Zumi decided to give Ana the Celestial Sentinel Bracelet. He placed it into his Eagle Storage Bracelet and said, "Let's go join the others." They left the room, but as they approached the main hall, Zumi felt a wave of negative emotions and malice washing over him, accompanied by the sound of arguing and shouting echoing through the corridors.
"Enter my shadow and emerge when I call you!" Zumi instructed Gia. Without hesitation, she obeyed, focusing on his shadow before morphing into a black mist and slipping inside.
The system chimed: Ping! Entering your shadow has made Gia feel an intense intimacy towards you. Zumi smirked at this and softly called out, "Gia, can you hear me?"
"Yes, Master!" came her eager reply.
"Good. We can communicate if you're in my shadow. If you notice anything amiss, let me know," Zumi instructed.
As he approached the balcony, Zumi paused to listen to the heated arguments below. The night air was thick with tension, and he felt the weight of the war pressing heavily on his shoulders. The cacophony of discord grated on his nerves. How could they bicker and squabble when their comrades lay wounded on the battlefield, their lives hanging in the balance? Did they not understand the gravity of the situation and the urgency of the war raging outside their walls? His heart ached with the need for unity.
In a moment of frustration, Zumi called upon his newfound ability, activating Aura Vision with determined focus. As the world around him shifted and shimmered, a kaleidoscope of colors and energies revealed itself. The auras of the people below glowed with myriad hues, each shade telling a story of their emotions, intentions, and inner turmoil. This newfound power was a game-changer in his journey of leadership.
Zumi saw a stark division among the crowd gathered in the central plaza. A sea of auras stretched before him, split down the middle like a gaping wound. On one side, 500 souls burned with fervor, their auras pulsating with loyalty and determination, rallying behind Nishiki to continue as the Oyabun. On the other side, an equal number stood firm, their auras tinged with doubt and defiance, questioning Nishiki's leadership and demanding change.
Frustration boiled within Zumi as he witnessed the division tearing at the very fabric of their unity. With a resolve as steely as his gaze, he decided to take matters into his own hands. Channeling his inner strength, he unleashed his Golden Flame Teleportation skill.
In a blinding flash of fire and heat, Zumi vanished from the balcony, reappearing in the heart of the plaza in a swirling tornado of flames. The flames danced and crackled around him, casting a golden glow that illuminated the faces of the gathered crowd. All eyes turned towards him, their voices falling silent in awe and disbelief, as if a deity had descended from the heavens to stand among them.
With a voice that rang out like thunder, Zumi addressed the crowd, his words carrying the weight of his conviction and the fire of his determination. "Arguing at such a time as this? I expected better! If you are worried about who leads you, for the time being, I will lead you into battle and end this war. Too many of you are hurt, and if we continue to argue here, those fighting on the battlefield will continue to be hurt. So, as long as I am present, I will not allow the subordinates and family of Anastasia Dojima to continue to be hurt on the battlefield. Those who stand against me, stand to my left; those who stand with me, stand to my right."
Five hundred people stood on his right side, including Ana, Jasmine, Cathy, Nishiki, and all who remained loyal to him.
Zumi turned to the people on his left. "Since your Oyabun is standing to my right, I take it those of you to my left are currently stating your betrayal of the Dojima family, meaning you are enemies."
The people on the left confirmed this, and Zumi said, "You are not required." As he spoke, a wave of intense heat washed over the group to his left. Their bodies convulsed in agony as a searing pain shot through their veins, causing them to scream in terror.
With wide eyes, they watched in horror as their skin began to blister and blacken, consumed by the intense blue flames that engulfed them. In mere seconds, they were reduced to nothing but ashes, their anguished cries silenced forever. Zumi's newfound ability had proven to be a devastating force, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake.
Gathered around Zumi, the group on his right had unique reactions to the unfolding chaos. Nishiki, Ana's father, a man of authority and discernment, felt a surge of pride at the display of courage before him. This kid has guts, he mused silently, reaffirming his decision to appoint Zumi as his second-in-command.
Meanwhile, Ana, Gia, and Cathy found themselves inexplicably drawn to Zumi amidst the chaos. In a twist of emotions heightened by the adrenaline of the situation, they felt a primal attraction toward him, a stirring that bordered on raw desire. If circumstances were different, they might have lunged at Zumi like untamed beasts in the throes of passion.
Amidst the turmoil, a system notification chimed in Zumi's mind: Ping! Nishiki Dojima's respect for you has notably increased; current progress is 7 of 10. You have fulfilled his desire to control the situation and be alive and well—attribute points plus 5, request value plus 3.
Zumi stood tall, a beacon of strength and resolve in the face of chaos, ready to lead them into battle and restore order to the fractured organization.
Jasmine's respect for Zumi had also grown. With the current progress at 7 of 10, Cathy's intimacy towards Zumi had reached its peak; the system connection quest for Cathy was ongoing, with two more to fulfill. Everyone else behind Nishiki and the ladies feared Zumi. Breaking the silence, Zumi said, "We need a battle plan. Let's sit and talk strategy." Nishiki was not surprised by what Zumi had just done. He already knew Zumi was capable of such feats since he felt the presence of the Monkey King emanating from him. Moreover, at that moment, Zumi was acting in the best interest of the family and his daughter, confirming that the people to his left were enemies of the family before he annihilated them. Nishiki was impressed.
Nishiki led everyone to a large conference room where he, Ana, Cathy, Jasmine, and some other leaders of the family's divisions sat at the table, ready to strategize about how to end the war. Zumi sat next to Ana. Ana asked, "Where is Gia?"
Zumi replied, "Don't worry; she is present. I've instructed her to stay hidden!" Ana did not pursue the matter further since she was a system character and believed Zumi wholeheartedly, no matter what. Cathy felt the same way, as she was inches away from becoming a system connection character.
However, Jasmine, whose loyalty and respect for Zumi were not high enough yet, pondered why the others were so loyal to him, especially since her best friends Ana and Gia had become so devoted that they underwent a phenomenon known as "Loyalty Transmutation." This occurs when someone achieves intense loyalty to another person, resulting in a deep connection that causes a physical and spiritual transformation in the loyal follower. This includes a change in appearance to mirror the person they are devoted to, along with a portion of their strength and abilities. However, this loyalty comes at a cost, as the followers become bound to the person they serve, following them without hesitation, regardless of whether their path leads to good or evil.
Nishiki knew Gia was present from the start, as he could sense her presence since Zumi arrived. This was a testament to Zumi's strength, as Gia's presence became null when she entered a shadow, yet he could still sense her. Nishiki began the strategy meeting, and Zumi listened attentively, gaining information to help form a plan together.
Nishiki spoke, explaining that they were at war with a family called the Narukami family, who were trying to wipe them out and take their territory. Their old Shategashira, who had betrayed them, was the one feeding the Narukami family information. They also had the help of the assassination group Torte (meaning Death). The Oyabun of the Narukami family was currently at their headquarters, analyzing the war from afar. They had four guards with them: two Wakagashira-hosa, old field captains of the previous Shategashira, and two assassins from Torte. They could end the war by eliminating the Oyabun of the Narukami family and his bodyguards.
As this was said, Zumi devised a brilliant plan filled with wisdom and spoke with the confidence of a true leader strategizing for victory. To win, he outlined a five-step plan:
Infiltration and Reconnaissance: We send in skilled spies to gather detailed information about the layout and defenses of the Narukami family's headquarters. This information will be crucial for planning the attack.
Diversionary Tactics: We create a diversion to draw the attention of the Narukami family's guards away from the primary target, allowing for a stealthier approach.
Assassination: I will send Gia to use her new shadow abilities to eliminate the two Torte assassins from the equation. We will briefly turn off the lights in the building so she can move in and eliminate them while they are shocked.
Decoy Strategy: We will use one of the Wakagashira-hosa as a decoy to lure out the Oyabun and his guards while Gia and the other guards move in for the kill.
Escape Route: A carefully planned escape route will be established in advance to ensure a quick and safe exit after the mission is completed.
By combining these elements of infiltration, diversion, assassination, decoy tactics, and a well-planned escape route, Zumi's strategy aimed to eliminate the key figures of the Narukami family without any casualties on their side, ultimately securing victory in the war.
Everyone looked amazed and dumbfounded at Zumi's plan. Nishiki was impressed and agreed to the strategy. Nobody had any objections, but Jasmine questioned, "What do you mean Gia's new shadow abilities?"
"I gave her a gift I took from an opponent we faced on the way here," Zumi said. This was a lie, but he couldn't reveal that he got it from the system. "Gia, come out!" Zumi called. Gia emerged from Zumi's shadow as he said this and bowed before everyone. They were shocked at how she had just done that—she had been in his shadow all this time. Nishiki suddenly smiled and said, "Shadow Weaver earrings!" He laughed softly, adding, "You keep impressing me, Zumi. We really must have a drink together!"
"I look forward to it," Zumi replied. He instructed Gia to return to his shadow, and she did so immediately. They discussed the plan a bit more thoroughly and then sprang into action.
Once they had talked it through, the team set out to execute Zumi's meticulously crafted plan with precision and stealth.
Infiltration and Reconnaissance: Under cover of darkness, skilled spies slipped into the shadows, their movements silent and undetectable. They meticulously gathered detailed information about the layout and defenses of the Narukami family's headquarters, mapping out every corridor, guard post, and security measure in place.
Diversionary Tactics: As the spies relayed their findings back to the team, a distraction was set in motion on the outskirts of the compound. Explosions echoed through the night, drawing the attention of the Narukami family's guards away from the primary target and creating an opening for the team to make their move.
Assassination: Gia awaited her moment with her newfound shadow abilities. As planned, the lights inside the building suddenly flickered and went out, plunging the interior into darkness. Seizing the opportunity, Gia swiftly moved through the shadows, her presence masked by the chaos of the sudden blackout. With deadly precision, she eliminated the two Torte assassins and the Oyabun before they could even react, leaving no trace of her presence behind.
Decoy Strategy: Meanwhile, the chosen Wakagashira-hosa was taken out, and a member of the Dojima family took his place, bravely stepping forward as the decoy to draw out the Oyabun and his guards. As they pursued the decoy into the open, they fell right into the trap set by Gia and the rest of the team, who moved in swiftly and silently, their weapons poised for the decisive strike.
Escape Route: The team swiftly approached the pre-planned escape route, and the mission was accomplished. Every step had been calculated; every contingency accounted for. They vanished into the night, leaving behind only confusion and chaos in the wake of their daring operation.
By seamlessly combining elements of infiltration, diversion, assassination, decoy tactics, and a meticulously planned escape route, Zumi's strategy unfolded flawlessly, eliminating the Narukami family's key figures without a single casualty on their side. Victory in the war was within reach, thanks to their skill, cunning, and unwavering determination.
The Narukami family was in shambles at the news of the death of their Oyabun, and many of their soldiers had died. The rest retreated, and for the time being, the war was finally over. Everyone could take some time to rest. The injured were cared for, and everyone was sent home to recuperate. Zumi was invited to Nishiki's home for dinner, and he went there with everyone, beginning a new life as a prominent figure in the world of the Yakuza.