Final Battle (Please Keep Reading!!)

Flower Capital, Tenshukaku, on a terrace on one of the floors.

Ian had transformed into the golden Golden Armored Winged Man and was sitting cross-legged on the ground.

His right hand was open, palm up, while his left gripped his right wrist. A mass of golden flame surged from his palm, flickering continuously before his eyes.

Ian furrowed his brow, staring fixedly at the flame before him.

He was training.

He had no idea what willpower even was.

But since it was called willpower, it had to be related to the mind, right?

Ian was now trying his hardest to focus his mental energy on the flame in his hand.

Focus, focus harder. Think of nothing. Let his heart be completely filled with the flame in his hand.

Make the flame submit entirely to his control.

Ian's breathing had nearly stopped.

"Whew—"

He suddenly let out a long breath.

It was completely useless.

As expected, it wasn't so easy to get started.

But the method should be right.

At its core, wasn't willpower simply the power of thought? Concentrating should be the correct approach.

Take it slowly. He would succeed eventually.

"Your Majesty Ian!"

Fukurokuju hurried over and dropped to one knee before Ian. "I have investigated it clearly. The rebels from the three regions have joined forces. They have camped at the border between the Flower Capital and Udon, and they should launch their attack tomorrow."

Ian returned to human form. "Have the troops assembled?"

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Fukurokuju nodded. "They can set out at any time."

In his opinion, they should launch a night raid while the enemy troops were resting and settle everything in a single battle.

"Then we'll leave tomorrow morning."

That was what Ian said.

Fukurokuju did not understand.

No matter how he thought about it, a night raid would be much easier to win than a frontal clash, wouldn't it?

"Yes."

Still, he nodded respectfully.

He was only a ninja. All he needed to do was obey orders.

Ian's thinking was actually very simple. Since the ordinary soldiers were insignificant, and the only real opponents were those few Daimyo—

It made no difference whether they went early or late, so why not get a good night's sleep?

"I'll go make preparations first."

Fukurokuju took his leave.

Ian watched his departing back.

To be fair, although he was a fence-sitter, his work ability was truly outstanding. Anything entrusted to him was handled in perfect order.

Ian was about to continue training when he suddenly raised an eyebrow. A small red horn poked out from beside the doorframe.

His lips curled slightly. "Come out."

"Hehe!"

Yamato's cheerful face poked out from behind the door. "I heard it!"

"Huh? Heard what?"

Ian asked with a blank look. "What did you hear?"

"Don't try to fool me!"

Yamato stomped over angrily, thump, thump, thump, and looked down at Ian from above. "I heard everything! Ian, you're going to do something really fun, aren't you?"

"I! Want! To! Go! Too!"

She enunciated every word.

Ian pressed his lips together. "It won't be fun at all."

How could war possibly be fun?

Killing people had never been something that made Ian happy.

"Besides, it'll be dangerous."

Ian looked seriously into the girl's golden eyes.

He would be fine. Even if he couldn't win, no one could stop him from escaping with his defensive power and ability to fly.

But this girl was different.

She was indeed exceptionally gifted, but she was still too young and too weak.

"That's exactly why I have to go with you!"

Yamato said as though it were only natural. "How can I let you face danger alone?"

Ian's mouth twitched.

He was touched, sure, but was there any chance that bringing her along would only make things more dangerous?

"Anyway, I don't care!"

Yamato sniffed, plopped down beside Ian, and tightly hugged his arm, puffing out her cheeks. "I'm going with you! If you don't agree, I absolutely won't let go!"

She truly meant what she said. When Ian went to bathe, she had even tried to follow him into the bathhouse.

Ian could only remain dirty for the time being. After all, this Yamato had never considered herself a boy.

When it was time to sleep, she unceremoniously burrowed into Ian's blankets as well, declaring confidently, "It's been so long since I slept with Ian! We used to sleep together all the time!"

Because you were growing up, kid.

When she was four or five, he could still sleep beside her and tell her stories, but as she grew older, that was no longer appropriate.

Wait, Teacher Kai had never spoiled Yamato this much, had he? Could it be that I was the one playing the role of her father?

Ian thought that, but said aloud, "Because I'm afraid you'll wet the bed."

This girl slept incredibly deeply. Once she fell asleep, it was hard to wake her, so she often wet the bed when she was little.

"Hmph!"

Not only was Yamato not embarrassed in the slightest, she even proudly lifted her little chin. "I haven't wet the bed in a long time!"

Was that really something to be proud of?

"Ian!!"

Yamato shook Ian's arm hard. "Let me go! I want to go too!"

She was really clingy.

But that made sense. They had never been apart since she was two years old.

If she were going to do something dangerous, Ian naturally would not feel at ease either.

"Fine, fine,"

Ian finally said, sounding a little impatient. "Go ask Teacher Kai. If he agrees, I have no objections."

"Yay!"

Yamato instantly jumped to her feet. "I'll go ask Dad right now!"

The little girl dashed off in a blur.

It was finally quiet.

Teacher Kai, you won't let me down, right?

Yet that trust was immediately shattered.

Ian had just fallen asleep when hurried footsteps approached. Then the paper door slid open, and the white-haired brat leaped up and pounced on him, happily rolling around.

"Ian! Dad agreed!"

Ian stared expressionlessly at the ceiling, his eyes vacant.

Sure enough, I was this girl's real father, right?

Was this something an old father could do?

After Yamato had played to her heart's content, she giggled and crawled into the blankets. Hugging Ian's arm, she closed her eyes. "All right, sleep!"

The moment she finished speaking, soft, even breathing was already audible.

She really was utterly carefree.

Ian helplessly closed his eyes. Fine, he would just be more careful on the battlefield.

He too fell into a deep sleep.

The next day, it was already late morning when soldiers and ninja gathered outside Tenshukaku.

Ian stood upstairs, gazing into the distance at the plains beyond the Flower Capital. Then he lowered his head.

"Set out."

The army marched.

Time turned back to not long before.

Udon.

The allied forces of the three Daimyo had risen early to cook their meals, and they too had now finished assembling.

"Set out!"

The three Daimyo rode tall horses at the very front of the army, drawing their swords and pointing them toward the Flower Capital in the distance.

On a rocky mountain not far away, Toki quietly watched them depart.

This was Wano Country's final battle.

A battle whose outcome had already been decided.

She did not want to watch it, and simply turned and left.

This truly was the final battle for the people of this country.

But it was not the end. It absolutely was not.