The invaders launched their assault, their ships firing magical artillery that obliterated parts of the coastline. Yet Ryuken, using the knowledge extracted by his divine spirit, had already anticipated their strategy. He deployed traps along the shore, hidden explosive runes and magical constructs that detonated as the first wave of invaders landed. The coastline erupted in fire and chaos, decimating the enemy’s initial ranks. Ryuken himself led the charge, wielding the combined might of his spirits. Divine energy crackled around him, intertwining with the malevolent crimson aura of the demonic spirits. He moved through the battlefield like an unstoppable force, ruthlessly cutting down enemy soldiers. For the first time, his strategy prioritized overwhelming force over precision or care for collateral damage. Entire villages near the coast were evacuated, depending on their strategic value. Crops and supplies were already harvested to deny the enemy any resources. Innocent civilians caught in the crossfire, were sent to safety to allow Ryuken act on his singular goal... the total annihilation of the invaders. But due to their haste... thousands of commoners could not escape from the foreign invaders on all 4 coasts because the latter wanted the resources. The wanton pillage and massacres began, painting the earth red with their blood. His masters and allies, now the new daimyos, confronted him after the first battle. "Ryuken-sama..." began one of his oldest allies, a man who had stood by him through the begining days of the uprising. "This is not the way. You’ve always fought to protect our people, not to sacrifice their livelihood. They may never be able to return to their homes if we use the villages and towns as a battlefield. What are you doing?" he asked with a stern countenance. Ryuken turned to him, his eyes glowing faintly with a sinister red hue. "Protection comes at a cost. If sacrifices must be made to ensure our survival, then so be it." "But the Ryuken-sama I knew..." the ally began, his voice breaking. "The Ryuken you knew died with Kanae and our child," Ryuken interrupted coldly. "What remains is a man who will stop at nothing to destroy those who dare threaten this land." he spoke in a domineering but also contemptuous tone. Unbeknownst to his allies, the Ryuken they were speaking to was no longer fully himself. The demonic spirit, feeding on his grief and rage, had tightened its grip. While the divine spirits still lent their power, they had been silenced, unable to guide him as they once did. Ryuken’s decisions, once tempered by wisdom and empathy, now stemmed from a dark and unyielding place. Despite their reservations, his allies had no choice but to follow his orders. The war was escalating rapidly, and Ryuken’s strategies... though brutal... were effective. The invaders were pushed back on the left coast, their forces decimated, their supplies cut off. Yet, the cost was steep. Villages lay in ruins, all the villages and strongholds were destroyed as both forces used them as means to defend, and fear spread through the population... that they may not have a home left to return. As the soldiers prepared to march to the next front, whispers spread among the ranks and the masses. Was this the man they had followed during the uprising? Or had their leader become something else entirely? For Ryuken, such doubts no longer mattered. His heart, consumed by loss and vengeance, beat only for one purpose: to destroy the foreigners, no matter the price. Stay connected with empire Any person who lost their loved ones was bound to be emotionally unstable and lose their rationality in the process. And unlike his ancestors, Ryuken had contracted 2 demonic spirits. One who could control minds while the other one sought pure carnage. And after the death of his wife and child… he had broken down as a man on every level. This led to him becoming a cold and remorseless killer unlike his original personality who valued peace and justice. BLIP!! The fateful decision was made during a war council in Ryuken’s temporary fortress, situated in the central plains. His advisors... seasoned generals, new daimyos, and surviving masters... gathered around a map illuminated by flickering lanterns. The air was thick with tension, their faces grim from the weight of months of bloodshed. "We’ve bled too much in these coastal battles," said one of the generals, his voice laced with frustration. "If this continues, we’ll lose the very people we’re fighting to protect before the foreigners even set foot on our soil." "They’re hesitant to engage in a ground war," added another. "But they won’t stop until they’ve taken everything. The sea battles are weakening them too. We need to force them onto our terms." Ryuken, seated at the head of the table, leaned forward. His piercing eyes scanned the map as his fingers drummed on the table. "Then we give them what they want," he said, his voice cold and devoid of hesitation. "We’ll let them land." The room erupted in murmurs and protests. "Let them land?" one of his advisors repeated incredulously. "Ryuken-sama, do you realize what you’re saying? They’ll establish a foothold!" spoke Kyoraku. "We’ll turn that foothold into their grave," Ryuken snapped, silencing the room. "We’ve been fighting them on their terms for too long. Their ships, their artillery...it’s all designed to dominate at sea. But on land, they’ll be vulnerable. Especially on the eastern plains." he proposed a battle strategy. The eastern coast was a vast stretch of flat, open terrain. It was strategically risky, offering no natural defenses. But it also allowed Ryuken to dictate the battlefield, leveraging his knowledge of the land and the remaining divine spirits to outmaneuver the enemy. One of the daimyos, a former ally of Ryuken’s father, hesitated before speaking. "And what of the people living in the eastern regions? If we allow them to land, villages and towns will become collateral. There already isn’t enough time to evacuate masses in such short time." spoke Tadayori Shuhei, one of the daiymos. Ryuken’s expression hardened, his jaw tightening. "Evacuate them even if they have to leave all their rations and belongings behind. Move every civilian to the interior regions. This war has already cost us too much. I won’t allow it to drag on any longer." His words carried a chilling finality. The demonic spirit’s influence had dulled the compassion that once defined his leadership. His allies exchanged uneasy glances but knew they had no alternative. The war had to end, one way or another. Preparations began immediately. Civilians were uprooted from their homes, their lives disrupted once again as they were herded toward safer regions. The eastern plains were cleared of any resources that could aid the enemy. Traps were laid...concealed pits, magical barriers, and explosive runes designed to cripple the invaders as they advanced. Ryuken’s forces, though battered and weary, steeled themselves for the decisive confrontation. Messages were sent across the land, calling upon every able-bodied fighter to join the ranks. Samurai, Ashigaru, and even peasants willing to wield a spear were mustered. Despite the dwindling numbers, Ryuken stood as an unshakable figure of determination. He spent hours honing his strategies, studying every possible outcome. The divine spirits remained silent, their presence a distant echo. Only the demonic spirit whispered in his ear, feeding his resolve with promises of victory through unrelenting power. When the foreign fleet finally appeared on the horizon of the eastern coast, the soldiers of the land stood ready. Rows upon rows of warriors lined the plains, their armor gleaming under the rising sun. The invaders began their landing, their massive war machines and troops pouring onto the shore like a relentless tide. The battle on the eastern plains erupted like a storm. Ryuken’s forces clashed with the invaders in a cacophony of steel, magic, and screams. The foreigners’ war machines unleashed torrents of destruction, while Ryuken’s troops fought valiantly, their morale bolstered by his presence on the frontlines. The ground shook with the impact of cannons, and the air sizzled with the energies of magical artillery. Ryuken himself was a whirlwind of power. His blade danced through the battlefield, guided by the divine spirits, while the demonic spirits fueled his relentless ferocity. He cut down dozens of enemy soldiers with his elemental attacks, his aura a terrifying beacon for both friend and foe. However, the foreign invaders had prepared for him. A group of enemy mages, hidden behind their frontlines, activated a massive magic formation. The ground beneath Ryuken glowed with intricate runes, and chains of pure energy erupted around him, ensnaring his body within a barrier. "What is this?" Ryuken roared, struggling against the bindings. His divine and demonic auras flared, but the formation siphoned his energy, rendering his powers unstable. The demonic spirit, which had gripped Ryuken’s soul for so long, shrieked in anger. Its influence wavered, and for the first time in months, Ryuken’s mind began to clear. The whispers of rage and vengeance faded, replaced by silence. And then came... clarity. Ryuken’s vision blurred as memories surged through his mind... his father’s proud smile as he taught him the ways of a just ruler, Kanae’s gentle laughter as they spoke of their unborn child. The magic formation crackled, threatening to shatter under the sheer force of his emotions. The divine spirits, sensing his newfound clarity, spoke to him for the first time in what felt like an eternity. "Ryuken, there is still a way to end this war once and for all. Unlike your father... You have all of us. If you want to win this war... you must become the Sacred Divinity. But know… the price will be your life." spoke Toranaga in Ryuken’s mind. Ryuken closed his eyes, a serene determination washing over him. "If that’s the cost to save my homeland and people... then I’d die a thousand times."