The war is about to reach its climax.

　Under the rusty red sky, the black armor-clad troops were defeating the red-armored enemy forces one after another. The momentum was so great that it would be impossible for the red army to recover their inferiority.

　However, the defeated Red Army didn't run around haphazardly either, and even in the midst of their defeat, they did their best to stay on and force the enemy to bleed.

　If they were defeated here, their homeland would be overrun by the enemy. This fear must have given the Red soldiers the energy to fight back.

　Damage is occurring to the black army that cannot be ignored. Realizing this, the young commander leading the black army sharply clicked his tongue.


''You're as good as Kazan's elite. You are very stubborn.


　He has gray, sparse hair and red-copper skin. A single horn protruding sharply from his forehead.

　The demon boy, his face brimming with youth and energy, threw away the robe he was wearing and stripped off his various skins, revealing his steel-trained upper body.

　The boy's upper body, forged like steel, was revealed, as well as the countless scars on his chest. On the other hand, there is not a hair's breadth of scarring on his back.

　Exposing the physique of a warrior of long standing, the boy looked for the enemy commander. The Reds would not stop fighting unless their commander ordered them to, and eventually they would be wiped out. It was necessary to get the enemy commander to admit defeat as soon as possible.

　-- as a matter of fact, he told the boy himself, "We have to end the war quickly! It's not that I'm in a hurry to do this. Nor do I feel the pain of killing all the Red soldiers.

　If you lose, you die. Homes are burned and families are killed - that's what warfare is all about. In fact, the boy's father lost his life and territory to the Red Army, and the young boy was also living and dying at the time.

　For the boy, this battle is his final act of revenge. When he thinks his revenge is finally coming, the edge of his lips naturally hang up.

　But--.


That's just not good enough, that's what my brother always says.


　They invade and invade, they take and rob, they kill and kill. The more the demons fought each other like that, the more they pleased the humans.

　The boy looked out over the land of sand and gravel where the battle was taking place.

　Not a single blade of grass grew, not a single stream flowed, just a withered land of stone and earth.

　The rain that fell from the rusty red sky always smelled of iron and brought stagnation instead of blessing to the land.

　In this soil, there is no wheat or even buckwheat noodles. And this barrenness was not confined to the area where the boy was fighting now.

　There is very little cultivable land in this world, and the crops that can be harvested from it are not nearly enough to support the total number of demons. Naturally, the demons formed gangs and fought for the few pieces of farmland they had. They had to do so in order for themselves, their families and their friends to survive.

　Occasionally, a so-called "hero" would emerge and try to unite the demon race and venture out into the "outside world".

　However, such attempts were always crushed by the guardians of the gate. The despicable traitors who once trapped the demon race in a trap and bound them to this barren world, however, their strength alone is unquestionable, and they continue to violate the demon race's longing for liberation from this ruined world.

　Thinking of this, the boy's fists naturally trembled.

　In frustration?　Of course, that's part of it.

　But much of the power in the boy's fists is not from the past, but from the future.

　--It is the determination to defeat the three hundred years of purgatory with their own hands that makes the boy's fists tremble.

　The boy kicked the ground forcefully and rushed out, heading towards a group of red soldiers who still maintained a certain order in the midst of their defeat.

　He leaps into the midst of the enemy's forces and, using his signature power strike - a bare-handed fighting technique that uses his signature power, he kicks the red soldiers to the ground and announces loudly, "I'm the king of Zhongshan.


''King Azuma of Zhuzhan is my brother, Kagari, it's me!　I have no use for skirmishers!　I only desire a man of valor who will not be cowed by my name!

"Youngest brother of the four Nakayama brothers!　You're young and naive!　I am Isagi, one of Kazan's sixteen spears. Now, let's get to work!


　A boy - a warrior wearing a luxurious armor, clearly a commander, appears before Cagali, scraping his spear.

　In contrast to the bear-like stature of the enemy, Cagalli is rather small in stature. In addition, he is barehanded against a spear. It was a disadvantageous situation for Kagari.

　But.


The only thing that matters is the fact that you can't get away with it.


　Right at the start, Kagari quickly dives into her opponent's bosom and her fist explodes in the face of the enemy. The enemy was completely unable to keep up with Kagari's strengthened leg power, which was strengthened by her power.

　The enemy general falls to the ground, spraying blood from his nose and writhing around. If he wanted to, he could have cut his head off with his sword, but Cagali dared not do so. Even if he didn't bother to take his life, the enemy, whose skull was violently shaken, would not wake up for the time being.

　The victory was quick and easy, but the adversary, who called himself Isagi, was a man of great renown, and a feeling of astonishment ran through Kazan soldiers.


''Master Isagi, with a single blow?

"'Black Wolf' Cagali ... you!


　Kazan soldiers moved in unison, hoping to rescue their allies and defeat Kagari.

　Cagalli clenched his fists in response, but then a heavy voice rang out as if to conquer them both.


''--Don't!''


　With that, he split Kazan soldiers to reveal a man with a physique so large that the earlier Isagi looked small.

　Cagalli knew the name of this huge man in his scarred armor. Kazan O Gien. He was the rival of Kazan, the man who killed Kagari and her brothers' father.


So he is the son of Kazan. How that little boy has grown up.

You look a lot older now, King Kazan.

When children grow up, adults grow old. It's nature's way of life.


　Kazanan king reaches out with his right hand, and his men, knowing what to do, grasp a huge battle-axe in his hand.


I regret for the rest of my life that I did not kill you and your brothers with your father. I will avenge every bit of regret I have by killing you here.

Well that's all I want, but are you capable of fighting in that body?


　In Cagali's vision, King Kazan's figure was covered with so many scars that there was no part of him that wasn't damaged. His armor and war robe were tattered, having been slashed many times, and three arrows were still sticking out of his shoulders.

　His arms and legs were wrapped in multiple bandages, all of which were discolored to a dull black color. To be honest, I'm even more impressed with how well he's standing.

　Cagalli thought that she couldn't even handle her mind suit in this state, but Kazan Wang didn't care and smiled broadly, his belly trembling.


''It's just the right handicap to deal with an adolescent like you--let's go!　


　King Kazan kicked the ground. His battle-axe howled as he attacked Kagari.

　Cagali dodged the attack with a thunderous tumble and immediately launched a counterattack as soon as he hit the ground.

　Despite being a small soldier, Cagalli's philosophy is to break through and confront the enemy head-on. Against Kazan's king with a large army, Cagalli did not back down and fought fiercely, leaving him breathless.

　But as expected, Kazanan's movement was slow and sluggish as he was hurt deep in the attack, and Cagali gradually began to catch up to him.

　And then - and then...


Ggh!


　Finally, Cagali's fist caught Kazanwang in the shoulder. Cagali's powerful attack penetrated into Kazanwang's body. Kazari's shoulder was shattered in an instant as she struck through her armor, her power undiminished.

　As Kazanwang's face contorted, a follow-up roundhouse kick struck him in the chest.

　Kazan Wang was blown away without a voice. At this moment, Cagali could have tried to follow up with a follow-up kick if he wanted to. But he did not dare to do so. But he didn't, because he decided that there was no need to do so.


'.........Kuhahaha!　It's impressive. I'm amazed that you've mastered so much warfare at your age. You have already surpassed my father in talent for warfare.


　In a bitter voice, but still laughing, King Kazan praises Cagali.

　When Cagali was silent, a genuine question flashed across Kazanwang's face.


'I don't understand. You have such skill, why do you willingly follow Azuma?　It's not just you. It's not just you. If you wanted to, you could easily rule over a mountain.

"Hmm. If Brother Azuma and I fought, I'd probably win ninety-five times out of a hundred. If I was the Degas, I'd probably win 100 times out of 100. But that's it. Me and Brother Doga couldn't rebuild Nakayama, the weakest of the five mountains. Nor would we have been able to take out the other three mountains and beat you like this.

I don't know ... the strongest will rise above. Isn't that what this place is all about?

That's right. That's why my brother Azuma is the king of Nakayama. Your brother Azuma's strength is not the same as yours or mine.

Hmm, I don't know. But a loss is a loss. Now you will slaughter Kazan and unite the five mountains, my dear brother and sister in Nakayama. Tear down that vile gate and free our homeland from those who betrayed us.


　That is the duty of the victor, King Kazan smiled bitterly.　

　Cagali pulled his lips into a tight line and nodded.


I don't need to be told. We'll take back our home.

Good look. Or perhaps you're the one who looks most like your father.


　As soon as he did so, King Kazanosan grabbed his horn and squeezed it. Kazan soldiers around him let out a scream, but Kazan Wang took one look at him and everyone nodded in unison, realizing what he meant.

　And in the moment that followed -


Nuh-uh!


　Kazanwang shook off his horn with a spirited effort. The pieces of his horn glittered like crystal as they flew through the air.

　After a moment, blood gushed from the wound.

　To a demon, horns are the source of magic and life. To break the horn with his own hands was synonymous with seppuku in Onigashima.

　The light from Kazanosan's eyes began to fade away like a receding tide. As if he wanted the light to fade before it faded, Kazanio said in a muffled voice, "I'm afraid it won't.


"....I hope that my troops my people will have mercy on me...

"I will not touch a surrendered man. That is the military code of Nakayama.

Hmm.....................


　Kazanwang slowly held out his horn to Cagali.

　As soon as Cagali took it, the light in Kazanan's eyes was completely gone and his hand dropped to the ground in a heap.

　Tears of grief erupted from the mouths of the Kazan soldiers around him as they watched.

　Their cries of mourning for their master's death and for Kazan's downfall were at the same time a cry for the birth of a new dynasty of demons, the first to be born in fifty years.

　With the victory, the army of Nakayama swallowed Kazan and set about capturing the Gate, which was a long-sought goal for the unification of the country.

　Three hundred years of impregnable history lay in wait for them.

　The next battle is just around the corner.