CHAPTER 2: Hunted

For a minute, the samurai in front were able to run past the beast. They surrounded the beast, hoping to trap him. But the beast was too smart for them.It pounded on the floor several times, causing dust to evelope into the air. The Samurais were temporarily blinded and unable to attack properly, giving the beast an advantage over them.The beast killed as many samurai that surrounded him before making its way back into the woods again. While the beast was making its way into the woods, there was only one surviving samurai that followed the beast closely, with Zai a little bit far behind. Cheng and the rest of the remaining samurai and Lord Dako were far behind them.

The samurai that went after the beast himself was so close to the beast that he drew out his sword and struck it into the back of the beast. He fell off his horse in the process. His sword penetrated the beast but also fell off. This angered the beast even more.The beast stopped for a second before turning around to see who it was that struck him. The beast charged up like a bull with a frightening look after seeing that the Samurai that struck him was down injured.At the point where Zai was already close, Zai came down from his horse gently. He was without a sword, but he could see that the sword the samurai had used to strike the beast was lying in front of him. He calculated his move to pick up the sword. He was standing close to the injured samurai on the ground. The beast charged up to them, with Zai also making a forward run to get the sword. If not, they would both be killed by the beast. Before the beast could get to Zai, he slid with a free flow on the grass to increase his mometum and to have a proper attack. The beast tried to use its horn, but Zai was lightning fast enough to get underneath it. While also grabbing the sword from the ground, he struck the beast at his weaker spot from under, tearing its stomach open in the process. The beast tried to get away, but there was little he could do. He dragged Zai across the floor for a little distance, but Zai held on to the sword and struck inside its body. The injured Samurai almost got crushed by the beast, but he managed to get away. Zai saw that there was a tree in front of him and that the beast was out of control. He immediately let go of the sword. The beast crashed into the tree in front of him before giving up finally.They were just the two of them in the forest.Zai stood up to see if the beast was really dead, and so did the samurai, though they showed signs of fright. Zai summoned courage and walked closer to the beast, observing it round about before drawing out the sword with both hands that was stuck in the belly of the beast. Zai cleansed the blood from the sword and knelt down. As a sign of honour and respect, he handed over the sword back to the samurai. But he was not surprised to hear the reply he got.

"I would rather have been killed by that beast than saved by an outcast." The samurai said to Zai, "Even though Zai had saved his life, he was not appreciated." He collected the sword from Zai and threatened to strike him with it, but Zai did not flinch. He knew that he had been hated but was still determined to prove his worth and was now a part of the clan.

While he was still on his knees handing over the sword to the samurai and the samurai was threatening to kill him with the sword, the rest of the soldiers arrived with their horses. Zai quickly got up from the ground. He went behind the samurai immediately. Cheng and Lord Dako got closer to them. Both Zai and the samurai in front of him both bow their heads to show respect to Lord Dako.

After observing the beast for a minute, Lord Dako gave the soldier the respect he deserved. The whole of Shitun owes you a great debt. Samurai "Yang" can now finally welcome "Lord Shogun" without fear of the beast. Samurai Yang was honoured by Lord Dako for his bravery. Samurai Yang was a great soldier, but his rank as Lord Dako was just behind that of Cheng. As a sign of victory, Cheng drew out his sword to cut down the horn of the beast. As a sign of victory, Cheng handed the horn of the beast to Lord Dako, with the rest of the soldiers watching them from behind. With a shout of victory for Shitun, Lord Dako collected the horn from Cheng and raised it up, looking at the rest of the soldiers. They all made a shout of victory. While they were about to take their leave, Lord Dako congratulated Yang for his bravery.While Cheng was the last to take his leave, with what seemed like it was Yang who killed the beast, Cheng recognized that it was Zai himself who killed the beast because there was blood stained all over his hands.Cheng gave Zai a sighing look before taking his leave. Zai, on the other hand, bowed his head towards Cheng as a sign of respect. Without getting recognized or appreciated by anyone, Zai could only watch as Lord Dako and the rest of the samurai took their leave from the forest.

Zai was about to take his leave when he noticed the strange fox was staring at him. He took a deeper look into the eyes of the fox. He noticed the different colours of the fox's eyes. The fox ran into the woods again without a trace.

Far in the mountains was also located another kingdom known for its dominance over rival provinces, "Nagato". Its ruler was Lord Tyra, a very powerful man feared by many. He had a large army. His quest for power was unmatched by anyone in all the rival provinces.

While being escorted into his chamber, Lord Tyra, as the ruler of Nagato, was escorted into his chamber. While being escorted into his chamber, Lord Tyra was full of anger for a failed mission. On getting to his chamber, he ordered every soldier and maid around him to get out of his sight. He repeatedly shouted at them until there was privacy. There was so much anger flowing down his spine. While he was venting out his frustration, the black fox, which Zai saw in the woods, walked into the chambers of Lord Tyra.While no one witnessed the movement of the fox, the fox transformed into a young, fair, and beautiful lady, with long dark hair, piercing nails, and charming eyes. No one could stand the sight of her beauty; she was what every man desired, but she decided who she wanted. Her name is "Ashiwa." She possesses magical powers. She is a sorcerer demon. No one knows her hidden secret except Lord Tyra. While Lord Tyra was in his chamber alone, Ashiwa made a silent entrance into his room. She had a look of disappointment on her face.Immediately after Lord Tyra saw her, he asked her a question. Is Lord Dako still alive? Ashiwa gave him a straight answer by saying yes, he is still alive. Lord Tyra was disappointed with the answer he got.Ashiwa was the one behind the killings made by the beast. The ideal plan was to kill Lord Dako in the process, but thanks to Zai, it was a failed mission.

Samurai Cheng, while working for Lord Dako, had a family of his own. He had a son who is nineteen years of age, "Kyle," and a little daughter, Shira. His wife was well loved by him, "Shahima". With the influence of his father, Kyle had been working in the palace ever since he was born.

While Lord Dako and his samurai were heading back from the forest, the son of Samurai Cheng Kyle got the information. He immediately rode his horse into the palace to deliver the message to Princess Rika, the daughter of Lord Dako.

While Kyle was on his way to deliver the information he had, Rika was with the palace maids. She was giving them instructions on how to go about the Shogun tournament that was about to take place in the palace square. Kyle arrived at that moment.

Rika: Hosting the Shogun's tournament is a great honour for my father.Everything must be perfect.

Kyle: My lady—Rika, Lord Dako, and the hunting party have returned. They killed the beast.

Rika showed a sign of relief as soon as she got the news that her father was back from the forest. She has been worried sick for some time now, knowing what they were after. Rika and her maids immediately went from the palace square to the gate of the kingdom to welcome her father and the rest of the samurai that went with him. It was a joyous moment, knowing full well the number of people the beast had killed as a result of its attack on the village.

Rika: Father, you've arrived; I was worried sick.

Lord Dako: The hunt took longer than we hoped. Samurai Yang showed great courage.

Giving Yang a tap in the shoulder, Yang was too ashamed to look up, knowing full well it was not him that killed the beast but Zai.

Rika: Is anyone badly hurt?

Turning her neck in search of Zai

Lord Dako: Who are you looking for?

Giving Rika a sigh look, Lord Dako could tell what was on the mind of his daughter. Rika had a fragile look on her face.

They both walked inside the place to continue their conversation, with guards and maids following them from behind.

Lord Dako: Is everything prepared for the Shogun's arrival?

Rika: Yes father

Lord Dako: I want all of Shitun to share in this honor of hosting our great commander.

Rika: I have made special arrangements for the visiting Lord's as well.I have also ordered it to stand out all alone on the route.

Lord Dako: Your mother would have been proud if she were to be alive today. I'm glad she gave you to me.

While the daughter and father were now seated in private, they both had a private discussion. Lord Dako loved his daughter so much that he would do anything for her.Rika was so proud of her father. She loved him so much. He was the only family she had. She had no other siblings apart from her maids, who were close to her, and for that reason, she doesn't take her father for granted. She will do anything for her father as well. The respect she has for her father is unmatched in this world. The bond between them is so strong that others may see it as a weakness for them.