Mutagen

Tsubasa ran around as the army of Demons fled the waves of flames from the battle between Mark and Shin. It was the same for her opponent, the [Yuki-Onna]. The two continued exchanging attacks in a tied fight between two Elementalists.

Still, whenever Tsubasa could, she would take short glances at the broken segment of the barrier in the docks of Kachidoki. And witnessing what was happening around her, Tsubasa had only one comment.

"Monsters..."

That was what Tsubasa murmured as she saw how the members of Mark\'s group fought.

Tsubasa had no comments about Mark. She was not surprised to see him hold back Shin with ease since she had already witnessed Mark fighting face to face with her Great Grandaunt.

However, it was the first time Tsubasa had seen how the rest of Mark\'s group would perform in a large-scale battle like this. In fact, she had no expectations in letting children handle monsters that even adults feared.

Yet, it seemed that Tsubasa was severely mistaken. The monsters were not the Demons. It was the members of Mark\'s group.

Four children with the oldest, who was around fourteen to fifteen, and the youngest, around four to five, were preventing most of the Demons from entering the docks.

The older of the four, the green-haired girl, created a wall of thorn-covered vines in front of the docks, preventing any Demon from slipping through. Any Demon that got close to the wall of vines would end up getting constricted to death by the girl.

In front of the docks, the two youngest girls fought the incoming Demons. One had her kicks as sharp as a sword, while the other had punches as strong as a wrecking ball. In each of their attacks, a Demon would fall and turn to dust. Following the two were two strange animals. One was a giant kicking rabbit, while the other was a quadrupedal animal that was hard to discern whether it was a felina or a canine.

Supporting the rather reckless way of fighting the two youngest displayed, the eldest of the three sisters stood not too far behind them. With her good aim, she supported the two using her peculiar-looking handguns. And standing beside the eldest daughter of Mark was the familiar maid, using swords embedded in her arms to slice off any incoming enemy.

It was not just the children. A dragon flew around the sky above them, and the golden wolf rampaged among the enemies. Both monster-like creatures were from Mark\'s group. Tsubasa could feel that the dragon was a Demon, but the wolf was definitely not. In any case, the two were doing a great job eliminating enemies that could become a danger to the four girls in the docks.

And if the two monsters were not enough...

AWRK!

A cry of death entered Tsubasa\'s ears.

It was a [Jinmenken], a Yokai with a dog\'s body and a man\'s face. In a crazed attempt, it ran as fast as it could, trying to attack the children. However, from out of nowhere, a bullet pierced through its head. As it uttered its last cry, it fell and turned to ash as other Demons stepped on its dissipating body.

That [Jinmenken] was just one of the many victims of the bullets raining from afar. Demons, especially the fast-moving ones, had their speed and strength rendered useless against the sniper shooting with bullets coming from within the Reclaimed City\'s boundaries.

Tsubasa, no, everyone that saw this had a renewed view of Mark\'s group. They were not just a group of survivors. Their small group with children should be considered more as an army.

The members of Mark\'s group were one thing, but Tsubasa was also curious about the helpers that joined in the middle of the battle. The rumored dead members of the Black Lotus.

Since Tsubasa was already involved in the plan, she knew that those that were reported dead from the expedition of Black Lotus were alive. She knew that they would join the fight at the right time.

However, Tsubasa did not expect something.

It was the current strength of these members.

Tsubasa knew that the Black Lotus was founded with the Ninjas loyal to Ren, who left the Mitsui Clan early. However, unlike what was spread through the mainstream media, especially anime, Ninjas were not frontline warriors. Real Ninjas were more oriented on infiltration, ambush, and assassination. Their effectiveness in battle on the frontlines was expected to be limited.

But the Black Lotus overturned that fact. The returning members of the Black Lotus showed increased strength, speed, and endurance far higher than before they disappeared.

Most importantly, Ren.

In fact, it was no news that Ren was stronger than Keiji in battle. However, before, there was no way that Ren would be able to overpower Keiji while being besieged by countless Demons at the same time. Yet, Keiji was unable to do anything to his younger sister even while she was killing Demons left and right.

Ren had definitely gotten stronger. Far stronger.

It was the same for Keijo and Tadashi, who were now trashing the lackeys Keiji brought here.

"Stop..."

The pleading voice could be heard.

Those who could, like Tsubasa, turned their heads.

It was Ishii. Keiji\'s right-hand man was now sprawled surface of the frozen river.

Keiko stood by Ishii, brandishing her fists with a murderous face. However, Keiko did not give the finishing blow. She knelt down and adjusted her right shoulder.

BAM!

"ACK!"

Ishii\'s cry was heard as Keiko broke his remaining leg. As for the first one? It was already broken, bent several times at wrong angles, along with Ishii\'s two arms. In fact, the punch just now was the finishing punch as Keijo broke the remaining intact limb of Ishii.

"You... F*cker..."

Ishii still managed to utter insults even in the extreme pain he was now feeling.

"Like the feeling now?"

Keiko asked Ishii as she grabbed his neck and lifted his limp body.

Ishii choked in her tight grip, but his reply was surprising.

"PTUI!"

The bastard spat on Keiko\'s face.

Infuriated, Keiko slammed Ishii down into the frozen river. Blood spat out of his mouth as he lost all feeling in his lower body due to his now broken spine. How strongly had Keiko slammed him? The frozen river on his back formed a cracked crater.

The cracks on the river collapsed. Ishii fell into the freezing river.

As he felt his last moments, Ishii smiled as his mouth moved as he stared at Keiko, saying...

"F*ck you."

Ishii chose his death there, sinking in the frozen river. His body might be broken, but it was intact.

But before he sank, a hand grabbed his neck, pulling him out of the water.

Ishii tried to resist, but he had already lost all strength. And in the last moment of Ishii\'s consciousness, he heard Keiko\'s voice.

"I\'ll be the one to choose how you will die."

And then, Ishii felt a strong, tugging force on his neck, forcing his eyes open. The tugging was replaced by the feeling of falling as Keiko let go.

Ishii\'s eyes opened wider. Keiko threw his body like a ragdoll. And the destination was the two monsters fighting in the middle of the frozen river.

Waves of flames scattered as the two monsters exchanged the impact of the blades of their swords.

The last moment Ishii saw was the wave of flames enveloping his body. Just like the Demons the flames swallowed, Ishii turned to ash in that instant before his ashes were blown away by the strong wind of the blizzard.

Keiko watched Ishii\'s death in satisfaction. She could never forget the feeling when that bastard battered her legs before leaving her and Ren to die. And this time, she got revenge. Unfortunately, it was not the right time to celebrate. Demons were still everywhere. And the other members of Ishii\'s group were still alive and kicking while resisting the attacks of the other members of Black Lotus like desperate mice.

"Tsk!"

Keiji saw the death of his loyal subordinate. Unfortunately, there was nothing Ishii could do as he was also in a desperate situation.

The barrage of attacks from Ren was increasing. Keiji\'s arms were beginning to feel numb from the number and strength of attacks he had to defend against.

Keiji stared at his younger sister.

How? Just how had she gotten this strong?

Keiji had nothing but remorse at this moment. Not because he did not bring more effort into his sword but because he decided not to bring more people into this fray. Keiji might not have much talent with the sword, but he had more talent in bringing people to his side.

CLANG!

The sound of another clash between the sibling\'s blades echoed within the winds of the blizzard. But this time, Keiji lost grip of his sword, sending it flying, flipping in the air above Keiji.

Keiji followed the trajectory of his sword in shock, forgetting that Ren had already swung another slash.

This should be the end.

CLANG!

However, Ren was suddenly blown away as another sword appeared to deflect her slash.

Ren slid through the surface of the ice before the spikes under her shoes took a proper grip. She raised her head with frowned eyebrows, looking at who interfered with her fight.

There, a man in black robes stood. His white hair and beard showed his age, and his stern face and unwavering eyes showed his experience. As he lowered the sword in his wrinkled hand, he faced Ren.

"Greetings, Oujosama."

The old man greeted Ren.

And Ren stared at him with a hostile glare.

"Master."

Master... Ishikawa Hideo. The old man was the person that taught Ren and every warrior within the Mitsui Clan, including the founding members of the Black Lotus. Albeit not carrying the Clan\'s name, he was a direct member and an elder of the Mitsui Clan.

"Get out of the way, Master."

Ren said with her sights not on the old man but at Keiji behind him.

"Don\'t you think this is enough, Ojousama?" Hideo asked. "Your brother had already lost, and his men were all dying. It should be enough, isn\'t it?"

Ren finally turned her eyes toward the old man. And there, she replied.

"Get out of the way, you old hypocrite. This is my last warning."

"Hah..." The old man sighed and turned to Keiji. "Unfortunately, I can\'t let the heir of the clan die here."

The old man then tried to lift Keiji, but the idiot resisted and yelled.

"What are you doing?! Kill her!"

However, the old man\'s reply was to smack the daylights out of Keiji. He then lifted Keiji\'s unconscious body.

Holding a katana in his right hand and Keiji on his left shoulder, the old man looked at Ren.

"I shall take my leave here."

"Put him down."

However, her reply was heard as Ren brandished her sword. Her katana released a faint glow which froze the old man in his tracks after seeing it.

"You..."

The old man sure was surprised as he felt an aura surging out of Ren\'s body. And if it was not enough, Ren began transforming.

Ren\'s pupils turned into yellow slits, her canine teeth turned into fangs, and an insect-like carapace began forming all over her body, giving form to another layer of armor.

Then, Ren\'s face became covered with a carapace helmet, and her mouth was tucked behind what seemed to be insect mandibles.

Behind Ren, her aura began to form, and an image of a black-colored lotus could be seen.

"I said..." Ren spoke, and the mandibles also moved along with her mouth. "Put him down!"

Ren slashed her sword forward, and everyone nearby trembled.

The image of the lotus bloomed, and its petals made of Chakra shot toward the old man.

In defense, the old man\'s sword also glowed. However, it was way more unstable and could only be used to defend against the deadly petals that Ren shot forward.

Still, in that one attack, the old man was left in tatters. There were forty-eight petals, and the old man barely managed to defend himself. Some of the petals hit him, leaving shallow wounds and slashes on his clothes. Nonetheless, Keiji was left untouched by the petals due to the old master.

Hideo stared at Ren. The old man was reminded of how Ren was a genius of the sword.

At a young age, Ren displayed the lost art of Ninjas. The physical manifestation of Chakra. It was something that even Hideo. No. Not a single living Ninja in modern times... could replicate it.