The air was thick with anticipation, the kind that clung to the skin and seeped into the bones. It was dawn, and the first slivers of light filtered through the canopy, casting streaks of amber and gold across the gathered forces. Around Kazuichi Stronghold, an army like none other had assembled, warriors from every corner of the territory, united by the threat that loomed over them all.
At the center of it all stood Kazuichi, hardened and resolute, his presence casting a shadow even in the early light. His beard had grown fuller, his frame rugged and scarred, but his eyes held an intensity that had been forged through the countless battles and alliances he'd built. Now, those alliances had gathered at his call, standing ready to face the threat that threatened to consume them all.
