344 A Skirmish
— Meanwhile, Shogun Castle Courtyard —
In the courtyard, the clash between Atlanteus and the shogun's forces raged on unabated.
Around Atlanteus, the fallen bodies of the shogun's soldiers littered the ground. Some lay unconscious, while others remained lifeless, their breaths forever stilled.
As for Atlanteus himself, he bore numerous wounds, his body a testament to the ferocity of the battle. Despite his injuries, the morale of the surrounding shogun soldiers only seemed to rise, bolstered by their numerical advantage. They held firm in their belief that sheer numbers would eventually overwhelm Atlanteus, regardless of his superior skill.
Little did they know, Atlanteus had intentionally held back, still awaiting the signal from Oceanos indicating Koyuki's safe rescue. He dared not unleash his full arsenal, fearing it might force the shogun to resort to using the hostage. Thus, he had played the role of bait, diverting attention away from Koyuki and creating chaos to aid Maria in her rescue mission.
However, Atlanteus knew his limits. As a Grand Artificer, his prowess lay not in direct combat but in the ingenious creations of his artifacts. While skilled in battle, he was no match for the likes of Momotaro or Heracles without the aid of his inventions. Yet, now his primary weapon, the micro laser blade, lay dormant on the ground, its energy depleted.
Faced with this dilemma, Atlanteus pondered his options. Should he continue the charade, retreat, or unleash his full arsenal to turn the tide? Exhausted, he knew he couldn't maintain the stalemate much longer.
Then, a cold voice crackled through his communication device, a beacon of hope amidst the chaos.
"Lord Atlanteus, the package is secured. You may retreat or proceed with full force. We will commence the assault in three minutes," the operator announced.
A savage grin spread across Atlanteus's face as he laughed aloud. "HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!" With a swift motion, he pushed a button on the head of his cane. Updated from novelbIn.(c)om
Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeez
A sharp, ominous sound pierced the air as a cylindrical object plummeted from the sky. Small jets attempted to slow its descent, but as they detached, the object continued its free fall, hurtling towards the ground below.
The soldiers surrounding Atlanteus quickly retreated, leaving him alone at what seemed to be the epicenter of the impending event.
Booooom!!
The massive object crashed to the ground, sending plumes of dust and dirt billowing into the air. As the dust settled, a large cylindrical structure, roughly four meters tall, came into view.
In a swift motion, Atlanteus darted inside the now-opened front armor plate of the object.
Observing the unfolding events, Momotaro seemed unable to react to the guards' swiftness.
Slash!
In a blur of motion, a blade swept through the air, but Momotaro had seemingly teleported behind the guard who had swung at empty space moments before.
"Impossible..." the guard gasped in disbelief as blood gushed from his torso, his body collapsing to the ground, eyes wide with shock at his sudden demise.
Though Momotaro appeared unmoved, some of the shogun's guards with keen eyesight glimpsed the swift blur of his arm and sword, noting the subtle shifts in his body and movement during the clash.
"Impossible... a sword... a sword saint!?" one of them murmured incredulously.
Witnessing this display, Nobunari swallowed nervously, realizing his guards were outmatched. Suppressing his fear and displaying a bright smile, the shogun addressed Momotaro with admiration.
"Superb skill! Incredible swordsmanship! May I have the honor of knowing your name, sensei?" Nobunari spoke warmly, despite having lost his finest guard to Momotaro's prowess, now regarding him as a sensei. Such mastery of the sword was beyond the reach of an ordinary warrior.
"My name is Momotaro," the youth replied.
"Momotaro! The same name as the great demon slayer of legend! You truly live up to that name, sir! May I inquire about your esteemed clan or family?" the shogun inquired, his smile genuine.
Momotaro offered a faint smile, his amusement evident to Nobunari and the guards, devoid of any mockery or malice, merely reflecting the situation he found himself in.
"No, Hojo-dono. I don't belong to any clan. I'm simply a son of a farmer; after all... we are neither noble nor samurai," Momotaro replied honestly.
"Oh... I see..." Nobunari feigned sympathy, his expression mirroring his words. He then continued his inquiries.
"May I inquire where you learned such exceptional swordsmanship? Your style is unlike any I've encountered before," the shogun asked.
"Indeed, Hojo-dono. It's a self-taught style that I devised to combat opponents stronger than myself," Momotaro answered, opting not to delve into specifics and allowing the shogun to interpret as he pleased.
Upon hearing this, the shogun's mind teemed with excitement. What a discovery! A solitary sword saint without clan ties or allegiance to any samurai faction! Such individuals were the most easily swayed; offering noble status to this sword saint could secure a formidable ally. The absence of nobility was an advantage; the shogun could trust that Momotaro would not engage in political maneuvering. Moreover, he sensed that this youth harbored no interest in politics either.
"How about this, Momotaro-sensei?" proposed the shogun eagerly. "How about serving me? I'll offer you a great reward, along with a noble title!"