With the Crimson Turtle Gate breached, Ei Sei swiftly divided his forces. The main unit, led by himself, Yo Tan Wa, Erza, Akane, and Tsunade, would continue the frontal assault, drawing the majority of the enemy's attention. The side unit, tasked with a more covert but critical mission—to capture Sei Kyou and Ketsu Shi—would consist of Alex, Kaelen, Shou Bun Kun, his ten castle-savvy men, Ba Jio, and the forty mountain warriors. Shin, ever eager for the thick of battle, also joined the side unit.
As the main army engaged Shi Shi's forces in a brutal melee, the side unit, following Shou Bun Kun's guidance, navigated the labyrinthine corridors of the palace. They entered a dimly lit passage, and Sa Ji, Shi Shi's right-hand man and Ketsu Shi's notorious Chief Executioner, emerged from the shadows, a cruel smile on his face, surrounded by his personal guard. He had been waiting.
Alex, recognizing the threat, immediately drew his sword, its refined edge gleaming even in the faint light. Sa Ji, a master swordsman himself, met Alex's stance with a menacing grin. The air crackled with anticipation. Alex launched his attack, a fluid, powerful overhead strike aimed directly at Sa Ji's head. Sa Ji parried with a vicious clang, their blades meeting in a shower of sparks, the clash echoing through the corridor. The duel had begun.
Meanwhile, in the main unit's sector, Ei Sei's army found themselves under heavy fire. Bolts rained down from above, launched by the Gi Kou unit, archers positioned strategically to maximize casualties. Ei Sei, seeing his men falling, considered a temporary retreat. "Yo Tan Wa, perhaps a tactical withdrawal to regroup?"
Yo Tan Wa's voice was firm, uncompromising. "That will not be necessary, King Ei Sei." She surveyed the crossbow fire with an unflinching gaze. "Maintain formation! Order an assault!"
As the mountain warriors pushed forward under the barrage, an incredible sight unfolded. Three of the mountain people, struck by the initial assault of the Gi Kou unit, miraculously remained alive. With a primal roar, they rose, their bodies riddled with bolts, and began to slay members of the Gi Kou unit, tearing through them with terrifying, almost supernatural resilience. This unexpected counterattack from seemingly mortally wounded warriors threw the Gi Kou unit into a state of confusion, their disciplined ranks faltering.
Back in the side unit's sector, the fighting continued as they pressed deeper into the palace, headed towards the throne room through the right dragon corridor. Heki, leading the way, his memory of the palace layout proving invaluable, grunted. "This 'dragon corridor' is a maze by design. Only a few would know the true path."
They were suddenly confronted by a fresh wave of enemy soldiers, blocking their path. Heki's eyes narrowed as he recognized their leader. "It's Sa Ji!" he exclaimed, his voice filled with venom. "He's Shi Shi's right-hand man and Ketsu Shi's personal head of assassinations." Heki's grip on his sword tightened. "Ryo Fui and Ketsu Shi have been systematically killing each other's officials in a brutal game of dominance. Sa Ji was one of the main perpetrators... he killed many of my friends!" His voice was choked with fury. "Sa Ji and Gi Kou are the only truly capable officers in Kanyou right now. There shouldn't be any more major obstacles on the road to the throne room after this." Ei Sei's side unit began to prepare for the renewed battle, and Sa Ji's allies, equally determined, braced themselves.
The duel between Alex and Sa Ji was a whirlwind of steel. Alex's sword moved with elegant precision, each strike imbued with the raw, focused power of his Page rank, creating deep gouges in the stone and forcing Sa Ji to retreat step by step. Sa Ji, however, was a master of evasion and counter-attack, his movements fluid and unpredictable, deflecting Alex's powerful blows with surprising agility and seeking openings for his own swift, precise thrusts. Their blades clashed repeatedly, sparks flying, a testament to the high caliber of both fighters. Neither warrior gave an inch, the corridor echoing with the clang of their duel.
Meanwhile, in the main unit, Erza suddenly paused amidst the carnage. Her enhanced senses, attuned to the very fabric of power, detected a familiar, potent aura emanating from the direction of the dragon corridor. It was Alex's spiritual presence, strong and unmistakable, now infused with the resonance of battle. A surge of concern, mingled with a fierce desire to aid him, sparked within her. Her pace quickened, her blade a silver blur as she fought with renewed ferocity, determined to quickly end this engagement.
At the Royal Palace, a group of soldiers, emboldened by the chaos, lunged at Ei Sei. But before they could even reach him, Akane moved like a shadow, her short blades a deadly dance. She quickly dispatched the group with silent efficiency, her movements fluid and lethal. Not one to be idle, Ei Sei himself thrust his sword, a disciplined strike that felled an approaching soldier, proving his own combat readiness.
Suddenly, a hulking figure emerged from the palace depths. It was Gi Kou, the commander of the crossbow units, his face a mask of grim determination. He looked directly at Akane. "You! Young girl! You show remarkable skill for a peasant! Face me!" He challenged her to a duel, his voice booming across the courtyard. Gi Kou, mounted on his warhorse, towered over Akane. He lunged with his massive glaive, a sweeping attack designed to crush. Akane, despite her smaller stature, met him with astonishing agility. She dodged the initial heavy blow, then darted in, her daggers flashing, aiming for the joints of his armor, forcing Gi Kou to adjust. He bellowed in frustration, amazed by her strength and speed, the young girl not cowering before his imposing presence. Their duel intensified, a clash of brute force versus elegant precision, each combatant pushing the other to their limits.
Far away, at Kankoku Pass, General Ou Ki was observing the shifting battle map, his lips curled in a thoughtful smile. His second-in-command, Tou, stood beside him. "General Ou Ki," Tou began, "it is quite a shame we cannot see what is transpiring in the Dragon Corridor. The reports are limited."
Ou Ki's smile widened. "No, Tou, I believe that won't be necessary." He turned his gaze to the distant horizon. "Shou Bun Kun is no fool. He must be aware of Sa Ji's presence and Sa Ji's reputation. Therefore," Ou Ki concluded, a knowing glint in his eye, "he must have sent a unit he completely trusts to handle that particular obstacle."