Hey everyone, it's me Hide Shinyama.
It has been about a month and a half since the last chapter release. The exams were tough and the paper, too. But I am glad to be over them for now. Hopefully, I passed them.
Anyway, on to the chapter.
I have to note that this chapter will not be dealing with Issei and Kiba as they descend down into the lair of the Fallen Angels.
Rather, it is about Sanma and the long-awaited battle between him and the Amazons. Everything related to Sanma has been building up to this chapter.
How will the war turn out? Who will win?
Find out in…
Chapter 64 – Sanma's War
15th of November, Sunday, 3:35 am – On the Streets of Tokyo
Darkness covered the sky of Tokyo in the very early morning. Moreover, the streets were silent with nothing to be heard in the night – at least that would normally be the case.
This time, however, the streets were filled with the sounds of heavy footsteps of fierce warrior pandas with Chinese Amazons in their armoured battledress marching forward with boldness and determination. Flying Rocs with Amazons riding were also heard swooping through the air, giving whomever was viewing this scene as if one were in a nightmare.
The Amazons were not the only ones who appeared on the streets at night. So, too, did the special forces of the police with their guns out. They stood in front of them in a line, blocking the road, while also occupying the nearby buildings and aiming at the Amazons with their guns from the windows.
„This is the police! Surrender now or we will open fire!" came the ultimatum from one of them from a loudspeaker.
The Amazons were uncowed and with a hand gesture of Elder Colon, the Amazons moved to attack the special forces with their swords, bows and spears.
[BANG!] [BANG!] [BANG!]
Many of the Amazons fell after being struck by bullets with wounds everywhere. However, the Amazons came prepared. As the special forces continued shooting, some of the Amazons led by Cat Fu ambushed the police special forces from behind.
„WHAT!?" „AGH!" „UGH!" „KEUK!"
The sound of special forces crying out their last as they were slaughtered was heard in the streets. Even the policemen in the buildings were not spared. The Amazons on the Rocs were able to shoot them dead with their arrows.
The Amazons had lost about a hundred of their warriors and a few pandas, while the police special forces either retreated or lay there dead and injured. Among the injured was the commander of the special police forces. But he and all the other injured men…
„GACK!" „KEUK!" „ARGH!" „WAGH!"
…were mercilessly slaughtered by the Amazons. The only ones who survived were those that managed to escape.
Aftzer the battle, the Amazons paid their respects to their fallen comrades before moving on. While they had lost a significant number if their warriors in previous skirmishes, in this battle they suffered their greatest losses because of it being urban combat instead of in a natural environment.
Cat Fu looked back at those who had died. Thoughts came to her mind. Was this really worth it? Losing so many of their comrades just to avenge their honor of having the Neko Neko Restaurant destroyed by killing Issei Hyoudou? Of course, Cat Fu knew there was another reason why the Amazons were willing to march all the way from China.
But Cat Fu could not help but feel… conflicted about it. Nevertheless, she intended to fulfill her duty as a member of the Chinese Amazons. And she intended on fulfilling it to the end.
15th of November, Sunday, 3:45 am – On the Streets of Tokyo
Sanma was sitting on the roof of the Tengu Residence. He could not help but think back to when Issei was departing to head out and what he said.
Flashback
„I'm really sorry… if it wasn't for me the Amazons would not be coming down to kill you guys…" Issei said to Sanma.
„It ain't a problem… In fact, I have ta thank ya," Sanma said to Issei.
„Huh? How come?" Issei wondered.
„'Cuz this problem… and my love web relationship dilemna… I had to deal with one way or the other… It just came sooner than planned," Sanma explained.
„But still…" Issei tried to argue.
„Also, thanks to ya," Sanma continued. „I met Shinyama, yer landlord. If it wasn't for Shinyama, I would never be able to learn Hokuto Shinken and forge my own path. There's nothing to apologize for."
Issei smiled. „Thanks man. I needed that."
„Yeah, but there's one thing I need ya to do," Sanma told Issei.
„What?" Issei asked Sanma.
„Just make sure ta come back alive… for all of us," Sanma requested.
Issei grinned. „Just make sure you stay alive, too."
Flashback end
Sanma sighed to himself.
„Of course, I won't die so easily…" Sanma said to himself.
And then he picked up something with his ears. It was the sound of the marching of people and metal from weapons and armors.
Sanma knew right away.
They were here.
Using his smartphone, he called Motohama.
„They're here. Get ready," Sanma warned him.
„Roger. Commencing the attack plan as laid out by Shinyama on my signal," Motohama answered.
„Understood," Sanma replied and headed into the house.
Right now, a unit of about two hundred Amazons had arrived near the Tengu dojo.
The Amazons were being led by fours elders, one of them being Elder Colon.
Elder Colon gave a look towards the Tengu dojo and pointed at it.
„This is the place," Colon pointed out.
The other elders nodded and gave the order to halt their column. One of them gave a speech to the Amazons.
„This is it. This is our destination. It is time to avenge our honor and destroy this threat known as the Sekiryuutei, Issei Hyoudou. Also, this battle is to make the warrior known as Sanma Raotome fulfill his honor to wed Cat Fu, our sister, into our tribe," the elder began her speech.
Indeed. Forcing Sanma to marry Cat Fu was the other reason why the Amzons came to the Tengu Residence. Although Cat Fu had long wanted to marry her beloved Airen, she could not help but feel that the way they were doing it was… wrong.
Mouse, on the other had, was unhappy for another reason. He was the one who wanted to marry Cat Fu and Sanma was in his way. Although he had pleaded and begged the elders to let him Cat Fu, they would always reject his request.
Elder Colon was smiling to herself. Finally, the day had come. Sanma had always dodged the question on whether he would choose Cat Fu or not, while flirting with other women. This time, though, he would have no way out. He would either marry Cat Fu or be held as a slave for life.
„Now, onward! The final battle awaits us! We shall succeed or die trying!" the elder declared.
„„„YES! FULFILL THE ORDER! FULFILL OUR HONOR! BLESS THE UNION OF CAT FU AND SANMA RAOTOME! DEATH TO ISSEI HYOUDOU, THE SEKIRYUUTEI! LEAVE HIM WITHOUT A BURIAL PLACE!""" the Amazons shouted in unison.
Just as they had finished doing so, they noticed something coming from above them.
(((SQUISH!)))
With a loud squelching sound, the Amazons found themselves being hit by purple gooey matter. Worse, they were stuck and could not move because of it. Some oft he warrior pandas were caught in it as well.
„What is this!?"
„Attack from above!"
They looked up and saw a helicopter flying above them. And Matsuda was in it.
„You aren't going to do anything to anyone! Not on my watch!" Matsuda called out to the Amazons below.
{Aerial enemies approaching} Phoebe warned Matsuda.
„Yikes! I hope that worked! The attack has been carried out. The rest is up to you, guys!" Matsuda said, as he saw the Rocs approach him from behind.
Matsuda made his getaway, as the Rocs were pursuing him.
Meanwhile, the Amazons down below were trying to free themselves and each other from the gooey matter. And while they were doing so, some of the Amazons broke down the gate.
[CRASH!]
After they broke down the gate, some flying bandanas and frisbee plates hit the Amazons with full force.
„UGH!" „AGH!" „KYA!"
The Amazons looked to the Tengu Residence where the projectiles were coming from. There they saw Ukyu and Ryuga throwing said projectiles in a rapid fashion.
„Move forward!" Elder Colon ordered the Amazons. „We can overwhelm them with our numbers!"
Following her orders, the Amazons charged forward with a roar. As they rushed forward some were being knocked down by the various projectiles, but others remained unscathed.
Seeing that they were coming closer, Ukyu and Ryuga stopped throwing frisbee plates and bandanas and took out their weapons (which were a large spatula and an umbrella respectively).
„You think you can keep up with me?" Ryuga asked Ukyu challengingly.
„I'm a martial artist, too! Don't underestimate me just because I'm a girl," Ukyu answered.
„Then get ready…" Ryuga told her.
„Not yet…" Motohama spoke up as he came up right beside them.
Motohama had his special gloves on his arms and pressed a button on it.
[BOOM!] [BOOM!] [BOOM!]
„„„AAAAAAAAAAAGH!""" the Amazons screamed in unison as explosions suddenly engulfed them, killing them instantly.
Several dozens of them were killed or maimed by the mines, leaving them either blown into pieces or groaning in pain on the ground.
Ryuga and Ukyu looked at the gruesome scene before them before turning to Motohama in shock.
„Bombs!?" Ukyu exclaimed.
„You can do that!?" Ryuga voiced in surprised.
„Yeah…" Motohama answered grimacing in unease at seeing people being blown into pieces with his own eyes. „I never thought the time would come when I have to use them like this…"
„How… where did you get them from!?" Ukyu demanded still shocked that Motohama of all people was even capable of doing this.
„How? Well it happened not long after the time Issei went to fight those X-parasites in Hotel Entertainment…" Motohama recounted as he remembered how he got this ability to begin with.
Flashback
„What is this?" Motohama asked Issei as he looked at the container in his arms.
„No idea. I got it when Ddraig and I were dealing with those X-parasites on their home planet. When I found this I heard something along the lines of ‚Bombs obatained' or something like that…" Issei recounted. „And since I had no use of it, I thought it might be better off with you."
Motohama stared at the container before summoning his special gloves and…
Flashback end
„After that I absorbed that thing and I got this ability to throw or plant bombs. I tested those bombs some time earlier and we decided to only use it when things turn really bad… like now…" Motohama finished his tale.
„Bloody heck…" Ryuga could only remark in astonishment.
Ukyu was about to say something when she suddenly noticed that the Amazon's state of affairs. The explosions left them shocked and stunned for the moment, yet they had mustered the courage to go forward.
„GO! Those must have been all the explosives there is! Storm the house!" an elder ordered, leading the Amazons to rush forward.
„Here they come!" Ukyu said as she readied her weapon.
„Can you keep up?" Ryuga asked Motohama.
„I think I'll do as much as I can…" Motohama said with a nervous sweat.
Even though he had learned some martial arts, it was far from ideal and certainly not enough to deal with the Amazons.
And so, Motohama threw some more bombs towards the advancing Amazons trying to break inside the house, while Ryuga and Ukyu fought off the Amazons with their weapons. They either managed to knock them down or blow them to bits in a gruesome bloody sight.
At first, the three of them managed to hold them off just fine. However, more and more Amazons rushed forward. Also, some of them started to use their arrows and fire at Motohama, making the latter unable to throw his bombs.
„WHOA! WAAAAH!" Motohama yelled, as he ducked and dodged.
Suddenly, some arrows came flying towards his face, only for Ryuga's umbrella to fend them off.
„Go back down! It seems we can only rely on Sanma now!" Ukyu told Motohama, while intercepting an Amazon with a spear.
„Understood!" Motohama replied and headed into the house quickly.
Motohama rushed down to the dojo, as he heard the sound of glass breaking. The Amazons were breaking the windows to get in.
Ryuga and Ukyu were working as a team to either beat down the Amazons or protect each other's backs from sneak attacks. But even those efforts could not ward off the persistent onslaught.
„RROAARRRR!"
Suddenly, one of the warrior pandas got on the roof and was about to strike them with its paw.
„MOVE!" Ryuga called out to Ukyu.
Ukyu and Ryuga quickly did so, leaving the panda to make a hole into the roof. In doing so, the panda got stuck, giving Ryuga the chance to land a blow to it with his fist, while Ukyu took out the two Amazons riding upon the panda with some frisbee plates.
Just then, an Amazon elder came jumped unto the roof and rushed at them with her staff.
Ryuga and Ukyu barely managed to block her blow before being sent flying back. They landed on their feet, but their arms felt the ringing of the blow. It was heavy, as expected of a martial arts grandmaster. Also, the two of them saw that the Amazons on the roof were advancing towards them- They were gaining the upper hand over them.
„Let's retreat…" Ukyu said to Ryuga.
„Yeah…" Ryuga replied frustrated.
Although Ryuga and Ukyu had managed to beat down dozens of enemies, they were outnumbered. Plus, their enemies were no pushovers, especially with their elders around.
Retreat was their only option.
They both dove down the hatch of the roof and shut it behind them, leading the Amazons to try to break in the hatch with their weapons.
While on their way down, they saw that some Amazons were lying unconscious being immobilized and covered by dark glue. It looked like Motohama was fighting the Amazons even within the house.
Just then, they saw some Amazons try to break into the living room with their weapons. The door was already partly smashed in. Before the Amazons even noticed, Ryuga and Ukyu promptly knocked them out from behind.
„Ryuga? Ukyu? Is that you guys?" Motohama asked them from within the living room.
„Yeah, it's us. Let us in!" Ryuga said to Motohama.
„What about the Amazons?" Motohama asked them.
„They're too many. We cannot beat them!" Ukyu answered just as the sound of crashing was heard from above.
„Quickly!" Ukyu urged Motohama, which Motohama promtly responded to by opening the broken door.
As the first Amazons came towards the door, Motohama created huge globs of glue that he threw at the Amazons, freezing them. Ryuga and Ukyu swiftly knocked them out.
But more Amazons came rushing into the house followed by the elder from earlier. Ryuga and Ukyu fought them off as well as they could, but this time…
„HNGH!" „UGH!"
…the Amazons got lucky and grazed Ukyu with a sword right below her neck with a horizontal slash. Ryuga got nicked with a spear at his side. Motohama threw a bomb at them, not caring about causing damage to the house (their lives were on the line after all).
[BOOM!]
The explosion ripped the offending Amazons into bloody pieces along with their already downed comrades, leaving the hallway in a burnt mess.
„Guys! Are you alright!?" Motohama asked concerned.
Though they could still fight, their injuries and the duration of the battle had weakened them significantly. This made the three teens retreat back into the living room.
Inside the living room, Nakane, Hibiki, Soun and Kasumi were huddling together in fear. Also with them were Gunma Raotome and Grandmaster Hentai, who were lying there helplessly due to the injuries caused by Shinyama's Hokuto Shinken. And lastly, there was Sanma who was looking towards the advancing Amazons with a firm gaze. Everyone understood what this meant.
Sanma was their last hope.
Just as the Amazon elder stepped into the living room with Amazon warrior reinforcements, they suddenly halted upon seeing Sanma.
„It's you! Sanma Raotome!" the elder exclaimed.
The other Amazons stayed where they were, their weapons ready in case more fighting were to break out.
„Yeah, it's me," Sanma said with a firm expression.
„You have long disgraced our tribe by refusing to fulfill your honor to marry Cat Fu! Now you will do so or die!" the Amazon declared triumphantly.
That threat sent chills down the spines oft he non-martial artists in the room along with Nakane and Motohama who were not used to hearing such threats. Ryuga and Ukyu managed to stay calm, thoguh they themselves were a bit nervous about their situation. Soun stood up and went in front of his family to protect them. Though even he was shivering while doing so.
Sanma only frowned a bit and got into a fighting stance until he saw Cat Fu enter the room with the Mouse and Elder Colon.
Their eyes both met, and some surprise could be seen on their faces. But that only lasted for a moment for they looked away from each other with some sadness in their eyes. None of them said a word.
Meanwhile, the other elders and Amazon warriors entered the room while surrounding the Tengu family and their friends. Elder Colon proceeded to look around the room for everyone present, then turned to Cat Fu.
„Is Issei Hyoudou in this room?" she asked her granddaughter.
„No, grandmother. He is not here," Cat Fu replied.
Having heard that. Elder Colon looked at the residents in the room.
„Where is Issei Hyoudou, the Sekiryuutei?" Colon demanded.
„He's not here! He's gone on an errand," Sanma answered her.
One of the elders scoffed at the answer. „Do you take me for a fool, boy? What kind of errand could someone have in the middle of the night?"
„Do not lie to us, Sanma Raotome!" Elder Colon said to Sanma harshly. „Where is he hiding?"
Sanma sighed at this.
„If ya really wanna hear where he is. Ya gotta beat me!" Sanma told them.
None of the Amazons spoke a word in response. Instead, some of them made suspicious movements towards Kasumi and Hibiki. This was noticed by Soun who promptly stepped in between them and the Amazons.
„You will not touch my baby girls!" Soun, though being a rather timid man, declared with as much courage as he could.
„Tch!" Ryuga clicked his tongue in frustration at the situation.
„They're trying to use them as hostages!" Ukyu exclaimed, as she, Ryuga and Motohama surrounded the others to protect them.
„Well observed," Elder Colon remarked amused. „So, what will you do now? Will you tell us the location of Issei Hyoudou and fulfill your duty and marry Cat Fu? Or perhaps…"
She left the answer hanging in the air, but the flashing swords and spears oft the Amazons surrounding them made it clear what would happen should Sanma refuse to heed their demands.
Sanma closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
Everyone looked at Sanma with bated breath, anticipating his answer that may cause the lives and deaths of those around him.
Sanma opened his eyes upon finding his answer.
„I've decided… I will fight!" Sanma declared with detemination.
The aura in the air became hostile for the Amazons saw that their demands have been rejected.
„Foolish boy… I had hoped you would be smarter than this…" Elder Colon shook her head, as another elder gave the order to seize the Tengu family.
Immediately, some of the Amazons rushed towards the Tengu family to seize them.
Ryuga and Ukyu sprung into action and were about to fight. Soun and Motohama were about to fight as well.
But Sanma was faster.
Sanma suddenly disappeared, then reappeared right in front of two Amazons who were close to touching Kasumi. Before any of them could take in the fact that Sanma was before them, Sanma grabbed their arms with both hands and...
[CRACK!] [CRACK!] „ARGH!" „GUAH!"
…broke their wrists. The two Amazons screamed in pain, as they fell clutching their arms in pain.
This left the other Amazons stunned, but by then Sanma had made his next move. He took a deep breath, charged his chi and then…
„Oh, no! You don't!" Elder Colon cried out along with the other three Elders who tried to rush at Sanma for they realized what Sanma was going to do.
…With a punch straight into the air, he unleashed the strongest move he had in his arsenal (prior to learning Hokuto Shinken).
„HIRYU SHOTEN HA!" Sanma cried out.
(((BOOM!)))
„GAAH!" „KYAA!" „WAAH!" „HEY, WATCH IT!" „WOOAAH!" „GAAH!"
A huge blast of air burst the walls of the house away, accompanied by shouts from friends and foes alike as they were blown away. Bricks, debris, furniture and dust were flying around everywhere as the tornado created by Sanma blew everything away.
It was because of the Hiryu Shoten Ha's immense power that led it to be known as the most powerful attack in the Art of the School of Randomness. This attack could only be used by two people. And those were Sanma and Grandmaster Hentai. Sanma's father and Soun, though martial masters themselves, were never able to learn it.
After the wind had subsided, the Amazons and Sanma's family and friends were lying on the ground groaning pain. Soun was lying right beside his daughters Kasumi and Nabiki, both of whom were unconscious from the blast. Soun himself struggled to sit up and when he did, he quickly attended to his daughters. Motohama, Ryuga, Nakane and Ukyu both scrambled up with Ryuga glaring at Sanma as the latter stood in front of them facing away from them.
„Hey, Sanma! Give us a heads up before you do something like that!" Ryuga scolded him, as he jumped up in anger.
Normally, Sanma would make a smart or rude response to Ryuga's words, but for whatever reason he seemed quiet. Too quiet.
„San-chan…?" Ukyu asked Sanma concerned.
Even Nakane and Motohama could not help but feel unnerved by his out of character behavior. What's more, they sensed a strong surge of chi surrounding him.
„Guys…?" Sanma broke the silence, while speaking calmly. „I want ya guys to get outta here…"
The others felt a chill down their spines with how cold Sanma said that. Ryuga did not like that tone of voice and spoke up.
„What? Playing the hero now!? You think I need your protection!? You think I'm weak!? Well, I don't need any…" Ryuga ranted, but Sanma cut him off.
„Get out of here! Right now!" Sanma said louder and firmly this time.
With the way Sanma spoke, all of Sanma's friends were even more intimidated. It was clear that he brooked no argument.
In fact, he seemed deadly serious.
None of them could see his eyes from behind. But the Amazons could, including Cat Fu.
„Airen…?" Cat Fu whispered to herself in surprise. She had never seen Sanma act so coldly before.
Hearing Sanma's tone, all of them complied and proceeded to get away from here.
„You better stay alive. Got it?" Ryuga told Sanma as he went to Nakane to check up on her.
„Yes, Sanma. Please… be careful…" Ukyu said to him as she helped Soun help up his daughters.
„Yeah…" Sanma simply replied as he watched the Amazons before him, already on their feet, set up a battle formation on the destroyed yard where the Tengu dojo once stood. All of the Amazons had their weapons out and even the warrior pandas were fletching their teeth at Sanma.
Yet, Sanma remained undeterred. He looked behind him to see his friends break through the lines of the Amazons.
[BOOM!] [BOOM!]
„ARGH!" „AH!"
Motohama was a real lifesaver with those bombs of his. And so, Motohama and the others managed to escape unharmed. Some of the Amazons tried to pursue them but Ryuga and Ukyu fought them off bravely. Even his vulnerable pops and grandmaster Hentai were accounted for, both oft hem being carried by Soun.
With that, Sanma could be assured that none of them would come to harm.
Now, all that was left was to fight the Amazons themselves.
Sanma had also seen Cat Fu pull her sword out and was ready to fight. He realized that this was moment of truth between the two of them.
„Your abilities and actions went really beyond what I had expected…" Elder Colon said, this time completely unamused and cautious of Sanma. „But your resistance is futile. We know all about the Art of Randomness along with its strengths and its weaknesses. So, surrender. This is your last chance."
Sanma's expression remained stoic and calm, despite being outnumbered by at least a hundred Amazons and several warrior pandas ready to kill.
„Do you not hear us? Answer us!" one of the elders demanded of Sanma.
At last, Sanma let out a reaction. He chuckled.
This unnerved some of the Amazons.
„What is so funny?" asked an Amazon warrior angrily.
„I was just thinking about something…" Sanma spoke to them and dropped the smile. „Y'all would be right if you had said this a few days ago."
Some of the Amazons reacted with puzzled expressions. What was he talking about?
„I really don't wanna do this, so I'll give y'all a chance. Get lost before I kill every single one of you," Sanma threatened them calmly.
Naturally, the Amazons did not react well to this.
„HOW DARE YOU REFUSE A TOAST ONLY TO DRINK IT AS A FORFEIT!?" one of the two Amazons whose arm had earlier been broken by Sanma.
„YOU DARE BELITTLE US! COURT DEATH!" shouted the other Amazon with a broken arm.
They swung their swords at him horizontally with their healthy arms, only for Sanma to dodge them by ducking below their swings and…
[CRACK!] [CRACK!] „ARGH!" „GUAH!"
…broke their other wrists by seizing them with his hands again, making them fall down in pain. Only this time, they were unable to bear the pain and fell unconscious.
Sanma looked around at the masses of Amazons staring at him with hostile looks.
„This is yer last chance. Get lost before I kill you all," Sanma declared seriously.
Sanma cleched his fists while doing so. The Amazons saw that negotiations were over.
„Break him! Make him a cripple, you archers!" one of the elders called out.
At this, two archers shot their arrows at Sanma with the intention to cripple him.
But Sanma caught both arrows between the fingers of his hands.
„Hokuto Shinken Ougi: Nishi Shinku Ha! (二指真空把 – Two-Finger Nil-Space Grasp)" Sanma announced the move.
„WHAT!?" „HOW!?" the two archers shouted in surprise.
Before could be said or done, Sanma tossed them back, making the arrows pierce an arm each of the archers.
„HRGH!" „Ugh…" both archers groaned and shed tears from the üain as they clutched their arms.
Seeing her comrades wallow on the ground in pain from what just had happened shocked Cat Fu. When did he learn such a technique? She had seen him fight many times before, sometimes even alongside him or against him. So, what was this Hokuto Shinken Nishi Shinku Ha? This was a technique she had never seen him use before. Did he learn some new trick from somewhere?
As for the Amazons, they were once again stunned from shock. The Amazons were talking amongst themselves.
„What was that?"
„Did he just catch those arrows with his fingers and throw them back?"
„Hokuto… Shinken…?"
„I have never heard of such a move… or martial arts for that matter!"
Their talk was interrupted by another elder.
„Enough with this cowardly hesitation! Attack him all together! He won't be able to defeat when we all go together!" the elder ordered them.
With that, the Amazons let out a battle cry and rushed forward.
„I warned y'all," Sanma said to them and took a stance. „Now, you all will face my new martial arts!"
The first to reach Sanma were those that attacked him from behind with their swords. Before the swords could reach him, he dodged sideways and jabbed one on the side of the head and punched another Amazon in the back of the neck. The attacks made them drop to the ground.
More Amazons with spears rushed from his left side intending to stab his waist. But Sanma sidestepped the spears and punched them in the stomach and knocked them back.
Three Amazons came right behind the two spear-wielding Amazons and swung their maces against him from above. But Sanma took the initiative and punched their stomachs with three swift strikes, knocking them out.
But Sanma had not time to rest for five Amazons came from his left and right with spears in their arms. But Sanma jumped over the spears before they could touch him and landed on one of the pandas. The warrior could not react in time as Sanma punched the Amazon off the panda. Using his position, Sanma pressed a pressure point on the side of its head which made the panda charge into the spear-wielding Amazons, knocking them over. He used the momentum to knock down several more of them.
„AGH!" „ARGH!" „GAH!"
About eight more of them had been run over by the panda.
„Airen…" Cat Fu said to herself, not moving to join the fight herself. „When were you so viscious?"
„Take down the panda!" an elder ordered the Amazons.
The panda was pierced with several spears and arrows making it slump down lifelessly. Sanma, on the other hand, managed to avoid the arrows and spears thrown at him and jumped on the face of one of the Amazons, knocking her out.
Two more Amazons swung their swords at Sanma, which Sanma ducked under. Sanma jabbed them in the ribs, knocking them down, followed by a punch to the head of the next closest Amazon, knocking her backward.
„Enough of this!" an elder cried before speedily trying to stab at Sanma with her spear from behind.
If it had been a few days ago, Sanma would have never reacted to such an attack in time and would have been taken out. But now, Sanma had ways to deal with an attack from a martial grandmaster.
„What?" Cat Fu voiced out. „Airen dodged elder?"
Indeed. Sanma barely dodged it by shifting his body sideways, earning him a small cut to the side. Sanma grunted as he drew blood but then suppressed the pain and swung a karate chop at the elder. The elder was fast and jumped backwards, giving the other Amazon warriors an opening. They threw their spears at Sanma, hoping to stab him from the front.
Luckily, Sanma still had other tricks up his sleeve. For this time, Sanma did not dodge. Instead, he made a stance, focused his chi to his arms, spun his arms around and then…
„Hokuto Shinken Ougi: Tensho Honretsu! (天将奔烈 – Celestial King's Assault)" Sanma yelled and shot out his arms towards the approaching spears.
Out of his hands came a huge fiery blast of chi, which knocked back not just the spears but all the Amazons in front of him. By that, not just those standing before him were taken out but even those far behind those Amazons, too! It was a powerful attack! However, it exhausted Sanma somewhat.
„So strong, Airen…" Cat Fu said with some sadness and some pride in her voice.
She was proud that the person she had chosen as her husband was so strong. But she was also sad that he had refused her and her tribe. Worse, he was using his martial skills against them and hurtnig many of her clan sisters.
„Strong as he may be, that boy will never take down an elder!" Colon declared confidently.
Noticing Sanma's fatigue, the elder with the spear used this chance to attack him from behind again. But Sanma noticed this and calmed down his breathing. And just as the spear was about to hit him, Sanma vanished.
„What!?" the elder exclaimed as she looked around for Sanma.
She did not need long to find him for Sanma had suddenly multiplied and his clones were surrounding her, while moving sideways. And then, he lashed out, striking her seven blind spots on her body.
„GUAK!" the elder vomited blood, as she fell on her knees from the blows.
„Hokuto Shinken Ougi – Shichisei Tenshin! (七星点心 – Seven Star Point Spirit)," Sanma called out the attack.
„Airen took down an elder?" Cat Fu voiced in surprise this time for taking down an elder was an impossible feat for someone as young as herself and Sanma. „And what is this Hokuto Shinken?"
„I don't know… but this is not looking good…" Mouse said with chattering teeth and trembling legs.
Mouse had not expected the fight to last this long and with this many losses on their side.
„It can't be…" Elder Colon voiced in shock, too.
The other Amazons could not help but watch in fear and horror at the various Sanma clones that had surrounded them while moving in such a bizarre way.
„Strike his clones!" the injured elder ordered them.
„Yes, he has to be hiding among them!" an elder wielding the sword reasoned.
With that, all the Amazons threw their spears and arrows at the clones or swung their swords at Sanma or tried to maul him with their pandas. But none of the clones were affected by the attacks. The clones then proceeded to move forward and strike the masses of Amazons with their fists.
„GAKH!" „GUAKH!" „KEUK!" „AGH!" „UGH!" „BUH!" „EAGH!"
About thirty Amazons fell to the blows of Sanma's Shichisei Tenshin as Sanma reappeared without his clones, breathing heavily.
„GROAR!" „ROAR!" „RAAAAGH!" three pandas approached Sanma with a fury.
„GET HIM!"
„HE MUST BE EXHAUSTED NOW! KILL HIM!"
„DIE!"
About twenty Amazons rushed along the pandas to kill the exhausted Sanma.
As for Sanma, he may have been tired – but he could still fight some more.
Sanma rushed forward and moved past them while striking them at certain parts of their bodies, all while not stopping.
„HRGH! UGH!" Sanma grunted as he sustained several small cuts across his body (especially at his torso).
Still, Sanma kept on as he managed to bypass all his opponents by reaching the other end of the yard.
„Hokuto Shinken Ougi: Hyappō Zan! (百方斬 – Every-Way Beheading)," Sanma shouted out his attack.
Unfortunately, at the end of the yard the elder with the sword was standing there. Sanma widened his eyes in surprise for he did not see her coming.
„You're coming directly to me? How foolish!" the elder cackled, as she tried to stab Sanma through the chest.
Sanma managed to react just in time to carry out an attack of his own.
He grinded to a halt to take a deep breath while drawing his arms back in what would normally be seen in a horse stance.
„Hokuto Shinken Ougi: Tenha Kassatsu! (天破活殺 – Heaven Splitting Life or Death)," Sanma shouted as he threw his arms forward like he did with the Tensho Honretsu.
„GUAH!" the sword wielding elder coughed as seven chi blasts hit her like punches across her body and sent her flying into a tree.
Upon impact, the seven chi blasts formed bloody holes of the Great Dipper across her body and felling the tree behind her.
„GAKH!" the elder screamed as she slumped to the ground badly injured.
Now, Sanma was truly getting tired. He was breathing heavily and was leaning against a tree for support.
„He took down another elder!" Mouse said and was really scared now.
Cat Fu looked on with sadness. The Sanma she knew would have never resorted to using such lethal attacks. What had changed him?
„Sister! Are you alright!?" Elder Colon asked the elder with the sword, propping her up as she did.
The elder nodded and stood up on her own.
Seeing that she was fine and that all the Amazons Sanma had knocked down from his previous attacks were fine as well, Elder Colon turned to Sanma with a furious glare.
„You shall pay for your insolence by whipping and water torture, boy…" Colon said at Sanma.
„No, I won't. Also, as for that old hag…" Sanma said to her, as he stopped leaning against the tree to stand up. „She… and all the others I took down with special moves are already dead…"
„What!?" Elder Colon voiced in outrage.
Just then…
„Ugh! GUHHH!" the elder with the sword coughed and shook violently.
„Sister! What is wrong!?" Elder Colon asked her worried.
The elder tried to speak but her body would not let her. And after a few seconds of convulsing…
[Boom!]
…her body burst open, covering Colon with blood and guts.
„Elder!" Cat Fu called out in shock and horror.
„Wh-wh-what!?" Mouse teeth chattered in horror.
Elder Colon froze in horror at what she had just witnessed. Her dear sister… whom she had shared so much of her life with… had died…?
Unfortunately, she did not have time to process her thoughts for she saw out of the corner of the eyes that many oft he warriors were convulsing in pain, too.
„What is…?"
„What's wrong?"
„Help them!"
Cries of panic came from among the Amazons, only for what happened to the sword-wielding elder to happen again.
„Ghhh…" „AAAAAHHHH!" „GRRGH!" „ITAIYOU!" „AIYA!"
[Boom!] [Boom!] [Boom!] [Boom!] [Boom!] [Boom!] [Boom!] [Boom!] [Boom!]
Cries of pain were followed by the sight of dozens upon dozens of Amazons bursting into bloody pieces one after the other. Even the elder with the spear and some of the pandas suffered the same fate.
Silence reigned in the courtyard of´the Tengu residence. Even Sanma, who knew what was going to happen, could only look in awe upon the scene he had wrought.
After the last Amazon had exploded, the final tally could have been counted for all the Amazons who had died by Sanma's Hokuto Shinken. And that tally was 74 (not counting the pandas).
And if one were to look around, one could see that only about 40 Amazons were left.
It was truly and utterly a one-sided massacre in every sense of the word.
„Wha-wha-what… happened!?" one of the Amazons managed to speak out stuttering in horror.
„Why did our sisters explode?" asked another Amazon while trembling in fear.
„Was it his doing?" a third one asked while pointing at Sanma Raotome.
Everybody turned to look at Sanma, who was looking down in sadness and shame.
The shock of the Amazons turned into grief and fury. They yelled and screamed in rage.
„MURDERER!"
„CURSE YOU, SANMA RAOTOME!"
„TAKE VEANGEANCE FOR OUR FALLEN SISTERS!"
With that said, most the approximately 40 Amazons rushed at Sanma in full fury.
Normally, Amazon warriors like them would have stayed calm and organized even in the face of difficulties and losses (their previous skirmishes made that clear). But the Amazons had lost so many sisters already – something they had never experienced in their entire history. And to make matters worse, most of the dead in this battle were killed by one person with an unknown horrifying martial arts called Hokuto Shinken. Thus, any reason went out the window.
Elder Colon and the other remaining elder who was carrying a bow tried to stop them.
„DON'T!"
„YOU'RE NOT HIS MATCH!"
But the Amazon warriors did not listen. In addition, the only thing they were thinking was blood and revenge. On top of that, Sanma was cleary tired, so why would they not have a chance of killing him?
But Sanma was still far from out of the fight.
Sanma reeled his fist back and gathered an enormous amount of chi. All his muscles were bulging in his arm. Just as the first Amazon reached him and was about to hit him with her mace…
„Huh!?"
…she thought she saw Sanma's fist grow several times larger than herself as it came closer.
[BAM!]
(((BOOM!)))
„UGH!"
Sanma punched the Amazon right in the stomach and blew a hole through her torso, while creating a huge shockwave that shook the air.
„Gō no Ken! (剛の拳 Fist of Strength)," Sanma said the move out loud.
To add to that, all the Amazons right behind her were likewise blown back with a tremendous force. They, too, were either blown into pieces or were killed upon impact of them landing on the fences, the ground or even the neighbouring houses. Only few survived, though they were too injured to fight anymore.
Speaking of the neighbours…
All the neighbours had been awoken by the fight since the Amazons made their first charge on the house. At first, they wanted to get to their windows and tell those outside to be quiet. But then they saw the Amazons, their weapons and the ferocious pandas. Plus, the explosions and the fighting, along with bloody gore and death cowed them into just observing the battle with morbid interest. Things really turned for the worst when the Raotome residence exploded, making the neighbours take cover. Thankfully, none of them were harmed, though some of their houses suffered significant damage. And now, they had seen even more death and bloody gore thanks to the pig-tailed martial artist known as Sanma Raotome.
Those that knew Sanma had long witnessed his martial arts abilities and the chaos it would cause in their neighbourhood. But this… was completely different from what they were used to.
All they could do was watch in complete horror at the deadly force Sanma was using. This would haunt them for the rest of their lives.
Out of the 40 or so Amazons, only 17 had survived, 11 of which were too injured to do anything. That meant only six were left standing.
And these six were Cat Fu, Mouse, Elder Colon, the bow-wielding elder and two more identical-looking Amazons with spears named Ting-Ting and Tong-Tong (they were both the younger twin sisters of Cat Fu).
Ting-Ting and Tong-Tong were hugging each other in fear ever since the masses of their sisters blew up in the masses. They had completely lost their will to fight. They knew that they had no chance against Sanma Raotome.
Mouse was trembling, too, but unlike the twins, he managed to muster his will to fight.
Elder Colon and the bow-wielding elder were livid at the deaths of so many of their tribesmen. And given their long years of experience in life-and-death battles, they remained willing to fight.
Cat Fu was the only one who looked on in sadness. She was sad for losing all her sisters in battle and also sad that the one she loved was the one did all this.
„Airen… how did this happen?" Cat Fu asked Sanma in a soft whisper.
But Sanma did not hear her for he was doing his best trying to stand up. He had used so many powerful attacks in a span of minutes that he was truly exhausted. Also, he was injured from the cuts he had received. But Sanma knew he could not stop now. There were six more opponents left, two of which were elders. Sanma had to stand and fight – no matter what.
„Dear sister, I have a plan," the bow-wielding elder said to Elder Colon.
„What is it?" Elder Colon asked.
„It's this…" the bow-wielding elder whispered the plan to Colon to which Colon nodded in agreement to.
Sanma got ready. They were going to do something.
And then, the fight started.
The bow-wielding elder vanished, while Elder Colon readied her staff.
„I have changed my mind. Forget marrying our Cat Fu. I should have killed you the moment you met her," Colon said to Sanma.
Normally, Sanma would take rise out her threat and respond snarkily to her. But what was unusual for Sanma was how calm and somber he seemed.
„Leave. There is no need for you to die either," Sanma said to her.
Elder Colon gritted her teeth at this.
„I do not know where or how you learned such deadly shiatsu techniques, but do not think you are the only one who knows how to use them!" Elder Colon declared as she disappeared in a flash.
She reappeared behind him as Sanma managed to block her staff with a kick.
15th of November, Sunday, 3:55 am – Somewhere further away from the fight, Tokyo
„That really was close…" Matsuda panted, as he hid in a bush in a park in Tokyo somewhere.
Matsuda managed to escape from those birds and their warriors by landing in the nearby park, then shrinking the Chopping Board Type 2 and then go into hiding.
Thus far, the Amazons did not find him, but he could see they were hot on his tails.
And just before he could relax…
„There he is!" one of the Amazons shouted and pointed in his direction.
„Oh, crap!" Matsuda cursed and burst into a sprint.
The Amazons themselves had divided their forces into those that remained in the air and those that searched for him on the ground. Thus, they now proceeded to converge on him from the air and ground.
„No, no, no, no, no, no, no, NO!" Matsuda muttered in a panic.
Just when they reached him…
„UGH!" „AGH!" „OOF!"
Some bandanas and frisbee plates knocked out those closest to Matsuda. Matsuda turned to look and saw Ryuga and Nakane appear. He also saw that Motohama and the others in the Tengu residence were with him, too.
„Guys! Good to see you!" Matsuda exclaimed happily.
„Save the chit-chat for later!" Ryuga told Matsuda and threw the next bandana at the closest Roc, knocking it down.
„NO! STOOOOOP!" the Amazon riding it screamed before crash-landing with it.
Ukyu took care of some of the other Amazons who were on the ground. Even Nakane and Soun had joined the fray and knocked out one Amazon each using the element of surprise.
„Retreat!" another Roc-riding Amazon ordered.
And so, she and the rest of the Roc-riding Amazons flew away into the distance.
„They're gone…" Ukyu said.
„Thank goodness!" Matsuda collapsed in relief. „I thought I was a goner!"
„Well, you're alive and so are we!" Motohama said with grin.
Matsuda looked glad to see them all well until…
„Wait, where's Sanma?" Matsuda asked those assembled.
„Sanma… he's fighting the Amazons on his own back there…" Ukyu said sadly.
„What!? Then what you doing here? We must go help him!" Matsuda exclaimed.
„No, we're to stay here until the fight ends…" Ryuga told Matsuda.
„What!? WHY!?" Matsuda shouted incredulously.
„Because it is a fight that he alone must do. Have you really forgotten what Shinyama said in the video for the briefing?" Ryuga reminded Matsuda.
Flashback
„Sanma is now the successor of Hokuto Shinken… as such, he must face his inner demons and vanquish them. And those inner demons are tied to the Amazons and their demands on him. Thus, to defeat the Amazons means to defeat his inner demons. Also, it is a test to see if he is truly worthy of being the successor."
Flashback End
„Yeah, but…" Matsuda tried to speak but he did not really know what to say.
„I also can't help but worry about him, but… we have to trust him…" Ukyu said to Matsuda. „I personally believe in him…"
„Well, at least let me send out Phoebe so I can check the situation…" Matsuda offered.
„Good idea!" Motohama agreed. „Once the coast is clear we'll head back. I do hope Sanma is okay."
15th of November, Sunday, 3:57 am – Back with Sanma
Sanma and Elder Colon were trading blows. None could vanquish the others. Although Elder Colon was still fresh in the fight and more nimble than Sanma, the latter still held on. It impressed Colon how he could still keep up with her. Nevertheless, Sanma was growing tired.
Sanma tried to immobilize her by trying to press her pressure points. But Elder Colon managed to see through Sanma's ploy and blocked off all attempts to take her down. Colon herself, on the other hand, managed to press some pressure points on Sanma's body. However, Sanma managed to resist the effects of his pressed shiatsu points thanks to his training in Hokuto Shinken.
From the corner of his eye, Sanma could see Mouse, Ting-Ting and Tong-Tong only looked in fear as the fight between Sanma and Colon continued. Cat Fu herself showed sadness in her eyes, something Sanma noticed. But Sanma knew that the elder with the bow was missing. Where did she go? He knew that she and Colon had planned something. But just what was it?
Unbeknownst to Sanma, the bow-wielding elder had hidden herself in a tree about 200 meters away. She had drawn her bow at full length and had set her aim at Sanma.
‚That boy may be at catching arrows with his fingers, but can he catch arrows that he cannot see?' the elder thought to herself.
Meanwhile, Mouse was having plans of his own.
‚This fight is going nowhere. I thought that elder Colon might be able to defeat him, but this fight is taking too long. It is time I stepped in. And once I kill Sanma, Cat Fu will be all over me…' Mouse thought while grinning at the thought.
Mouse reached into his sleeve and pulled out a handgun.
The twins and Cat Fu gasped in surprise.
„Mouse, what are you…?" Ting-Ting asked in surprise.
„…doing?" Tong-Tong finished the question.
„Mouse?" Cat Fu voiced perplexed.
But Mouse did not answer them.
„My emergency weapon for emergency situations…" Mouse said to himself, as he put his hand on the trigger. „I always went easy on you, so I must praise you for making me do this. Sayonara, Sanma Raotome."
With that said, Mouse pulled the trigger.
Elder Colon never noticed Mouse's actions, however, Sanma did. Normally, he would have frozen just then and there in shock. However, thanks to his training in Hokuto Shinken, Sanma instinctively figured out the bullet's trajectory and how to avoid it.
However, Sanma did not notice the elder with her bow drawn. Sanma was facing with his back to her. Elder Colon did notice her fellow elder aiming at him from the distant tree and was hoping to distract Sanma long enough for an arrow to strike him from behind.
„OOF!" Sanma grunted as Elder Colon finally landed a solid blow to him, sending him flying to the ground.
[BANG!] The gunshot flew out of Mouse's gun.
[Fwish!] The arrow flew from the elder's bow.
Upon landing on the ground with his back flat on the ground, the arrow flew right above him and almost hit Colon, much to Sanma's shock.
The bullet, on the other hand…
„AGH!"
…struck the bow-wielding elder straight in the heart. Like Colon, she was too focused on Sanma to notice Mouse's gun. She dropped her bow and fell down from the tree lifelessly to the ground.
The neighbors in the area screamed upon witnessing her death, which temporarily distracted Colon and Sanma to the horror and shock of the first. She turned to Mouse who still had his gun in his hands and did not realize what he had done.
„Mouse… what have you done?" Elder Colon asked him dangerously.
„I was trying to help, Elder," Mouse explained. „Shame that I missed. I won't miss next time!"
„YOU KILLED ONE OF THE ELDERS OF OUR TRIBE! I SHOULD RIP YOU IN PIECES, YOU TRAITOR!" Elder Colon screamed at Mouse to the latter's shock.
She had already lost her sister, the one with the sword. Although she was not as close to the one with the bow, she was still someone she had known for a very long time, along with the spear-wielding elder. With all the deaths of those close to her, she had finally lost all composure.
Because of that, she ran towards Mouse in a fury.
„W-wait, elder! I can explain…" Mouse tried to plead in vain.
Mouse could not dodge in time when Elder Colon broke his shoulder with her staff.
[CRACK!]
„AAAAAHHHHH!"
Mouse screamed in agony as he fell to the ground.
Elder Colon was not finished yet. She beat him a few dozen times in the face and torso.
„Elder, enough!" Cat Fu said as she stepped forward to protect Mouse.
By then, Mouse was already a bloody pulp and lying there unconscious.
Elder Colon stopped at her intervention, only to glare at her granddaughter. Cat Fu stepped back respectfully and fearfully.
„And what were you doing!? I noticed that you have done nothing this whole time while your sisters have bled and died! ARE YOU TRYING TO DESTROY US!?" Elder Colon accused Cat Fu harshly.
„No, grandmother… I…" Cat Fu tried to argue.
By now, Sanma had taken the time to recover and stand up again.
„SILENCE!" Colon shouted and proceeded to smack her across the cheek with her staff.
[WHACK!]
„AIYA!" Cat Fu screamed as she fell to the ground.
Sanma froze in shock at what he had just witnessed.
But Colon was so livid that she continued beating Cat Fu with her staff just as she did with Mouse.
Cat Fu was being pummeled with multiple blows that caused serious bruises across her body.
Cat Fu could only take these blows helplessly as Colon continued beating her.
At this, Sanma was growing angrier. His fists were clenching tightly.
„Grandmother, please…" Ting-Ting pleaded.
„…don't hurt Cat Fu…" Tong-Tong finished the plea.
But Colon did not listen and continued beating Cat Fu.
At this point, Sanma had enough.
„THAT'S ENOUGH!" Sanma screamed and rushed forward.
Elder Colon stopped her incessant beating of Cat Fu when she saw Sanma coming.
„It is all your fault…" Elder Colon said while glaring at Sanma.
Then, she unleashed her full power in the form of a huge aura.
„…YOU DID ALL THIS! IF YOU DID NOT COME INTO OUR LIVES, NONE OF THIS WOULD HAVE HAPPENED! PAY WITH YOUR LIFE!" Elder Colon screamed as she swung her staff at him.
Sanma took her staff head-on.
[CRACK!] [SPLINTER!]
Sanma broke the staff by letting it hit him.
„What the…!?" Colon voiced in shock.
„The fury of Hokuto Shinken makes my body as hard as steel," Sanma explained calmly, but furiously before he launched his attack.
Meanwhile, Cat Fu and Mouse had awoken from the beatings they received and watched Sanma fight Elder Colon.
„Her staff… broken…?" Cat Fu managed to speak while grunting in pain.
With her staff broken, Colon jumped backwards.
„Do not think that I have lost! Even without my staff I can still do this!" Elder Colon announced.
She formed some chi in her hands and fired at Sanma.
(((WHOOSH!))) [BOOM!]
But Sanma walked through it, tanking it unaffected.
Seeing that it did not work, Colon speedily ran around Sanma with high speed to disorientate him. However, Sanma remained calm and after a few seconds…
„HYAH!" Colon cried out as she lashed out at Sanma from behind.
…Sanma intercepted her jab with his hand and then crushed it – hard.
[CRACK!]
„HRGH! AGH! UGH!" Elder Colon cried and groaned, as Sanma mangled her left hand and its fingers.
But Sanma was not finished. But before he could carry out his next attack…
„Elder, we will…"
„…protect you!"
…the twins jumped in with their spears and tried to strike Sanma from behind. The twins somehow mustered their courage and had finally stepped into the fray.
Sanma, noticing this, let go of Elder Colon's hand and jumped in a backflip over them.
Their attacks missed, while Sanma swung his hands towards them in a knife-hand motion. Suddenly, white beams shot out of his hands and…
[WHOOSH!] [WHOOSH!]
…struck the twins head on.
„Hokuto Ujou Hagan Ken! (有情破顔拳, Humane Face Breaking Fist)," Sanma announced the move's name.
They slumped to the ground. But nothing happened otherwise.
With that, Sanma returned to the fight with Elder Colon, who had launched a jab attack with a spear she picked up. Moreover, she attacked from a specific blindspot, namely right overhead.
„DIE!" Colon cried out, but Sanma grabbed the spear and…
[WHAM!]
„OOF!"
…smashed Colon hard into the ground, forming a crater.
Colon tried to get up, but Sanma was faster.
He grabbed her up by her clothes and…
„ATAH!" Sanma yelled, as he punched her across the face.
„WATAH!" Sanma punched her again and Colon could only take it helplessly.
And then, Sanma launched a flurry of punches.
„ATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATTATATATATTA!" Sanma shouted, as he threw about a hundred punches within a few seconds before throwing his last punch.
„WAAATAAAHHHH!" Sanma yelled as the last punch sent Colon flying.
„Hokuto Hyakuretsu Ken!" Sanma called out the move.
She impacted a nearby house with full force, making cracks on the walls.
[SLAM!]
„UGH! ARGH!" Elder Colon slumped on the ground defeated.
She struggled to get up. But it was useless.
Elder Colon of the Amazons was finally defeated. The battle to force Sanma to abide by the Amazon's traditions and take Issei Hyoudou's head was over.
Sanma breathed heavily as he looked at his downed opponent.
„My fault, ya say? The fault lies in those stupid rules of yours and your obsession with honor. That is yer downfall…" Sanma answered Elder Colon.
But Colon did not answer him.
„UGH! AAAAAGGGGHHHHH!" Colon moaned and screamed in pain.
„Also, I pressed hundreds of pressure points all across your body. You are already dead," Sanma told her.
„ARRRRRGH! HI…DE… BU!" Colon gargled out before exploding into pieces of meat and blood.
There was silence for a few seconds, neither the neighbours, nor Sanma, nor any of the Amazons spoke a word or made a noise.
The only ones who made a noise were Ting-Ting and Tong-Tong who were laughing and moaning as their bodies contorted into impossible proportions.
„Ahahaha… It feels…"
„…so good! What is going on…?"
Cat Fu and Mouse could only look on in horror at what was happening.
„What is happening to them…?" Mouse said in horror.
„Hokuto Ujou Hagan Ken... It is… a technique that makes those… hah… affected by it feel bliss… before they die," Sanma explained while breathing heavily.
„Sister… Ahahaha… It feels…"
„…incredibly good! Ahehehe…"
And then…
[BOOM!] [BOOM!]
…they exploded in guts and gore.
With the twins dead, all that remained were Mouse and Cat Fu. Sanma walked up to them calmly.
Cat Fu looked broken and despondent. Everything went so fast… Elder Colon and her younger sisters Ting-Ting and Tong-Tong had died. They died so quickly and gruesomely.
And the one who killed them all was Sanma alone.
„NO! STAY AWAY FROM ME!" Mouse pleaded at first until he saw his gun.
Straining to do so because of his injuries, it took him a little longer to grab it than normal.
But that delay was enough for Sanma. He punched his chest with a powerful blow.
„Hokuto Ujo Mosho Ha! (有情猛翔破 – Merciful Shock Wave)," Sanma called out.
Mouse dropped the gun and slumped back unto the ground strangely weakened.
„What did… you do… to me?" Mouse asked Sanma weakly.
„I pressed a pressure point that lets you die peacefully. Ya may be a despicable prick and a coward with no honor. But even so, I considered ya… a rival at least… to some degree… which is why… ya can die with the least amount of pain as possible…" Sanma explained somberly.
Mouse widened his eyes in shock before his face contorted to one of horror.
„No… I don't want to die… I don't want to…" Mouse whispered in horror with tears coming from his eyes.
Seeing his anguish, Sanma looked away from him sadly. Maybe he should have killed him quickly instead.
To the surprise of Sanma and Mouse, Cat Fu came up to Mouse.
„Cat Fu?" Sanma asked the Amazon girl.
„Please, let me speak to Mouse…" Cat Fu said to Sanma.
Sanma moved aside, letting Cat Fu crouch down next to Mouse. She took his hand and put them in hers.
„Cat Fu… are you finally responding to my feelings…?" Mouse asked of Cat Fu in tears.
„No, I just want to be there for you… as a friend…" Cat Fu told him with a gently smile with tears in her eyes.
„I see…" Mouse said sadly, but then he smiled weakly. „…you told me many times you did not want to marry me. At the very least, I can die happily in my last moments… Your smile towards me… is more than enough…"
Mouse closed his eyes while smiling before breathing in and out. Finally, his breath slowed and then… he stopped breathing.
Sanma stood there warily, uncertain as to what Cat Fu was going to do to him next. He had killed so many of her tribesmen, he could not blame her if she wanted revenge.
Cat Fu stood up and faced him.
She did not say a word at first. Strangely, there was neither hate nor bitterness in her eyes. Instead, there was sadness in her eyes.
„Airen…" Cat Fu finally spoke to Sanma. „You not want to marry Cat Fu, right?"
Sanma swallowed the lump in his throat. It was hard, but he needed to say it.
„That's right. I've decided. I choose Ukyu Kuongi. I'm sorry, Cat Fu," Sanma said to her sadly.
„I see… you not accept after what happened just now," Cat Fu reasoned.
„That's… a part of it. But I also have decided that I don't wanna follow anyone's culture or tradition just cuz I was born or married into it. I've decided that I will choose my own path. And that is the path of Hokuto Shinken;" Sanma answered her firmly at the end.
Cat Fu smiled sadly.
„That is how it is…" Cat Fu said. „Then Cat Fu know what she must do…"
Cat Fu pulled out her sword from its sheath.
„This… for honor…" Cat Fu said and closed her eyes.
Sanma widened his eyes and tried to stop her for he realized what she was going to do.
But it was too late.
Cat Fu rammed her sword through her stomach and out her back!
„CAT FU!" Sanma cried out in horror.
Cat Fu slumped to the ground mortally injured and blood flowing everywhere.
Sanma ran up to her and cradled her in his arms.
As Cat Fu lay there dying, she spoke her last words.
„Cat Fu… not like you… is Amazon… she lives… and dies… with her people…" Cat Fu spoke and reached out to Sanma's face and touched it lovingly. „I'm… sorry… I… wish… Airen… lives… happy… Cat… Fu… loves… you…"
And then, she drew her last breath and her hand dropped to the ground.
„Cat Fu?" Sanma adressed her, as he felt her pulse.
She was gone.
„No…" Sanma voiced out in sadness as the tears flowed from his cheek.
The girl who had persistently bothered him, kissed him, tried to marry him and tried to make him fall for her… she was dead…
…And it was his fault!
„Why…?" Sanma cried and heaved heavily.
And that was when he remembered the words of Shinyama during their training.
Flashback
„Once you become the successor of Hokuto Shinken. It is inevitable that you will come across tragedy and sadness. For such is the way of Hokuto Shinken and all their successors. What you need to do is to overcome the sadness by making it your strength. Once you do that, you can truly become stronger and stronger still."
Flashback End
With those words in mind, Sanma could not help but think…
Is this what he would be seeing from now on?
Before he could sink into the despair of this realization.
„San-chan!" a familiar voice could be heard from the distance.
Sanma turned and saw Ukyu running towards him.
Ukyu threw herself on him from behind and hugged him.
„San-chan… you're alright… thank goodness… you're alright…" Ukyu said to him in tears of relief.
Sanma responded by letting go of Cat Fu and laying her on the grass. He turned around and sobbed in her arms.
They rested in each other's arm for a while even as the others arrived soon afterwards.
„I'm sorry… about Cat Fu's death. I know you cared for her very much…" Ukyu said to Sanma.
Sanma did not say anything to her.
He did not know if he could get over her death or whether he could bear the burden of Hokuto Shinken… But he did know that he had someone who loved him in his arms.
Somebody who accepted him no matter what.
And so, in front of the eyes of the spectating neighbours and their friends, Sanma and Ukyu officially became a couple… after so much death and tragedy.
And that was the Chapter 63 of The Lone Vigilante Issei.
Now about this chapter.
It has been a while since I have written such a lengthy chapter. But it was well worth it.
Here we can finally see the martial arts that Sanma had learned in all its glory. And that's Hokuto Shinken from Fist of The North Star.
I have to admit, writing a fight scene with this martial art is something I have always wanted to do. And now finally my dream is true. Granted, there were a few other fight scenes involgin it, but they were short in comparison. Also, unlike those fight scenes, the battle here involves blood and guts.
For those that do not know what Hokuto Shinken is, I should explain that it is a Assassin's martial art that kills enemies from inside the body (hence all the explosions from within the body).
And boy, I have to admit that this battle turned out to be a lot bloodier than I expected.
Also, the chapter ended on a bittersweet note.
Cat Fu and her tribe is dead and Sanma ist he one who caused it. At the same time, he can finally move on and share a life with Ukyu.
But with the burden of the Fist of the North Star, can Sanma really walk this path?
Find out soon.
Finally, expect the next chapter to be about Issei and Kiba as they deal with Kokabiel.
In the meantime, what did you think of this chapter?
Did you like it?
Please read and review, I would like to hear from you.
And as always, I hope to see you around next time.
Until then.
Hide Shinyama
