Chapter 37: Trial by Blood
The cold morning air carried the scent of steel and sweat. The Kisaragi Clan's underground arena was an ancient battlefield, a cavernous pit carved into the stone beneath the ruins of the city. Flickering torches lined the walls, casting eerie shadows on the warriors who had gathered to watch the spectacle unfold.
Daijin and his group stood at the center, their weapons gripped tightly. Across from them, six Kisaragi warriors waited, their eyes filled with ruthless intent.
From the elevated balcony above, Raizo Kisaragi watched with his usual smirk. He leaned against the railing, his silver hair catching the dim light.
"You know the rules," Raizo's voice echoed through the chamber. "Survive, and you earn our aid. Die, and, well… I'm sure Tenshi will be grateful we saved him the trouble."
Haru muttered under his breath, "I swear, if we make it out of this, I'm taking a vacation."
Yeon pulled her blade free, her eyes cold. "You won't be alive to take one if you don't focus."
Akane exhaled slowly, rolling her shoulders. "Let's get this over with."
Raizo raised his hand, and the arena fell silent.
"Begin."
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The Trial Begins
The Kisaragi warriors moved first, their speed unnatural.
The first attacker lunged at Daijin, twin daggers flashing. Daijin barely sidestepped in time, his katana meeting the strike with a sharp clang. The impact sent vibrations up his arm, but he held firm, twisting his blade and slashing upward. The warrior spun away, but not before Daijin's steel bit into his shoulder, drawing first blood.
Yeon was a ghost among them, her movements so fluid that she barely seemed human. She ducked beneath a wild strike and drove her knife into her opponent's ribs. A quick twist, a gurgled gasp, and he collapsed.
Akane fought like a dancer of death. Her blade was an extension of herself, cutting through the air with precision. She met a Kisaragi warrior's katana head-on, the force sending sparks flying.
Haru, despite his usual complaints, fought like a madman. His sheer brute strength made up for his lack of finesse. He caught a warrior's sword mid-swing with his bare hands, wincing as the blade cut into his palm, but before the attacker could react, Haru's fist shattered his jaw with a single punch.
The battle was chaos, a brutal display of survival.
And then, Raizo clapped.
The fighting stopped.
Daijin breathed heavily, blood dripping from a cut on his cheek. His group stood, battered but victorious, while their enemies lay on the ground, unconscious or groaning in pain.
Raizo grinned.
"Impressive."
He descended from the balcony, stepping onto the blood-stained ground.
"You fight well, Daijin. Perhaps well enough to face Tenshi."
Daijin sheathed his sword. "Then we have a deal?"
Raizo's smirk widened.
"Not yet."
Before anyone could react, he was in front of Daijin, his katana pressed against his throat.
"Tell me," Raizo murmured, his voice barely above a whisper, "why should I risk my people for your revenge?"
The arena was silent.
Yeon tensed, her grip on her weapon tightening. Akane took a step forward, ready to strike.
But Daijin didn't flinch.
"This isn't just my revenge," he said evenly. "Tenshi won't stop with me. He won't stop with you. You know that."
Raizo stared at him for a long moment. Then, slowly, he chuckled.
"You have guts. I'll give you that."
He pulled back his sword and turned away.
"Fine. You have the Kisaragi Clan's aid."
A breath of relief passed through Daijin's group, but it was short-lived.
Because at that moment, a scout burst into the arena, his face pale with fear.
"Lord Raizo!" he gasped. "We have a problem."
Raizo's eyes narrowed. "Speak."
The scout swallowed hard.
"It's Tenshi's men. They've found us."
The air grew heavy with tension.
Daijin's grip on his sword tightened.
The real battle had just begun.
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