(3RD POV)

The time has come down on the plains of the desolate and abandoned area on the outskirts of Lungmen where the L.G.D and Rhodes Island Operators are stationed for a joint operation. Not only they were joined by some Black Steel mercenaries, the Penguin Logistics also sent forth their helpers.

Near the barren grasslands is a small clearing but big enough for more than one squadrons of soldiers, it served as a small camp which resided a few important figures discussing and planning for the upcoming operation.

Which is specifically about rescuing Misha, the Ursus girl who was supposed to be safe with Ch'en's squad during the transfer, yet a sudden ambush from Reunion had taken advantage of the small escort forces of the L.G.D, causing Misha to be "kidnapped".

Of course, that is far from the actual truth when what truly happened is the fact that Senji intervened at the last second before trying to kill the kidnapper. However, Misha relented and claimed that she wants to go see her brother, maybe try and stop him and his mad delusions.

Unfortunately, neither the L.G.D or Rhodes Island know so it's only up to Senji whether he wants to join in or not.

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"You said your squad was ambushed and overwhelmed?" Amiya asked a disgruntled Ch'en.

"Yes, they had us at the most unexpected moment, we never knew they would be that coordinated." The officer replied.

"During all those commotion, their leader was able to snatch Misha from our hands. I can't believe it..." Ch'en added.

"Please don't sell yourself short, Madam Ch'en. I'm sure we will be able to bring back Misha." Amiya reassured her.

"But there was something strange my squad discovered later..." The said Lung commented.

"Madam?" Amiya inquired.

"We followed the abductor through the building she used and found the street outside was completely torn apart." Ch'en stated.

"Are you saying Misha could have somehow fought back?" Amiya asked.

"Don't be absurd, the abductor held quite a number of explosives on her and Misha is completely harmless."

"The chances she could have fought back is close to impossible unless she managed to escape and the abductor gave pursuit." Ch'en assumed.

"Speaking of the abductor, can you identify her?" Amiya questioned.

"Beats me, all I could say is she's Sarkaz descent, wore casual clothing in the battlefield and threw bombs at us from nowhere." Answered the officer.

"Doctor... could the person Madam Ch'en is describing be the same one we fought back at Chernobog when we escaped?" Amiya whispered to the said figure.

"It's plausible, I mean, the girl back at Chernobog threw bombs everywhere as well as this one... so it could be?" The Doctor replied back.

"Well, enough about that. The operation ahead of us later is highly important so I suggest you all to be listening closely to the plan." Ch'en started.

"With the current information we have, we need to figure out Reunion's movements and retrieve Misha before they can extract anything out of her."

"We know that Reunion forces are stationed just a few kilometers from here, our scouts have confirmed their location but not their next course of action."

"Whether it be setting up an ambush or preparing their forces to leave the area, what we basically have to do is to in either discreetly or fiercely."

"However, theoretically if we chose fiercely, then we will have to attack with a carefully planned force with continuous pressure until they have no time to process the situation to counterattack." 

"We need our forces to be stationed in the right positions before taking them out as soon as possible before they can organize themselves. And hopefully, should our plan succeed, their leader might show up."

"Any questions?" Ch'en ended, observing the crowd with no one answering until Amiya inquired.

"Madam Ch'en, what about Misha? If she isn't with the enemy forces we'll be intercepting later, what do we do?"

"That will Rhodes Island's task along with the mercenaries you've hired, secure the VIP and extract her and return immediately." Ch'en answered.

"Understood." Amiya confirmed while the Doctor nodded.

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"...Why am I here?" Senji questioned himself, getting irritated at his own antics.

Normally, he would already be back at the hermitage, firing up his forge and kitchen for another day of normality. However, for some, SOME UNKNOWN reasons, he decided to tag back near the outskirts of Lungmen as well. Why he does it, no one knows, not even him.

"Damn this body of mine... tingling every time I refuse to do what it tells me to do..." He cursed.

Well, it was quite a mystery of why the body or vessel he inhabits would "tingle" every time there was some sort of commotion going on that involved someone's life or lives. Senji once ignored it but the sensation simply got more irritating to the point he had to comply with its wishes no matter what.

Back to Senji, he's currently surveying the nearby the aforementioned Reunion camp which they've set up for the incoming assault against Lungmen and Rhodes Island. To be honest and fair, he didn't even know what to do if he decided to interfere.

The current place right now where he's standing on top of is a large gigantic piece of originium that stuck out of the earth, its natural enormous structure formed a makeshift sort of plateau which overlooked the area like a cliff.

Suddenly, a distant explosion alerted Senji.

"Have they already started? Youngsters these days are so rowdy and hot-tempered..." The blacksmith commented, getting up.

He walked through the land as the sound of fighting progressively got louder and louder until shouts of orders and pain can be heard, Senji projected out a katana before crouching down and surveying the battle. 

Both Reunion, L.G.D and Rhodes Island were in the chaotic frenzy of trying to overwhelm each other, and he wasn't unaware enough to not notice a group of Reunion troops sneaking up around him, most likely mistaking him for a Rhodes Island Operator.

"I believe hiding won't do you anymore good, wouldn't you agree?" Senji asked as the troops began revealing themselves.

"And here we thought we could catch... him..? Is he one of those traitors' allies?" One enemy guard questioned.

"I don't think so but it doesn't change the fact we're gonna have to take him down." Another one interjected.

"Wait a minute... it's him! The person who singlehandedly wiped out the forces at Chernobog!" 

"This guy? Don't make any jokes, he's just one man!" 

"Did they forget that I'm here? Words travel fast though..." Senji thought.

"But Talulah was the one who said it herself! You think she would lie to us?!"

"That has got to be a joke, no way one guy can take out a force comprised of hundreds soldiers!" 

"B-but what if it really is him?" One uncertainly asked.

"Then... then... we're so dead..." Another one whimpered.

"Show some spirit, you brats. It's your fault for joining the enemies... enemies filled with cowards." Senji taunted, twirling his blade.

"Why you..! Kill him!" One of troops who got easily provoked ordered as the rest began walking towards Senji.

"Tut-tut-tut, what a bunch of impatient brats. Looks like you all need a lesson to respect your elders." Senji retorted before swinging down.

The first wave of soldiers were hit with a violent outburst of flaming winds, blowing them back over twenty feet, this sudden power stunned the troops before they began rallying their forces again. From the back of the group, several soldiers wielding crossbows appeared.

"Shoot him down!" One ordered as a flurry of bolts were shot from afar.

"Fourth Form: Blooming Flame Undulation." Senji stated, his katana instantly changing into Kyojuro as he swung his blade again.

As the bolts closed in on the blacksmith, the projectiles simply melted from the sheer heat of the flames circling in front of Senji. More shots were fired but it proved completely useless against the fire of Kyojuro.

"Think twice about shooting someone who can make a flaming shield... not that you know anyway." The blacksmith smirked.

"Now, watch how a real fighter counterattack." He added before vanishing from the sights of everyone.

"WHERE DID HE GO?!" One shouted before his head got lopped off cleanly.

"WHA-?!" Another one exclaimed but was met with the same fate.

"Quick! Casters, fire your Arts!" A Reunion troop ordered as the said soldiers nodded and fired at the area of the headless corpse.

A flick of a heel, and Senji was right in front of the casters.

"Your Arts are annoying." Was all he said before slicing the entire group into bloody pieces.

In his hands now, was a pair of jagged blades called "Inosuke".

"THAT BASTARD!" A pair of Reunion soldiers roared before converging onto the blacksmith's stationary figure.

One tried to slash downwards on Senji but the latter effortlessly moved behind the grunt before smacking Inosuke onto his neck, with a flick of his wrist, the jugular is slit and blood was spilt. Another one attempted to stab the blacksmith but his weapon was met with the other blade of Inosuke before Senji twisted it and broke the grunt's blade.

Another flick of his arm, Senji sliced the Reunion soldier into two.

"HOW IS ONE GUY WINNING OVER US?!" A soldier screamed in both pain and agonized shock as they tried to stop Senji.

"MY ATTACKS AREN'T HITTING!" Another one yelled, failing to cut the blacksmith.

"HE'S TOO FAST!" Exclaimed another.

"If you brats are truly devoted to your cause... then learn to fight properly." Senji ominously stated, ducking down two overhead slashes.

"Hunters who becomes the hunted will die no matter what." He added, smiling coldly.

"MY LEG!" One screamed in pain as his limb was sliced off cleanly.

"IS HE USING ARTS?!"

"THAT SON OF A BITCH!" 

No matter what the Reunion troops shouted out, it did nothing to stop Senji's one-sided massacre against the group. Limbs were getting cut off, organs were getting ruptured and stabbed, heads were falling everywhere. It was already over when Senji swung his blades.

"AHH! MY ARMS!"

"IT HURTS! IT FUCKING HURTS SO MUCH!"

"W-WE NEED TO RUN!" 

"W-WHAT IS THIS GUY'S IDENTITY?!" 

In that forest, where sounds are muffled by the nearby battle, no one can hear the screams.

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Senji walked out of the forest near the battlefield where the skirmishes were still raging out, the entire ground behind him was dyed red and littered with corpses from up and down. Flicking off the remaining blood, Senji dissipated Inosuke before making his way to where the forces are. From what he knows, the ones battling against Reunion were probably trying to rescue Misha...

...however, do they truly know which side is good and bad?

One side wishes to end the suffering of the Infected through the efforts and means of research and experiments albeit inhumane or not. The other side fights against the oppression and for the freedom of the Infected who were treated harshly from society, even if it means like killing and massacring the innocents and calling it necessary.

All we know is that Rhodes Island is doing its best to fight for the future of the Infected.

However... they too, slaughter Reunion back, killing the Infected as well.

So... who's truly good and evil here?

The war between Reunion and Rhodes Island, two sides of the same coin.

It could only serve as a propaganda for others to rise up and join the fight.

Senji shook his head from those thoughts, now it wasn't the time to get all philosophical and wise, he exited the forest grounds to see the full extent of the chaotic battle between light and dark, good and evil. So far, it appears to be at a stalemate.

While Reunion had the numbers for its forces, Rhodes Island and the L.G.D had overwhelming skills and abilities along with its commanders. However, it didn't change the fact that bodies are falling everywhere, Senji felt his own back began itching once again, it's quite irritating.

He walked on.

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The sound of metal slashing, smashing and clashing against metal was all that was heard in the battle, in the midst of the fight, a vulpo woman is seen easily cutting through the Reunion troops' armors and bodies.

"W-What's with this woman?! She's cutting through armor with just a swo-!" One grunt wasn't able to exclaim before getting sliced in two.

"That was nothing, y'know? I wasn't even focusing on the fight." Franka said, charging into more troops.

"Watch yourself, Franka!" Another annoyed voice rang out as a vouivre shield bearer ran behind the said vulpo.

"You're being careless again!" Liskarm stated as Franka chuckled while decapitating her enemies.

"APPLE PIE!" Was the words the enemy guards heard before getting hailed on by a barrage of bullets.

Exusiai gleefully yelled while running around, shooting shit up.

"Why you!" A Reunion caster growled, aiming his Arts at the sankta and was about to fire until a sword pierced through his chest.

He looked down onto his chest to see a bright orange transparent blade pierced through it, just before he comprehended what happened, the blade retracted and allowed his limp body fall down. The perpetrator stood behind the corpse, revealing Texas flicking off the blood.

"Thanks for the save, Texas!" Exusiai exclaimed, zooming past her as she continued raining hell on the enemies.

"Right... now then..." Texas said, following the sankta as she slashed down on any troops getting too close to her.

On the other side of the battlefield, many bodies, dead or alive were being thrown into the air as an unrelenting and unwavering Hoshiguma was bashing and slashing them left and right, up and down. Next to the oni was her partner who was easily cutting down the enemies with her blades, Ch'en used her enhanced sword to its fullest as it sliced down several troops at once.

"Hey, Ch'en! Last time I checked, your weapon didn't cut through metal like paper! What happened?!" Hoshiguma asked while bashing away enemies.

"I had it fixed by someone!" Replied the lung, silently glad that the blade was somehow still sharp and deadly.

At the backlines of the forces of Rhodes Island was the Doctor yelling out orders as Amiya stood in front of them with her Arts ready and waiting. Despite the utter chaos of the battle, her orders was still getting sent out and intercepted by the allied forces.

"Amiya! Did Liskarm and Franka manage to flank the enemy casters?!" Questioned the Doctor.

"Not flank! They slaughtered them, Doctor!" Amiya replied.

"O-oh! Well, that's even better!" The Doctor exclaimed as the donkey/rabbit continued firing off her dark Arts.

"Get back, Doctor! I'm going to need space to fire a bigger one!" Amiya shouted, charging up.

However, as soon as the Doctor stepped back from Amiya, a grenade shell was seen hurtling towards the duo before the area exploded with a blinding flash and fiery smoke as both Amiya and the Doctor were blown away in opposite directions. The former was fine, the latter's helmet was cracked slightly but also fine as Amiya rushed to them.

"Doctor! Are you alright?!" She exclaimed, scanning the figure up and down for wounds.

"I'm fine, Amiya, it's just a small mark."

"So that wasn't enough to kill you?" A voice rang out which caused the two to shake up and allowed the Reunion forces to shout out a name.

"Skullshatterer is here!"

"He is!? We're going to win then!"

"Rhodes Island won't stand a chance against us now!"

The Operators of the joint squads locked in battle turned to look back at what they were ranting about, to their alarm, they saw the Doctor and Amiya standing before a hooded figure with a gas mask and grenade launcher and soon realized the dreadful situation at hand.

"Shit! The enemy leader is with Amiya and the Doctor!" Liskarm exclaimed.

"Ah, crap! We're screwed if they get the Doctor!" Exusiai started as she sprinted towards the trio.

"Damn it! We need to regroup quickly!" Ch'en ordered as she sliced down the remaining enemies before rushing over with her partner in tow.

However, before they could even take another ten steps, explosions around them forced the two to stop in their tracks, they began taking cover to not get overwhelmed by the sheer blasts and debris flying everywhere. This also occurred for the other joint squads as they were stopped by the explosions.

"Tch, Skullshatterer's troops, this is going to a pain." Ch'en cursed.

Just as the lung said that, the joint squads found themselves surrounded by Reunion troops, those who were previously fallen now stood back up with revitalized morale along with the ringleader's troops themselves. Their different markings and insignias signified their different affiliation.

Due to the sheer quantity of Reunion troops, they couldn't make it pass the masses without the risks of getting blown up and cut down by enemies. The allied squads found themselves getting held back severely as they had no choice but to watch Skullshatterer approach the Doctor.

The area around the ringleader rose.

"..! The temperature is rising sharply!" Franka exclaimed, feeling the heat from her location.

"He's... he's trying to detonate his staff?!" She stated while blocking an attack from a soldier.

"Doctor! Run away! At that distance, you'll-!" 

"Kuh! Damn it!" Hoshiguma yelled, bashing away more troops but only for them to be quickly replaced by new ones.

"It's over!" Skullshatterer announced as he raised his weapon.

"DOCTOR!" Amiya screamed, trying to run over as quickly as possible but not fast enough to stop the ringleader from swinging down.

However, they did not expect someone else to get there in time.

"やれやれだぜ..." Someone sighed, right near the ringleader.

"Who-" Skullshatterer was about to say something but was punched right into the face, getting sent off through the air.

"Agh!" He grunted in pain as an unknown figure sends him off a couple of meters away.

Rhodes Island and Reunion stopped to look at the newcomer.

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Seeing the figure who saved the Doctor's life, Amiya's Arts deactivated from surprise and shock alone, in the midst of confusion, everyone saw a white haori and a shine of a blade flashing through the area. Some from Reunion instantly recognized this figure and paled while Rhodes Island were surprised as well.

"Kids these days have no patience or tact." Senji Muramasa stated, staring blankly at Skullshatterer who was standing up.

"Hm... well, what do we have here? Some familiar faces." He added, looking around the battlefield.

His sights soon paused on Amiya who flinched at his cold gaze.

"You, go and tend to this Doctor of yours." Senji said, walking forward.

Meanwhile, Skullshatterer grunted in pain as he shakily stood up, still suffering from the earlier punch, his skull was ringing as if it was shattered. The irony of that statement as he held onto his weapons tightly, he knew this stranger was another obstacle for him to overcome.

"I assume you are the one who goes by the title of 'Skullshatterer'. Quite an... edgy name, if that's the right term." Senji remarked.

"You..?!" The ringleader growled, recognizing the man in front of him.

"Oh, it's one of you fanatics back at Chernobog." Replied Senji.

"You bastard-" Skullshatterer began but was cut off.

"I'd also assume you're the one who has a familial relationship with Misha." The blacksmith stated, making the ringleader pause.

"How... how do you know that name?! Are you another one of those damn traitors!?" Skullshatterer demanded.

"Sheesh, don't scream like a boar for slaughter. I'm right in front of you. Let's talk like normal people." Senji commented nonchalantly.

"Shut up! You're the one who killed many of us back in Chernobog, have you ever stopped and think about the lives they had?!"

"That they had families to go back to!?"

"Have you ever thought about the fact that they just wanted to be treated right?!" Skullshatterer roared on while Senji looked on, uncaring.

"What happened in Chernobog... is none of my concerns, brat." The blacksmith began.

"What... what did you say?!" Skullshatterer snarled.

"I was there by mere chance, you all were there because of your little delusions and twisted beliefs." Senji coldly said.

"When they began following Reunion, they were courting their own deaths." He continued.

"They died because they did not run when they had the time to scream, their deaths are their own fault." Senji stated.

"And the deaths in this battle is your fault, you led them here to fight a meaningless fight, they died in vain all for your foolishness." He declared, pointing his blade at Skullshatterer.

"So don't try and guilt trip me when it's all Reunion's fault in the first place." Senji finished, uncaring and coldly.

"You... YOU!" The ringleader was gritting so hard that his mask and arms was trembling in sheer rage alone.

"I'M GOING TO KILL YOU!" He roared.

"Hm... many have said that... many have tried... and they all fell but your spirit is admirable." Senji commented.

He then did something unexpected.

"How about I give you a handicap? You can do the first strike." Senji said, spreading his arms, allowing his whole chest as a target.

"You..! Are you looking down on me?! You think just because I'm an Infected gives you the privilege to underestimate me?!" Skullshatterer shouted.

"My... you sure are one idiotic brat, it's a wonder why Misha wanted to try and talk to you." Senji sighed, shaking his head.

"Shut up! Don't say her name as if you know her! DIE!" The ringleader roared, charging forward.

Skullshatterer's Arts flared up and intensified as he closed in on the blacksmith, still standing there unconcerned. The nearby Rhodes Island Operators and L.G.D members watched on with dread as the ringleader's weapon was about to hit Senji.

.

.

.

.

.

However, it failed to dig into his flesh.

"Wha... what... what is this..?!" Skullshatterer exclaimed, suddenly shaking in both pain and fear.

"What's wrong? Aren't you going to cut me down?" Senji mockingly said, standing tall in front of the ringleader.

"I know I swung with all my strength..! Why... why is that he has not a single scratch on him?!"

"Why is my hands split apart, bleeding instead?!" Skullshatterer thought, fear filling him up for the first time in a long time.

"You're wondering why you cannot cut me, aren't you?" Senji asked as the ringleader flinched before leaping back.

"Fear is a great motivator... and suppressor. When you're scared, you are urged to make decisions." Senji stated.

"In short, you become an animal backed into a corner with no way out." 

"You'd only become desperate for a respite, a respite which will be close to impossible obtain." He continued before pointing at the ringleader.

"So tell me, brat. What will you do now?" 

"Are you going to fight an impossible fight? Or are you going to run?"

"Impossible? You think I'm that weak? You think you can just cut me down like any other Infected?" Skullshatterer demanded, ignoring his bleeding hands.

"Oh no... I don't think I can..." Senji began before vanishing...

...and reappearing right in front of Skullshatterer.

"Wha-?!" The ringleader didn't have time to exclaim as Senji leaned down with his face equal leveled to his.

"I know I can." He stated ominously.

Before Skullshatterer could do anything, he was kneeled straight in the sternum and sent several feet back across the battlefield. The ringleader skidded on the ground roughly before looking up to see Senji in the air and falling down, aiming his foot at his head.

Skullshatterer rolled aside just in time to see a foot embed itself into the earth.

The ringleader got up again and coughed several times, his body was completely screaming in pain as he tried to mute out the painful sensations of his bruised chest. Senji stood there, continuously uncaring as he observed Skullshatterer's next move.

"Down with just a kick? Pathetic." Senji stated before bluish crackling of light sparked out and a knife was formed within his hand.

In a flash, Senji threw the knife at Skullshatterer who almost failed to intercept it he blocked it with his blade but was instantly pushed back despite his strength. The knife soon scraped off his weapon before getting slammed into one of his visors, cracking it.

"Too pathetic, if this is a joke, it's not even funny anymore." Senji remarked.

"Shut up and DIE!" Skullshatterer yelled, shooting a grenade shell at the blacksmith in retaliation.

Senji simply threw another knife at the incoming shell which resulted an explosion in the middle of the air, blinding the ringleader as the blacksmith nonchalantly walked past him and towards the stunned Amiya and Doctor.

"Hold onto this, will you?" Senji asked, throwing his haori onto the rabbit girl before turning around.

"Now then... where were we?" He questioned, looking at Skullshatterer who gripped his weapons before charging forward.

"Oh? Still intend on fighting back?" Senji said, easily blocking an attack from the ringleader's blade.

"I will not stop until you are dead on the ground!" Skullshatterer snarled.

"Tell me something I haven't heard before, would you?" Senji retorted, parrying another attack and kicking back the ringleader.

"Now take a good look at how you really swing a blade!" The blacksmith stated, raising his katana above his head before slashing downwards.

As Senji sliced down at the air in front of him instead of Skullshatterer, a blue-white wave was generated before racing towards the Reunion ringleader. Caught off-guard with this move, the latter leapt out of the way just in time for the wave to rush past, slicing everything up in its path and leaving a large gash in the earth.

"What... the hell..?!" Skullshatterer questioned, never seeing a feat like this before.

"Why don't you focus on me, brat?" Senji taunted as Skullshatterer turned to see him disappear and reappear in front of him again.

"!?!" 

The ringleader immediately leapt back, gaining several feet between them as Senji stood there calmly and without giving chase. Skullshatterer readied his pair of grenade launchers again before firing off numerous shells towards the blacksmith, however, Senji simply projected out more knives before throwing them at the incoming bombs with sharp precision.

More explosions filled the area as the grenades shot into the air simultaneously blew up upon contact with the knives, Senji began walking forwards and into the midst of the smoke. Unfazed by the continuous explosions and chaos, he closed in the distance between him and the ringleader while picking up a Reunion shield which was dropped from the earlier battle.

Skullshatterer waved his hands around the smoke, trying to peer through it and find his target before feeling a tap on his shoulder. The ringleader swiveled around and swung down his blade, hitting nothing but air and earth. However, the force of his swing was enough to send off the smokes and revealing Senji holding the shield like a baseball bat.

With one swing, Senji sent Skullshatterer flying through the air again.

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Right now, Ch'en was very confused as she continued cutting down the Reunion troops along with her partner, because seeing a blacksmith who is unknowingly a master fighter is enough to make anyone surprised. So they were even more surprised to see the ringleader they are targeting in this battle hurtling past them before roughly smashing into the ground.

In a matter of seconds, Senji already entered the fray and stood next the officers.

"Well, surprise to see you again." He remarked, glancing at Ch'en.

"Ch'en? Do you know him?" Hoshiguma asked, bashing away another enemy.

"Yeah, he's the one who repaired my blade." Replied the lung, slashing away another troop as Senji walked towards Skullshatterer.

"Oh! Him? Think you have time to modify my shield?" Hoshiguma joked, blocking several attacks at once.

"If you got the time as well as mine." Senji retorted, kicking away any Reunion grunts getting too close to him.

"So, brat? Still want to fight?" He questioned, staring at Skullshatterer who seethed internally as he shakily got up once more before shouting.

"ALL UNITS, SURROUND THEM!" He ordered as the ringleader's soldiers circled around the trio in an mere minute, trapping them.

"Ah, crap. We're outnumbered here..." Hoshiguma remarked.

"Tell me something we don't know..." Ch'en snarked as she looked around for any weak points.

"Desperate times calls for desperate measures, huh..." Senji thought, unconcerned before glancing at the red sheathed blade on Ch'en waist.

"...How long was it since I've performed Shadowless? More specifically, how long was it since I've touched Chi Xiao?" He wondered before grabbing it.

"What the... hey! What are you doing?! Give that ba-?!" Ch'en demanded as she turned around before her voice got caught in her throat.

Senji unsheathed Chi Xiao before twirling it around, refamiliarizing himself with its weight.

"Still light and deadly as ever, Chi Xiao..." He muttered, smiling as the red blade seemingly hummed in response.

"You... how... how did you pull Chi Xiao out..?!" Ch'en questioned with a scrutinizing gaze.

"There's many things you don't know about me, madam Ch'en and this is one of them." Senji answered before sheathing the red blade and vanishing.

Weapons began clashing desperately as Chi Xiao is unleashed from its sheath once more, the attacks are executed to take their targets' lives. One side held and attacked with hesitation and apprehension while the other one strikes as a mean to kill, Senji made no exceptions, obviously when fighting a battle, to hesitate is to invite death.

"HE'S TOO FAST!" 

"I CAN'T HIT HIM!!"

The red blade invades the enemies' territories, the sword breaks through every single defenses the Reunion troops have made when it is swung, with the nostalgia and blood boiling, Senji has no reason to hold back while wielding Chi Xiao. His movements have almost turned invisible, Reunion's eyes cannot follow the red blade or the wielder himself.

Even for Ch'en and Hoshiguma, who are both trained and highly experienced officers that fought in many skirmishes and riots had their senses go haywire just by trying to follow Senji and defend themselves against their own enemies. 

Senji brandished Chi Xiao before blocking multiple slashes aimed at him at the same time, it was five against one and yet the formers appears to be struggling just to push the blacksmith back. Senji took the initiative, pushing his attackers away before delivering a horizontal slash at them.

More Reunion soldiers began converging onto the blacksmith in hopes of overwhelming him with their sheer numbers, with his eyes darting left and right. Senji sheathed Chi Xiao before adopting a stance that is very familiar to Ch'en herself. After all, she tried to mimic it as many times as well.

Senji unsheathe Chi Xiao again.

The air freezes.

The innate ability of the red blade has activated.

Tensions flew in the air, making some struggle with breathing or standing.

"Let's see if I've gotten rusty." Senji remarked, gripping Chi Xiao tightly.

Senji then spread his feet apart, it's no longer a matter of slicing and dicing the red sword, he is completely surrounded by Reunion troops now. Senji crouched down, adopting a combat stance found in those who practice the moves of Iaijutsu and martial arts.

Now, the world seemingly froze.

"Ch'en, you should know about Chi Xiao's ability when you obtained it, right?" Senji called out to the said woman.

Ch'en in return, has no reply to share, the tension around the area was thick enough to make every other Reunion troops stop their attacks and look at the blacksmith. Senji's posture was something he created himself along with the blade's ability in a far past.

"Watch carefully, and see how one will truly utilize Shadowless." Senji stated.

The demonic blacksmith moved.

He surrounded in a circle with a diameter of ten to fifteen meters.

However, he's not going to swing the red blade.

Chi Xiao's ability is similar to the nature of Yamato.

Far sharper than ordinary blades and is imbued with tremendous inhumane power.

Said to be able to cut through anything, even the very fabric of space itself.

It creates a distortion in space that engulfs its target.

But not for Chi Xiao, compared to Yamato, it is simply a carbon copy.

However, its properties are similar along with its abilities.

Thus Shadowless is similar to Yamato's move; Judgement Cut End.

When Senji unsheathed Chi Xiao, the space around the area seemingly froze.

Space distorts.

The first cut appeared around the troops' bodies as small incisions.

They look felt around in slight pain and discomfort.

Before hell is unleashed on them.

Senji disappears from everyone's sights, as if there was never a sign that someone was standing where he stood before. Everyone looked around for the blacksmith but seeing no one, suddenly, one limb flew before another joins in, and another and another.

A head left its body.

A torso is cleaved off.

Limbs are sliced off.

Suddenly, everyone feels a rampaging, aggressive presence surrounding their entire bodies. Skin, muscle, organs, bones and limbs and bodies and anything soft or malleable or crushable split apart. Red waves seemingly hacked and slashed through the air and across the Reunion troops.

Before they all freeze in the spot and Senji reappears.

Chi Xiao is slowly returned to its sheath.

A resonating clink sounds through the now silent battlefield.

And the masses are all sliced up into bloody pieces.

Ch'en and Hoshiguma could only watch this brutal spectacle in silence.

As soon as the bodies fall to the ground, Senji heard a roar that of hatred and renewed rage before blocking Skullshatterer's blade that was imbued with the ringleader's dark Arts. Despite his tiny frame, Skullshatterer held a great deal of strength but it wasn't enough.

None of Reunion would be enough to stop him either way.

"Allowing your rage to empower you and blind yourself is quite foolish." Senji remarked, still unconcerned.

"Shut up! You don't know me!" Skullshatterer refuted, straining harder against Chi Xiao.

"Oh, I don't... but I do know you wanted to find your sister again, only to implant your twisted delusions and ideals onto her." Senji began.

"Shut up!" The ringleader rebuked but the blacksmith didn't relent.

"You want to keep her safe yet you drag her into a meaningless battle, hoping to preserve your legacy and create a second Skullshatterer." Senji goaded on.

"I said, SHUT UP!" Skullshatterer roared again, raising his weapon but it proved to be a fatal mistake.

Chi Xiao penetrated Skullshatterer's chest, spewing blood everywhere.

"That delusion is what will be your downfall, your death, your failure." Senji whispered before kicking away the ringleader.

The Reunion troops nearby, including the now dead Skullshatterer's men saw their leader's corpse slam into the ground. Now, with one of their powerhouses dead, morale has plummet down and fear began to spread among the remaining Reunion soldiers.

"S-Skullshatterer's dead!" 

"What... what should we do?!"

"W-we need to retreat!" 

While fear is very much present in the group, some lingering aspects of loyalty remained within the troops for their dead leader.

"No..! You all go first! I need to... I need to bring Skullshatterer back!" One soldier shouted.

"Are you insane?! He's going to slaughter you!"

"That's suicide... but if you're going, we're all going together!" Another joined in.

"Alright!"

"I can't leave him alone out there..."

"Let's go then!"

"Oh? Despite his death, the brat's men are still trying to bring back his body?" Senji thought.

He had to admit, that loyalty was genuine and respectable.

He had no reason to stop them.

Senji looked to the side and see the remaining Reunion troops clashing with the L.G.D officers were either retreating or making a last stand. Ch'en and Hoshiguma were dealing with the last of their targets along with the joint squads that miraculously held on.

However, he knew it wasn't over yet.

Senji sighed before chucking Chi Xiao back to its owner.

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As the L.G.D, Rhodes Island and Penguin Logistics were cleaning up the rest of what remains of Reunion's attack force, Ch'en flinches as a red blade is embedded next to her. She looked around before seeing Senji's turned back as he watched the landscape, as if waiting for something.

She was opted to either go and question him as a professional or out of personal self-interest, especially how he managed to wield Chi Xiao with ease when she could not. However, the task at hand is more important so she mentally took note to question him later.

Meanwhile, Rhodes Island were patching up their injured Operators, the Doctor and Amiya were standing side-by-side in another area with the latter looking disheartened. The former knows why, they may have woken up a few days ago but they could already read what type of person Amiya is.

"Are you scared?" The Doctor gently asked.

"Huh..? I..." Amiya began but had no response nor words to answer with.

"Doctor... it's not like I'm afraid or anything... of course, I'm afraid... of losing you again... that's why..." She trailed off.

"I just... didn't mean to..."

"Amiya, you managed to protect me." The Doctor reassured.

"...This was my duty, I understand. I never believed that anything was already determined by fate." Amiya stated.

"But, no matter what happens... no matter what I become..."

"I'll always protect you, Doctor." She ended, smiling.

"I promise." She added.

"And some promises can be broken." A voice said from the side, making the two flinch before turning around to see Senji.

"A-ah... it's..." Amiya began but the blacksmith held out his hand.

"My cloak, please." Senji requested.

"Huh? Oh! Right, here you go." Replied the cautus, handing the haori back before Senji replaced it over his shoulders.

He then walked past the two.

"Um... excuse me? Sir?" Amiya timidly began, stopping the blacksmith.

"What?" Senji questioned.

"What... what did you mean by the statement earlier?" The rabbit asked.

"That... if you cannot fulfil a promise, then you'll have to break it instead. Empty promises are just lies." Senji stated.

"Oh..."

"While I've only seen you back at that accursed place of Chernobog, I guess an introduction is needed." The blacksmith stated, turning around.

"I'm Senji Muramasa, a passing through blacksmith." 

"O-oh! I'm Amiya, and this is the Doctor!" Replied the rabbit girl in return as she gestured to the masked figure who simply waved.

"A pleasure." Senji stated before noticing Amiya's body posture.

That of wanting to ask a question.

"Speak rabbit, what's on your mind?" The blacksmith bluntly asked.

"Huh?"

"You have something to ask, don't you?" Senji repeated.

"W-well, if it's not too much to ask for... would you..."

"Would you be interested in collaborating with Rhodes Island?" Amiya questioned as the man hummed.

"Hm... that depends. I make weapons, not fight but we'll see." Replied Senji.

"I... understand." Said Amiya, nodding.

"C'mon, don't be like that. I do think working with you lot sounds interesting but now's not the time." Senji assured as Amiya nodded.

"You should go and check out what the others are doing." He stated.

"But what about you, mister Muramasa?" Amiya asked.

"Call me Senji or Sengo, mister makes me feel old. And I'll simply be waiting for a storm to approach." Answered the blacksmith.

"A... storm..?" Amiya and the Doctor thought, gazing upwards to see none.

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On the other part of the battlefield, Penguin Logistics and the L.G.D were dealing with another Reunion forces that appeared out of nowhere. The Blacksteel mercenary; Franka and Liskarm were easily crushing away any forms of resistance from Reunion.

"We've broken through the first defensive line!" Franka shouted, slashing down another enemy.

"What are the casters doing?!" A Reunion member shouted.

"Even though there's only one enemy in the vanguard... why are they just watching her tear us apart?!" 

"Hurry, hurry! Take her out!" Another one shouted in panic.

"Franka! You're getting out of range!" Liskarm scolded, following her said vulpo colleage.

"I can't give you cover from here!" She shouted, firing her handgun.

"Do I look that reckless to you? Anyway, it's time for your debut!" Franka refuted cheerfully.

"Be a nice friend and block the enemy's ranged attacks, won't you?" The vulpo smiled as Liskarm clicked her tongue.

"Quick! Faster!" A Reunion member shouted.

"Focus on the one with the sword first!" They complied and fired off multiple Arts at Franka.

An explosion took place.

"Did we get her..?" One Reunion member asked uncertainly.

"Don't even think about it." A shield is seen spinning in front of the vulpo, blocking the earlier attacks.

"...Huh?" Reunion didn't have time to register what just happened.

"You call those attacks, or are you just throwing sticks and stones?" Hoshiguma mocked.

"Wh-where did this one come from?!" One Reunion soldier questioned frantically.

"I owe you one, Cap'n!" Franka thanked the oni.

"My pleasure, however, Franka. Your task was to launch a feint attack." Hoshiguma chided lightly.

"Instead, you fought all the way here, now you have a huge target over your head. Is that fine with you?" The oni asked.

"Of course it's fine! After all, I have a trusty partner here with me!" Franka answered, unconcerned.

"FRANKA! You charged way too far ahead!" Liskarm shouted from behind, annoyed at the said girl's actions.

"See? She caught up to us." Franka said to Hoshiguma, ignoring Liskarm's irritated warning.

"I'm not used to this kind of stuff..! Why are you making me charge headlong into the enemy? I don't get it!" Liskarm stated.

"...Huh?" Hoshiguma could only dumbfoundly gaze at this scene.

"Curses..." An afar Reunion member growled.

"L.G.D and Rhodes Island are working together!" He announced.

"There's no way we can defend this place..." Another one dejectedly said.

"We can't afford to hesitate. It's do or die. Everyone, CHARGE!" One Reunion soldier ordered before his allies joined in.

"The enemies are rushing straight at us!" Liskarm observed.

"DIE!!!" They all screamed.

"If you plan to resist, yo leave me with no choice. Don't take it personally." Hoshiguma stated before literally bashing away her targets.

"That Reunion fellow... not his lucky day." Liskarm commented, shooting some enemies in their heads.

"They got some nerve to attack us like that... I feel bad for him" The oni remarked.

"They should apologize to everyone who fell by their hands." She added.

"Inspector!" Amiya called out as she rushed into the area.

"Ah... glad to see you're all fine." Hoshiguma stated.

"We've collapsed their flank! The next step is to launch our all-out assault." Amiya explained.

"Fine by me." The inspector replied before getting joined by another group.

"Everything seems to be going smoothly." Texas interjected before Hoshiguma retorted.

"That probably won't last for much longer. The enemies have set up many obstacles, and are doing a decent job of staying hidden." 

"Amiya, be prepared for a hard fight." She stated then looked at the Doctor.

"Doctor, make sure you scout things out thoroughly and protect your squads!" She added.

"Of course! Everyone, let's go rescue Misha together!" Amiya ordered.

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"Don't let them get through!" A Reunion troop shouted.

"Misha should have been escorted out by now!" Another one joined in before getting plowed away by Hoshiguma.

"Out of my way! Do you have a death wish?!" She snarled as the enemies screamed in pain.

"Oohh... that savage fighting style reminds me of someone from Rhodes Island." Franka commented.

"They do have a lot in common, don't they?" She added before getting scolded by Liskarm again.

"Franka, don't just stand there!" 

"Hurry up and do something!" She ordered.

"Sure, sure." Replied Franka, waving off the scolding.

"Hah, looks like those rumors about Lungmen's Inspector are true..." Exusiai commented on the other side of the battlefield.

"And was that gramps I saw earlier?" She added, looking around for Senji.

"Stay focused, and I'm sure nobody has the right idea to wear nothing but pants and a cloak other than him." Texas rebuked.

"Hey, I'm not just... staring at other people!" The sankta retorted, shooting a Reunion member in his head.

"See those enemy squads on the second floor? I found 'em first!" Exusiai stated, as if to prove a point.

"Good job." Was all Texas replied with as her partner giggled.

"...Let's go. We can't let our client handle this alone." She added.

"Franka, have you found Misha?" Amiya asked as the said vulpo shook her head.

"I can't find her anywhere." She answered as Amiya remained silent.

"Tsk... don't you think that was a bit too fast..." Franka questioned, slightly serious for once.

"..?" Amiya's ears perked at the distant sounds of explosions.

"Franka, gather your squad. We have to back up the L.G.D!" Amiya ordered.

"Rhodes Island, watch out!" A L.G.D Agent shouted before realizing something.

"Th-this enemy... they..." He trailed.

"What happened..? Talk to me!" Amiya said before gazing at the Reunion forces.

"The enemy... what?!" She exclaimed in shock.

"That's..? H-how's that possible..?!" Amiya questioned, gaining Ch'en's attention at the situation.

"What? Tch... is this some kind of trick?" She muttered, gazing at the scene as Reunion began cheering.

"It's a miracle! It's a miracle!" 

"...Why..?" Was all Amiya said, looking at the scene with sadness.

"Don't just stand there! Take cover!" Ch'en warned, pulling Amiya before a grenade shell could hit them.

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In the distance and in front of Reunion forces stood a familiar figure wielding a pair of grenade launchers and a gas mask. They walked forward as Reunion continued cheering on this figure, revealing... a revived Skullshatterer in all their glory.

"We've been sent a miracle!!" 

"Is that you..? It's really you!!" 

"...He's fine!! H-he's fine again!!" 

"Skullshatterer is still alive!!"

"Skullshatterer! It's really you!!"

While Reunion cheered at this spectacle.

Rhodes Island and Amiya can only watch on with morbid horror.

"...No..." Amiya whispered.

"Reunion's morale has been boosted since the reappearance of their leader." Ch'en observed.

"It'll be more difficult to suppress them now." She stated.

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"...Skullshatterer, things are looking dire but... at least you've come back to us." One Reunion member said.

"We're so relieved... we're so, so glad..." 

"Misha should have made it out of here as well."

"Now, we can fight without any regrets!" The member confidently said.

However...

"...I will stay here and hold them back. You should all go." Skullshatterer replied quietly.

"What... what are you talking about, Skullshatterer..." 

"Didn't you promise that'd we go back to Ursus together? We still have to teach them a lesson!" 

Many began protesting against Skullshatterer's idea but...

"...Take care of yourselves. Don't die." He? simply replied.

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"...No... impossible..." Amiya said in despair.

"Hurry up and move it! Hoshiguma, contact the L.G.D forces stationed outside immediately!" Ch'en ordered.

"We've neutralized most of the traps and ambushes, the target is still missing." 

"Right now, we're changing the mission objectives!" She stated.

"All squads move in and take out Reunion!" Ch'en commanded while Amiya can only continuously looking at the scene in sadness.

"...Why... why is this happening..." Amiya repeated as she watched the L.G.D mobilize their forces.

"Because sometimes, fate is a puppet master that enjoys toying with us." A voice said from behind her.

Amiya turned to see Senji.

"Mister Senji..." She began but the blacksmith simply patted her head.

"Senji, remember that, okay?" He said gently as Amiya nodded.

"I'll deal Skullshatterer... you go help the L.G.D with those nutcases." Senji stated, walking off.

"B-but..." Amiya looked uncertain.

"Rabbit, I've dealt with... him once, I will do so again." Senji replied, leaving Amiya standing there.

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"Ugh! They're still fighting back!" A Reunion member shouted.

"Skullshatterer!"

"As long as we can push them back, victory will be ours!"

"Yes... right now... we have no choice but to fight." Skullshatterer said, firing off grenade shells.

"These guys... are pretty tough!" Hoshiguma remarked, blocking attacks left and right.

"D-damn that shield of yours..! Sh-she's the one from the L.G.D..!" One Reunion member warned.

"It's not too late to put down your weapons and surrender... unless you want to die in vain here." The oni stated.

"You'd expect us to believe you?"

"Liar! Ursus... they've said the same thing before, but they executed those Infected, one by one..."

"I hid beneath the bodies of the dead, holding my breath in order to survive!" A member shouted.

"..." Hoshiguma can only remain silent at these statements.

"There are no depths to which your kind won't stoop... in order to exterminate us." The Reunion soldier continued.

"Aren't you just trying to round us up so you can kill us faster?!" 

"Then you've made your choice!"

"..." The oni can simply look at them with pity.

"You're not getting through to them, big fella. They won't listen to reason." Franka reassured from the side.

"They can't even distinguish between good and evil, Lungmen and Ursus." She added.

"In that place... no, in many places... only hatred exists between those who are infected and those who are not."

"It seems because of that... all communication has broken down. Even though there's another path in front of our eyes." Hoshiguma began.

"Another path?" Skullshatterer repeated.

"What... could we possibly do? And what could you accomplish?" He? said.

"Don't waste anymore time listening to their lies! Skullshatterer, let's get rid of them together!" The Reunion forces roared together.

With that, Skullshatterer began firing off his? grenade launchers.

"Explosions?" Hoshiguma observed.

"He's planning to surround us from multiple directions!" A L.G.D Agent stated in alarm.

"Our flank will collapse if we can't seize the initiative... prepare to counterattack!" Ch'en ordered as the joined forces clashed again.

"Skullshatterer! I'll cover you! Just kill them, and the battle will be over!" A Reunion grunt loyally declared.

"I have to go back... with all of you..." The said ringleader began.

"I have to..!!" He? repeated before firing off another round of grenade shells, allowing explosions to light up.

"We don't have much time left!" Ch'en stated.

"Now that's where you're wrong, you all have plenty of time." Someone said, approaching the battle.

"Huh?" Many could only turn to see Senji walking into the scene once again.

Despite being a stranger, his presence brought confidence and calmness.

For Reunion, it was a dreadful meeting.

"I-it's him! The guy who managed to take down Skullshatterer once!" One Reunion grunt shouted.

"D-don't let him get near Skullshatterer! We can't lose him again!" Another one joined in.

"Take him out! Kill him before he gets to Skullshatterer!" 

With the fear of losing their leader again, most of Reunion's forces began converging onto the lone blacksmith. Senji stood there, unconcerned albeit with a tiny sliver of annoyance at the fools charging towards him.

"What is he doing?!" Said Liskarm in alarm.

"Get out of there you idiot!" Ch'en shouted.

However, Senji simply raised his arm before getting surrounded by blue crackling lights which then formed over several blades he size of cars. It all shot off like a cannon towards the incoming Reunion troops who didn't have time to register this action.

"Wh-what the-?!" 

"AHH!"

"MY LEG!"

"H-how is he doing that?!" 

"Skullshatterer! Run! Get out of here!"

The L.G.D and Rhodes Island could only watch with morbid awe as Senji singlehandedly dispatched the Reunion forces with nothing but gigantic blades being used as projectiles.

"Unfortunately, your leader and I will be having a talk... a talk that doesn't involve any of you." Senji stated ominously, walking forward.

"Y-you! Don't get so full of yourself!" One Reunion grunt shouted, rushing at him but only to get punched in the head.

"That's my line." Senji retorted coldly.

"Someone..! Someone, everyone! STOP HIM!" Another one shouted.

"Fools, the lot of you..." Senji muttered before unleashing a barrage of blades that forced Reunion to back off.

Leaving spaces with Senji and Skullshatterer.

Perfect.

"Now, let's talk. Brat." Senji said.

"STOP HIM!" All of Reunion tried to get to the blacksmith in time but Senji simply snapped his fingers.

And a large numbers of blades as tall as buildings landed around the blacksmith and ringleader, creating a wall-like formation, blocking out any contacts from the outside or from the inside.

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"..." Senji said nothing.

"..." Skullshatterer said nothing either, he? also retains no hatred for the blacksmith earlier.

"Now that we're alone in here... what do you think you're doing... Misha?" Senji stated as the ringleader froze.

"...How did you know?" She asked quietly.

"Your aim and height differences, even if it's not by much." Replied the blacksmith.

"I see..."

"Now tell me, what do you think you're doing?" Senji repeated again.

"...I'm doing what fate wanted..." Skullshatterer replied, gripping her grenade launchers.

"By taking up the mantle from a fanatic of a brother?" Senji questioned.

"I had no choice... the Infected are still getting enslaved as we speak... I need to... I need to get back to Ursus and help them..." Skullshatterer answered.

"...Tell me one thing then... are you truly devoted to this cause?" Senji stated.

"What... what do you mean? I am! I obviously want to help the Infected! I took up my brother's mask and weapons to prove it!" Skullshatterer retorted heatedly.

"I see... then... shoot me." Senji said.

"!?!" Misha could only flinch at his tone.

"Shoot me and show me how devoted you are." Senji repeated.

"Are you... mocking me..?! D-don't think I'm the same girl you found in that warehouse!" Skullshatterer growled, shakily raising the grenade launchers.

"Then do it." Senji ordered firmly as Mish- Skullshatterer suddenly fired her launchers.

However, it misses and blew up at the contact of Senji's makeshift walls.

"...Is that it?" He asked, eyes narrowed.

"N-no... no..." Skullshatterer gritted, still holding the grenade launchers, shaking. Flinching as Senji walked closer.

"D-don't! Don't come near me!" She shouted, firing more grenade shells at Senji.

But they all flew past him and stopped until he was right in front of Skullshatterer.

"If you cannot hit me... you are not ready for the bloodshed to come... but one chance." Senji began, crouching down.

"What..?" Skullshatterer murmured shakily.

"I will give you this one chance to cut me down, stab me, slit my throat. Use that blade of yours and kill me." Senji repeated.

"I..! You..! W-why..? Why go so far just to stop me..?!" Skullshatterer questioned as the blacksmith looked at her, not with contempt or anger.

But with melancholy.

"Because you still have a chance to right all the wrongs." Senji declared.

"!!!" Wanting to prove him wrong, Skullshatterer whipped out her brother's dagger before aiming it right at Senji's eye.

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The tip of the blade stops a mere centimeter away from Senji's unwavering eyes.

"What's wrong?" He asked softly as Skullshatterer's hand shook.

"I can't... I can't do it..!" She whispered, dropping the blade onto the ground before kneeling down, shaking.

Senji simply watched on as Skullshatterer began weeping.

"I just wanted to live in peace with my family... why... why did everything have to be so hard..?! I miss my family... I wanted to keep my brother's legacy alive and yet I can't even kill..!"

Senji lifted Skullshatterer's face before reaching his hands forward and grasping the gas mask and pulled it off, revealing Misha's broken expression.

"Then find them." Senji began as Misha looked at him.

"Find a new family, not related by blood or battle, find those who you can truly trust and who you could call a friend." Senji stated.

"W-where..? Where can I find one..? When we Infected are oppressed everywhere?" Misha said despairingly.

"Rhodes Island." Senji declared as Misha froze.

"I said this before, trust the ones who calls themselves Rhodes Island. I do not have a close relationship with them... but I know they treat the Infected like family." Senji assured.

"B-but... Reunion... the Infected there..." Misha began but was cut off.

"Their fate is for them to decide, you are not a puppet master that can spin the wheels of fate, you are not many but one. Trust me... I know." Senji refuted.

"Tell me... who or what spurred you to become like this?" He asked.

"...A... a girl called W..." Misha replied as Senji scowled internally.

"Then tell me, who do you trust more? Me or this W girl?" He questioned gently.

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"...Y-y-you..." Misha stated shakily, as if a weight has been lifted.

"Thank you." Senji said, smiling before hugging the girl.

"Then please, bear with this and sleep." He added before chopping on Misha's neck.

"W-what..." She whispered before falling unconscious into Senji's arms.

"...This is going to be irritating..." Senji muttered, projecting out a katana and looking at the unconscious girl in his arms.

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Outside of the wall of swords, Reunion was both desperately trying to pry and break apart the blades while holding off the L.G.D and Rhodes Island. However, their numbers are slowly diminishing due to the combined forces and lowered morale.

"Are the blades pried apart yet?!" One Reunion member shouted.

"N-no! It's stuck like a rock! We can't move it!" 

"Damn it! Just keep trying! We need to help Skullshatterer!" 

On the other side of the battlefield.

"Don't let them catch their breaths! Casters aim at their rears!" The Doctor ordered.

"Hoshiguma! Have your men flank them at the right! Archers are to fire on their left and create an opening!" Ch'en commanded.

"APPLE PIE!" Exusiai shouted, hailing storms of bullets onto the Reunion forces.

"Ugh... shut up already..." Texas grumbled, cutting down another enemy.

The battle went on and on until finally, the blades began shining.

"Wh-what's happening?" One Reunion troop questioned as everyone stopped to see whatever was occurring with the walls of blades.

One by one, the gigantic swords began fading away into particles.

Little by little, the tension around Reunion and Rhodes Island and the L.G.D rose before silence came onto the battlefield.

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There stood Senji Muramasa, a bloodied katana in his hands and an unmoving body at his feet.

Everyone had no words.

There is only despair for Reunion and failure for Rhodes Island and the L.G.D.

"S-Skullshatterer's... dead..?" 

"N-no! No! NO! That can't be true!" 

"He can't be dead! He just can't! I know it!" 

A wave of protests from the remaining Reunion forces began to clamor up before Senji leaned down and ripped off the gas mask from the body and slicing it in two. He then gazed at Reunion coldly, stopping them in their movements.

"Your leader is dead so I suggest you all surrender and stop this meaningless fight." He stated.

His bloodied face and hands and blade didn't help at all.

One by one, Reunion soldiers began dropping their weapons or onto their kneels as they began to wallow into despair and hopelessness.

"He's dead... Skullshatterer's dead..."

"We're so done for... we're so dead..."

"It's over... haha... it's over for us..."

Protests dissolved into lifeless murmurs as what used to be the proud and confident Reunion forces now turned into puppets with their strings cut.

The L.G.D was quick to act as Ch'en and Hoshiguma ordered their men to arrest the enemies who didn't put any single bit of resistance, seeing no point to anyway.

Amiya and the rest of Rhodes Island could only watch on in sadness before seeing Senji carry Skullshatterer's body off with his haori covering it.

"Senji... sir... what are you going to do now?" Asked the cautus as she caught up to the blacksmith who turned around.

"I'll give them a proper burial... something the L.G.D wouldn't do so." Was all Senji said before leaving the area and the entire fiasco behind.

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Up the mountains where Senji's home lied, the said blacksmith continued carrying the body upwards before finally sighing as he is all alone now.

Senji lifted up his haori to reveal Misha with not a single bit of mark on her body and was breathing very quietly as well as sleeping, and was very much alive.

The blacksmith then looked at his hand which was voluntarily cut open for his blood to fool the others of Skullshatterer's "death".

"This is such a pain in the ass..." Senji sighed and continued his way back to his hermitage.

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Nothing to say but apologies for the long delay, if you're a sharp observer, then you can tell that the "serious" chapters are much longer with this one over 10000 words.

Anyway, hope you've enjoyed, Author Out.