Flower Capital, Orochi Castle.
"Where is the Guardian Bright King?" Kurozumi Orochi paced anxiously around the palace. "At Kaido's speed, shouldn't he have arrived by now?"
"Could it be that I did something wrong and angered Kaido?" Kurozumi Orochi said, indulging in self-pity. "Could it be that Kaido wants to replace me with a better partner?"
"Partner? I'd say puppet!" the Oniwa-ban muttered with their heads lowered.
"General Orochi, there's no need to worry." Kyoshiro comforted him with a beaming smile. "Kaido was probably delayed on the road. He'll arrive before long."
"After all, a partner as obedient as you is very hard to find!"
Kurozumi Orochi completely failed to detect the sarcasm and kept nodding. "That's right. Kaido definitely won't abandon me."
Just then, a fierce slash flew toward them.
Kyoshiro quickly stepped in front of Kurozumi Orochi and knocked the flying slash away with a single stroke.
Then the dome split apart.
The palace toppled to both sides.
Only then did Kurozumi Orochi, seemingly scared witless, react. He shouted, "Someone help! Assassins! There are assassins!"
"Don't bother wasting your breath." A large group of people came in from outside. Kawamatsu led them, no longer able to conceal the delight in his heart. "Aside from those few, everyone in your palace has either fled or surrendered. No one is willing to risk their life for you."
As he spoke, someone in the crowd shouted, "General Orochi, hurry up and surrender to the royal army!"
"You—you traitors actually have the nerve to speak!" Kurozumi Orochi trembled with rage.
"Fukurokuju, Kyoshiro, what about you? Do you still intend to follow him?" Kawamatsu asked.
Kurozumi Orochi nervously glanced to the side, terrified that the two of them had defected as well.
"As samurai, how could we possibly betray our lord?" Kyoshiro said