Chapter 52: Chapter Twenty Four - A Battle to the Death (Part 2)
At Beihai's Port…
The enemy soldiers seemed infinite but, their inexperience and mediocre swordsmanship made it easy for Kyou to cut them down. In war, human lives were sacrificed, and he was sorry that it had come to this. To protect what was important to them, they had to fight for it. He had thrown away his innocence long ago and only lived in the arms of reality. To save a few million lives, he was willing to sacrifice a hundred thousand.
"Kyou! In coming ship!" Rei shouted over the clashing of steels.
He turned sharply to see a large vessel docking at the harbour. His mouth firmed at the sight of Akio and a dark-haired foreigner. Steering Yan in their direction, he declared, "Rei, take care of the rest. I'm going to greet my brother."
"Leave it to me."
Akio wasn't the least bit surprised to see Kyou. Calmly mounting his war horse, he said in a magnanimous undertone. "How hospitable of you to welcome your enemy."
"Let's cut to the chase, Akio. Retreat while you still can, or I will be forced to kill you." Kyou didn't need to speak above a harsh, sinister whisper. His menacing glare and rigid stance were enough to petrify any normal man.
Akio burst into a fit of hysterical laughter. "Don't be ridiculous. After launching this grand scale attack, do you think I will retreat? Even if I wanted to, it's too late, Kyou. I have been waiting for this day and the one who loses the fight, loses his life." He withdrew his sword. "Today, I shall reclaim what is rightfully mine."
"Why are you so fixated on the crown?" Kyou demanded, his mind going in circles. "You had the chance to oppose my ascension years ago. This level of violence isn't like you."
"What do you know? You are the Emperor's only love child!" Akio spat in disgust. "You were loved and doted upon. Father never treated us like he did you. We are proof of his affairs and spare sons to ascend the throne if anything happened to you. I tolerated you even after you stole my birthright." Hatred glinted in bottomless, black eyes. "You are the reason for my mother's death."
Kyou was confused. "I never killed your mother."
"You might as well have been the one who did!" Akio exclaimed viciously. "She was obsessed with the crown. She wanted revenge against a man who didn't love her. You never witnessed their disputes." He yanked up his sleeve, showing an angry, puckered scar upon his wrist. "My mother tried to kill me once, and after that she planned to hang herself. I knew then that she was ill. When we left the imperial palace, those days were peaceful, and she was recovering until word came of your ascension."
Just remembering those dark days left a bitter taste on his tongue. "Mother descended into a state of madness and became severely depressed. Eventually, it brought on the sickness." He made a half-mocking sound. "Perhaps God was punishing her for her sins. Every day she reminded me that I was the rightful heir. After her death, she made me realize that I never tried to save her. I never did anything for her. As her only son, I am ashamed." Akio squared his shoulders. "That's why I'm taking back what's mine. This is the only way I can face her in the afterlife. Your death is our peace."
Kyou couldn't believe Akio's twisted and selfish logic. Had he lost his mind along with his deceased mother? "Killing me won't bring her back or help you attain peace. She's dead. She doesn't know what you are doing. You should have cared for her when she was alive, not allow your rotten guilt to overwhelm you."
"That's not true! My mother's spirit watches us even now. She knows what I have been plotting and she's proud of me for standing up for us. I hope Father is watching too because I'm going to kill his golden son!"
Akio thrusted his sword into Yan's side and Kyou was immediately unseated by his thrashing stallion. Deftly landing on his feet, he braced for battle. "It doesn't have to be this way, Akio."
"You've grown disgustingly soft, brother." Akio sneered. "It must be that little white-haired bitch who turned you into her pet."
"Shut your mouth," Kyou snapped in a light growl. "If you insult her again —,"
"You'll what? Kill me?" Akio taunted brazenly. "We've already established that. By the way, I have a present for you. She has been waiting a long time to see you. Guard, bring it forward!"
A royal guard materialized with a sack in his hand.
"Open it." Akio commanded, trembling with sadistic glory.
The guard untied the bag and turned it upside down.
T-H-W-A-C-K!
A mass of tangled brown hair and marbled skin rolled to his boot. Kyou blanched at the sight of his missing General's decapitated head. "Attaw...," His throat clenched, and denial wrecked his brain. This wasn't real. She wasn't dead! And yet he was staring at her rotting head. Considering how bloated it was, she must have been killed the day he had seen her. Now it made sense why no one has heard from her. Her death was unforgivable!
"Judging by your expression I guess you were quite attached to her." Akio's lips twitched. "What a shame. She was truly obsessed with you, always following you around like a lost puppy. This little bitch thought she could kill me and have you forgive her indiscretion." He gave a short, derisive laugh. "What a foolish woman. Women are all the same, they're all useless and stupid."
"Your mother was a woman." Kyou's muted words cut like a razor. Something cold unfurled within the core of his soul.
"Yes, and her obsession led to her own demise," Akio sighed dramatically. "Regardless, I still loved her."
"What do you know about love?" Thunderclouds darkened Kyou's expression. "You don't know the first thing about loving someone. You are unhinged, Akio."
"It doesn't matter." Akio was unaffected. "As long as I understand it myself, the whole world can go to hell."
Kyou's patience snapped, and he forced Akio off his horse. Their swords clashed and sparks flew. Akio backed up a step before charging forward, his blade angled to kill. Their exchange was a perpetual back and forth, both equally formidable and determined to win this fight.
"If you surrender now, I am willing to put this behind us." Kyou dodged a close hit, the blade nicking his arm instead. "You will acknowledge that I am the Emperor of Xi!"
"I've come too far to fall back now. There is no future after this." Akio gritted his teeth, pushing back. "I am prepared to die."
"I don't want to lose a brother."
"I've never acknowledged any of you as my siblings! We were only victims of the same circumstance."
"No," Kyou insisted stubbornly. "You will always be my brother."
"That's why I said you're too soft!"
Kyou ducked in time, the vigorous movement tearing open his old wound, dampness seeping through his clothes.
"It's better for everyone if you step down, Kyou. Think of all the people, your soldiers, our brothers and that little savage of yours," Akio remarked. "How many more lives do you want us to sacrifice?"
"You have absolutely no right to be saying those words! I'll never give up the throne and if you truly cared for our people, you wouldn't have waged this senseless war. It is my duty to protect Xi even if it's against my own blood!"
"You'll regret not taking my offer."
Kyou remained stubbornly silent. It was apparent, they were at a stalemate.
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At Donggu's Border…
The Royal Army of Donggu was amazed by their silver-haired ally who singlehandedly wiped out their enemy in minutes. It was as if she was possessed. She had slaughtered the soldiers with a terrifying precision of a cold-hearted killer, standing in the middle of the field, a bloody blade in each hand – a glorious vision of victory and death.
Suddenly a sudden explosion rocked the earth and threw everyone at a distance. Scattered flames surrounded them, polluting the air with its suffocating fumes. The enemy must have been waiting to ambush them and they didn't stand a chance against the explosives. One by one, the royal soldiers collapsed into unconsciousness.
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At Shiryuu Border's…
Ryuu was proud of his men's victory. His first war, and he had come out unscathed — thank God. He had lost track of how long they had been fighting, only the need to win, to survive and live overrode their senses, turning them into mindless killing beasts. Either way, they had successfully defeated the enemy and the outcome was all that mattered.
"We did it!" One of his soldiers roared triumphantly. "We won!"
His comrades hooted in celebration, sharing in the relief that they were alive.
"It's too early to celebrate, my brave soldiers!" Ryuu exclaimed, knowing that the war wasn't truly over yet. Not until the head was cut off. "We move out to Beihai at once!"
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone