The skies above Qin were filled with smoke.
The Former Capital of You
Within the walls of the former royal capital, the atmosphere remained solemn.
The ancient Kinen Temple stood quietly beneath the blue banners of Qin, where the coming-of-age ceremony had continued despite the chaos unfolding elsewhere.
Just then…
A messenger sprinted through the temple gates, covered in dust.
"Urgent report!!"
He immediately fell to one knee before Ei Sei.
"Your Highness! A message has arrived from the messenger birds! The rebel army has finally reached Kanyou! The siege has already begun!"
The hall instantly fell silent.
Even the nobles who had remained composed until now couldn't hide their expressions.
"So... they've arrived..."
Princess Ei You slowly closed her eyes.
"They truly managed to bypass Kankoku Pass..."
Kanyou
The capital of Qin.
The enormous black walls were already surrounded by countless banners of Ai.
Ladders crashed against the walls.
Arrows darkened the sky.
"Hold the walls!"
"Don't let them climb!"
"Boiling oil!"
The defenders fought desperately.
Then…
RUMBLE!!
Every soldier upon the walls froze.
"...What?"
"The gates..."
"The gates are opening!!"
The massive southern gates slowly began to creak apart from the inside.
"No!"
"Who opened them?!"
"Close the gates!"
But it was already too late.
The defenders had no idea that this betrayal had been prepared long before today.
It was Ryofui's doing.
His hidden agents within Kanyou had finally acted.
The enormous gates continued to open.
"...Impossible..."
"They've opened the city..."
Then came the thunder.
BOOM!! BOOM!! BOOM!!
Thousands upon thousands of Ai cavalry surged through the entrance like a black flood.
The defenders desperately tried to reform their lines.
But the rebels were already pouring into the streets.
"KANYOU HAS BEEN BREACHED!!"
Kinen Temple
The royal announcer stepped forward one final time.
Although the ceremony had been shortened because of the emergency, the sacred rites had all been completed.
He raised his voice throughout the temple.
"Lastly..."
"I would like to offer my sincerest congratulations."
"I pray that Your Majesty may be blessed with unending fortune."
"Though pressing circumstances have forced us to abridge certain parts of today's ceremony..."
"We have nevertheless seen this sacred rite through to its rightful conclusion."
He struck the ceremonial staff against the stone floor.
CLACK!
His voice echoed throughout the temple.
"Therefore..."
"I hereby announce..."
"The official crowning of His Majesty Ei Sei..."
"...the Thirty-First King of the Great State of Qin!"
Silence followed.
Then every official present immediately knelt.
"LONG LIVE HIS MAJESTY!!"
"LONG LIVE THE KING OF QIN!!"
The echoes rolled across the ancient capital.
Somewhere Along the Yellow River
Dozens of warships cut across the current at full speed.
Standing at the bow of the lead vessel was Duke Hyou Ren.
A messenger bird descended from the sky.
A soldier caught it before handing the message to Hyou Ren.
He quickly read its contents.
"...They've already begun."
The officers immediately turned toward him.
"Kanyou is already under siege."
A heavy silence fell across the deck.
Hyou Ren looked toward the distant southeast.
"So..."
"The troops from Sai... and Shin's Hi Shin Unit..."
"They didn't make it in time."
He clenched the scroll.
"And the appearance of that fake royal seal has thrown everything beyond our predictions."
The wind violently whipped against his cloak.
"But this battle is not over."
He slowly drew his sword.
"Increase our speed."
"Even if we must row until our arms break..."
"We reach Kanyou before the royal bloodline is extinguished."
The soldiers answered with a mighty roar.
"YES, MY LORD!!"
The fleet accelerated downriver.
Outside Kanyou
Dust rose upon the horizon.
A battered army finally appeared.
At its head rode Shin.
Behind him marched the soldiers of Sai alongside the Hi Shin Unit.
But as the capital came into view...
Everyone stopped.
"..."
The city was already burning.
Countless Ai banners flew atop the breached southern gate.
Shin's eyes widened.
"...Those sons of bitches."
"They're already pouring into the city..."
Beside him, Karyo Ten stared in disbelief.
"We're too late..."
Kyou Kai gripped her sword.
"Our priority has changed."
"We have to break through and get inside Kanyou immediately."
Shin slowly raised Ouki's glaive.
His eyes burned with fury.
"Hi Shin Unit..."
He pointed toward the capital.
"CHARGE!!"
The soldiers roared.
"OOOOOOHHHHHHHHH!!"
The Sai troops followed immediately behind them.
Inside Kanyou
The rebels advanced street by street.
"Kill every member of the royal family!"
"Leave no survivor!"
Suddenly…
THUNDERING HOOVES!!
A wave of black cavalry burst from the royal district.
Their armor was jet black.
Their formation was flawless.
One defender cried out in disbelief.
"Those are...!"
"The elite personal soldiers of Chief Shouheikun!!"
Another officer smiled for the first time since the battle had begun.
"So..."
"Chief Shouheikun has finally chosen."
"He has severed all ties with Ryofui."
The elite cavalry smashed into the rebels like a hammer.
Entire formations were thrown into chaos.
Yet even more enemy soldiers continued flooding into the capital.
On the Streets of Kanyou
Shin and the Hi Shin Unit finally broke through the outer districts.
The fighting was already everywhere.
The rebels continued advancing deeper toward the royal palace.
Seeing the endless stream of enemies, Shin understood immediately.
Their objective was never simply to seize the capital.
They intended to erase the Qin royal bloodline.
Shin stood atop a pile of rubble and raised Ouki's glaive high into the air.
His voice thundered across the battlefield.
"TO THE HI SHIN UNIT!"
"TO THE SOLDIERS OF SAI!"
Every soldier turned toward him.
"The goal of the enemies we're fighting isn't just the capture of Kanyou!"
"These sons of bitches have joined hands with Ryofui to wipe out the royal bloodline and place him upon the throne!"
"They're hunting down every member of the royal family!"
He pointed toward the royal palace.
"The ones in the greatest danger..."
"...are King Ei Sei's young children!"
Shin's voice grew even louder.
"So lend me your strength..."
"Just like you did before at Sai!"
He swung the glaive forward.
"HI SHIN UNIT!!"
"SOLDIERS OF SAI!!"
"BRING OUT EVERY OUNCE OF STRENGTH YOU HAVE!!"
"We're going to save the children of the King of Qin!!"
A deafening roar shook the streets.
"OOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!"
With Shin leading the charge and Shouheikun's black cavalry striking from within, the desperate battle for Kanyou entered its bloodiest stage yet.
The fate of the newly crowned Thirty-First King of Qin and the future of his entire bloodline would now be decided by the swords clashing within the burning capital.