Chapter 58

He had been defeated by Lunari in a single strike. Despite that, the proud samurai is a part of the military. He has slain many Yokai before and does keep on fighting. For as long as his heart keeps on beating, he will fight. That is the way of the samurai. And the way of the military is similar: For as long as you can keep on fighting, you shall fight to protect the innocent and those who cannot help themself or cannot fight. And he did exactly that: Fight to protect everyone. Fight for as long as he can. Save as many as possible.

His katana cut through the head of yet another Ushitora. They were roaming the streets.

It happened out of nowhere: Just after Phanes won the tournament - who else should've realistically ever stood a chance anyway? - the celebration began. And during this time, thousands of Yokai attacked the whole city. They entered from 5 out of 6 directions, marked by the giant trees. The only tree they didn't come close to was the one with white leaves: The tree of death.

They attacked the few citizens that weren't watching the celebration and started murdering, burning and destroying everything and everyone. When the samurai noticed it himself, he firmly believed to have ended up in hell itself. The horror which he saw was far worse than he could have ever imagined, especially in a city as great, safe and seemingly undefeatable as this. It was almost as though someone from the inside knew that on this very day the festival, tournament and celebration took place and said this to the Yokai. Those Yokai then somehow formed an alliance and attacked all at the same time from those directions.

It was obvious that - with planning like this that had never before been seen by any Yokai and was thus unimaginable - Tojiume stood next to no chance. And still, it seems hopeless. The damage had already been done and those slain and those destroyed cannot ever be restored… And yet there is hope. For not all is lost: And as long there is something worth fighting for, as long as there is even a single life to protect… They will keep on fighting.

The samurai, splitting open head after head, was strong. He did not appear so as he was utterly humiliated by Lunari, but he was mighty and an expert at killing Yokai. Thus, he did exactly that.

But he was not the only one. Even those inexperienced fought. Members of the military whose biggest feat had been slaying an A-Rank Yokai fought with everything they had, just to protect those weaker than them. They fought a bunch of A-Rank Yokai at the same time, they fought battles that they could not realistically win… And yet they did fight. For that was the way of the military. That was the way of humanity itself.

It wasn't only the military. Adults fought to protect themselves and others, even if they die easily. Parents fought to protect their children and parents, brothers fought to protect their sisters, sisters fought to protect their brothers. At this very moment, in which it seems as though all that humanity had built was destroyed and humanity itself is getting killed and eradicated by the Yokai… It seems as though at the very moment of humanity's death… Humanity truly does shine. Humanity reveals its beautiful form and gives everything to live on, if even for a single day longer. Because the end of humanity is so close, so near. Because of this, humanity fights. Humanity blooms. And humanity itself is beautiful.

The warriors kill. They kill and they die. This is the very cycle of life.

As the samurai slays the yokai, it does establish its own part in this cycle. He defeats 5 Ushitora, sweat dropping down his head.

At this time, a Gashadokuro, a giant skeleton, reveals itself behind him. He did defeat a Gashadokuro, a S-Rank Yokai, already. However, he did not fight multiple Ushitora and other yokai before back then.

He jumps at the giant skeleton and tries to strike it. Only his slash itself is sending out a giant and mighty shockwave, directed at the enemy. The skeleton does take some damage, however it does not die that easily. It raises its arm and attacks the samurai. The samurai evades that attack, jumps on top of the arm of the skeleton, runs directly at it and throws his katana right at it.

However, before hitting, the katana gets caught by the arm of a skeleton.

A second Gashadokuro arrived. And it stopped the samurai’s attack. And, at the very next moment, the two Gashadokuro slay the samurai.