340 Rescue Operation-02
The most Yamato Takeru could achieve was to divide Orochi's soul into eight pieces. Interestingly, one of these Orochi soul fragments was utilized to mend Koyuki soul, a process facilitated by her perfect compatibility with it, even surpassing that of the fragment of Satan's soul.
Hence, her soul gained the ability to manipulate Orochi's soulless body, which lay dormant beneath the entirety of Japan. This is why both the Tokugawa and the Hojo clans support healing her soul. They understand that she was one of the seven deadly sin witches, capable of harnessing power from Satan's soul fragment. Additionally, she is the only daughter of one of the most powerful Miko in Japanese history.
Therefore, the prospect of her becoming the catalyst to wield some of Orochi's power or even control him entirely appears likely to come to fruition. The power to summon cloud, wind, lightning and even calling upon nature calamity is manifesting within her body. Since she refused to cooperate with Nobunari and be his pawn, he had no choice but to imprison her within boundaries that allowed his Onmyoji to tap into the power to control nature and calamity within her body.
"And so what? What guarantee do I have that you won't betray your word, 'Shogun'?" Koyuki uttered the word 'Shogun' with a hint of mockery. "What if, after I relinquish my control and grant you power over nature and calamity, you use it to eliminate Daniel, me, and anyone else you see as obstacles to your delusional glory?" she questioned, her gaze piercing into Nobunari's eyes as though scrutinizing a condemned man.
Koyuki's words struck a nerve; he had indeed entertained such treacherous thoughts. However, Nobunari, seasoned in navigating the perilous political landscape, masked his fluctuating emotions and responded with solemnity.
"I swear on my honor, Lady Koyuki," he declared firmly.
Upon hearing his solemn oath, Koyuki burst into uproarious laughter, as if she had heard the most ludicrous joke. Several minutes passed before she gradually composed herself.
"Forgive my candor, Shogun, but... hearing you swear on your honor is like a prostitute swearing on her virginity. Don't you think it's the greatest joke of all?"
The mockery this time shattered the Shogun's calm facade, his eyes bulging with anger as he gritted his teeth and uttered a single word.
"Bitch!!"
Despite hearing the insult from the Shogun's mouth, Koyuki merely smiled faintly at him, as if the word had passed by like the wind, barely registering in her mind.
This only fueled Nobunari's anger further. He longed to order his onmyoji to disable the boundary so he could personally end her, but he couldn't. Fully aware of the boundary's dual purpose, it protected him from Koyuki's wrath, which could devastate all of Japan, while also shielding Koyuki from any physical harm that might be imposed upon her.
**Piercing Wail**
In an instant, the piercing wail of alarms echoed throughout the castle, penetrating even the depths of the basement. A samurai, his face marked with sweat and urgency, hurried into the room, bearing news meant only for the shogun's ears.
"What!?" The shogun's exclamation betrayed his surprise at the samurai's report.
Turning towards Koyuki with a smirk, he delivered the unexpected revelation. "Well, well, Koyuki. It appears the old man is more concerned for your safety than his own. He's ventured to the castle's entrance and declared himself willing to be traded for your release," "What!? What did you say!?" Koyuki's demeanor shifted at the news. The "old man" the shogun referred to could only be Atlanteus, Daniel's teacher—the one person she least wanted to fall into Nibunari Hojo's hands.
"Ignore the old man; just capture him. I want both his knowledge and" The Shogun said to his Samurai then cast a mocking glance at Koyuki. "Orochi power."
"Wait! What are you trying to do!? Leave him alone, Nobunari!" Koyuki stood up, attempting to call out to Nobunari before sharp pain and fatigue struck her, as the onmyoji surrounding her boundary prison began using her as a catalyst to tap into Orochi's power once again.
"Grrggg! Shit…" She swore in frustration as the spark from the base of the boundary sapped all of her strength, channeling it toward the power node above the castle.
— Shogun Castle - Outside the Main Gate —
Under the dark night sky, outside the looming gate of the castle, an old man dressed in a black formal kimono with long white hair and beard stood calmly, observing the movements of the shogun's soldiers and samurai as they attempted to surround him from all sides. The old man was none other than Atlanteus.
Civilians who witnessed this scene quickly ran away to hide, eager to distance themselves from the old man standing on the large road in front of the shogun's castle.
At this moment, unnatural rain fell upon the people below, soaking soldiers, samurai, and various mercenaries and sentinels stationed at their respective posts.
Despite the rain, the old man remained still, showing no intention of moving. He awaited the appearance of the shogun.
Then, a samurai who had run to inform Nobunari about Atlanteus's arrival returned, standing on the wall and looking down at Atlanteus as he announced loudly for all the soldiers and samurai to hear.
"Hojo-sama said to capture him! He's a criminal; there's nothing to negotiate," the samurai declared the shogun's decree.
Upon hearing the command, the circle of soldiers and warriors surrounding Atlanteus began to tighten, intent on capturing him without negotiation.
"So be it. Remember this, all of you: your blood is on your shogun's hands, and the consequences of his choices are upon you!" Atlanteus declared loudly, his murderous intent suddenly emanating, causing the soldiers and warriors to feel the pressure from the lone old man within their circle.
The circle they formed to surround the old man should have made him feel nervous and afraid, but instead, it made them feel like they were circling a lion while unarmed and vulnerable — an action they shouldn't have taken.
These dangerous feelings suddenly entered their minds, but the soldiers and warriors quickly resisted the feeling of dread and resumed their duty.
Atlanteus lifted his cane slightly, then tapped the tip twice on the ground, creating a rhythmic "Knock Knock" sound.
Suddenly, flashes of light streaked by, and all the soldiers and warriors surrounding him felt a light breeze pass through their bodies. They sensed something had happened, yet they felt nothing. Then, blood began to drip from one of their foreheads.
"You! Your forehead…" one soldier pointed to his comrade's bleeding forehead, but there was no hand attached to his wrist. "Eh?" He glanced down and saw his own hand lying on the ground, a finger pointing accusingly. In a dizzying moment, he felt light-headed as his vision descended to the ground — no, it was his own head that had fallen.
Splash!
In that moment, the soldiers and warriors surrounding Atlanteus collapsed to the ground, their bodies severed by an invisible force. Their wounds resembled clean cuts from a massive blade, each angle consistent and traceable, like pieces of a gruesome puzzle.
Their bodies and body parts lay scattered on the ground, pooling in their own blood. Despite the gruesome injuries, all wounds were cauterized, as if inflicted by a heated blade. They died without ever knowing what had struck them.
"What!?" The horrifying scene below caused the soldiers and warriors on the wall to tremble.
Knock Knock…. Knock Knock Knock Knock!
Another rhythmic knock reverberated through the area, accompanied by a light wind that swept past the soldiers on the wall.
Splash! Splash! Splash! Splash! Splash! Splash! Klank Boom!
The symphony of splashing sounds of blood and gore echoed around the area as flesh, innards, and structures such as towers and battlements fell to the ground, cauterized and burnt as if sliced by a superheated blade or tool.
Knock!
Another tap of the cane, and the large gate was cleaved into pieces, bearing burnt marks. The once-durable structure crumbled into wooden shards, as if cut by industrial tools. Atlanteus slowly walked through the gate into the castle courtyard.
Knock…. Splash!
Knock…. Splash!
Knock…. Splash!
With each tap of his cane, akin to an old man leisurely strolling through a park, a bloody massacre unfolded nearby, as if a mystical invisible blade sliced through the soldiers and warriors every time the old man struck the ground.
"What!.... What is this!? What is happening!?" The Shogun, observing the scene from the balcony of the highest floor of the castle, exclaimed in terror.
Knock…
"Over there!"
At that moment, one of the elite samurai, leader of a soldiers' platoon loyal to the shogun, unsheathed his sword, sensing something approaching. But his efforts were futile...
His blade was sliced, along with his vision, as his body was evenly cleaved in two vertically. Yet, his sacrifice revealed the invisible force that had reaped the lives of the soldiers in the castle courtyard.
It was nothing more than two small black cylinders, each the size of a pencil, moving in tandem with a hole in the center, emitting an unseen force.
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