Extra Chapter: Kikyo Kokonotsu, First Kirin Lord (Part 1)

Thousands of years before this world's Warring states period, during a time when this world's Japan is yet to be a nation unified under a single leader, various nomadic tribes and early farming villages warred over almost the same things as their descendants would do in the present.

For the nomadic tribes, land is secured to forage for wild grains, nuts and berries, rivers and wells are near their camps for water supply and forests are kept at an arm's length to not cause wild animals to leave the area, making them unable to hunt.

For the settlers, lands are cleared and tilled for buckwheat and millet grains, rivers and wells are connected to dug-out canals to irrigate their crops and forests are cleared to use the timber for their homes and farms while the newly cleared land extends their farmlands.

As one might already guess, it isn't good to have different desires for the same objects… just observing two toddlers crying over who can use the same toy is enough to let someone know about such a fact that is inherent to humans even at an early age.

And in the current moment, that kind of argument became ugly quickly and thus, war is born between two sides wishing to control the same place.

"Archers! Fire!!!"

*Fwi-uck!!!*

*Tak-! Tyagh!*

"ARGH!"

"W-We're losing men!"

"R-Retreat! Retreat!!!"

"Everyone! Retreat!"

Outside of the wooden walls of a certain town, a disorganized and wounded mob of people shouted a call of retreat while arrows flew around them, some finding their mark and making the one who is hit limp back to safety.

"Should we pursue them, Kikyo-sama?"

"…No. Leave them be and start repairing our defenses and rotate out the ones guarding the gates. They need rest."

"Yes, sir!"

At this town, named Kikyo, in the river valley of Nichi province, the acting commander of the town's defense militia gave an instruction to his second-in-command before putting out the fire of a nearby torch as the sunrise showed the massacre from outside of the walls.

This young man's name is Kikyo Kokonotsu, and in this land, he is someone that no one wouldn't recognize and make those who hear his name grimace in discomfort.

"Welcome back, Kikyo-waka…"

"Thank you for welcoming be back home, Yuoka-baa-san. Is father and brother back now?"

"Chief Kōrei and Kōsho-waka is still in the Imperial capital, young master. It is said that they will be back by tomorrow morning with the Imperial army in tow. Please be patient, they will surely free us from these raids soon."

"I see… Let's prepare for today as well. Open that other sack in the warehouse and cook the millet into a porridge. Let's give the militia men something to fill their bellies today."

"As you wish, Wakadanna-sama… how about the wounded ones from the battle earlier?"

"You can let your subordinates handle them. The wounded aren't as many as the hungry and tired. We need to keep their morale high with warm meals and plenty of rest."

"Understood, young master."

Although the imperial system that would later conquer and unify the country has not yet been made, a basic feudal system was already in place by the time that Kokonotsu was born. His father is a noble serving the emperor of Nichi province, and in the European nobility ranking, would have the rank of a baron.

Although it is a low rank, the responsibility that the Kikyo clan are hoisted with is not proportionate to their level of nobility.

For one, their land is smack in the middle of the river valley of Kanae where the huge rivers of Megumi in the north and Asano in the south, drains into the sea. This means that their land is among the most fertile in the country and thus, attracts a lot of traders and villagers who wish to settle down in their territory.

Second, many shamans and Shinto priests say that their land is rich in Ki or spiritual energy, and thus attracts a great deal of good spirits that add to the bounty of their land and the health of their people.

Lastly, as the other farming territories held by other landlords faced droughts and bad harvests during that year's harvest season, the importance of their rich land became the lifeline of the young feudal nation who is now hanging by the thread.

Of course, when there is such a bountiful land in many aspects, it not only attracts people with good intentions but also those who have bad ones. Chief among these people are the united nomadic tribes from the south who call themselves the "Anjin tribe".

The Kikyo clan has been a bitter thorn on the side of the Anjin tribe since time immemorial. Stone and clay inscription records from the Kikyo clan's ancestors speak of their earliest encounters with the Anjin where the two groups fought over the land as hunting and fishing grounds with the Kikyo clan emerging as victors later on and offered a noble title by the emperor.

Although it is apparent that the Anjin is still attacking them in order to acquire the bountiful river valley and its resources, there are also those who believe that the Anjin tribal leaders want to overthrow the Kikyo clan and perhaps, win the support of the emperor whose recognition they needed in order to not be pounced on by their other rivals down in the southern part of the country.

"Kikyo-sama, I am here to give my report."

"Go on. I am listening. Get straight to the point though, we have little time to waste in talking."

"As you wish… According to my analysis, our militia cannot properly protect this town anymore. I apologize for saying this, but Kikyo will inevitably fall."

"…"

Normally, the dire straits that the town is facing right now would elicit an immediate reinforcement from the Imperial army, given that the newly harvested grains that would feed the young nation is being kept there. But that is where the issue of the Kikyo clan's low noble ranking comes into play.

"We are down to only about 142 combat-ready men that can fight. If we ask the lightly wounded to join in, we can only shore up about 215 combatants."

"And what if we ask the women and younger ones to join in the forefront?"

"Numerically speaking, that would triple our numbers to just over 600… but since the women and children will join in the front, they may just end up ruining the flow of combat and cause more harm than good."

"I understand… let's leave them in supporting and supply roles. With our 200 or so men, what can we do?"

"Are you asking me for advice in our formation and strategy?"

"I am. You read the same Chinese war manuals and records as I do, but I know that you see the battlefield in a different perspective as me…"

"Waka-sama…"

"Please, I need as much help as I can right now so we can avoid letting Kikyo fall."

Speaking from a common man's perspective, the Kikyo clan is very different in comparison to the other noble families of Nichi province in the way that they see and interact with their vassals and peasants.

The other nobles, especially those who hold high-ranking positions in the imperial court, hold their selves in a high level of pride and thus, swerves away from directly interacting or doesn't see those lower than them in an equal level.

In truth, it is said that the noble families at the northern side of Nichi province caused so much hardship for their peasants that once they heard about the more tolerant and less prideful Kikyo clan, they abandoned their lands and made their way to the latter's territory.

Due to this quality of theirs, the commoners worked harder for the Kikyo clan and it soon became apparent that not only are they blessed in their territory's natural riches, they have also been favored by their people.

Even in here, the good things are also faced by the bad ones in the form of those high-ranking nobles who considers the Kikyo clan as "barbarians who have deceived the peasantry to take their side". Every single time that the Kikyo clan has done something worthy of praise, they would either downplay it or entirely keep it a secret from the emperors from then until now.

And thus, that is the reason why even after a hundred years of wholehearted service and multiple times when the Kikyo clan bailed the young empire out from famine and encroachment from the war-like nomadic tribes of the south, they are and still are locked in a low noble status.

Going back to the present, the second-in-command of Kokonotsu who finally snapped out of his shock from being asked for advice by his master proceeded to tell him about his ideas of the situation at hand.

"We can form mock-up troops in the two other gates using hay and clothes in order to fool them into thinking that we have a larger force than they expected. Of course, we would also place a sizeable force in these two gates to move those straw dummies around to make them look more believable while being a group that would warn us if they decided to force their way in there."

"I see… that's cunning indeed. We can hold on until tomorrow when father and brother's army come to help us out."

"Indeed, Wakadanna-sama. And in this way, we can quickly deploy our force from the center of the town as soon as we hear the alarm from any of the three gates."

"Okay. Let me think about it right now… Let's-"

"Waka? Wakadanna-sama!"

Kokonotsu pondered about the situation and the strategy given by his assistant. He closed his eyes to focus more but found himself dozing off from exhaustion.

"Kokonotsu-dono! Wake up!"

His fading voice that is calling for his master to wake up became muddled in Kokonotsu's hearing until it was no more. This is when he saw flashes of light in front of his eyes that showed something that Kokonotsu considers as his worst nightmare.

("Take them or burn 'em down! Don't let them save a single sack of food!")

The town was aflame, the Anjin has entered it and are either stealing from or burning down their granaries.

("Round up the women! Hahaha! We're going to have a good time later!")

The women who were captured by the savages was brought into a large house. Their pained screams and moans echoed inside its walls.

("If you can't catch them whole, slit open their feet! Those brats will catch a high price in the slave market!")

The children who were caught had the soles of their feet and their calves wounded by their captors, making them unable to escape.

"W-What the on earth…"

["Tell me, would you let this kind of thing to happen to this town that you are protecting?"]

"Who-!? Wait… you are-"

When he heard the distorted voice of a man and turned around, he saw someone that looked exactly like him but is wearing a pure white robe.

["I borrowed your appearance as I have no true physical form. Tell me, is it surreal to see someone else who looks exactly like you do?"]

"I-It is…"

["I see. I guess it will always be like that."]

Beyond the sudden entrance of this being who told him that he took his likeness, what caused Kokonotsu's confusion is the nonchalant expression that this being has when he himself can barely hold himself from going down from the wall and fight off the Anjin that has breached the town.

["Calm down, young man. This is not the real world. I am simply showing you the future awaiting the town of Kikyo this coming midnight."]

"T-This coming midnight?! Future?! Are you-"

["Right… I am someone who has the power to look into the future and observe it becoming reality in the present."]

"-! P-p-praises be onto-"

Having heard the mention of this being's power over time, responsibility to observe the future becoming the present and seeing right there and then this being replicating his appearance, Kokonotsu knelt down into a dogeza and began to chant a prayer. However, before he can even continue off the first three words, his mouth stopped speaking and his head was forcefully raised by something as if his body is being controlled.

["Don't pray to me… I am not a god. I have no use for prayers, neither am I deserving of them."]

"B-But you are surely-"

["I am not a god… Am I clear, mortal?"]

"Y-Yes!"

Kokonotsu cannot understand the being in front of him. If he isn't a god, then he must be a demon, however, this being also denies being called a god, something that demons yearn to be called and considered to be as it will let them gain believers and become stronger.

Being made to forget the thought of showing reverence to this being, Kokonotsu was allowed to stand back up and face the burning town and all of its populace that are facing all kinds of horrible acts.

"Everyone… I'm sorry!"

["Didn't I tell you that this is just the future? Go save your tears for later on when this becomes reality."]

"That is what hurts me!"

["…"]

"I can't… I can't afford to let this thing be reality! I don't want this town to be burned and its people abused or sold into slavery!"

["Because you will lose your prestige and possibly be shamed by your family and other nobles?"]

"Screw them! I am not fighting to become the next landlord!"

["Then what is it that makes you want to protect this town?"]

"Because this is the land that I was born, and the people who I pledged to protect till my last breath!"

Kokonotsu forgot about the possibility that this being can kill him in so many ways because of his outburst once it told him to accept that whatever he is seeing now is the inevitable future.

["…You're well aware that they are just peasants, right? No one would care if they died or was sold into slavery. In comparison, holding onto defending this place and taking responsibility for this failure would in the best case, make your family disown you and at worst, they'll make you take your life to regain your honor."]

"I don't care! I will stay here and fight!"

["Even if you stay and fight, this is already the infallible fate of this town and its people. You staying in here to defend it will not change anything."]

"And who decided that?"

["…"]

"Who decided that nothing will change if I stay here?!"

["It's fated already. You cannot-"]

"Then I will break fate!"

Kokonotsu's declaration wasn't from his mind, but from his heart. There is no clear way to do what he just said, but deep in his heart, he knew that those words were something that he must shout even if he doesn't know what will come out of it.

"I will destroy this accursed fate and save this town and its people! I will do everything necessary to do it!"

["…"]

"So, if you think that I will run just because you showed me this hopeless impending future, you have failed. It has done nothing but further steel my resolve… and made me realize that I can only truly depend on myself to save my people."

["…You darned brats. There really are ones like you in every era that I go to."]

"What are you talking about? W-Wha-?"

With the snap of his finger, the burning town filled with shouts and cries instantly went back to its usual scenery of the townsfolk doing their daily business and enjoying their day.

"W-Wait! What did you just do?"

["I returned the time that we are observing to three days before the attack. You might remember this as the day when your father and elder brother left for the imperial capital to request the help of the imperial army after your scouts reported that an army of the Anjin tribe are making their way to this town."]

"Three days… Right, it was during that day."

["I see… I want you to reflect upon your recollections of this day and try to remember the mistakes that you and your family did that made the coming battles difficult for all of you."]

Kokonotsu pondered for a moment, and with his sharp mind, quickly remembered the mistakes that they made during that day.

"We should've informed the people that the Anjin are coming so that they can reinforce the gates and prepare their selves for a long siege and several attacks."

["Was that all?"]

"There is also the thing about Kōsho-aniki-sama bringing his personal bodyguards when he is already travelling with father and his bodyguards. Those soldiers could've acted as officers for the militia to better coordinate them."

["Any other that you remember before we go forward?"]

Kokonotsu squeezed his brain a little bit more before he blurted out the last mistake that he personally did when they saw the campfires of the Anjin soldiers at the other side of the forest where they set their camp.

"We should've ambushed their advance forces before they joined up with the reinforcements and attacked us. If the reinforcements saw their comrades killed while they were drunk or asleep, it would've demoralized them."

Once he said those words, the sun went down and the moon rose and set, showing that it is now the next day. Knowing what is being asked, he immediately spoke the most obvious mistake that he did.

"First of all, I should've let the ones guarding the other gates to be cycled out of their shifts. Because of this mistake, they were a bit late in ringing the alarm and the Anjin almost scaled the walls and entered the town. If the guards were awake and attentive, we could've avoided that incursion and not lost men to push them out of the gates and walls."

["You have another one during this day. This could've killed all of you if didn't notice it mid-way."]

"Are you talking about the riot in the marketplace between the archers and footmen? I don't think my judgement was wrong back there."

["And that's where you're wrong. Not only did you not cut off the root of their argument which is whose weapons repair request should be prioritized, you also lost their respect when you judged that none of them deserve to have their request prioritized by the artisans."]

"I believe that impartiality is a virtue of a leader. I cannot side with any of their sides."

["The problem isn't that you didn't took a side. It is the way that you conveyed your decision which sounded more like an indecisive and lukewarm answer that doesn't care at all about their welfare."]

"W-Wait! I didn't intend to-"

["See? That's your mistake. You are in a battle. Everything hinges on the fact that your men need to look up to you as much as possible to preserve their morale. However, your lukewarm answer about their requests to repair the weapons that will decide their life or death can break their fighting spirit."]

"…I understand. But I don't really know a proper answer to satisfy both sides."

["Think about it later. Let's proceed to the next day."]

As that was said, the sunset and nighttime passed to give way to the early morning just after the end of the midnight raid earlier in the present time.

"I know already about it since it's still fresh in my mind… I made a mistake about our formation behind the gate. We should've barricaded the gateway so that the spearmen can easily stab the enemies from behind cover."

["There are two others. Try to remember it."]

"Two, huh? What could it be…?"

Kokonotsu thought back about what happened earlier and ended up realizing something that he didn't see as a mistake from earlier.

"We should've tossed burning bundles of sticks outside the wall to light up the area around it. That could've eased the work of the archers."

["Right. Since those burning sticks are usually used to scare away horses and throw their riders out of their backs, you missed the fact that it can also be used to light up your surroundings."]

"And the last one…"

He tried to think deeper and deeper, but nothing came up in his mind that he missed or didn't react to properly.

"What could it be…?"

["I'll give you a hint. It's something that most wouldn't do when they are in the defensive. It's so untypical and foolhardy that no one who is on the offensive would think it will be done."]

"-!"

That's when that memory clicked in Kokonotsu's mind.

("Should we pursue them, Kikyo-sama?")

("…No. Leave them be and start repairing our defenses and rotate out the ones guarding the gates. They need rest.")

His second-in-command asked if they should pursue the retreating Anjin attackers and he denied that request in order to prioritize the repair of their defenses and letting his men rest.

Normally, it is an acceptable decision. But if this being in front of him considers it as a mistake, what could be the right choice then?

"Are you telling me to pursue them then?"

["I am not here to give you answers. You, who has to do it, are the one who should know it. I'm only here to inform you of what mistakes you did and which day they should be settled."]

"I understand… I'll do my best then."

["Alright. If you really want to change the course of the future, take my hand."]

"…"

This being in front of him who looks just like he does extend out his hand, inviting him to take it.

["You saw the terrible future of this land where you were born and which you have promised to defend until death… If you want it to not fall to the future that it is fated to have, then steel yourself… because if there is anything that one wouldn't want to make an enemy of, it is destiny itself."]

"…"

["If you want to have the ending that you desire, you will have to take it with your own hands."]

Kokonotsu knew that he is being warned before he takes that hand. But no matter how much he asks himself, there is only one answer that he has.

["But you already knew that, didn't you… Kirin Lord?"]

Kokonotsu will later wake up three days before the day when he met that being. Along with his father and elder brother, he would hear the news of the Anjin tribe's marching forces and be in command of the town's militia and a few of his elder brother's personal bodyguard whom he begged his brother to leave in the town to help him in defending it. Although he received bitter words and insults from his brother, command over the group of professional soldiers would be given to him before the two men and their retinue sped towards the imperial capital.

"The Anjin tribe is coming to attack us! Shore up our defenses and distribute the grains! We will prepare for a siege!"

Against the words of his advisors, Kokonotsu will spread the word of the incoming attack and give away some sacks of grains to the people for the coming siege at his own expense. This gave the men more time to prepare their weapons and for the women and children, more time to keep a good stock of food for their homes.

"We will hit them just before midnight when they are already too drunk or deep in sleep to offer any resistance."

"As you wish, Wakadanna-sama!"

There was also the attack on the advance group of Anjin who drank in the camp as an advanced celebration of their supposed victory. That night, Kokonotsu effortlessly slew a hundred men with only a handful of people on his side. They would later throw the corpses into a small mound of dead men and plant their clan's flag atop it, showing that it was them who is responsible for it.

That night, instead of receiving an attack where many of his men would lose their lives, the sun rose up with not a single whirring of an enemy arrow being heard in any of the three gates of the town.

"Hahaha! They must've been intimidated by our attack last night that they decided to flee!"

"Yeah! We will surely be victorious if we-"

"What did you just say, punk!?"

"What? Are you deaf or something!?"

A commotion in the marketplace became the center of attraction by midday when a group of archers and footmen argued in front of the weapon maker's stall about whose repair orders should be done first.

The archers argued that they are the backbone of the defense and only by maintaining their bows and creating as much arrows as possible can they repel the invading Anjins.

Meanwhile, the footmen stated that they are in the forefront of the fight and will be sent out of the walls to pursue the enemy if needed. They argued that the limited supply of bronze should be used for their spearheads and axes instead.

Kokonotsu, aware now that this will not be a problem only to his men but also to him who needs to show his competency, ultimately decided to give the footmen priority in the weaponsmith's shop. The archers, although unable to request repairs at the weapon maker, was able to elicit the help of some seamstresses who re-twined their bowstrings and some crafty kids who cut bamboo and created makeshift arrows that are almost as good as ones made by professional workers.

The second day will be different from how he remembers it in all kinds of ways. First, the attack at the eastern gate that was discovered too late because of the sleepy guards that wasn't rotated out of their shift was seen from far away and was repelled by a hail of arrows that managed to hit and kill several of the attackers before they routed into a disorganized mob and deserted.

Next, there was the sudden spurt in the number of militia volunteers in comparison to the measly number of them in the second day that he remembered. These new volunteers would apologize to him and the townsfolk and admit that they were too afraid to fight now that their landlord and his heir wasn't present in the defense. To make up for it though, they presented something that they have worked on while they are hiding in the far side of the town and away from the eyes of the other people.

"This is…"

"We heard about it from a Chinese merchant. He said that it is a siege machine that can topple walls from afar. Apparently, they are using these back there for warfare."

To put it simply, the young men created a simple trebuchet using wood trunks and planks, a large basket filled with huge rocks and a cloth bag that can be loaded with anything that can fit in it.

"But we're on the defensive. What use would this thing be if we are the ones who are behind walls?"

"We actually have another thing to show and demonstrate, Kikyo-danna-sama."

The young men pulled down the arm of the trebuchet and locked it in place before loading a ceramic gourd in the cloth bag that has a lit wick on its spout.

"Let it rip!"

*Friyag!*

"W-Woah!"

"It launched the gourd!"

The ceramic gourd flew up and away out in the open field and hit the ground before creating a fireball on the impact site.

"W-What was that!?"

"It's a batch of Sake and Mirin that was too spoiled to be drunk, Kikyo-sama. Instead of throwing it away, we decided to put it into Yoyoi's botched clay gourds and place a wick on it to make the alcohol combust as soon as it hits the ground."

"-!"

Kokonotsu immediately realized the possible applications of this new weapon and how this will further increase their ability to fend of their attackers.

"Young men, I understand that you feel bad for not responding to the call to arms, but what you made right here is more than enough to make up for your fear of the battlefield. This machine of yours will surely let us win against our enemies!"

"I-Is that really so, Kikyo-sama!?"

"Yes! Which is why I need you to create more of these by tonight including its ammunition! Can this be done?!"

"Certainly, Kikyo-sama!"

The woodworkers, potters and Sake makers became abuzz with fascination and excitement with the words of Kokonotsu that this new machine can save them from their enemies. By nightfall, three trebuchets that received refinements from more experienced carpenters, and Sake gourds that contains more alcohol content using the distillation pots of the Sake makers, arrived at the main gate of the town and was ready for battle… the same goes to its intended targets.

"Hold! Hold it for a little bit more!"

"Everyone! Wait for the young master's signal!"

While the archers are firing at the enemies exposed by the burning bundles of sticks that they threw outside the walls, the trebuchet teams waited for Kokonotsu to raise the Kikyo clan's flag which acts as the signal for them to fire.

"NOW!!!"

"""Let it rip!!!"""

*FRIYAG-!!!*

The gourds' flights arced above the walls and in a matter of seconds, the screams of burning men filled the air while the sound of the gate being bashed by the Anjins ceased.

"R-Retreat! Retreat!!!"

"Go back now! The order is to go back!"

"T-They're raising their flag again!"

Even if they are retreating already, Kokonotsu raised his flag, and it was followed by the whirring sound of the gourds that burned more men as they took their retreat.

"Hurrah! Hurrah!!!"

"W-Woah!"

"Ahahaha! I can't believe that we will actually be praised, Yoyoi-kun!"

"Yeah! It's good that we came out and helped!"

A victory celebration was later held in the town square where the young men who made the trebuchet from a simple story and a bit of craftiness was praised and even tossed up by the townsfolk. There was a lot of food and fruity drinks, but under the order of Kokonotsu, alcohol was banned in order to make sure that the men wouldn't be too hammered to fight later on.

The third day came, and it was the time that Kokonotsu was waiting for.

"Young master! This is insanity! We can't possibly gamble our forces in this kind of move!"

"They wouldn't want to participate in this anyway, Waka-sama! Please reconsider this absurdity now!"

"No… I have decided that this is the only way for those savages to leave us and never try to harass us like this again. Anyone who doesn't want to join can do so, but never ask for a whiff of glory and praise once we emerge victorious."

His advisors spoke as such and begged him to reconsider his plan for today but to no avail. Kokonotsu was resolute in his decision to leave the confines of their walls and take the fight to the enemy once and for all.

"…Is this really your decision, Kikyo-wakadanna-sama?"

"It is. If you will stay here, I want you to take charge of the defenses… and if we fail, I want you to tell father and brother that I did my responsibility as the son of the Kikyo clan, even if I am an illegitimate child."

"Waka-sama…"

"…Father has Kōsho-aniki-sama. Losing me will not damage the future of the family."

"What about Lady Yuno, then? What should I tell her who would miss you sorely?"

Hearing the name of his beloved fiancée, a commoner that he took as his future spouse against the orders of his family and the other nobles, Kokonotsu staggered a little before sighing and giving him an answer.

"Tell Yuno that I love her… and pray to the heavens that I come back safely."

"Is that all-"

"Once I get back, I will marry her… Tell her that for me, will you, buddy?"

"You darned-! …Hahaha! Sure, sure! Get back alive then, will you!?"

Kokonotsu and one hundred fifty volunteers along with two of the three trebuchets will later come out of the walls and charge towards the camp of the Anjin tribe that extends to the horizon.

"What's the plan, Kikyo-sama?!"

"Trebuchets and archers! Rain hell on those imps!"

"""Understood, sir!!!"""

"Footmen! Charge with me after the barrage and let's slaughter all of them until they are no more!"

"URYAAAA!!!"

Centuries later, stories about that day that was passed down through word of mouth to the descendants of the Anjin tribesmen described the battle in an apocalyptic way.

Balls of fire and poisoned bolts rained from the dark sky and burned entire sections of the encampment. At one point, the burning tents illuminated the surroundings so much that is looked like a sunrise from afar. Meanwhile, those struck by the poisoned arrows was in so much pain that they all ran to the camp's open well to jump and end their suffering.

Men from the tribe was caught helpless against the men who struck their disorganized lines of defense with so much ferocity and force that they likened it to the rush of river water during a downpour. One particular group who descended from the ones who was at the side of the camp where the Kikyo forces first attacked gave harrowing stories of how one of their men was cleaved across the torso by a single axe swing and the attacker continued on his rampage without any sign of stopping.

Lastly, those who heard about the fighting and wasn't hit by the fire gourds and arrows escaped safely, but was so horrified of what they witnessed that not only did they left the camp, they left the Anjin tribe completely and joined other people while hiding their past identities.

Amusingly enough, many of them would hide out in the forests near the Kikyo clan's lands and later induct their selves into the peasantry of the Kikyo clan, coming under their rule under their own volition instead of either being slaves or being a conquered people.

By the fourth day, when the landlord Kōrei and Kōsho arrived with the Imperial army, there wasn't a battle for them to fight anymore. Against all odds and with great leadership ability and the burning fervor of the townsfolk to fight against their enemies, the town of Kikyo defeated an army of 50,000 people with a measly 2,000 from their side all-in-all.