Enemies...
Remarkably troublesome.
Thor and An positioned themselves in front and behind Mitsuda Hikaru, ready to attack from both sides.
Caught between the two, Mitsuda remained calm and composed.
Below, the battle raged on, with the sound of gunfire claiming many lives.
It must be said that the weapons Yuri brought significantly escalated the brutality of the war. Many ordinary people, who were once only victims of one-sided slaughter, now possessed the ability to create bloodshed and chaos easily.
With artillery flying and bullets raining down like a storm, the casualties from gunfire and tank fire outnumbered those from swords and blades.
Especially after the appearance of the luminous edge tanks, the battle became overwhelmingly one-sided.
Though Mitsuda's subordinates held firm beliefs and unwavering resolve, their spirits couldn't change the objectively dire situation.
Even when heavily battered, they still clung to their loyalty to Mitsuda and retreated into the city calmly.
The resistance fighters swiftly pursued them, and soon the streets of Hanazono were ablaze with intense combat.
Yuri, however, remained outside, as most of his forces were armed with guns and tanks. Such a force couldn't engage in urban combat effectively against samurai. In close quarters combat, they would be at a disadvantage.
Moreover, the invasion of Hanazono symbolized the rise of a new power over the old. Yuri, originating from the Island of Demons, was already under suspicion by various factions within Wano. They only temporarily accepted his assistance against the Hikaru family.
If Yuri's forces conquered Hanazono, where would they be placed afterward?
Thus, both Shimotsuki Ushimaru and Kurosumi Orochi did not want Yuri to engage in combat within Hanazono. The Hikaru family was already losing ground, and it was their opportunity to establish themselves.
Having one more person enter would mean one more person to claim credit for the victory!
So, after they all entered, Yuri led his troops to guard the exits.
Meanwhile, above, Mitsuda Hikaru continued to engage in a fierce exchange of blows with Thor and An. Thor wielded his thunderous sword while An brandished her short blade. Mitsuda, on the other hand, wielded his celestial feather slash and Yanma. The three of them exchanged blows continuously among the four blades.
Both Thor and An were undoubtedly among the world's top fighters, easily comparable to the likes of the former Roger. Simply put, they were powerful enough to be considered among the Four Emperors in the later years.
Yet, Mitsuda Hikaru, fighting against them alone, was not at a disadvantage. In fact, he seemed to be handling the battle with ease, which puzzled An.
It was too unreasonable.
How much time had passed since their last encounter? The Mitsuda she faced before was nowhere near as powerful as he was now. Back then, he wouldn't have stood a chance against her alone, let alone facing her and Thor together.
But now, not only was he facing her and Thor, but he was also managing the fight quite comfortably.
Judging from the performances of Tsumabushi and Satsujou, Mitsuda Hikaru's abilities should have already surpassed those of a Great Devil, right?
What method had Tsumabushi used to make Mitsuda Hikaru so powerful?
"Tougen Juppo!"
Mitsuda Hikaru slashed out with formidable strength once again. Thor's thunderous longsword produced a blue dragon, while An's blade was enveloped in a powerful aura. Together, they launched an attack towards Mitsuda Hikaru, clashing head-on with the twin blades he swung.
Instantly, a massive ripple appeared above Hanazono, tearing through the sky. The entire cloud cover of Wano seemed to split apart because of their power, leaving a deep chasm overhead.
The tremendous force even caused many of those engaged in the battle below to faint!
People looked up in horror, but all they could see was an endless glow surrounding the ruptured sky.
In this clash of immense power, the heavens and the earth trembled. It was a terrifying force that even the world itself seemed uneasy about. Perhaps it was because their brains instinctively recognized the incomprehensible nature of this terrifying power that they couldn't comprehend the three figures within the light.
However, as two figures suddenly flew out of the light, the dazzling glow vanished.
Revealed within was Mitsuda Hikaru, standing tall and proud!
And the two flying figures were An and Thor!
They had been repelled by Mitsuda Hikaru alone?!
Both An and Thor bore wounds on their chests, dark energy clinging to their injuries. They looked at Mitsuda Hikaru in astonishment, seemingly not expecting this outcome.
"Alright, the boring game is over."
But Mitsuda Hikaru merely said coldly, "The participants have all arrived. Let me host a grand welcoming ceremony."
"What...?" An was about to ask him what he meant, but the next moment, the situation unfolded before her eyes.
Her pupils constricted as she looked toward the interior of Hanazono.
The once-massive city, the most prosperous in Wano, was now engulfed in flames?!
The entire city was shrouded in a dark force, as if preventing outsiders from entering and those inside from leaving. And with the appearance of this immense power came flames erupting from various locations!
Fire, raging fire! Blazes!
Boom! Flames erupted from within Hanazono, seemingly giving birth to a flame dragon that wreaked havoc everywhere.
Upon closer inspection, it seemed that shadows were emerging from the walls of Hanazono, the Black Shadow Corps. Not only were they unaffected by the flames, but they also seemed to be fueling the fire further!
"You...!" An retreated to the ground, watching the billowing black smoke and flames with horror. She couldn't help but exclaim to Mitsuda Hikaru, "Are you insane?!"
He...
Was he actually planning to burn everyone alive?!
Inside weren't just members of the resistance, but also his own subordinates!
Though many had already fled from Hanazono during this time, a considerable number remained. Coupled with Mitsuda Hikaru's own magical abilities, there were still many people inside Hanazono. But at this moment, this raging fire wouldn't differentiate between factions.
"The Great Fire of Kyoto, a flame that buries all hearts of rebellion. Isn't it splendid?" Mitsuda smiled. "This has nothing to do with me. It was their destruction in Hanazono that ignited the flames. So, they will reap what they have sown, consumed by the roaring flames of their own making!"