Masaki Taisho had faced advanced tiers before but this particular beast before him ticked him off. Whether it was its human-like appearance or the fact that it wore a robe, he could not place his finger on it.
The advanced Sarugami looked at them and laughed. "The last time I failed to take over the village and big brother was mad. TODAY! TODAY I WILL CONQUER AND SHOW BIG BROTHER THAT I AM WORTHY."
The Wolf Wardens felt a wave of unease at the words of the beast before them. "Brother? There's another." One of the wardens muttered. But Masaki Taisho did not allow their spirits falter. "Okami no Banshi. Get yourself together." Masaki Taisho yelled at his comrades.
They barely had the time to gather their thoughts when the Sarugami leaped up into the air and launched itself at them with its metal club held with both hands above its head.
"DISPERSE." Masaki yelled and the wolf wardens scuttled out of the way in a hurry. The metal club slammed onto the ground the once stood and the impact rendered it unrecognizable. The sand and stone floor was destroyed, even the roots of several trees were splintered.
"KUMA! WITH ME." Masaki yelled as he ran toward the beast with his Warhammer in hand. The beast did not wait, it lifted its club and swung it at the running Masaki. Masaki grunted and swung his weapon ready to take the attack head on. He spun around with the Warhammer in both hands smacked it into the metal club. On impact, a shockwave ensued, sending both attackers skidding backwards away from each other.
"You are strong human." The advanced Sarugami acknowledged, "but I will flatten you."
Masaki Taisho smirked as Kuma descended upon the Sarugami with his sword above his head. The Sarugami blocked the attack and launched its large foot at Kuma. Kuma side stepped and made a slash to the leg but he was caught by the arm, lifted up and flung away by the beast and he crashed into a tree causing a large crack to appear in its trunk.
Masaki stretched his arms, although he played it off, the exchange was a brutal one. He tightened his grip once more and lunged at the beast. "OKAMI NO BANSHI ATTACK!" At the sound of his voice every wolf warden lunged at the Sarugami. They hacked and slashed at the Sarugami, but despite their numbers, the advanced Sarugami was not overwhelmed. It leaped from tree to tree avoiding their attacks. It would use the vines to swing and while airborne it would swing its massive club at the samurai below him.
"You puny humans can not harm me." The Sarugami stated as it fought against the wardens. "Where is the short man with the hammer?"
"I'm right here you beast!" Masaki yelled as he ducked under the metal club, He pivoted low and drove the warhammer into the back of the Sarugami's knee—the impact buckled the joint with a dull crack. Causing it to lose its balance, it lifted its club ready to crush him but Kuma was ready, and parried the attack, Masaki took the opening and smacked the second knee with his warhammer. The Sarugami let out a loud roar in frustration as it got overwhelmed by the relentless attacks of the Okami no Banshi.
"No! I refuse to be taken down by you mere humans. Nooo!" The Sarugami exclaimed and leaped away from the watdens, it stared at them as they ran after him. But as they got closer the Sarugami opened it's mouth and a loud blood curdling screech echoed through the forest, the sound caused the wardens to drop down to their knees clutching their ears. Some of the less strong wardens were knocked out by the sheer pressure of the attack.
"TAISHOOO!" Kuma yelled through the attack. But before Masaki could respond the Sarugami lifted its club ready to attack the discombobulated wardens.
"Resist get out of the way!" Masaki Taisho yelled at his samurai, but they remained unmoving and the ones who could move moved slowly. Masaki gritted his teeth and ran in front of the Sarugami. He lifted his warhammer ready to block the attack, but he did not have the time to brace himself, the attack connected and he was sent flying knocking over a tree in the process.
"MASAKI TAISHOOO!" the Wardens yelled dumbfounded.
Kuma gripped his katana so tight that his knuckles turned white.
-----
The battlefield had gone silent, the flames had begun to die down. Wasuren walked up to Tadayori. "If this horde was able to escape my brothers.. I dare not think what has befallen them. I am going into after them and I need help."
"You just saved our lives. You have our gratitude, however we cannot all come along. Some have to be left behind to report to Lord Senzo, and to tend to the injured."
Wasuren nodded, "I do not know the amount or strength of the enemy that we will face when we get in there. Do what you must, and tell Senzo-sama to send an urgent message, we need reinforcement. I do not believe the Okami no Banshi will be enough for this mission."
Tadayori thought in silence for a few seconds before responding. "A lot of you are injured, and I don't wish for your deaths. Only twenty will go with me and Wasuren to aid the Okami no Banshi. The rest of you should guard the entrance. Ebisu?"
"Yes Tadayori Taisho." The samurai named Ebisu answered.
"You will go and inform Lord Senzo of what occurred and tell him to get us reinforcement from Hinokagura."
Ebisu nodded and was already on his way.
Tadayori turned to the rest. "Those that are injured should be taken to the infirmary immediately, and the rest of you must make sure nothing gets past this juncture."
Tadayori turned to Wasuren, "We are ready to aid you."
Wasuren nodded and started running toward the domain of the Sarugami with Tadayori and the Aoshima samurai behind him.