Volume 11 - Yamata no Orochi: Chapter 30 – He is a Samurai

On the lakesh.o.r.e plain southwest of Lake Biwa, under the cover of night, a grand army numbering 200,000 marched forward. Their lit torches formed a river of orange stars, seemingly connecting earth and sky. Above, twelve large bronze statues of Nioh carried the sedan thousands of meters high, hidden in clouds with only the immense statues intermittently visible beneath the cloud layer.

Atop the sedan, three celestial maidens, adorned in elegant feathered attire, swayed above the clouds. Lily, dressed in silver and white, her feathered sash fluttering, was flanked by her elder sisters, also garbed as celestial maidens.

Beneath the vast sky, the sea of clouds stretched far, and with Lily in the sky, the moon itself seemed dimmer.

Time pa.s.sed, and the army drew within a few hundred kilometers of Heian-kyō. The huge sedan descended from the clouds. By then, Lily, Rei, and Shimizu had changed back into their regular kimonos. Despite appearing unchanged, Lily’s aura was stronger, her confidence grown.

Approaching Heian-kyō meant confronting Yoritomo’s true form, a mere few hundred kilometers away. Lily had completed the Tsukuyomi Swordstyle’s fourth path, Heavenly Dance Path. Along the way, they crushed opposing forces and black-armored army, with Lily’s unstoppable army, sparing her from intervening directly.

Heian-kyō, the ma.s.sive capital, was engulfed in demonic clouds, casting it in darkness. The city gates opened, and an army of around 30,000, mainly elites from the Genji’s direct line, marched out, led not by a powerful demon general but by the Right Imperial Guards’ Commander, Minamoto no Yos.h.i.tada.

Determined and resolute, Yos.h.i.tada understood the might of the opposing force and the imperial court’s actions. Yet, as a samurai of the Genji Clan and the imperial court, he was bound to obey the Shogun and the Cloistered Emperor’s orders, regardless of the consequences. His troops, faces expressionless but disciplined, shared his sentiment, displaying neither fear nor hesitation, only unwavering determination.

After mastering the fourth path of the Tsukuyomi Swordstyle, Lily’s strength had increased fiftyfold. With her newfound power, she was now on par with a s.e.xtuple-soul expert, giving her a legitimate chance of victory against Yoritomo’s true form. This advancement made her fully qualified for the decisive battle ahead.

At this moment, Lily was sitting alone on the upper deck of the sedan, her gaze directed westward. They were merely two hundred kilometers from Heian-kyō, the billowing demonic clouds to the west already visible.

A female ninja approached to report, “Lyn-hime, an army approaches from ahead.”

“Friend or foe?” inquired Lily.

“It’s unclear,” the ninja admitted.

This uncertainty lingered even as both armies aligned in formation. Lily’s forces dwarfed the opposition, a Genji army ten times smaller in comparison. The Genji banner fluttered, not the familiar black-armored army, but rather a contingent of regular Genji warriors. Lily’s puzzlement grew.

Amidst the enemy ranks, a middle-aged samurai clad in striking red and black armor advanced on horseback. It was Minamoto no Yos.h.i.tada, the Right Imperial Guards’ Commander. Confronting the overwhelming opposition and the colossal, cloud-shrouded sedan, he amplified his voice using his peak Throned Sovereign Stage power, challenging, “Ahead lies Heian-kyō, the heart of the imperial court! Without an edict from the Cloistered Emperor or the Shogun, why have you ama.s.sed such a force and marched towards us? State your intentions!”

“Lord Yos.h.i.tada?” Lily queried, her voice tinged with confusion. At her side, Ayaka and the other sisters stepped out from the sedan, their eyes scrutinizing the unfolding scenario. The presence of Yos.h.i.tada, the Right Imperial Guards’ Commander, leading the troops wasn’t unexpected. However, the composition of his force was perplexing. Yos.h.i.tada, a mere Throned Sovereign, had brought with him an a.s.sembly of regular Genji warriors, far from the formidable black-armored troops they had faced before.

Despite Lily’s side being an overwhelming force of 300,000, the sight of Yos.h.i.tada’s much smaller army triggered a mix of emotions. If Lily chose to engage, this relatively modest army would stand no chance, potentially being obliterated in mere moments. The question hung in the air: why would Minamoto no Yoritomo send such a force to confront them? Did Yos.h.i.tada understand the futility of his position yet still chose to lead his troops into this confrontation? Sorrow filled Lily’s eyes as she contemplated this.

Taking a step forward, Lily’s voice, soft yet carrying an undeniable authority, resonated across the sky. She addressed Yos.h.i.tada, seeking to understand his stance and reason for this seemingly futile stand-off.

“Do you truly endorse Minamoto no Yoritomo’s actions, Lord Yos.h.i.tada?” Lily called out, her tone somber yet audible across the sky. “Do you wish to witness Heian-kyō descend into a Yoritomo-induced h.e.l.l?”

“Miss Kagami, I did not expect you to grow so significantly,” declared Yos.h.i.tada, his voice resonating with firm resolution. “As a senior, my heart swells with pride at your growth. Yet, as the Imperial Guards’ Commander, I must follow orders. His Majesty The Cloistered Emperor and the Shogun have commanded me to obstruct your path, and that I shall do.”

Ayaka stepped forward, her tone earnest, “Lord Yos.h.i.tada, as someone who has been as loyal as you, I urge you to see reason. Our strength is immense, and your resistance is in vain. We act upon a secret edict from Emperor Masayoshi to overthrow Minamoto no Yoritomo and reclaim the court. I implore you to stand down.”

Yos.h.i.tada stood unyielding, “Lady Ayaka, I am bound by the orders of The Cloistered Emperor and the Shogun. Your words, regardless of their truth, cannot sway me from my duty.”

Makoto, with a blend of urgency and respect in her voice, stepped closer to the railing. “Yos.h.i.tada,” she called out, her tone reflecting a mix of pleading and reasoning, “consider the vastness of our forces and the certainty of your defeat. Is it truly worth it to sacrifice the lives of 30,000 brave warriors in a battle that cannot be won? Reflect upon the consequences, for these men are loyal samurai, just as you are.”

Yos.h.i.tada’s stance remained unwavering, his eyes reflecting a deep-seated resolve. “Madam Ashikaga,” he responded, his voice steady and firm despite the gravity of the situation, “I have always held you in high regard and I am grateful for your efforts. But my duty as a soldier is clear – I am bound to obey the orders of His Majesty The Cloistered Emperor and the Shogun. I cannot, and will not, betray my command, regardless of the outcome.”

Yos.h.i.tada, gripping his sword with a warrior’s resolve, faced the overwhelming forces arrayed against him. His decision was irrevocable, rooted in the unwavering code of the samurai – to obey and serve, even in the face of insurmountable odds.

“Miss Kagami, Lady Ayaka, Madam Ashikaga, I’ve said my piece! Archers—” Yos.h.i.tada shouted, signaling his command with a wave of his sword. The 30,000 troops, including eight thousand skilled archers and three thousand firearm units, were well-prepared. The archers, bows drawn, aimed towards the sky, targeting both the punitive army and the towering sedan.

“Fire!” With Yos.h.i.tada’s command, a barrage of arrows soared towards Lily and her army. Ayaka, observing the scene, knew the futility of their efforts. The front lines of their 300,000-strong army, bolstered by the Asuka Army’s elite, formed a protective formation. A hundred warriors merged their spiritual energies, creating a colossal shield of light that effortlessly repelled the incoming arrows.

Meanwhile, the arrows aimed at the sedan were ineffective, falling short of their lofty target and harmlessly tumbling to the ground.

Lily, from her vantage point, witnessed this display of fruitless resistance and shook her head in dismay. She leaped into the air, her voice resonating across the battlefield, “Lord Yos.h.i.tada, why continue this fight? Your efforts won’t change the outcome. Minamoto no Yoritomo has sent you on a mission doomed to fail. Why do you still obey?”

Yos.h.i.tada, eyes ablaze with determination, retorted, “Miss Kagami, is victory the only thing that matters in this world? You underestimate the samurai spirit

¹.”

“Lord Yos.h.i.tada…” Lily’s voice was filled with sorrow as she watched him rallying his cavalry. Ten thousand hors.e.m.e.n, ready and resolute, prepared for the charge.

“No, Lord Yos.h.i.tada…” she whispered softly.

Yos.h.i.tada’s voice thundered across the battlefield, “Samurai of the Genji Clan, this battle transcends good and evil, victory and defeat! Today we fight for the final honor of our Genji army! This is our last stand!” His words stirred the hearts of every samurai under his command.

Without a moment’s hesitation, the 10,000 cavalry behind him responded to his call. Like a disciplined and relentless tide, they surged forward towards the rock-solid formation of the punitive army. The thunderous gallop of thousands of horses, coupled with the fervent shouts of the samurai, caused the very earth to quake beneath them. Each warrior, following Yos.h.i.tada’s lead, seemed to embody the spirit and determination of the Genji clan.

Yos.h.i.tada himself was a figure of unyielding strength and courage at the forefront. He raised his sword high, its blade catching the faint light of the moon, as he roared wildly—a testament to his unwavering spirit. It was clear that from the moment he departed Heian-kyō, he had accepted that he might never return alive.

In this battle, the concepts of strength or weakness, life or death, held no relevance. It was a fight that transcended the usual bounds of warfare, solely focused on the honor of the samurai. There was no distinction between the strong and the weak in this final act of bravery.

The samurai, united under Yos.h.i.tada’s leadership, charged with an intensity that seemed to shake the very heavens. Each one was prepared to lay down their life, not for victory or glory, but for the honor and legacy of their clan—the Genji.

Lily, observing the courageous charge, felt a tear escape her eye. She had the power to halt their advance without taking lives, but she understood that doing so would only dishonor their final, brave act.

Turning her back, she respected their choice to die with honor rather than surrender to dishonor. Such was the path of a true samurai.

From the battlefield below, Yos.h.i.tada’s last words as a human echoed, “Kagami Lily, don’t blame me! We are warriors of the imperial court, sworn to obey!”

Following Yos.h.i.tada’s lead, each samurai, one after another, took out pills that shimmered with a strange, otherworldly aura. With resolute expressions, they placed the pills in their mouths, chewed, and swallowed. The moment the pills were ingested, a dramatic transformation occurred. The aura surrounding each of the thousands of troops intensified exponentially, turning every samurai into a formidable demon warrior. Their warhorses, too, underwent a startling metamorphosis, sprouting menacing fangs and their eyes aglow with a sinister, demonic light. The entire battalion transformed into a fearsome horde of demonic spirits and h.e.l.lish steeds.

This abrupt and terrifying transformation sent ripples of unease through Lily’s 300,000-strong army. Even the most seasoned soldiers among them felt a shiver of dread, causing their ranks to waver and a sense of chaos to spread gradually.

However, high above in the distant sky, Lily stood with her back to this chilling spectacle. Her long hair billowed around her, as if caught in a tempest of unseen forces. She radiated an aura of overwhelming power that seemed to defy the very heavens. In the backdrop of the sky, ethereal images of a snowy moon and cherry blossoms drifting in the wind emerged, adding a surreal, haunting beauty to the scene.

Footnotes:

1. 
   

   Robinxen: It’s a charge of a light brigade.