SHK CH 602 (Patreon)

As the sun slowly rose in the sky and the light of dawn graced the world, citizens of Lustburg and Wratharis were either kneeling and praying or were sitting anxiously and waiting.


They knew that on this day, the final direction of the war would be decided and everything would depend on the answer of the King of Wratharis.


No citizen liked war and though Lustburg had the advantage now, everyone knew that once the King level started fighting, everything else would be meaningless. Of course, the ones with the most worry were those from Wratharis.


No matter how much they rioted or protested, they knew very well that the final decision was not in their hands. Only Lupus could take the decision that would either doom them or save them.


***


In the shrine of the maiden, Kiku was not in her usual slovenly state, her golden tails were swishing in the way while she swung the branch of a sacred tree. She was clad in a red and white kimono and her wrists were drenched in nearly completely golden blood. 


Next to her, Sakura, the Holy Daughter, was performing a careful dance. Steps by step, slowly dragging her feet on her ground and with it her own trail of blood, as she formed a ritual circle. Unlike Kiku, Sakura’s blood only had a few hints of gold in it. After all, Kiku was the biological daughter of a divine beast as well as one of the oldest Supreme Daughters. 


The only reason she had yet to reach the Demigod level was simply because the path she followed was similar to that of her mother, which slowed her down and blocked her path.


A little more afar, Shuten Douji was holding her gourd with a trembling hand. Shuten was a smart and cunning woman. One who had planned the demise of many of her enemies and had fought many bloody battles in her life.


Despite all this wealth of experience and despite her not even standing on the battlefield at this very moment, she could not help but feel like she was suffocating.


After all, this was it. Her plans and machinations were finally coming to a conclusion and what would happen soon would decide if her gamble had been the right one.


After all, there was no way Lupus hadn’t caught on by now and if he managed to survive or keep his throne, the Oni would most likely lose their places in Wratharis from now.


Meanwhile, even if Sol succeeded and Setsuna took the throne, there was no way to know what would happen next. 


When she had started all this, her plan had been on the basis that Lustburg should have been slightly inferior or not much stronger than Wratharis. Lustburg would win greatly thanks to her intel and in the end, Lustburg would be too weakened to do a true power grab on Wratharis.


In the end though, she had been too naive or rather she had underestimated how unfair a Blessed could be when Fate was on their side and in a matter of weeks, Lustburg went from being more or less inferior in terms of fire power to being so vastly superior it was not even funny.


Her machinations seemed more like a joke now and she realized once again that in front of absolute power, all strategies and tactics were for naught.


When Sakura finished her dance on a song only she could listen to, she stopped and the magical circle flashed as Kiku continued to murmur silent prayers and like a dream, it vanished.


“Are you done?” Shuten asked to which Kiku answered with a nod, “The magical circle is ready. I can now activate the Holy Territory with just a thought.”


“Wasn’t it supposed to be some complicated ritual?”


“It is. But I have the advantage of having more divinity in my blood than many. The only one who could match my speed would be the angels or the demon. Of course, there was Echidna as well but she is dead.”


Kiku sighed and massaged her neck. “The last time I had to prepare this ritual was nearly a hundred years ago. I never thought I would have to do it again against Lustburg.” The solemn atmosphere around her vanished and became more relaxed but there was still a glint in her eyes.

“So this is it.”


“Indeed.”


The two were silent while Sakura, who had been dreaming of some potion for blood replenishment asked, “Master, I do not understand. Is Lustburg not our ally?”


She was pretty confused by the current situation. Though she was happy to have gotten the experience of creating this circle, she did not understand why they were preparing against their own allies.


“Well… Let’s just say that this is more a measure of precaution than anything else.”


Kiku caressed Sakura’s hair as she answered softly, “I have a feeling that we will need it and what did I tell you about feeling and initiation?”


“Never ignore them.”


“Indeed. Blessed are the beloved and slaves of Fate. This is why, when we feel something is happening, we never ignore it. We can act on it or refuse to. But we absolutely never ignore it.”


Kiku insisted on the ‘never’ before focusing on Shuten. “So, old friend, what do we do now?”


Shuten chuckled as she forcibly stopped the shaking of her hands and drank a mouthful of alcohol.


“I am going to the front.”


Since she had her hand in this situation, it was only logical for her to see the end of this.


“So you don’t think Lupus will surrender?”


Shuten laughed and stood up, “Don’t ask questions you already know the answer to.”


If Lupus wished to surrender, he would have done so days ago.


Now there was no option for surrender available. 


Only war.