The Siege of Kisaragi
Chapter 38: The Siege of Kisaragi
The underground arena erupted into chaos. The distant echo of footsteps thundered through the tunnels, growing louder with every passing second. The Kisaragi warriors instinctively reached for their weapons, their training kicking in as the weight of impending battle pressed upon them.
Raizo's expression hardened. He turned to his second-in-command, a sharp-eyed woman named Kanna. "How many?"
The scout gulped. "At least fifty. More could be waiting outside."
A hush fell over the warriors. Fifty men—Tenshi wasn't holding back. This wasn't a simple hunt. This was a purge.
Daijin clenched his jaw. "He wants to wipe you out."
Raizo smirked, though his eyes held no amusement. "Let's see if he succeeds."
He turned to his warriors. "Defensive positions! Fortify the tunnels! Make them bleed for every step they take!"
The Kisaragi warriors roared in unison, their spirits ignited despite the grim odds.
Daijin exchanged glances with his team. "We hold the line."
Yeon loaded her gun. "It's going to get messy."
Haru cracked his knuckles, ignoring the fresh wounds from the arena. "Good. I owe these bastards some pain."
Akane flicked her blade, sending a trail of blood onto the dirt floor. "Let's make it count."
The battle for survival had begun.
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Tunnels of Death
The first wave came fast.
A dozen of Tenshi's men poured in from the main tunnel, their swords gleaming under the torchlight. The Kisaragi warriors met them head-on, the sound of steel on steel filling the cavern.
Daijin moved like a shadow, weaving through the chaos. He parried a strike, twisting his blade and driving it into an enemy's throat. Blood sprayed across the stone floor as he pulled back, already shifting into his next movement.
Yeon fired from above, picking off enemies with precise shots. Each bullet found its mark, dropping Tenshi's men before they could advance too far. But for every one that fell, another took his place.
Haru fought like a beast, his sheer strength overwhelming opponents. He grabbed a man by the throat, slamming him against the wall with enough force to crack stone. The man choked, his grip on his sword weakening before Haru crushed his windpipe with a final, brutal squeeze.
Akane danced through the battlefield, her blade an extension of her will. She dodged a wild swing, countering with a vicious slash across her attacker's chest. The man gasped, falling to his knees as she ended his suffering with a swift thrust to the heart.
Still, the enemy kept coming.
A deafening explosion suddenly rocked the tunnels, sending dust and debris raining down. One of the side walls collapsed, blocking an escape route.
Kanna cursed. "They're trying to bury us alive!"
Raizo's eyes flickered with anger. "Not today."
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The Assassin's Arrival
A sudden chill filled the air.
Daijin felt it before he saw it—the presence of something dark, something lethal.
Then, from the far end of the tunnel, a lone figure stepped into view.
Renji.
His crimson eyes gleamed beneath his mask, his presence suffocating the battlefield with an eerie stillness. In his hands, a curved blade dripped with fresh blood.
"You run well, Daijin," Renji murmured. "But the hunt ends here."
Daijin tightened his grip on his sword. "If you want me, come take me."
Renji's smirk was barely visible beneath his mask. "Gladly."
And then he moved.
Fast.
Too fast.
One moment, he was standing at the tunnel's entrance. The next, he was in front of Daijin, his blade flashing in the dim light. Daijin barely managed to block, the force of the strike sending shockwaves up his arm.
Renji's attacks came in a flurry—swift, precise, lethal. Each movement was designed to kill, to overwhelm, to leave no room for retaliation.
But Daijin wasn't just any warrior.
He met every strike with equal force, his movements a dance of survival. Sparks flew as their blades clashed, each impact resonating through the cavern.
Around them, the battle raged on, but in that moment, it was just the two of them. Predator and prey.
And Daijin was determined not to be the latter.
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A Costly Decision
Renji feinted left, then twisted right, his blade slicing toward Daijin's side.
Too late to fully dodge.
Pain erupted as steel bit into Daijin's ribs. He staggered, blood dripping onto the dirt floor.
Renji didn't hesitate. He lunged for the killing blow.
Then—
A gunshot rang out.
Renji's head snapped to the side as a bullet grazed his mask, shattering part of it.
Yeon stood atop a crumbling ledge, her smoking gun aimed directly at him.
For the first time, Renji hesitated.
And that was all Daijin needed.
With a roar, he surged forward, his sword slicing across Renji's chest. A deep gash tore through his uniform, sending blood spraying.
Renji gritted his teeth, leaping back to create distance. He touched the wound, then looked at the blood on his fingers.
Slowly, he chuckled.
"Interesting."
Then, without another word, he vanished into the darkness, retreating into the tunnels.
Daijin breathed heavily, blood still trickling from his side.
Yeon dropped down beside him. "You're welcome."
He smirked. "I had him."
She raised an eyebrow. "Sure."
Raizo's voice cut through the aftermath. "We're not done."
The remaining Kisaragi warriors had pushed back the invaders, but at a great cost. Bodies littered the ground, both enemy and ally.
The siege had been won.
But the war was far from over.
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The Path Forward
As the dust settled, Raizo turned to Daijin.
"You wanted my help?" he said grimly. "You have it."
Daijin nodded. "Then let's finish this."
Tenshi had made his move.
Now, it was their turn.
And this time, they wouldn't just survive.
They would win.
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