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Yori picked up his sword, a newfound strength within him.

49

SACRIFICE

‘Hold the line!’ ordered Sensei Hosokawa, as the Red Devils thundered towards them.

The Niten Ichi Ryū were positioned at the top of a rise and their sensei was determined they shouldn’t lose the advantage by entering the battle too soon. Closer and closer came the murderous red samurai, cutting a swathe through the ranks of ashigaru.

Jack began to hyperventilate, his breathing sounding loud and panicky inside the helmet and menpō. His heart thudded against his breastplate. Despite all his training, all the duels he’d won, all the challenges he’d faced, he’d never been so scared in all his life.

He wished his father were still with him. Even in the most treacherous of storms, he’d been reassured by his presence. His father’s sense of strength and unwavering confidence had always given him hope where there appeared to be none. Here he was, facing an army of bloodthirsty warriors, about to sacrifice his life for a Japanese lord. What hope did he have?

There was a flicker of movement in the sky and he spotted an arrow flying at him. Fear having nailed his feet to the ground, he could only watch as the steel tip hurtled directly towards his head.

At the last second, a hand snatched the arrow from the air.

Sensei Kyuzo glared at Jack with contempt. ‘I haven’t trained you to die before the fight even starts, gaijin!’ he sneered. ‘You’re a pathetic excuse of a samurai!’

Jack felt a wave of anger rise in him at his teacher’s abuse. It broke his paralysis. He confronted his sensei, katana in hand.

‘That’s the fighting spirit I’m looking for,’ snapped Sensei Kyuzo, seeing the indignation in Jack’s eyes.

Jack suddenly realized Sensei Kyuzo had goaded him on purpose. To impel him into action.

‘LONG LIVE THE NITEN ICHI RYŪ!’ bellowed Masamoto, brandishing his sword and spurring his horse into the thick of the enemy.

Roaring a battle cry, the students and sensei charged down the slope at the advancing Red Devils. The two sides met head on, swords and spears clashing. Jack found himself surrounded by warring samurai, mounted and on foot. An ashigaru fell at his feet, blood spewing from his mouth as the sharpened points of a trident pierced his chest.

Behind the soldier stood a Red Devil. Ripping the spear out of the dying man, the samurai advanced upon Jack. He thrust the trident at his belly. Jack’s taijutsu training kicked in and he swiftly evaded the weapon. But the Red Devil snatched back his spear too quickly for Jack to grab hold. The samurai lunged at him again. Jack jumped to the other side, swinging his katana round to chop the Devil’s head off. The samurai ducked and drove his shoulder into Jack, knocking him backwards. Jack stumbled over the dying ashigaru and fell to the floor.

The Red Devil rushed to stand over him, the blood of his previous victims dripping from his armour. His helmet had two great golden horns and he wore a terrifying menpō with fierce saw-like teeth cut into it. Only the samurai’s eyes showed, glinting with bloodlust as he raised his trident to skewer Jack into the ground.

A wooden staff rocketed out of nowhere, deflecting the spear’s lethal points into the muddy earth. Yamato, jumping over Jack, kicked the thwarted samurai hard in the chest. The Red Devil staggered backwards and lost his grip on the trident. Unsheathing a katana, he now charged at Yamato but was stopped in his tracks by an arrow. Akiko’s shot penetrated the samurai’s breastplate.

But a single arrow would never be enough to fell such a warrior. Grunting in pain, the Red Devil snapped off the shaft and recommenced his attack. As Yamato battled with the samurai, Akiko hurriedly restrung her bow. Jack jumped to his feet and rejoined the fight.

An experienced warrior, the Red Devil drove them both back. His blows were so violent that Jack’s arms shook with each strike. Akiko let loose another arrow, but the samurai was ready this time, cutting it in half in mid-air. Yamato, stunned at the feat, was knocked to