Chapter 64: Commandment of Piety, the Controlled Ushiwakamaru!
Boom—!
The defensive walls of the city of Uruk were struck with such force they simply shattered.
Across the entire territory of Uruk, various types of Shadow Samurai began to manifest. As members of the Shadowkhan, invading Uruk was far easier for them than it was for ordinary monsters. There was no defense that could truly stop a "shadow." No matter how tight the security, they slipped through the cracks with ease.
The city was currently besieged from eight directions—east, west, south, north, and the four corners in between. Each front was commanded by a Shadow General, leading an army of shadow warriors that seemed to stretch on without end.
At the head of the main force, General Ikazuki led his legion of Shadow Samurai into the heart of the city. Due to the previous onslaught of the Lahmu, Uruk was already teetering on the brink of total collapse. The streets, once vibrant, were now filled with the chaos of a city in its final throes, with many citizens having already fallen in the previous madness.
Tap... Tap... Tap...
Clad in traditional Sengoku-period samurai armor, General Ikazuki walked the desolate streets of Uruk. The surrounding area was a ruin, a ghost of the prosperity it once held.
Click—
"That armor... and that gear. Are you also a samurai from the Sengoku period?"
A figure emerged from the shadows of an alleyway. It was Ushiwakamaru, a Heroic Spirit hailing from the same land as the Shadowkhan's aesthetic origin. Though they did not share the same world, their cultural roots were intertwined.
Ushiwakamaru was Japan's most famous and tragic military commander. A genius of war with extraordinary charisma, she had been alienated by her elder brother, Yoritomo, and eventually met her end alongside her loyal follower, Benkei. As the childhood name of Minamoto no Yoshitsune, her fame in Japan was unparalleled; perhaps only Oda Nobunaga could rival her legendary status.
"Hmm? I know of you, Ushiwakamaru. My Master has mentioned your name before."
"Master?"
"Our sovereign, Shin Akira. He is the sole ruler of the Shadow Realm."
"So, he is a king. I never expected him to be the lord of an entire realm," Ushiwakamaru noted, her hand resting on her hilt. "And you? Who are you?"
"Ikazuki. Commander of the Shadow Legion, and General of the Shadow Samurai."
"A General, I see. In that case, I should introduce myself properly as well. I am Ushiwakamaru, a commander of the Minamoto clan."
"The Minamoto clan?"
As a Shadow General based on the warriors of Japan, Ikazuki naturally knew the name. In fact, no one from that land could be ignorant of the Minamoto; their reputation was etched into the very soul of history.
Click—
Ushiwakamaru drew her blade in a fluid motion, her intent to fight clear.
"You wish to duel? My apologies, but I am a General," Ikazuki said coldly. "The army I lead is my true strength."
Whoosh... Whoosh... Whoosh...
From every corner, from every sliver of darkness, shadows began to coalesce into physical forms. A dense wall of warriors surrounded her, each unsheathing a blade. Unlike Ushiwakamaru's steel katana, these blades were forged from pure, undulating shadow energy.
"This is a battlefield. It is only logical for a general to lead his soldiers."
Having fought through the bloody era of the Warring States, Ikazuki cared nothing for "fairness." On the battlefield, the only thing that mattered was the death of the enemy. Numbers, backstabbing, poison, or assassination—all were valid tools as long as the objective was met.
Click— Slash—
Whoosh— Whoosh—
However, in the face of a Servant of the Heroic Spirit rank like Ushiwakamaru, the rank-and-file shadows were clearly outmatched. Despite their overwhelming numbers and their ability to endlessly reform, they couldn't pin her down. Her blade moved like a flash of light; while she couldn't easily advance through the sea of shadows, her killing speed never faltered.
"As a samurai, I shall show you my true capability! Shana-oh Ryuuri-tan — Dan-no-Ura Eight Boat Leap!"
This was Ushiwakamaru's Noble Phantasm. The Shana-oh Ryuuri-tan, which manifested in six distinct forms, was an Anti-Unit (Self) Noble Phantasm ranked at A++. As her power exploded, the shadow front began to buckle and retreat.
It seemed as though she would break the siege in a matter of moments. Yet, General Ikazuki's face remained eerily calm. If one looked closely, the corners of his mouth were actually turned upward. He was smiling—waiting for her to breach the line.
Whoosh—!
"Farewell, General Ikazuki..."
The moment Ushiwakamaru broke through to within fifteen meters of him, her speed spiked to an impossible degree. In the blink of an eye, she had vanished, reappearing directly behind General Ikazuki. Her katana swung in a merciless arc toward his neck, a fatal strike intended to decapitate him instantly.
"Commander of the Minamoto... you should not have stood behind me."
"What...?"
As soon as his voice reached her ears, Ushiwakamaru's eyes went dull. Her blade halted mid-swing, inches from his neck. General Ikazuki's smile widened.
The Commandment of Piety. One of the Ten Commandments from Nanatsu no Taizai, originally held by Zeldris. Anyone who turns their back on the wielder is considered to be showing "disrespect" to the Demon King and his representative, forcing them into absolute, mindless obedience.
Now, this power belonged to General Ikazuki. As the leader of the Shadow Legion, he acted as Akira's proxy. While the specific rules and intensities of the Ten Commandments varied, as long as the target's power did not vastly exceed Akira's, they were susceptible to the curse. And Ushiwakamaru, unfortunately, fell within that range.
"Lady Ushiwakamaru!"
At that moment, Benkei emerged from the darkness. This had been their plan: one to draw the main attention while the other looked for a window to strike. Even if Ushiwakamaru failed, Benkei was the fallback. But neither had anticipated that she would be subverted by the Commandment of Piety.
Clang—!
The sound of clashing steel rang out. Benkei's surprise attack was parried—by Ushiwakamaru herself. Benkei froze in shock. Seeing the hollow, lightless gaze of his master, he realized the horrifying truth: she was being controlled.
"Release your mental grip on my lord immediately!"
Pushing Ushiwakamaru back with a heavy swing, Benkei lunged toward General Ikazuki with a singular, murderous intent.
"Release her? Very well. If you can defeat me and take my life, the control will naturally break. But... are you capable of such a feat?"
"I will do what I must!"
Benkei gripped his weapon tighter, his killing intent overflowing. To see the master he served turned into a puppet was an unforgivable sin.
Ikazuki merely scoffed. Even if Benkei could somehow best Ushiwakamaru or kill him, it would change nothing. As long as shadows existed, he would not die. And destroying the very concept of a shadow was something Benkei could never achieve.
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