The thirteenth day of battle began with a restless sky, the land steeped in fatigue and fire. On the right wing, the Hi Shin Unit and Gyoku Hou surged forward, taking the fight directly to Zhao's left. The soil quaked beneath their advance.
In the center, Ou Sen observed with his usual stoic detachment, unmoving as the battlefield shifted. Den Ri Mi, watching the chaos unfold, couldn't help but ask, "Was it truly wise to abandon the right?"
Beside him, Sou Ou grinned. "Ou Sen-sama doesn't gamble often… but it seems he placed his faith in his son and that wild spear of a boy."
Ou Sen finally spoke. "I knew the Hi Shin Unit would awaken. As for the Gyoku Hou… that was merely a gamble."
Despite his words, there was no uncertainty in his eyes. Even if Zhao's right was formidable, he believed. Not necessarily in their strength—but in their will.
Meanwhile, in Zhao's camp, Ri Boku and Chou Ga Ryuu had reached the same conclusion: one of the two—Shin or Ou Hon—must be broken. The duo moved with precision. Gyou'un's Rai'un Unit would crush Gyoku Hou, while Gaku Ei's remnants would hold the Hi Shin Unit at bay.
On the battlefield, Shin and Hon led their units across bloodied terrain, holding both flanks. Then came the dreaded news—Ou Hon was lost.
As per Ri Boku's design, Gyou'un and the elite Rai'un charged into the Gyoku Hou, while Chou Ga Ryuu's vanguard redirected to Shin's forces. Ten shouted orders, but chaos erupted.
Ban You and Kan Jou tried desperately to hold the line, but the Ten Spears—Gyou'un's finest—sliced through, reaching the heart of Gyoku Hou's HQ.
Kyou Kai's unit was caught in the tide of Gaku Ei's survivors, thrown into disarray.
Gyou'un stormed into the HQ. Ou Hon fought valiantly, wounding the general with a stab to the arm. But it wasn't enough. Gyou'un's returning strike sent Hon crashing to the ground, unconscious.
Kan Jou, sensing the shift in air, broke through the Zhao lines to warn his master. He arrived just as Gyou'un raised his blade. Raising his glaive in defense, Kan Jou braced for death—but Ou Hon returned, slashing Gyou'un and saving his retainer.
Still, it was too late. The Gyoku Hou was overwhelmed. Kyuu Kou sacrificed himself to let his lord escape, standing against a wave of Zhao with a defiant roar before falling.
Night blanketed the plains.
In the aftermath, Shin and Kyou Kai arrived at Gyoku Hou's broken camp. With A Kou wounded and Ou Hon unconscious, a bold plan was formed. Shin would take command of the entire right-wing.
Temporarily, the Hi Shin Unit became the nerve center of the entire right front—A Kou Army, Gyoku Hou, and Hi Shin, now under one banner.
Tension simmered beneath the moonlight. Ten furiously scribbled out plans, nerves close to breaking. Kyou Kai leaned in with a mischievous grin and a playful grope. "Relax. We'll follow your lead." Shin gave a rare smile. "We're not losing tomorrow."
At dawn, Chou Ga Ryuu sensed the change and sneered. "So they rise again? Let them. This will be the right wing's grave."
The battle erupted earlier than expected.
En and Shou Sa were tasked with overseeing tactical sacrifices—rescuing men only where it mattered. Shin's orders were ruthless, but necessary. The Hi Shin Unit advanced like a spear, the Kaku Bi and Hi Hyou units moving as crushing hammers. All against Chou Ga Ryuu's might.
Gyoku Hou, battered but not broken, now stood under Ban You's leadership. They held fast against the Rai'un. On the far right, A Ka Kin charged recklessly against Ba Nan Ji, carving a path with fire in his veins.
But then came a crisis—Kan To and several men were trapped deep within Zhao lines. Without hesitation, Shou Sa went after them.
Elsewhere, Ban You held the line against the relentless Rai'un, his resolve unshaken.
Losses were heavy. Gaku Ei, Chou Ga Ryuu, and Gyou'un all fell in desperate, brutal combat. Zhao's mighty right wing—was crumbling.
On the left wing, Mou Ten held firm against Ki Sui, even after losing Ko Zen. At his side was Ren and the Gu Ren Tai, battered but steady, reinforcing Mou Ten's push and holding the Zhao forces in check.
In the center, Ou Sen and Ri Boku finally moved. The clash of strategy between the two titans began.
As the right wing pushed ever closer, the Hi Shin Unit broke through to the rear, to Ri Boku's HQ. There, standing like death itself, was Hou Ken.
Sou Tan, with bloodied arms, killed Kin Mou on the path, clearing the way.
Then came the duel.
Blades howled. Flesh tore. Their ideologies clashed with every strike.
With one final, thunderous swing—Shin killed Hou Ken.
But the cost was deep. The moment victory was secured, Shin collapsed from his wounds.
And so, the Battle of Shukai Plains came to a close.
Qin had won.
At the edge of the battlefield, as banners were raised and warriors wept, the name of the Hi Shin Unit echoed once more across the winds. A boy from a village, now a man carrying the weight of generals, had carved his name into history.