The gates opened.
Jin turned towards the sound. Blood clung to his side like a second skin.Behind him Genta lay unconscious on the ground, unmoving.
A new squad of Jorntur soldiers stormed through the entrance—fresh and ready for battle.
From behind the rank of soldiers emerged a figure wrapped in black and red armour plating. a sword rested on his back. He moved with a purpose.
100-Man Commander Daigo
A name that rode on the wind like a curse.
"Stand aside," Daigo growled, his voice low and thunderous. The soldiers parted instantly, like waves of the red sea.
He surveyed the battlefield, his eyes landed on the remnants of a cart—Karn's broken body lying there motionless, on Genta who was collapsed nearby, Aiko shielding Koichi, the bandits who lost the will to fight and Jin who was barely standing.
"So this is what took down Karn the Cleaver?" his voice was cold and mocking.
He knelt beside Karn, examined the injuries .Then without honour, he kicked his unconscious form like trash. "Some right hand man you are" the brute's body skidded across the ground "I gave you sixty of my men and you still lost"
He slammed his boot into Karn's head again. And again
Jin watched in horror as the man in front of him treated his subordinate like dirt.
"Tch... Disgraceful" Daigo scoffed, he then looked at Jin "Who the fuck do you think you're looking at bastard?"
Jin didn't even speak the new forty recruits outnumbered him and his squad who didn't even have Genta to rely on for support.
"I could kill you quite easily with the numbers advantage," Daigo scoffed "but that's boring. So swordsman I challenge you to a duel."
Jin was shocked. A duel even with the advantage they have.
"I accept" he said in a low tone. He couldn't place the others in danger anymore.
"A duel? Boss I think you should reconsider" A soldier next to him said.
A few seconds later blood poured from that same soldier's chest.
Thud!
The body fell to the floor.
Daigo looked angry "Are you doubting my skill." He kicked the dead man's head "have some faith in your commander."
The other soldiers looked like they were going to say something but nothing was spoken.
Daigo licked his sword clean—ensuring not even the littlest drop of blood remained.
"So are you going to keep me waiting?" he glanced at Jin.
Jin grabbed his sword tightly. Thoughts racing through his mind "What type of commander is he?" he got ready to attack "He kills his men like it's nothing"
Daigo narrowed his eyes "I'm getting impatient here."
Without a further word Jin started to close the distance between them. Still hurt by the earlier wounds he managed to get within striking range.
Their swords collided.
Daigo looked visibly happy "More.Give me more"
Clang!
Clang!
Clang!
Their swords kept clashing.
Daigo was smiling "Give me a good fight" he licked his lips.
Blades locked.
A step back.
A feint. A slash.
A parry.
Daigo seemed disappointed "You can do better."
Jin's breath was coming in short gasps.
"Is this the end?" he wondered "was this how far I'm supposed to go."
"No" He screamed at the top of his lungs "I'll win. No matter what it takes"
Daigo responded "Is that so?"
Steel shrieked against steel.
Jin struck — a clean, precise blow
Daigo blocked.
Jin left an opening and Daigo took that chance to land a clean slice on his non-dominant shoulder.
Jin screamed out.
He was pushed on the defensive—parrying and blocking blows.
He slowly kept retreating while holding a blocking stance. Daigo kept his momentum.
He drove Jin back into a corner. He took a mighty swing aiming at his head "You bore me. Now you shall die for it" Daigo spoke in a murderous tone.
Jin ducked under the blade and drove his uninjured shoulder into Daigo's midsection pushing him back.
He grunted from the effort it took to push him back. Sweat began dripping down his brow. Stinging his eyes—but he fought forwards, not letting a strike get through just because his eyes hurt.
Their blades collided once more, this time Daigo pressed down on it pushing Jin's sword back.
Jin stepped back. Taking sharp breaths.
Daigo pressed on "You bastard! Where's the entertainment." He growled "This was supposed to be the main event."
Jin saw something.
A misstep.
Jin slipped in, blade kissing Daigo's ribs.
A strike meant to kill—but it was too shallow. Barely penetrated Daigo's armour and just managed to draw a little bit of blood.
Daigo kicked Jin away creating some space in between them.
Jin's mind was disappointed at his body "Fuck.That chance may never come again"
Daigo groaned "so much for a main event. Bastard looks like he's never touched a blade in his life"
Jin looked at Aiko and Koichi who looked at him with worried eyes.
His mind was active "If I lose here they die...we all die here"
His grip tightened on the hilt of his sword.
His sword felt heavier with every swing. His arms felt like lead, his shoulder throbbing where Daigo's blade bit deep.
He stared Daigo down "This is it. No room for failure. Not for Aiko, not for Koichi"
Dust clouded the air, mixing with the coppery scent of blood.
Jin made his move, a feint slash that really was a front kick to Daigo's ribs.
The kick landed with force — not much, but enough to get a grunt from Daigo.
Slash after slash. Jin fought on. His blade did not meet the target instead it was blocked by Daigo's sword.
Daigo laughed hysterically "I might get promoted to the rank I once was before. Finally"
Jin carried on his meaningless assault "Did he get demoted?"
Daigo's laughter echoed like a curse in the cramped battlefield. "You still have nothing, swordsman. No skill, no heart."
Jin's breath came ragged, pain stabbing deeper with every heartbeat.He clenched his jaw.
A sharp memory cut through the haze—a flicker of his master's voice, a lesson long forgotten until now.
"pay attention to your surroundings, they may prove useful to you"
With a sudden burst, Jin spun low, Kicking dust into Daigo's eyes.
Jin then lunged forward with his remaining strength. His sword grazing Daigo's cheek, forming a straight red line across it.
The commander's eyes widened in surprise for a brief moment, then he curled his lips into a cruel smile.
"You've got guts, I'll give you that."
The commander's smile grew even bigger "You shouldn't take a gamble like that though?"
With a swift arc Daigo's blade descended on to Jin who barely dodged it.
Daigo didn't panic as he jammed the hilt on the sword on Jin's temple.
Jin's vision blurred, he felt his body on the way to the floor.
Koichi and Aiko shouted Jin's name at the same time.
Daigo turned around "The main event is over. It's home-time," he then glanced at Koichi and Aiko "first we should kill all of these worthless beings."
Jin snapped upright before he hit the ground. His irises paled to a ghostly white. His breath slowed into a rhythm that was measured. His expression was eerily calm — a predator locked in deadly focus. Time stretched and slowed, every movement, every breath became a precise calculation.
It began to rain. Raindrops pelting at the ground.
The air around Jin's mouth seemed to condense and thicken .
Jin's voice as cold as the rain falling around them
"Where do you think you're going?The main event has just started."