Board Thread:The World/@comment-44207700-20191106093346/@comment-24937485-20191204003008

'''Zhiro took a thankful breath of relief upon watching the archers surrenders, at which point he noticed that his knees were shaking from exhaustion (1/3 stamina). But he couldn’t take a breath of relief just yet. Nor could he bring himself to ask Shinzo to come over here with all of those traps laying around. Luckily, the boy never had to do so as the monk arrived of his own accord like a breath of fresh air. It was only then that Zhiro fell to his knees and inhaled the deepest breath of his fourteen years of life before exhaling with such emotion that his eyes began streaming tears down his cheeks. He couldn’t even fully comprehend why he was crying as the sensation of relief overwhelmed him. This last hour had been filled with emotional turmoil which had caused the boy to grow up fast in the battlefield, but he was still a boy. '''

'''After wiping the tears from his face, Zhiro reached over to his shoulder and pulled the arrow out of it with a fierce jerk. The downside started with the rejuvenated pain as the wound was fully reopened again, causing it to bleed heavily. Zhiro was quick to rip off a part of the head archer’s shirt and wrapped it around his shoulder clumsily before getting to his feet just as Shinzo had returned from executing the remaining archers. Leaving the two standing amidst field of dead eyes and blood. '''

'''Zhiro bowed his head as the spear was handed to him and took hold of it with his right hand, grasping firmly, while thinking back to the sacrifice Hanegaya had made. Zhiro owed his life to the man and would respect his legacy with this weapon even if he still had but one arm to work with. Hanegaya’s spear would find its final revenge no matter what. Looking back up, Zhiro couldn’t muster a word. It felt like there was something stuck in his throat as he, for the first time, experienced true responsibility. And a bond of warriors. And the grief caused by the death of brothers in arms. Even without knowing their names. ​'''

'''As they ran back to the temple, Zhiro looked at the many faces of the monks and those of the Kushaku gang all of whom had already fallen in the battle which still raged on. He couldn’t shake off the urge, or rather the wish to have been stronger so that many of these lives could have been spared even if it was at the cost of his own. He shared a final look with Shinzo before the pair made their way up the stairs covered in carnage. The sounds of battle still coming from above.'''

'''Then Zhiro took the last step up the stairs. Covered in red from head to toe he made his appearance with eyes that spoke of determination and a lust for vengeance, a tall spear held in his left hand, his bare feet stepped down onto temple grounds with the presence of a warrior. '''

'''However... Zhiro’s eyes widened in shock the moment he saw Tarou. '''