"Cuts through iron like mud... no, cuts through stone like mud! A divine weapon!" The ronin stared at the sword in his hand, trembling with excitement.
Hisssss—
A collective intake of breath sounded throughout the crowd.
If the medical technology was "soft benefits," then these divine weapons were "hard currency" no warrior could resist!
At this point, no one questioned Cloud's qualifications to be Alliance Leader anymore.
Strength: unfathomable.
Medical arts: miraculous.
Resources (equipment): wealthy as a nation.
Following this kind of leader was like getting on life's express lane—a direct promotion from "Bronze" to "Challenger"!
Yagyu Jubei was the first to step forward and drop to one knee before Cloud.
"I, Yagyu Jubei, hereby acknowledge Lord Cloud as Alliance Leader! Command me as you will—I would not hesitate to die a thousand deaths!"
"Me, Haohmaru, I'm convinced too! Leader! From now on, you're buying my drinks!"
Ukyo said nothing. He simply walked to stand behind Cloud, his actions declaring his position. What he owed Cloud was no longer just one life, but an entirely new existence.
"We acknowledge Lord Cloud as Alliance Leader!"
With these three titans taking the lead, everyone else dropped to one knee, their voices rising like a roaring tide that echoed throughout Kamui Kotan.
Cloud stood at the front, receiving their collective pledge.
Behind him stood Nakoruru and Rimururu. Nakoruru's eyes shone with pride, while Rimururu gazed at this man radiating "kingly aura," her little face flushed, heart racing, stars in her eyes.
[Ding! Congratulations, Host, on successfully forming the Amakusa Subjugation Alliance and ascending to the position of Alliance Leader. Samurai Shodown world progress +20%. Obtained 50,000 Source Points.]
Cloud's smile stretched from ear to ear.
Spending some points had not only completely won over these hearts but also earned him a massive reward.
This application of "money power" was a textbook success!
He raised his hand, signaling for silence.
"Very well." His voice reached every ear. "Since you all trust me, Cloud, I accept this position of Alliance Leader."
"Now, I declare!"
"The war to subjugate Amakusa... officially begins!"
"Our goal is—"
He paused, then bellowed in a highly rousing tone:
"No cavities!"
Everyone: "???"
Cloud: "Ah, sorry, wrong channel. Our goal is—to topple Amakusa Castle, capture Amakusa Shiro alive! We'll show him why flowers bloom so red!"
The founding ceremony of the "Amakusa Subjugation Alliance" concluded amid thunderous acclaim and Cloud's derailed slogan about dental hygiene.
In an instant, Kamui Kotan—this isolated, snow-covered sanctuary—became livelier than South Town's marketplace.
Swordsmen and warriors of all stripes gathered together. Some sharpened blades, others drank, still others meditated. The entire village was saturated with a tense atmosphere of "the calm before the storm."
As the newly appointed Alliance Leader, Cloud naturally became the center of attention. Like an ultra-powerful magnet, he was constantly surrounded by "iron fans."
"Alliance Leader, do you think my sword has room for improvement?"
"Alliance Leader, lately when I train I feel my qi and blood aren't flowing smoothly—could you take a look?"
"Leader, Leader! Give me another one of those shots! I feel like I can get even stronger!"—a certain sword-wielding drunkard who'd already been kicked away three times.
Cloud was getting a massive headache from these enthusiastic "fans." He seriously suspected they hadn't come to subjugate Amakusa at all, but were treating him as a "wish-granting dragon" and mobbing him for freebies.
In the midst of this commotion, an extremely cold sword qi suddenly swept in from outside the village without warning!
The sword qi was like a bolt of black lightning, its target clear—Haohmaru, who was currently shooting the breeze in the crowd!
"Haohmaru! I'll take your life!"
Along with a roar filled with grudge and excitement, a figure burst from the distant forest like a specter!
The man had signature blue hair, the ends tied in a distinctive loop.
He wore a gorgeous but open kimono, revealing vicious scars across his chest.
His face perpetually wore a sinister, sickly smile. In his hand, a cursed blade called "Baiiou Doku" emanated an ominous red glow.
This was Haohmaru's lifelong rival—the genius swordsman who lived to slay the strong—Genjuro Kibagami!
"Genjuro?!" Haohmaru's initial surprise at seeing the newcomer quickly transformed into delight, his face showing an expression of "ah, my dear old friend has finally come to play!" "You bastard, your nose is sharper than a dog's! Wherever I go, you follow!"
"Shut up!" Genjuro's figure traced a bizarre arc through the air. His Baiiou Doku sliced through the wind with a shrill scream, aimed straight at Haohmaru's neck!
"Kiriha Ougi!"
This strike was fast, precise, ruthless—filled with pure killing intent!
Yet just as his blade was about to touch Haohmaru's neck, a hand appeared out of nowhere before the blade, two fingers casually pinching the deadly edge.
Another barehanded blade catch!
And this time, with just two fingers of one hand!
Genjuro's pupils contracted violently!
He felt as if his beloved sword had struck an immovable divine metal. The recoil numbed his hands!
"A friend arrives and you don't even offer tea—you go straight for the blade. Haohmaru, your hospitality needs work."
A lazy voice spoke. Only now did Genjuro see who blocked him—a young man in a black martial arts outfit.
It was Cloud.
"Who... are you?" Genjuro narrowed his eyes. He could sense that this man contained power even greater and deeper than Haohmaru's.
That power made him feel a long-absent excitement—the thrill of a hunter spotting apex prey!
"Who I am doesn't matter." Cloud held his blade, smiling. "What matters is, this is my territory. My people. You don't get to touch them."
"Your people?" Genjuro glanced at Haohmaru, a twisted smile spreading across his face. "Hahaha! Haohmaru! You've fallen so low! You've become someone else's dog! This is... this is just too exciting!"
He yanked his sword back, backflipped to create distance, then assumed an even more manic stance.
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