Chapter thirteen: The will to fight, and the power of the Phoenix talons.
"The Phoenix, the Eastern Guardian. With the ability to rebirth from death, it makes one great ally in battle. See, the Phoenix Talons' have the ability to give the user full use of any weapon that they pick up. It's a great and wonderful weapon… even though it gives the user a split personality. Zi Shou was always a nice man though, and a great fighter as well."
Flashback
Chu Sin stands near Zi Shou, all their troops behind them; Chu Sin looks out towards the horizon and yawns seeing the slowly rising sun.
"It's time then, hopefully we have the full element of surprise." Zi Shou nods and smiles.
"Fu Xi, what about one of your famous battle speeches to rally and increase the morale of our troops?" Chu Sin nods and turns to the troops, his eyes sharpen and he holds out his great sword towards there troops and Fu Xi speaks out to them all in a great and loud voice.
"We go off now to battle, but we do not march off to our deaths. No, we march off to save those who are in need, we march off to return to are friends and family, we march off to make this land a safer place, so that children can work and play without fear of those who would hurt them or take them away from those that they love! We fight for justice, we fight for valor, and we fight for our kingdom! Let us now march towards our victory, and for those that we know and love!" A loud roar came from the troops as their weapons rise into the air cheering for Chu Sin and Fu Xi. All the troops look ready for combat now, there weapons at the ready. Chu Sin looks over at Zi Shou and smiles.
"Does he normally infuse the troops with this much morale?" Zi Shou nods.
"Yes he was all ways good at keeping morale high even when the odds where against him." Chu Sin nods and looks out readying the great sword.
"All right troops keep a steady pace; we aim to surprise our opponents who are just beyond those trees." They all start off toward the small grove of trees. As they enter, they fall silent, ready for the surprise rush. Drawing closer and closer to the end of the trees they can hear the sounds of battle beyond them. Chu Sin stops every one and looks beyond the trees, seeing people wearing yellow clothing, they all have different kinds of weapons and they're wear a yellow scarf around their head's much like a turban, they are fighting people garbed in purple, much like what Chu Sin's and Zi Shou's troops are wearing. Chu Sin turns back towards Zi Shou and nods.
"We have the element of surprise, and let's not waste it either." Zi Shou nods and motions for his troops to follow him, Chu Sin does the same and soon all there troops are ready to lunch a surprise attack. Chu Sin looks around once more making sure that all is set right, he sees the archer's all ready to fire their bows at the enemy's, he sees the their spear wielding troops hiding behind the trees ready to jump out and throw their spears, and his own troops who will charge right into the main bulk of enemies to strike and weaken their defenses. Chu Sin give the signal and starts to charge out of the forest his and Zi Shou troop's charging behind them, they let out a fearsome battle cry which gets the attention of the Yellow Turbans' troops, as the arrow's and spears fall from the sky slaying many and wounding others. Having caught the enemy off guard, Chu Sin takes the initiative and swings the blunt end of his great sword across one of the small groups of people and knocks them all out of the way breaking their weapons. He can see the fear in their eyes. He pauses, remembering what it felt like to be the demon's puppet. Seeing Chu Sin frozen by this realization, Fu Xi takes over and blocks an attack using his weapon.
"You can not freeze up like that in the middle of battle! You'll only get hurt that way." He pushes away the blocked weapon and strikes deeply across the opponent chest, the opponent falls to the ground dead; a small pool of blood forming from his dead body. Chu Sin's troops now surround him and are fighting off the Yellow Turbans.
"But they are nothing more then innocents, look at the fear in their eyes. I-It's like I've become the Demon again…" Fu Xi sighs.
"Do the innocent attack people who do not raise any form of weapon in defense, do the innocent destroy the land they live on, and do they even care about anything other then shedding blood to try and prove their point? I've seen many battles and many people who were more innocent than these Yellow Turbans fall to those because they chose not to fight. It's your choice now Chu Sin, fight and purge these damned Yellow Turbans, or let them live on to harm other people, children, women, and those who can not defend themselves."
Chu Sin ponders this for a moment then sighs and speaks so that everyone around him can hear.
"I shall fight. Fight to defend those who can not defend themselves, fight to defend the children, and I shall fight to defend those that need my blade!" Chu Sin now seems more focused; the troops around him cheer and seem to fight a bit better. He looks out into the battlefield and starts charging towards the castle that Chu Shen is supposed to be at slicing at the enemies in his way and charging past them. Fu Xi smiles while Chu Sin battles, thinking to himself.
"He's finally found what he's fighting for…"
After a short time he catches up to Zi Shou who is fighting a group of Yellow Turbans, but Zi Shou still has no weapon, this puzzles Chu Sin and he watches for a moment as no enemies are around him.
The first enemy who's holding onto a sword charges at Zi Shou and slices downwards, Zi Shou catches the blade and in one swift motion puts his left foot on the enemy's chest and brings his right foot up hitting the enemy square in the chin sending them flying backwards, Zi Shou keeps a hold of the sword though and gracefully lands on the ground holding the sword at his side, his enemy lands on the ground knocked out.
"Get going Chu Sin!" Zi Shou shout's out at Chu Sin as an enemy holding a sword slices at Zi Shou; he brings up his sword and blocks the enemy's blade. "I've got things handled here." He pushed away at the enemy who stumbles back a bit; he then brings the blade along the enemy's neck, slicing it open. The enemy drops his sword and grabs a hold of his neck while dropping to the ground gasping. Zi Shou takes the enemy's sword from the ground and charges at another enemy screaming.
"Get going, Chu Shen probably could use some support!" Chu Sin nods and continues in the direction of the castle.
"Fu Xi, how does he know how to fight with and without any weapons?"
"It's simple for a Phoenix, think about it. He changes every time he takes a different weapon."
"I see so that's their power?" Chu Sin stops abruptly, he finds himself surrounded by enemy troops.
"It's an ambush!" He looks around then towards the castle knowing that he's so close, but that he's surrounded by the enemy.