NOVEL NEXT Chapter 49: The Prey
The early morning light filtered through the clouds, casting a pale glow over the field. Meiji sit alone inside his tent, his eyes fixed in the window and watch the horizon, his body stiff with fatigue. His armor felt heavier than usual, as if each piece carried the weight of not just his own life, but the lives of everyone who had placed their trust in him. Sleep had eluded him throughout the night—his mind constantly raced, mapping out strategies, thinking of ways to minimize the bloodshed, and above all, trying to prepare himself for the battle against his elder brother.
He had promised his people victory, but deep down, the fear gnawed at him, a constant reminder of how high the stakes were. His people were weak, their resources scarce. The odds were stacked against them, and yet he stood here, facing the inevitable.
A soft rustle behind him pulled him from his thoughts. Yuusei, his most trusted confidant, entered the tent, his expression calm but filled with respect. "My lord," he said softly, his voice steady, "everything is ready for battle."
Meiji turned to face him, his lips pressing into a thin line. His exhaustion was visible, but his resolve remained unshaken. He nodded once, his voice low and firm. "Then it is time."
Meiji donned his crimson samurai armor, the weight of it grounding him, reminding him of the responsibility he bore. His red cloak billowed like the banner of his people, and as he fastened his sword to his side, he felt the steady pulse of the blade, a promise of justice. He glanced at Yuusei, whose eyes were fixed on him with quiet admiration.
Yuusei had been with him through it all—the training, the hardships, the losses. He had seen Meiji grow from a frightened boy into a leader who could command the respect of 10,000 warriors. And yet, beneath his young lord's outward calm, Yuusei knew the burden that weighed heavily on his heart. He had seen the shadows of doubt in Meiji's eyes, but he also saw the fire that burned within him. The fire of someone who would never abandon those who relied on him.
"Are you ready?" Yuusei asked, his voice thick with emotion, though he knew the answer.
Meiji met his gaze, and for a brief moment, he allowed himself a small, knowing smile. "I will lead them. I will not fail them."
Together, they walked toward the platform where the rest of their army had gathered. Meiji's eyes swept over the sea of faces—his people. The samurai's, the villagers, the children, and the elderly. The ones who had no choice but to follow him, to put their faith in a cause far greater than their own lives.
His heart ached as he saw the state of them. Thin, exhausted, with dirt smudged on their faces and their clothes torn from the endless preparations. They were a ragtag group, nothing like the formidable forces his elder brother commanded. And yet, despite their weakness, they stood tall, their eyes burning with an unyielding determination.
In that moment, Meiji's heart swelled with pride, and his throat tightened with the overwhelming weight of his responsibility. These were his people. They had chosen to stand by him, to fight for him. And he would not let them down.
Standing before them, Meiji raised his hand, his voice ringing out, steady and strong. "Today," he began, his eyes scanning the sea of faces before him, "we fight not for my glory, nor for my position. We fight for something much greater than that. We fight for the ones we love. For our families. For our friends. For our children, for the future."
His voice grew softer for a moment as he met the eyes of the elderly villagers and the children, their fragile forms standing in defiance. "We fight for those who cannot fight for themselves. The captives, the innocent souls, the ones who suffer because of my brother's cruelty." His breath hitched in his chest. "We fight for them. We fight for freedom. And we will not rest until we've won it."
He paused, letting the weight of his words sink in. The air seemed to still around him. He could hear the quiet rustling of the villagers, the murmur of his warriors as they exchanged glances. Then, he raised his sword high, his voice surging with power.
"Fight for your Freedom!" Meiji cried, his heart swelling with an emotion that could no longer be contained. "Fight for yourselves, for your loved ones. Fight for the friends and family still held captive in the pits of hell! They are counting on us to bring them back. And we will!" His voice broke through the silence like a thunderclap, his eyes blazing with the intensity of his words.
His grip tightened on the hilt of his sword, his muscles coiling as he continued. "We will not bow to fear. We will not surrender. Our bodies may break, our shields may shatter, but we will fight until our last breath. We will fight for justice, for honor, for those who cannot fight for themselves."
The energy in the air shifted. The samurai's, the villagers, the children—everyone stood taller. Their broken weapons, their cracked shields, their battered forms—they all held them high, their faces set with unwavering determination.
Meiji's voice rose again, louder and more powerful than before. "I will lead you into battle. I will be the first to face the enemy. And when we stand victorious, it will be because we fought together. We will win this war. We will break through the darkness and reclaim our future."
"OWRAH!"
The cry erupted from the warriors, their voices raw but filled with the power of their unity. The children raised their small fists, the elderly gripped whatever weapons they could find, and the samurai's shouted with all the strength they could muster. Even in their weakness, they found the courage to fight.
Meiji's chest swelled with pride, tears threatening to fall from his eyes. He felt the weight of his people's trust in him, the bond they shared, and in that moment, he knew he could never let them down.
"Thank you," Meiji whispered softly, his voice barely audible. "Thank you for believing in me."
Yuusei stood at his side, watching with pride as the young lord who had once been a mere boy, unsure of his own strength, now stood as a beacon of hope for his people. "We will follow you to the end, my lord," he said quietly, his voice filled with emotion. "No matter where this battle leads us."
Meiji turned to him, his eyes filled with both determination and gratitude. "Then let's go. The future awaits."
Together, they mounted their horses, their warriors following in formation, a sea of crimson and broken armor. As they began the death march toward the battlefield, the earth beneath them seemed to tremble with the energy of their resolve. Meiji knew that this was it—this was their last chance. There would be no turning back.
As they rode toward the horizon, the sun broke through the clouds, casting a warm golden light over them, as if the heavens themselves were lending their blessing to the fight ahead. Meiji gripped his sword tighter, his heart filled with the knowledge that no matter what happened next, he had done everything in his power to lead his people to victory.
And with that thought, he charged forward, his army behind him, ready to fight for the future.