(A/N) Hello. Been a while. I won't butter this up. I'll just swiftly explain what's been taking me so long. Life, Graduating, Getting a license, getting into and starting College, getting a job, theatre, Family stuff like funerals, A lot of Writers blocks, ect.
As for this chapter, personally I don't feel very satisfied with it but I am so sick of writing this chapter so here we go.
There is a summary at the end if you just want to skip this chapter.
Kōro stood in the dimly lit center of his room; the sound of wind and faint battle chants echoing from the outside. "So, they have arrived," Muttered Kōro as from the shadows, holding pieces of Kōro's armor, was Tokuri already clad in his own armor. Kōro's armor, which was similar in design to his brother's armor. Though the the paint was pure black and the mask, instead of a long-bearded demon, was of a hairless old man.
Bending down, Tokuri put the shin guards on Kōro's legs before tightening them, "Yes, they have surrounded us. We count them to be Four hundred thousand strong."
"So, this is it... the beginning of the end," Spoke Kōro. Tokuri wrapped the thigh guards around Kōro's waste before tying them as well, "What has become of us, brother? Our allies have left us. Our enemies are many, and we are alone; doomed to face our inevitable demise."
Carefully Tokuri began placing the gauntlets upon Kōro's arms as he continued, "So much blood... So much death, all over resources and selfish desires. Whether it was lust, revenge, greed, or pride its still the same. And now, after countless generations, our legacy will soon be wiped clean from memory. Forgotten. Nothing more then dust in the wind."
Tokuri then helped Kōro put on the black-steel cuirass of his armor, "Who am I, Tokuri? What have I accomplished? For all that have I have done, all that I can see has been pointless."
Slowly Tokuri turned to grab Kōro's mask and helmet as he responded, "You are Kōro. The one who defeated Suijin and became the strongest in Zipangu. The one who saved us long ago, who gave men purpose. You are our leader, a husband... and my brother," Tokuri put the helmet upon Kōro's head but held the mask for a moment, "Even if what you say is true Kōro, even if we are doomed to die, even if our legacy will one day be forgotten, I would rather go down with my head held high with honor in tact and resisting with all my might, then to die like a wounded animal," Tokuri then placed Kōro's mask onto Kōro's face.
"I will not go gently into that good night Kōro, but what of you?" Spoke Tokuri.
Then coming in from behind Kōro, Masume stood before Kōro and knelt as she offered his two sheathed katanas, "And neither will I, my love. But what of you?"
Kōro stared at the katanas before grabbing them, "We will give them a memory they will not forget."
(-)
Lord Kogazen Masato watched the Kurogane capital from his golden coated tent; observing through a golden monocular as he sat atop a nearby hill. The Kurogane clan's numbers were few, but that was to be expected. What was left of the Kurogane clan was now nothing but scraps of bread from a once very large loaf. Pocket change from what was once a glorious vault.
No doubt the battle would be swift with such uneven numbers, even with one of the allied clans being too busy to join this battle. "Sir, perhaps we should move farther away from the battlefield as to not risk getting caught in the crossfire," Spoke the Lord's Ochimusha.
"Caught in the cross fire?" Chuckled the Lord, "What nonsense. I doubt any of those Kurogane warriors could reach us here," Masato then spotted Kōro, Masume and Tokuri appear at the mountain top above the city.
(-)
Kōro stood atop the mountain, his family beside him with the cheering of his people below; reminding him of his days as a fighter in local tournaments. He could hear it in their voices, such bravery could not be in ignored.
It would probably be fitting to give his men a speech. He had been thinking of what to say, though Kōro did admit he wasn't that great with speeches in his opinion. He hadn't much experience either giving them, since the only time he ever did make a speech was the ceremony declaring him the leader of the Kurogane clan.
The Lord smiled at a sudden thought. It would be fitting anyway. His life as the leader of the Kurogane clan would end the same way it began, with a speech. Slowly the Lord opened his mouth as his words boomed like thunder through the air. The men below went silent.
"My brethren, the end has come. As we speak the enemy surrounds us, their forces far grander then ours in size. They despise us, loathe us entirely. To them we are the bane of their existence. They will rob us of our birthright, our lives, and all the we hold dear. And if need be they will attempt to wipe our names away from history.
They have destroyed our homes, they have taken the lives of our brothers and sisters. And they have robbed of us of ever rebuilding a hopeful future.
A red sun of vengeance looms over us. The thunder of arrogant pride roars in the distance. The earthquake of greed rumbles beneath us. And the winds of vain desires cry in the far distance.
Indeed, we cannot win this battle. For this is the fall our forefathers foretold long ago.
But I say to you, let us fight all the harder. For soon the Voice shall return. As was his return prophesied long ago upon the writing within the very mountain, the very foundation of our clan. Since the the dawn of our clan we have prepared for this moment.
So let us not die like a wounded dog, cowering in the corner! Let it be so that the Voice may watch us as we stand tall, side by side, fighting to the bitter end! Raging against them! Let those who invade us remember and never forget why we were feared! Let them taste our steel and let our steel drink their blood! Remember your oaths! Remember your honor! And fight to the bitter end!"
The Kurogane forces roared their battle cry, cheering for Kōro once more in loyalty; each prepared to die, no matter how painful.
"I will go down and fight in your place brother. You must stay here to command," Spoke Tokuri into Kōro's ear before heading for the stairs; descending to the city.
But before Tokuri could walk far, Kōro grabbed him by the hand; stopping him, "I will not stay behind brother. I will fight with my men."
"But your oath! You cannot leave the mountain," Responded Tokuri.
Kōro glanced down towards the walls below, "Do not worry brother. The walls are on the edge of the mountain. Therefore I will still be holding my oath."
The younger lord gave an odd expression, not of disappointed or hate but a look of concern, worry, and regret. Kōro could tell Tokuri wanted to fight so that he was not at risk, but Kōro was above him and Tokuri knew his brother well. Reluctantly he replied, "Very well. I had wished you'd stay up here to protect the heart of our people. But it is your will. Let us go."
"Don't worry," Shouted out Masume as the two went down the mountain, "I will stay here and use what you have taught me."
Kōro smiled as he heard her, but kept going. Eventually the two brothers arrived at the wall, the very edge of the mountain. Commands were given, orders shouted, soldiers and mages prepared themselves, horns were blown, and barriers were formed. Kōro unsheathed his blade and turned to all of his men, "TO THE BITTER END!"
"TO THE BITTER END!" Shouted back the army, including Tokuri. And then, like rain, both sides poured their magic attacks towards each other's barriers.
(-)
By all accounts, the barrier of the Kurogane clan should have fallen the instant the battle began. Every mage in the battle knew this, and so too did each of the leaders. And yet the Kurogane mages, emboldened and empowered by Kōro's words and remembrance of their oaths, held the barrier together.
Those mages of the Kurogane clan gave everything they had. Their mana, their soul, everything. They did not care if they would die holding the barrier together, for what was taking place mattered more than them. Even the tired mages from the previous battles hobbled to assist the mages holding the barrier with their own mana. And those mages who were so exhausted that they were bedridden, demanded that they be taken to assist in holding it.
One by one the mages of Kurogane fell dead. But the Barrier held.
"Let those who invade us remember and never forget why we were feared!"
Little by little cracks formed on the opposing side. And yet the Kurogane barrier stood strong.
"Let them taste our steel and let our steel drink their blood!"
Brighter and brighter the magical wall of the defenders glowed; Shining like a beacon of hope.
"Remember your oaths! Remember your honor! And fight to the bitter end!"
The enemies' own magic barrier showed signs of breaking as the opposing leaders, mages, and soldiers looked in surprise and awe at the tenacity of the Kurogane clan. Such awe was soon turn to dismay as their barriers shattered; causing countless soldiers to die from the rain of exploding black-steel great arrows.
All the while, the Kurogane mages kept holding. Their lives didn't matter. All that mattered was the fate of their people. So no matter the cost, they would protect their people. They would protect the mountain.
(-)
Masato nervously kept tapping the arm rests of his chair. This was not going well. This shouldn't have been happening at all. It didn't even make sense! The Kurogane clan's barrier should have fallen long ago. Yet somehow they have lasted over five minutes compared to the invasion force's main barrier, which was powered by thousands of mages compared to the Kurogane clan's small hundred mages.
There had to be some way to solve this. It was just like that fort again, but this time there was no machine to break through the barrier. They could perhaps start making a tunnel beneath the city barrier and walls, but that would possibly take too long and very likely end in failure. The Kurogane clan were not new to war and would be able to detect such an attack.
Attrition could work, but he knew the Kurogane clan would resort to pure cannibalism if they had to outlast their enemy. Not only that, besides how long such a tactic would take now, it would be just as bad for him and his allies with resources; thanks to that one general who was killing and burning everything with Kurogane even slightly related to it, which included farms.
Perhaps there was a chance he could send a message to the Federation. He had to at least see if it they could do something about this. Turning sharply to his Oshimusha he commanded, "Bring the Federation mirror to me this instance!"
"Yes sir," responded the undead mamono who hurried to the tent to only come back out holding the cloth covered mirror before placing it in front of Masato and unwrapping all the cloth. The Mirror soon began to glow. However instead of the council, there was complete darkness on the other side, "Ah, Lord Kogazen Masato. I had a feeling you would eventually call us," came a seemingly disembodied voice from the mirror.
"Who is this!?" Yelled Masato.
The voice on other side seemed to pay no mind to the lord's desperation, "I am the one who made that machine of yours. In fact I have been working on an improved version, considering the last one was... a disappointment."
"Well is this 'improved version' ready?"
There was silence and then the faint noise of footsteps, something being written, and then something being stamped. The lord was about to call out for the voice but it returned, "Yes, it is ready for it's trial run. The council is most eager to see this battle turn favorably for them."
"Then send it over-" The lord was interrupted as his vision was flooded by a white light that briefly appeared before him; almost blinding him if he hadn't instinctively shielded his eyes. Then as the light faded as fast as it came, the lord saw a machine similar to the last one he saw.
However unlike the previous one, there was more ventilation placed about it along with additional parts added to its form that seemed to give it more protection. Quickly all the steam flowing from the machine disappeared as the sound of internal fans blew loudly for a split moment; causing the machine to already seem to be ready for action.
The lord looked back at the mirror but noticed it had already turned itself off. "What your orders, Current Master: Lord Kogazen Masato?" Asked the emotionless voice of the machine.
"Destroy that barrier and aim for the heart of the enemy. Make sure to at the very least prevent the head leader from giving out orders effectively."
With those orders new words began to form within the machine's vision stating, "New Objectives have been assigned. New Objective commencing. Most likely location of target: Top of mountain"
(-)
As Kōro observed the battle beyond the wall, he could sense something was wrong. He could sense a sudden appearance of concentrated mana. It didn't seem like anything he had felt before. It didn't even feel like it was alive. Kōro could tell his gut was not liking what was ever going on.
Then from the distance Kōro saw it, a brief flash of light at the far distance where a nearby enemy encampment was. Peering hard, Kōro could make out a figure talking to one of the enemy lords. His gut was practically yelling at him something was wrong. Kōro tried to command, "Fire on that shie-" but the order was too late.
In a beam of energy, Kōro watched as the figure flew in a burst of speed at the border; crossing miles of land in a matter of seconds before reaching the magical barrier.
Meanwhile at the palace, Masume saw in shock as the defensive barriers around the city shattered. She could see a white orb flying towards her. Masume's didn't know what to think, she didn't have time to. Almost like instinct Masume drew her blade and raised it in defense. In an instant sparks flew as her blade blocked the attack of what was flying towards her.
Her eyes locked onto her assailant, a creature made of cold metal with a symbol of a sun on its blank face. Her katana had barely blocked this things spear or more specifically, something that looked like a mix of a sword and a spear, by its upper handle. Quickly Masume dashed back to gain some space right when a fickle beam of energy flew out of the thing's spear.
This thing wasn't giving her time to even move! However as the beam of energy was about to reach her, she thought of something. While both simultaneously leaping into the air and blocking the beam with her katana, Marusme reflected back at the metallic creature.
However, instead of hurting her strange opponent, the beam of energy burst in light earlier then expected; seeming to have hit nothing at all.
"I still don't have the hang of this. How does Kōro do it?" Grunted Masume as she landed back at the ground, her dominant hand stinging after reflecting the attack. "No matter, I must end this now!" The lady then immediately charged at the warrior of metal. She could see it, a clear opening.
Dashing to avoid an attack from her opponent, Masume swung her katana upward to attempt to sever the thing's arm. However instead of damaging the warrior, Masume saw as her blade made contact with a multi-layered barrier. Recovering from her surprise, Masume stepped back to avoid another strike from the thing.
She saw it only for a moment, a barrier with tiny slits constantly rotating around the warrior with a similar yet smaller barrier moving inside of it at a faster rate; giving this metallic thing not just a strong suit of almost invisible magical armor, but a magical armor with its opening constantly shifting and changing.
"Seems this'll be a difficult fight," muttered Masume, "But for the sake of my husband and of my people, I will get past that defense!"
(-)
The battle proceeded onward. The Kurogane forces held strong like the rock of the mountain they defended, but over time the waters of the ocean of enemies wore them down. Little by little the enemy pushed through, though paying gravely for every inch they gained in the field.
Eventually the Kurogane forces were pushed to the very stairs leading up to the mountain. And though they tried to stop as many as they could from getting past them, a few enemy soldiers slipped through and had already started ascending the steps.
Eventually there was only Kōro, Tokuri, and a hundred warriors defending what they could in this hopeless battle. Throughout the entire conflict Kōro kept looking back at the mountain top, seeing for split moments his dear Masume fighting someone. He had to help her, but he had to stay here. At the same time the enemy was slowly ascending the mountain top.
Tokuri noticed this, having to shoot down a soldier who was about to strike Kōro, "Go, she needs you right now." Kōro froze, looking at his brother with uncertainty. If he left, this would be the last time he'd probably ever see his brother alive. Tokuri knew this as well but continued, "Go. Please."
Reluctantly Kōro turned and began ascending the stairs. All the while Tokuri looked back at the unwinnable battle.
One by one each of the Kurogane soldiers fell as they fought on. Either dying to spells, arrow, blade, or siege equipment. And eventually, as the last soldier fell, it was just Tokuri. He stopped in his tracks as the enemy surrounded him; their weapons aimed and pointed at him.
Slowly Tokuri took a deep breath and readied his bow as he muttered to himself. "Thank you," Tokuri made a running start as the enemy unloaded everything on the man. But Tokuri did not give up, firing arrow after arrow as he began to lose himself in the chaos, "As long as I can remember, you have helped me, brother."
Bullets hit against his armor, spells burned his skin, cannon balls whipped past him, but Tokuri kept going; Shooting down man after man, mamono after mamono, tearing his way through their forces with his bow and arrows, "When you found me, my mother was dying. Yet you helped her, even though you had no right to."
"WHAT IS HE!? HE ISN'T HUMAN!"
"When I was but a simple soldier, with no home or purpose, only a name and a duty, you took me in and helped me," The lone warrior began running out of arrows, but he did not care. He grabbed arrows from dead bodies as extra ammunition and kept fighting. The only thing keeping him alive was the self healing technique Kōro taught him. Numerous cannons were destroyed and countless people laid dead by his hands.
"THE RUMOURS ARE TRUE! HE REALLY IS A DEMON!"
The demon of a man moved like the wind he was so famously known for controlling. An ever-growing mountain of corpses forming in his wake. Even as a bullet pierced through his eye and skull, he did not stop fighting with his bow and arrows, "I was no one, but you made me someone."
Now the dying general wasn't even bothering to shoot anymore, using his last great arrow as a blade to be a sickle in this field of foes. Chopping foe after foe like a butcher in the chaos of death, "Even though I was only partly good as a bow man, you helped me improve in my skills."
"SHOOT THE DEMON DOWN, IN SUIJIN'S NAME- SHOOT IT DOWN!"
"I owe you everything. And now I can finally repay you," Arrows sank into Tokuir's back but he kept fighting. When Tokuri saw the enemy bring out another cannon and aim it at him, he quickly threw his last arrow like a javelin straight into the barrel of the cannon, causing the cannon to implode and kill numerous soldiers in the area.
With his last arrow gone and no new arrows in sight, Tokuri was at long last defenseless, surrounded, and out numbered. He had nothing left as he stood atop his mountain of corpses. There was fear in each of the soldiers eyes as they slowly repositioned themselves and aimed their weapons at him.
And then more cannons arrived. Cannon after cannon was positioned around him. Yet no one dared fire a single shot at him in fear, even though Tokuri was nothing but a standing corpse in front of them all. There was nothing else he could do. Slowly looking around, in the far distant, Tokuri could see through his bloodied vision Lord Kogazane.
The dying Tokuri looked down and fell to his knees in defeat. If only he had one last arrow, one last chance to fire his bow to at least kill that lord with his dying breathe. He doubted he could make such a shot, but he made that as his last prayer. Just one last chance.
Then Tokuri saw it in the glimmer of sunlight, an answer to his prayer. It felt odd that he did not see it there before. It wasn't a great arrow, no it was one single normal sized arrow. It didn't look damaged at all amongst the corpses. He chuckled; carefully picking up the arrow as he rose back up.
As he did so, Kogazane's eyes widened as he watched with his monocular. The merchant lord did not know what was happening to Tokuri in the far distance, but he did not like it. Something in his gut was telling him not to let it happen "Tell those cannons to fire," Said Kogazane to no one.
The merchent lord's eyes widened as he saw with his monocular the demon Tokuri start to draw his bow , "FIRE NOW!"
But the order was not given in time as Tokuri aimed his sites on Kogazan. The wounded lord gave a toothy and bloody grin and fired; pouring all of his remaining mana in the arrow as it flew through the sky. Immediately after he fired, all of the cannons fired upon Tokuri.
Tokuri's body was torn asunder, his legs being detached from his torso, and a single large whole torn into his chest. But Tokuri didn't even feel those cannons tear him apart; his vision slowing down as his life flashed before his eyes. Tokuri uttered is last words, whether he said it mentally or physically, he didn't know, "I leave... the rest to you... brother..."
The lone arrow soared, the last bit of Tokuri's will guiding it. Kogazane was breathless as the arrow flew through the air in silence for miles... before hitting the barrier around his small personal encampment. But instead of just hitting the barrier and falling to the ground, a magical aura formed around the arrow which kept pushing it against the magical wall.
Cracks started to form and Kogazane began to breathe heavily. The greedy lord rose and started running but it was useless. The arrow broke through the countless barriers. Even as Kogazane's Ochimucha moved to take the blow, the arrow pierced straight through her and through Kogazan's heart; killing him as his own body and the Ochimucha's body were burned by flaming mana and turned to ash.
(-)
So many foes, so many opponents in his way. Numerous foes were behind Kōro, and numerous foes were ahead of him as he climbed the mountain. Step by step Kōro focused on the goal ahead of him. A large mountain of a man rushed towards him from above, wielding a club twice Kōro's size and fully plated in samurai armor.
Kōro merely kept walking forward. The wall of flesh laughed as he raised his club and swung it down. And right before the club hit, Kōro parried the weapon with his left katana before retaliating with his right katana and slicing the head clean off. All of this was done in less then a second; Kōro's pace up the stairs unhindered.
Muskets were fired from behind, attempting to shoot him down. But Kōro cared not as he a took a deep breathe. Time slowed down for him as he turned briefly and reflected all of the bullets using his katanas. Turning back around Kōro kept going; the rows of enemy soldiers behind him suddenly all finding bullet holes where their vital organs were before falling to the ground dead.
Like a butcher, Kōro cut his way up to the mountain; ending the lives of many sorry fools and mamono alike. Until eventually he arrived at the mountain top.
(-)
Masume gritted her teeth; barely blocking a rain of blows from her foe. She couldn't get past this metallic warrior's defenses. It was always that second layer that got in her way. If she could just get the timing right once this fight would be over, she just knew it. That had to be case!
The warrior thrusted its spear again and Masume lept backwards into the air to avoid it. This thing had seemingly infinite stamina and never letting up, but Masume needed to focus. She had to use what her husband had been trying to teach her all these years since she married him. Suddenly in her split moment of thinking, she let her guard down; a burst of energy from the spear flew towards her and pierced through her leg.
The Lady of the Kurogane clan grunted in pain as she landed on the ground; barely standing as she could feel her leg burning in pain. That thing aimed for her leg on purpose to slow her down.
Using its moment of opportunity the metal one rushed towards Masumi who barely blocked the spear as the warrior pressed on the attack; slowing pushing her to the ground. Masume was brought the ground; the head of the spear slowly getting closer and closer to her face.
She had to think of something, and fast! Desperately Masume looked around for anything she could use before her eyes spotted small pebbles nearby. Normally they wouldn't do anything against this thing, but they were small enough to possibly get through that shield if she was lucky. And she could increase whatever damage they did using what her husband taught her.
Using her only free hand, Masume reached over and grabbed as many of the pebbles as she could. Then with a deep breathe, she caused nearby mana to coat around them; making them as if they were enchanted with lethal magic. "Please Voice, let this work," Thought Masume to herself as she then threw the pebbles toward the metal warrior with all her might.
Perhaps it was luck, or perhaps the Voice had heard her prayer, but one of the pebbles did get through. And with the mana Masume had coated around the pebbles, that one single pebble tore a fist sized hole through the chest of the machine.
The metal warrior stumbled backwards; desperately trying to maintain balance. All the while the magical shield around it became easily visible to the naked eye and was obviously moving slower then before. Somehow she had damaged the part of the warrior that was producing the shield, and now she had a chance.
Forcing herself against her wounds and blurry vision, Masume stood, leapt forward, and with one clean cut severed the machine in two. And then suddenly in a flash of burning light, the metal warrior was gone before it even hit the ground.
Masume fell to the ground. She did it. She won, but she needed a moment to recover. Due to not being as good in the breathing techniques as her brother-in-law or her husband, it would take a while for her to heal in comparison.
"MASUME!" Yelled a voice. Masume turned towards the stairs and saw Kōro with a look of worry. She gave a smile to tell him she was alright. But then she saw a samurai clad in red colored armor behind him, and that smile turned to a look of horror as she tried to warn her husband. But the person was not after her husband, instead the samurai threw a katana straight at her.
The last thing she saw was the edge of a katana going straight through her heart.
(-)
Kōro stood in horror as his wife fell to the ground. He was so caught up in his despair he didn't think about who threw the katana at her, instead rushing towards her. "No! no no no..." Muttered Kōro with disbelief in his eyes. But Masume was already gone, leaving behind nothing but a cold dead corpse; her blood flowing out. Kōro feel to his knees in silence.
"Looks like the whore is dead!" Shouted Lord Mozo Shitora, the red samurai who threw the katana at Masume, "That's what she gets for betraying her people to marry a monster!"
The Kurogane lord did not move as tears gently flowed from his eyes. "What's this!? Does the murderer actually feel something for someone!? Pathetic. You should've seen this coming murderer," Shitora moved closer, grinning from ear to ear with his devilish grin as he held his other Katana. All the while Kōro gently removed the blade from Masume's body.
Kōro slowly rose, not bothering to unsheathe his actual katanas; holding tight to the katana that was used to kill his wife. With a swipe of the blade, Kōro wiped the blood off the katana. "Come on Kōro, fight back! SHOW THE WORLD HOW MUCH OF A WEAKLING YOU ARE!"
Shitora rushed at Kōro and plunged his blade forward, but Kōro mearely dashed to the side. Not wanting Kōro to get an opportunity of attack, Shitora swiftly ducked and swiped with legs to trip Kōro. However mid fall Kōro landed on one hand and backflipped backwards and standing up a good distance away.
There was no emotion on Kōro's face, the only hints of his sadness were the now mostly dried up tears. Shitora attacked repeatedly and unceasingly with each one full of hatred and anger as the Mozo lord tried to finish off the Kōro. All the while Kōro merely would move out of the way, block, or parry the attacks. Not once retaliating with his own strike.
"IS THIS ALL YOUR GOOD FOR KORO?! DEFENDING YOURSELF!?" Shouted Shitora, but Kōro's expression did not change. It was as if the Kurogane lord didn't even hear him, "I KNEW YOU WERE A COWARD, YOUR VERY FIGHTING STYLE SHOWS IT!"
Shitora's attacks grew in speed as Kōro found himself pressed against the edge of the mountain. All the while Shitora's breathing grew heavier from exhaustion and desperation to defeat Kōro, "YOU ALWAYS HID ON THIS MOUNTAIN AFTER YOU TOOK THE POSITION, AFRAID OF LOOSING YOUR POWER!"
Kōro did not seem to listen still, focusing purely on defending himself from attacks. "FIGHT BACK ALREADY!" Yelled Shitora before in one strong swing, he finally broke Kōro's guard after minutes of attacking the Kurogane lord. Shitora made a victorious roar as he used the opportunity to stab his blade straight into Kōro's right eye and through the back of his skull; the edge of the katana poking out from behind Kōro's helmet.
"YES! yes..." Spoke Shitora with glee as the Kurogane lord stood frozen; seemingly dead from the injury, "YOU LOSE, YOUR DEAD!... you have lost everything, including your life. You never amounted to anythi-" Suddenly Kōro took a step; forcing the blade to sink even further through his skull, "What- What the-! HOW!?"
Shitora released his blade, but it was so far in Kōro's skull that Kōro was basically holding for him. "THAT'S IMPOSSIBLE. THIS ISN'T RIGHT. NO HUMAN CAN SURVIVE SUCH AN INJURY!" Shitora started walking back as Kōro kept walking towards him; his expressing still cold and without emotion.
"Your right. No normal human can survive a blow such as this," Muttered Kōro, "Our royal technique allows us to cast spells using the mana around us, using our own lungs as the catalyst. Perhaps I have been casting healing spells, and spells to increase my abilities through all my fights. Or perhaps your right," Kōro with his free hand, slammed the butt of the katana's handle; sending it straight through his skull as it fell to the ground, "Perhaps I'm not human anymore."
Kōro, in a blink of an eye, plunged the katana used to kill his wife into Shitora's armor and torso who groaned in pain as he instinctively reached to his chest. Kōro then swiftly grabbed Shitora by the head, "Perhaps I am already dead."
"I WAS RIGHT, YOU ARE A MONSTER-" Shitora couldn't finish his sentence. The last thing he saw was an emotionless Kōro who thumbs plunged into his eye sockets.
And the last thing Shitora heard, "I spared you once before Shitora, but an eye for an eye makes the world blind."
And with that Kōro walked over to his dead wife and fell to his knees again.
...
...
...
Kōro sat silently atop the mountain as he stared at the cold body of his wife Masume; both his armor and weapons covered in blood. All the while the sounds of battle grew quiet. The war was over, and he had failed his people, his family, his ancestors, the Voice. There was no point in revenge or being full of hate towards his enemies, for it would gain him nothing. This was all his fault.
"It is over Kōro," Came an all too familiar voice for Kōro, who didn't even have to turn to look to see who it was. It was Suijin herself, the last opposing Lord who had now come to claim all the glory and rewards of victory for herself. Now doubt with all of the major clans with military strength now slain, she would easily take over all of Zipangu without resistance, "Surrender now, and you will be spared."
Kōro said nothing, still staring at his dead wife. Suijin continued, "In fact I would be willing to make you my Chief husband. Just imagine, with our powers we could overthrow that demon lord alongside her husband from that land of barbarians," Kōro could hear Suijin slowly slither towards him before he felt her cold feminine hand touch his shoulder, "Doesn't that sound great? You could have everything you want. A family, no more suffering or needing to prove yourself to anyone, no honor to hold you back, and anything else you could possibly desire. All you have to do is surrender to me and let me conquer what's left of your clan. I could even have your family brought back."
"You wish for me to abandon all that I have left?" Asked Kōro
Suijin chuckled under her breathe, "Come now, you have nothing left. I am offering you everything a man could possibly want. What more do you want? What more could you want?"
Kōro's hands tightened around his two katanas before he stood up; standing tall like the mountain he stood upon as he looked over his shoulder and glared daggers at Suijin. His voice was like the growl of a lion and the threat that carried with it was far more threatening, "I want this mountain untouched by your disgusting hands."
"How disappointing," Sighed Suijin as magic circles surrounded her, "But I should have expected as much from one as stubborn as you. So... DIE," Suddenly her red fleshy eyes shot wide before the entire mountain top was covered with dense fog right as Kōro turned to swing at her. However Kōro's blades made no contact as when the fog cleared, Suijin was nowhere to be seen.
Knowing something was amiss, Kōro quickly went to the edge of the mountain.
(-)
Meanwhile back down below the mountain, Suijin teleported back to her tent. Without even wasting a second, Suijin began shouting commands to her chief general who was standing in front of her , "I want all ranged weaponry aimed at that mountain top towards that man."
The chief general bowed respectfully while looking at her, "It shall be done, but, how will the cannons reach such a distance if I may ask?"
"Have the mages assist the cannons if they must," Responded Suijin.
"Yes, your highness," At that the general turned and gave out the command.
(-)
Kōro watched as one by one the sea of cannons and magic casters aimed their sites on him. It would probably be best for him to find cover of some kind amongst the ruins of his home, but Kōro knew that wouldn't do anything. He would eventually get killed from the onslaught if he hid like that. So instead Kōro had a different idea.
He needed to breath. Sheathing his two katanas and taking in a deep breathe, Kōro focused and closed his eyes. He could sense it all around him, the mana flowing through his lungs and blood, the mana within the atmosphere around him, the mana of each individual, and the mana that was building up to soon fly towards him.
Unlike most mamono who could sense both the general area and general amount of mana, Kōro could sense the exact location of each and every individual particle of mana. Kōro began to slowly spread his hands out and finally, all the countless cannons and spells rushed towards him at lightning speed.
The first thing that made it to Kōro were two cannon balls which Kōro sensed were enhanced with powerful magic. Kōro did not dodge or block the cannons. Instead he exhaled and gave his command to the nearby mana as he raised both his hands and grabbed the cannon balls mid air. Using the surrounding mana, Kōro absorbed the blows in his palms as the cannon balls pushed him backward slightly. But then as the balls of iron slowed and stop moving within Kōro's palm, the Lord then released the built up energy from the attack; sending it straight back to those who fired upon him.
Then immediately after firing back the two cannon balls, a blast of magical energy came from his left flank. Swiftly Kōro leapt into the air but purposefully left his leg exposed to the attack as Kōro quickly breathed in.
He felt excruciating pain as the magical attack made contact with Kōro's leg, which became even greater as more lethal mana made contact and flowed into Kōro's body. But Kōro cared not for the pain as he began to descend back down. With all of the mana now having rushed into his body, Kōro exhaled; using his iron lungs, which were his form of a magical catalyst, to send the built up magic back.
Quickly the mana started to spread throughout Kōro's body, but then with his next inhale, he caused the mana to move directly to his right hand, and then with an exhale and laying his palm flat to swing his hand like a knife, Kōro sent all the magic back. Afterwards Kōro had landed back to the ground and prepared to redirect the next incoming attack.
Everything had Kōro just done at this point, had only been done in one second.
(-)
The forces down below looked in horror. All of theirs shots that were aimed at the mountain, both magical and physical, were all seemingly being thrown back at them. When they first fired, the mountain top burst into smoke from the countless attacks. But from that smoke it was as though that section of the mountain was an active volcano; with debris magical energy being launched at them.
Some soldiers and mages swore they saw a large face made of smoke appear at the top. But that was all just their own minds playing tricks on them. But even the general started to question his mind as he muttered to himself, "This man... He's so powerful... but, if he is this strong, then why does he not come down to destroy us?"
"Because General," The general could feel Suijin glare daggers behind his back, "Unless he wishes to break his oath and taint his honor, Kurgane Kōro cannot leave that mountain. Now, keep firing."
The General wanted to protest. In fact, he could feel his desire to question her command in his throat, but he bit his tongue. He was a mortal, and she a goddess. What right did he have to question her? Besides, she would probably see such blatant questioning of authority as blasphemous and have him killed on the spot for treason. Reluctantly the General commanded them to keep firing, much to his forces dismay. Nothing changed though.
More and more men were killed by their own attacks at the same speed at which they fired at the mountain; causing the army to grow desperate and then afraid. Many of the mages seeing this attempted to fire their most powerful spells at the mountain top; building up magical power before shooting large beams of arcane energy towards the mountain.
At first the armies of Suijin believed they won at last, as nothing came back from the smoke to strike at them. But only seconds after the attack, the same beams of energy flew straight towards the mages; disintegrating them and countless others nearby, both mages and soldiers, into ash.
This broke what little morale remained within the soldiers and magic users. They all instinctively dropped their weapons and catalysts and ran away from the mountain as far as their legs could go. There were a few that stayed behind, believing that it was better to die serving their god or that it would only take a few more shots to gain victory.
However, those few soon perished as their attacks came back at them, killing them and others, including those who fled.
The General was frozen in place as Suijin roared, a dark and extremely cloud slowly surrounding and completely enveloping Suijin before she finished speaking , "COWARDS YOU DISABOY THE ORDERS OF YOUR GODDESS?! FINE! FLEE OR STAY TO WATCH, IT MATTERS NOT! I WILL DO THIS MYSELF!"
(-)
Kōro gasped for breath after he sent back the last of the armies' attacks. His skin burnt, his hands shook, his breathing was strained, and his body sweated more then it had in his entire life. It was not that these attacks were difficult in their strength, they were difficult in their continues onslaught. This entire tactic of his felt it had gone on for what felt like an hour.
But now the attacks ceased, and the smoke cleared around Kōro for him to see a fleeing and ruined army. However Kōro did see something else, a large dark cloud rising into the air with blue electricity moving about with two large blue eyes staring at him. It seemed Suijin had decided to take her true form.
"I GROW WEARY OF YOU KORO, I WILL KILL YOU MYSELF!" Roared Suijin whose voice echoed through the sky like thunder.
So this was her plan, wear him down and weaken him before finishing him off. He should have expected this. She always did this tactic, even back in the tournament; having him face opponents who were trained in a way that made them difficult for him to defeat before he could face her in the finale.
Suijin did not charge at him, which he was not surprised by. Instead she fired rays and bolts of lighting towards and down on him as she flew by the mountain; her form still cloaked by the clouds. The attacks were indeed monstrous, for when they did not hit Kōro they left craters in the mountain or tore the clouds in the sky clear.
But for those attacks that hit Kōro, he would do what he always did. He would anticipate when the strike would hit him and he would leap into the air and send the magic right back at Suijin. Suijin did manage to avoid the attacks herself, weaving in between Kōro's counter attacks, but Kōro could sense at least some of his counters managed to graze her.
Realizing this was not accomplishing anything but wasting her own strength, Suijin stopped flying about and roared; now charging straight towards Kōro.
Reaching down, Kōro unsheathed his two katanas and readied himself. He waited as the cloud got closer and closer, its speed increasing the further it went. He could it feel it, the blood lust from Suijin, the hatred. He had to time this right, or else at best he would have to get used to using his hands to walk with.
The attack would have connected and destroyed Kōro, but at the last second, Kōro took a deep breath and jumped. Save for his sandals getting slightly cut, Kōro managed to avoid the unknown attack and landed within the dark cloud.
Kōro quickly realized Suijin had grown in size as from what little he could see in the smoke, Suijin had transformed into a ginormous flying serpent. She had transformed into a dragon, her true form. Wasting no time, Kōro immediately brought his two katanas down on the serpent's body; piercing Suijin's scales and sinking in deep.
Then swiftly as he landed, Kōro ran forward as he held his two katanas in place; tearing her flesh and bone apart in the process. Suijin roared and Kōro instinctively dashed to the side as countless lightning bolts ran down on Kōro. However within the smoke, Kōro misjudged how much room he had to move about and fell off Suijin's body.
Instead of falling straight down, Kōro felt himself being flung about in the air as he spun about. Trying hard to remain focused, Kōro used the mana surrounding him to slow him down; giving him time to realize where he was. Kōro was being carried about by a tornado that Suijin no doubt created.
Below in the eye of the tornado, Kōro could see what little remained of the palace. Kōro though did not have time to watch as he sensed Suijin behind him. Quickly he made himself turn and blocked the unknown attack with his katanas; sending him backwards within the tornado.
Kōro didn't have room to move about in this tornado. It was too chaotic for him to use any technique, he had to be on the defensive. Looking around, Kōro spotted small debris flying throughout the battlefield. Swiftly Kōro moved as best he could to land atop one of the tiny debris to act as a makeshift platform while all the while blocking more of Suijin's attacks as she poked in the tornado every few seconds.
Suijin was unrelenting, not wanting to let Kōro have time to recover. Right when Kōro landed on a bit of stone that was just big enough for him to stand on, Suijin caused a lightning bolt from the sky to strike down where he was. Forcing him to constantly leap around debris; still blocking her own attacks all the while.
Then as Kōro at last ran out of debris to leap around on, Suijin, still in her draconic and serpentine form with its countless small yet long and humanoid arms, rushed out from bottom of the tornado moving upwards toward Kōro . Kōro had no time to prepare to counter her as she fired a wave of electrical fire breath.
Kōro grunted in pain as he tried to absorb and send back the attack, but he couldn't and he was sent further into the air. Not wasting her moment, Suijin flew further upwards and slashed at Kōro while simultaneously grabbing him by the skull. Kōro could feel his helmet and mask begin to shatter and fall off his head as his body was cut open in countless ways.
Then, while slowly crushing Kōro's skull, Suijin flew downwards and rammed Kōro's face into the mountain. Suijin did not let up, she kept going by dragging him through the mountain trying to grind him into a bloody powder. But Kōro would not yield, even as he felt his bones and skull crack and blood leave his body.
Kōro kept breathing with all his mind, desperately commanding the surrounding mana to heal him and keep him alive. Then, fighting against the strength of Suijin, Kōro managed to slash at Suijin's hand; severing it and freeing Kōro as Suijin screamed in pain and flew back to recover as the tornado dissipated.
Though right as she turned around, Suijin used her long serpentine tail and attempted to strike Kōro who anticipated the attack and ducked beneath it; causing the large tail to turn the palace completely into rubble. There were no signs left of the Palace even existing now.
Coughing up blood Kōro got up; his body now covered with new wounds and burns. Though the mana was healing him, it was relatively slow. At most it was enough to keep him alive even with the most lethal of wounds, but it would take minutes for him to fully heal. And that sort of healing in combat is too long.
Suijin soon recovered and was desperate. Kōro could feel the air around become unbearably hot as rain that boiled like acid began to come down; making each droplet painful. This was probably meant to counter his healing, but Kōro could fix that. However he did not have time to do that as Suijin rushed towards him.
Suddenly the Lord felt his hands grow heavy as he looked down to see that Suijin had placed magical runes on his hands. They were not of lethal mana, no, it was demonic energy; and it was sapping his strength. She was still trying to weaken him to finish him off. But Kōro would not let that happen.
The lord sheathed his blades, but kept his hands on them. He would end this here and now the same way as he did before at the tournament.
Right as Suijin's fangs were about to reach Kōro, even as he felt his strength rapidly leave him, he unsheathed both katanas at the speed of light and thrusted both of them straight into her eyes.
Kōro could feel the blades sink into her flesh as she screamed with a high pitched whale. Desperate to get him off her, Suijin created a blast of wind and smoke; sending Kōro back flying along with his two katanas. When Kōro got back on his feet, he looked up to see the smoke clear and Suijin back in her humanoid form.
The demonic runes placed on Kōro's body must have been strong, as he could feel his strength being sapped from him by the second. However Kōro resisted by trying to absorb as much mana from the environment through his lungs as he possibly could to counteract the draining energy.
He could not waste anymore time. He had to end this now. Kōro pulled back his arms as he prepared to strike Suijin and leapt towards her. However right before his blades made contact, he heard the sound of rushing water and lightning.
With one harsh step, Kōro stopped himself and dashed backwards; barely avoiding two beams of boiling high pressure water sent by two Shirobis. As Kōro pulled back, the two snake mamono kept the assault as Suijin opened a portal and pulled out a flask containing a blue liquid, a mana potion, and began gulping it down.
Realizing his time was short, and his strength still rapidly leaving him, Kōro let one of the streams of water hit him; sending him flying straight towards one of the Shirobis as the boiling water burned his back. The Shirobi's eyes widend as Kōro severed her head clean off.
The other Shirobi was shocked at the sight that her own attack caused the death of her companion, giving Kōro the one second he needed to turn around and move in to give her the same blow that killed her companion.
It was getting hard to breathe for Kōro, the demonic runes on his body were not leaving him and were getting worse. He had to focus, he just had to keep breathing in as much mana as he could to resist. Suijin herself got up, using her magic to heal her eyes , scars, and missing arm as she scowled; her eyes still the pulsating flesh like they were before.
The two said nothing, though they both felt equal hatred for each other. Kōro rushed in to end the fight but Suijin drew out two daggers and began blocking, parrying, and retaliating. Kōro did the same, both matching in their skills with blades, but Kōro was gaining the upper hand; slowly adding new scars to Suijin's body.
But then Suijin herself made an opening, using her tail to trip Kōro to the ground. So much of his strength was now leaving him that he was caught off guard by the move. But as Suijin lunged downward to finish Kōro off, Kōro rolled to the side while slicing off the same arm he had cut in her dragon form and got up before blocking more of Suijin's attacks.
This time however, Kōro predicted the tail swing and timed his attack just right for when Suijin did such an attack, he severed her a large chunk of her tail. But instead of recoiling in pain to leave Kōro an opening to kill her, Suijin screamed in pain and roared out a blast of electrifying fire breath; hitting Kōro square in the chest sending him back.
"No more... NO MORE!" Shouted Suijin as she flew into the sky; her body twisting and stretching as she forced herself to transform back into her true form, "I DON'T CARE IF I DIE," Suijin concentrated individual orbs of energy with each of her hands, and mouth, "I DON'T CARE IF THIS WORLD BURNS!" Suijin then fired all the orbs toward each other, fusing them together as she kept firing energy into the now single orb. All the while Suijin had as much lightning as she could muster from the air to strike at her orb, "I JUST WANT YOU TO DIE ALREADY!"
Kōro looked in dismay as he got up. To think Suijin was this desperate. He could already see parts of her body disintegrate as she forced herself to use every ounce of magical powerful within her body. It seemed to him that all monsters deep down still had their wicked and blood-lust fueled side within them. All that was needed to bring it out was the right conditions, and Kōro must have done just that. He had pushed her to her darkest depths.
The lord winced as he took a step forward; falling to his knees as he struggled to stay conscious, his vision blurry. He had to keep going, he had to stop this. Kōro could sense the amount of mana from this. This attack would no doubt destroy everything in this world.
He had to stop it. With all of his strength Kōro struggled to stand as the demonic runes still were sapping his energy like leeches. How could Kōro stop this though? Trying to do his usual trick wouldn't work at all, the amount of mana was just too much. He didn't have time to think it through.
Using his lungs, Kōro took deep breaths to draw in as much mana as he could; Creating a shield of mana around him and enforcing his own blades with mana. Stepping forward, with fear leaving his heart, Kōro thought back to the words of his brother, "I would rather go down with my head held high with honor in tact and resisting with all my might, then to die like a wounded animal."
"BEGONE!" Roared the dissipating Suijin; sending down the orb straight towards Kōro.
With two loud stomps, Kōro positioned himself as his brother's words kept going through his head, "I will not go gently into that good night Kōro. But what of you?"
Kōro brought his katanas up, both of them covered with ever growing flames of mana. When the orb of mana made contact with his blades, Kōro felt like the weight of the world was pushing him down. It was blinding, burning, sickening. Kōro slowly was brought to his knees as the Orb pushed down on him.
But the lord would not let it take him down. Even as he felt his legs and arms begin to break, he held back the orb of energy. "Just die...already" Whispered the floating and dissipating head of Suijin as she kept feeding the orb energy. "Why must you... resist... the inevitable?" With those last words, Suijin dissipated completely; leaving Kōro completely alone.
The magical shield around Kōro shatters, and slowly the orb starts to push back against Kōro's blades. Kōro grunted in pain but held himself together as best he could, "So, this is how it will end? Guess it won't hurt then," Kōro pulled back his main-handed weapon, the blade of his ancestors that was handed to him long ago, "To try everything I've got."
"Oh Voice, if you're listening, give me strength," Prayed Kōro to himself. Then whether the mana was internal or external, Kōro commanded as much mana as he could get to surround his blade. With one final breathe, Kōro fought to peer into the orb and struck it with a slash that would even put the god Ares to shame.
The orb was severed into two, and all went white for Kōro as he felt his entire body burned.
(-)
Gael and Petre hiked through the hills and small mountains; the sounds of thunder growing increasingly louder the further they went on. They had been doing this for hours. At the beginning Gael insisted for Petre to remain on his back, but as time progressed Petre eventually convinced Gael to let himself walk on his own.
"You know, I'm surprised we haven't actually encountered any Kurogane soldiers. I mean, they usually patrol every leaf of grass in this land," Spoke up Petre who was trailing behind Gael.
The old slave knight did agree it was rather odd, but the giant did recall that site at the village. Arriving at a very steep mountain side Gael turned to Petre and motioned for him to get on his back, "Perhaps, but they do seem to be at war. Most likely their enemy has pushed them back further into their own territory; preventing them from patrolling these areas."
"That's probably true, though its odd to think of the Kurogane clan being pushed this far back. Guess we don't have time to lose then," responded Petre before climbing on Gael's back.
Using his own great sword and through brute strength, Gael began climbing the small yet steep mountain. Eventually, after leaving many a crack on the stone wall, the two made it to the top. Petre got off of Gael as he pointed forward, "There it is, the world's peak, the capital of the Kurogane clan...," Petre stopped at what he could see.
In the distance there were no more mountains, all but for one mountain a few miles away. Said mountain was taller then anything Gael had ever seen, the mountain top reaching into the clouds itself and beyond. It felt like the time he tried to look up to see the Dreg Heap far above the Ringed City.
However the capital itself and the surrounding area appeared to be burning hot with flame like a volcano. And Gael could almost sense the amount of death even from where he stood miles away from the capital. Suddenly, from the mountain peak, a faint shining orb appeared. "Hey is it just me, or is that light getting closer and closer?" Asked Petre.
The man was right, the light was seemingly getting closer and brighter towards them. Then it hit Gael what was happening. This light wasn't just getting closer, it was getting bigger and bigger.
"Wait! That thing is getting bigge-" Immediately taking action and interrupting Petre, Gael grabbed the man along with the crates and covered them with his own body and sword; turning himself into a living shield of sorts. This orb, this light, whatever it was Gael knew it was dangerous.
Gael knew that if he didn't do anything Petre would die. Same as well for Gael but he was an undead, he would come back to life, but Petre couldn't. Which is why he did exactly what he did.
A few seconds later, the orb made to Gael and enveloped him in a blinding yet agonizingly painful light. Gael could only hope Petre would survive this. Slowly, everything went white for Gael.
(-)
The blast grew seemingly endlessly. Covering the entirety of Zipangu like a roaring flood within minutes. The trees were burned and crumbled into dust, mamono and humans were turned to ash, buildings crumbled, the water and air were tainted, and shadows were frozen in place upon ground; immortalizing the countless lives claimed.
All felt the death of Zipangu, both god and mortal. Hel's tears began to overflow as she watched helplessly and the Demon Lord fell to her knee as she felt her connection to countless mamono being severed from her in an instant. All the while the sky across the world, even the at the Demon Lord's Castle which was on the other side of the globe, turned to day for a brief moment.
When the blast dissipated and the smoke cleared, there was nothing left but an empty wasteland with nothing remaining but ruin, ash, and rubble. There was no life left, that is, save for one.
Atop the lonely mountain peak, with one arm missing, his body completely burnt, and his internal organs exposed, stood shakily Kōro with his katana in hand; forcing himself to live by fighting the surrounding mana to heal him and keep alive.
There was nothing left for him now, nothing but his honor and his oath. For as long as he drew breathe, whether it be god, man, mamono, machine, or anything imaginable, Kōro would not allow anyone to either enter or claim this mountain. Nor would he ever leave said mountain.
For he was Kōro, the last of the Kurogane clan, and he would uphold his oath... no matter the cost.
(Summery of the end if you just wanted to skip here or got here)
Everyone died in the battle for the Kurogane capital. Everyone else in Zipangu then died in a big explosion on Zipangu due the explosion Suijin created which was in the simplest sense a magical nuke. So ye everyone is dead except Koro and possibly Gael and Petre.