We Will Win

Winter Gale stood ready to march, her long, ice-blue hair stirring in the wind. Her magnificent deep-purple robes rustled like a fluttering battle flag.

She raised her head toward the sky. Dark clouds rolled in from the west like a surging black tide, gradually swallowing the entire sky at a speed visible to the naked eye.

The heavy snowfall had quietly stopped the day before, the great flakes no longer drifting down.

Sunlight and warmer temperatures had melted the surface of the snow underfoot, and every step brought a crunch.

Beneath the gray sky, upon the snow-white earth, the leopard cats were as jubilant as if basking in the morning sun.

It was as though a grand celebration was about to begin.

And they would be its stars.

Winter Gale stood before the earthen platform at their outpost, her gaze sharp as an eagle's as she surveyed the eager subordinates and companions below, their demonic auras filling the air. She carefully assessed their fighting strength.

Spring Gale isn't much of a frontline fighter, but her support abilities are outstanding. She can get our main force past those pups' noses and eyes and straight into their faces.

Summer Gale and Autumn Gale are both above average among captain-level fighters, though this weather will keep Summer Gale from fighting at full strength.

But with me, Winter Gale, here, that won't be a problem.

Beneath Winter Gale's high, straight nose, the corners of her lips curled upward with confidence. Without hesitation, she reached her conclusion.

We will win!

And besides...

Winter Gale cast an almost imperceptible glance at the heavens. Elder Chi Yan's unexpected visit the previous night had given her quite a fright.

To have an elder-level figure appear for a raid on a mere Dog Tribe outpost had left Winter Gale both surprised and delighted.

She could more or less guess why. After all, her little admirer Summer Gale was Elder Chi Yan's favorite descendant, and the one most likely to become a High-Level Yokai.

Now that they were venturing beyond leopard cat territory to strike inside Dog Tribe Territory, it was only natural for Elder Chi Yan, who doted on his descendants, to come along and oversee the battle.

I'm no slouch either. Spring Gale and Autumn Gale have the potential to become elders too.

Starting today, we'll make a name for the four leopard cat siblings.

Countless thoughts raced through Winter Gale's mind like scenes in a revolving lantern, though only two or three seconds passed.

Facing the leopard cats' burning gazes, she stepped forward and swept her arm forcefully. Her cool voice carried a bold, heroic spirit characteristic of a man as she called out to them.

"Everyone, follow me into battle! We'll take the Dog Tribe by surprise! Let the demons of the Western Country see clearly that this vast, boundless land is still where the Leopard Cat roam and rule!"

"Raaah!"

The leopard cats answered with a deafening chorus of howls, brimming with hunger for battle and certainty of victory.

Under Spring Gale's guidance, the scattered demonic auras swiftly gathered and mingled as though controlled by an invisible hand, forming a White Mist Barrier that concealed their presence and hid them from view.

Beneath the dim sky, through the frost-white mountain forest, the leopard cat company of over forty charged into the howling north wind toward the Dog Tribe's mountain outpost.

Only the footprints along the way bore witness to their passage.

High in the sky, a slender figure spread a red barrier that concealed his presence.

An intimidating aura radiated from him. Red fur tightly protected his vital areas, combining a leopard's untamed wildness with a cat's graceful agility.

His elegant, curvaceous figure swayed slightly with his movements, like a flower of flame blooming in the heavens.

Chi Yan gazed down at Winter Gale and the others, satisfaction slowly appearing in his scarlet eyes.

The Dog Tribe merely got lucky and produced a king while our tribe wasn't paying attention. That won't happen again. Among the younger generation, only our leopard cat tribe stands above the rest!

Chi Yan unconsciously touched the vicious claw scar across his pale chest. It was an indelible mark of humiliation, one that had nearly torn his heart out.

At the thought of how the Dog Tribe Grand Elder had left that scar, words cold enough to chill the bone spilled from her fiery red lips.

"You old fossils of the Dog Tribe, cling to your love for your people and watch your pups go to hell!"

Chi Yan moved, vanishing into the dark clouds as he followed Winter Gale and the others.

Halfway up the mountain, the Dog Tribe outpost lay silent.

Tōga stood quietly within it. The deep-blue divine light in his eyes slowly faded, like stars disappearing behind clouds in the night sky.

He turned his head slightly, his piercing gaze falling upon the two figures to his left.

One was his teacher, the Dog Tribe Grand Elder—a renowned powerhouse throughout the Western Country and an undisputed pillar of the tribe.

The other was the second elder, who looked middle-aged. His face was cold and fierce, like an icy slab of stone, and he exuded an imposing presence without a trace of anger.

His left sleeve flapped freely in the howling winter wind, its empty length like a silent flag sobbing in the gusts.

The Panther Cat Third Elder had bitten off his left arm in the great battle ten years earlier. Yet that pain had not made him shrink back; instead, it had only made the fighting spirit in his eyes burn brighter.

Tōga drew a deep breath, his expression solemn and resolute. "The big cat has made his move. Elders, sorry for the trouble, but please stay concealed near Ringetsu and me and wait for an opening."

"No problem. We'll follow your arrangements, kid. Once the battle is over, I still have plenty to ask you."

The second elder raised a thick eyebrow. A vicious gleam flashed in his eyes, and his voice carried a bone-chilling coldness.

"I lost an arm last time. This time, I'll make their fifth elder pay for it!"

The Great Elder nodded slightly as well, his gaze firm as iron. "Tōga, rest assured. Today, Chi Yan and his kittens will die. Our victory is certain!"

Tōga had no doubts about the two elders' bold declarations. These were not empty words, but confident statements backed by their formidable strength. The outcome was already as good as settled.

His battle plan was also very simple. Spring Gale's illusions could fool ordinary Dog Yokai's noses and eyes, but they could not evade Tōga's Mind's Eye of the Netherworld.

As soon as the leopard cats set out, he had sent the two captains other than himself and Ringetsu to take the three patrol teams and lie in ambush around the foot of the mountain.

They were simply waiting to give Winter Gale a tremendous surprise when she thought her scheme had succeeded.

As the two elders concealed themselves, Tōga turned his gaze to Ringetsu, who sat calmly, cool and aloof as the moon.

The girl's lively eyes shone like stars in the night sky. Before Tōga could give her instructions, she spoke first. "Leave that so-called Winter Gale to me."

She lifted her chin slightly, her brilliant golden eyes revealing an innate pride and confidence.

In the coming battle, soldiers would face soldiers and commanders would face commanders. Such were the unspoken understandings and rules of the battlefield.

As the core fighting strength of the leopard cat force, Winter Gale and her three siblings would naturally be met by the four captains on Tōga's side.

Ringetsu had volunteered because Tōga had said Winter Gale was the strongest leopard cat in the attacking Panther Cat Companies.

And she, Ringetsu, would yield to no one in her life-except the dog she had chosen!