"So, what are everyone's thoughts on this matter?" The question hung in the air as the leaders of the world's most powerful factions pondered their next steps.

Ironically, there were no daimyo or samurai present. The rulers of the nations struggled to maintain control over the samurai as their authority crumbled. It's difficult to serve some distant daimyo when your lands and kin are being destroyed before your very eyes.

At the same time, a keen observer might have noticed the absence of any Deathbringers. Despite their fairly successful performance in the last battle, their reputation was still lacking for such an important meeting. On the other hand, the area designated for the Deathbringers' camp was left undisturbed, allowing them to stay there in peace, which was a success in itself.

"The first thing we need to do is locate the Great Serpent," Yamato's deep voice broke the silence. "I'll send my most experienced dragons to scout. If necessary, they'll scour this entire world to find the rotten creature."

The Kitsune flinched at the insult to her former companion, casting a furious glance at the dragon leader. Diplomacy had never been the ancient reptiles' strong point.

"Wait, Yamato-san," Katashi interjected quickly, prompting a surprised look from Yamato. "If your dragons start searching for the Serpent King, chaos might suspect something!"

"But what other options do we have?" Jishin frowned. "We need to know exactly where he is so we can act."

"I have an idea," the head of the Mizuno clan said with a sly smile. "Among those who have joined us, there are several clans with quite tricky lineages. They're not very strong or numerous, but they're capable of something interesting. Have you heard of the Garashi clan?"

"They can control sunlight, if I remember correctly," Jishin recalled, his face lighting up with understanding. "You want them to conceal the dragons during their flight?"

"Exactly," Katashi nodded. "If the dragons allow the Garashi warmasters to ride them, then..."

The surrounding space trembled with a wave of pure fury. All the leaders braced for battle, staring at the ominously still dragon.

"If we weren't allies, this insult could only be washed away with blood!" Yamato roared, his gaze burning into Katashi. "A dragon will never let anyone else ride on his neck..."

"Yamato, maybe that's enough?" Izanami snorted indignantly. "You know very well that this lad meant no offense. If the idea of dragon riders is so distasteful to you..." Upon hearing this term, Stas squinted, looking at the dragon and the great spirit. He fancied that there was some trickery in the words of the Nine-Tails. Could it be that dragon riders had indeed once existed? "Then let your kin carry them in their claws. Yes, it will be uncomfortable, but at least your 'honor' will remain intact."

"That's acceptable," Yamato finally agreed, his bloodlust subsiding. Stas noted in his mind that not only prana users were capable of this trick.

"Alright, we've settled on the way to search the Great Serpent," Jishin took the lead again. Surprisingly, it went without any objections. Considering how proud everyone here was, that was worth noting. "Now, let's think about how we're going to kill him."

"A direct conflict is a mistake," the onmyoji drawled meaningfully. "If we try to attack the Serpent with all our forces, chaos will prepare a defense that we won't be able to break through."

The spirit enchanter's words were supported by restrained nods. Stas glanced at Temotsu. Despite appearing perpetually distracted and aloof from worldly affairs, the man clearly had a sharp mind.

"Then we must strike unexpectedly and swiftly," Jishin proposed viciously, making a motion as if grabbing something by the neck. "We won't give them a moment to recover and will finish off the beast!"

"Besides," Katashi quickly added. "As Shiro-san said, the warlocks will lose their powers all at once. They'll be disoriented and vulnerable. There couldn't be a better moment to strike back."

"I don't understand, are you that naive or just foolish?" the derisive voice of the Nine-Tails interrupted their discussion.

"What do you mean?" Jishin asked in a dangerous tone.

"You're so eagerly discussing what you'll do with the army of chaos after defeating the Great Serpent that you've completely forgotten that you still need to defeat him. And that's not going to be easy! Even back then, he was already the strongest and most experienced among us four. Now, after being infused with chaos, he's on a completely different level. On top of that, he'll likely not be alone. Are you still sure it will be that easy?"

An awkward silence followed.

"Then what do you suggest?" Katashi broke the silence.

"Since none of you seem to be thinking straight, I'll say it plainly. The most important thing now is to form a team strong enough to deal with him and survive the process. The best of the best. The most powerful and experienced, because we won't get a second, or rather, a third chance."

The Nine-Tails raised her hand, indicating she wasn't finished.

"At the same time, I want to say that we can't take many people. The chaos warlocks will be monitoring all approaches to the Serpent King. It's nearly impossible to slip through unnoticed, so I'll go. My illusion techniques should be enough to hide us. But as I said before, I can't conceal too many. The more power, the harder it is to hide."

"I'll go!" Yamato's growling voice was full of bloodlust and eagerness for battle. "I've long wanted to finish off the Serpent, and I'm glad you, Nine-Tails, won't be interfering this time. How ironic, isn't it?"

"Die," the Kitsune wished him succinctly, under the mocking gaze of golden eyes.

"And though I'm far from the strongest or most experienced, my skills in combating chaos might be useful," Stas reluctantly raised his hand. He noticed a flicker of approval in the dragon's eyes. That said, he could have easily lived without it.

To Stas's subconscious irritation, no one objected to his intention to join or said he didn't qualify.

"We would be glad to go, but Katashi and I also bear responsibilities towards our own people," Jishin spread his hands regretfully, earning a nasty look from both Yamato and Izanami, who also had subordinates. "Besides, I have a much more suitable candidate for this mission."

Stas tensed, feeling a bad premonition.

'Don't tell me it's...'

"Jun Sumada will be an excellent choice," Jishin's lips spread into a sly smile. "Everyone has heard of his strength. He won't let us down."

Ordyntsev suddenly felt a strange pain in his temples, which he began to massage under the strange glances of those gathered.

Although Jishin's words sounded logical, Stas had spent too much time with Jun "Pain in Someone's Ass" to know that there would definitely be some problems.

As they say, what could possibly go wrong?

"On my part, I'll also send my strongest supreme," Katashi spoke up. "Sora Mizuno is rightfully one of my most experienced fighters. I'm sure she'll manage."

Stas mentally nodded. He had heard of this woman. Perhaps he had even seen her from a distance.

As far as he remembered, she participated in the storming of the Gaibatsu fortress and managed to survive the hellish explosion that consumed everyone who didn't make it to the secret shelter in time.

The Mizuno bore dire losses, but some had retreated successfully, and among them was Sora. That alone spoke of her skills.

The only thing that troubled the earthling were rumors of her volatile nature.

'A proud and arrogant dragon, a completely reckless sensei, a crazy supreme woman, and a spiteful supreme spirit - that's exactly the team I would try my hardest to stay away from,' thought Stas, completely missing the irony, as his list could easily include "manipulative egotist," which would fit right in.

However, there was still someone who hadn't spoken up yet.

The leader of the onmyoji nodded to his thoughts before speaking leisurely.

"I have someone in mind who will fit. After my father, Hidoro Shigero, died, most of his spirits perished in battle. However, one Yuki-onna managed to survive against all odds. And she thirsts for vengeance."

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"Atara," the Nine-Tails whispered softly. "I never understood what she saw in that man, but I respected her choice. She is indeed suitable."

The Kitsune sighed heavily.

"Six powerful beings that I must hide from the all-seeing eye of chaos - that's the limit I cannot surpass. If we take more people, the risk of us being discovered increases."

"We, in turn, will give you the best chance by drawing all forces to ourselves and distracting the chaos warriors from protecting the Serpent," Jishin concluded. "When the Great Serpent falls, we will strike with all our might and end this plague once and for all!"

"But what if they fail?" the onmyoji leader asked reasonably. "In that case, we'll be left alone against the full power of chaos. And there will be no retreating."

"We have no choice," Katashi chuckled sadly to a surprised Temotsu. "Our food supplies are running low, as is our room for maneuver. If we don't strike now, we'll never strike again. This is the finale, Temotsu-san. And it's up to us to decide what it will be like."

No more questions on this topic arose. Everyone understood the risks and consequences of failure.

*****

"So, student, our last drink together, huh?" Jun savored a bottle of sake for warmasters. Sitting next to him, Stas did the same. By the Kami, he also felt the need for it.

Being one of six people upon whom the life of an entire planet depended was not something he had dreamed of in this life.

"So, how does it feel?" the supreme leaned in conspiratorially. "Soon, we'll become those heroes sung about in legends. How many of them I've read over time. And I must admit, ours is far from the most interesting."

"That's if we win," Stas noted pessimistically.

"That doesn't matter," Jun snorted. "As I understood from that chaos servant, somewhere beyond our world, there are an infinite number of other worlds. And there, an infinite number of beings like us live. Even if our planet loses to chaos, what will change?"

"I didn't expect such fatalism from you," Stas shook his head in surprise. "Should I go to Jishin and ask for your replacement?"

"Just you try!" Jun almost choked on his sake, desperately coughing. "In that case, you'd better find a heroic death on the battlefield, otherwise you'll have to deal with me. As for my words, it doesn't mean I won't fight. Just a little less strain and seriousness, or I'll get heartburn."

Stas said nothing, drinking a little more. The liquid, poisonous for ordinary people, burned his throat and gullet but gave a pleasant warmth in his veins. His head buzzed.

"But you still haven't answered my question. How does it feel to be a hero?"

"Awful," Stas honestly replied. "I'm used to controlling everything in this life. Moreover, I'm used to doing everything in the best possible way. And in this situation, I'm not at all sure that I can do it right."

"You mean about your treatment of the Great Serpent? It seems our commanders have decided that you'll use that stuff only if you're completely sure. In other cases..."

"It's easy for you to say," Stas snapped. "But how can I be completely sure? Look, I was wrong with Minoru, and how did it end? On the other hand, this promises us all such opportunities that..."

"Have you ever thought that this might be an order from the Serpent King himself?" Jun's calm question made Stas freeze. "You know he's been poking around in your brain. Maybe the very idea of his treatment is nothing but a lie of chaos? A contingency plan in case we guess their primary one? Have you thought about that?"

"Of course, I have," Stas sighed gloomily. "And that's what haunts me."

"Well, keep thinking," Jun shrugged his massive shoulders under Stas's surprised gaze. "What? You think I'll tell you the right answer? Fat chance. I don't know what's right and what's not either. So, in my selfish desire, I don't want to take responsibility. Better let you suffer alone."

"Bastard," Stas smiled, feeling somehow lighter. Jun's biting words seemed to relax some invisible spring in his chest.

"Hey-hey," Jun feigned indignation. "I'm still your sensei, so a little more respect. Not a bastard, but a bastard-sama, at the very least."

"But didn't your words imply that I'm fully ready for independent life? Then, doesn't that mean you're no longer my sensei?"

"Incorrect! A sensei is not just a rank; it is a lifelong title. So, my student who sucks at having fun... Ah, I lost my train of thought. And that means what? Right! I need to drink more."

"What are you boys up to? Having fun?" Stas flinched when a stunningly beautiful woman, not even marred by a few small scars, some even on her face, unexpectedly walked by.

'There she is, Sora Mizuno. You wouldn't guess she's forty by looking at her. If not for the slight wrinkles at the corners of her eyes, she could easily pass for thirty. Models on Earth would kill for a chance to preserve their looks to such an extent.'

"Arguing with my student about the importance of 'sensei-hood,'" Jun smiled at the woman, turning around and placing a couple of sealed bottles of alcohol on the table in front of her. "And what brings you here, Sora? Finally decided to settle that dispute of ours?"

"Some other time," the woman chuckled, taking a swig of sake and downing one of the bottles in one go. "Otherwise, it would be awkward to explain why you died right before you know what. And it was your student who called me here, as he said, to get to know each other better." She uttered the last phrase in an intimate whisper, amusingly glancing at the unfazed Serpent.

"Student, you've just revealed a completely new side of yourself to me!" the sensei raised his voice, not shy at all, attracting a lot of attention. The entire conversation took place in some variation of a tavern.

"And what's the dispute about?" Stas hurried to ask, seeing his teacher's unhealthy enthusiasm.

"Well," Sora dismissed it as something insignificant. "We once argued with your sensei about who would fuck whom to death in bed."

Stas paused, realizing he had no choice but to ask the next question.

"And... who won?"

"We were interrupted," Jun grinned. "And it was the Mizuno who interrupted us. So, I think she herself, seeing her imminent defeat, somehow signaled and..."

A thin stream of sake sprayed Jun's face, flying out of the mouth of the outraged woman.

"Stop lying! You were already gasping for air, another ten hours and victory would have been mine!"

"Decided to die, woman?!" Jun roared like a wounded bear whose balls were pinched by a door frame. "If you don't want to drink, then give the booze back to me, don't waste it!"

"Okay-okay, I'm drinking," Sora immediately calmed down, causing the same transformation to occur with Jun, who also took a swig of the fiery liquid.

Both supremes glanced at the staring with wide eyes Ordyntsev and merrily laughed at his astonishment.

"By the way," the woman squinted with interest. "You invited not only me but also that Yuki-onna, did you? What about Yamato and the Nine-Tails?"

"I haven't lost my mind yet," Stas dismissed such a suggestion. "Just Atara, but apparently, she won't come."

"Alright-alright," Sora smiled strangely. "Since that terrifying dragon won't be here, I can't help but ask... Is it true that, still being a lousy advanced warmaster, you fought with Yamato himself and managed to win? I swear by the Kami, when I heard this story, I thought it was complete bullshit, but then different people repeated it to me more than once! And they swore they got it from utterly reliable sources!"

Stas Ordyntsev suddenly realized that sometimes the arrogance of dragons could be a blessing.

Because if the mightiest dragon found out about such an awkward story, a certain Shiro the Serpent would no longer feel so safe, even despite the full-scale invasion of chaos.

The earthling just hoped that when Yamato accidentally heard this outrageous story a hundred or more years later, Stanislav himself would be very, very far away.

Preferably in another world.

Or another universe.