บท 17: Chapter 17 Draw The Sword!
Half of the ice layer had melted, revealing the red bedrock beneath. Crevices crisscrossed, still flowing with remnant fire.
Much of the snow had evaporated, dispersing into thick snow mist in the air, seeming to rise and surge from a source, obscuring the still-burning forest. Billions of leaves crackled, emitting sounds like groans.
Further away, looking down through the misty snow, warships appeared on the shore, more than one.
Huge masts, hanging banners, flapping loudly in the cold wind.
These ships were also burned to death, remnants of past glory. Now they reappeared in this time, soldiers left the drifting battlefield, ending their centuries-long wandering journey—they set foot on shore again.
Fallen creatures become impurities when they die, but immortal martyrs remain heroic spirits even when polluted!
"You..." Seino didn't know what to say, his lips trembled slightly, he paused, "You didn't have to come."
The wind and snow flickered.
He looked at Mishima Suminoe, "Did you call them? But you could have rested in peace."
Seino said softly, "You don't need to suffer anymore."
"I..."
The old soldier's body was already half dissipated, but he still refused to leave. This strong belief supported his body.
He gritted his teeth, the old skin showing heavy blue veins,
"I died, but even dead I'm Shogunate Army, the brothers are Shogunate Army, we're willing, to follow the great Pillar, we can't run."
"Even if we're dead, we won't run, won't run even in death."
He said in a muffled voice. This simple boatman, this honest old soldier, couldn't say any profound words. He wasn't educated, only believed in one principle all his life, and the reason was simple:
If the great Pillar didn't leave, the Shogunate Army couldn't leave.
If the great Pillar wanted to fight, the Shogunate Army had to fight.
Couldn't be deserters, or it would shame their children.
After death, people would point at their spine in disgrace.
"Lord Pillar."
A familiar voice.
It was Seino's adjutant from 400 years ago.
Seino still remembered his name, Kishibe Hakuno.
"We finally understand the meaning of all this,"
He was covered in wounds, his armor already damaged, he was looking at Seino Raimei, looking at his graying temples:
"We've been wandering lost at sea for 400 years,"
Tears in his eyes, he paused, then said:
—"It was to reunite with you."
"This war isn't over,"
"Please lead us to continue fighting."
His adjutant drew the samurai sword at his waist, cold light flashing, sharp as the wind. The sword was covered with dense verdigris, which now fell off in large patches, revealing its former luster.
Kishibe held the sword in front of him:
"The end of the Shogunate Army shouldn't be wandering dissipation, like pitiful vengeful spirits. The Shogunate Army should only die on the glorious battlefield!!"
"400 years later, Kishibe Hakuno, draws his sword!!"
Mishima Suminoe also drew his sword, that broken hunting knife.
He imitated the adjutant's posture, holding it in front: "400 years later, Mishima Suminoe, draws his sword!"
"400 years later, Tanaka Morii, draws his sword!!"
"400 years later, Moriyasu Ryota, draws his sword!"
...
The sound of swords being unsheathed continued behind him.
Cold light flickered, decayed battle swords slashed through the cold night sky, clanging, the sound of swords ringing out together, like sudden thunder!
One thousand three hundred warriors, all drawing their swords at once!
Their eyes shone with light, trembling with excitement, gazing at the Pillar sincerely and purely, as if returning to hundreds of years ago, awaiting his orders.
Seino lowered his head, gripping the Snake Cutter in his hand, feeling the trembling of the blade, and also feeling the trembling of his own heart.
Trembling, trembling.
The old, cold body began to flow with hot blood.
Finally, he raised his head, lifted the Snake Cutter, snow falling on his body, just like him 400 years ago, like his young and bold self, he said:
"Soldiers—
Charge with me!"
Like thunder echoing above the clouds.
And the soldiers responded to that thunder. They lined up, formed ranks, spread out, with Lord Pillar at the lead, charging towards that towering great serpent, fearless of death, one after another.
Banners reflected in the night sky, cold light piercing through the snow, their speed so fast it left a black lightning trail through the forest.
"Ah... mortals... mere mortals, you..."
"Presumptuous mortals!!"
The arrow wound in the great serpent's throat had almost healed. Its eyes were dark and hateful, staring fixedly at those insignificant mortals like ants, whom it had killed 400 years ago.
How hateful, how hateful. Impurity had completely infected its divine mind. Now it had only one thought:
Kill!
"Kill you once, can kill you a second time!"
The demonic flames in its mouth had fully gathered. It spewed them out in one breath, burning towards the center of that lightning trail, burning towards Seino Raimei.
The front-rank warriors raised their shields, but were instantly devoured by the demonic flames. The fire burned through row after row of soldiers, but they were not afraid. They were like moths flying into the fire, resolutely perishing on the eve of dawn's arrival.
Though dissipating, they were not in pain. Their lips showed relieved and proud smiles. Though it was death, they seemed to be reborn.
Pass over our corpses.
"Lord Pillar, advance."
They seemed to be saying.
Seino pressed on the Snake Cutter, lowering his stance. One corpse after another passed by him, but Seino no longer looked at them.
His eyes were empty of all else, focused only on the great serpent spewing flames.
The rear ranks loosed another rain of arrows. Hundreds of arrows whistled through the air, making a zinging wind song, weaving a dense net of arrows in the night sky, crashing down towards the great serpent.
The great serpent's body shook, raising demonic flames. It let out a venomous curse from the pain: "Mortals! Mortals! How dare you presume!"
One hundred, two hundred, three hundred... half the soldiers had dissipated.
The demonic flames devoured the archers, tongues of fire licking the dark night sky. That boatman had died early on, he was never much good at fighting. This honest, simple man dissipated in the glow of the flames.
He had manned his boat for 400 years, died without seeing his family, never made a midnight snack for his "Yoshiko," but he was still smiling, because the Pillar General was smiling.
Then there was nothing to fear.
Seino was smiling, the smile unique to the Pillar, perhaps sad, perhaps painful, perhaps snow-like compassion.
But all this was buried in laughter, buried in that melodious, hearty laugh, these 400 years of tumultuous wandering all laughed away!
The adjutant also died. When he died, he turned his head to look at Seino.
Lord Pillar, advance.
We are just mortals, we can't accompany you for 400 years.
So even if only you are left, please continue to walk on.
You must walk out of this battlefield, you must live on.
True death is being completely forgotten.
Please remember us, even if it's difficult, please live on difficultly.
Glory to the Pillar and his centuries of Fudoshin.
The great serpent's flames were nearly exhausted, leaving an opening. Under cover, Seino had also reached the final position.
He pressed on the Snake Cutter's scabbard, lowering his body, white mist escaping from his nose and teeth.
In his unmoved heart, all was clear. The world left only a point and a line - the line was the sword in his hand, the point was the archon's throat.
His old heart was beating eagerly. He heard the voice that had been silent for 400 years, the voice of his heart:
"400 years later—"
"Seino Raimei."
"Draw the sword."
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