And what were they?' She responded immediately. The soldier didn't respond, sending Mitsuko into a fit of rage as he slammed him into the ground. Face first.

'I said, what were your orders!?' She shouts as the mother quickly crawled to their daughter and embraced her tightly. They both looking away as the soldiers blood drips from his head, tricking from his mouth.

'T-to pillage, to burn the fields to-'

'I meant about the people!' She yelled as the serpent hissed loudly in front of his face. Which showed only fear in his eyes.

'To...not perform any acts of pleasure.' He said ashamedly.

'Right and what were you going to do?'

'I…I-'

'Not good enough! I have no need for soldiers who actively disobey me for their own selfish ends.' Mitsuko declared furiously that a soldier under her command would dare to commit such a heinous crime. She knew it was a different time, that's not an excuse however. He pleaded for his life as the other serpent head grabbed his other ankle. He screamed before Mitsuko twisted the legs and tore him in two pieces vertically. She tossed the pieces to sides. The split was right down the middle as they both crashed against the wall before dropping to the ground. Staining the walls as it drips down. Mitsuko calmed herself as she sees the corpse she made and looked up to see the mother and the daughter embracing each other, fearing Mitsuko.

'I'm sorry about that are you-' She reached out forward with her left serpent who hisses very softly however they both turned away and buried their heads to each other. Mitsuko wore a smirk as she shook her head and withdrew her snake.

'Tch, Of course. How silly of me.' They both turn to her slightly. Mitsuko looked at both of them and her mind went to the infant in the carriage in the ambush a few weeks back. Except this time, she's old enough to remember something like this and they're both at her mercy. She didn't think she had to kill someone under her command however she wasn't about to let him have his way with her. That's something she's determined to avoid.

'Don't worry, I have no intention of making you suffer. I didn't want to do this initially however your leader didn't really leave me with much of a choice. You can think of me in whatever manner you want. Though I'll give you a choice.' Mitsuko's left serpent regurgitated her broadsword that hangs outside of its mouth and zooms past them to the wall behind them. They embrace each other out of fear. Though after a loud thud they open their eyes and they see A large hole in the wall behind them. They turn to Mitsuko who's smirk was wiped away.

'You have the choice between fleeing for your life and forging a new one or I'll give you a swift death to both of you. I would not let you suffer. The choice is yours, I'll return soon enough. Do not worry, if you flee no one will give chase to you.' Mitsuko turned around and started to walk away.

'I'll return momentarily.' She stated as she left the house leaving the two all alone. She wondered if she should go through with it if they should remain. She knew if she didn't it would be just be prolonging their suffering. Especially for the child, she had to come to terms with murdering a kid. She didn't care about giving the order for this but…seeing them in fear for her, brought things into a fresh perspective for her. She made her way deeper into the village as she sees soldiers packing up food in various crates and bringing them to the camp. The chatter of the soldiers along with the flickering of the embers filled the void of silence for Mitsuko as the flames consuming the village burned brightly. Two soldiers brought the village leader to Mitsuko and threw him to her feet as they were ordered. He groaned as he was thrown to the ground. He looked up to see Mitsuko's demonic smirk as she grabbed him by the throat with her right serpent as it bit him without its fangs from the left side and lifted him up in the air. He grabbed the serpents throat, trying to get it off however it was futile as he flails his legs wildly.

'You should've helped us. I didn't want to do this but I didn't have a choice.'

'Should I have? Lord Zhang Yan never brought an army. He never attacked us, he just provided protection and solidarity to us in exchange for some of our food. He talked to us. He's not the one burning down this village now is he!?' Mitsuko tightened the grip around his neck as the jaw started to crush the windpipe slightly as he started to cough and gasp for air.

'And I never did? I never tried to be reasonable? I didn't try to convince you to help a hungry city? Tch, please! Though I can't say I didn't understand your position.'

'Spare me your damn speech! Don't try to win any sympathy from me. You're just a villain. I made my decision and you made yours.' He barely was able to respond before Mitsuko demonic smirk grew wider as the serpent vomited out its crescent blade. Piercing the side of his neck as most of it protrudes to the other side, curving towards Mitsuko, drenched in blood.

'I suppose I am, aren't I?' Mitsuko discards the body into one of the blazing fields. The body slides off the scythe easily as it rolls onto the fields.

'Collect the rest of the food and return to camp, we'll leave in the morning.' Mitsuko ordered the two soldiers. Who nodded in response. Mitsuko made her way back to the house she visited before, unsure what she'll find there.