Episode 15: Masks

## Plot

**Spoiler warning: *Plot and/or ending details follow. (Skip section)***

At Nosuri's prompting, Haku and Kuon wonder what to do with the nakwans and hostages they saved from the Uzurushans. Jachdwalt proposes returning them to Maruruha, where most of the others are from, but Ougi points out that that will be difficult with the border city still under Uzurushan control. It was the first thing to fall when hostilities began. The groups resolve to go anyway, since Oshtor and the armies are already en route, and they can all regroup when they arrive.

Kuon asks Shinonon to bear with them just a little longer, and the little girl replies with her customary confidence that it's been no trouble at all. Ougi suggests that perhaps she and her dad might stay with the group—he's handy with a sword, after all—but Haku thinks they've got enough people already.

Meanwhile, Oshtor and Mikazuchi overlook their armies and the enemies'. About six thousand foes, by Mikazuchi's reckoning. Oshtor notes that he and Mikazuchi have brought some three thousand each. There should be no problem. The two jump down without waiting for their men and charge the enemy position.

Raiko the Sage's faithful aide Shichirya reports to his master that Mikazuchi, along with Oshtor, successfully extracted Dekopompo and his troops—Raiko says that with the task in his brother's hands, the outcome was already obvious. Shichirya's report continues with the rest of the war situation, which is favorable. Munechika the Guardian's armies are meeting an enemy assault at the lakeside, and Vurai the Vanguard is leading the largest battle in the valleys. Raiko's own troops are rooting out the enemy in the forests, while Oshtor and Mikazuchi's mobile forces are pressing onwards towards the Uzurushan command center. The Yamatans' objective is to demonstrate the abject foolishness of any resistance against the Mikado, and that is exactly what they plan to do.

Among the trees, the Uzurushans are still confident until a preternaturally precise rain of arrows strikes down their entire position. Raiko is directing the battle like a game of chess, with the aid of the instant communication provided by his supernatural Tiriryarai. His leadership quickly places the Uzurushan forces in a checkmate.

With the power of her mask, Munechika raises a wall, and declares that no Uzurushan shall pass any further. Then the wall falls forward, crushing a swath of hundreds of Uzurushan soldiers at once. Striking with her gauntlet next, Munechika drives a fist of earth towards the enemy army before allowing her men to sweep forward into the disarray of the opposing forces.

Vurai jumps forward from a tall mountain and lands effortlessly amid a flowing river, and in the wake of his landing, the enemy are blown away. The captured Yamatan nakwans beg him for mercy, but Vurai has none. With one swing of his strong arm, he kills them all, then directs his fiery gaze upon the enemy commander. A blast of real fire follows it without pause.

The armies of Yamato press in inexorably, and Zeguni asks Gundhurua for orders, advising an immediate tactical retreat. The great barbarian reluctantly agrees, although he insists on terming it a "reverse charge" instead.

As the command troop crosses a bridge that will give them some distance, however, Oshtor and Mikazuchi catch up on their woptors. They have a bet on who can take the enemy general's head first. Zeguni remains behind to delay them, and as his liege reaches the other side, Zeguni cuts the ropes of the hanging bridge off behind him. Mikazuchi departs to chase Gundhurua while Oshtor crosses blades with his scarred lieutenant.

Oshtor disarms Zeguni after a quick exchange, and the latter strikes out with a hidden blade concealed inside his left arm. Zeguni persists a little longer, but Oshtor cuts him again and again. The final blow slices cleanly, not just through Zeguni, but through a distant mountain behind him. Entua has seen the whole thing.

Haku's group reaches Maruruha to drop off the former nakwans they rescued. They try a demand, then an appeal to emotion, and then an offer of medicine to get the gates open, but Jachdwalt lets Haku know that he and Shinonon plan to stick with the group.

Then a great foot rends the earth nearby, and a series of massive fireballs devastate the city walls and everything beyond. An enormous monster, black and glowing like lava, appears behind a row of Yamatan troops. Appearing to hear a report from the men, it steps forward and rains lances of flame upon the city. The devastation is unspeakable.

The Twins inform Haku that the monster is Vurai, who with the Mikado's permission has unleashed the power of his Akuruturuka form. Haku puts together that Oshtor's mask must give him similar abilities.

The entire group looks on in horror, but Haku seems particularly affected. One of the men they led back to the city runs forward to try to save his family and Kuon has to leap forward to pull Haku out of the path of a fireball. Haku spots the man again, cradling a woman in the ashes of what must have been his home. Haku screams and runs forward to help but catches Vurai's huge red eye, and as the monstrosity lashes out with a punch that weighs mountains, only the quick intervention of the Twins prevents Haku from being immediately pulverized.

Vurai returns to his human form and, as he turns away, simply comments: Hail, Kamunagi of Chains.

With Uzurushans dead everywhere and Entua cradling Zeguni's body in her arms, Raiko declares Yamato's absolute victory. The Mikado's troops begin to decamp, leaving only corpses in their wake. Haku vomits, still torn apart by all that he's seen.

## Characters

*By order of appearances*

* Nosuri
* Kuon
* Haku
* Jachdwalt
* Ougi
* Uruuru & Saraana
* Atuy
* Shinonon
* Mikazuchi
* Oshtor
* Raiko
* Shichirya
* Munechika
* Vurai
* Zeguni
* Gundhurua
* Entua

## Trivia

* The details shown of the Pillar Generals' abilities differ somewhat from those in seen in the game. For example, Munechika not only raises a wall but drops it on her enemies, and Vurai's Akuruturuka form is shown as being vastly larger.