The following day, the group saw Rowan kept under constant watch.
"What's happened to him?" Kokoro asked.
"I've seen this sort of disease before. If it's not treated right away, it's fatal." Sakura said.
"We have hurry and gather herbs, then." Ross said.
"There's just one problem. The herbs we need are inside those forts." Hinoka said pointing to the nearby forts where Hoshidan troops were occupying them along with a woman with a spear. "Wait...that's Oboro. That means these forces are with our brother Takumi."
"And there's no doubt he's assuming you and Sakura got kidnapped. Guess we'll have to fight this out." Mayumi said.
"We need to deal with Oboro first. She's likely leading a majority of the forces." Hinoka said.
"She's wielding a spear, so axe-wielders will work well against her." David said.
"You sure you don't want to face her yourself?" Shiozaki said.
"I'm a sword-wielder. I don't stand a chance against her." David said.
"Then it falls to me to handle this Oboro." Frederick said.
"Frederick, Presea, Ross… Yeah, you three have the best shot. Plus, Yaoyorozu if she can use her Creative Quirk to make an axe." Sectonia said.
"Yes. Though I'm much more used to making polearms. But...we would be an even match." Yaoyorozu said.
"Fine with us. Just stop Oboro." Hinoka said as the four marched off towards one of the forts where Oboro awaited as she spun her spear.
"You wanna know if I'm ready for this?" she asked. "I wanna know if you are!"
Warrior of Hoshido
Spear Fighter
Oboro
"Nothing personal. We need to search those forts." Ross said.
"Sorry...but I cannot disobey Lord Takumi!" Oboro said.
"Is that so?" Yaoyorozu said making a polearm with her quirk. "Search the forts. I'll try and keep her busy."
"Alright. We're counting on you!" Presea said as they split up.
"You seem to be skilled with a polearm." Oboro said as the two circled one another.
"I have a mastery over bojutsu. I've only fought in during that one incident...I won't get anywhere unless I fight strong opponents like you." Yaoyorozu said.
"Fine. So be it." Oboro said as the two of them clashed weapons with one another as they fought across the fort, spear clashing with staff as neither woman was giving an inch before Yaoyorozu used her polearm to trip up Oboro from underneath as well as unarmed her.
"It looks as though I win.' Yaoyorozu said before seeing the herbs. "And with a bonus as well." she said collecting the herbs before the other three returned.
"It seems your endeavor was successful, Lady Yaoyorozu?" Frederick asked.
"Very." she said. "You have the herbs?"
"Yes. We should get them to Rowan right away." Presea said.
"Yes. Though now that the main commander is out...I don't think it will be long before Takumi comes out himself." Yaoyorozu said.
"According to Sakura and Hinoka, Takumi is a skilled archer. We'll have a hard time dealing with someone with him." Presea said.
"But nonetheless, we must defeat him in order to clear up this misunderstanding." Ross said.
"I will return to the base with Frederick and the herbs. We entrust defeating Takumi to the two of you." Yaoyorozu said.
"You can count on us, Ma'am." Ross said.
"We will handle the job." Presea said as the two marched off deep into enemy territory before encountering Takumi.
"So...two of my sisters' kidnappers have come to me it seems." said a young man in archer's clothing with his gray hair in a ponytail.
Prince of Hoshido
Archer
Takumi
"We have no choice but to fight." Ross said.
"Try as you might. Though know that mercy is for the weak. And you two...you're nothing more than bullseyes." Takumi said drawing an arrow and firing it as it swiftly moved between the two hitting a falling leaf.
"He's serious. We can't let him get an advantage on us, Presea." Ross said.
"Understood. We mustn't let down our guard." Presea said.
Takumi fired arrow after arrow from Fujin Yumi, raining down upon Presea and Ross. "You will not escape!"
"Presea...you gotta do something! I'm pinned!" Ross said spinning his ax to keep the arrows from hitting him.
Presea rushed to Takumi. "Beast!" Presea released a force that resembled a lion's head, knocking Takumi down.
Takumi quickly shielded with his bow as he was knocked back. "What sort of power is this?" Takumi asked himself. "I'm starting to think you all aren't ordinary thieves."
"Well, at least he's right about us not being ordinary." Ross said.
Presea charges her axe with Earth energy and slams it on the ground. "Mass Devastation!" Presea called as a powerful force staggered Takumi.
"Ugh...I will not go down like…" Takumi said before Ross grabbed him. "Hey! Let me go!" Takumi said struggling to get free.
"Just calm down. A friend of ours is stricken with a terrible illness. We needed the herbs in order to cure him." Ross said. "Ugh...he still keeps moving and won't listen."
"Ross...release now!" a voice shouted as Ross did so as a rope was lassoed around Takumi making it impossible for him to move. At the end of the rope was Yaoyorozu. "There...I can say that we've defeated your army."
"Grrr. Fine. I submit." Takumi said.
"The medicine is complete and Rowan is resting for now. These efforts would not have been possible without the two of you." Yaoyorozu said.
"You're very welcome, miss." Ross said. "Though, I'd wish he laid off the arrows. I'm not some wild boar that can just be hunted."
"I think that's already been established." Takumi said.
"Why do you think we're tying him up?" Yaoyorozu said as she dragged him off to the base.
"Seems like we're making progress so far." Presea said. "Besides the accusations of kidnapping, of course."
"They're royalty. A case like that is a very big deal." Ross said.
"Yes. From what Jexi said, the Hoshido Royal Family is two princesses and two princes. And that would only leave the High Prince, Ryoma." Yaoyorozu said.
"And since he is the leader of the Hoshidan Army, he'll no doubt be swamped with enemies." Ross said.
"Then we have no time to waste." Presea said.
"We can't rush into battle until Rowan recovers. After he heals, we can make way to the Hoshidan Army." Yaoyorozu said.
"Of course. He is the reason we went through this after all.: Presea said.
"I have high hopes that he'll recover soon." Ross said.
"All we can do is wait." Presea said. "I just hope we don't have too hard a challenge meeting with Hoshido."
