Chapter 18: Acceptance

Ga Rin's Pov:

"That's Ga Rin!! Kill him and the Qin will lose their Morale!" A Wei soldier shouted while thrusting his spear before dying.

"Gwouhh" the Wei Soldier died as he lost his head due to a glaive covered in blood slicing right through it.

"What a monster....how can he even be stopped..." Another Wei soldier cried out in fear as he Ga Rin slaughtering the Wei soldiers.

"Don't fear him... did you forget who our general is? Use our numbers as an advantage... focus on his soldiers behind him and split them apart!!" Ordered Hi Ken who is the Wei commander that Gan Ou had chase Ga Rin.

It's only been a bit since we started retreating and things are slowly getting worse for us... thankfully we've managed to bait the Wei a few times and counter attack them for a bit due to Yi although we've had to retreat again quickly before their numbers get over us.

... the Wind... feels like its raging all around me... especially in that direction where Kyou En is... 'tch this opponent is a lot more formidable than I thought... their numerical advantage isn't helping as well.' I thought as I had my troops retreat just as the Wei was about to launch their attack.

"Urgent Report!!" A messenger riding a fast horse quickly rushed to my side which made me worry a bit since it's one that came from Kyou En's direction.

"What's wrong" I said bluntly not wanting to waste even a second as we were currently being chased.

"Sir! Kyou En sama is currently engaged in a melee with Wei's General Gan Ou and their difference in numbers is too great... The lord is slowly getting surrounded by the Wei soldiers...." The messenger said worriedly.

...tsk.. that was the one information that I didn't want to hear... we have to do something fast otherwise we won't be able to recover from this.

"Ga Rin..." Yi called out while gritting his teeth.

"I know..." I said annoyed before looking at someone who should be able to rescue Kyou En... although him leaving will mean we won't have any chance to launch any counter attacks anymore.

"Shi En... you are to rescue Kyou En with 500 of your men."

"... Alright" Shi En said after a short pause and left with his men.

"I hope he makes it in time.... this isn't the place for you to die... Kyou En." I muttered before hastening my units retreat.

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Kyou En's Pov:

"6 Swords and 8 Spears... Heavenly Execution Formation now!!" I shouted.

"Oohh!!!" My men shouted.

Our units situation is currently really bad and since Gan Ou is here... it's a battle of time... Either I kill Gan Ou or take too long and my unit gets annihilated in the process.

"Hahaha nothing you do will be able to stop me... for I am Gan Ou!" Gan Ou roared as he charged with his men trying to slay me.

'Your foolishness of underestimating my 6 swords and 8 spears will lead to your demise Gan Ou' I grinned as I set up the formation to have my 6 swords and 8 spears kill Gan Ou.

We have 50 men here while the enemy has 200 ... furthermore.. they are being led by Gan Ou.... 

"Everyone!!! make way for the 6 swords and 8 spears!! Use the slithering snake formation and seperate Gan Ou from his unit.... this will decide the fate of the entire battle! separate them no matter what happens!!!" I loudly shouted.

"kuku it's finally our time" one of my men said while laughing.

"I've always wondered how death would feel like... maybe I'll experience it today" a crazy looking soldier holding a sword said although he looks like he has taken some strange stuff.

My men all shouted and confronted the enemy although they also said some nonsense.

I then looked at my 6 swords and 8 spears who were riding to Gan Ou with a strange momentum... they seem to have a different aura than usual... 

Gan Ou seems to have also noticed them as they got really close to him... Most of his men have already been intercepted by mine which surprised him as the numerical difference was around 4 times... 'Kyou En... with the skills you possess... it's a shame you're not a general right now... even your personal soldiers are strong... However my target is only you! the source of you're soldiers strength which is you would also die if you're gone.' Gan Ou thought as opened his mouth to give an order.

"Kyou En is currently alone without his soldiers guarding him... this is the perfect chance! Eliminate that small group that's charging towards me right me now!" Gan Ou said to his few men that weren't able to be stopped by my soldiers as he continued his charge to me.

However ... in just a few seconds... Gan Ou halted his movements as shock was clearly evident in his face as my 6 swords and 8 spears swiftly killed his men with strength unimaginable for a unit.

It was then that Gan Ou's thinking processed as he saw my 6 swords and 8 spears riding in a unique rotating way that looked like a storm to him.

'.. Kyou En is strong and has the skills of a general.... I kept thinking that... so why did i decide to miss that fact now... Kyou En sending all his soldiers to engage combat with mine which left him unguarded couldn't be for nothing... I was too confident... I didn't think he'd still have a strong card to use... his purpose all along was to kill me!' Gan Ou thought as he changed his direction to confront my 6 swords and 8 spears which are the top of the cream of my Kaminoikari Unit.

The Kaminoikari unit is a name I came up with for my personal unit of elites... however out of all of these elites... there are 14 monsters with strength far beyond the others.

'That is why I am confident in them.' I internally thought as I saw my 6 swords and 8 spears riding with lightning speed as they kept moving in a weird way until they made contact with Gan Ou.

2 swordsmen started the attack infront of Gan Ou with both being a few metres far from each other... there was also a spear user behind each of the two swordsmen.

The others quickly rushed to their positions which were another 2 swordsmen in Gan Ou's right side with each also being accompanied by a spear user.... the same was for Gan Ou's back while his left side only had two spear users.

Gan Ou who instead of backing down... grinned heavily and and attacked before my men... the first two swordsmen infront... although are strong... were still knocked back by Gan Ou... however both of the spear users that were behind the swordsmen then quickly thrusted at Gan Ou which made him hastily avoid them before he tried to strike them with his mace... however he was given no time as he reflexively brought his mace to his right to block against swords that were about to slice his neck.... sadly this time he wasn't able to block or fully avoid the spears that were aimed at him as some blood started coming out from his face...

"It's over..." I muttered as I saw Gan Ou who seemed to do a final struggle...

Gan Ou quickly brought his mace and attacked the group behind him as he tried to take them out in one hit but couldn't which annoyed and surprised him that he couldn't kill them... although he knew that it was because he had to focus on two of the swordsmen and the spearmen behind each of them.

The two spearmen on Gan Ou's left also thrusted at Gan Ou however Gan Ou this time saw them and had his arm take the hits instead since he knew he couldn't avoid it... however the ones at the front already got recovered and managed to critically injure him with both swordsmen and spearmen slashing and thrusting at his body which made him spew some blood and cry in pain.

Spewwrtt

"Guahhh!" Gan Ou cried out which alerted his soldiers who saw the situation and made all of the Wei soldiers that were with him desperate to breakthrough my men's formation which was already close to falling apart.

'there's no time....' I thought while deciding to end it.

Gan Ou who was in pain seemed to go a bit crazy and quickly swung his mace in all sides to make the 6 swords and 8 spears back away a bit... however after a few heavy breaths...they quickly launched their attack again with more vigor. 

Gan Ou this time already saw their tactic and swiftly swung his mace trying to use his long reach as an advantage to give him space... it was a good idea... although he did get scratched a few times... but... what he did not notice was that... his left side which he thought was the easiest to handle due to their being only two spearmen...was turned into the strongest as a black Glaive was swung from there.

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Gan Ou's Pov:

'This feeling of death.... blood coming out from all over my body.... I never expected to witness such a sight... not to mention that it wasn't even from that bastard Gai Mou...' I thought as I gritted my teeth and moved my mace to block the incoming Glaive.... however it still managed to give me a large slash on my face although I managed to stop it from slicing my head.

I then looked at the one responsible for this who seemed taken aback that I managed to stop it.

"Kyou En you bastard.." I viciously smiled while bringing my huge mace to quickly attack him... his soldiers that were around me seemed frantic and hastily attacked me... however even when they hit me... I ignored it and just swung my mace at Kyou En with a speed far surpassing his imagination as he couldn't block it in time....

'to think you cornered me to this extent.. too bad but I will not die yet Kyou En! not until my wish is fulfilled!' I internally thought as I saw Kyou En about to pass out.

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Kyou En's Pov:

"Spwerrttt" 'this monster.....' I thought as I vomited blood.

The attack he just landed on me... I don't think I can feel my body anymore... damn it.

I then looked at Gan Ou who was managing to regain his momentum as my 6 swords and 8 spears all seemed to lose their morale... although one of the swordsmen managed to kill his horse and get him on foot.

However he still seemed to be unstoppable as he looked to be in a berserk state... nonetheless... my men still did whatever they could to stop him from going to me as they knew I couldn't move at the moment...

I then hear loud footsteps coming to our direction and look towards them... however It only makes me want to lose even more hope as I saw a few hundred Wei soldiers coming from the fortress that the Wei built.. presumably to aid Gan Ou....

'I don't want to die yet.... I still have a lot to do.... I want to help the people of Sai even more.... and more importantly.. I made a promise... to Yi!' I thought as I looked more determined with blood fully covering my face.

I then hear another sound... however this time it's a much louder one clearly being made by horsemen... this time however... I don't look and just smile as I knew who it was.

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Shi En's Pov:

A year ago.. just before the battle of Bayou:

"You're here to fight me again Shi En?" Kyou En said as he was sitting inside his tent drinking tea.

"Of course I am... you should know that it's the only reason I'm still in this unit... I will surpass you and become the strongest." I said in a angry voice as I haven't been able to beat him yet... although I've made fast progresses ever since I started sparring with him....he was progressing even faster than me...

After fighting with Kyou En for many years.... I unconsciously realised something.... that Kyou En is a huge wall that I won't be able to overcome..... that thought disgusted me.... my dream is to become the strongest... so how can I have a thought like that... I hated myself for it.

However it shall all come to an end this time... I won't stop until one of us is dead.

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"Why... It's not over yet... I haven't given up yet so don't stop...." I said as clenched my teeth as I saw Kyou En's glaive stopping right near my neck... with myself being injured all over.

"Shi En... you're not weak... you even managed to get a good slash on me..." Kyou En said as he showed the injury on his shoulder before he continued.

"However... isn't it about time you stop?" Kyou En said while smiling.

"What?" I seethed with rage.

"You don't understand me!" I continued.

".... I do... you're eyes are similar to me... and my brothers.... you're not seeking strength..m your seeking something else. Kyou En said as he looked at ne with the same smile.

"What?! How dare you say that you understand me... you don't know what I've been through... I've lost all of my siblings and family as a kid... Strength is the only important thing in this world!" I said in rage.

"Kuku...." Kyou En chuckled.

"What!" I exclaimed as I couldn't tell why he was laughing.

"... you fool" Kyou En punched me in the face as he opened his mouth again.

"Bwahh" I said in shock as I fell.

"... you've lost all of you're family?.... tell me Shi En.... what are you looking at right now." Kyou En said as he put his hand on my shoulders while crouching and staring at me in the eye.

"What...?" I said a bit confused.

"I said what are you looking at right now?! Who am I?" Kyou En said this time in a louder voice angry that I couldn't reply.

"... you're Kyou En.." I said how I just got another punch in my face in return.

".... how dare you!!" Kyou En said angered before he punched me again and continued talking.

"I'm you're brother!" Kyou En said while staring at me in the eye.

"Huh...." his answer shocked and confused me.... however for some reason... tears started to come out of my eyes...

'Huh? Why am I crying?' I thought to myself.

"You fool.... I was like you.... I lost my parents and sister when I was a kid... I also thought that strength was the most important... I wanted to protect Yi at all costs... however before I realised it... Yi wasn't the only family I had... I was always surrounded by people... we all lived in the same area and fought together with our lives on the line.... we all drank together... if we're not family... then what is?... blood? That doesn't matter... what matters is what you think.." Kyou En said while smiling like before... but with a softer expression this time.

"... You bastard..." I tried to say but couldn't as tears kept falling from my eyes.

"Shi En... especially you... I've already noticed that you've been through similar stuff as me as you have the same expression as me and Yi... however... don't close your eyes on the present.... me and Yi still haven't forgotten the past... so we want to be stronger... however our reason is different than yours.... the reason we want to be stronger... is to protect both the present and the future... you have a family too.... so understand that.... my brother...." Kyou En said before walking away.

"...." I could only helplessly look at the back of the man I tried fighting to the death a moment ago.... I couldn't believe what he said.. however... It made me kind of happy... I also wanted a place to belong.

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Present Time:

'Kyou En's unit seems to be on the brink of collapse... but where is he...' I internally thought while trying to find Kyou En.

!! Found him... but why... does he look like he's about to die....

No.... he's still breathing... as long as we have a chance....

'After saying those things to me.... there's no way I can just let you die... right?' I thought while showing a desperate expression on my face.

"Stop the Wei and rescue Kyou En!" I ordered my men.

"Yes Sir!" My men enthusiastically replied.

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Kyou En's Pov:

"You're here aren't you.... My brother." I said while smiling as I thought of Shi En

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Author's Note: heya guys 😎 how was this chapter? Also next chapter will be end of war and also it'll mostly be on relationships 👍 prob not the kind you're thinking tho. lol

Had a rlly annoying time writing Shi En's past... how was it though?.