The narrow pass was a graveyard of troll corpses.

  Black blood pooled in the dust, thick and sticky underfoot.

  Severed heads rolled against the walls, eyes still glowing faintly red.

  The Azure Fan disciples fought with disciplined fury — chains whipping, swords flashing, polearms sweeping in wide arcs

  .

  Gray and Tamemoto held the rear, breathing hard, bodies aching from the strain.

  Then six new figures appeared from the eastern ridge.

  They were cloaked in dark, flowing robes — black with subtle crimson threading — moving like shadows given form. Each carried weapons wrapped in chains or hidden sheaths. They descended into the pass without hesitation and joined the fight.

  Lian Wei’s sword paused mid-swing.

  “You…”

  The leader of the new group — a woman in her late teens — stepped forward.

  Her robe was dark, practical, with a long cloak that hid most of her form.

  A massive sword rested across her back, wrapped in heavy chains that ended in twin sickles.

  She looked every inch a warrior from Orihara — sharp features, long black hair tied high, eyes like polished obsidian.

  “Azure Fan Sect?” she asked, voice cool and measured.

  Lian Wei stared. “Kagehana Dojo…”

  The woman inclined her head slightly.

  She raised her hand. The six behind her moved instantly — bursting forward into the vanguard.

  Gray and Tamemoto exchanged a glance.

  The woman turned to them and the Azure Fan group.

  “I am Kurogane Rin, lead disciple of the Kagehana Dojo in Orihara,” she said. “We are here to investigate the troll horde. These are my juniors.”

  She gestured.

  Hanae, dual short swords, fast and silent.

  Kaito, naginata polearm, sweeping and precise.

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  Sora, twin kusarigama (chain-sickles), fluid and deadly.

  Ren, bo staff, defensive and crushing.

  Yumi, yari spear, long reach and piercing.

  Aiko, spiritism/mana user — slender, carrying a fan-shaped talisman staff that glowed faintly with ethereal blue light. Her role was support: barriers, minor spirit summons, and mana disruption.

  All six wore the same dark robes, the Kagehana emblem — a stylized black fan crossed with a hidden blade — embroidered on their sleeves.

  Lian Wei’s voice was low. “I know you. One of the most famous groups in Orihara. Silent hunters. You don’t usually show yourselves.”

  Kurogane Rin’s eyes flicked toward the approaching horde. “We do when the threat is large enough.”

  The trolls surged again.

  The Kagehana disciples burst with aura and mana — a sharp, coordinated flare that made the air hum.

  Kurogane Rin drew her massive sword. Chains rattled. She swung in a wide arc — “Chain Reaper Sweep!” — the sickles extended, slicing through three trolls at once. Heads rolled. Black blood sprayed.

  Hanae darted between two trolls — “Shadow Twin Strike!” — short swords flashing, severing necks. The trolls collapsed.

  Kaito spun his naginata — “Crescent Moon Reap!” — cutting a wide swath, limbs flying.

  Sora’s kusarigama chains whipped out — “Binding Serpent Bind!” — wrapping around a troll’s legs, yanking it down for Ren to crush its skull with his bo staff.

  Yumi’s yari pierced through eyes — “Piercing Dragon Fang!” — pinning trolls to the ground.

  Aiko raised her fan-shaped staff. A translucent blue barrier shimmered into existence — “Spirit Veil Ward!” — blocking a troll’s claw swipe and reflecting it back with a burst of mana. T

  he troll staggered, burned by its own force.

  Gray and Tamemoto fought from the rear, using rocks and dust to support.

  But the horde kept coming.

  More trolls poured in — soldier trolls, giants in the distance, the roar deafening.

  Gray shouted over the chaos. “We can’t hold! Even with them!”

  Lian Wei glanced back, face grim. “Agreed. There are too many.”

  Kurogane Rin hesitated — her sword dripping black blood — but she nodded.

  Gray pointed toward the left. “The river bend! We escape through the stream. The current is fast — they can’t follow easily.”

  Lian Wei shouted to the group. “Fall back! Use the river!”

  Tamemoto had already used all his arrows. He slung the bow over his shoulder and drew his short sword. His aura flared — sharp, focused, stronger than Gray had ever seen from him.

  He stepped forward into the vanguard.

  Gray’s eyes widened.

  Tamemoto charged a troll, sword flashing. The creature swung a massive claw. Tamemoto ducked, rolled, and slashed across its knee. The troll roared — “RAAAGH!” — and stumbled.

  The Azure Fan disciples stared in surprise.

  “He’s using aura!” Shen Huo muttered.

  “Late Awakening, at his age?” Lin Mei whispered.

  Tamemoto fought with cold precision — every move economical, every strike aimed at vital points. He wasn’t as strong as the disciples, but he was fast, smart, and relentless.

  Gray felt a surge of pride — and fear.

  His brother was growing faster than he was.

  The group retreated toward the river bend.

  The trolls pursued, but the narrow path slowed them.

  Gray ran beside Tamemoto, knife ready.

  They reached the stream.

  The water was fast and cold.

  Gray grabbed his brother’s arm. “Jump!”

  They leaped.

  The current took them.

  The trolls roared behind them — but the water carried Gray and Tamemoto away.

  The world blurred.