Chapter 11: The Battle of Gaikyo Begins! Return of an Old Enemy
Gaikyo is caught unawares.
PREVIOUS: Chapter 10
Natsuru had to admit -- Toya wasn't doing a bad job. He and the rest of the Azure Bastion men were whipping the young men of the city into fighting shape. The old-timers joined in too, though Toya told them they'd be serving more as a defensive role alongside the women.
And those women had the most important role of all.
The elder witches, those lower witches who left VENOM's service to get married and create families, formed the backbone of Toya's defense strategy. They, together with their lower witch daughters, would use their magical capabilities to counter Haiirosen's Tempest Archers. The abolition of VENOM had no effect on how the witches of Gaikyo organized themselves; there were still upper, elder, and lower witches, and Natsuru Machida was still their Chief Witch, even if she was now under Toya's authority. Thus, organizing the witches was Natsuru's responsibility.
Natsuru was drilling a mixed group of elder and lower witches in the use of telekinesis when a young lower witch came running over to them.
"Chief Witch! It's bad, it's really bad!" the young redhead shouted.
Natsuru lowered a sharpened stick of bamboo that she was levitating. "What's the problem, Kosugi?"
The witch, named Junko Kosugi, gave her answer, "I found a bunch of these weird gray bricks, all over the city, and they have some kind of awful magic on them. It's seriously evil stuff too -- the Firekeepers told me as much when I took it to them."
"Evil magic, you say? What do these bricks do?" Natsuru asked. The witches she was drilling wanted to know the same thing.
"I'm not sure, and the Firekeepers aren't either,. I just think that we can't leave these lying around," Kosugi said.
"Thank you; in these times we have to be ready for any possibility," Natsuru said. She refocused her attention on the witches she was drilling. "Do any of you know who's been placing those bricks?"
About a quarter of the hands shot up.
"Wachi," Natsuru said, pointing at a middle-aged woman in the front.
"I saw a young man placing these things by Oshima's dojo and the Onodera Estate a few weeks back. But I never thought much of it," Wachi answered.
"Do you know what he looked like?" Natsuru asked, hoping it wasn't one of Toya's men.
"Ah, he had a big scar on his arm," Wachi said.
"Wait, that's Hari Uemura, isn't it?" an elderly woman added.
"Yeah, you're right!"
"And there was another -- Onuki's son, I think."
A general chatter arose among the women; now was the time to strike.
"Hold on, hold on, hold on. Do all the bricks look the same?" Natsuru asked.
"As far as I can tell, yes," Wachi said.
"Good -- then we know what to look for. Scour the entire city for these bricks and take them to the blacksmith shop," Natsuru said.
The women all gave their approval, and the search was on.
Natsuru went house-by-house, starting with places close to the Onodera Estate. She found a brick by every single house. When people asked what she was doing, she told them, and they joined the search too.
Bit by bit, the bricks piled up in front of the blacksmith shop. Soon enough, Natsuru didn't have to do any searches on her own because people were finding brick after brick.
Natsuru was much more interested in the men who placed the bricks there.
She returned to the Estate and entered the main hall. The sight before her was just what she hoped for -- Toya's men held the two culprits tied to chairs while spears were pointed at them.
Satomi and Angira weren't there, so it was just a sea of blue square waves.
"Honey, you're just in time. These two tried to slip away, but they didn't get far once your ladies spread the word," Toya said.
"A bunch of Haiirosen people had snuck in too. We even found their bows and arrows in people's houses," another man added.
"We've got some more in custody back in the dojo," another man said.
"Good. Looks like we got lucky," Natsuru said.
But then, there were distant booms, like thunderclaps. Thing is, it was a clear day and there was no reason for anything to make that noise.
Then a dark thought hit Natsuru.
"Mobilize everyone right now. They've already decided to attack," Natsuru said.
"Are you sure?" Toya asked.
"Yes, just do it!" Natsuru answered.
Natsuru ran outside the estate, shouting that Haiirosen's attack had already started. A huge clamor arose as men and boys picked up their axes and spears while witches picked up their wands. Nonmagical girls and women got in on the act too, snatching up whatever weapons were on hand.
There was no time to search for Satomi or Angira -- she had to go to the Ryoshoku River right away. She joined up with a mixed group of elder and lower witches who were heading in the same direction.
Midori Okamoto was among them.
"Chief Witch, we'll follow your lead," Midori said.
Feels so good to be called that, Natsuru thought.
"Right. Everyone, brace yourselves. This is going to be dangerous," Natsuru said, shouting over the general chatter.
Natsuru gripped her staff, gathering magic power as she led the witches to the river. She sniffed the air, and there was the unmistakable aroma of smoke, yet she didn't see anything that could be causing it.
But it didn't take Natsuru long to figure out what happened.
No, Jiyumura's been...
She had no time to think of the implications because a more immediate problem came floating down the river, in numerous boats marked with gray stripes. A bunch of them just went up to the bank and climbed out, or crewmen laid down ramps for the horses on the large barges to charge off of.
But the witches didn't wait for everyone to disembark. A stream of caltrops and nails flew at speed from the assembled witches, bombarding the enemy with a storm of deadly metal. The Tempest archers were big, juicy targets, so everyone focused on those. One older witch handed Natsuru a leather bag full of caltrops so she could join in too.
Natsuru thrust the bag forward, sending the entire contents into the air. She channeled energy through her staff, and stopped them in midair, then spotted a bunch of Tempest archers on barges floating up. With a mighty swing, Natsuru sent the caltrops right at them.
There were flashes of light and claps of thunder as the caltrops met their targets. Every piece of metal hit home; horse and rider alike became lame or dead, and non-mounted warriors, crowded into boats, did not live to fight another day. A dark red tint filled the waters of the Ryoshoku.
But it was not enough. It was not even close to enough, for every Haiirosen soldier or cavalryman killed, five more took his place. In this situation, there was only one thing Natsuru could do.
"Fall back, everyone," Natsuru shouted. At once, Natsuru and the other witches retreated into central Gaikyo, where everyone, magical or not, braced themselves for an attack. Natsuru ignored the strain in her burning muscles. She would defend this city even if it killed her.
Natsuru and the other witches had much more potent weapons at hand now -- bricks, fired specifically for this purpose. They had been able to make a lot, and Natsuru was only too happy to have all those bricks on hand.
Because the Tempest archers were coming right now, and they were ready to destroy.
Then Tempest archers rode in by the dozens, bows drawn back with arrows glowing blue. All at the same time, they released their payload. The streaks of blue shot past Natsuru and her witches.
But it was cold comfort.
The arrows exploded inside Gaikyo itself, launching splinters everywhere and dirtying the air with smoke and sawdust. The bricks were knocked askew, but Natsuru could still use them. The only thing witches levitated them and launched them at speed, knocking the Tempest Archers down. The burning in Natsuru's muscles only intensified, so her heart sank when even more Tempest archers showed up and launched their arrows into Gaikyo.
The Venerian Republic's premier city became a riot of fire and smoke. The men of the city struggled against Hairoisen's foot soldiers, while the witches did their best to fell the Tempest archers.
But it was a hard battle. The shafts of explosive arrows bombarded the city, setting homes and workshops ablaze.
It wasn't as if the upper witches had no impact. Natsuru launched bricks at clumped-up groups of Tempest Archers, making the best use of her scarce energy. Satomi's floating caltrops proved amazingly efficient at taking out large numbers of foot soldiers by trapping them in nets of lightning. Angira's healed people and kept them in the fight, though it pushed her to her physical limits. The lower witches and the elder witches proved to be the decisive factor, as their magic kept the Haiirosen forces from advancing.
But keeping them from advancing was not the same as turning them away, and the attackers continued to replenish their numbers. All Gaikyo's people could do was break even and hold the line, keeping the enemy trapped between the eastern city limits and the Ryoshoku River.
Sheer pain overtook Natsuru, but she couldn't stop now. She wanted to rush to the front line and be with Toya and his men, but she had to stay and lead her witches. All of them, remained in the city center, ready to defend in case the enemy punched through the defensive line.
However, she had to expect the unexpected.
"We're going to advance south," Natsuru told her witches.
"Wait, why? The men's line might not hold, and the city center's defenses would be weakened," a lower witch asked.
"I think they're trying to dupe us by making us concentrate on the east," Natsuru said.
"How do you know that?" the lower witch asked.
"This attack at this time was unexpected. It's possible that they're preparing another surprise attack," Natsuru answered.
An elder witch spoke up. "Let's go. I don't wanna chance losing our only home."
A chorus of 'me neither' answered that, raising Natsuru's spirits.
"Let's go," Natsuru said.
"Lead the way, Chief Witch," the earlier elder witch said.
Defying her muscles' pain, Natsuru led her witches outside of the city, marching southward. The distant rumbling of horse hooves told her that she was headed in the right direction.
"Everyone, brace yourselves," Natsuru said, getting into a fighting stance.
An elder witch went through the assembled women, placing bricks at their feet; someone had the foresight to gather some.
"Thank you," Natsuru said after she received hers. Natsuru and the other witches raised the bricks, using their power, ready to launch them at a moment's notice.
If they think they'll surprise us, they've got another thing coming, Natsuru thought.
The galloping grew into an ominous rumble, and soon, the enemy was in sight.
Only they were spread out. Tempest Archers wide apart from each other, approached, arrows at the ready.
Natsuru launched her bricks, but her fatigue threw off her aim; only one hit home. The other witches had better luck, but picking them off one-by-one wasn't enough -- they were replaced as soon as they fell.
Then the arrows flew.
Streaks of blue tore through the ranks of the witches. Where once devoted mothers and respected matrons stood, now there was meat paste.
Another savage salvo. This time, half of the lower witches became a bloody pile of heads and limbs.
Finally, one well-placed arrow took out the last of the elder witches in the group. All that remained was Natsuru and a group of frightened lower witches, surrounded by death.
And by the Tempest archers as they encircled the women.
A figure in a brilliant gold gi atop a white horse, this horse bedecked in gray-striped cloth, rode forward. He held his bow in hand, but he had no arrow ready.
As the figure rode closer, Natsuru gathered the last of her power into her staff as a horrible recognition came over her.
It was Kei Kaneshiro.
"It's great to see you again, Chief Witch. No, scratch that -- you no longer have that title, do you? Your office has been dissolved," Kei said, his voice booming with an otherworldly tone.
"How did you -- you forced it out of Ryotaro Isesaki, didn't you?" Natsuru asked.
"That failure of a man? No -- you all told us. We've been listening in on you for a while now!" Kei answered.
"How?"
"You found the bricks, didn't you? Not that it matters now."
So that's what that magical aura was, Natsuru thought.
Kei spoke past Natsuru, addressing the lower witches.
"Disarm at once, or you'll end up like your comrades," Kei said.
The lower witches gripped their wands, their hands trembling.
One lower witch raised up three bricks with her wand. "I'll never surrender to the likes of you!" she shrieked, her small voice carrying great weight. She launched her bricks at Kei, but Kei dismounted just in time for them to sail harmlessly past him, though the thunderclap they created disoriented him and his horse for a short.
But Kei and his mount recovered fast, like it was only a mild annoyance.
How? She's driven wild hogs deaf with that move, Natsuru thought.
Natsuru had no time to figure things out because Kei's retribution was swift. Kei aimed an arrow, it glowed blue. He let it fly.
That lower witch was now a splash of blood, bone, and brains. For good measure, Kei took out two more, adding to the pungent pile of spilled innards.
"Stop it!" Natsuru yelled.
Natsuru squeezed more power into her staff and launched herself at Kei.
You will not bring down this city! All of Natsuru's indignation came rushing at Kei.
Only for Kei to plant a foot in her stomach.
The blow knocked the wind out of Natsuru. She dropped her staff and fell to her knees as all the fatigue caught up with her. Her energy drained, all she could do was stare blankly at Kei, unable to even move.
Kei addressed the lower witches again. "As I said, disarm at once,"
With some hesitation, the lower witches laid their wands on the grass.
No...NO! Natsuru feared the worst.
Several of the Tempest Archers dismounted with ropes in their hands. They made their way over to the surviving lower witches, who now held their hands up. The archers jammed the lowers' faces into the guts of their elders, then tied their wrists.
"Let me go!"
"Get away from me!"
"Help!"
"I don't want you!"
Kei turned Natsuru around to show her the archers carrying off the kicking and screaming lower witches.
"Do you see it? Your precious pupils taken in hand by my men?" Kei asked as the archers bound the lowers across their saddles. All of them flipped back the lowers' skirts and laughed as the lowers screamed for them to stop.
"They're still too young...how could you?" Natsuru asked.
"Because fresh young maidens make suitable spoils of war. Wouldn't you agree?" Kei asked.
"That's just disgusting...all of you are," Natsuru answered with what little strength she had left.
"But do you know what else makes great spoils?" Kei asked as he knelt down behind Natsuru. He laid his fingers on the crown of Natsuru's head and traced the strands of her hair to the base of her ponytail. He slid his hands down her neck, then slid them to her upper body, where he gripped her breasts. "Comely witches in the full flower of their womanhood, especially when they think they can give anyone orders!"
Natsuru couldn't resist this violation of her body. With ease, Kei forced her to her feet, then slung her over his shoulder.
At once, a Tempest Archer ran over to Kei.
"General, this won't do," the archer said.
"What do you propose, then?" Kei asked.
The archer gripped Natsuru's skirt and tore it off, revealing a bottom clad in finely woven underwear, along with a most shapely pair of legs. He removed Natsuru's sandals as well.
"Much better, don't you think?" the archer asked. He slapped Natsuru's bottom.
"Very good indeed!" Kei said. He then addressed the rest of the archers. "Behold, the Chief Witch of Gaikyo!" he said, displaying Natsuru like a prize.
Natsuru didn't respond. She couldn't respond, as she had lost consciousness. Kei showed her around, pleased with himself for having taken hold of Gaikyo's most beautiful enchantress.
"You sharing her, General?" an archer asked.
"I cannot. A witch of this quality demands exclusive use. If only Toya Oshima could see that this woman is no longer his!" Kei shouted that last part.
He laid Natsuru across his saddle and bound her wrists behind her back, while also fastening her to the saddle. He smacked the inert witch on the bottom, then commanded every archer, with a lower witch to follow him, and every archer without one to go attack Gaikyo.
Kei had proven his worth as a warrior of Moloch.
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