The Duel for the Fate of the World

The night before the two are to meet again to finally end their argument regarding their way of ruling, the Military Communications Office of Naka castle received a message whose encryption style belongs to the group assigned to their master who is away from his land.

["This is Akizuki Minori or Kuro of the Crows. I am sending this report to the Military Communications center at Naka Castle. We request an immediate reinforcement team to come to Kanae Estuary and link up with our group. Just today, we have received a duel challenge from the Amanogawa Shogun himself. He and Iwasawa-sama will have a duel at the Imperial Capital of Hitachi."]

If this letter from the Director of the Crows Secret Service was not enough of an urgency, the footnotes of the transmitted message sent everyone in the military organization of Kiko to raise a force that will respond to the request.

["Make haste. The duel will be to the death."]

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

"Lady Chiyo…"

"Good evening, Lady Chiyo."

"Please, gentlemen. I believe we don't have time for formalities and such. Talk to everyone as if there is no rank distinction between you and speak as you wish."

"As you say, Chiyo-sama."

It was midnight when I was awakened from my sleep by an urgent meeting call from my cousin and general of Kiko's armed forces, Shimura Nobisuke. After dressing appropriately, I went down to the basement bunker of Naka castle to meet with the General staff of the military and intelligence offices.

"Chiyo, have you been briefed on the way here?"

"Yes. My assistant has let me catch up to speed about the letter and how urgent it is. Has there been any new developments, Nobi-nii?"

"We're regularly exchanging messages with the Crows in the group and the Crows who just got past the border and into the land of Kanae Estuary. Both of them speak the same words."

"The duel will be held in that closed theater, they say?"

"Right."

"Open the meeting chamber!"

With the generals and intelligence agents following behind us, we finally arrived in the meeting room of the underground bunker that used to just be a cave system under the mountain.

"Take your seats quickly, gentlemen. We cannot make the other leaders wait for too long."

"Y-yes, sir!"

As I took the seat that was supposed to be sat on by Hiroshi, the other men took their seats as well in a table that is shaped like a half-circle. This shape of the table is needed as four television monitors are at the other half of it.

"Technicians. Please hurry along and connect us to the other Daimyos."

"We're nearly there, sir. This is new technology, so we need to be careful about it."

"Alright. Just make haste if possible."

After a few moments, the face of the four other Daimyos appeared in the monitors. Namely, Kusanagi Kyoko of Shinka, Yamaguchi Koshiro of Fuku, Daigo Reika of Kise and Ayanami Mitsuha of Yukonami.

"Ahem… Good evening, Your Highnesses. We apologize for waking you at such an inconvenient time, but this is an issue of utmost urgency."

"There is no need to apologize, Chamberlain Aoyama. I am still up and ready to hear what this meeting is about."

"That is highly appreciated, Lady Kusanagi… Lord Yamaguchi? Lord Yamaguchi, please wake up."

"Wauu… wah? Where am I?"

"Koshiro-sama, you're at a video meeting with the other leaders?"

"Say what? How did I get here?"

"I woke you up and I think you walked to here half-asleep."

"E-Eh? A-A-Ahh… sorry, please just let me wipe my face…"

The young lord of Fuku had a short blunder with his assistant who gave him a moist towel to wipe his face that has eye crusts and lines of saliva.

"Hahaha… It's true that staying up late is the bane of a lady's beauty, but as the Daimyo, I must spare my own self sometimes for the sake of everyone."

"We're glad that you are present, Lady Daigo. Even though the Pheonix summer ritual is near, we are happy that you can spare some time for us."

"No need to worry about that, Lady Aoyama. It's not like the event will need too much preparation… especially at this era."

Lastly, there was the subordinate Daimyo to Shinka, Ayanami Mitsuha of Yukonami and the newly designated combined states of the Satou territory.

"Lady Ayanami. It's a pleasure to see you here even though you are busy with the pacification of the Satou territory."

"Haah… you can say that again, Chamberlain."

After the appropriate greetings and apologies regarding the late time of the meeting, we continued straight into the subject of the gathering.

"We have been informed regarding an encounter between Iwasawa-sama's party and the Shogun's force. Currently in the Imperial capital of Hitachi, they are held as hostages and Iwasawa-sama has been challenged by the Shogun to a duel to the death."

"I see…"

"That sounds dangerous."

"It is dangerous, Young lord Koshiro."

"R-Really?"

Kyoko and Koshiro was quite worried about the news while Mitsuha simply looked distraught. It was Reika's response that quite puzzled me at first.

"Is there something wrong, Lady Daigo?"

"Hm? Nothing. Why do you ask, Lady Aoyama?"

"Well, you seemed worried before you opened your folding fan to hide it. Was there something worrying about it other than their situation?"

"Hmm… I apologize, chamberlain. I will withhold my answer until I can be sure of it. But for now, let me say that it is a minor concern and not directly connected to the situation at hand."

"I understand. Well then, let me state our primary plan. Technicians, please send them the files."

"Yes, Lady Aoyama."

The technical staff inserted several sheets of paper into a machine that sent and printed its contents to the same machines at the offices of the four other lords.

"This is…"

"A primary strike team, huh?"

"Yes. We plan to send two separate groups into Hitachi within the next few hours so they can arrive to the Imperial capital by tomorrow noon when the duel is set to happen."

It was Kyoko who responded first regarding the contents of the sent documents.

"Captain Masuyo's special force platoon and a clandestine naval fleet… why keep the other group a secret?"

"I apologize, Lady Kusanagi. Following the sinking of our Ashigara, we have been very keen about keeping some parts of our fleet as secret. Although we are willing to declassify it upon your request, we still ask for it to be done after this mission."

"You don't need to do that, General. I was just puzzled with seeing this."

"I have a question, General Shimura."

"Yes, Lady Daigo?"

"Has there been any words from your team regarding the reason for the duel between Iwasawa-dono and the Shogun?"

Nobisuke was approached by a person from the Intelligence agency who whispered something on his ear as he nodded along. Afterwards, he answered the female daimyo's question.

"We have not been given a concrete answer in the letters and the reports. But we have mostly deduced it to be a personal fight between the two given their past grudges with each other such as the terror attacks in the Alliance signing festival and their actions in the Satou territory."

"I see… This is a unique scenario."

"Nevertheless, we would like to ask for your opinions and approval for this relief reinforcement mission. Given that we will be deploying military forces into a land governed by the Shogun, we need your approval that you will be on our side may it be during a negotiation or in a skirmish or worse, in war."

After Nobisuke's question, the four leaders seemed to ponder about the proposal and after a few moments, came to a conclusion by their selves.

"I, Kusanagi Kyoko of Shinka and its subordinate territories, considers this operation greenlit."

"I, Ayanami Mitsuha of Yukonami and the combined states of Satou, follows my master's decision and approves this mission."

"I, Yamaguchi Koshiro of Fuku, considers this operation approved… w-was that right, Nayoko-san?"

"Yes, my lord. You said that right."

After the three, we expected the female Daigo lord to give her response as well, but instead, her monitor's signal was cut abruptly before she can speak.

"T-technician, what happened?"

"W-We don't understand too, general. Our devices are working properly but her signal was suddenly cut."

"Try to fix it as fast as possible, we are yet to receive Lady Daigo's response."

While the technicians are busily trying to fix the problem, the door of the sealed meeting room opened to show two men. One was Nobisuke's shadow warrior who follows him as his personal bodyguard and the other is a young man dressed in a strange student uniform.

"General Shimura… We have an urgent guest."

"Kage… And you are?"

The young man looked around the room first, seemingly checking our faces before replying.

"I am Kawasaki Endou, ladies and gentlemen…"

"…"

"…And I am here under the behest of my friend and master, Shogun Amanogawa Sora."

"W-What?!"

"An enemy-!"

"Guards!"

"STOP!"

The other staff officers and soldiers were about to draw their guns when Nobisuke shouted for them to stop before walking close to the young man.

"Kawasaki Endou-san… yes?"

"Endou is enough."

"Well then, Endou-dono… why did the Shogun send you here?"

The young man spoke a single statement, but to everyone of us in there, it was enough to understand everything about his sudden appearance after Daigo-dono's signal was cut.

"The Shogun invites you all to watch the duel… and reunite with your master."

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

"Uwaa… Guuu…"

"She's sleeping so soundly now…"

"Yeah. What a sweetheart… Chu-!"

In the middle of I and Sora is Kichi, our adoptive daughter who is sleeping so soundly after coming here earlier after she said that she can't sleep in her room.

"Muu… You're spoiling her too much, Sora."

"Don't pout like that, Chi-chan. You know that I like it when you act cute and all that, but you making a fuss about her is just too much cuteness for me."

"Really~? Ufufu… I'll keep on doing it then, so you won't look at any other woman."

"My, my. Is your trust in me so fragile, my dearest wife?"

"I'm just being precautious. After all, my husband strangely has a lot of female subordinates and retainers that I, as his wife, feels inferior and self-conscious sometimes."

"You're not really convincing me with that playful expression on your face."

After our teasing match, Sora touched the side of my face while looking straight to my eyes. Though the stress and exhaustion of his job has been taking a toll on him, there was still some kind of relief in his face whenever he opens up to me in our bedroom.

"I've talked to the direct subordinate of the Kirin Lord. He asked me to have the Southern Quartet Alliance be treated fairly just like any other land sympathetic to your rule once the duel is over."

"So even his men are assuming that he will lose to me?"

"You can say that. After all, his lack of self-reflection and ability to climb back to his feet after your revelations to him has showed them that he isn't developed enough for them to entrust their lives to him."

"He's really raw as a leader. I know that I am to blame as well since I made everything on his path comfortable and easy to do. But I thought that he would at least try to do something to exceed what I expected him to do."

"…That side of you is something that I loved and felt sad with, Sora… even in the past world."

"What is it?"

"I know that it's mostly because you had to deal with a life after the war in a place where the government didn't care much to give relief to… unlike me and my family who became the priority of the government because we're near Tokyo, you had to deal with a dangerous and hard life."

"…"

"Not everyone is as strong and resilient as you, Sora. Not everyone can keep up or even exceed what you expect from them."

I caressed his cheek and shoulder to imply to him that I am telling this as his wife who knows him as much as he knows himself.

"So please, Sora… show him that he can take it by his own pace and one day, fulfill the expectation that you have."

"…I know that, Chi-chan. I knew about that after Kameko-chan brought him back and he told me that I was a fraud, and he will not forgive me for trying to trick him with lies."

"…"

"Hiroshi needs to choose now. Whether he will stand up to rebuild himself and earn back what he thought he lost… or just give up and truly lose everything."

"Sora."

"Yes?"

"I know that you will not stop until you have done what you said you will do. So instead, let me say this as your wife who has to support and correct you in your chosen way…"

I inched closer to his face and planted a kiss on his lips.

"I'm truly happy that I loved and married a wonderful and determined man like you."

"…Let me lift Kichi back to her room."

"E-Eh?"

"I don't want to interrupt her sleep and… I don't want us to be interrupted as well…"

After he stood up from our bed and gently took the sleeping child into his arms, I finally understood what he was implying, and I found myself blushing beet red that even my ears started steaming.

"I-I-I-I'll tidy up the bed and…"

"Sure. Although it would be a mess later anyway."

"Ahh! Just go and stop making me wait!"

That night, we did a lot of married couple things…

"…Chi-chan."

"A-Ah! G-geez… you surprised me."

"…"

Strangely enough though, after we were done, Sora was cuddling with me more tightly than he used to before.

"…Are you troubled about something, darling?"

"…I am. But I am not worried in a bad way."

"Is that so?"

"Yes… because I know that I am doing the right thing. And…"

"And?"

"I will be keeping the promise that took so long to fulfill…"

Sora and I have been married in the past world and in this world yet again when we were reunited. Although I have known him completely in the past world, I did notice some changes in him after we were split up and he died back there.

Sometimes, he would wish to be left alone… and at some nights, I need to hold his hand or wrap my arms around him to calm him in some of his nightmares.

"Sora…"

"Yes?"

"You said that once your duel tomorrow has ended, you can finally tell me everything that happened after we were split apart… right?"

"Yes. I will do that, Chi-chan."

"Alright then."

I turned around to face him and gave back his warm embrace.

"I will be watching you… and cheering for you."

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

The morning of the duel came and all around the closed theater arena of Hitachi, people came to watch the duel between the Shogun and the Daimyo.

"Come and buy some snacks! Don't come in empty-handed!"

"Fans! Save yourself from the heat and get your own fan!"

"Reserve your seats quick here! Don't miss up on the event with a bad seat!"

Outside the theater, there were stalls selling food, drinks, and other items that the audience might need during the event. Some were even selling a reservation on the good seats of the theater building.

Most of these are children who was given a day off from their schools given the duel that will let them earn some pocket change for whatever they wish to bu for themselves.

"Place your bets! Come on round and place your bets!"

"I bet 500 yen that Shogun Amanogawa will inflict the first blood!"

"I bet twice on the same part!"

"Alrighty! Just let me list it up!"

"I bet that the Daimyo will fall down thrice within the first three rounds!"

"Ah! I'm not gonna let myself be left out. I bet on the same thing for 2000 yen!"

"Alrighty, Officer! Here's your ticket!"

Some grown-up men set up unofficial betting games before the duel. Even though derivations of gambling such as this has either been banned or regulated under law, it seems like the Capital's police officers decided to turn a blind eye just for this one time as even them bet in the game.

"Everyone seems lively today, ain't it, Garou?"

"Yeah… it's not everyday that something like this happens. Sora isn't that known to be hot-headed enough to challenge people to duels so this might have become some kind of historical event for our people."

"Yeah… Sora isn't really known as that kind of person."

Inside a closed carriage, the wife and best friend of the Shogun looked out of the window to see the lively atmosphere of the people who are heading into the arena where the duel will soon be held.

"That reminds me. Why didn't you stay beside Sora today? I believe he's already in his room inside the theater building, right? Why not give him one last cheer before he heads out to the fight?"

"Haaah… I've already cheered him up enough last night."

"Huh?"

"Come on, Garou-kun… Don't act so innocent. You know what I meant."

"Hmm… Oh! Argh… Sorry that I had to pry about it."

"Ahaha! This is why I like teasing you. Unlike Endou, you are actually an innocent man behind that grizzly-looking exterior of yours."

Inside the closed theater that was modified from being a stage for theatrical plays or musical performances into one reminiscent of the oval-shaped amphitheater of Rome, thousands of people have already taken their seats and conversed about the event.

"Who is the Daimyo that Shogun-sama challenged?"

"I heard he was a member of that group that bombed the harbor."

"I see… I guess that's the reason why Uesama wanted to punish him by his own hands…"

There were conversations about Hiroshi and who he is that the Shogun wanted to fight him in front of everyone.

"Hey, what time is it now?"

"Umm… it's nearly noon. I think it will be starting soon."

"Man… I'm glad the theater has been supplied with those air conditioners. This late summer heat sure bites the skin."

"Oh yeah. Good thing we bought the reserved seats, huh?"

Finally, with the sound of the twelve o'clock bell ring at the bell tower of Hitachi, the Imperial crier shouted the announcement of the Imperial family's arrival into the theater.

"All subjects must comply! Stand and show reverence towards His Imperial Majesty and the Imperial family!"

All around the closed theater, everyone stood up and bowed towards the direction of the special platform for the important guests of the event.

"Render praises for the Emperor!"

"""We are honored by your presence, Your Imperial Majesty!"""

The Emperor, being dressed in formal, but not necessarily ceremonial attire, went out of the hallway alongside his wife and three children.

"All subjects! You must-"

The Imperial crier was supposed to continue onwards with the long line of other lengthy ceremonial speeches and anthems, but the Emperor raised his hand to stop him and asked for his microphone.

"Ahem… am I being heard loud and clear?"

"W-what…?"

"I-Is the Emperor really speaking towards us?"

"Hey! Keep your heads down, kids!"

As the Emperor stood up with a microphone on his hand, his people were all justifiably surprised. After all, the revered person whom they all believed to be too important or too divine to have his own voice be heard are now all talking to them directly.

"My people, though this event is not something that has been dedicated to me, I nevertheless would like to use it as my first time to directly address all of you who lives under my rule…"

Though still showing respectful gestures, reporters all around the theater who didn't expect to be confronted with such a once-in-a-lifetime scoop snapped pictures and recorded the words being spoken by the Emperor.

"…this news might seem untimely as my own staff has been preparing for its official announcement to the public, but as this opportune moment has showed itself already, let me therefore speak it here first to all of you who are present."

The Emperor paused for a moment before speaking what he has say.

"After seeing with my own eyes the changes that has happened to the world, I have come to the conclusion that the Age of Mythic rulers and Heavenly mandates has now passed to give way to the Age of Mortal leaders and Public acceptance."

"The Emperor…"

"…is he…?"

After a short pause, he spoke the rest of his words.

"I wish to announce that I have given my friend, Amanogawa Sora, full control and power over this country. And I would be nothing more but a symbolic ruler who shall sit behind him as a confidante."

"The rumors were true?!"

"The Emperor did give Uesama his power!"

Before sitting down and letting the event continue, the Emperor did something that if he did before that announcement, would gravely undermine his esteemed rule.

"Therefore, I ask to all of you, my subjects… Help Shogun Sora to forge the country that he envisions… for I, the Emperor of this country, has seen his aspiration and willingness to realize that future."

"T-The Emperor?! No! Even the Empress and their children!"

"T-They're bowing to us!"

The people were all dumbfounded with the sight that none of them didn't expect to come from the Imperial family. There was a sense of shock in all of their faces, but as it rescinded and the Emperor's wishes was absorbed by their minds, they all spoke the same response in return.

"""Your wish shall be fulfilled, Your Imperial Majesty."""

Others may have thought that such a historic event may have as well robbed the duel of all of its value, but as soon as the announcer came into the middle of the platform where the duel will happen, everyone in the arena was filled with excitement and cheers.

"Good afternoon, people of Hitachi! It's time for the main event of this day!"

"WOOOO!!!"

"LET'S GOOO!!!"

From the uppermost seats to the ringside seats, the audience all shouted and cheered as the war drums were beaten with a rhythm and melody alike that of an impending attack.

"Let us all cheer for our contenders!"

At one side of the arena, a young man who has an empty expression on his face are preparing for what he wished to be the last thing he should do to prove the belief he is following.

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

"…"

This is it, Hiroshi. This is where you will show that you can still make everything right under your own wishes.

"Victory is won by the strong… I will give it all my strength and I will be right… because I will win."

At the pathway leading out of the backroom, shelves of weapons were prepared for me ahead of the time.

"I will prove to you that I am fit to rule… I will rule because I will end you this time!"

I took the sharpest-looking katana on the shelf and walked out of the dark pathway with a complete set of armor on my body.

"From the Southern Triad! The Daimyo of Kiko and Chancellor of its great alliance! The Revered Kirin Lord of the South! Iwasawa Hiroshi!"

And as my name was called out, I walked out of there with as much confidence and vigor that I can convince myself to carry.

"I will show you that I am right and you are wrong!"

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

After his name was called, I picked up my chosen weapon and looked at the picture in my locket for one last time before I leave for the duel.

"Sir Shogun!"

"Kichi? What are you doing here? Why did Chiasa let you get down here?"

Suddenly, my adoptive daughter came running towards me and held me one arm which gained my surprise.

"S-Sorry, Uesama…"

"Oh… Ai-chan. Did she run away, and you were sent to chase her?"

"Y-Yes, Uesama… Kichi-chan sure knows how to run faster and evade me… hehe…"

After a few moments, her childhood friend and designated chaperone, Ai-chan, apologized and confirmed my suspicion that she did ran away from the group.

"I see… Well, let me handle it for a moment and you go take her back next to Chiasa."

"As you wish, Uesama…"

I knelt beside my daughter, and she was looking down as if trying to hide her crying face.

"Why are you crying, darling?"

"Sir Shogun is going to fight…"

"Huh?"

"You're going out to fight that person! I know what that weapon is for, Sir Shogun!"

"…"

"And when people fight… someone always loses their papa…"

Hearing her reason did shake me a little… given her past and how she still cried when I killed her abusive adoptive parents, I knew that Kichi was too pure to be allowed to watch this duel.

But I also know that she must watch as well to hear what I have to say later on.

"Listen here, darling… listen to me closely…"

"Hik-! Okay… Kichi will listen… Sir Shogun…"

Between her sniffles and tears, she raised her face and looked at me.

"I will go out there and fight, but I will make sure that we will only be hurt, and no one will lose their papa today…"

"D-do you promise that, Sir Shogun?"

"Yes, darling… Chu-!"

To seal my promise, I kissed her forehead and gave my word.

"I promise that to you, Kichi-chan. Sir Shogun will be back after this."

"Mmm… Okay… Kichi understands, Sir Shogun…"

"Hm. Thank you, darling."

After giving her my promise and reassuring her about my safety, I gestured for Ai-chan to take her back to the viewing deck.

"Don't make haphazard promises… you used to tell me that thing, didn't you?"

"From the Northern Isles. The Former Daimyo of Niijima! Master of the Northern Coalition! The Conqueror of the North and Shogun of the Amanogawa Bakufu! Shogun Amanogawa Sora!!!"

As my name was called outside, I sighed deeply while holding my locket tightly and pocketing it.

"Don't worry… I will be keeping my word."

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

The two leaders met in the middle of the platform, one was wearing an exquisite set of armor and a katana whose scabbard allowed anyone who has knowledge about weapons to know that it was created by a master swordsmith. While the other one simply wore a male kimono and carried a naginata.

"W-What is the Shogun doing?"

"Why isn't he wearing armor?"

"I-Is he trying to taunt his opponent?"

The audience was mumbling things about their leader's lack of protective armor and how the challenged Daimyo looked quite proficient in his own way as well with his posture that shows confidence and ferociousness.

"Alright, combatants. As this is a duel to the death, there are a few rules to be placed before you proceed."

The referee proceeded to give the three instructions to be followed during the duel before he officiated the spectacle's beginning.

"First, your opponent and you yourself has all the control over who will be left standing in this stage. Although it is already obvious with the duel's name, this duel can also end if your enemy has you on the edge of his weapon but declares that he will not take your life. Is this understood?"

"I accept."

"…I accept as well. Although I doubt that I will be using it."

The reply of Hiroshi was spat out with a light growl, showing his fury to everyone.

"Second, you cannot step out of this platform. Escaping the premises of this stage will count as a loss and the violator will be forced to either commit ritual suicide or be shot by the Imperial guards overseeing the duel. Is this understood?"

"Yes."

"Just start the damn thing, already!"

Hiroshi's shout made the referee to shoot a glare towards him before he spoke the final rule.

"Lastly, you may use any method to defeat your opponent. No move is prohibited so long as there will be no outside interference. Is this-"

"HYAAA!!!"

"Kh!"

Before the referee can finish his words and officially begin the duel, Hiroshi shot forward and immediately drew and slashed towards the Shogun who simply kicked his way off from where he was standing.

"You! YOU!!!"

"…"

"I WILL KILL YOU!"

The brutal shout of the young man echoed in the arena, gaining the shivers and fearful expressions of the onlookers.

"Well then, come and take it for yourself, Hiroshi…"

"Raaaahhh!!!"

"I will teach you the errors of your ways."

The Shogun twirled his naginata around his hand before holding it tightly. Even with his whole body covered with armor, Hiroshi charged towards his opponent with all of his force.

*CLANG-!*

"Die!!!"

"…"

He blocked his sword slash with the pummel end of his spear, gaining Hiroshi's fury while he kept a moderate distance from his opponent.

"You think you can fool me with this made-up utopia of yours?! How many people have you tormented to build this?! How many dreams have you extinguished to mold this place to your liking?!"

"Hyip! Hah!"

*CLINK! CLANK!*

"I will not be fooled! I will not believe in this fraud that you tricked me into believing in!"

"…"

The forceful and brutal slashes from Hiroshi that his opponent blocked created sparks that lit the space between them. Solely with how the fight was being led by Hiroshi's attacks, it seemed like the Shogun was the one in the disadvantage.

"He's abusing that one's hot-headedness."

"M-Master? I didn't expect to see you here."

"Huhaha! I won't be passing up on seeing the Shogun's talent with the spear again. Duels like this are very rare nowadays so a man of the old times like me can't just let this opportunity go."

"About that, what were you saying earlier, master?"

"That young man in the armor… the Shogun seems to be abusing his enraged state right now. Coupled with the weight of his armor, the difference in their weapon's reaches and their mastery on them makes everything clear."

"…"

"The Shogun will win. I have no doubt about that."

"RAAAAAAHHH!!!"

"Ich!"

Still spurned on by his pent-up anger, Hiroshi kept his offensive. He sent slashes after slashes and pounce after pounce towards his opponent who either parried or evaded these slow yet solid attacks.

"Darn! This guy is strong!"

"He's got Uesama on the defensive!"

"You can do it, Shogun-sama!"

"YAAAAAHHH!"

"Hyuk!"

"Argh!"

Finally, after he noticed an opening in Hiroshi's posture, Sora swung his naginata around to catch him by surprise before quickly charging forward and kicking his knee that has been quite tired from the attacks and the weight of his armor.

"Woah!"

"Go get him, Uesama!"

Having tripped his opponent, the onlookers shouted cheers and told him to end the fight quickly.

"Get up, you failure."

"Why, you-!"

"We're just getting started."

But the Shogun simply stood there and let his enemy get back on his feet, much to the confusion and chagrin of the audience.

"W-What?"

"Why did the Shogun let him stand back up?"

"Was he unsure about something?"

Hiroshi stood back up and tightly held his sword before charging forward and continuing his unstoppable offensive charge.

"Hyah! Hah! Wah!"

"You're too consumed by anger. Too vulnerable to your insecurities."

"SHUT UP!"

"You once posed as a leader of great wisdom and self-control… but time after time, you showed me that you are still a very fragile child beneath that seemingly mature exterior of yours."

Again, Hiroshi showed a wide opening on his defense as he poured his attention only towards his one-minded offense.

"Don't blink."

"Wha-? AGH!!!"

The Shogun swung his naginata spear sideward to Hiroshi's left flank which his armor blocked and bounced back, but the Shogun's attack wasn't from the weapon but from his feet that planted a straight blow onto his chest.

"Wow! He's down again!"

"The Shogun has pushed him back again!"

"Will he end him this time?!"

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

Why… why?!

Why the hell am I being struck down this easily?!

"Stand up, Hiroshi. You're yet to land a blow on me."

"You shut your mouth!"

I can't take this! I will not accept this!

"I'm supposed to be the one praised by these people! I am supposed to be the one who that they're cheering for because I am fighting for their freedom!"

"…"

"What kind of sick brainwashing did you do to make them take the side of a tyrant like you?!"

As I am regaining my footing, he simply stood there as if he never saw me as a threat at all.

"Tell me, damn it!"

"…Are you stupid?"

"H-huh?"

"I told you everything. I let you see everything. Even your own men have told you everything… and yet, you still wonder why you are not the one being praised by the people?"

"-!"

I picked up my sword again and shouted towards him the words I have kept in my mind ever since last time.

"The old lady said that you wanted to save the world… but don't expect me to believe that load of bullcrap!"

"…"

"You? A hero? Don't make me laugh! I have seen what you have done to undermine me and my rule!"

He also raised his weapon after seeing me change into an offensive stance.

"I don't care about what you told me or what those frauds you call as your people showed me about their made-up lives! I don't believe any of it!"

"…I see."

"I will defeat you… and I will correct everything you did to this country!"

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

I knew it… The worst-case scenario has surfaced regarding him as a variable in the plan. He has dismissed all logic and common-sense, all-in order to not face the consequences and truth of his actions.

"It's now or never, isn't it?"

He charged forward with an enormous amount of momentum and force. Making him look like a blur in my near-sighted eyes.

"Hyaaaa!!!"

"Hmph."

"Wha-?! Gah!"

But even with my visual impairment, my sharpened senses and his lackluster combat ability on the sword was enough for me to keep myself untouched by his attacks.

"Get yourself back to your feet."

"Urgh! Ahh!"

"Your insecurities are showing with how you chose the most heavy and well-defended armor in the preparation room… Your wish to cut down anything that reminds you of your failures and selfishness is evident with that master-crafted katana."

"!"

"You're a doctor so you should also know this, Hiroshi…"

"You-"

"You're as broken as I thought you would be… and yet, you chose to blame others than fix yourself back up."

It would be difficult to make him realize all of it, but I have made a promise and I will not just give up this easily.

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

No… Don't… Don't you ever think about it, Hiroshi…

"I'm wrong… Why… why did I have to continue down this line…?"

"Because that's the human heart, Hiroshi…"

"What…?"

"The human heart that I have made all of them to realize, identify, and expunge out of their selves…"

He spoke those words and looked around him. All around the arena where the audience are waiting for us to fight again.

"Many people in our past world kept on telling others and believing that one should follow their heart, letting it lead their life in whichever way it desires… but what is the human heart but one filled with contrasting values and vices…"

"…"

"What is that human heart other than an excuse to let meaninglessness and evil to reign in our lives? As such, I have taught them that same thing… and they have erased such things out of their lives."

I looked back on the people from last time. The female chief scholar, the former magistrate who finally got to enjoy his life with his wife, the minister who spoke about the disbandment of several brothels in the city…

All of them carried the same value and the went through the same journey.

"But… your methods… the people you trampled over just for this-!"

"Right. I have not spoken about that yet…"

"-!"

"Raise your weapon, Hiroshi. Blow-by-blow, I will tell you about the story of how our world was judged by someone that you dearly know… a man named Ephraim."

"Rai…?"

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

The two lunged forward, sparks flying off their blades that crashed with a violent clanging noise.

"Woooooh!!!"

"The fight is getting hot!"

"Go and beat him, Shogun-sama!"

To those who are sitting in the middle and upper rings, the scene of the fight was the thing of excitement as the two fiercely exchanged blows and masterfully tried to overcome the other's strength and tactics.

"W-wait… are they talking?"

"Yeah… it's a bit faint but this sound…"

"They seem to be talking about something."

But to those sitting on the ring-side and lower seats, they heard glimpses of the two's conversations amidst the loud noises of the metal weapons and the clinking sounds of Hiroshi's armor.

And in the stage, where both of them are fighting, the Shogun is speaking about something that he has been keeping under the wraps for a long time.

"I am telling you, Hiroshi… You have not seen the things that I have seen."

"Urgh-!"

"You did not see the being who has no more love to give to humanity, for they have given him none when he asked for it. He possessed that young man, they both fought until the bitter end, and those who rebelled against their divine principles has been disintegrated until they were nothing but ash!"

As he narrated to him the fate that befell their past world, Hiroshi's face flinched as it hurt his heart to finally learn that what he was fighting for was what his friend fought against back there.

"…In the almost infinite number of worlds that they may come across as a threat to those worlds who truly thrived, what are we other than another cross mark in their sights… a target to be destroyed once the right time finally comes."

"Aggghhh!"

"…In such worlds where most wish to languor in the debauchery of liberty, immorality and nihilism, and not to improve and thrive, where will this world head into but the destruction our past world went to?"

Hiroshi held his sword tightly as the Shogun continued to speak about the future that Hiroshi's death did not allow him to see. And it was enough for him to slowly understand why his opponent is so resolute to fight.

"…But amongst the dregs of the evils of the human heart, where the innate selfishness and meaninglessness of our race are not present, there are those who wish to live a better life and learn the true purpose of their existence."

"…"

"Those hedonists say that all of us must just enjoy the fact that we are alive… to give up on everything, not seek any more than what was given to us, and when we have tasted all the temptations and wiles of our heart, die through our own means for that is what we humans are here for… but I say that we humans have our humanity! We will defy the evils of this world with the morality in our hearts!"

After giving it his all to finally stand up, Hiroshi lifted his sword again and showed that he wishes to decide their duel with this last exchange.

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

I have told him what I had been keeping in for a long time, and after seeing his expression after I repeatedly hit him and slashed the bindings of his armor to make it fall off, I knew this would be the last exchange for both of us.

"Now… you who has been brought into this world. Your false journey has reached its end, but one final test before your true path remains… and that is I!"

"Haah… Haah!"

"Step forth, if you have understood the meaning of your false journey! Raise your sword, if you have come to see the horrors that I do not wish this world to go through!"

"Huuu… Hyaaaa!"

"Haaah!!!"

Both of us shot forward, crossing and locking swords as we blocked each other's first strike. But being the uninjured one, I pushed his blade away easily and quickly hit his face with the pummel end of my spear.

"Urgh!"

"Defeat me!"

"Argh!"

"Command me to step aside!"

"Guh!"

"Show me that you're worthier than I to rescue this world!"

"Huk-!"

After being repeatedly hit, Hiroshi felt too weak to even hold his sword as it slipped past his fingers. And as he stood still in there, I gave him the finishing blow of a blunt strike to his chin which made him fly backwards with a violent force.

"Then… I shall let you rule. I shall entrust you to re-weave the fate of this world…"

"Knock out! Knock out!"

The referee of the duel came to Hiroshi's side and seeing his condition, announced his lost.

"Finish him!"

"Defeat him, Shogun-sama!"

The people wished for me to wound him or even kill him since this is a duel, but I simply stood there and told him with the last words in our duel.

"My vision of that world may be slowly fading completely… but I will always remember how much I and Ephraim, dreaded that end for that world."

"How… how do you know him…?"

As he asked those words, I took out my locket from my sleeve and dropped it on his bruised and heaving chest.

"Ephraim and I… were among those who decided our past world's ending fate."

"…"

"And even in this world, I shall do the same. Albeit in a way where the world does not have to be destroyed."

*Byak-!*

I took my naginata and with a forceful hit with my knee, broke it in half and threw it away.

"I have told you everything, including my knowledge and experiences from the past world this time… so please, after you wake up…"

As his eyelids slowly closed, I spoke a wish that I wanted to even just once, come true.

"Please make the right decision… before we run out of time."