AngelSubzero - Douma's Adventures

Kazuki sat in front of General Genkunodo who took a small sip of his tea on the tatami mats. They had agreed to discuss about the war and its effects on the innocent face-to-face. General Genkunodo may be at the other end of the stick, but there was no denying that he too had his fears about this turn of events.

"We don't really have a choice do we? This war will only continue if we don't come back stronger. The Genkunodo clan might have lost several soldiers who died with honor, but that doesn't mean we're shorthanded. Our strengths will help us soar to greater heights during the battle. Hayato won't take away everything we stood for." General Genkunodo said, putting his mug down.

"The government has resorted to tighter measures like patrols, how does the clan plan on going about these new regulations?" Kazuki asked with a glare. These two clans at war were still one entity to the eyes of the government and people. For these past few decades, the shogunate have been fighting for their own stability. However, after their separation they began fighting each other for their own independence but everybody else got dragged in as well.

Both Miya and Choru watched General Genkunodo stare into space for a while. That question might have stumped him. He didn't have a definite answer did he?

"Even if we decide to forfeit this battle, Hayato will still continue to hunt us down. He's capable of tossing hundreds of men with his eyes closed. We fear him more than General Heinomora for that matter. This doesn't feel like a battle against the whole Heinomora clan, rather Hayato and his brutal antics."

Kazuki curled his fingers. People including the entire Genkunodo Clan had every right to be afraid. Hayato was no ordinary opponent, he was a skilled fighter who would stop at nothing to shred his enemies with that large sword of his stained with the blood of countless lives that he took.

"The outcome of this battle doesn't matter to me anymore. Win or lose, there is no satisfaction. The Shogunate is already in shambles and it's been that way long enough. I don't have the passion to continue leading on these rulings any further. Perhaps I'll give it up to someone who's willing to take over or disband the clan completely. I carry the guilt with me wherever I go, it's daunting." General Genkunodo turned around to see numerous disappointed faces of his people, the servants had unreadable expressions and the shogun seemed displeased but understood how he felt.

"We're not on the same side. Remember that." Kazuki told General Genkunodo sternly in which he nodded. That resentment was indifferent to General Genkunodo, he was used to it by now. After all, these 'allies' only shared one thing in common with him, and that is to defeat Hayato for peace.

That'll teach him. I hope he learns from these events. Kazuki glanced at the rest of the people gathering in the main halls. They looked at the swordsman with hostility, some despair.

"Why can't the Genkunodo Clan and Heinomora Clan reunite again? Are your policies that different from one another?" Miya asked the general who sat on the tatami mat peacefully with his mug of tea in his hands.

"Well according to history, their disagreement on human welfare is the literal reason why the Shogunate was divided." Choru answered Miya's question about the dispute. "I mean who would wanna fight alongside someone who kills anything that moves? Just because they're not as powerful as him, how ridiculous!"

"It's not just that, there was already a preexisting internal conflict in the Shogunate. That's why Hayato despises the Genkunodo Clan. He views them as traitors." Sensei added.

Kazuki got up and stood beside his two friends and Sensei. They watched General Genkunodo walk over to the table to view the layout of the battle that had been sketched out by the soldiers. He mumbled to himself about the arrangements, unsure if this could lead the clan to victory. But he tried to stay positive, he wanted this battle to be the last.

"General Genkunodo needs a break from all of this. A well-deserved one at that." Choru said, crossing his arms while they stood there in the main halls of the Genkunodo Clan's castle.

~~~

Since the coast was clear of any dispatched patrol teams, Hayato emerged from the bushes and rushed down the dirt trail lit up by the only source of light in this secluded part of the forest, his torch that barely shunned away the darkness surrounding him. Even the greenery blended in with the night. Hayato felt the cold still air penetrating his armor. Its sturdiness couldn't fend off the hostility of the forest.

That's how demanding the forest was when it came to trespassers. It wanted Hayato out but he insisted on finding this tomb. Should he hear the footsteps of the government's patrol, he could always sneak back into the bushes and lunge at them. They wouldn't realize their demise because of the pitch-black ambience of the forest. Their torches would fall to the ground, burning them at the same time. Hayato being the last person they see before turning into masses of ashes.

As he ventured further, Hayato finally saw a cobbled table with some offerings and a dimly lit candle on each side.

Hayato picked up his pace and stopped when he finally came up close with the tomb lying in the center. It wasn't very huge but still noticeable among the offerings surrounded it. The strings tied from every angle were seals to keep the demonic entity in the tomb at bay. It won't be long until Hayato unleashes its power. The fear that the forest has been trying to evoke in him wouldn't matter anymore.

The torch was of no use anymore now that he was going to be the possessor of such power. Hayato dropped the torch to the ground and put out its flame with his foot.

Suddenly, a man who looked to be middle-aged started yelling at him, running down the slope behind the table with a spear in his possession. The man sprang towards him and slashed his weapon at Hayato but missed by a few inches.

This man is a skilled fighter, his movements are impressive. His family must've dedicated their time to keep the tomb away from outsiders. Too bad this legacy ends here. Hayato darted towards the man who was about to slash him again and grabbed the spear with both of his hands, stunning the man who tried to maintain a firm grip on his weapon.

Hayato snapped the spear into two like a wooden stick and tossed it to the side. He then swung his blade at the man who fell back and scurried away helplessly.

"Don't! It's too dangerous you don't know what you're getting yourself into!" The man cried, he noticed one of the strings snap from the pressure of Hayato's sword when it pushed him to the ground. A terrible sign.

Hayato stepped towards the table and opened the tomb. The wind started howling menacingly as the trees and leaves started swaying vigorously. Hayato stood there, embracing the power that was coursing through him at that very moment.