Prologue - Shinuyama (sorry for delay, these Pretenders got argumentative...
)
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Those who had seen mount Shinuyama at that night would think that the ancient volcano awakened again as it was almost all highlighted by fires which danced in rythm of sound like thunder. But what actually occurred here was probably even more threatening, at least for those who did not live very close - and such fools were long dead. For at that night goblin tribes of Shinuyama gathered to call forth the God who will lead them in troubled times to come.
The summit of the mountain was circled by shamans and sorcerers deep in communion who summoned great spirits offering guidance to the tribes in return for their worship. Here also were tribe leaders who judged which one would better lead them all. They eyed each other closely and their hands never stayed far from handles of their swords for here lied an opportunity to rise above one's peers and they all wanted to take it. Some were absent, but if they won't take part in ceremony, their clans will lose status and spoils of conquest will be divided without them, too.
Soon the first one manifested in the ring of fires - a spirit of the Holy Mountain itself, it was mighty and bakemono venerated it for a long time. It offered to lead its worshippers to battle, and many hailed him while one of the gathered chieftains stepped forward to become its champion. Then a dragon from the cloud-covered peak nearby appeared to offer the same and another chieftain supported him. Still, most waited, knowing that there were no longer scattered tribes around them, but mighty empires rising to claim all the world for their gods, and it could be much more difficult to beat them.
Then the flames danced wildly and a stench of blood filled the air. A voice sounded from nothere:
- Worship me, and I will bring you prosperity and strength. Many will fear you, for I will give you secrets of the ancient magic... Make sacrifice... Make it now - for I must be free!
One of the gathered chieftains raised his arm and cut it with knife - and the stench of blood became thicker as something began to appear in the ring... Many of the chieftains began to gather about the first one who have chosen the newcomer
Then another voice thundered:
- Banish this foul apparition! He will bring suffering to yourselves - not only to those you fight with! Demons whom he'll summon cannot be trusted. I know - I fought them fro the Pantocrator and have beaten it once. And I will teach you how to fight as regular army, not a gathering of tribes! Many will be those who will follow me and they will become your allies!
Many were those who nodded hearing this and seeing a regal figure of the celestial warlord. However, those who have heard the apparition did not draw back - for they knew that backing a losing Pretender will result in both death and humiliation. Swords hissed leaving their scabbards.
As the chieftains began the fight which should decide who will lead bakemono to conquest, one of the sorcerers surrounding ring, slowly raised.
- Enough of this foolishness!
His voice easily raised above din of combat.
- I will rule!
As one of the other sorcerers seemed to want to say something, the new pretender had drawn his sword and in one fluid motion struck the objecting one down.
- I am no less immortal now than these spirits! And I know what you all want - I will bring you loot and killing enough to sate everybody! You, General - we do not need your "allies" - they will want to make us to bow down to mere humans - and that cannot be!
A roar of agreement seemsed to shook the mountain.
- I need no champion, - continued ancient sorcerer, - I will show you all how your master fights!
He waded into combat, easily ignoring strikes of mighty chieftains and striking them down one after another...
Many were slain, including some sorcerers forming the communion. Others, raising from their trance, skulked into darkness, clutching their heads, their magic powers wiped for a long time by concentration needed for this one ritual. One, however, suddenly stopped looking around...
- There is more! - cried he and dropped down.
Fighters warily backed away from each other. Several who tried to hold back the Kunshu sorcerer were tired and wounded, except the mountain spirit's champion, who looked fresh. Sorcerer himself, however, showed no effects of blows which striked him. He slowly drawn somebody's sword from his chest, dropped it on stones and stepped on it, breaking the blade.
- So it will be with you.
- You are mistaken, sorry, - another voice said, with intonations out of place here in the wildereness.
- And who are you?! - sorcerer whirled, sword in hand.
- I am THE one who really deserves to ascend to godhood, - answered the newcomer, whose transparend body was covered with ancient mantles of Tien Chi courtier. He seemed to have no weapons, but beared himself as a warrior. - I see, there is at least one here who can introduce me, aren't you, General?
- You are a traitor! - roared the Celestial general. I'll kill you!
- Impossible, sorry. And, saying nothing about the fact that it was I who crushed your army before, your lord, while unmistakably of royal blood, had no Mandate of Heaven, and so had no more right to rule than our over-enthusiastik friend her, - he pointed at Kunshu, - while my lord did.
- You betrayed him, too!
- No, I just beat his worthless descendant to assure that the Empire will be ruled by worthy lord. And yes, I remember that it was my son who founded the next dynasty...
- Now it is brought down, at last! Justice triumphed!
- Yes, Heavens seem to scorn my genius, while accepting your mulishness as something worthy to worship. But even if eunuchs of the nowadays court won't acknowledge me as rightful ruler, this won't stop me!
The ancient warlord and Emperor-maker turned to accembled chieftains.
- Listen to me, warriors! Spirit of the mountain was worthy to worship when you huddled here and fought each other - but I offer you the world! Dragon is strong enough, but he isn't the sorcerer you need to fight off enemy demons! Spirit of blood was beaten by general and I have crushed this one. And you sorcerer here can only offer you things of past, which are not enough now when new empires rise! I will teach you to grow rice so you would not hunger and will multiply. I will teach you to make weapons of fine steel. And I will teach you to fight as civilized empire - like THIS!
He brought his fan sharply down and a rain of arrows from darkness struck at most of the chieftains still warily watching each other.
- You can't kill ME like that! I am immortal!
Kunshu looked like hedgehog, but arrows seemed to do him no lasting harm. He rasied his sword in preparation for charge. His opponent, though looked unfazed:
- You are fool. You shouldn't think that killing everybody who built a sanctuary for your heart will suffice to hide its location from those who know how to speak with a dead. Bring it.
Two bakemono appeared from darkness, carrying a large ceramic urn. Both moved shamblingly and as they drew closer, all have seen that they throats have been cut. Still, they moved.
Kunshu screamed and charged at them, but as he was almost there, the strategist gestured with his fan. Both soulless collapsed and urn shattered, dropped on stones. A heart, still beating, lay between its shards.
- You thought to kill them another time? No need. And as for this...
As if summoned by another fan sign, a single arrow appeared from the darkness and pierced the heart. With a scream, the sorcerer collapsed.
- And this, - said the new Pretender as a figure of another Dai Bakemono chieftain appeared in firelight, - is my champion. Be sure to do what he says, as he has instructions for you until the time when I will rejoin you. I WILL have the
Throne of Heavens! And you - will rule the world!
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Whoever remembers an actual man this story is based on, gets a cookie (or NAP).