The time had finally come. Mayonaka Forest was ablaze. The acrid scent of burning wood stung their noses, thick smoke spiraled skyward, and the bright orange glow of the flames lit the night. It was a signal—the plan had begun.
The samurai stationed around the forest stared in horror, utterly frozen. "H… how did this happen?" one murmured, his voice trembling as he watched the inferno consume the trees.
Then came a booming laughter. "HAHAHAHA!!" Heads snapped toward the sound, hands flying to weapons, but nothing could have prepared them. Abe Nobuyuki emerged from the fire, a group of criminals swarming behind him, all screaming with wild exhilaration.
"Alright, boys! Time to get our freedom!" Abe roared, a fierce grin stretching across his face.
"Oh no! They're trying to escape!" Ryōtarō shouted, pointing to a nearby samurai. "You! Run to the Fourth Division and bring reinforcements—NOW!"
"Yes, sir!" the samurai cried, bolting from sight. Ryōtarō gripped his blade and scanned the advancing criminals. "Men! Until reinforcements arrive, we're the only ones who can stop them. Stand your ground—"
"ARGHHHH!!" A scream cut him off. He whirled toward the sound and saw a samurai sprawled on the ground, blood pouring freely. Towering above him was another samurai, calm and silent, sword dripping crimson.
"What are you doing, you idiot?!" Ryōtarō shouted, disbelief filling his chest. The man didn't respond. In a blink, he vanished, only to reappear behind another samurai, poised to strike.
CLANG!!
Sparks flew as Ryōtarō blocked the blow just in time. "Impressive," the stranger murmured, a sinister grin forming on his lips. Damn it… this one's going to be a problem, Ryōtarō thought. "Men! Don't let them break through!"
"YEEAAHH!!" The samurai charged. Steel clashed against steel as chaos erupted, screams echoing over the roar of the flames.
"OOOHH NOO! I'M GOING TO DIE!!" Ichio screamed, flailing as he ran through the forest.
"Shut up!" Tadatoshi yelled, his voice ragged with strain.
"Focus, everyone! Just get out of here!" Sentarō commanded, grabbing Reiko and Tadatoshi by the arms as they sprinted north.
"Why north?" Sentarō panted.
"Flames started in the south," Reiko explained, dodging falling branches. "It'll be safer on this side." They raced over charred earth, leaping over burning bushes and dodging collapsing trees.
"Look! An exit! We're saved!" Ichio cried, tears of joy streaming down his face. But as they emerged, relief twisted into horror.
Criminals swarmed the area, overwhelming the samurai with sheer numbers. Bodies lay strewn across the forest floor, broken and disfigured. The stench of blood and burnt flesh filled the air.
"What… is going on?" Ichio whispered, collapsing to his knees. "Aren't the samurai supposed to beat them?"
For the first time, some of the candidates seemed paralyzed, unable to comprehend the carnage. Others, however, did not flinch.
"What do we do now?" Reiko asked, fear etched on her face.
"What else can we do?" Ichio muttered, hopelessness draining his voice.
Tadatoshi smiled, a grim expression that chilled them.
"What are you talking about?" Tadatoshi asked.
"There's only one thing left," Sentarō said, matching Tadatoshi's grin.
"We kill every single one of them," the two said in perfect unison, determination burning in their eyes.
"So you came back, my prey," Abe sneered. Suddenly, he appeared behind them, cleaver raised high. With a ferocious swing, he brought it down—but Sentarō reacted instantly, kicking Tadatoshi away and setting Reiko and Ichio aside just in time.
The ground exploded as the cleaver slammed down, leaving a wide crater.
"Are you okay?!" Sentarō asked, dropping the two safely.
"I—I'm fine, thanks al—"
"HEY! WHO TOLD YOU TO HELP ME?!" Tadatoshi yelled, cheeks twisted in comical rage.
"Huh? I JUST SAVED YOUR LIFE!" Sentarō snapped.
"I DIDN'T ASK YOU TO!"
Abe's eyes sparkled with malice. "Fast, aren't you? Second prey." He closed the distance instantly, swinging a horizontal slash. Sentarō ducked, but Abe's follow-up kick smashed him through the air, crashing to the ground.
"Speed's all you've got," Abe said coldly. Turning, he moved to attack the others—but Sentarō sprang from the dust cloud, katana horizontal, leaping until he was level with Abe's head.
"One Sword Style… Danzetsu!" he shouted.
Abe twisted aside, sending Sentarō flying, but the young swordsman landed gracefully, rolling to his feet.
"How did he recover so fast?" Reiko asked.
"Ukemi," Ichio explained. "It's a defensive falling technique—one of the five arts. It's the only one I can use."
"You're persistent, second prey," Abe muttered, narrowing his eyes.
Before he could attack again, Tadatoshi lunged, grabbing a fallen samurai's sword. "Hey there, the Lord of Festival is done with—"
"I'm already tired of you, weakling," Abe interrupted, voice low and ominous.
Abe closed the gap instantly, swinging a horizontal strike. Tadatoshi blocked it, but the sheer force shattered his blade, sending him crashing into a tree, ribs cracking painfully. Sentarō, Reiko, and Ichio froze—Tadatoshi, for the first time, had been ragdolled.
"Pathetic. Now, second prey, let's—"
"Take it back," Sentarō whispered. Abe froze.
"Huh?"
"I said take it back!" Sentarō roared, eyes ablaze. "Tadatoshi is not weak! Take it BACK!!"
With Shunpū, Sentarō darted forward, striking at Abe. Abe parried and attempted an overhead slash. Sentarō barely avoided it but was left off-balance.
"Take this!!"
THUD!!
Reiko appeared out of nowhere, landing a devastating punch that shifted Abe's center of gravity just enough to save Sentarō. Both were thrown backward, the force rattling the earth. Ichio cowered, whispering, "They can't beat him…"
Huff… huff… Tadatoshi struggled to his feet, bloodied, battered, and bruised. "Hey… give me… your sword," he gasped. Ichio handed it over, respect shining in his eyes. This one won't stop, no matter what.
Tadatoshi assumed an unseen stance, sword gripped with both hands, over his head, left leg forward, right leg back. Sentarō and Reiko parried Abe's relentless strikes, both on the defensive.
"What's wrong, second prey? Didn't you want me to take back what I said?" Abe mocked.
"You bastard! Take it back—Tadatoshi isn't weak!" Sentarō yelled.
"HEY SENTARŌ, DON'T GET THE WRONG IDEA, WEAKLINGS!" Tadatoshi roared, calling Sentarō's name for the first time. "Now get out of the way."
"I've been working on this technique since I picked up a sword and It's my strongest move," Tadatoshi thought.
"One Sword Style!!" he shouted, determination blazing.
"Tenmei Danzan!" (Heaven-Mandate Severing Slash)
He didn't close the distance. He didn't jump. He slashed through the air—and in an instant, Abe's left arm was severed.
"ARGHHHH!" Abe screamed, blood gushing uncontrollably.
"You damn weakling! I'LL KILL YOU!!" Abe roared, seizing his cleaver with his remaining arm and charging like a wild beast.
But Sentarō saw his chance. With perfect timing, he darted forward.
"One Sword Style… Danzetsu."
The strike landed. Abe's head tumbled to the ground, severed completely.
Silence fell. The forest blazed around them, smoke and ash mixing with blood and fire. Amid the chaos, Tadatoshi, Sentarō, Reiko, and Ichio stood battered but alive. They were victorious, their determination unbroken.