Game’s Dogma

Mori Ranmaru released his hand from his katana and gestured for them to enter.

‘This way please.’

The soldier who led the way sighed in relief; he had no intention of entering. As long as his lord allowed the six guests to enter, his mission was completed.

The inner temple’s door was even larger than the Honno-ji front door, standing at eight metres tall and five metres wide. An eerily cold aura seeped from the temple the moment its door opened. They shuddered involuntarily, while Drako Yau mobilised his ice-elemental force and dismissed the cold aura.

In the large and dim temple sat two persons. One was a delicate lady who wore a kimono which displayed her slim and long legs, and the little mole on the corner of her mouth made her all the more charming.

There were three futons in the centre, but only the middle one was occupied. A man was kneeling on the futon with his back facing the six of them. In front of him were almost a hundred candles dedicated to a giant Buddha statue, and the candles were the only source of light in the temple.

The man’s demon-like shadow fluttered along with the flickering candlelight. He had black hair and wore a set of black armour, contrasted by a blood-red cloak that reached the ground on his back. The cloak was like flowing blood when staring at it intently, while wails of ghosts could be vaguely heard.

Even though Drako Yau was merely staring at the man, he felt as if the man was a black hole, sucking in and devouring everything. The surrounding air, the dying candlelight, everything swayed around him.

A terrifying person.

Drako Yau was amazed. It wasn’t that he had never seen powerful people. However, this was the first time he had seen someone with such a strongly aggressive aura.

The man stood up suddenly. As if he was the room’s master, the surrounding candles flamed up vigorously.

‘I, am Oda Nobunaga.’ The man turned around and showed his handsome face. The two shrubs of moustache between his nose and lips made him a heroic figure. ‘What might your names be?’

Sasaki, Danting, Idyllic Poet, Greenstone, and Windstrider all subconsciously took a step back. Oda Nobunaga was simply looking at them without intentionally letting out his aura; it was simply his innate atmosphere.

It didn’t mean Oda Nobunaga was stronger than Ichor Hon. It was only because ODa Nobunaga’s aura had an intense aggressiveness to it that it couldn’t be fully concealed.

Drako Yau was the only one who stood his ground. He would’ve done the same as the others a month ago, but now that he had a grasp of his internal powers, he could actively dissipate the incoming aura. He looked into Oda Nobunaga’s eyes and replied, ‘You may call me Mask.’

‘Mask?’ Oda Nobunaga smiled. ‘Not bad at all. I’m nowhere as capable as you are now when I was your age.

Mori Ranmaru and the beauty both had stunned looks as they turned their focus onto Drako Yau. Even though Oda Nobunaga behaved bizarrely in his early days, he had overwhelming talent, yet he was now admitting he hadn’t been as talented as this young man? 

The beauty was naturally Oda Nobunaga’s wife, Lady Noh.

When Oda Nobunaga was sizing up Drako Yau, Drako Yau did the same. He was very interested in the man who had nearly succeeded in uniting Japan.

Oda Nobunaga, who had the title ‘Devil of the Sixth Heaven’, was worthy of his reputation and fame. The Oda family crest was engraved onto his armour. Others used to describe him as ‘hellfire wrapped in black apparel’.

‘What might be the reason why Brother Hon sent you young’uns here?’ Oda Nobunaga looked at the group with a sincere look, but his domineering atmosphere of a demon king made it difficult for them to answer him.

Just when Drako Yau was about to reply, the system’s voice popped up in their heads at the same time.

‘Quest received: Protect Oda Nobunaga.

Success: Oda Nobunaga survives.

Failure: Oda Nobunaga dies.

Special condition: Akechi Mitsuhide’s betrayal must not be disclosed to anyone of the Oda family. Failure will result in a five-level penalty, permanent deduction of 10 Constitution, and immediate failure of the quest.’

They were startled upon receiving the quest notification, especially the special condition. If Drako Yau told Oda Nobunaga that they were here because of Akechi Mitsuhide’s betrayal, they’d all lose levels right away.

‘Sir Hon hopes that we can learn from Sir Oda and join your army as guards’, Drako Yau came up with a solution quickly and answered calmly.

‘Hmm,’ Oda Nobunaga said, seemingly hinting at something, ‘Brother Hon knows me well indeed to have sent six talented youngsters over at once.’

Oda Nobunaga, as a ruthless person with great ambitions, naturally thirsted for talented people. While the six of them had strange outfits from his perspective, he knew they were great prospects from the fact that they didn’t shudder in fear even under his oppressive aura.

‘Hmph, my lord. I refuse to believe there is anyone more talented than my lord.’

Mori Ranmaru stepped forwards; even Lady Noh shot a dissatisfied glance at him. It was rare for him to act rashly when he knew Oda Nobunaga was a person whose emotions were unpredictable.

Oda Nobunaga laughed and said, ‘What do you want then?’

Mori Ranmaru took two steps towards Drako Yau and said with intense battle intent in his eyes, ‘I challenge you to a duel!’

Drako Yau stared into Mori Ranmaru’s eyes. Before he could answer, Sasaki who was standing behind him walked up.

‘You are not qualified to challenge my brother.’

Sasaki, given his status, knew how to conceal his identity as well.

‘Ohoho, interesting.’ Oda Nobunaga made no attempt at stopping them, or rather, he was intrigued by the two youngsters who were about to cross blades.

Drako Yau also did the same. He knew the first condition to clearing the quest was to stay by Oda Nobunaga’s side.

In the Sengoku Period (Warring States Period), one’s value lay in one’s strength. They weren’t qualified to stay by Oda Nobunaga’s side if they couldn’t even pass the first trial.

‘Beware, for the blade knows not how to hold back.’

Mori Ranmaru’s young face carried a great sense of pride. As his lord’s closest armed aide, he had his own pride.

‘Take this!’

Mori Ranmaru drew his katana from his waist and slashed at Sasaki from across the room. A wave cut through the air towards Sasaki.

Sasaki kept his composure and gently caressed the hilt of his sword, then abruptly unsheathed it.

Without any noticeable movement, Sasaki had already drawn his sword. A swallow-shaped force shot out from the top of his sword.

Blade Master also branched off into two iaijutsu branches at Level 20: Aerial Breaker and Flurry Gale.

Aerial Breaker originated from Sasaki Kojirou’s style. When he was still honing his technique, others once saw him practising with his katana among flocks of swallows. His swings also created swallow-shaped airwaves. His techniques were later passed down as Tsubame Gaeshi, ‘Swallow Reversal’.

Flurry Gale pursued the true ideal of iaijutsu, the pinnacle of sword fighting. With lightning speed, they shall cut down their enemies like the wind.

The skill Sasaki used belonged to the Aerial Breaker branch—Lone Swallow.

The two airwaves clashed against one another mid-air. The candles in the temple flickered, and everyone’s shadows waved back and forth, creating an eerie atmosphere.

‘Good!’ Mori Ranmaru shouted.

As the head of Oda Nobunaga’s youth guards, he was also a battle maniac. Seeing Sasaki respond without a tint of fear, he lunged at Sasaki with intense battle intent in his eyes.

Sasaki snorted at the incoming youngster. Before his legs started moving, he was already sliding forwards as he dashed forwards to meet Mori Ranmaru while drawing traces along the ground.

It might seem like a simple movement method, but it was in fact a crucial skill of the Blade Master class.

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