Alex and his flanking side unit burst into the throne room, their sudden appearance startling the assembly of ministers, Ran Kai, and Sei Kyou himself. The opulent chamber, filled with the scent of incense and the murmur of courtiers, erupted into chaos. Faces, previously complacent, twisted into expressions of shock and fear as they saw Ei Sei's small, determined force.
Sei Kyou, however, remained seemingly unfazed. A sneer stretched across his face. "Insolent curs! You dare intrude upon the King's presence? I, Sei Kyou, declare all of you to have the death penalty for this treason!"
Alex stepped forward, his sword still in hand, his patience thin. "Surrender now, Sei Kyou, or you will pay the price for your rebellion with your very life."
Sei Kyou scoffed, his arrogance shining through. "You, a mere barbarian, dare to threaten me, the rightful prince of Qin? You speak of prices? You are the one who will pay! Your head will be mounted on the palace gates!"
Alex's eyes blazed. "A 'rightful prince' who cowered while his brother fought for this kingdom? A 'prince' who plots treachery instead of leading? You talk of prices, I'll show you the true cost of your cowardice!"
Before their verbal spat could escalate, Ran Kai, a mountain of muscle, lunged. He moved with deceptive speed, striking one of the mountain people with a powerful blow that sent him sprawling, seemingly defeated with ease. Shin, witnessing his ally fall, roared, "Hey! What was that for?!" He charged, his sword aimed at Ran Kai's massive frame. But Ran Kai was too fast, too strong. He caught Shin's attack, then with a grunt, threw the young warrior across the room, sending him crashing into a pillar. Every member of the side unit, save for Alex and Kaelen, were stunned to see Shin, a warrior of formidable spirit, defeated so easily.
Meanwhile, far from the throne room, Ou Ki, contemplating the battle, abruptly turned to Tou. "Tou, instead of the Dragon Corridor, I have a different task for you. Go to the main courtyard. I believe the time for subtlety there is past."
In the throne room, the mountain people, enraged by Ran Kai's display of power, attempted a combination attack, a coordinated assault against the behemoth. But Ran Kai moved like a force of nature, his sheer might deflecting their blows, sending them reeling. Their combined attack, surprisingly, failed to even faze him. Ka Ryo Ten, seeing Shin lying unconscious, clenched her fists, a cold fear gripping her heart.
Alex, witnessing Ran Kai's overwhelming strength, barked a command. "Kaelen! Defeat him!"
Kaelen roared, a primal sound that shook the very foundations of the room. He charged at Ran Kai, his massive body colliding with the larger man. Ran Kai, who was far bigger and seemingly stronger than Kaelen, met the onslaught. The two colossal figures locked in a brutal dance, blows capable of shattering stone raining down. Slowly, impossibly, Kaelen began to push Ran Kai back, his relentless power forcing the giant to give ground. The people loyal to Sei Kyou watched in shocked disbelief as their seemingly invincible champion faltered.
For a few desperate moments, Ran Kai was on the losing end, his strength waning, until Sei Kyou's voice, laced with cruel threats, cut through the din. "Ran Kai! Win, or I will punish you myself! You will suffer for this failure!" Reinvigorated by fear, Ran Kai redoubled his efforts. The nobles in the throne room, now truly terrified by the raw violence unfolding and Sei Kyou's chilling promise, began to scramble, desperately trying to find an escape.
Alex, utterly tired of the farce, surged forward. His sword became a blur of motion, ignoring Ran Kai and driving straight for the terrified Sei Kyou. With a swift, decisive strike, Alex beheaded Sei Kyou. The false king's head tumbled to the ground, his tyrannical reign ending in a single, brutal moment.
Seeing his master fall, Ran Kai's eyes widened in a horrifying, guttural roar. He went utterly berserk, abandoning his fight with Kaelen to charge mindlessly. Kaelen, anticipating the blind rage, executed a quick, high jump, soaring into the air. Ran Kai, propelled by his rage, charged past the spot where Kaelen had been. As the giant passed beneath him, Kaelen descended like a predator, landing squarely on Ran Kai's back. Before the behemoth could react, Kaelen's sword flashed, stabbing him directly at the back of the neck, severing his spinal cord, and cleanly beheading Ran Kai. The giant's headless body crashed to the ground, shaking the very foundations of the throne room.
Alex, his voice ringing with authority, addressed the terrified Qin nobles and remaining guards. "Surrender now, or die! This rebellion is over!" He then ordered Heki and the rest of the side unit, including the recovered mountain man and Shin (who was now stirring), to capture all the ministers present in the throne room.
The nobles, desperate to escape the carnage, finally managed to wrench open the door to the left dragon corridor. But as they burst through, they were met by the imposing figure of Tou, Ou Ki's trusted second-in-command, standing impassively. "I can't let anyone through the left dragon corridor," Tou stated, his voice calm, "It is my master's order."
Meanwhile, Ketsu Shi, seeing all was lost, made one last desperate attempt to escape through the right dragon corridor. But Ka Ryo Ten, her eyes sharp, acted quickly. She launched a poisoned blow dart, a gift from Muta, directly at his retreating form. It struck true. As Ketsu Shi staggered, two swift mountain men, who had been guarding that path, cut him down without mercy. The power behind the Sei Kyou Faction, Chancellor Ketsu Shi, fell.
Alex stepped out of the throne room, Kaelen beside him, the massive warrior holding the severed head of Sei Kyou. They emerged into the main courtyard, where the battle still raged. Alex's voice boomed, amplified by the courtyard's acoustics. "Sei Kyou is dead! He led a rebellion against the King and died resisting capture! The rebellion is over! Lay down your arms!"
A wave of shock rippled through the courtyard. Ei Sei's eyes widened, a profound mix of relief and grim satisfaction on his face. The mountain people, Erza, and Tsunade let out a triumphant roar, their spirits soaring. Shi Shi, and his remaining men, who had been fiercely fighting, stared in utter disbelief, their movements faltering as the news spread like wildfire. Fearing death, the enemy soldiers tried to run, a chaotic surge towards any exit.
But before they could do much, a new, overwhelming presence halted them. General Ou Ki, in all his imposing glory, suddenly appeared at the main entrance to the courtyard. His distinctive silhouette, his immense frame, and the sheer aura of his presence immediately brought all movement in the courtyard to a halt. His eyes, fixed on Alex, registered surprise. He quickly got a gist of the ordeal—a young man storming the throne room from a hidden corridor and taking the head of a prince. Ou Ki's lips curled into a slight smile, surprised by this young man's courage and decisiveness.
All remaining enemy soldiers immediately threw down their weapons and surrendered. The battle was over.
Ei Sei led his men towards the throne room, ready to reclaim his destiny. As he moved through the courtyard, his words seemed to echo in the presence of Ou Ki. The Great General's gaze drifted, a profound memory surfacing. He remembered his late master, King Shou. Shou, in his advanced age, had passed on his grand dream of uniting China to Ou Ki. "You will be my wings, Ou Ki," Shou had said, his eyes burning with conviction. "Fly and achieve what I could not." Ou Ki, however, had stated back then, "I wouldn't be able to fly again, My King, for you are gone." He had believed there would never be another king like Shou, one who chased such a 'childish' dream with such devoted passion. But Shou had simply smiled. "One day, someone will come with the same dream I have. Until then, Ou Ki, you must sharpen your fangs, even if you do not fly."
Now, looking at Ei Sei, Ou Ki saw it – the almost identical, devoted eyes. The unwavering conviction. Ou Ki turned to Shou Bun Kun, a flicker of understanding in his gaze. "Shou Bun Kun," he rumbled, his voice holding a hint of respect, "I understand why the General acted like an idiot." With a final, piercing look at Ei Sei, Ou Ki added, "King Ei Sei, you should gain the power to back up these words." Without another word, Ou Ki and his army turned and began to leave the courtyard of Kanyou, their departure as impactful as their arrival.