Rohan struck first with a thrust that got blocked by Kagero’s staff. The fight continued at high speed, each side blocking and dodging fatal hits. A few minutes into the exchange, Kagero flung a shuriken at a maidservant and Rohan rushed in front of the projectile, taking the hit on his arm.

“Now we are even,” said Kagero, eyeing the samurai’s bleeding wound. “Are you familiar with the Art of War?”

“Sun Tzu…” Rohan plucked the shuriken and gripped his wound. “What of it?”

“This battle was decided before we even began,” said Kagero, pointing his staff at the audience. “I have nothing to lose, yet you fight to protect these weaklings.”

We will see about that... Rohan dropped a smoke bomb and switched hands with his katana. Hidden in the white cloud, he unsheathed a wakizashi and charged.

Niten ichi (Two Heavens as One)? Kagero saw a glimpse of Rohan’s dual wielding as the smoke filled the air. “Hah, intriguing–”

Rohan swung both blades in a violent manner, attacking from every direction. In the barrage of attacks, he sliced through the king’s kasa and mask.

Pieces of porcelain hitting the ground sounded as the smoke cleared. Kagero’s scruffy, grey hair and a part of his wrinkled face was on display. He stared at the samurai with a dark, left eye and furrowed his brow. “You caught me off guard there,” he said before ducking a double slash and countered with his staff afterwards.

“Aaarrrgh!” said Rohan, a sharp crack of his ribs echoing as he dropped on one knee. He got up, legs shaking and charged once more, ignoring the pain.

Kagero groaned, eyeing the wall in his peripheral vision and turned to his staff. Kuso! He’s got me cornered.

Rohan grinned and spun around, forming a small whirlwind.

Sharp blade winds lacerated Kagero and red drops got spewed everywhere. As tried blocking most of the attacks, his staff was sent flying before he got kicked on the gut. The sound of backbones cracking filled the room as he landed against the adjoining wall and dropped to the floor.

“What did you say?” asked Rohan, getting on top of Kagero. He raised his katana and readied to strike. “This fight would be over before it started?”

Kagero rummaged inside his garments and threw black dust at Rohan.  

“Aaaah!” said Rohan, dropping his wakizashi. He jumped off of Kagero and wiped his face. “My eyes!”

Kagero stared at the sword on the floor, unable to move a muscle. Fuck! Get up you idiot! He turned on his belly and crawled over to it at a snail’s pace. When he reached the blade at last, he used it to get up and saw a one eyed Rohan staring back at him.  

The loud clanks resumed, however, their movements were slower. Kagero leapt backwards and tossed Rohan’s wakizashi at the maidservant from before.

Blood gushed from the corpse’s head followed by a deafening silence.

Rohan rushed for the body and by the time he reach her, it was too late. He turned around, his face pale as he saw the people staring at him in utter despair. “You fight without honour! You will not get away with this!” he said, opening the other eye and glaring at Kagero with both hands clenched on his katana.

“What honour?” said Kagero, picking his staff from the ground and returned Rohan’s gaze. “In a fight to the death, anything goes. Oh, and–” He broke the weapon with a knee. “You’re not the only dual wielder.”

As they fought, Kagero took the advantage and attacked Rohan without ceasing.

☯

On the rooftop, Kagemaru had killed his opponents but the fight was far from one-sided as his suit had a few rips. He leapt to the ground and found his comrades in a worse state. When he saw the Shadows had lost more than half of their shinobi, he went on and a rampage, evening the numbers.

“He’s making quick work of them like it’s nothing,” said one shadow ninja, amazed by the prince’s speed. “Truly next in line to be Shadow King.”

Kagemaru used a weapon similar to Kagero’s but his skills were more advanced. The black naginata (spear) was a bit longer with a sharp blade on one end. “Don’t falter!” he said, stabbing a samurai through the heart. “We still have a long way to go!” He plucked the spear and advanced with the Shadows right behind.

“Watch out for the one using sōjutsu (spear techniques)! That naginata has taken more than a third of our men,” said one samurai, pointing at Kagemaru. Their group drew back and encircled the Shadow ninjas.

So he’s the brains of this lot, huh? Kagemaru thought, coming to a halt. He raised a hand and the ninjas stopped. “Do you think surrounding us with that shitty formation will do you any good? This is shōgi, not sugoroku!” he said, hurling the spear.

“He has lost his weapon!” said the leader of the samurai, noticing one of his comrades speared through the gut. “ATTACK!”

“What do we do now?” One ninja asked as the samurai charged.

“Stay put…” said Kagemaru, pressing his thumb on the ring and little finger–the Prana mudra (Life-force gesture). The back of his spear sharpened as it wiggled from the corpse on the ground. Suishin (Propulsion)!

“Kinjutsu (forbidden arts)…” said one shadow ninja in a whisper.

“I guess there was no other choice.” Another ninja murmured.

“Either way,” said the first ninja. “It’s over for these fools.”

Kagemaru moved his free hand and the spear shot up, stabbing the samurai leader’s head. He impaled a dozen more of them with both ends before summoning it back “Finish them,” he said, turning to the Shadow ninjas.

“What kind of majutsu (sorcery) was that?” asked one of the surviving samurai.

“It can’t be… that’s… shadow projection!” said another samurai, his jaw widened. “I always thought the tales were just fantasy.”

“Shit, then we are in trouble…” said the first samurai.

“It’s not over yet,” said the second, gripping his katana. “We are Royal Guards! Onward men!”

The remaining samurai were enthralled by those few words. They raised their swords, advanced and got slaughtered like livestock. After a short while, the ground was littered with their corpses.

☯

The fight between the Shadow King and the Fire general was also nearing its end. Both men were panting and drenched in sweat. Kagero had resorted to attacking the terrified audience as well. He ran around until he reached the corpse that had Rohan’s wakizashi stuck on its head. As he saw the samurai sprint towards him, he threw his rods at two servants.

Rohan blocked one staff and took the other with his back. By a miracle, he had saved both workers, however, at a severe cost. The second rod got stuck inside him with both ends protruding from each side. As the wounds bled, he coughed up blood.

“You fought well…” said Kagero, plucking the wakizashi as he sprinted towards Rohan. He swung the samurai’s blade, stabbing him from behind. “If it wasn’t for these weaklings, you might have won. But, as I said, the battle was decided before it even began.” He clenched the wakizashi with both hands and shoved it deeper.

The blade was driven right through the Rohan’s chest, and he dropped his katana. “S–stabbing me from the b–back… such cowardice!” he said, groaning in unbearable pain. “You have no honour!” He turned to his daimyo with a disappointed look. “Kazuma-sama, sumimasen (I am sorry)–”