-Middle battlefield, Ouki Mitagi-

Following the victory on the western side, the Zhao fled toward the center. The same day the Zhao on the east fled to the middle, scattered and broken. Ouki smiled. The massive growth of soldiers on the hill across the field from him meant his plan had succeeded.

The Englishman stood by his side and said, "Commander Matsubi reports they have taken the hill on the west and are prepared to hold it or flank the Zhao at your command. Commander Kei Ki reports the eastern forest is ours and he has the Zhao surrounded from the east as well."

"Good. Good! He must be absolutely furious!" Ouki laughed. He stood from his seat and picked up his halberd. "Dragmire came to us as a general of Zhao, but hoped for a battle as a warrior. If he had wanted a duel, I would have obliged him long ago! But the coward thought he could come to my home! Play my game! I will not oblige him. I will fight him my way. I will make him suffer, and when he realizes how defeated he is, then and only then will I satisfy myself with taking his arrow-riddled head."

Ouki motioned to his messenger and said, "Send orders to the commanders on the left and the right, and send an order to General Moubu! Surround the Zhao on all sides! When I sound the trumpet, all sides will converge." Ouki continued his order with a more elaborate plan on how they would destroy the Zhao. The men all bowed and hurried off as quick as they could. Commander Matsubi and Commander Kei Ki were not in sight of the flags, so they needed special messengers sent on horseback or hawks sent. Flags could be motioned to signal Moubu of his orders.

"There is only one way Dragmire can escape his fate..." Ouki grinned ferociously. "If he comes at me, he will die, surrounded and pummeled with arrows. If he retreats, he will have proven himself a coward once again! If he stays, we need only tear him down! He can only live if he flees! How much you want to be he is going to take it?"

"I cannot say, sir. I have not had the displeasure of knowing him."

"Oh, of that is true, but then even you would know what happened the last time Dragmire fought. They stood their ground."

"They all died or were captured and enslaved. Not the most successful strategy."

"Indeed. And Harken Dragmire is at once a coward and thinks himself great at once. He thinks nothing of others. He showed his colors once before. I expect he will show it once more."

Faint movement in the distance stirred and before long Ouki pointed. The Zhao were fleeing north. "Look. Look at him! He has proven himself a coward once again. Nothing has changed!" Ouki motioned to more messengers. "Send a message to the commanders! They are ordered to hold their position. There is a great forest north. We must be careful."

The messengers departed to send the message. At the same time Ouki ordered for the command to be deconstructed and moved north to take the hill Zhao was leaving behind.

Qin took the hill from Zhao, and Ouki and Moubu and Matsubi and Kei Ki looked out north to where Zhao fled, and it was such a dense land of forests and hills that they could not make them out.

"Works for me." Kei Ki smiled.

"No..." Ouki replied. He considered and perceived the Zhao. He knew Kei Ki to be skilled, but Kei Ki's nature would not win against Harken. Kei Ki could not perceive Harken, nor did he have the strength to defeat him. In the same way, Matsubi's men were skilled in defense, but they would be nothing against Harken. This was not a forest filled with men with which they might do battle, it was a forest where a great ogre hid... waiting.

"We must be very careful." Ouki decided. "I have a plan, but it will take patience. Harken Dragmire is a great beast who has hidden himself in the brushes, and you are all nothing more than insects to him. If we are to fight him, we must sow a great web so that when he springs at last, he will be entangled by his own nature. His men are few, but it is at moments like this that you will come to understand how truly dangerous a Dragmire zealot can be." Ouki looked up at the waning sun. It had been a good day, but it was now over. They should not go further. Either Harken will flee back to Zhao, he will stay in the forest and wait. "Assemble your tents closer to my command! We will rest here for the night."

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"What if they continue to flee and go around us! What if they go back after Qin while we tarry here!" Matsubi questioned.

"In most cases, you would be right to think that. However, this is destined. Harken is here for me." Ouki Mitagi replied. "He has a deep seated hatred for Qin, but he is not here for Qin. No... he is here for me. He is here to settle it. He took everything from me, so I took his pride. He wants it back."

"Perhaps, but if he wanted a duel he would have stayed." Moubu said.

"And that is why it is safe to rest here for tonight. He has shown himself for a coward. Let us use that. Flush them out!"

-Behind Ouki's camp, Roboku-

"Most impressive." Roboku said with the greatest admiration. "Ouki Mitagi has completely routed them." The other men from the other nations across Hyrule were similarly impressed, but none had the open admiration the Zhao man had.

"They are your countrymen. I would think you would be sad at such a strong defeat." Moubu's son said.

"I am sad for the losses, do not mistake it, but it goes to show the power of Ouki Mitagi, the Bird of Qin, that seeing his war makes my heart flutter and beat this ferociously. My countrymen are on a complete retreat, and Harken Dragmire has chosen to flee into the forest rather than stand and fight. I had met the man briefly, and I perceived him to be a proud and strong warrior. No, more than that. He was a monster, a ferocious untamable spirit of a beast! Goes to show even he is not unaffected by Ouki's war." Roboku looked to the son of Moubu. "Tell me, son of Qin, can you perceive it? Can you see into Ouki's mind and know what his war is?"

"I can see a bit of it. He places pieces on the field as the field suits them. My father's power suits the open field and the strongest spear. The strong shield of the Royal Guard suited the passage to the west. The cunning of a bandit suited the forest to the east."

"No... that is but a part of it." Roboku sat on a stone and motioned to the west. "Even from here we can barely see the western field, so you can know Ouki could not see it at all. Yet, without the ability to see at all, he saw it! He saw into the mind of his enemy and knew them! In such a short time he has completely understood his enemy and perceived every move they will make. This... is no normal general. He has the instincts of a great warrior and the mind of a strategist... and the eyes of a bird! He has a talent for war born of the heavens. With such a general, it is no wonder Qin is greatly feared among the nations! He truly is the pillar of Qin."

The men chuckled nervously. More than a few found it odd to see the Zhao man praising the Qin general so highly.

"But, alas. It is time to move on." Roboku stood again and started to gather his things. "The battle is going north. I had best be on my way."

"What good will any of us do? If we go north, we could be caught up in the battle. There is nowhere to hide out there that will keep us from the fighting." A man of Lorule argued. The stony Goron of Gorondis nodded in agreement, as did the Zora. The others of Termina and Gerudo also agreed it would be dangerous to leave the castle.

"Then stay, if that is what you wish." Roboku turned and started to leave, but the Qin guard stopped him.

"It is best that you stay here." The Qin said.

"Please, let us stay. It is not often men of so many nations are gathered in one place." Mouki smiled with encouragement. "This is a rare opportunity! Why don't we learn of each other?"

The Zora and Goron briskly looked away from each other, the Gerudo rolled his eyes, the Lorule stood proud and stubbornly closed his lips. The man of Termina was the only one who seemed open to talking and agreed with the young man of Qin. Roboku looked about him, and found he quite liked the lad. The lad was smart enough to understand a portion of Ouki's war, was raised in the house of a general who's offensive abilities was top-grade, and yet had a gentle nobility among his aversaries that spoke of a high degree of charisma. No doubt he learned charisma from Chancellor Ryo, who employed his father.

Roboku expected to be hearing much of this lad in the future.

"Unfortunately, I am not here to learn of you lot. I'm here for Ouki." Roboku replied.

In a swift movement, Roboku extended his hand, pulled the Qin guard's extra knife from his waist, and thrust it up into the man's chin to pierce his head. The diplomats and scholars stepped back fearfully and screamed their surprise. The guards of Qin hesitated, briefly surprised, before hardening themselves and attacking him.

Roboku killed all of the soldiers.

Roboku wiped his newly acquired sword on a dead soldier's clothing. The diplomats and scholars kept their fearful distance. Only Moubu's son dared not move since the whole fight started. He watched Roboku without fear... and he perceived.

"You are more than just a man of Zhao, aren't you? You aren't just a nobody."

"Do not try to perceive me, Mouki, son of Moubu." Roboku rebuked him. "You will not be able to find what you seek, because the truth will disappoint you. I have yet to lie. I am a nobody... but when this is over, I won't be."