"Considering your might, I am a bit disappointed."
The sumo wrestler's mouth twitched, before a fake smile appeared on his face. The shrine maiden leaned against the wall, arms crossed. Her eyes beneath the mask narrowed at the Shogun, who picked his ears and blew the dirt on them away. Raiden lowered his head.
"Apologies, I was a bit worried of them waking up." A vein appeared on his forehead as his massive hands gripped his legs tightly. "I was... distracted."
The Serpent shuddered. It was only natural. If he had went overboard, he could've damaged the seals. The very fact that he was sent was foolish. Yet Raiden was contracted and had to follow orders regardless. They were all fortunate that they didn't all get killed from Hideyoshi's recklessness. At least he seemed to realize it on some level, shrugging with a sigh.
"Hmph. Fair enough." He turned to her and she stiffened up. "But you... heh, didn't think you had it in you. They'll lose their minds soon enough without me dragging them out."
She felt her temper rise. Stepping away from the wall, her voice gained an edge as she pointed at him.
"Remember-"
"Yes, yes, as long as you keep him docile."
Keep him docile. What a demeaning description. Yet, she knew, it was not inaccurate. The plan to 'force' him into a peaceful life. Just another sin added to her life. But better to be filled with sin then-
Something cracked in the air. Hideyoshi grasped his heart, as if he suffered from an heart attack. In the next instance, all three divinities felt them. They were almost impossible to detect, with all the other souls in this place. But it was still Hideyoshi's territory and they were connected to it.
Intruders. Her eyes widened, as she paled. No. Nononononono. While Raiden smiled brightly, Hideyoshi turned into a hideous red.
"How... ?! HOW DID THEY GET IN?!"
The walls cracked around him by his outburst, yet nobody could answer.
/
"Who's the best?! I am!" Amako cheered, pointing her thumbs at herself as they rode Harunobu's tigers, five in total, with Ritsuka hugging Mash right behind the magus. He chuckled at her enthusiasm. It was rather surprising, how they practically just phased through the barrier visible to them once they reached the "basement" of the fortress through Yomi. Suffice to, the Shogun's territory was the polar opposite to Yomi... and yet the very same.
"Well, some things never change... So damn tacky as always."
Gold. Gold everywhere. The floor they ran up to, the walls, even the gardens. Excessive couldn't even begin to describe this place. Which made the black colors that occasionally appeared so much more jarring. As if someone knew what darkness this place 'hid' and wanted to reveal them to the world. Ritsuka bit his lip as he stared down the balcony they rushed through.
Thousands upon thousands upon people were chatting, laughing and celebrating in the streets of the fortress. Though the moniker of "super city" would fit better. In terms of technology and comfort, this place shone high above the rebellions home. Yet it was fake. The people seemed dazed. Drunk in their bliss. Ignorant to the suffering outside.
Fake and static. This was the only description Ritsuka had for this place. It certainly reminded him of Cologne in the sense. A picture perfect empire, straining against reality to keep up its pretenses.
"How did that work anyway?!" Nobu shouted, her eyes surveying the area with her guns floating around her. "You just rambled a bunch of nonsense and told us to trust you!"
"Sis wrote you can't enter unless you have permission from the Shogun... or someone that is his equal or his superior! And that asshole gave himself the title of Shogun, so there's a nifty role that's technically meeting those requirements called Emperor!" Amako explained loudly. Some might think they should've been quiet... but they were in the heart of enemy territory. If they weren't detected the instance they entered this twisted symbol of luxury, Ritsuka would eat his gloves. Still, the explanation kinda went over his head. He knew that titles and names were important in the realm of Mysteries. Yet he couldn't see the connection quite yet.
"How do you count as the Emperor then?"
"The Four clans swore fealty to the Emperor!" Amako yelled, raising a finger towards them, her other arm holding onto her tiger. "Which means we are all an extension to his will! Not to mention, we swore that we would all gather together in the Center, Kohryu!" She giggled with a wide smirk. "Guess what the Yellow Dragon represents?"
"The Yellow Emperor from China?" Mash asked loudly. Amako tilted her head at them.
"Is that what you call Ming?" She shrugged nonchalantly. "Anyway, yes! So basically, I have the tools to represent the will of the Yellow Emperor, the one that is the origin of our Emperors! Boom, got the permission, got us inside!"
"That sounds pretty far fetched!" Harunobu yelled from the front, causing Amako to snort dismissively.
"Milord, a magus' job is to properly bullshit your way through life! Only that way you succeed!"
Ritsuka didn't know enough about how magi worked to refute that. However, if they were anything like Casters, it sounded like nonsense he could believe. And was it really that important? They got in, that was all that mattered.
"Any idea where Hideyoshi might be, Oda?" Kagetora yelled, urging her tiger to move faster as she twirled her glaive in excitement. Without missing a beat, Nobu pointed at the tower in the middle of the fortress while rolling her eyes in exasperation.
"Tallest building, obviously!" Her eyes widened before she cockied her weapons. "Incoming!"
A wave of ghosts appeared... and were promptly eliminated by the three warlords, not slowing down at all as they cut, shot and smashed through them with ease. Amako and Mash didn't even have to do anything, trailing behind them.
"If that's his best defenses, I gotta say I'm disappointed!" Kagetora yelled, destroying the wraiths like a circular saw. At the same time, Harunobu threw fire and wind, burning them away, leaving scorch marks on the ground and on the walls.
"Who needs defense if the enemy normally wouldn't be able to invade in the first place?"
"Pah, preparation is key!" Nobu said with a snarl, shooting down any stragglers they might've missed. Ritsuka smiled at that unexpected teamwork. If they kept up their speed they would-
He saw Amako's back tense up. Then, without hesitation, she jumped off her tiger, panic on her face.
"Watch out!"
She tackled Mash and Ritsuka off their tiger. The next instance, something smashed through it and destroyed the floor. As the structure collapsed, Ritsuka screamed as Mash held him close to her. Soon enough, they hit the ground. Coughing, he blinked warily, trying to see what was going on. It was then that he saw where they were. They must've fallen several stories. Looking around, his eyes widened.
Seats for an audience. A raised square platform, with a circle within, that encompassed the entire area. If he had to compare it, it would be the size of a football stadium. Yet even if the size differed, Ritsuka in his soul recognized what this place was. It was...
The sound of dust being brushed off echoed in the hall. Then, the massive shadow slapped his hands, bringing forth clarity in the area. Right in the middle, practically squatting down, was Raiden with a smirk.
"Welcome, invaders... to my Dohyo."
It was too massive to be considered a classical Dohyo. Yet Ritsuka couldn't doubt his words. Maybe it was his unnatural size. Maybe it was his divinity and status of being beyond a mortal. But the master of Chaldea recognized... that only this size was worthy of a stage for the Greatest Rikishi. And they were being challenged in it. In that instance, he made up his mind. He could feel his servants rushing down. Cupping his mouth, he took a deep breath and looked up to the hole that was created.
"Nobu! Kagetora! Lord Takeda! You three keep going! We got this! Hideyoshi is more important!"
Not to mention that neither Mash nor Amako had the same anti-spirit weakness that Nobu and Kagetora would have. And call Ritsuka naive, but he wanted the Tiger of Kai to take down the Shogun. It was his Lostbelt after all. For a moment, there was only silence. Then, it was followed by the roars of tigers and retreating stomps and musket shots sounding off. Ritsuka smiled a bit. Sometimes he believed he wasn't worthy of their trust.
"More important... a bit offending, don't you think?"
Ritsuka laughed in embarrassment, at the amused look he was receiving. Scratching the back of his head, he lowered his head in apology.
"Nothing personal."
"Of course, of course." He sighed, rolling his shoulders a bit. "I was hoping to finally crush those heroes of yours." Then with a shrug, he leaned forward in preparation, a wide smile on his face. "Oh well. I am not one to ignore a challenger."
"Master, stay back," Mash said, stepping in front of him. To their surprise however, the sumo wrestler raised his hand and shook his head.
"No worries, I swear I will not harm him. As long as he steps out of this Dohyo, he shall be treated as a spectator."
He wasn't lying. The man's eyes were utterly unclouded, clear as the blue sky. Ritsuka almost felt bad. He shared a look with the girls that fell down on him. Amako was stretching her legs, her body low as she shot him a grin. Mash held her shield up, smiling gently. The master of Chaldea raised his thumb and climbed over the barrier. With that, it was a two on one battle. Mash and Amako began to circle around the sumo fighter, both on opposite sides.
"Heh. Good, then I can beat your ass without worrying!" Amako declared, cracking her knuckles. The two girls came to a stop, the Shielder holding her weapon of choice to the side, ready to swing it, while Amako took on her karate stance. In response, Raiden laughed in enthusiasm, raised his leg and slammed it down to the ground.
"You will try."
/
"Damn, monkey, at least build some windows in here."
That was the first thing Nobunaga said when they entered the realm of darkness. Kagetora wasn't too impressed. While normal humans would be intimidated by the ominous black, she was more annoyed than anything. This entire place just compensated for something. Oh well. Her blade shook in excitement, her smile wide and wild.
"No wonder you died." The Shogun inside muttered, sitting upon a throne to look down upon them with a sneer. "Your foolishness knows no bounds."
"I am the Fool of Owari after all!" Nobunaga's smile vanished, stepping forward with a dark expression. "It's time to finish you off."
"Remind me, but last time I quite easily destroyed you," Hideyoshi announced mockingly, tapping the side of his head.
"Well, this time we're ready." Haru said, stepping forward as well, hand tight around his fan."To punish you for your insanity."
"Insane, am I?" He chuckled darkly, shaking his head. "Pah. I can't believe I'm even allowing this. I should strike you down for that insult."
It was because Kagetora was staying behind a bit that she saw the movement in the shadows. It was because she saw it first, that she acted in time. Dashing forward, she knocked down Haru without hesitation. As always, he caused confusion in her. Why would she do this? He could handle himself. Yet the thought of whatever could've happened happening caused her heart to burn. It was because of this, that she smiled without concern as she was smashed through the wall, that she held onto the attacker with an iron grip even as they tried to escape.
"Kage!"
"She'll be fine!"
That was the last she saw and heard of them before the roars of battle sounded up there.
"Let go! Let go! I have to get him out of there!" The Serpent screamed, cutting at her with wind. Yet her divine protections made those attacks nothing more than scratches of a cub to her. Instead, with utter rage in her eyes, she smiled down at the enemy as they barreled down towards a plaza.
"Don't interrupt Haru~!"
They smashed down. In that instance, the Kagetora kicked the Serpent away over her. Standing up, she held her katana up, ignoring the screams of panic, the noise of weak humans running away. Her eyes were solely focused on her opponent. Sharp like a predator, she noted every breath, every twitch of a muscle. She had only one task in mind.
Do not let her interrupt Haru. Do not let her escape. The Serpent realized her goal, snarling as she pulled out a short sword from somewhere. Her eyes glowed in anger, a complete opposite to Kagetora's pitch black ones.
"You bitch!"
Hm. Yet again, she didn't get them. People. She didn't understand why the Serpent was so angry. Why... she herself was so angry. She chalked it up to the usual, that this woman wanted to take Haru's attention to herself... and that wouldn't do. She usually wouldn't do this... but this Haru went through a lot. So for once, the great Avatar of Bishamonten did not mind taking care of his trash!