AngelSubzero - Douma's Adventures

The battle had commenced. Both sides started charging at each other, clashing their swords and skidding to the corners to lure their enemies away from their formations.

Hayato swore that this day will be the last time the world will ever hear of the Genkunodo Clan. He raced towards the soldiers sprinting in his direction and sliced them with his sword. When they fell to the ground, Hayato spun around and threw his approaching opponents to the corner. Letting his soldiers finish the job.

Though General Heinomora had passed, his influence still remained in the people of the Heinomora Clan. After he died of a heart attack from finding out about the forbidden powers Hayato had obtained, the clan wasn't sure if Hayato could lead them to victory. Hayato knew, their shallow hearts were still attached to the general. However, it didn't hold any significance to him.

To Hayato, there was nothing formidable about General Heinomora's leadership. He was weak just like the Genkunodo Clan. Always opening the doors for roaches and vermin who contaminated the clan's values.

Now that I've taken over as the new general of the Heinomora Clan, I will surely lead my people to victory. Hayato pushed the opposing forces off him and punctured their limbs with his sword. They bled out and collapsed to the ground.

The new leadership positions will be settled after the battle. Despite the new arrangement the clan will have to adhere to, that wasn't of any priority to Hayato. He was confident that his clan will yearn for his leadership again at some point.

A few meters away from Hayato were Kazuki and the shogun of the Genkunodo Clan. They took down several opponents from the Heinomora Clan and continued to do so, ending the fights with a slash to the throat whilst purposely standing near the cliff so any enemy who tries to pounce on them from the back ends up falling to their death from the misty mountain.

Kazuki glided along the slippery floor of the battlegrounds and sliced the feet of two oncoming shogun from the Heinomora Clan.

"We're outnumbered!"

The battle grew fiercer as time passed. When Hayato reached the center of the battlefield, three shogun from the Genkunodo Clan lunged at him with their swords pointing at him from all corners. Hayato raised his sword and stabbed each one of them like condiments on a skewer and then threw them off the cliff.

The swordsman widened his eyes when he saw his comrades' bodies get thrown off the cliff mercilessly by Hayato. The commander of the Heinomora Clan disappeared in the fog raising Kazuki's anxiety when he realized he was standing all by himself in this particular spot. The rest of his comrades fighting their own battles, unable to cover him if Hayato sprang out.

But Hayato wasn't planning on attacking just yet. He was going to leave Kazuki clueless for it was entertaining to watch him struggle to even balance himself.

Meanwhile, two of the Heinomora Clan's soldiers were observing Hayato from a distance. Discussing about their commander's new power and this big mistake he's done; It counted as a wrongdoing, anybody would find Hayato to be a filthy traitor. He was in no position to lead the Heinomora Clan now that he is in possession of a shunned and cursed power. A righteous leader is someone who fights fair and square. Hayato was neither of that, not anymore.

The moment Hayato stepped away from the corpses lying on the floor in the center of the battlefield, he saw two of his own comrades sprinting towards him with their swords unsheathed and hostile expressions that asked for a fight.

Hayato stood still and waited for the two traitors to close in on him. Once they did, he spun around and sliced off their heads clean at once.

The bodies of the two soldiers fell to the ground. A pool of blood seeped onto the floor, creating a flow of crimson red liquid that served as a warning for those who dared approach the battlefield's center where Hayato stood.

Hayato felt no guilt in killing his own comrades. Since the time he announced his new power, whispers of disapproval caught his attention. It seems a full-on betrayal could happen anytime soon, but even if it meant crippling their flesh and bones, Hayato wouldn't have any sense of remorse, because these clanmates weren't loyal. If they were, they'd have no issues with the steps he's taking to ensure the Heinomora Clan gets the advantage.

This power brought him ahead of even the most renowned rulers. His presence instilled fear in every soul that stumbles upon him. Right now, those on the battlefield didn't dare approach him in the center, corpses were piled around Hayato. And this vibe he gave off, was unsettling, they didn't recognize him as a former human who used to be a part of their faction, rather a monster they fought against.

Even his comrades felt uncomfortable, they resented reporting back to him. Hayato killed their own comrades in cold blood. Just because they didn't agree with him on his decision.

"Why would you let these traitors treat you like weaklings?! They exchanged your potential for a bunch of outsiders! Our enemies have no pure fighting spirit in them! Prove them wrong! Prove to them you're worthy of dominion!" Hayato shoved several of the opposing shogun and his rebellious comrades to the ground, injuring some of them in the process.

Kazuki widened his eyes at the scene. He's after everybody here, it doesn't matter whose side their on as long as they're enemies of his new power.

When one of the soldier's sword caused Hayato to stumble, the commander growled at him and impaled his torso with his large blade. The soldier choked and fell to the back. The rest of the soldiers charging at him stopped in their tracks. The same fear and uneasiness they experienced overwhelmed them again. It's as if their legs were frozen in place.

Soon the battle between the Genkunodo Clan and Heinomora Clan resumed frantically. When Kazuki glanced behind him, he saw Hayato approaching him.

"We meet again. I'll be sure to finish you and those pesky friends of yours at once."

Now I'll just lead him to the gorge. Kazuki sprinted away from the battlefield. Hayato narrowed his eyes at the swordsman and chased after him.

A few soldiers got in Hayato's way and rammed into him. Hayato drew his sword and shoved the soldiers away with his elbow. "Kamisori no mure!" The commander of the Heinomora Clan rotated his sword several times in the direction of the soldiers like a trio of daggers dangling from his fingers.

The yelling men in front of him were forced to kneel down while their bodies slowly fell limp to the ground from the thousand needles pricking their skin. This power was unlike any other they had seen before. Hayato was stronger than ever. Dangerously stronger.

Hayato grumbled at them and continued running in Kazuki's direction. You won't go far. That stamina of yours isn't going to last. The rogue 'samurai' could sense Kazuki's fear like a trail.

When Kazuki reached the gorge, he stepped a few feet away from the grass and onto the platform in the center of the mountain. His feet soaked in the shallow water that was almost covered in dead leaves and sticks.

He turned around to see movement around the rock formation. Miya, Choru and Sensei were getting ready for Hayato's arrival so they could turn cutting the rope.

Choru emerged from the fog and nodded at Kazuki, indicating that he was going to inform Miya and Sensei to start cutting the rope now that Hayato was on the way.

Kazuki took a deep breath and held his sword. The adrenaline was distorting his senses, at some point, the swordsman had doubts about this plan. After seeing how Hayato instantly killed his own comrades without having to confront them about their betrayal, Kazuki wasn't sure if their plan could outsmart him that easily.

Regardless, he had already brought Hayato here, it was only a matter of time until the final showdown begins.

Seconds went by and the air turned cold. Hayato emerged from the fog and tightened his grip on his blade. "All that running is killing your stamina. If you don't turn back now I'm afraid this will be your last battle." The rogue 'samurai' approached Kazuki who took a few step backwards to brace himself.

"You're wrong. This'll be my last battle with you. Which means you won't be emerging from this battle alive after everything you've done. Your fate has been decided and I'll make sure these horrible times die with you." Kazuki got into a fighting stance.

"Are you sure about that?" Hayato whispered.

The swordsman immediately spun around to see Hayato beside him. The rogue 'samurai' was right in front of him before. When did he move from his spot? Kazuki hadn't even blinked. He just glanced down for less than a second.

Hayato noticed the fear rising in Kazuki and took that as an opportunity to strike. "If you have nothing else to say than I don't see the need to drag this any longer." The Heinomora Clan's commander thrashed his sword at Kazuki who leaped away from the towering man and blocked the next attack with his sword.

The weight of Hayato's sword pushed Kazuki towards the rock formation. Kazuki noticed this and slid his blade behind Hayato's large sword within a second. He threw Hayato to the side, the commander steadying himself on the shallow water before he fell.

"Kamisori no mure!" When Kazuki was about to dash towards Hayato near the corner, the rogue samurai appeared in front of him and shoved the swordsman into the water with his sword. Kazuki struggled to lift himself up as Hayato stomped towards him and stepped on his hand.

Kazuki cried and rolled away from there. He frantically grabbed his sword in the water before Hayato could get close to it and sprang up backwards from the water.

Hayato followed Kazuki when he stepped onto the rock a few meters away. The rogue samurai swung his sword at Kazuki who instinctively blocked it. Kazuki's sword clashed with the large blade of Hayato's which was gigantic compared to his.

Given the heavy weight of Hayato's weapon, Kazuki wasn't sure if he could hold it off any longer. He leaped away from Hayato and charged at him from the corner of his peripheral vision. Clashing with Hayato's blade again, only this time, he was the one pushing his opponent relentlessly.

Back at the rock formation, Miya and Sensei were cutting the rope with much focus. They heard the clashing of Hayato and Kazuki's swords, worried they may not be able to cut the rope in time. It seemed to be taking quite a while, and Miya was already feeling the numbness in her fingers.

"This is just like cutting through metal." Miya commented, clenching her fingers whenever she felt the slight numbness in her muscles.

"Hang in there." Sensei told her, slicing the rope with his knife as though nothing was bothering him.

Choru watched Miya and Sensei with pity. "Yeah well we better hurry. Kazuki's not gonna be able to hold Hayato off much longer." He told them.

When Hayato's blade slid off the surface of Kazuki's sword, he slashed the swordsman's shoulder leaving a deep cut.

Kazuki clenched his arm in pain and winced when Hayato stepped closer. He could see the look of approval forming on Hayato's face. The towering man was proud of what he had done and wouldn't hesitate to do it again.

What does the Heinomora Clan see in this man? He lacks empathy and remorse. Hayato is not a human and never will be. This man in his disguise of treachery is a shadow of his own forbidden powers. Nobody will recognize him anymore even if he wins this battle.

Hayato threw a splash of water at Kazuki. "Do you know the similarity between all of you who lean towards a society where the weak thrive? Let me give you a comparison that might ring a bell."

Kazuki wished he could move away from Hayato and wrap his bleeding wound with any sort of fabric he could find but Hayato was insistent on slicing him up whenever he got the chance.

"Genkunodo and Heinomora are just like identical twins. You can't tell them apart. The Heinomora Clan was under an extremely weak leader who couldn't even abide by his own set of rules. While the Genkunodo Clan is open to letting in unfortunate outsiders who are eventually accepted as clanmates, the Heinomora Clan tries to avoid having them around. I say 'tries' because Heinomora broke the code and everything he fought for just because of his own kindness. That's why he's no different from Genkunodo, our clan was deceived by a traitorous leader."

Raising his sword, Kazuki pushed Hayato's giant blade away and ran towards the rocks beside the cliff. Hayato narrowed his eyes and leaped in front of him.

"Although the weaklings in our clan didn't become fighters or servants, their presence was repulsive. So ever since the new order was approved even by Heinomora himself, I took matters to my own hands and cleared the mess our sorry excuse for a leader made. I guess the trash cleared itself out in the end." Hayato's blade thrusted Kazuki and his weapon backwards towards the boulder.

The Heinomora Clan's commander had no respect towards his own leader. Kazuki wasn't all that surprised, Hayato wanted to gain control. After a while of balancing himself, Kazuki bolted past Hayato and got into a fighting stance.

"Kamisori no mure!" Hayato sprang up and summoned waves of water that caused Kazuki to lose his balance temporarily. This power that Hayato unleashed couldn't have been done by a human. Moreover, he was starting to feel the chills; Hayato's sudden demonic appearance in front of him was making the swordsman eerily uncomfortable. This battle felt like a never-ending cycle, Kazuki wasn't sure how long he could keep Hayato occupied with his attacks.

Kazuki dodged Hayato's next attack. The rogue samurai growled at him and chased after him. "Twenty years ago we the Heinomora Clan left our former clanmates to establish our own order. We were betrayed, those weaklings easily became one of us. Who did they think they were, acting as though they knew everything about the Shogunate?" Hayato backed away from Kazuki's sword pointing directly at him.

"They knew nothing!" When Hayato was about to lunge at Kazuki by jumping over the sword, Kazuki darted away and pushed Hayato to the rock at the corner of the cliff.

Hayato got up from the ground, holding the pieces of his shattered armor on the side of his torso. He glared at Kazuki and stomped towards him. Displeased by this treatment. It cost his armor, and almost cost his bones had he not reacted in time.

Kazuki was glad that Hayato would face a decline in his strength and stamina. However, that demonic entity possessing him was still in control. Kazuki could feel its presence because Hayato himself was displaying carnivorous tendencies. He often showed his teeth, curled his fingers as a way to claw at the swordsman in case he couldn't catch up with his speed, barely felt pain from direct hits. Kazuki was fighting the monster he and his comrades saw back in the battlefield. The monster that hides in the mist.

"Listen, I don't care if some people want to continue living worthless lives! As long as you don't bring your influence into my clan! But at some point, empires will expand and it's either you back away or accept your fate." Hayato yelled as he rammed into Kazuki who trotted away from the rock he was leaning against.

"Instead of fighting others, maybe try accepting their strengths and weaknesses for once. That's what makes an empire strong. Proving yourselves as a feared and powerful group isn't going to convince anyone to follow you." Kazuki watched Hayato leap up with his sword raised.

"That doesn't matter. Weakness is unforgiveable." Hayato narrowed his eyes at Kazuki as he approached him.

"Fenikkusu O Oikakeru Style: Kassei-ka No Hibana (Pursuing Phoenix Style: Revitalizing Spark)!" Kazuki slashed Hayato's blade away. The rogue samurai lost his balance and tumbled away to the spot where his large sword landed.

Stepping back, Kazuki watched Hayato get up with his sword in his hands. Kazuki wanted to snatch it away but Hayato happened to land right beside it. The rogue samurai wasn't even fully on the ground, as a matter a fact, his hand rested on the blade right when he landed.

Given Hayato's speed, Kazuki would get another deep cut in his limbs. Clashing with his large sword was dangerous enough. Kazuki only made it a few meters to the spot where Hayato's sword landed. The rogue samurai paid very much attention to the surroundings and possible outcomes if his focus slipped.

"That sword style. It's an ancient style isn't it? I must say, you are a very skilled swordsman, all that practice paid off. But you're not on my level. I think I've been a little too nice here." Hayato brushed the scar that had formed on the surface of his armor. The impact from Kazuki's sword when it collided with Hayato's large blade resulted in his weapon swiping him midair. This was the second time his armor's defenses crumbled.

The rogue samurai sprang up with his sword raised again. "Genkakuna Jiritsu-sei Style One: Akui no aru hakai-sha!"

As Hayato landed in the shallow water, Kazuki was swept backwards by the waves generated by this sheer amount of dark power that the rogue samurai was giving off. Just from his large sword alone.

Kazuki was about to lift himself up when he felt a pair of large hands strangle him.

"This is it. In a few seconds the battle will come to an end. I've been waiting for this very moment. My own power never fails to amaze me. That's why I will lead the country to greater heights nobody thought was achievable. History won't repeat itself, we will all learn from our mistakes together."

Hayato paid no attention to Kazuki's sword that was lying dangerously close to the cliff. Half of the weapon was beyond the cliff of the mountain. Hayato was confident that Kazuki will be finished in a matter of seconds. The swordsman struggled to get his hands off his neck. They were crushing him and it got worse by the second.

They better hurry. Kazuki tried to reach for his sword but the pressure he felt on his neck was stopping him from moving about. Hayato tightened his grip on Kazuki's neck as a way to warn him not to fight back or there will be severe consequences given the state he was in.

Choru stood by the rock formation, watching the battle worriedly.

Kazuki saw Choru emerging from the stone mount. Meanwhile Hayato looked behind him to see the bottom of the mountain that was covered in mist. He couldn't tell what exactly was down there but he knew it would be a high fall. An idea slowly emerged in his mind.

Standing there with hope when he saw that Kazuki still had the fighting spirit in him, Choru gave him a thumbs up. The flood was about to be released from the captivity of the rock formation.

Nodding, Kazuki watched Hayato attempt to drag him towards the cliff without knowing there was an oncoming flood headed his way. Kazuki threw one of his sandals to the back and immediately grabbed his sword with his foot.

"Ikari no inka (Infliction of fury)!" The swordsman sliced Hayato's ankle up to the side of his torso in a zigzag with his foot.

Hayato stumbled back from the sharp pain in the areas that weren't covered by his armor. Kazuki sprang up and backed away from the rogue samurai who appeared to be shocked from the sudden attack.

The rope holding the rock formation snapped. Miya and Sensei stepped back watching the flood run downstream.

"Finally! We're saved!" Miya exclaimed, Choru standing beside her to commemorate their hard work.

Hayato looked down to see blood in his hands. He muttered to himself in disbelief and slowly moved his head up to give Kazuki a cold glare.

"I'll make sure you regret this for the rest of your life-" When the rogue samurai was about to lunge at Kazuki across the cliff, the sound of rushing water followed by the collapse of numerous rocks stunned him.

Kazuki kicked Hayato away and ran from the area. He picked up his sandal and continued sprinting until he saw the trees and grass at the corner.

Hayato nearly fell back, but before he could figure out what was going on, the logs, leaves, and debris from the rushing water struck him, causing him to lose his balance as he was swept away by the current.

The larger piles of debris struck Hayato. Screaming desperately, Hayato fell off the cliff, vanishing into the mist below.

Kazuki sprinted towards the grass, avoiding the waves that flowed down the mountain. Miya hurried down the trail of the stone mount, relieved to see that Kazuki made it out alive.

Choru and Sensei caught up with them. The rock formation wasn't there anymore. This part of the mountain was clear of any obstruction now.

 "Oh Kazuki, I'm glad you're safe." Miya said cheerfully. Her bubbly smile remained until she noticed the deep cut on Kazuki's arm.

When Kazuki noticed Miya looking at his injury concerningly, he tried to brush it off by stepping forward so nobody would pay attention to it but Miya was quick to bring it up.

"You're badly hurt-"

"It's alright..." Kazuki said but Miya wasn't convinced.

"We need to treat your injury."

"Let's return to the village. The battle is over." Sensei said to the three of them.

Choru leaped up excitedly. "We won! It's over! We don't have to worry anymore!" The boy cheered.

"Indeed." Sensei looked up at the sky. He noticed a shift in the surroundings. There wasn't any cold stifling feeling in the air like before. A sign that they had earned their victory.