The clash of steel echoed throughout the royal palace as flames spread from one building to another.
Rebel soldiers rampaged through the royal harem, slaughtering guards and servants alike in their desperate search for the royal children.
Yet amidst the chaos...
Shin remembered a conversation he once had with Ei Sei.
Flashback
After a military meeting, Shin and Ei Sei sat together overlooking the training grounds.
Shin scratched the back of his head before asking,
"So... what's it feel like having kids?"
He chuckled.
"I've got three sons. They're troublesome, even if they're still just toddlers."
Ei Sei smiled faintly.
"I'm hardly an expert on what normal families are like either in that respect."
"But... if I were to give my opinion..."
"There are times when they make me sick with worry."
"There are times they fill me with exasperation."
"...Yet, on the whole..."
"I believe they are small, fragile bundles of joy."
"A source of smiles in my life."
Shin blinked.
"Ohhh... really..."
Ei Sei nodded.
"Especially Rei."
"I spend a great deal of time worrying about her."
"Her body isn't very strong."
Shin's smile softened.
"I see..."
"Hehehe..."
"In that case..."
"You better make sure to take good care of her right from the get-go."
Ei Sei answered with quiet determination.
"...I will."
Present
The memory disappeared in an instant.
"RUAAAAAH!!"
Shin exploded through another palace corridor.
His glaive carved a bloody path through the rebel soldiers.
CRASH!!
One man was smashed into a pillar.
SLASH!!
Another was cut down before he could raise his spear.
The remaining rebels recoiled in terror.
"He came from the eastern wing!"
"We can't stop him!"
Ignoring their cries, Shin continued charging deeper into the royal harem.
"I don't have time to waste on you bastards!"
His instincts screamed that every second counted.
Then…
At the end of the corridor, he spotted two palace women desperately running while carrying a small child wrapped in royal robes.
Behind them, several rebel cavalry thundered through the palace gardens.
One of the palace women suddenly stopped.
"No...!"
"If they keep chasing us, they'll catch everyone!"
She turned around and spread her arms.
"I'll hold them back!"
"Take care of Princess Rei!"
The other palace woman cried out.
"Don't!"
The brave palace woman rushed toward the horsemen without hesitation.
The lead rider raised his sword.
"Die!"
A black blur shot between them.
"RUAAAAAH!!"
BOOOM!!
Shin's glaive smashed straight through the rider and his horse, sending both crashing across the stone path.
The remaining cavalry froze.
Shin stood between the rebels and the palace women.
He glanced at the maid who had been prepared to sacrifice herself.
"Man..."
"You've got guts, palace girl."
The maid collapsed to her knees in relief.
The second palace woman hurried over while still holding the little princess.
"More riders are coming!"
Shin looked toward the approaching dust cloud.
Then he grinned.
"Don't worry."
"They're my men."
Moments later….
"CHAAARGE!!"
Hairou led the Hi Shin Unit cavalry through the palace gate.
Kyogai followed close behind.
The rebel horsemen were caught completely off guard.
Within moments...
Every last one of them had been cut down.
The palace gardens fell silent.
Shin walked over to one of the dead rebels and kicked the corpse onto its back.
"Oi... piece of shit."
"Do you know how we were able to catch you all the way out here?"
He pointed toward the blood-soaked trail stretching through the palace.
"Well..."
"It's because you killed way too many damn people."
"All we had to do..."
"...was follow the gigantic trail of corpses you left behind."
No one spoke.
Shin then turned his attention to the small child.
She looked no older than four.
Around 1 year younger than shin sons.
Despite the horrors surrounding her...
She quietly met Shin's gaze without crying.
Shin crouched before her.
"So..."
"This must be Sei's daughter, huh?"
He smiled warmly.
"Were you scared?"
The little girl quietly shook her head.
Shin blinked.
Then burst into laughter.
"Kakaka!"
"Looks like it ain't just your face that you share with him..."
"You've got his bravery too."
He reached down and gently lifted her into his arms before sitting her on his shoulders.
"My name's Shin."
"I'm your dad's best buddy."
Princess Rei looked around from atop his shoulders with wide, curious eyes.
Shin smiled.
"At any rate..."
"Thank the gods we made it here in time."
He turned toward the palace women.
"Seems like some other group has already managed to secure the Crown Prince."
Shin surveyed the surrounding gardens.
"This spot has a pretty good view."
"We'll establish a defensive position here."
"And we'll go over possible escape routes too, just in case something happens."
He then looked toward Hairou and Kyogai.
"Hairou."
"Kyogai."
Both men immediately stepped forward.
"Sir!"
"I'm leaving Princess Rei in your hands."
"Protect her with your lives."
"If anyone gets near her..."
"Kill them."
"YES, SIR!"
Shin nodded before turning toward the distant city walls.
"I'll be heading out now."
"...At the end of the day..."
"If all the enemies outside the walls manage to get inside Kanyou..."
"...then the capital is screwed."
He tightened his grip around Ouki's glaive.
"Everything comes down to the battle outside the city right now."
His eyes drifted toward the western gate.
"I thought Ten and Kyoukai would've made their way inside the city and shut the gates by now..."
A feeling of unease crept into his heart.
"...But they still haven't."
Far beyond the palace walls, the earth trembled beneath the march of tens of thousands of soldiers.
The decisive battle for the State of Qin had only just begun.