Day 8
The skies above Eikyuu were a slate of iron. Wind howled down the rocky cliffs, but it was drowned out by the roars of men dying in droves.
The central army of Qin — once 40,000 strong — was falling into disarray.
Rin Gyoku Clan – Under Siege
"Pull back! Pull back, damn you!!"Rin Gyoku bellowed, blood spraying from his shoulder as he cleaved through another Zhao soldier.
His clan warriors were being carved apart. Ko Haku Kou's Zhao forces had slammed into their line hours ago and hadn't relented since.
"Rin-sama!" shouted Jo Ta, panting heavily, sword cracked at the hilt. "The Zhao forces are focusing everything on us! Maybe that means—"
"That Koku'Ou has it easier," Rin Gyoku finished for him, his face tight with fury. "Tch… so be it. I hope this was Kan Ki's plan from the start."
Jo Ta hesitated. "...There's something else. The Kou Kotsu Clan—they've deserted."
A brief silence.
Rin Gyoku didn't even blink. "About time."
"What do we—?"
"Join me instead," Rin Gyoku said, almost amused. "You've got better spine than those rats ever did. Damn bandits."
The former thief Jo Ta nodded. "Yes, sir."
Rin Gyoku turned back toward the chaos, gripping his axe tighter.
"If the Kan Ki Army dies today, it'll be in a blaze of fire. Not in the shadows like cowards."
Kan Ki HQ
Reports piled like corpses in the command tent.
Ma Ron crushed another scroll in his palm and tossed it aside. "Deserted. Deserted. Deserted…"
"Sir," a weary messenger said, "another clan has left. They—"
"SHUT UP!!" Ma Ron slammed a wine jug against the tent pole, shattering it. "I don't need to hear about one more coward!"
The aide retreated with a bow.
Ma Ron staggered to the back of the tent, muttering, "It's over… Kan Ki's gamble failed. This place is a tomb. I'll be damned if I'm buried with him…"
He reached for the travel satchel hidden beneath a crate when—
"You planning on going somewhere?"
The words were like steel across silk.
Kan Ki stood behind him, arms crossed, blood-soaked coat barely ruffled.
Ma Ron froze.
Kan Ki smiled. "If you're leaving, at least take some wine with you. Be a shame to let it go to waste."
Ma Ron swallowed. "...Kan Ki. I—"
"Relax," Kan Ki cut in, his voice quiet. "It's all going exactly as I expected."
Right Wing
The sounds of battle echoed across the hilltop. Rai Do cackled as he impaled another Zhao soldier, soaked head to toe in blood.
"I could do this all day! Bring me ten more!" he roared, spinning his massive glaive with a grin.
"RAI DOOO!!"
He turned. A battered figure stumbled up the slope.
It was Ogiko, bleeding from a dozen cuts.
"What the hell happened to you?" Rai Do asked, laughing. "Did you fall down a cliff or something?"
Ogiko gasped. "You're one to talk, idiot… I brought a message… from Kan Ki-sama."
Rai Do's eyes sharpened. "Kan Ki sent you to me?"
Ogiko nodded. "He said to deliver this personally… even if it killed me."
He stepped forward, trembling, and whispered the message.
Rai Do's smile faded.
His fingers clenched on his glaive. "That bastard…"
Ogiko looked up. "He says don't get too reckless. You still have a part to play."
Rai Do exhaled slowly.
Then, a second messenger approached. "Commander! Urgent report!"
Rai Do turned with a growl. "What now?!"
The soldier saluted. "The Yo Ma Clan—they've captured a hostage. A high-value one."
"Who?"
The man grinned. "Sou Kan. The son of Zhao General Ryuu Haku Kou, commander of the left wing."
Rai Do's eyes widened.
Then he threw his head back and howled with laughter.
"HAAAAAHAHA! Now that's a fine card to hold!"
He glanced at Ogiko, whose eyes were already closing from fatigue.
"Tell Kan Ki… I'm keeping him alive. Might be useful when we flip the board."
Ogiko nodded weakly. "I'll tell him… if I live that long…"