I assembled the strongest swordsman group.

Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh!

In the blink of an eye, arrows shot up from the surrounding dark bushes like locusts!

The rain of arrows that poured down brought with it the scent of death.

Many people were hit by arrows and fell to the ground, some screaming in agony, others dying instantly.

"Enemy attack!"

"The Shinsengumi?!"

"No! It doesn't seem like it!"

Instead of the signature light blue haori, they saw black-clad samurai emerging from all directions, charging menacingly towards them!

Before they could think it through, the two sides were already locked in battle.

With the prepared forces attacking the unprepared, with strong and well-equipped men and horses attacking the old and exhausted troops... the war had barely begun when it was already a one-sided affair.

The outcome of this battle is already predetermined.

……

……

"Drink up! Drink up!"

A roar erupted from Oki Shiro's throat as he swiftly swung the steel blade in his hand.

Even though the enemy had an overwhelming numerical advantage, he was not afraid at all... or rather, he didn't have time to be afraid.

Because of his height and long arms, his slashing range far exceeds that of his enemies.

Before his enemies could even get close, he launched a preemptive attack.

The slash that cuts through the atmosphere releases an astonishingly sharp aura.

Wherever the blade passed, the enemies scattered and retreated in panic, as if avoiding germs.

With skillful technique, Shiro Oki seamlessly connected his moves and swiftly unleashed his next strike.

A brand new blade of light flew out in the opposite direction, forcing back the enemies in that direction as well.

As expected of an experienced swordsman, he loosened the encirclement around him in just two moves.

"Saragi-sensei! Stay close to me! We're going to break out!"

Xiang Le Zong San nodded vigorously and followed suit.

At that moment, a short spear suddenly thrust out from the side! It pierced straight towards Sagara Sozo's side abdomen!

Sagara Sozo's pupils contracted slightly. Although he was terrified, his body moved first, using a crude but effective technique to deflect the spearhead.

Although he was not a swordsman specializing in martial arts, he was not a pushover whom everyone could bully.

"Quickly! Resurround them!"

"Kill them!"

"If we let them escape, we'll have no face to go back and face Lord Saigo!"

In an attempt to salvage the situation, the enemy forces, in large numbers, relentlessly pursued and closed in once more.

Before Sagara Sozo and Oki Shiro could run even a few steps, they were once again surrounded by the enemy.

Sometime later, the temple gate in the distance had been closed, and six enemies were guarding it closely.

In other words, even if they manage to reach the temple gate, they cannot let their guard down. Sozo Sagara and Shiro Oki still need to find a way to deal with the six guards at the gate...

Exhausted and hungry, they had to deal with the relentless attacks from the enemy, barely having time to catch their breath... Their defenses were quickly riddled with holes.

Shiro Oki could barely protect himself and had no energy left to help Sozo Sagara.

Therefore, the enemies seized the opportunity and poured in between them like a flood, separating the two.

"Saragi-sensei! Damn it! Get out of my way!"

Shiro Oki's eyes were bloodshot, completely forgetting his fatigue and pain. He swung his sword like a madman, trying to help Sozo Sagara, but to no avail. He was like someone who had fallen into quicksand, and the more he struggled, the deeper and faster he sank.

Without the assistance of Shiro Oki, Sozo Sagara immediately found himself in a predicament where he could not hold on alone.

clang!clang!clang!

He struggled to deflect the slashes coming from the left, center, and rear.

call!

Suddenly, the sound of wind breaking behind him made the hairs on his body stand on end—behind him, an enemy soldier wielding a short gun unleashed a "sweeping attack" aimed at his lower body!

Sōzō Sagara gritted his teeth and, as if by reflex, changed his steps and shifted his body.

Although he barely dodged the sharp spear tip, the hard shaft struck his left knee squarely with a dull thud.

In pain, Sagara Sozo instantly lost his balance and fell to the ground.

As he struggled to sit up, he was startled to find the light dimming beside him—Takamatsu, sword in hand, had quietly moved in front of him.

Looking at Takamatsu, who was so close to him and whose cheeks were filled with mockery, Souzo Sagara gritted his teeth.

After a moment, as if he had made up his mind, he silently threw away the knife in his hand.

"...If you want to take my life...then go ahead and take it."

As he spoke, he sat up, his demeanor dignified, his expression open and honest, his back ramrod straight, as if his spine were not bones but an iron ruler.

"I can give you my head."

"But please spare my companions."

“They are all innocent; they only joined me because I instigated them.”

"As long as they are spared, I will do whatever punishment they desire, whether it beheading or any other form of torture."

Gao Song raised an eyebrow, shrugged, and gave a forced smile:

"...Saragi-kun, you are amazing."

"Although you are a stubborn fool, I have to admit that you are indeed a hero."

"Unfortunately... I cannot fulfill your request."

"The instructions from above were very clear—annihilate them all, leave no one alive."

"If nothing unexpected happens, all your companions should be dead by now."

After saying that, Gao Song deliberately turned his head to look in the southeast direction—that was the location of the Red News Corps' hideout.

Upon hearing this, Sozo Sagara could no longer remain calm.

His eyebrows stood on end, his hair bristled with anger, and the veins on his temples and neck bulged out.

"You beasts—!"

He roared and lunged forward, trying to tackle Gao Song.

However, two enemy soldiers, who were prepared, pressed him to the ground from both sides, making his cheeks press firmly against the ground.

Sozo Sagara struggled desperately, unable to move, and could only raise his eyes to glare at Takamatsu with a mixture of anger and resentment:

"We are utterly loyal to this dynasty! We are determined to serve it to the best of our ability!"

How could you do this?

How could you do this?!

Upon hearing this, Gao Song's face was filled with unparalleled sarcasm.

"Saragi-kun, you've got it wrong. You're the one who kicked away your promising future."

"Lord Saigo greatly admires you and regards you as a future pillar of the nation."

"They could have risen through the ranks simply by obediently following orders, but instead they chose to go against their superiors."

"You have only yourself to blame for your current predicament."

After saying that, Gao Song revealed a pleased, victorious smile.

"In the past, I always looked up to you."

"I never imagined I'd have a day when I'd be looking down on you."

"Xiang Le Zong San, to show my respect, let me see you off on your final journey. Do you have a farewell poem?"

While asking "Do you have a farewell poem?", he had no intention of letting Sagara Sozo leave any last words. He quickly raised the steel knife in his hand above his head.

Just as he was about to bring down the blade—

Bang! !

Just like being bombarded, the tightly closed temple gates were suddenly flung open... Ah, no, correction, they were "rammed open" instead.

In the blink of an eye, more than thirty warriors stepped over the broken door panels and rushed into the temple.

"Show no mercy! Suppress them swiftly!"

"Akuzu, finish this quickly."

"understand!"

This group of "uninvited guests" moved with the ferocity of tigers descending the mountain, deployed their formation, and launched an attack.

A sudden and chaotic battle ensued!

The situation reversed instantly.

The side with fewer people and the side that was brutally suppressed became Takamatsu and his group!

Because they were caught completely off guard, more than ten people fell to the ground in just one encounter—these people were naturally Gao Song's subordinates.

Gao Song stared blankly at this unexpected situation, his cheeks drained of color, and even the flashing blades that shone brightly as they rose and fell could not illuminate his eyes, which were filled with fear.

"What's going on...who are these people...?!"

Before he could recover, he suddenly saw a flash of cold light—a chain sickle flew out from a distance, drawing a tricky arc in mid-air, and landed squarely on his neck.

The sharp, curved blade of the scythe was perfectly positioned around his neck, and the skin on the back of his neck could feel the coldness of the blade!

Gao Song's facial expression was immediately dominated by panic, his pupils contracted to pinpoints, and he hurriedly raised his hand, trying to remove the sickle.