The air was thick with the promise of rain as Senkuu stood alone on the bridge leading to Ishigami Village, his sharp eyes scanning the horizon. Dark clouds loomed overhead, and the distant gust of wind echoed like a war drum in his ears. He gripped his matchlock gun tightly, every muscle in his body coiled and ready.
Just in silence, waiting for the enemy.
From the shadows of the forest, the enemy emerged—Hyouga's men, their eyes glinting with malice and spears at the ready. Senkuu put on a look of surprise with the sudden appearance of the enemies, fumbling with his arsenal as if caught off guard. He struck a match, but the gusting wind snuffed it out immediately. Panic flashed across his face.
"Look at him, he can't even light a match!" one of the soldiers jeered, his laughter echoed by his comrades.
The enemy soldiers laughed, their derision cutting through the tense atmosphere like a knife. They raised their spears, points glinting menacingly in the dim light, all aimed directly at Senkuu.
Just as the soldiers closed in, Senkuu's expression shifted. His eyes sparkled with a mischievous glint, and a roguish smirk spread across his face.
"What's so funny?" One of Hyouga's men demanded, his spear mere inches from Senkuu.
From the shadows, the defenders of Ishigami Village emerged. Kohaku, Magma, Kinrou, Ginrou, and the other villagers stepped forward, their katanas gleaming with a deadly sharpness.
"Surprise," Kohaku said with a fierce grin, her katana slicing through the air.
"What the—?!" A soldier exclaimed, eyes widening as the defenders closed in.
With a unified cry, the defenders swung their swords. The clash of metal against the weapons filled the air as the katanas sliced through the enemy spears, shattering them like twigs. The enemies' expressions morphed from confident to horrify as they realized the power of these new weapons.
"K-Katanas?!" one of Hyouga's men stammered as he barely parried a strike.
Senkuu's laughter rang out, clear and triumphant. "This is yet the strongest weapon of the Stone World," he declared, his voice carrying over the din of battle. "The Blade of Science."
The village defenders moved with practiced precision, their katanas cutting down the enemy's defenses with ease. The once-confident soldiers found themselves on the back foot, their spears splintered and broken.
"This can't be happening!" Another soldier yelled, panic creeping into his voice. "We're too inferior!"
From the edge of the battlefield, Hyouga watched, his eyes cold and calculating. "Before your weapons are destroyed, your hearts have been crushed," he mocked, stepping forward with a sinister grace. "But this should be Senkuu's goal."
As Hyouga approached, the air seemed to thicken, the storm above rumbling in anticipation. The defenders tightened their grip on their katanas, ready to face this new threat. The battle was far from over, and the real fight was just beginning.
Inside the village was tense with anticipation. Chrome and Kunzite moved swiftly, guiding the children and elderly towards the hidden exit, a narrow path concealed behind a thicket of bushes. The villagers moved silently, their fear palpable but tempered by the trust they had in their guides.
Chrome, leading the group, turned to Kunzite. "We have to be quick. If Hyouga's men breach the defenses, they'll head straight for the village."
Kunzite nodded, her eyes scanning the path ahead. "Keep moving, everyone. Stay close and stay quiet," she whispered, her voice calm and steady despite the chaos outside.
As the group pressed on, the sounds of battle from the bridge grew louder. Kunzite could hear the clashing of katanas and the shouts of the defenders. She glanced at Chrome, who was visibly worried but focused on his task.
"We're almost there," Chrome reassured the villagers. "Just a little further."
Back in the village, a few defenders had stayed behind to guard the homes and provide a last line of defense. Among them were Genbu, Jasper, Kokuyo, and Kaseki, along with some of the village's experienced men, ready to protect their home at all costs.
Jasper, wielding a spear of his own, turned to the others. "We'll hold them off as long as we can," he said, his voice carrying an undercurrent of determination. "But remember, our priority is to buy time for the evacuation."
Genbu nodded, his grip tight on his spear. "Let's make sure they don't get past us."
Kaseki and Kokuyo, both armed and ready, took their positions. Jasper glanced at Kaseki and grinned. "We can't let them through."
As Chrome and Kunzite led the last of the villagers through the hidden path, Kunzite paused, her senses alert. She turned to Chrome. "I'll stay here and help guard the rear. Make sure everyone gets to safety."
Chrome hesitated but nodded. "Be careful, Kunzite."
She gave him a reassuring smile. "I will. Now go."
Chrome continued leading the villagers to safety while Kunzite remained behind, ready to face any threat that might come their way. The village was eerily quiet, the tension hanging heavy in the air. Kunzite's heart pounded, but she stood firm, her eyes sharp and her hands steady, uncharacteristic of her.
Suddenly, she noticed a bright-colored silhouette blurred past her vision. Kunzite's eyes snapped to the movement, spotting a woman with striking pink hair climbing along the side of the village. The woman, clad in pink clothing, was carrying a torch, the flame flickering ominously as she moved dangerously close to the houses.
Kunzite's instincts kicked in. She pulled a dagger from her belt with a swift, practiced motion. Her eyes locked onto the intruder, and without hesitation, she hurled the dagger through the air.
The dagger flew with precision, slicing through the space between Kunzite and the intruder. It grazed the edge of the woman's pink hair, forcing her to recoil with a sudden, agile leap. The woman's flexibility was evident as she twisted in mid-air, landing gracefully a few feet away.
Kunzite's gaze remained steady, her grip on another dagger firm. "What are you doing here?" she demanded, her voice unwavering. "This village is off-limits."
The woman's lips remained blank as she adjusted her stance, the torch casting an eerie glow on her face. "Just passing through," she replied. "And testing the defenses, if you must know."
Kunzite's eyes narrowed, her mind racing. "I'm afraid I can't let you continue."
The woman cocked her head as she prepared herself. "Then let's see if you can stop me."
The woman leaped into action, her body soaring effortlessly through the air. She performed a series of acrobatic flips and twists, landing with perfect precision on the edge of a rooftop. Her movements were so quick and agile that it was almost as if she was flying.
Kunzite watched intently, her hands poised to act. She pulled a dagger from her belt and hurled it towards the woman, who was still airborne. The dagger cut through the air with deadly accuracy, aimed directly at her midsection.
In a breathtaking display of agility, the woman twisted in mid-air, narrowly avoiding the dagger. She landed lightly on her feet, her eyes sparkling with a mix of challenge and amusement. "You're quick," she said, her voice carrying a note of admiration. "But you'll have to be faster to catch me."
Kunzite knew her own skills were still developing—her training had been limited to just three days. She felt the pressure of her inexperience but refused to let it show. She reached for another dagger, her movements precise and calculated. With a determined flick of her wrist, she sent the second dagger hurtling towards her opponent.
The woman's reaction was almost instinctual. She leaped into the air once more, performing a graceful somersault that allowed her to evade the incoming dagger. As she descended, she tilted her head slightly. "Impressive effort, but not quite enough."
Kunzite's expression remained resolute despite the mounting challenge. "I'm not done yet," she replied firmly. She took a deep breath and prepared to launch another dagger, her focus unwavering.
The woman, still in mid-air, seemed almost to float as she maneuvered with ease. Her torch flickered in the air, casting eerie shadows that danced around her. Kunzite knew that she needed to outthink her opponent, not just outfight her.
Kunzite threw the next dagger with a strategic aim, trying to anticipate her opponent's path. The blade sailed through the air, aimed to intercept her opponent's trajectory. The clash of their skills created a dramatic contrast—Kunzite's precision against the woman's unpredictable acrobatics.
The sound of hurried footsteps approached. Jasper, Genbu, Kokuyo, and the other defenders burst into view, their faces etched with urgency and concern. They had come from the village's edge, responding to the gravity of the situation.
Jasper's gaze swept over the scene. "Kunzite, are you okay?"
"Hey there Jasper," Kunzite replied with a strained smile. "We have an opponent, she's incredibly fast. Plus, she is holding a torch, she might be aiming to burn down the village."
Kokuyo stepped forward, his eyes narrowing at the woman after hearing Kunzite's analyzation, with a powerful swing, he brought his katana down toward her.
Her reaction was swift and graceful, leaping and twisting in mid-air to dodge Kokuyo's strike. Her flexibility allowed her to avoid the blade with ease, landing gracefully on a nearby rooftop.
"You're persistent," The woman remarked. "But it won't be enough."
"Shouldn't you be worried about your leader's condition?" Jasper bit back, glancing towards the distance.
Her eyes flicked over to Hyouga, who was visible from afar with a broken spearhead in his hand. The sight of Hyouga's compromised state made her resolve waver. The situation was dire, and she knew she needed to act quickly.
In a desperate move, she hurled the torch towards the nearest houses, intending to set them ablaze and create chaos. The torch arced through the air, its flame flickering ominously.
Kunzite, her eyes sharp despite her exhaustion, saw the torch hurtling toward the houses. Drawing on her training, she took aim with her last remaining dagger. Her practice with Kohaku had somewhat honed her skills, and she released the dagger with focused precision.
'May luck be on my side.'Kunzite thought, as she watched the dagger flew towards the object she targeted. Hoping it'd hit.
The dagger struck the torch mid-flight, embedding itself in the flaming object as Kunzite felt triumph. The impact changed the torch's trajectory, redirecting it away from the cluster of houses. The flame landed on a single house, setting it alight but sparing the rest from destruction.
The woman, seeing her plan thwarted, cast a frustrated glance at the burning house. With a final, defiant look towards the defenders, she leapt into the shadows, racing back toward Hyouga.
"Extinguish that before the wind scatter the fire towards the nearby houses!" Senkuu barked from afar, the remaining defenders moving swiftly to answer his call while the opponents rushed back toward the forest.
Senkuu's eyes followed Hyouga's retreating figure, a tired grin spreading across his face. "Enjoy the surprise that's coming your way shortly, Hyouga."
Gen standing behind him smiled. "You're so cruel."
Senkuu snorted. "You're the one who gave me the intel."
The retreating scene filled with tension as Hyouga and the woman, named Homura, sprinted through the forest, their men's breaths coming in ragged gasps. The urgency of their escape was palpable, with the sounds of voices and the crackle of flames fading behind them.
Homura, her pink hair streaming behind her, led the way, her movement fluid and practiced. Hyouga, heavy and determined, kept pace but was increasingly aware of the exhaustion gnawing at him. He cast a wary glance over his shoulder, noting the dwindling distance between them and the village.
Hyouga admitted defeat. He should've known that Senkuu is a genius in his own right, acknowledging that Senkuu's genius was undeniable. He had heard Tsukasa's opinions on Senkuu, noting that the young scientist often came off as overconfident in his scientific prowess, only making one plan without back up. Yet, Hyouga couldn't help but wonder if Tsukasa might be wrong or if someone had assisted Senkuu in revising his plans.
Suddenly, a harsh, metallic snap echoed through the forest. Hyouga's eyes widened as a hidden trap triggered with a sharp clank, its iron jaws closing around his leg. The trap, cleverly concealed and padded with vines to blend into the surroundings, clamped down with unrelenting force. Hyouga grunted, his face contorted with pain as the iron teeth dug into his limb, the padded vines doing little to cushion the blow.
"Fuck," Hyouga cursed, trying to free himself with futile jerks. The trap's mechanism was unforgiving; each attempt to move only tightened its grip. The pain was intense, and he could feel the metal pressing against his bones.
Homura, who had been running slightly ahead, heard the trap's snap and turned abruptly. She skidded to a stop, her eyes widening as she saw Hyouga kneeling on the ground, struggling against the trap. The sight of her leader in such a vulnerable position caused a pang of fear and urgency in her chest.
"Hyouga!" Homura called out, rushing back to his side.
But as she reached him, her hands grasping at the trap's iron jaws, it was clear that the trap was unyielding. The intricate design of the trap, covered with vines, made it nearly impossible to pry open. Her efforts were met with grim frustration.
Hyouga, gritting his teeth against the pain, looked up at Homura with a fierce, commanding gaze. "There's no time. Get out of here. Report to Tsukasa. Tell him what happened. I'll hold them off as best I can."
"But—" Homura began, her voice tinged with desperation.
"Go!" Hyouga barked, his voice cutting through her hesitation. "I'm giving you a direct order. I'm not going to slow you down. Save yourself and report back. That's an order."
Reluctantly, Homura nodded, her face a mask of determination and worry. She took one last look at Hyouga, then turned and sprinted away, her heart heavy with the weight of her leader's plight.
As Homura disappeared into the forest, Hyouga remained trapped, his mind racing with strategic thoughts and plans. He knew the he was still in danger, and he had to hold off any further pursuit. His determination was unwavering, even as the pain from the trap threatened to overwhelm him.
"Hi, you good down there?"
Hyouga's last vision was the insufferable blonde 'gorilla' woman.
"I did give you the intel on their retreat route, you were the one who made the iron trap." Gen quipped, looking at Senkuu with a brow arched in display.
Senkuu shrugged, his expression nonchalant. "All I did was plan things out effectively. It's not just about having the right information; it's about executing it with precision. Success speaks for itself."
As Senkuu turned and headed back toward the village, his posture exuded confidence and satisfaction, a clear sign of his pride in their achievement.