In the sky, akinohana hovered over the road heading towards the thick smoke in the distance. Chungseong arrived before them with his faithful horse Yonggam, it was already that of his father who inherited it himself from his father. A fast and courageous war horse, which was in perfect osmosis with its master. He had made several wars together, and Yonggam was one of the only horses to never back down in front of an enemy. As brave as his master. This is why, when he saw that Lady Eunchong's guard was attacked, this brave horse did not hesitate to raise his hooves in the air in order to protect her. The air was unbreathable due to the smoke, Chungseong could hardly see anything. He came out Peulraesi, his saber in the black sheath. This sword, he had inherited it, when he was a child by a monk in order to thank his mother, who had saved him from certain death. Peulraesi was a saber requiring a meditative knot, so Chungseong needed unflappable focus. He placed the blade in front of him, then closed his eyes and began to quote Buddhist incantations. At the end, he turned the saber behind his back and took up an attack position with his foot forward. And, time found itself frozen when he opened his eyelids.
– May the soul touching this blade be struck down by divine lightning, Optimal!
In fact, it wasn't time that stood still, it was Chungseong who started moving at lightning speed. Facing enemy time, Chungseong had no choice but to appeal to optimal. In all this chaos, he no longer saw his sister, half of his escort had been decimated and he was facing unknown adversaries. He had never seen this group of masked people in the region, but on the other hand their scarves gave him a vague idea. He needed verification, but he still had to get out alive with his sister.
Optimal. It is a technique that consists of transgressing physical logical laws through the mind in order to lead your body to accomplish feats normally impossible to achieve, among those breaking the sound barrier and reaching lightning speed without damage. . This was only possible with Peulraesi, and no other sword.
One after another, Chungseong felled his opponents without them being able to reply because the speed at which he was moving did not allow any reply from a human. This gangsinsul was unstoppable, no beings even a well-equipped army could parry him without serious loss. Less, until Chungseong crosses paths with Mayusaki. Under his stunned eyes, this ninja managed to raise his saber at the right moment and thwarted his attack.
– It's impossible...
Yet yes, he managed to move in this world that Chungseong thought was his. Mayusaki not only intercepted Chungseong's attack, he also launched one which the warrior took full force. As soon as the blow hit Chungseong in the chest, Optimal faded.
When in this technique, one comes to be touched by the adversary in a serious way, it is deactivated immediately.
Now everything is back to normal, the blow that Mayusaki gave him was so violent, that it telescoped Chungseong away by making him roll on the ground even after collision.
– No, Chungseong! cried Eunchong.
Finally, Chungseong could locate her, she was away from these evildoers. Eunchong was safe and sound, it took a sigh of relief from him. She was wriggling in all directions trying to get rid of the stiff hands that held her on her knees and motionless. Eunchong was mad with rage to witness this horrible without being able to lift a finger, to see these savages killing her people while trying to free her. Chungseong was not injured, his clothes had protected him from the blade, but he still felt pain. He leaned on his army in order to get up, straight ahead of his adversary.
"Who are you and what do you want from us?"
His opponent, Mayusaki laughs.
"We are nobody, sir. We are only ugly intriguers who want to kidnap a lady in exchange for a grumble*... A bit peculiar.
– What do you mean ?
He stared at Chungseong, then turned his back on him to join Eunchong. With the edge of his blade, he forced the girl on the ground to raise her head.
"We know how precious his sister is in the eyes of the lord, so we hope to convince him.
Chungseong's blood froze, frankly he really wanted to finally deal with unscrupulous thieves who would only want it for his fortune.
– What... What do you want?
"What a silly question," Mayusaki burst out, putting more pressure on the blade, "lord do you really want Lady Kang to die. Hmm... Such a beautiful young woman, what a waste!
– Remove your filthy murderer's blade, retorted Eunchong herself, from me!
Mayusaki bent down to confront the young girl's hateful gaze, yet she wouldn't take off despite knowing that with all the horrors he had already committed since his arrival he was capable of killing her too.
"Otherwise what, my lady?
– Otherwise she'll kick your ass, little pervert!
Everyone looked up, wondering where the voice was coming from. Mayusaki had no need, the annoyance she had caused him had inscribed it in his memory, he could never confuse this detestable voice which belonged to a person just as harmful. That stupid Yuni samurai. On top of a hill, Cea was standing with her arms crossed.
– You again...
– Yeah, obviously, today is your lucky day ninja from Asuza, you will be able to learn the art of combat.
Mayusaki gritted his teeth, hardly had they known each other, that he already couldn't stand this fool anymore. He straightened up and pulled the sword out of my throat from Eunchong, freeing Chungseong's chest.
"Alright then, come down and fight.
– Yeah, I'll do that. Although I'm amazed at how you don't mind getting beaten up by the same person, just a few hours apart.
– You... You're just a stupid being who only says nonsense things, I wonder why is it to such a crazy person that we have designated to hold a katana of such great value as Muteki, you are not worthy!
– The farm !
The one that seemed to be hollow at first sight, became abnormally serious, and even frightening. Cea stared at him without saying anything, Mayusaki sensing an unattractive aura coming from her. So he prepared for an overpowered attack from her, and gathered enough noudo to be ready to activate Patin in case Cea became too dangerous. Mayusaki could kill them all with this technique, however there were other ways to achieve his goal.
Cea uncrossed her arms, then put her hands on her hips. The few people below sounded their breath, because if it was this legendary samurai everyone was talking about as an outstanding master swordsman, possessing an incredible gangsul, she might kill them all by just raising her finger. But instead of a lightning attack that would incapacitate them all, they were treated to a burst of laughter from Cea. She was almost crying with laughter.
– What, what are you laughing at? asked an accomplice of Mayusaki, as bewildered as he was.
Cea tried to catch her breath, then she formulated the answer.
– Huh, me? Nothing... Just that it's a bit daring coming from people who are not able to match the power of their clan and have found themselves forced to submit to the negative noudo instead! It's the tramp who makes fun of the madman, frankly!
They had had enough, on the one hand we had anger and on the other disappointment. Céa hadn't had the reaction expected by Chungseong's remaining guard who expected to be completely freed from this enemy, as much as Eunchong. Instead, she was laughing and laughing at them, a real brat. More than them, Kaze was also fed up. He was tired of all this hubbub and wanted to go quietly back to the Sanctuary, but instead he had to help this stubby who was wasting his time and energy. He kicked her in the butt, knocking Cea over the edge.
– You crazy, hurry up!
Cea rolled down the hill, rolling in the dead autumn leaves, to Chungseong's feet. She finished her race face down, it took a while before revealing her head. Cea looked around, she recognized Chungseong.
– Hi, how are you?
He looked at him, you could read the disdain in his eyes. Cea winced, then her face lit up again; she walked around Chungseong in order to better see the sword in her left hand, she crouched down and watched with admiration.
– Wow! It's really a beautiful weapon, it is really well forged, sumptuous!
"Get away," Chungseong ordered him viciously.
However, Cea did not move an eyelash, she continued to analyze this good saber in the black box with envy.
– And that attack you launched with... It was incredible! You teach me, say?
Chungseong's murderous gaze answered by him.
– All right, she added, I'll do without your help.
In fact, Cea had taken refuge behind the hill in order to better observe the abilities of the warriors in front of her. In her conclusion, she drew that in truth, Chungseong did not measure well the scope of her abilities, neither of her noudo nor, nor of the gangsinsul that her sword possessed. She laughs about it, at one time, she too was like him.
Chungseong was still surprised by what he had just heard, normally due to the execution speed of Optimal, it was hardly possible to identify the technique. However, the samurai had just talked about it, banally when it was an action taking place at lightning speed. Chungseong looked at Cea suspiciously, while she looked innocent, silly even. Annoyed, Mayusaki proceeded to threaten Chungseong if he failed to get what he wanted.
– Ah... Why pretend? Cea said, cutting off both sides. Anyway, if Mr Banished wanted to eliminate Lady Kang, he would have already done so.
– Oh yes ? And what do you say, replied Mayusaki, putting his blade to Eunchong's neck, an immediate correction from me? I can slit his throat, and before his dear brother can lift a finger, Lady Kang will have already bled to death, what do you say Lord Kang?
Seeing his sister like that, helpless, making Chungseong's blood boil in his veins and the person next to him was absolutely not helping him. On the contrary, Cea seemed to make the situation worse.
– Nope...
"Ah, what's the use of begging him, he won't do anything. He is only a scapegoat obeying a master, a dog who is content to bring back the game at the opportune moment. She's worth more alive than dead, so he won't dare do anything.
Mayusaki gritted his teeth. With each sentence that this stupid samurai uttered, the ego of the young boy took a hard, stinging blow.
– Shut your mouth ! You mad bro !
Suddenly, she turned around and walked towards him, and as she left, she took away Chungseong's sword; in a moment of inattention on his part as he was trying to persuade the brigands to release his sister. Céa advanced with the sword, saying to its owner only one: "I'll bring it back to you right away, thank you!".
– What are you doing !
– Don't worry, nothing will happen to your treasure, I'll bring it back to you as such. Well, what was it again...
Cea began to think, then she snapped her fingers. No one understood what was happening, it froze them in place. Until, astonishing everyone, Cea repeated exactly the same gestures and the same words as Chungseong, except for one word.
– May the soul touching this blade be struck by divine lightning, Optimale Celeste!
Cea wedged Chungseong's saber between his teeth and pulled his own, Mayusaki saw the unfolding of events, but he was helpless, frozen. Cea launched the assault, her katana held horizontal. But, just as she was about to reach him, one of his accomplices intervened. This one was not like the others, Cea hadn't seen him from the hill nor felt the noudo emanating from him. He wore a Kabuki mask, that of the demon Hannya. Her gray locks fluttered in the wind, Cea had seen that somewhere before.
"Expansion," he said.
She saw star-shaped lights appear around her, bombs. Before they expose, the samurai manages to free himself and save Eunchong at the same time. She herself imposed a technique that propelled her a few meters before these bombs did. It was as if they breathed in all the air then released an impressive strike force, the noise was deaf for a moment before explosion. The explosions blew up everything in their path. Cea managed to activate a protective scroll around her, protecting Chungseong and his battalion.
Those explosions... I've seen that before.