The light in Ryuken's eyes dimmed, the vibrant fire of determination and spirit that once burned brightly was now reduced to hollow embers. His body trembled as the words echoed in his mind… a truth too cruel to accept, too devastating to comprehend. The overwhelming shock of learning that his mother and sister, the anchors of his heart, had been killed mere minutes ago, shattered his resolve and stripped him of reason. For a moment, the world around him seemed to fade into an unfeeling void. The old samurai lifted him and took the secret passage. In a few moments, they reached the mote at the other end of the hidden escape route, where a small boat was waiting for them. Ryuken, Tadayori, and the servant quickly boarded the boat and the servant started rowing. The young boy, however, was having trouble even breathing because of the immense shock he received. His gaze was still lost of life as they finally entered a river stream in the dark of the night. BOOM!! Just as they reached over a kilometer away from the castle… a massive explosion shook the surroundings, originating at the palace. ROAARRR!!! Enjoy exclusive content from empire The towering 20-meter-tall monstrous being stood with an overwhelming presence that radiated sheer power. Its main body resembled a colossal bull, muscular and covered in bristling black fur that shimmered ominously under the fading light of dusk. Its massive back bore the imposing, feathered wings of a tengu, stretching wide. In its grip, it wielded a fearsome khakkara, emanating bright blue lightning that crackled and surged with a life of its own. The weapon's energy illuminated the surrounding area, making the being's grotesque yet divine features all the more terrifying. A sudden explosion erupted in the sky above, a spectacle of color and light that resembled fireworks yet carried the deafening force of destruction. The gigantic figure and the sudden explosion that glimmered in the sky like fireworks finally pulled Ryuken out of his daze. "F… Father?" spoke Ryuken with bewilderment. This was his father, Sasakibe Tanjiro's fused form with his 3 Divine Spirits. BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! Consequently, four more explosions took place from four different ends of the castle as new monstrous beings also revealed their deathly aura. "The Daiymos… those dishonorable bastards! They're ganging up against the Shogun!" spoke the old samurai with clear disdain on his face and fury in his voice. At this point, half of the castle was destroyed due to these giants revealing their power. Even the servant rowing the boat knew that hundreds of people including the palace workers, the soldiers, and many innocents who resided in the castle must have died from these explosions alone. The Shogun they served would have never unleashed his true power for the safety of his people in the castle; but the fact that he did, meant only one thing… That there was no one left to protect. These invaders must have killed most of them already. BANG!! The giant bull charged at the other divine spirits with its wings shooting hundreds of projectiles made of darkness, each stride it took rose massive pillars of stone that he picked and flung back at his opponents while the khakkara in his hand summoned lightning bolts from the sky. Rumble! Soon, a dreadful fight between these titans shook the surroundings, decimating everything around the now chaotic castle. But Tadayori signaled the servant to keep rowing, following his orders from the Shogun. BLIP!! The scenery had shifted dramatically, now revealing a serene yet somber setting far removed from the chaos of the battlefield. Nestled on a quiet mountainside, near the shore of a tranquil lake, stood a weathered wooden house. The soft rustle of the wind through the surrounding pine trees and the gentle lapping of water against the rocky shore created an almost surreal calm, a stark contrast to the horrors they had fled. Inside the modest house, Ryuken lay on the floor, his body trembling as fever wracked him. His pale complexion and labored breaths betrayed the toll the recent events had taken on him; not just physically, but mentally. His fever was no mere illness; it was the manifestation of a shattered mind, unable to process the trauma and grief that had befallen him. Beside him knelt the servant, the same man who had witnessed the devastation from the boat. With a look of quiet determination, he dipped a cloth into a bowl of warm water, wringing it out before placing it gently on Ryuken's forehead. His hands moved with care, his every motion imbued with the silent hope of bringing even the smallest comfort to the young man who had lost so much. Outside the house, an old samurai sat near the entrance, his weathered face set in a stoic expression. Though his body bore the marks of their escape... freshly patched wounds visible through the torn fabric of his robe...he gripped his katana tightly. The house itself bore the signs of abandonment. Its wooden walls were faded and slightly warped, its windows cracked and covered in dust. Yet, at this moment, it served as a sanctuary for the battered survivors, offering a brief respite from the storm that had upended their lives. Thud! Gallop! Thud! Neigh! Soon, the galloping sounds of a horse resounded as a man clad in blue and yellow armor arrived. The samurai stood up and put on guard. "It's me, Tadayori-dono!" spoke the new arrival and dismounted from the horse. He quickly took a bow and joined his palm and fist to greet the old man. "Kyoraku-dono, you're alive!" spoke the old man, his gloomy face finally filled with a glimmer of hope. But the samurai called Kyoraku had a crestfallen face. "Is young lord safe?" asked the samurai in blue. "He is suffering from fever. Did you bring any news?" asked the tall old man. Shake! In response, Kyoraku only shook his head with resignation. "Our Lord… is gone." Shock! Tadayori's visage shook and his hand trembled. Ryuken who heard this from within the house, froze with another heartbreak as tears started trickling from his eyes. Two days later… 4 more samurais, all of the bannermen had finally gathered. "What about my son?" asked the old man Tadayori. The newest arrival was a middle-aged one-armed Odachi swordsman, who lost his left arm during the siege. "He fought valiantly by our lord's side, till the bitter end." spoke the middle-aged samurai. The old man Tadayori, felt the earth below his feet shaking. Yet he collected himself and kept calm. The lord he served had died… and now, he received information that his son, his heir, and successor to his clan had also died during the treacherous night. One after another, everything they held dear was gone. "What do we do now, Tadayori-dono?" asked one of the bannermen. All five of them were the loyal vassals of Sasakibe Tanjiro, who would not think twice before committing Seppuku now that their lord was gone. "We carry on his will." replied the old man with a serious countenance. "The evening before the siege… my lord wished for me to take young lord as my disciple. He wished for Ryuken-sama to be taught by all of us about the fields we excel in. Swordsmanship, spirit cultivation, politics, warfare, and philosophy… just the way he was raised. The only difference now is that he is no longer alive to see it through." revealed the old man. "I will not blame anyone of you if you choose to abandon our creed now that our lord is gone. But as his loyal vassal and his friend… I will devote the remainder of my life to see his wish come to fruition." spoke the old man. Right then… "You shame us with those words full of doubt. All of us here were nothing before our lord found us and turned us into proper samurais. If not for him… we would be just forgotten even by our clans. He saw the potential in all of us before even we believed in ourselves. We have already pledged our lives. Besides… I do not see myself dying before I plunge those traitors into the deepest pits of hell." spoke Kyoraku with a resolute tone. The others also followed suit and voiced similar opinions. "How ironic it is… that same evening, I did not want Ryuken-sama to go through the hard training at such a young age. I was objecting to our lord's wish… Now, I would have to subject his son to those very things. He is our only hope left at redemption." said the old man Tadayori. In the evening, they performed the traditional vow ceremony. In front of the young boy, who had lost his cheerful smile and hopeful eyes… knelt 5 bannermen, swearing their allegiance to him. "Teach me everything I need to learn. From now on, there is only one reason I shall live for…" spoke the boy. Ryuken gazed at his new vassals with completely lifeless eyes, detached from every emotion known to humanity as he uttered a single word… "Revenge."