Yatari City(2)

The sky was clear and the air carried the sweet smell of sakura blooms mingled with leaves. Five thousand shogunate troops stood on a plain, facing the bandit army that was right in front of Yatari City.

Aside from the border forts, estates of nobles and wealthy citizens, cities in Inazuma rarely had walls protecting them and Yatari City was no exception.

At the front of the army, Sara was already dressed in her standard battle attire, surveying the battlefield. Unlike the other shogunate generals who often preferred to command the battles from the rearlines, and leave the fighting to their subordinates; she believed in personally taking to the front lines to inspire her men.

"The troops are in position, general." A voice came from a shogunate officer right beside her.

"Good, we will begin our assault shortly. Inform our soldiers that depending on their performance, they will be rewarded accordingly. Those who are able to take down the vision bearers amongst the bandits shall be granted promotion as well as a hundred thousand mora."

"Roger." The soldier stood to attention, then departed in haste.

Sara took a deep breath and closed her eyes. It was her sacred duty as the Shogun's subject to help her realize the dream of eternity for Inazuma; to eliminate and crush all that would stand in its way. Hopefully, the reward would incentivize the soldiers to fight harder.

With a flick, a black fan appeared in her right hand and she pointed it towards the skies. Purple-colored light began to bathe both her and her fan, and electro particles swirled around her.

"Hey look, what's the general doing?"

"There's a strange purple light around her that's getting brighter …"

"She's a goddess!"

Being at the front of the army, her actions were undoubtedly noticed by the soldiers who were puzzled by the strange phenomenon.

"Grant your subject the strength to purge these heathens. O Almighty Shogun ..." Sara opened her eyes, and waved the fan right across her front.

"Tengu Juurai … Titanbreaker!"

As she spoke the words, a bolt of amethyst purple lightning pierced through the clouds, striking the ground right in front of her. Then it began to move towards the bandit army in front of them at incredible speed, spreading into six smaller clusters of lightning along the way that left trails of black charred ground to mark its ferocious passage.

"Is she a demon?"

"R-run for your lives!"

The bandit army who saw the impending destruction that headed towards them started to flee. However the speed of the lightning was simply too fast, and it burned and electrocuted the unlucky bandits too slow to flee from its paths; leaving charred corpses in its wake.

"Thunder forth, Hirai no Meigen." satisfied with the result of her attack, Sara summoned her bow; then addressed her soldiers in a loud, powerful voice. "The enemy is now in disarray, our chance is now! Glory to the Shogun and her everlasting reign!"

"UOOOOOOH!!"

"Glory to the Shogun!"

Her fearless order and raw display of power earlier had ignited a fighting spirit in the troops. The bandits were no longer that intimidating to them and victory seemed to be in their grasp.

"Attack!" Sara shouted and thrusted her bow at the enemy. Setting the example, she broke into a run and charged at the bandit army.

The troops behind her ran forward as well, covering the ground that stood between them. The bandits were still in disarray from the attack earlier, and only a few stood their ground; bracing themselves to receive the charge.

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Amidst the unraveling chaos, the bandit army's leader - Taheiji; drew his katana.

"Deserters shall be executed!" He plunged his weapon into a fleeing bandit and yanked it out as he kicked the body away. "There is nothing to fear about the shogun's army! It's just a petty trick by the enemy general to scare us. She can't use it again! "

His loud powerful voice, coupled with his intimidating aura stifled the bandit army on the verge of collapse. Taheiji was well known for his cruelty, and the fear of retribution caused many of the ronins to stop in their tracks.

"Okizaki! Koichi! The flanks are yours." The bandit leader barked his commands, then glared at the lady leading the shogun force's charge. "I shall personally take care of their general."

"Roger, boss". Two voices came in unison from behind him.

Taheiji raced to the front, meeting the shogun's army charge head-on.

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Covering the last few acres with his feet, Jason turned his attention to a nasty-looking ronin holding a claymore. The excitement and joy that Jason had been struggling to hold back exploded; this was literally a Mora heaven! In his eyes, every single enemy here was walking wallets of mora; as he would be rewarded based on the amount he had killed.

He gave a shout, drawing his katana when he finally arrived right in front of the ronin. The bandit had noticed him and brandished his weapon at Jason - who ducked the clumsy swing effortlessly. He then planted his katana into the ronin's shoulder, sinking it all the way in before he brought it around.

"Garrrghh …"

The man fell flat onto the ground with a thud.

"Die!"

"Piece of trash!"

Two other bandits who were near their fallen comrade charged, their weapons pointed at him.

"Hmph"

Jason bent his knees and lowered his head. As the sound of steel just barely whizzing past his hair sounded above him, he swung his blade around him in a circular motion; cutting at the two enemies that had so recklessly attacked him.

"Three down." He grinned as the two enemies let out an agonized scream. The ronins were of no challenge to him at all.

Although he had refrained from using the sun-breathing styles; the mastery he had over the total concentration breathing techniques was still proving very useful. It was a technique practiced by the demon slayer corps, and he was long able to maintain a constant total breathing at all times; boosting his speed, stamina and power to a level way beyond that of ordinary people.

(I probably should thank the Unknown God who gave me these abilities. It seems like the demon slayer techniques and weapon of Yoriichi are pretty useful for survival here in Inazuma. Being killed by a truck and reincarnating here wasn't that bad after all.)

A flash of light drew Jason's attention to his left, snapping him out of his thoughts. A singular bandit wielding a blade that shone with green light was being confronted by several shogunate samurais. The numerous fallen corpses in purple armor that lay on the ground around him meant he was no easy opponent.

"A glowing green gem …" Jason narrowed his eyes at the crystal ball that hung from the bandit's waist. "An anemo vision bearer? That's a hundred thousand mora!"

(1140 words)