THE EXECUTIONER OF THE REBELLION: THE PLAN IN MOTION
Raizen, head held high, picked up Denia's sword and advanced with determination. The battlefield was a hell of blood and death; the screams of the wounded and the clash of steel echoed in the air. Bodies of both Souta Empire soldiers and rebels fell without distinction. In the distance, a tall blind man remained still, focused on a stone, listening to the massacre with unsettling calm. In front of him, Takeshi Arasaka watched carefully, sizing up his opponent.
"Whose aura is that powerful?" the old man asked in a deep voice.
"It's the rebel leader's, sir!" responded a soldier beside him.
In a blink, the old man vanished and instantly appeared before Takeshi. A sepulchral silence took hold of the battlefield as their auras clashed with overwhelming intensity. The pressure was so great that terrified soldiers stopped fighting and began to flee. Within seconds, a kilometer separated them from any other soul on the ravaged plain.
"Confirm something for me… are you the rebel leader? You don't look like it," said the blind man with a mocking tone.
"They told me someone strong was here, but I only found you," Takeshi replied, flashing a defiant smile.
Both knew this battle would be decisive. As their auras grew more intense, soldiers retreated even further, aware of the devastation that was about to unfold. Meanwhile, Raizen unleashed his fury on the battlefield. With fast, precise movements, he began eliminating enemy soldiers with his mastery of fire. Flames danced around him, engulfing his opponents before they could react. One after another, the Empire soldiers fell, their bodies reduced to ash.
"Die, damn soldiers!" Raizen roared, his voice filled with fury and resolve.
At the same time, Takeshi launched the first strike at the old man, who, unfazed, blocked the attack and responded with equal ferocity. What followed was a whirlwind exchange of blows, a duel of titans that left the ground shattered beneath them. Both fighters were in a completely different league. The rebels, seeing the opportunity, began firing arrows at the Empire soldiers, trying to tip the balance in their favor.
The old man, however, began gaining ground, forcing Takeshi onto the defensive. With his Forestall ability, Takeshi could anticipate his enemy's moves up to a second into the future, but the old man was relentless, adapting to each of his strategies. Seeing the danger, Raizen decided to intervene. His flames intensified as he charged, ready to unleash his full fury and turn the tide of battle.
ONE DAY EARLIER
All high-ranking officials, along with Raizen—one of the most distinguished warriors—were gathered before launching the attack on Fort Bulrad.
"Listen, today we'll discuss one of the biggest problems in conquering Fort Bulrad," said Takeshi in a grave, serious voice.
The room was filled with a heavy atmosphere; the topic was crucial to avoid defeat at the hands of the empire. Conquering Fort Bulrad was vital, as it housed the majority of the Empire's soldiers and heavy weaponry.
"We need to develop an effective strategy to win," Takeshi added.
"We must distract them so they send reinforcements to the other forts. The plan will be…" Takeshi began to say but was interrupted when three figures entered the room.
They were Takeshi's children—young but powerful. The three strongest Arasakas, even more powerful than their father himself. The eldest was Satou Arasaka. He wore advanced armor for the time, packed with technological devices. His hair was half black, half white, a result of experiments conducted in his lab. He wore round glasses, and his imposing 2.12-meter height made him stand out anywhere. Satou was the second strongest of the three, but also the smartest.
Next was Ryuji Arasaka, the youngest. He dressed like an assassin, with a mask and two long, bright green katanas. Under his cloak, he hid several gadgets. His hair was black with red-tipped ends. Though not as tall as Satou, standing at 1.83 meters, Ryuji was the third strongest in the family and the most cunning strategist in the rebel army.
Finally, there was Hana Arasaka, the middle child and the most powerful of the three. Her ruby-red armor stood out among the rest, and she wielded a spear, a sword, and a bow. She was the most skilled among the rebels, with jet-black hair so dark it seemed to absorb the light. She was also known for being respectful, kind, strict, and, of course, extremely talented.
Satou possessed the ability Oculus Omnis, which allowed him to precisely analyze any object, weapon, or person, detecting weaknesses, internal structure, and even functionality. His second ability, Overclock, boosted his mind to superhuman levels, accelerating his reasoning and processing, allowing him to make split-second decisions and enhance any technological device he touched.
Ryuji mastered Hyper Dash, a power that multiplied his speed and agility to the point he became an unreachable shadow on the battlefield. His reflexes sharpened to the extreme, enabling him to dodge attacks with pinpoint accuracy. His second ability, Sure Death Shot, maximized his precision and lethality, ensuring every strike had a high chance of hitting the most vulnerable points of his opponent, enhancing his perception and combat luck.
Hana, the strongest of the three, possessed Astral Forge, an ability that let her materialize weapons and armor from her own energy, adapting them in real time to the combat situation. Each weapon created had unique properties and could be endlessly reinforced, making her an incredibly versatile fighter. Her second ability, Necronet, allowed her to generate and manipulate an almost indestructible thread network, capable of withstanding tons of weight and moving with the precision of an extra limb—binding, slicing, or capturing enemies with terrifying ease.
The three Arasakas were considered the most powerful warriors of the rebellion, and their presence was crucial to defeating the Empire.
"So, father? What's the plan to conquer Fort Bulrad?" Hana asked firmly.
"We won't just take Fort Bulrad…" Takeshi replied, his aura enigmatic.
Everyone in the room fell silent, stunned by his words. Lord Takeshi always radiated confidence and determination, but this time he seemed to be planning something even bolder.
"Tomorrow, we'll take all four of the Empire's main forts in a single strike! We'll make the first move toward checkmate!" Takeshi declared, eyes filled with conviction.
The surprise in the room turned to disbelief. They didn't have a large enough army, so… how did he plan to do it?
"Ryuji, is the plan ready to take all the forts?" Takeshi asked.
"Yes. We'll divide into four squads to spread the enemy's forces," Ryuji replied seriously. "Taking all four forts is ideal, but Bulrad is the top priority. If we fail there, we're finished."
Some of the lead soldiers still didn't grasp the strategy, while others wondered why they hadn't tried this before.
"We didn't before because we lacked troops," Ryuji explained. "Besides, in Fort Bulrad, there's a man who can match—or even surpass—Hana. If we had tried without a solid plan, we would have been annihilated."
"But now we have the boy," Hana added. "He will support our father in defeating the enemy at Bulrad. Meanwhile, Ryuji will take Meishi, Satou will handle Shoju, and I'll lead the assault on Soure. Our soldiers will provide support, clearing enemies while we deal with the sergeants at each fort."
The plan was clear and simple. The strategists began to map out positions and assign squads.
Day of the Attack
"Stick to the plan… support Lord Takeshi… take the four forts in one strike…" Raizen thought as he advanced with brutal speed, getting closer to the enemy.
Upon arrival, he launched a flame-wrapped kick at the old man defending Bulrad. However, the blow had no effect.
Meanwhile, the rebel soldiers used arrows and heavy weaponry to decimate the enemy.
"Damn… they're wiping out our troops… there can't be many left…" the old man thought in frustration. "I'll have to contact Toshiba for reinforcements."
He tried to activate his magical communicator, but before he could finish the message, Raizen landed a fierce kick, ripping off his ear and destroying the device.
"You damn brat! Who the hell are you?" the old man growled, grabbing a handful of dirt from the ground.
Within seconds, he molded it into the shape of an ear and stuck it to his head as if it were part of his body. At the same time, the sand and earth around him began to rise, forming soldiers, weapons, and limbs that fused with his back.
"I am Daizen Kurogami, wielder of the Erdgeist ability and the executioner who will deliver the sentence to all rebels!!!" he roared, his body rejuvenating with each passing second.