Chapter -36: The Kisaragi Clan
The journey to the Kisaragi Clan's stronghold was treacherous. The ruins of the old city stretched endlessly, each street a labyrinth of collapsed buildings, rusted vehicles, and lurking dangers. The storm from the night before had passed, leaving behind an eerie silence. The air smelled of damp concrete and the faint metallic tang of blood.
Daijin led the group through the broken streets, his steps sure and deliberate. Yeon walked beside him, her eyes scanning every shadow for signs of movement. Haru grumbled at the rear, clearly still upset about the lack of sleep, while Akane moved like a phantom, her presence barely noticeable. The others—Shiro and Rin—remained quiet, their hands never straying far from their weapons.
"The Kisaragi Clan," Haru muttered, kicking a stray piece of rubble. "Of all the people we could ask for help, it had to be them."
"Do you have a better idea?" Akane shot back.
"They're not exactly known for their generosity."
"They're not known for their mercy, either," Yeon added.
Daijin didn't respond. He had dealt with the Kisaragi before. They were killers, survivors of the old world's brutal power struggles. Some had once served under Daichi Sato, but when his empire fell, they had gone rogue. Now, they operated like ghosts—assassins, mercenaries, and information brokers who answered to no one but themselves.
And they were their only hope.
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The Hidden Fortress
The entrance to the Kisaragi stronghold was buried beneath the ruins of a collapsed shopping district. To the untrained eye, it looked like nothing more than another pile of debris. But Daijin knew better.
He knelt near a broken wall, fingers brushing over an old metal panel covered in dust. A few sharp taps on the surface, and a faint click echoed through the air. The ground trembled slightly before a section of the floor shifted, revealing a hidden passage.
Haru whistled. "Fancy."
"Move," Daijin ordered.
One by one, they descended into the darkness, the entrance sealing shut behind them. The underground tunnel stretched ahead, dimly lit by flickering lights embedded in the stone walls. The air was cold, carrying the scent of oil and steel.
At the end of the tunnel, a set of reinforced doors stood tall. Before Daijin could knock, they slid open with a hiss.
A dozen armed warriors waited inside, their weapons drawn.
At the center of them stood a man dressed in a long black coat, his silver hair tied back. His eyes, sharp and piercing, locked onto Daijin with an expression of mild amusement.
"Well, well," the man drawled. "Look what the wind dragged in."
Daijin met his gaze without flinching. "Hello, Raizo."
Raizo Kisaragi—the leader of the Kisaragi Clan.
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A Dangerous Proposition
The warriors did not lower their weapons, even as Raizo stepped forward, arms crossed.
"You have some nerve coming here, Daijin," Raizo said, his voice calm but edged with warning. "Last I recall, we don't take kindly to uninvited guests."
Daijin remained unfazed. "We need your help."
Raizo chuckled. "That's new. You, asking for help? Tell me, why should I care?"
"Tenshi," Daijin said simply.
The room went silent.
For the first time, Raizo's playful demeanor faded. He studied Daijin carefully, then glanced at Yeon. "You've been causing quite the commotion, haven't you?"
Yeon tensed. "What do you mean?"
Raizo smirked. "Tenshi has eyes everywhere, little assassin. He's been watching you. Watching all of you." His gaze returned to Daijin. "And now, you bring him to my doorstep?"
Daijin clenched his fists. "He's coming for all of us. If you think you're safe, you're a fool."
Raizo exhaled, rubbing his temple. "And what do you expect me to do? Fight your war for you?"
"We fight together," Daijin corrected. "Tenshi won't stop until he controls everything. That includes you."
Raizo was silent for a long moment. Then, he chuckled.
"Interesting." He gestured for his men to lower their weapons.
"You want my help, Daijin?" Raizo's smirk returned. "Then prove your worth."
Daijin frowned. "What are you suggesting?"
Raizo's grin widened. "A trial, of course. If you want the Kisaragi Clan's loyalty, you'll have to earn it the old-fashioned way."
The air grew heavy with tension.
"Tomorrow, at dawn," Raizo continued, "you and your people will fight against my strongest warriors."
Haru groaned. "Great. More fighting."
Raizo ignored him. "Survive, and we'll talk. Lose…" He tilted his head. "Well, let's just say you won't be around to worry about Tenshi anymore."
Daijin's jaw tightened, but he nodded. "Fine."
Raizo laughed. "Good. Then rest while you can. You'll need it."
As the group was led to their quarters, Yeon glanced at Daijin.
"This is insane," she muttered. "We just barely survived Renji. Now we have to fight an entire clan?"
Daijin's eyes darkened.
"If we want to kill Tenshi, we need allies."
Yeon sighed. "I hope you know what you're doing."
Daijin didn't answer.
Because the truth was, he didn't.
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In the Shadows
Unbeknownst to them, a lone figure stood in the rafters above, hidden within the darkness.
Renji.
His lips curled into a small smirk as he watched Daijin and his group disappear down the corridor.
"So, this is your plan, Daijin?" he whispered. "Gathering allies?"
His fingers tightened around his blade.
"Let's see how long they last."
With a silent step, he vanished into the darkness.
Tenshi was going to love this.
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