Fired up and ready to go.


Encounter Number 14: Enemy Shugoki

Daigo walked among 8 total Kensei guards through the streets of the Hakushi Province. The citizens cowered in fear, not even daring to look in his direction. Women and children were crying, all the men swearing under their breath, their fists clenched with the feeling of rebellion.

The new Emperor of the Myre had a constant, never-ending smile on his face. The feeling of having everything and everyone in the Dawn Empire under his command and rule pumped him with a sense of ultimate superiority and authority. The looks of civilians when they see him gave Kaneko even more pride and ego.

The sound of swords clashing came to his ears. He sighed and picked up his pace, his guards following him. He came upon a street brawl between Urutora Guards and his own, some brave civilians helping the Urutora Guards.

He watched with a smile on his face as his guards slaughtered and forced the Urutora Guard's to surrender. Three civilians rushed at the Seinaru Guards, each armed with rough looking katana blades. They were all easy disposed of, except for one woman, who managed to block a few of the Guard's strikes. Finally, the Guard kicked the woman to the ground and raised his blade to deliver the final blow.

"Stop!" Daigo put his hand out.

The Guard paused and sheathed his sword. Daigo signaled his guards to stay back as he walked forward. He knelt down and observed the woman, who was on the ground holding her stomach in utter pain. He gently shushed the woman, trying to calm her down.

"Now, now. The pain will be over soon."

The woman looked at Daigo, a fiery look in her eyes. She grit her teeth as she pulled her arm back and threw a sturdy punch.

The guards around the area gasped. Civilians who were watching also released yelps and short shouts of shock.

Daigo had his eyes closed. The woman's teeth were grit with anger, her eyes wide in fear. Their arms were quivering with tension, the woman's fist caught within Daigo's fast, intense grip.

The Emperor opened his eyes and let out a small chuckle. He had caught the woman's punch mere inches away from his face. He slowly put her hand down and looked her straight in the eyes.

"Tell me, my dear. Why do you rebel? Why are you fighting the force that will liberate you from your pain?" Daigo asked quietly.

The woman shook her head slowly, her jaw shut with anger. "Y-You'll never be my Emperor...Not like this! We all know you and your dogs were the ones who killed Atsuto and Airina Hakushi! You probably never intended to combine with the Urutora Clan...You just wanted our riches, our land, our resources! The Seinaru Clan is nothing but a bunch of backstabbers! You didn't fuse with us...You absorbed and destroyed us."

Daigo's eye twitched a single time. His breathing grew rapid.

"The people of the Urutora Clan won't go down so easily, and neither will Airi Hakushi! She'll never be your Empress! Not even if you force her to! We'll take the Seinaru Clan down if it's the last thing we all do...We'll die for our clan...Our people...Our legacy!"

The Woman got up onto her knees and threw another punch that was faster than the last one. It crashed into Daigo's jaw, causing him to grunt out in pain. His head cocked to the side as he stumbled back.

The woman threw a second punch that was blocked by Daigo. The Guards watched as she relentlessly attacked the Orochi with her ineffective attacks, and mediocre martial arts skills, every single one of her blows being blocked and dodged. Finally, Kaneko had had enough.

He blocked one of the woman's attacks with his forearm and then used his elbow to knock her arm aside. He quickly sent his fist deep into the woman's chest, knocking all the air in her lungs out of her body. She let out a loud, sudden gasp; saliva spilled from her mouth as she staggered back, holding her chest.

Daigo rubbed his jaw where the woman had managed to hit him. He winced as he passed his tongue around his mouth. His guards watched as he spat onto the ground, a small amount of blood mixed in with his saliva. The Emperor turned to look at the panting woman, his gaze one of ruthlessness.

"Kill her."

Within the next second, the woman had a sword sticking out of her stomach. Behind her, a guard had impaled her perfectly. She gagged as blood seeped from the corners of her mouth and dribbled down her throat. Daigo watched as the guard pushed her forward. She caught herself and looked up at the Emperor with horrid looking eyes. She crawled towards him on all fours, everyone around her with expressions of terror.

"D-Daai...Go..." She gurgled.

A bit of blood splashed onto the ground as the woman put her head down. She fell onto her side, her body curled up and limp, her pool of blood growing larger and larger by the second.

Daigo found himself unable to stop looking at the woman's body. He shook his head and shot back into reality.

"Clean all of this up. For those smart enough to surrender..."

Daigo turned to two Urutora Guards, who were on their knees; their black and gold armor was loose and bloody.

"Feed them, and heal them up. Remodel their armor and robes to white, instead of black. They're now guards of the Seinaru Clan."

Daigo turned around and walked back towards the main streets. As he walked, he could hear his guards behind him. He took a long look around as he walked; all he saw were his guards escorting battered looking Urutora Guards and civilians towards the prison areas, or towards medical centers. He shook his head and sighed.

"These people...They'll trust me once I marry Airi. The ceremony will happen at sundown...And the reign of the Seinaru Clan over the Myre will begin."

Daigo laughed as he walked back to the Hakushi Manor, his guards already settling in nicely. He walked up the stairs and stood outside the door of a master bedroom. He gently knocked on the door, his voice soft as he spoke.

"Are you feeling any better, my dear? You have to start getting ready for the ceremony later today."

There was no response. The Emperor called out again.

"Are you still in there? Honey?"

Daigo waited a few seconds. After no response, he tried to open the door, but it was locked. He grew impatient and angry. He slammed his fist into the door and grit his teeth in irritation.

"AIRI! OPEN THE DOOR!" He yelled.

"GO AWAY! I DON'T WANT TO LOOK AT YOU!" The Nobushi's voice rang out behind the door.

"Little piece of...Tsk!"

Daigo took a few steps back and prepared his shoulder. He rubbed it a few times and took a deep breath. He set his foot down and rushed forward with all of his strength, charging into the door and busting it open. He barged into the room panting.

"Airi!" He shouted.

He paused once he saw the Nobushi on the floor, up against her bed. She was completely naked, her hair wet, a towel on the floor nearby. She had her face pressed against the mattress; she covered her head with her blankets and was holding onto a pillow tightly with both arms. The Emperor could hear the girl's desperate sobbing.

He sighed and eyed the ground.

"Airi...You haven't even gotten dressed?"

The Nobushi lifted her head up and turned to Daigo, her eyes bloated from crying, her cheeks and nose shiny, wet, and red. Her lips were pink from sucking on them too much.

"Of course not...I don't want to go through with this! I don't want to marry you! I hate you! YOU KILLED MY PARENTS!" Airi yelled.

Daigo closed his eyes and shuddered. "I had to do what was necessary. There is no other way to properly unite two clans without spiritual marriage. Your parents were going to let you go with that Knight! If I let that happen...The fusion would never truly be complete. It would have simply been another common alliance, not a fusion!" The Orochi yelled.

The Nobushi got up onto her feet. Her lean, sleek body still had drops of water trickling down its figure. She glared at Daigo, her eyes narrow, eyebrows slanted in anger.

"That Knight...Is my lover! She's the one I want to truly be with! I...I made the mistake of coming back here trying to accept a proposal I never wanted to go through with it the first place! This is all my fault! None of this would've ever happened! My parents wouldn't be dead...You wouldn't be the Supreme Emperor of the Myre...The Urutora Clan would still be standing...And my friends wouldn't be in grave danger trying to save me! Their lives are on the line because of ME!" Airi cried out, her voice breaking as she began to sob.

Daigo clutched his fists and leaned forward.

"This is their fault, not yours! You were only doing what you were destined to do! You were meant to be here...You were the key to unite the two clans! You felt that calling and were drawn by it! Airi, you're the daughter of Atsuto and Airina Hakushi. You're royalty! You have the authority and opportunity to rule over the Myre with an iron fist! Together, you and I can help bring the Myre out of its desolate state and into its true divine form! Don't you understand? This was fate...But it was done wrong by those infiltrators that you call your friends. This is their fault for trying to stop the inevitable. It's their fault for coming here for you! It's THEIR fault for ruining everything!" He yelled.

Airi's pupils dilated with rage.

"NO, IT'S NOT! I was miserable here! I thought you were a decent man...But it's clear that your beliefs in fate and thirst for power blind your judgment! I wasn't truly happy! I loved my parents...And you were the one who killed them! You just couldn't let your quote on quote destiny go, could you?! And you're fucking wrong about be being drawn here...I came here because I thought it was the only way I could stay alive. I did something horrible...Back on a mission in Valkenheim. I couldn't take the guilt I felt, so I decided that leaving was the best choice! I tried to move on...But it's very clear that I just can't! I can't be happy without my friends, and I can't be happy without Emora!" She yelled back, tears spilling from her eyes.

Daigo took a few steps back, trying to deny what he was hearing.

"Emora...Emora!? That damned Knight!? Ha...AHAHAH! You really think she can make it past Raiko?! She's probably dead as we speak! Your friends will all be slaughtered, Airi! It's futile, you've lost! You're going to become my Empress and we'll rule over the Dawn Empire together! How could be in love with a Knight? With another woman? Just the thought is ridiculous!" The Orochi cackled.

The Nobushi rushed forward, she savagely grabbed onto Daigo's neck and charged him into a wall. She looked up and pressed her forehead against his, staring right past his eyes and into his soul.

"I LOVE HER!"

Just then, a guard walked into the room and grabbed Airi's arm, pulling her off of Daigo. She scrambled back, freeing herself of the guard's grasp.

"DON'T TOUCH ME!" She yelled, her voice broke during the cry, she fell back against the wall and slid down to a sitting position. She slumped up against the wall, looking up at the ceiling. She was completely motionless, the exception being when a sob made its way into her throat, that her body jerked lightly, her voice low and weak.

Daigo signaled his guard to leave the room. As he turned to the door, he looked over his shoulder at Airi one final time.

"Hurry up and put something on, you naked slut. I would start working on how you're going to deal with what I have planned. A little hint...Refresh your fighting spirit, and start stretching. You're going to give me quite the show later today."

With those words, Daigo exited the room, slamming the door behind him.

Airi looked up, her throat tight, her lips quivering with anxiety instead of sadness.

"F-Fighting spirit? Stretching? What's that supposed to mean?"

The Nobushi stood up and looked at her delicate, smooth hands. She curled them up into fists as she strained her arms.

"A good show? Maybe it's something about the ceremony. Or...Or..."

Airi became paranoid, her heart raced as she began to panic. She began to hyperventilate, she fell against her bed and put her hand on her chest, trying to breathe normally.

"Emora...Emora...Emora help me...Emora please! Emora! EMORA!"

The girl wasted the last of her breath on those screams of distress. Her heart seemed to stop as she felt her vision become blurry, and the back of her head began to hurt. Her breathing slowed as she slowly closed her eyes, and lost consciousness.


Outside of the Manor...

Daigo looked off into the gardens on the small bridge where the murders of Atusto and Airina Hakushi took place. His eye began to automatically twitch as he spotted Raiko's dead body in the dirt, and no sign of the Knight known as Emora.

"How pathetic. He failed. I knew I should've never trusted him with her. Such a simple task and he messes it up."

He went back inside and looked out of all the balconies and bridges possible. He finally spotted the Knight sprinting through the trees out of a small window on the side of the Manor.

"Hm...The south garden. Very well."

He turned went down a flight of stairs and met with two Kensei Guards.

"You two...Call upon Yuko. I need him for a certain job. Those infiltrators are causing quite a bit of commotion around the Manor, and the people of the Urutora Clan are getting rowdy. I plan to use the infiltrators as examples...And show them to the citizens of what will happen if they dare oppose me."

The two guards exchanged looks.

"As you wish, Emperor."

The two guards bowed and turned away from Daigo. He watched as they disappeared through the large halls of the manor.

Kaneko chuckled to himself.

"Let's see how you can handle the Demon Oni...Emora."


Outside...

Emora leaped over a large rope that was attached to a small bag. Her foot wiggled the rope as she jumped. The Warden looked behind her as a large purple cloud of poison emerged from the ground. She huffed as she continued to sprint forward, watching her path in front of her.

"Goddamn poison traps...Those bags are stuffed with mushrooms that could kill a goddamn elephant. If I breathe even a little of that gas in...I'll die within seconds."

She looked all over the ground, hesitating when she saw a large round leaf that could possibly be a bag of mushrooms. She looked near trees for ropes or ties, and always sped up when running past large roots or puddles of water, where poison traps could be hidden.

The sound of grunts and swords clashing caught her ears, and she sped up. As she spotted her familiar figures fighting two enemies, her pace quickened, but so did her adrenaline.

"Guys! I'm here! Guys!"

Alban quickly turned to face the Warden, who was waving as she ran. His eyes widened as he put his hand out.

"EMORA! LOOK OUT!"

"Huh?!"

The Warden looked down to see a poison trap right beneath in front of her, the rope surrounding it being pulled down on by her boot. Her heart nearly stopped as she awaited the explosion of toxins to enter her lungs.

Suddenly, she felt as something wrapped itself around her arm, and pulled her forward. Her vision went blurry as she watched Alban back away with his hand over his mouth and nose, his face full of concern. Emora felt herself get tackled by someone. She fell onto the ground as a large cloud of purple smoke surrounded her.

She opened her mouth to scream out in fear, but she quickly felt what seemed to be a hand cover her mouth and nose. She shut her eyes tightly, praying to get out alive. She wanted so desperately to open her eyes, but the fear of what the poison could do to them overcame her desire. She panted beneath her savior's gloved hand, waiting for some sign to move.

Grunts, yells, and shouts could be heard. The sound of blades clashing and blows landing was all the Warden could hear. Her eyes were shut tightly, her heart nearly beating out of her chest. Finally, a familiar voice came into her ear.

"Quickly! Take a deep breath and run!"

Emora did as told. She gasped up some air and scrambled to her feet. She sprinted forward with her eyes closed, feeling like a scared child. She opened up her eyes and gasped for precious oxygen. She fell onto her knees when she saw Katsue walking out of the purple smoke, her mask over her face tightly.

"Tnh...Cah! Cauh!" She coughed.

"KATSUE!" The Warden yelled out.

The Shinobi fell forward into Emora's arms.

"Katsue! What did you do?! What did you do!?" Emora cried, she tore away the Shinobi's mask, revealing her pale looking face.

Katsue smiled as she looked up at the Warden. "I saved you...With my grappling hook. I couldn't let you die...M-My Lord..."

"NO! KATSUE NO! PLEASE NO! KATSUE!" Emora cried out. Alban staggered over to the two Heroes, he fell onto his knees as he looked at the Shinobi.

"She breathed in some poison...Her mask wasn't enough. Emora...She...She's going to die."

The Warden felt as a jab of pain tore through her heart.

"NO! I WON'T LET HER! Katsue...Please...Hold on! I'll save you...I promise you I will!"

Emora looked at Alban, her eyes twinkling.

"The Samurai have to have a way to remedy this poison...Some type of antidote! Who makes a poison without an antidote?! There has to be...There has to be!"

Alban thought about it.

"These mushrooms are natural...Meaning that the Samurai have been dealing with them for a while. Dealing with them for long enough to use them as weapons. So...Yes, they must have some way to deal with it in case of an accident." The Highlander reassured.

Katsue held onto Emora's hand.

"D-Don't...Do anything...Please. E-Emora...Airi needs you...Alive...Not dead."

The Warden shook her head.

"I'll be fine, Katsue. Don't worry, okay?"

Suddenly, a loud horn went off from the direction of the Manor. Rapid footsteps could be heard gaining on the Warden.

Emora and Alban turned around to see Zhao and Kiyoshi rushing at them, the rest of the Heroes chasing after them.

"Shit!"

Both of them got into guard, but it was for nothing. Zhao and Kiyoshi dashed past Emora and Alban, and straight into the trees. The Heroes watched as the two walked up to one of the Manor's side entrances, and waited.

"You guys found an entrance?" Emora asked.

Cinder nodded.

"Yeah, we did. But a ton of guards came out of nowhere to stop us from getting in. Some guy sent out those two, the Aramusha and Shinobi. They're astounding fighters named Zhao and Kiyoshi...Able to take on all of us at once. But...We don't know why they retreated." He explained.

"It must have something to do with that horn that just went off." Alban brought up.

Emora felt Katsue tug on her leg. She gasped and crouched to attend the Shinobi.

"What is it, Katsue?!" She cried.

"Emora...G-G...Guardian...Oni...The horn...Of the Guardian...Oni..."

The Warden tilted her head in confusion. "Guardian Oni? What the hell...?"

"Whatever it is, it sounds bad. We should start moving, and start moving fast." Apollo urged.

Emora turned to see Zhao and Kiyoshi enter the small door. She grew impatient and found herself unable to stop turning to Katsue, whose breathing was slow and raspy. The instinct of a Warden came into her head, and the safety of those she cared about ruled over all of her thoughts. Her duty to protect the innocent and help those in need rocked her mind as she turned to look at her allies.

"Guys...I need to tell you all something."

"What is it?" Cindra asked, the other Heroes listening closely.

Emora shuddered remembering the moment, but she swallowed her grief and cleared her throat.

"Airi's parents...Atsuto and Airina Hakushi...They're dead. Killed by Daigo Kaneko...Airi's fiancé. I...I don't know what he's going to do...But my guess is...That he plans to take over the Urutora Clan and rule over the Myre as a single power. His Seinaru Clan." Emora explained.

"W-What?!" All the Heroes exclaimed.

"No fucking way...He killed her parents?!" Alban yelled.

"What the hell?! What's wrong with that guy!?" Elea roared.

Katsue's whimpering caught everyone's attention. Emora turned to her, the Shinobi was crying.

"Katsue...I'm so sorry...He killed the Urutora Clan's rulers..."

The Shinobi grit her teeth and lay back on the grass. Her breathing was still slow, but she appeared to be holding up against the poison.

"That's good...Her mask definitely helped her." Alban smiled. Emora nodded her head, also smiling.

"But...I still have to get her that antidote. Poison doesn't get better over time, it gets worse. Guys...We're not here just for Airi anymore...We're here for the entire Myre. Please...I want you all to do something."

The Heroes stayed silent, listening to Emora.

"Daigo isn't a good man, at least not anymore. If he thinks we're just going to let his clan rule over the Urutora Clan and the rest of the Dawn Empire, then he's wrong. I'm almost positive that the people of the Hakushi Province aren't happy about this. I want all of you...To go out there and try to get the attention of the citizens. Tell them to rebel against the Seinaru Clan, to work together with guards and Heroes of the Urutora Clan to overthrow Daigo."

The Heroes all looked at each other, not bothering to fight back, as they all knew they would lose to Emora's determination.

"But...Katsue is the only one who speaks Japanese. They won't be able to understand us." Cyrus shook his head.

Just as Emora was about to speak, the Shinobi let out a small grunt. Everyone watched as she slowly stood up, coughing and rubbing her eyes. Emora moved to help, but Katsue put her hand out, wanting to stand up on her own.

"I'll...I'll talk. A-Anything to prevent Daigo from...F-From ruling over the Myre..." Katsue uttered out, holding her stomach.

Cinder and Cindra grabbed onto the Shinobi's arms, letting her hold onto them.

"Alright, Emora. But...Why all of us?"

Emora put her head down.

"I don't want you guys to get hurt. It's dangerous in here...And I'd rather stay in here alone than to have all of you at risk of dying. Plus...The people will need more than one person to convince them to rebel. They need to see that they have a group of leaders...Foreign Heroes that are willing to help them get their land and clan back. They'll be inspired and up to the test. It might also help them get over their fear of foreigners...Since the Samurai are so isolated from the rest of the world."

"You're right, Emora. Then let's waste no time, come on. Cindra, Cinder, help Katsue." Apollo said firmly. The two Commanders nodded as they began to lead the Shinobi out of the Manor. The group of Heroes turned back to Emora one final time.

"What'll you do, Emora?"

The Warden clutched her sword.

"I'm going to find an antidote for Katsue...And continue my objective to get Airi out of here."

The Heroes nodded their heads.

"Good luck, and be careful," Alban said firmly.

Emora watched as her friends walked off towards a gate in the Manor's wall. She sighed and looked at her sword, prepared to face the next challenge. She began to jog off in the direction of the door Zhao and Kiyoshi entered through. She stood in front of the door and was discouraged to find out it was locked.

"Damn it..."

Suddenly, the doors blasted open, striking Emora head-on, sending her flying back. She landed on her back, hard. The Warden's sword fell to her side as she groaned in pain. She opened her eyes to look at what was in front of her.

Her eyes widened at the horrifying sight.

"W-What...The..."

A large, huge, gargantuan-sized man stood in front of Emora, his face covered by a white demon mask. The mask had a constant grin on its face; it had horns and a big, white, bushy mustache. Large tusks protruded from the mask's open mouth, which was already full of sharp teeth. The man's armor was strictly wooden, but it seemed flexible, the plates placed in order to keep the warrior's body from seeping everywhere.

He had the structure of a sumo-wrestler, tall and...Plump. His arms were muscular and exposed with little armor other than his shoulders. His pants were huge and baggy, his entire outfit tied together by huge golden ropes at the man's waist.

His weapon was horrifying. A huge, wooden club of some sorts, littered in sharp spikes. The weapon itself was almost as tall as the warrior himself. The end of it had a huge, blunt piece of steel to give the weapon its hefty weight. He had it over his shoulder, like a baseball bat.

Emora slowly got back up onto her feet. She picked up her sword and took a few steps back.

"Holy shit..."

The man laughed.

"So you're the termite they sent me to kill. Hm. I'll squash you and go back to my brides."

"Brides? A guy like you has...Brides?" Emora asked.

The man was clearly insulted. "I already don't like you, Knight. Let's make this quick."

Emora shrugged. She passed her fingers through her side-swept bangs and tucked loose strands of hair behind her ear. She tightened the band on her ponytail and let it rest on her back. The Warden took a deep breath and got into position, her heart racing.

"I've fought opponents bigger than me before...But not like this. Alright...Let's get this show on the road."

"Hm. I hope you know you are doing. I am a man of unbelievable, unmatched strength. My power is absolute, our blows capable of crushing bones and shattering entire bodies. I am a Shugoki named Yuko. I'm a guardian of the Myre, and crusher of those who dare endanger it." The man said sternly.

Emora huffed. "Endanger? Heh...You're just as blind as Raiko. Daigo is the one endangering it, not me. Yet you follow his lead, and serve under his command."

"The Seinaru Clan will lead the Myre into prosperity," Yuko replied.

"From what's it looking like...And from how Daigo seems to be acting since his new promotion to the Emperor of the Dawn Empire...I'm sure the people disagree. Your ancestors would be disappointed."

"HOW DARE YOU!" Yuko yelled, getting his Kanabo in position to swing. "I'll make you regret saying that!"

Emora grinned at the large Hero.

"Whatever you say, fat-ass."


Plaza of the Hakushi Province...

A few dozen civilians stood in front of the stage that Daigo spoke on earlier that day. Only instead of the Emperor and his guards being atop it, a group of rogue Heroes stood instead, all of them trying to get the attention of more people.

The Japanese citizens were skeptical and nervous about stopping to listen, but the recent changes worried them, so many began to gather up and hear what these foreigners had to say to them. Finally, after many minutes of gathering, a large crowd stood in front of the stage.

Cinder and Cindra stepped forward, Katsue in between them, using their shoulders to help herself stand. Apollo, Elea, Cyrus, and Alban stood in silence, awaiting the words of the wounded Shinobi.

"Well...W-What do I say?" Katsue groaned, she coughed a bit afterward, bringing out quiet murmurs from the crowd.

Cindra pressed her lips against the Shinobi's ear. "Just tell them that we need their help. Try asking them how they feel about Daigo Kaneko being their new emperor. How they feel about their original rulers being killed. How they feel about the Urutora Clan being gone...Ask them that, and then we try to convince them to aid us."

The Shinobi nodded her head. She cleared her throat and slapped her hand over her aching chest. She slowly let go of Cinder and Cindra's shoulders and stepped forward, her stance weak and brittle. Her legs felt numb as she stood, the trembling feeling in her calves deteriorated her morale.

"Urutora-zoku no hitobito..." Katsue began. The crowd shifted, listening closely. The Heroes listened as they watched the Shinobi raise her hands in the air and stand as proudly as she could. She began to speak her native tongue loudly and clearly, briefly pausing to cough or clear her throat. Citizens began to mumble and converse amongst themselves the more the Shinobi spoke. Her tone was serious and urgent, giving the civilians a sense of panic and action. Some began to yell out from the crowd, mostly men. They held swords and common Samurai helmets up in the air, signifying that they were former Urutora Guards that had gone into hiding shortly after the assassination of Atsuto and Airina Hakushi.

Katsue yelled back, her tone was one of understanding and sympathy. She went back and forth with the guards, her voice slowly cracking as she lost strength.

"Katsue, what are they saying...?" Cinder asked softly.

The Shinobi turned around. "They're saying that they're scared, that they stand no chance. Even with our help, they say we can't defeat the Seinaru Clan alone!" She wheezed, her eyes turning pale.

"Shit...Katsue you're not looking too hot." Cyrus brought up.

Alban put his hand on the Shinobi's shoulder. "Tell them that they're not alone. They have Urutora Guards on their sides, and they have us. And not just us, but they have the support of Airi Hakushi herself. Tell them we know her personally, and know for a fact that she doesn't support Daigo's actions."

Katsue nodded her head. She turned to the crowd and translated Alban's words. The civilians fell silent as the Shinobi began to cry desperately, begging for their help. The Urutora Guards began to chant out the surname of the Urutora Clan's founders, Hakushi. More and more people joined in, and eventually, the yells and shouts could be heard throughout the whole Province. Katsue nodded her head, her friends comforting her.

Suddenly, she gagged, throwing up a large amount of saliva. She became dehydrated and nauseous. The Shinobi fell to the floor, some members from the crowd ran up on stage to assist her.

"Katsue! Katsue speak to us!" Alban shouted.

The Shinobi was blinking in and out of the conscious world, she felt as a man grabbed placed his hand on her forehead, his expression serious.

"Kanojo wa dokusatsu sa reta." The man said as he looked up at the Heroes.

"Katsue...W-What did he say?" Cinder asked.

The Shinobi coughed, saliva flying everywhere. "He...H-He...He knows I'm...Poisoned..."

Cindra grabbed the man's shoulders and looked him straight in the eyes. He seemed surprised, staring at the Commander and her bright silver eyes.

"Please, sir! You have to help her!" She cried.

The man couldn't understand her; he shook his head sadly. He turned back to Katsue, who grabbed onto his collar. She lifted her head up to his ear, and held back a gag.

"Yūgure-ji ni kōgeki suru...Onegaishimasu..."

The man hesitated but nodded his head. Katsue smiled at the man and pointed at the sky.

"Orenji-iro no toki." She exhaled, releasing heavy coughs. The man nodded again, his face stern. He gasped as he looked behind all the heroes. He patted Katsue's shoulder before leaving. The Heroes watched as the man disappeared into the crowd.

"Katsue...What did you tell him?" Alban asked.

The Shinobi tried to speak, but her throat was strained and purple. "T-They...They..."

The Heroes leaned in, trying to understand.

"Attack...S-Sun..."

"What?" Cyrus asked.

Katsue couldn't do it. She took in a big breath and swallowed her own cough. For a split second, life returned to her eyes as she opened her eyes wide.

"Just trust me."

With those words, the Shinobi lost consciousness. Suddenly, loud stomping could be heard from behind the Heroes. Immediately, the people scrambled everywhere in different directions, away from the Seinaru Guards.

"Yamero! Soko ni taizai!" A guard yelled.

"Shit...We can't fight with Katsue like this!" Elea panicked.

Cindra put her hands up as she watched bows get aimed at her and her allies. "Everyone...Just let it happen...We stand no chance."

The Heroes all put their hands up, Katsue lying flat on the ground, completely still. The Guards surrounded and seized them, trying their hands behind their backs with rope, and ridding them all of their weapons.

All of them stood together, unable to fight back at all. Out from behind a wall of guards holding bows, came Daigo with his hands behind his back, Zhao and Kiyoshi at his sides.

"Well, well, well...Look what have here." The Orochi smiled sinisterly. "Tell me, rogue Heroes. What were you all trying to do with my people? They can't understand you, you know. Only our warriors are taught English...But all of them always forget, since your kind isn't exactly fond of entering the Myre."

Alban shook his head. "Yeah, we know. A stupid move on our part. We tried stopping you, but apparently, our plans simply aren't good enough."

"Yeah, it didn't work. Boo-hoo...We'll be going now if you don't mind." Cyrus shrugged.

"A jokester! Ah, that's great. I'm glad to see that the Knights have some sense of humor." Daigo walked up to Cyrus, grinning.

"You bet your ass we do, needle dick." The golden Warden said with a hateful smirk.

Daigo's cheek twitched with suppressed anger. He chuckled a single time and turned around. He suddenly turned back with his fist cutting through the air. He sucker punched Cyrus right on the side of the head, his face scrunched up with rage.

"Cyrus!" Apollo yelled.

"Piece of shit." The Emperor scoffed.

The golden Warden shook his head and grinned. "That all you got...?"

Daigo turned around full of rage. He picked Cyrus up by the throat and launched a knife into his stomach.

"NOOO!" Apollo yelled out.

"CYRUS!" Elea cried.

"FUCK! NOT HIM!" Cinder roared.

"Cyrus...Damn it...!" Alban croaked, his voice quiet with anger.

The golden Warden's body was shaking; Daigo pulled back the knife and let Cyrus fall to his knees.

"Ggh...Ah...Couh. Hah...Ha..."

Daigo placed his small knife back into its tiny sheath. He turned to his guards and cocked his head.

"Follow me, and take them with us. I already know exactly what I'm going to use them for. Hm...Everything is going perfectly."

As the guard's followed behind Daigo, Apollo and Elea found themselves crying quietly. Alban's teeth chattered with his quivering jaw, his heart skewered by maliciousness. Cinder and Cindra had their heads down; both knowing what was to come. Cyrus was being dragged along by a Kensei, his wound bleeding endlessly. The unconscious Katsue was being carried.

As the Emperor entered the Manor, he turned to his guards.

"Take them into the storage compartment. Place bags over their heads and patch up that golden-armored one. If you want you can hit him them all a few times. They deserve it for trying their luck against the Seinaru Clan."

The Guards laughed as they began to take the group of Heroes away.

"But! Keep them alive. Alright?"

The Guards nodded. Daigo watched as they took their prisoners down a corridor and down some dark steps behind a trapdoor. The door closed behind the guards, and the Orochi could only imagine what type of beatings would occur without his presence.

Zhao and Kiyoshi stood in front of their Emperor, both with their arms crossed.

"I ask, sir. Why not kill them right away? What is the point of holding them prisoner?" Zhao asked.

Daigo grinned. "I'm afraid my bride is being quite troublesome. But I have a plan to make her end her stubborn ways, and force her to make a choice."

"A choice? What type of choice?" Kiyoshi asked.

Daigo cracked his knuckles and sighed. He looked up at Airi's room and smiled.

"To either marry me and pledge allegiance to the Seinaru Clan...Or let her friends die."


Meanwhile...

"Oh shit!"

Emora jumped back as the Yuko's Kanabo struck the ground right in front of her. She could feel the vibration caused by the missed attack beneath her feet.

The Shugoki pulled back his weapon and grunted. "This isn't much a fight if you keep dodging, yellow-haired woman. How are you ever going to strike me if you are always too far away?"

The Warden took a few steps back as she shook her head. "Stop calling me that. What, you've never seen a girl with blonde hair before?"

"Our women always have black hair and the darkest brown eyes. You look very strange to me, Knight." Yuko replied.

"You look pretty damn weird too, fatso. My name is Emora by the way, a pleasure to meet you."

The Shugoki grunted again. "Stop messing around. I was told to kill you, and that's what I plan to do."

"Tsk, if you can even catch me." Emora shrugged.

"You think that's a problem for me?!" Yuko laughed. He strode forward, and suddenly took a huge step forward. He rushed forth towards the Warden with an unbelievable amount of speed, his steps large and quick paced, shaking the ground as he charged.

"W-What the—WOAH!"

Emora leaped out of the way as fast as she could, she placed her arms out in front of her and rolled onto her shoulder. She quickly stood up and turned to face the Shugoki with a shocked expression. At that moment, she could feel the wind of the Oni charging past her.

"So you can run...Oh my god."

"Indeed I can. Shugoki's are always underestimated of their mobility. But when you have the strength of a demon and an unbreakable will...Anything is possible."

Yuko huffed and charged forward again, this time he was too fast to dodge. As Emora moved to get out of the way, the Shugoki's shoulder crashed into her body at full force. The force of the impact sent a massive shockwave through the Warden's body, rattling her harshly.

"GAHH!"

Emora flipped over and smashed into the ground. She coughed up some saliva as she struggled to regain her breath. She looked at the ground and saw a large shadow being cast over her.

"FUCK!" She yelled as she rolled to the side, barely dodging Yuko's ground pound attack. The Warden picked up her sword and scrambled to her feet. She watched as the Shugoki let out a loud roar as he swung his Kanabo at her head. Emora managed to duck underneath the attack, but she gasped out in terror as she realized how quickly Yuko was able to recover, even after missing.

"RAHH!" The Shugoki yelled as he lifted his Kanabo up from the ground, launching it upwards towards Emora's side. The Warden let out a small shriek as she placed her sword in the way of her body. Her hands shook at the feeling of the club smacking into her blade. The force Yuko's strike broke through Emora's guard and sent her flying back, metallic sparks flying through the air from the clash.

"Ah! Guh!"

Emora landed on her back but quickly did a backflip to recover. She whipped her hair out of the way as she faced the Shugoki.

"Oh my god...What the hell are you!?"

"Nothing but a man doing his job."

Yuko stepped forward and raised his club high into the air. He attempted to bring it down on Emora's head, but the Warden dodged the attack and stepped out of the way.

"Come on!"

Emora attempted to ground the Shugoki in a still position; she slammed her sword down on his Kanabo, trying to stop it from uppercutting her. But his strength was far too great. He lifted his weapon up and cuffed Emora in the nose.

"AHH!"

Blood shot out from the Warden's face. Emora dropped her guard and slapped her hand over her nose, making sure it wasn't broken. Her eyes released tears of disorientation as she tried to regain her senses. That left her open for attack. Yuko reeled his Kanabo back and delivered his first clean attack.

The massive weapon smashed into Emora's stomach. The Warden felt as she felt the most severe, shattering pain she had felt in her entire life. Her body crippled as it folded over the club, she released an agonizing cry of pain as blood spilled from her mouth like a waterfall.

"GGAAAUUUHHAAHH!"

Emora flew back, her body twisting and flipping in the air. She landed on the ground with a loud thud, she rolled multiple times, her body banging and thrashing against roots and branches. She came to an abrupt stop when she collided with a small boulder. The Warden cried in pain, not cries of pain, but actual tears of agony as if she were a child who had just hurt their knee from a fall. She rested atop the small boulder as if it were her bed.

Her sobs were loud and annoying to Yuko's ears. He slowly walked forward, rolling his eyes.

"One hit and you're already incapacitated. Is this what they sent me to kill? Is this really all you have for me?" The Shugoki asked.

Emora grit her teeth and sucked in air through her bloody teeth. She spat out three times, each time she threw up blood. Her body was tingling with pain; shockwaves of shudders overcame her muscles from the massive force she withstood.

She choked on her own blood and sobs. She looked up at the Shugoki, who was only mere feet away.

Thoughts of her quest came into the Warden's thoughts. She couldn't let herself get defeated so easily. The Myre was in danger of tyranny, and the love of her life was about to be ripped away from her forever. He friends could be in danger, and the Azure Legion would suffer huge Hero losses. Fort Diamond would lose their best Heroes, Cinderus would lose his children, Rose and Daisy would lose their protector.

The Warden shook her head wildly. She reeled her fist back and slammed it into the ground with frustration.

Yuko tilted his head in shock. He stopped walking as he looked at the shattered rock beneath Emora's body, her fist clean through it.

"Hm." He grunted.

He watched as Emora slowly stood up, her legs trembling, her body shaking. Blood was trickling down from the corner of her mouth and down her neck, her eyes shined gold with determination.

"Impressive. You stand before me after a move that would've killed anybody else. Your vigor is excellent, Knight."

Emora panted deeply, her body slowly recovering from the heavy blow.

"With every fight...I grow stronger. There have been many fights where I was sure I would die...Where I've been horribly, terrifyingly close to death. Yet here I stand...Breathing...Talking...Fighting. I've always forced myself to win over my enemies, forced myself to never give up until I know the fight is over."

Yuko grunted. "Your sense of honor pleases me. I trust you can deliver more for me then, yes?" He asked.

Emora nodded her head and wiped blood from her mouth. "I've done this before, time to do it again. I'll push my body past its physical limits, I'll push my mind past its mental limits...And I'll push my heart beyond its emotional limits. There ain't anybody who can get in the way of my mission. I'll save Airi...I'll save the Urutora Clan...I'll save the Myre!"

The Warden rushed forward with her sword raised. Yuko chuckled as he put his guard up.

"Very well then, Knight! Let us fight honorably, to the death!"

The two rushed at each other. Yuko charged forward in another Oni Charge. Emora jumped to the side and rolled back onto her feet.

"RAAH!"

"GAAH!"

The two swung their weapons at one another. They clashed with extreme force, Yuko smiling at the tingling sensation he felt in his hands. They reeled back and went in again, and again. Both Heroes countering one another time and time again. Yuko powered up a heavy attack, he let it rip with tremendous force, Emora preparing to dodge.

The Warden's ponytail flailed in the wind of the attack as she ducked beneath it. She shot her sword upwards and slashed Yuko across the chest with her blade, cutting right through his wooden plates, and causing him to lash out in pain.

The Shugoki brought his weapon back around and aimed it at Emora's side. The Warden slid her blade over and countered the attack. Her arms felt as if they were about to shatter as she fought back with grit teeth against Yuko's superior strength.

"NO! UAH!"

Yuko whipped his Kanabo upwards, causing Emora's arms to launch upwards, leaving her stomach open, her sword suspended in the air in her hands.

"RIGHT THERE!"

Yuko swung his Kanabo straight at the opening he saw. But Emora quickly reacted as she firmly placed her blade in the way. Her boots dug into the ground as she bluntly blocked the attack. The two Heroes glared at each other as they found themselves caught in a struggle of strength.

"GHH! GHNAHHH!" Yuko yelled.

"GAHH! HRAAAHHH!" Emora roared.

"You're no match!"

Yuko cracked his Kanabo backward with massive force and sudden power. Emora's boots left two fine trails as she slid back, her jaw shut with effort.

"Hmph! That all you got!?" Emora shouted as she charged forward.

"Come and get me, Knight!"

Emora raised her sword up in the air and aimed at Yuko's shoulder. She brought it down with all her strength, only to get parried. Her arms went numb as she felt her grip loosen on her sword. Yuko left her open once again, he reeled back, preparing a huge arc attack.

"GGHAH!"

Emora gasped as she ducked underneath the attack and countered with a swift strike to Yuko's meaty thighs. Blood stained his pants as he cried out in pain. The Warden didn't let up as she followed the flow of her sword and straightened its blade. She plunged it into the Shugoki's body, its sharp edge cutting straight into his abdomen.

"AHHH!"

Blood spewed out from the large stab wound as Emora shoved her sword deeper inside her opponent's body.

"KUSOO!"

"GAUUULGHHH!""

Emora felt her ribcage shatter into a million different pieces as Yuko swung his Kanabo into her side. The Warden's resolve was greater than Yuko's strength, and she held onto her sword tightly. The Shugoki caused more damage to himself as Emora's sword gouged its way across his body, following its user. Emora flew to the side, her sword clenched in her gauntlet.

"AHH! Gah...Nnh...Ah..."

Emora held her side as she sucked in the pain and breathed heavily. She stood back up to see Yuko passing his hand across the long, deep slash in his chest, wincing in pain.

"Tch...A definite strike. Impressive..." He muttered.

"Tgh...Hngh...Kch—your blow hurt quite a bit too...Agh! Ghngh...Hah..." Emora panted and seethed as she rubbed her side.

The two slowly got back into position, both breathing more heavily now.

"Let us continue...Emora." Yuko grunted.

"Of course...We never stopped, Yuko." Emora exhaled.

"Right on. HUAH!"

The Shugoki charged forward with another Oni Charge, Emora clutched her sword as she dodged to the side and placed her leg out in front of her. She felt Yuko's shin collide with her ankle as the giant fighter tripped with a loud shout.

"UAH!"

Emora brought her sword down on the Shugoki's back; blood shot out and sprayed onto the Warden. Yuko's body turned stiff as he yelled out in agony. He got up onto one knee, and using all of his strength, he whipped his Kanabo to his side using only one arm. Emora, not expecting the move, felt as solid steel hit her right in the jaw. She flew back and landed on her side. She stumbled back onto her feet as she wiped her mouth and spat out a large blob of blood.

"Egh..." She grimaced, feeling her teeth with her tongue, making sure they were all where they were supposed to be, and not missing or broken. She spat out more blood and swallowed hard, watching as the angry Shugoki stood back up.

"You'll pay for that...Stubborn Knight!"

He charged forward, winding up his Kanabo as he ran. Emora readied her hands, arms, legs, sword, and mind as she braced for impact. She watched as Yuko reeled back and swung his Kanabo full strength at her. The Warden squealed out in fear as she held out her sword by the handle and the blade, in a diagonal guard across her body.

The two weapons clashed together, vibrations and shockwaves flowing through the bodies of both Heroes. Emora felt her arms nearly shatter from the impact, her boots dug into the ground as she was pushed back a few inches, her shoulder nearly collapsing from the force of the attack. She grit her teeth and yelled out with effort as she pushed Yuko's Kanabo back and prepared to counter.

"HIYAARGH!"

Emora sliced her sword down Yuko's body, once again cutting through his wooden armor perfectly. The cut went from the Shugoki's chest down to his hip. Blood oozed out from behind his armor and covered the Hero in red. The Warden continued her assault as the Samurai was left roaring out with excruciating pain.

She half-sworded her blade into Yuko's chest and angled it upwards, driving it down on his body with all her strength. She inhaled sharply and exhaled when she gnashed the sword downwards, ripping a deep, disgusting, and gory laceration in the Shugoki's torso. Emora watched as the Shugoki fell to one knee, he was crying out, suffering from physical anguish.

She couldn't stop the combo as she smashed her hilt into Yuko's forehead right after the downwards gnash. She watched as the mask fell to the ground, revealing Yuko's bruised, tormented face and expression. Emora blinked back into the battle and delivered a final move. She lashed her blade out front of her, upwards into the air. She watched as her sword slashed a brutal cut in Yuko's stomach, and kept going upwards, the tip of her sword reaching the Shugoki's cheek, scraping the skin off of his face, and releasing two drops of blood that dribbled down the side of his head.

Emora gripped back onto her sword and went in again, hoping that she could end the fight with one final slash. But she gasped out in alarm as Yuko blocked the strike with his Kanabo. She looked up and realized that the Shugoki was drenched in sweat, panting heavily, and crying tears of pain. He had met his match and was now pushing against his own limits, just as Emora said she would do.

"Don't get too cocky! Your luck has run OUT!"

Yuko whipped his Kanabo back, striking Emora in the cheek. The Warden stumbled back, rubbing her face free of blood.

"Rgh—"

She suddenly felt as the air in her lungs was sucked out of her body in one split second. Spit and blood launched from her mouth and splashed onto the floor in large quantities as her body folded and crippled. Her eyes felt as if they were bulging out of her skull, her arms and legs numb, her chest ripped apart by a piercing pain, her stomach pouring with blood, organs, intestines, and other gruesome things that the human body held within it.

In one single moment, Emora was sent spiraling into a stage of agonizing, searing, raging pain. The stabbing feeling in her gut felt unnatural like it couldn't be produced by a human no matter what they did. The intense rack of emotions passing through Emora's head flushed her mind, almost causing her to blackout in the middle of her situation, but the Warden held onto reality, not daring to knock out. She prepared herself for the worst: For more unbearable, piercing, torturous amounts of pain.

The Warden dropped her sword and gut out with nothing but blood. No sound came from her mouth, as she had no air to produce any noise at all. Only a short yelp emerged at the point of impact, but nothing came after. Yuko grunted out with effort as he delivered the greatest, most powerful gut punch Emora has and will ever encounter. The violent, brutal amount of power that went into the attack devastated and destroyed Emora's body, leaving her stunned and on the verge of death. Yuko let out a ferocious, savage, fierce cry of war as he thrust his large fist deeper into Emora's body, causing her to spill more blood from her mouth, and let out a small, quiet cry of despair.

The Shugoki pulled his fist out and grabbed onto his Kanabo. He reeled back and prepared his arms. Emora fell forward, crying, sobbing, coughing, gagging, retching, moaning.

"This fight is over, Knight."

Emora's neck shuddered as she looked up, her mouth wide open, her eyes filled to the brim with tears that were spilling down her face.

"Shine!"

With a huge swoop, Emora flew up into the air, blood streaking from her mouth. She flew back nearly ten whole feet and continued to flip and thrash when she struck the ground. She slumped against a tree, completely motionless, her breathing slow and heavy.

Yuko gasped in air as he recovered from the huge blow. He slowly walked forward, waiting to see if Emora was going to get back up.

He found himself at a loss for words as he saw with his own eyes a drive and will stronger than his own.

"N-Nanda...? D-Dō yatte...?!" He cried out to himself.

Emora pressed her trembling hand against the tree trunk. She looked at the mark her own body left in the bark after colliding with it and huffed. She breathed slowly, in and out through her mouth. Her arms quivered as one grabbed onto the tree, the other down on the ground, pushing the rest of her body up. The Warden let out grunts and moans of effort and strain as she slowly arched her legs, preparing them to stand. She brought one leg up, and placed her arm on it, she pressed down, lifting her body further up into the air. She used the tree for support as she pulled her last leg up from its slumped position.

The Warden looked at her feet wearily sitting below her body, her legs shaking with tension, her arms numb and pulsing with exhaustion. Her breathing slowly began to even out as she let go of the tree and stood on her own, her stance exhausted and drained. Her eyes were shining, perseverance reflecting within her gold-hazel irises, sheer strength and resolve within her deep pupils.

"I...I ain't done .N-Not...Just...Y-Yet..."

Yuko winced in pain as he looked at his own torso, he was bleeding endlessly, his blood seemingly unable to clot and stop flowing. He was still panting heavily, his body exhausted, his arms aching of holding and swinging around his Kanabo, which was finally beginning to feel heavy.

"No...I already said this is over...It is! You don't get to change that!" Yuko yelled.

"You don't either! This isn't over until one of us is dead! And from what it's looking like...I'm still breathing, my hearts still beating!" Emora yelled back.

"NOT FOR LONG!"

Yuko rushed forward, his arms positioned in a swinging position. Emora let out a moan of desperation as she tried to move her legs. She grabbed onto the tree with both hands and prepared herself.

"RUUAHHH!"

"AHHH!"

Emora used all of her energy to jump to the side right as Yuko's weapons struck the tree she was just resting on. The Warden rolled onto her shoulder and struggled to stop herself, having to put her arms out in front of her in order to stand back up. She turned around and saw that Yuko had struck the tree so hard, that his Kanabo left a huge crack in the tree's trunk. He growled in frustration and rushed forward again.

"STOP DODGING AND HOLD STILL YOU LITTLE ANT!"

Yuko raised his club and brought it down with an insane amount of strength. Emora exhaled as she moved to the side and cried out with exhaustion as she lifted her kneecap into the Shugoki's stomach.

"GHAH!" He gut out as the Warden knee-capped him straight in the stomach.

"HUUUAHH!"

Emora poured the rest of her energy into a back-kick that struck Yuko on the side of the head. He stumbled backward, his head aching, his body bleeding, his arms and legs exhausted of carrying so much weight.

"Ah...Ah...Ha...Gh—Kuh!"

Yuko spat out a bit of saliva, it was mixed in with phlegm. He scowled at his own action as he wiped his mouth with embarrassment. He looked at Emora with a furious gaze. The Warden was crouching, her hands on her knees, panting.

"Knight...I have my orders...I need to kill you! I won't stop until your dead, do you hear me?!" The Shugoki yelled.

Emora slowly nodded her head. "Loud...And clear..."

"Tsk...KCH—COME ON!"

The Shugoki charged forth, his pace uneven, his steps heavy and groggy. He swung his club once and missed, Emora dodged to the side, her arms out in front of her for defense. He then swung it upwards, Emora ducking underneath the attack, grunting out with exhaustion to straighten back up. One final time, Yuko raised his Kanabo and smashed it into the ground. Emora dashed to the side, her legs on the verge of giving in. She stood a couple of feet away from the Shugoki, her stamina completely drained.

"HAH!"

With a last ditch effort, Yuko snapped his club sideways, low the ground. The tip of Kanabo struck Emora's kneecap, dealing the very little amount of damage that was needed to bring the Warden onto one knee.

"GUH!" Emora moaned as she collapsed, she placed her hand out in front of her to stop herself from collapsing completely. She quickly tried to recover, but she was far too exhausted. She felt as Yuko grabbed ahold of her head tightly, his grip strong and relentless.

"Ahh...AH! AHHH! W-WHAT...WHAT'RE YOU DOING!? AHHH!"

Yuko held onto Emora's hair, lifting her up by her bangs. The Warden wailed out in pain as she felt her body lift up off the ground. She felt herself get tossed up momentarily as the Shugoki repositioned his hand firmly on Emora's skull. He pressed on tightly, the Warden feeling as her skull slowly began to fracture, shatter, and crack.

"Ahhh...Ah—AH! GRAAHHH! AHUAHHH! AHHAHHH! AHHHHH! HIAAAHHHH!"

The Warden's cries could be heard echoing through the trees of the Manor's Garden. Some citizens who lived near the Myre could hear her cries, the people within the Hakushi Manor themselves could hear the faint echoes of her yell.

"It's time! OWARI-DA!"

Yuko lifted Emora up as high as he could, holding her by her skull. With a loud roar, he slammed the Warden down into the ground, digging her head into the dirt. Emora felt the back of her head surge with a rocking pain. It felt as if her brain rattled inside her skull, bounced around endlessly, knocking away bits of her destroyed head. The Warden's vision blacked out, and she was unable to see. She felt the pain in her head as she breathed slowly.

She could see the light return to her world behind her closed eyelids. Yuko let go of Emora's head and stood up straight, panting uncontrollably.

"You fought well...Emora."

The Shugoki turned around and began to slowly sag back to the Manor, to report the completion of his mission.

Behind him, Emora was clinging to life. Her consciousness decided whether to go to the side of life, where everything seemed painful and miserable or to the side of death, where everything was dark and calm.

Emora shut her eyes tightly, trying to hang onto something. She tried making noises, she tried waking up, she tried everything.

"Wake up! WAKE UP! Damn it, listen to me! WAKE UP! FUCK!"

The Warden's body in the real world was convulsing. Blood and spit squirted of her mouth as her chest jerked up and down. Her fingers twitched, her face winced and moved in undecipherable expressions. Her throat released awkward noises, random sounds that did not sound human. Her body was trying to stay alive, but her conscious was elsewhere, still deciding on Emora's fate.

"Please...Please...Please wake up! I have to...I'm begging you! I...I have to get up! I'm trying...I'm trying! It's so dark...I can't see! Where...Where...H-How do I wake up!? I...I don't know what to do...I'm tired...I'm drained...I'm debilitated. I just want to go to sleep...How do I leave? I can't...I can't just yet! I don't get it!? WHY CAN'T I SEE?! WHY CAN'T I MOVE! JUST WAKE UP! GET BACK INTO THE REAL WORLD! SHE DEPENDS ON IT! EVERYONE DOES! I NEED TO GET UP! JUST DO IT! DO IT!"

Emora's throat wheezed and throbbed. Her unconscious body released a sharp cry, an emotion not linked up to it. The Warden perked up, panting, out of breath, her head knocking with pain, her body throbbing with strain, her mind wandering with thoughts, her heart pumping blood everywhere, trying to do its job. Her brain picked up information on her surroundings, trying to make sense of the world it was just absent from.

Emora looked at her hands, her eyes widened as she began to pat herself down. She touched her face and held her own head. She rubbed her arms and patted her thighs. She reached for her legs and shuffled her feet. She clenched and unclenched her fists repeatedly, slowly gaining awareness. Her hearing was stuffy, and unclear; her vision blurry and shaky.

She slowly stood back up, her exhaustion returned to her as she took a deep breath, her body well beyond its limits. She looked ahead and squinted. She managed to see a large figure in her line of sight. It seemed to be getting closer and closer at a considerable speed. Her hearing slowly returned as Emora recognized the sound, and put two and two together. She gasped out in terror as she realized her situation.

"NO! YUKO—AHH!"

"DIIIEEEEE!"

Yuko picked up Emora and ran ahead full speed, full strength, full power. He charged endlessly, the Warden feeling the acceleration of the Shugoki's charge. Saliva blasted out of her mouth as her back slammed into a tree. The Shugoki charged Emora into a tree with all of his strength. Emora shut one eye, the other twitching with shock. Her mouth was wide open, exhaling her lost air. The wind was knocked out of Emora's body as she leaned back, her body feeling even more shattered.

"JUST GIVE UP! YOU CAN'T WIN THIS!"

Yuko picked Emora up and placed her on his shoulder. He put his Kanabo over behind his back and over his shoulders. He roared out with effort and power as he pressed down on his club, Emora caught in between.

"AAAHHHHH!"

Emora heard a loud crack erupt from her body. She felt her back become folded, then get laid back out abruptly. Yuko laughed as he threw Emora over his shoulder, just shattering her spine. He let her tumble down to the ground, and sprawl out hopelessly.

"If that didn't kill you...This...Will!"

Emora clutched her fists, and grit her teeth. Veins popped out from her forehead and throat as she tensed her body up. She wiggled her toes within her boots, making sure that she still had motion in her legs. Yuko had failed to break her spine, and the Warden had a chance.

"UAAHH!"

"NOO!"

Emora rolled over and used her leg to launch forward. She rolled forward and slid to a stop. She turned around, fists clutched.

"I won't let you kill me! Not now, not later, not EVER!" She yelled.

The Warden's voice thundered through the Manor, reaching the ears of many people.

Daigo looked up from his map of the Myre in shock, his eyes wide with surprise.

"What in hell was that?"

Zhao and Kiyoshi paused; they opened up the trapdoor and looked around. They glanced at each other and tilted their heads.

"What was that?"

Elea and Alban winced in pain. Blood dripped from their mouths and sides of their heads. Cinder and Cindra sat next to each other, their shirts torn and faces bruised. Cyrus lay against a wall, his head down, his wound bandaged, but his morale broken. Katsue was on the floor, curled up, sweating, still unconscious. Apollo grit his teeth and looked up. He turned to his other allies, who also looked up and turned to the trap door.

"Did you guys hear that?" Apollo asked.

"Sure did...What was it?" Elea responded.

Alban grunted. He exhaled as he thought of the only person it really could be.

"No, No..."

Airi was in her room, fixing her hair. She sighed as she looked herself in the mirror.

"I don't want to go through with this...I..."

She suddenly spiked up from her seat, hearing the cry. She looked around, her eyes full of concern and alarm.

"W-What the?! Uh...Huh?! What was that?!"

Yuko stood before Emora, his face pursed with anger. He dropped his Kanabo and clenched his fists.

"How?! How is it possible!? I don't get it...I don't get it!"

Emora panted as she stopped yelling. She swallowed her saliva and continued panting, her stance weary, but able. Her legs were bent, her back slouched forward. Her arms at her sides, limp.

The Shugoki pressed his hand against his face; he shook his head, cringing.

"It's impossible...It's not human! It's not possible! You shouldn't be able to stand! You have no stamina left! How are you still standing before me!?" Yuko yelled.

Emora slowly began to grin.

"I'm not doing this just for myself. I'm not doing this so you don't complete your mission. I'm doing this...I'm still standing because the amount of determination and passion I have within me fuels my heart, body, and soul to keep on moving forward. I have people who need me...I have people who trust in me, who believe in me, who look up to me! I care about those people...I love those people."

Emora paused, and spit out a small amount of saliva.

"I fight for them. I fight to protect them, to live with them, to be amongst them. I barely do anything for myself. The entire reason I'm here is for the daughter of Atsuto and Airina Hakushi, who's the only person I've ever truly loved, romantically speaking. She's the girl of my dreams...And no one can replace her. I can't live without her by my side...Without that warm feeling next to me. I'm here to save her...I'm here to tell her that I want and need her! I'm not here because I want to cause trouble! I'm here because I'm on a mission that I don't plan to fail!"

Yuko opened his mouth wide and released a roar of fury. He charged forward, picked Emora up by the throat, and pinned her to a tree.

"Nonsense! That has nothing to do with one's physical ability! How...How can you still stand and fight, even after being beaten down so many times, Emora?!" The Shugoki yelled.

Emora grabbed onto Yuko's hand firmly, her voice tight and suppressed. She began to laugh quietly, gagging occasionally, struggling to breathe.

"You're wrong. It has a lot to do with it. You don't care for your brides; you just want to get back to them so they can fan you more and feed you more grapes. I'm not here...Just because of Airi anymore. My cause is much bigger now. Daigo Kaneko has killed the Hakushi's and tore the Urutora Clan down entirely. I'm...I'm not letting that happen! Daigo will be nothing but a tyrant over the Myre; he's unworthy of being the Supreme Emperor of the Dawn Empire! I'll avenge the Hakushi's, I'll restore the Urutora Clan, I'll destroy Daigo, I'll destroy the Seinaru Clan, I'll save the Myre, and I'll give let Dawn Empire choose their own rulers, people who are actually capable of being the Supreme Emperor and Empress of the Samurai People!"

Yuko shuddered and looked up at the Warden, who had her mouth open and eyes narrowed, trying to breathe in his tight grasp.

"You really mean that?" The Shugoki asked.

Emora whimpered quietly, her breathing was tight and struggled. "O-Of course I do...I mean everything I say...Why would I lie about that...?"

Yuko huffed and shook his head. "That's the problem with people that mean everything they say. They think everyone else means everything too. You're pure-hearted, Knight...But in this world...Having a heart of gold can get you killed."

The Warden's eyes widened. She shook her head, tears escaping her eyes and dribbling down her cheeks.

"I don't care! I want to do what's right, even if it'll get me killed! I value the lives of others over my own...That's just who I am! And if you don't like that...Then go to hell!" Emora thrashed and flailed.

Yuko had had enough. He didn't want to hear any more of Emora's words. He tightened his grip on the Warden's throat. Emora gagged and choked. Her eyes darted around, looking for some way to escape. Her eyes landed on her final hope.

She spotted, to her far right, a tree whose root was large and rough. The root dug into the ground and intertwined with another large tree's root. Knowing that people, more importantly, infiltrators, would have to jump over this inconvenience, a small bag was placed right before the roots, rope tied tightly to the trees as a tripwire. Inside the small bag: Deadly mushrooms with a toxin strong enough to kill within seconds if one breathes in too much.

"That's it! Tgh...Time to end this!"

Emora lifted her leg up, and with the last ounce, ultimately final drop of stamina and energy she had in her, she released a powerful kick into Yuko's stomach.

The Shugoki let out a grunt of pain as he let go of the Warden's neck, and doubled over in pain.

Emora slid down the tree and fell onto her side. She gasped for air, breathing desperately and rapidly. She scrambled on all fours towards the large roots she spotted. She could hear Yuko already stomping after her.

"Ngh! Gah! N-No! Come on...Come on!"

The Shugoki was mere feet away. "COME BACK HERE!"

Emora grit her teeth and prepared her arms.

"Come...ON!"

She launched herself forward and rolled on her side until she stopped. Her body jabbed into the large roots as she landed right on the other side of the tripwire.

Yuko lost patience and ran forward, yelling out with fatigue. "Damn it! Just come here! NOW!"

As he rushed forward, his ankle triggered the tripwire. As the Shugoki stepped over the large roots and raised his foot to stomp down on Emora, a large cloud of poison erupted into the air from the bag.

Emora shut her eyes and slapped both of her hands over her nose and mouth. She began to cry as she tried to scramble away on her elbows, away from the poison.

"Hah! HAH! Tgh—Ahh! Ah...H-Hah...Oh..."

The Warden turned around to see Yuko stumbling around, holding his throat. Foam spilled from his mouth, his eyes turned bloodshot red, his throat and face purple with a lack of air. His entire body was covered in his now obvious black veins. He reached out to Emora, gagging, stumbling forward.

"Ggh...Kgh...Tgha...Auh...Ouh..."

Emora shuffled back on all fours, covering her mouth, her eyes wide with terror.

"K-Kni...Ght...Tah..."

The Warden watched as Yuko collapsed onto the ground, completely motionless. Emora slowly got back onto her feet and stumbled over to a tree. She coughed a few times before painfully throwing up. A disgusting looking mixture of blood and regular vomit.

"Oh...Ah...Ugh.."

The Warden walked forward and around Yuko's body, still covering her nose and mouth. She bent down and picked up her sword. She straightened her back, cracked her neck, and stretched her arms and legs. She breathed deeply, trying to recover her stamina. She turned back to the Shugoki, sighing.

"Never had I ever felt so numb. I'll be sure to remember this pain...And let it activate, and harden me."

Emora put her sword on her back and walked forward a few steps. She came across a thick bunch of trees; a small bush full of blackberries lay in front of her. The shadows overhead made the Warden feel even more tired. Her drained body longed for rest, her heart begged for positivity and happiness.

The Warden put her hand on her heart and exhaled. She looked up at the sky through the thick leaves of the trees and saw the bright glow of the sun up in the center of the sky. It was midday, a few hours away from sundown, where Airi and Daigo were due for the joining ceremony.

Emora let out a small moan as she gave in entirely. She fell forward into the bush, its weak branches shattering under her weight. She lay in the fresh leaves and cool shade knocked unconscious by her extortionate exhaustion.


And...That's it. Holy crap, that was a hell of a fight scene.

I figured that since the Kensei fight was so short, that I make up for it by making the Shugoki fight a bit longer. When I say 'a bit longer' I really mean really long. Hope this made up for it, and I hope you liked the fight scene! As well as the other interesting developments that took place.