Shadows of Ruin

The samurais were fighting valiantly against the bandits, but they were greatly outnumbered and the loss of Yuchiro had sapped their morale.

On the other side of the castle (back side) :-

Takuo and his comrades found themselves on the defensive as they carried the unconscious Yuna to safety.

They were severely outnumbered, and the bandits were attacking them relentlessly from all sides. Takuo held Yuna tightly in his arms as he fought fiercely, his mind focused on protecting her at all costs.

Tensions were high, and they could feel the doubt starting to creep into their minds.

Rokuske and Kairo turned to Takuo, their expressions grim but determined.

"Go," Kairo said urgently. "Take her and run. We'll hold them off."

Takuo's heart clenched as he watched his comrades standing firm, their swords brandished and their eyes hard with determination.

"Are you sure?" he asked, his voice hoarse.

Rokuske gave him a firm nod. "We've got this," he said firmly. "Now go. Make sure she's safe!"

Takuo looked down at the unconscious Yuna and then back at his comrades. His eyes held a mixture of gratitude and sorrow, knowing that he was leaving them to fight a battle they might not win.

"Be careful," he said, his voice thick with emotion. "I'll come back to help."

Rokuske and Kairo shook their heads firmly.

"No, you have to get her to safety," Rokuske said, his voice firm. "We'll be fine. We can hold them off."

Takuo's heart clenched with worry, but he knew they were right. He had a responsibility to protect Yuna and ensure her safety.

"Alright," he said grudgingly, his voice low. "But I'll come back as soon as I can. I promise."

The front lines of samurais, those in direct combat with the bandits, were quickly falling under the onslaught of attacks. The bandits were numerous and relentless, and the samurais were being pushed back rapidly.

Each second, more and more samurais were falling, the bandits' numbers simply too much for them to handle.

Takuo gripped Yuna tightly as he watched the battle unfold, his heart pounding with dread. He knew that his comrades were fighting a losing battle, and he felt helpless and frustrated.

The sight of his friends falling one by one made his heart ache, but he knew he had a job to do. He had to get Yuna to safety.

Takuo held tight to the unconscious Yuna, careful not to jostle her as he moved. He broke into a run, dodging fallen bodies and debris as he made his way towards the safety of the rear entrance.

Takuo held tight to the unconscious Yuna, careful not to jostle her as he moved. He broke into a run, dodging fallen bodies and debris as he made his way towards the safety of the rear entrance.

There were no pathways or clearings that Takuo could see through the dense foliage, but he knew that the forest would provide plenty of cover and shelter for himself and Yuna, at least for a little while.

Takuo found himself deep within the forest, the darkness of night enveloping him like a cloak. Behind him, he could see the ruined town in the distance, the castle aligned with it standing as a bleak silhouette against the sky.

In the forest, Takuo kept moving, trying to put as much distance as possible between themselves and the ruins of the castle.

The night was pitch black, and the sounds of the forest were eerie and ominous. Every now and then, Takuo would hear a rustling in the bushes or a distant howl, sending chills down his spine.

On the other side , in the castle which was in ruins mostly-

Kuro was seething with anger, pacing back and forth in the ruins of the castle. He had searched high and low, but there was no sign of the lord's daughter anywhere.

Rokuske and Kairo were on their knees, their hands bound behind their backs as they were surrounded by the bandits. Kuro was standing in front of them, his face twisted in a sneer of irritation.

Around Rokuske and Kairo, there were several other samurais also kneeling, all of them captive. They were battered and bruised, but their eyes burned with defiance as they stared at Kuro.

"Where is she?" Kuro demanded, his voice like a whip crack. "You know where Lord Yuchiro's daughter is. Tell me!"

Rokuske and Kairo didn't answer, their faces set in resolute expressions. The other samurais were quiet as well, their eyes hard and unwavering.

Kuro's hand moved like lightning, grabbing one of the samurais by the arm and yanking him up to his feet. With a sickening crunch, he twisted the samurai's hand until it snapped, eliciting a cry of pain from the captive warrior.

The other samurais flinched at the sound, their faces pale as they watched their comrade being tortured. But they stayed silent, their eyes hardening with determination.

end of ch-