With Yu Meiren’s death, Shogun Hayakawa had lost his last meaningful asset. The war was effectively over. Jiaguo and its allies advanced unopposed toward the capital, and more of Hayakawa’s vassals surrendered every day.

Yoshika was worried about the people of the capital. Jianmo and Murayoshi were still in Hayakawa Takeo’s custody, and she had no idea what her father would do now that he was cornered. Despite that, she couldn’t rush the advance any more than she already had.

Her troops needed to be restructured again, now that ‘Jin Hu’ was gone and Jiaguo’s demons were out of commission. The massive influx of new allies was both a blessing and a curse, as many of them had been bitter rivals even before the war had forced them to draw battle lines. As a result, most of Yoshika’s time was spent putting out fires and preventing friction within the growing alliance.

Most of all, however, she desperately needed time to rest and recover. Her struggles against Yu Meiren had exhausted her on every level, and pushing herself further would cause more harm than good.

Thus, even though everyone knew that the war was over, progress was slow. Hayakawa Takeo did not surrender, and though he had no troops left to defend his ravaged lands, the conditions in the remaining villages and towns were so bad that the occupying forces often needed to stop to supply aid.

If any of the defecting lords had lingering doubts, they were dispelled by the state of the lands around Hayakawa province. A few lords who had entrusted their people to the shogun’s appointed advisors even became incensed to learn of the neglect and abuse their people had faced in their absence.

All of this gave Yoshika time to reflect and meditate while she gathered her strength.

Her soul was a mess. It was almost the opposite of a victim of Eunae’s Soulfire. On the surface, she was more or less fine. A bit stressed, but that much was to be expected. Underneath, however, things were more concerning.

Her sense of identity was in shambles, and until she could repair that, the rest of her cultivation would suffer tremendously—even with the entire nation of Yamato united behind her.

Yoshika started with her greatest insecurity. After her death and subsequent reincarnation, she was no longer the same. Similar, yes. Perhaps even identical in all ways that mattered, but regardless of what anyone else thought, she could no longer consider herself to be the same person.

She couldn’t be certain whether that was truly the correct answer, but it was her answer. She was not the same Yoshika, and she had to live with that—accept it.

To that end, it was Master Yumi who had given her the greatest advice. It didn’t matter if she was the same. She was herself, and she would take pride in that. However, that was only the first step to repairing her self-image.

Once she accepted that she wasn’t the same Yoshika she had been, she needed to understand who the Yoshika she had become was.

In many ways, she really was the same. She was Lee Jia—kind, trusting, optimistic, and devoted to her friends and family. She was An Eui—cynical, independent, and fiercely protective of the things she cared about. She was Li Meili—sharing the best and worst traits of Jia and Eui, but determined to walk her own unique path. Finally, she was Hayakawa Kaede—proud, strong, and eager to prove her worth.

Each of those identities was a core part of who she was, but it wasn’t as simple as just piecing them together like a puzzle. Her individual aspects were also not the limit of her identity. In a very real sense, Yoshika was also made of the people around her—even more so after having been reincarnated by them.

She was the spirit of Unity. Her domain was love and friendship, cooperation and camaraderie, villages and nations. She was Jiaguo, Yamato, Goryeo, and Qin. Perhaps, one day, if her power grew enough, she would be the world.

It was too much for her, as she was. There wasn’t room in her soul to encompass such a grand identity. Smaller, then—a Yoshika who could grow to those heights one day, while still standing tall in the moment.

She was Yoshika—devoted to her people and protective of those sworn to her. Kind and merciful, even to her enemies, but strong enough to destroy those who would try to take advantage of her. She was proud of who she was, and what she aspired to be, and she would walk her path independently of anyone’s expectations.

It began to take form within her soul. Not yet perfect, but laying the foundations on which she would build herself anew.

Yoshika rose from her meditation and stretched. That session had lasted days, but she’d needed it. She felt better, though there was still a lot of work to do before she could consider herself back to full strength.

She emerged from the wagon—she’d vehemently refused to take a palanquin—to see Kaede’s home town on the horizon. It was nearly time. Yoshika took a deep breath, and Kaede let it out. Soon, she’d face her father once and for all.

She was ready.

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Things looked grim as the allied soldiers swept through the city. There were no signs of life anywhere—not even the demons Yu Meiren had occupied the city with. Once the castle was surrounded, Kaede met with the other lords to prepare for the assault.

Lord Ienaga stroked his chin and frowned.

“Is there even any threat to worry about now that you’ve felled the oni that were supporting him?”

Kaede sighed.

“Realistically? No. Even if he somehow managed to convince Grandmaster Murayoshi to help him ascend, he’s just one man—cornered and alone. He has nothing left.”

“Then we should be able to take the castle even without your help.”

“Probably, but I’d like to go in alone.”

Lady Ashikaga raised an eyebrow.

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

“That’s quite a risk to take, my lady. Your father might not have any hope of defeating us, but one doesn’t underestimate a cornered beast.”

“I know, but I have to do this.”

Ienaga grunted in acknowledgement.

“Fair enough. We’ll stage our troops and prepare to go in at a moment’s notice. Don’t hesitate to escape if things go wrong.”

Kaede bowed.

“Thank you, Lord Ienaga.”

“Go on and claim your birthright, my lady. You’ve earned it.”

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Kaede’s mood grew darker and darker as her footsteps echoed through the empty halls of her childhood home. Her domain expanded throughout the castle, sensing nothing. The dungeons were empty of their former prisoners, the demons were all gone, there was no sign of Murayoshi, Hattori, or anyone else.

Nobody but Hayakawa Takeo. His domain filled the throne room—a shallow expression of strength, ambition, and conquest.

She made her way directly there to find her father waiting. The room was wide open, the walls covered in murals depicting the Hayakawa clan’s long history of military accomplishments. Once, those murals had been a source of pride—a legacy for Kaede to uphold, and one day add to. Instead, they brought her shame. A history built on the backs of the dead, all sacrificed to fuel the ambitions of a single man.

Opposite her, on the far side of the room, her father sat on a raised floor and gave her an appraising look.

“So you survived after all. I should have guessed that my blood wouldn’t fall so easily.”

He’d changed. His fiery red hair blended with his wild beard to resemble the mane of a lion, and his face had twisted into a demonic caricature of his previous features. His teeth were long and sharp, with tusks jutting out visibly from his mouth, and his eyes were reduced to glowing green points.

An extra set of arms extended from his shoulders, and he held a sword in each one—two kamikiri, the Blade of Eightfold Possibilities, and Jianmo. In the center of his bare chest, a brightly glowing red core stood out prominently—far too large for the power Kaede sensed in his domain.

Kaede clenched her teeth and gripped the sheath of her sword tightly.

“What have you done to yourself, father?”

“I seized the power that others are too weak and cowardly to grasp.”

She shook her head. Kaede almost didn’t want to hear the answer to her next question, but she needed to know.

“Where is everyone?”

“I have honored them to become part of me. Their souls will fuel my conquest of this fallen nation, and once I’ve taken the Sovereign’s Tear, the world.”

“You’re a fool. I always looked up to you—an indomitable figure of strength and wisdom. I knew that it was your destiny to become shogun, and I was proud that I would one day inherit your legacy. How did you let yourself fall so far?”

Her father chuckled and shook his head.

“Still so blind, my little girl. Like you, I once believed in our strength, but then I saw the truth. I saw what real strength is.”

“What are you talking about?”

“We’re nothing but pawns. Insignificant insects scurrying on a stage beneath the notice of the real players. Qin could crush us at any time, but he doesn’t. Like me, he has seen the stage. He has accepted his place as a tool, but I cannot be so easily satisfied.”

Kaede crossed her arms and scowled.

“Strong words for someone that let himself be manipulated by the likes of Yu Meiren. Did you ever think you were anything more than a tool to Longyan?”

“Hah! Of course not. But they were willing to give me what I desired. Thanks to them, I’ve gained the power to take my place on the stage.”

“They’ve given you nothing but lies, Hayakawa Takeo. Your power is a fragile illusion held up by your own ego. You have given up everything you ever had for insane delusions.”

He threw his head back and laughed boisterously as he rose to his feet and pointed a sword at her.

“A bold claim! I suppose you’ll be the one to break this so-called illusion? I’ve seen you fight, child. You rely on the strength of others—on borrowed power, and stolen artifacts. Your master isn’t here, and your artifacts are mine now.”

Kaede shook her head sadly. She’d been too late. Too late to save her people, too late to save Yumi’s master, and too late to save her father. Longyan and Yu Meiren’s poisonous words had twisted his mind, and whatever was left of the man who’d raised her was consumed by the demon he became.

He hadn’t been a good man, or even a good father. But he was still the man she’d looked up to, who had taught her to be strong. The creature he’d become was an insult to what little honor the Hayakawa name still had.

“I’m sorry that we couldn’t have been a better family. I loved you once, father, and I will mourn you.”

She drew her sword and took a stance.

“Just as soon as I’ve avenged you.”

The shogun scoffed and lunged forward. He was slow and clumsy. His training didn’t account for his new form, and he wielded his newfound power with all the grace of a toddler with a heavy club.

Kaede side-stepped his opening attack and effortlessly parried the follow-up. He was so full of openings it was almost sad. To think that the man who’d taught Kaede everything was reduced to such a pathetic mess.

“What’s wrong, Kaede? Too afraid to fight back after all that talk?”

She grimaced—he was taunting her? Did he not understand what was happening?

“This isn’t a fight, father. It’s an execution.”

“Hah! On that we can agree!”

Takeo’s body burst with power and the tatami beneath his feet cracked as he vanished. Kaede whirled around to block his attack when he appeared behind her. He struck with the force of a mountain, knocking her across the room.

Kaede landed on her feet, but her father was already taking advantage of the opening. Eight possibilities attacked from every direction, each one bringing the full power of their clan’s Weightless Fist down on her.

The divine artifact was extremely powerful—enough that Longyan hadn’t been able to defend against it—but even a weapon like that was only as good as the one who wielded it.

Kaede twisted and danced with inhuman agility to parry every single attack. All but one. The branches of fate snapped back together as Hayakawa Takeo’s blow landed on Kaede’s throat with explosive force.

She looked her father in the eyes with a fierce glare as Jianmo’s blade glanced off harmlessly. His eyes widened with shock, but it was too late to react. Kaede caught his wrist in one hand and stabbed him through the gut with her kamikiri.

She let go of the sword, leaving it in place to grab the shogun’s core and tear it out of his chest.

He collapsed to his knees, dropping his weapons and clutching at his wounds with all three free hands.

“Y-you...but how?”

Kaede took Jianmo from his grasp and stepped back.

“You should know better than to wield someone’s tsukumogami against them. Jianmo won’t hurt me.”

Jianmo laughed, its tinny voice echoing from the enchanted blade.

“Not that you even needed it to handle this chump. Idiot eats one measly little city’s worth of souls and suddenly thinks he’s invincible. I don’t hate that arrogance.”

Hayakawa Takeo glanced up at the talking sword, then looked back into Kaede’s eyes, understanding dawning on his face.

“You were sparing my pride, weren’t you? Letting me put up one last fight, so that I could die with honor.”

Kaede resisted the urge to avert her eyes as she raised Jianmo up.

“Goodbye, father.”

“Goodbye, Kaede. I’m proud of you, my daughter.”

She took his head in a single stroke, and turned away as he fell. His last words echoed in her mind as she walked away. The words she’d been chasing her entire life.

As she wiped the tears from her eyes, she couldn’t help but wish she’d never heard them.