In the command tent that you had just entered, sat Tatsuko Momoru, the tenth commander of Hara. However, looking to the difference in forces was enough to send even the bravest man in despair. You knew that if you failed to hold them here, half of Ise would fall overnight, and the next battle would be fought outside the province’s capital itself. But they needed time, time that they did not have as a large contingent of Oda’s forces prepared to advance against the frontier positions. You knew that behind you, reinforcements were being prepared. But sadly, there were no commanders that could lead them effectively, and those bastards of Oda had been specifically aiming for them, reducing the battle prowess of Hara with each encounter. There were many like your men, ready to give their lives in the desperate battles against Oda and Iga, in numbers enough to rival Oda. Hara’s main weakness was not in the number of able men. With this, and the death of the ninth commander, Toyoda Terumoto, one week earlier, only eleven capable commanders were left in Ise. Along with that, news of the capture of Himeji Kanako, the eight commander of the house, had reached your army. The fifth commander of the Hara house, Shimamura Yasutoki had died today, his heart pierced by an arrow fired by Niwa Nagahide himself. The reality was way worse than what you would have ever expected. You had arrived too late with what reinforcements were to spare, three hundred men under your command ready to give their lives for their lord and their house. You observed from afar the dead that littered the field after the combat of this morning. At the same time, you felt maliciousness, an intent that was not quite murderous but yet managed to put you on edge in an instant. You felt a weight on your head, as if something had been placed over it all of a sudden. “I’ll assign one of our older commanders to evaluate your performance in this task,” he continued without wasting time. This explained why Masamune had called you specifically. You had done most of your initial training and most of your preparation to become a commander under her. Noir has told me you have great amounts of untapped potential, and we have in our hands a situation in the frontier with the Uesugi.” “I have called you to put your abilities to test. “Kallen Aoi Crimsun,” he started, his voice as serious as ever. You sat in front of the throne, still feeling uncomfortable under that heavy stare. After all, it was hard to maintain any semblance of normal formality when four of the ten most powerful commanders of the house wanted to jump his bones at every chance they got. Masamune seemed to ignore most of the formalities required in these kind of situations, though in hindsight, it was to be expected. With a gesture of his hand, he beckoned you to get closer. It always felt weird when he focused on you like that, and you guessed it had something to do with his youkai power, whatever it was. But ever since you lived in that place, creatures such as him were so common that you were accustomed to it by now. Some years ago, you would have thought of him as exceedingly weird. It was a big place, enough to reunite all the notable commanders of the House, and the general emptiness and lack of luxury made it imposing in a way that spoke of force, true strength, almost as effective as a room filled with golden tapestries to underscore what being the Youkai King meant.Īnd Masamune himself was waiting there, in his no less imposing throne. The throne room was simple, almost spartan, in a big contrast with the decorated and enchanted doors. Omachi had placed a powerful protection that made it nigh impossible for an enemy to get past the doors, effectively making the threat of an assassin non-existent. After hesitating for a second before the imposing sight, you pushed them open, marveling at how light yet resistant they were. Your thoughts were interrupted, as your steps had finally taken you to the decorated door that led to Masamune’s throne room. There were many generals of the Dokuganryuu house, the price that had to be paid for the youkai paradise to be maintained, and certainly there were a lot with an higher rank than you. What was surprising, however, was the fact that you had been called there by Dokuganryuu Masamune himself.Īs you moved through the hallways, windows showing the fantastical landscape of Ezo, you couldn’t help but wonder what circumstances would lead to such a call. It wouldn’t be surprising for even a new one to be called here for someone of a superior rank. After all, the most important commanders used the Palace as their headquarters. Since two days ago, when you had been ascended to the rank of commander, nobody could say that your presence there was surprising.
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