(Author: Hello! Rian and Ivy are back. Pretty sure you guys saw that coming if Lu Shu actually met the ten candidates before going to war. With the tactic a success, the collective armies of Tiger and Jade Sword fight the ninth stage magical beasts. While they outnumber the enemy, most of them are weaker than the magical beasts. What will happen in this battle of man vs. beast? Next release either Oct. 10 or 17, depending on how proficient I do my research papers, my midterms, and if my group shows up for all meetings without another reschedule. I swear, why do we have group work?...... Enjoy.)

--------------Chapter 6: Man vs. Beast--------------------

"Shields formation up! I want a five row formation!" Lu Shu roared as the soldiers scrambled into position. "First row, hold only your giant shields. Augment your defenses and brace for the enemy's assault. Second and third row, ready your spears. Second row will stab between shields. Third row will stab as the second row redraws their spears for another attack. Fourth row, you are their replacements. If one falls, I want the squad leader to call out and replace that fallen soldier. Do not let the formation break! Fifth row. Your priority is shooting at the enemies. I want it to rain with your arrows and their blood."

"Yes, general!" they cried.

"General, General Han Jian is moving the mages up. I am to assist your flanks and have our mages assault those who try to flank you," Cao Wei said as he appeared behind him.

"Good. You heard that men! Focus on the offensive and push forward! They are stronger, but are not men. Beasts are not organized as well as men. That is why we rule and they scatter. Trust your fellow soldier and keep your shields up!" Lu Shu roared.

"Master?" Bakura said as Shu motioned to him.

"I want you assist the second row in attacking the magical beasts that try to break through the formation. If one is downed, drag him to the back as he gets replaced," Shu said as Hao slept atop the tiger as it joined Lu Shu.

"Yes, my lord. I will not fail my task," Bakura bowed and left to join the second row of the formation.

"Brace yourselves!" Lu Shu roared as the magical beasts finally arrived. "Archers, open fire! Cao Wei, make sure those enchantment magic buffs are holding on those shields. You know what to do if they try to flank. Fourth Row, keep your eyes opened and be ready to join the fight at any time!"

"Augh!" one of the soldiers cried as a magical beasts nearly broke past him as its rhino horn made a small dent on the shield and bruised his arm.

"I never liked rhinos," Lu Shu spat as he threw a spear of lightning at the rhino, blasting it into ash. "Magical beasts are like regular beasts. They have the similar anatomies. Do not assume they only know how to attack a certain way. Mages, concentrate your magic on those who attack from medium to long range!"

"Shield Wall, use your control over your element. Let it flow through your bodies and make your legs unmovable! Push forward. Bash them with your shields and keep your formation tight!" Lu Shu roared as some of them started to hesitate. "Do not retreat. Any who do will have their limbs torn apart by horses and their families whipped to death! Your life or their lives! Do not retreat. Push forward or I'll cut off your head and replace you with someone better!"

"Fuck it," one of the shield wall soldiers said as he decided not to run.

"I don't want to die," one cried and tried to run. Bakura pierced his balls and cut off his head as he fell to the ground in pain. The bloody, cruel act erased all thoughts of retreat and the soldiers immediately began to improvise their techniques to withstand the assault of the beasts.

"Get that soldier's corpse and see that his family is whipped to death," Lu Shu said. "I was not joking. If one retreats, more will follow and we will lose. I will not let one soldier's cowardice affect my army."

"Yes," Cao Wei nodded his head and told the scouts to retrieve and identify the body as Bakura brought it to them.

"I need one replacement to the second row!" a soldier cried as one of the spearmen grabbed the shield of the traitor.

"Tell them what I ordered Co Wei to do," Lu Shu said coldly and the soldier that was chosen to replace the spearmen nodded violently before rushing to his position. "Beasts are not men. They run away from beasts more powerful than them. Drive them back! Multiple spearmen should target the same magical beast. Let it know fear. Advance and keep your shields up!"

Lu Shu watched as the shield wall no longer defied his orders as the soldier from the fourth row told the soldiers what he said. He noticed the magical beasts no longer attacking as a huge wave as they realized they could not break through the formation, the magical beasts scattered as they tried to run.

"All forces, charge and kill the enemy! Maintain a distance of one hundred feet. Spread out and kill the enemy!" Lu Shu yelled.

"Finally!" the second and third row of soldiers cried as they ran past the shield soldiers and started attacking the magical beasts, five attacking a single magical beast. The shield soldiers were taken back to be healed by the fourth row of soldiers as the fifth row of soldiers rushed to cover their allies and slow down the enemy retreat with their arrows.

"Now that is the chaos of war," Cao Wei laughed as the battlefield became a mix of magical beast and soldiers all over the valley. The magical beasts had fear instilled in their hearts and Lu Shu let his men capitalize and kill to their hearts content.

"You can only use that formation for so long. When the enemy starts retreating and not facing you, is when you dissolve the formation and charge the enemy at full force. Let's just be glad they're not human, or humanoid Hyperion," Lu Shu said as even Hao started hunting. The Holy Spirit Beast was tied to him and would have his cultivation like his wraith servants. If Hao was going to be hit, Wraith launched a secret attack from Hao's shadow and retreated as Hao turned to the magical beast in anger.

"Your little guardian lion cub and skeleton swordsman are frightening indeed. No wonder wraiths are highly sought for as is the aim to be a true Archon," Cao Wei sighed as Bakura and Hao led a one-sided slaughter.

"We did not fight the elite as Meng Ce is fighting them with the Dragon Army. Also, this island is not the main headquarters of all magical beasts below the Spirit Knight tier," Lu Shu said as he and Cao Wei leisurely walked through the battlefield, killing magical beasts with lightning spears of flying daggers of fire.

"True. We are lucky in that regard. Although, we lost quite the amount of soldiers. About twenty cavalry soldiers and two hundred and six foot soldiers have died since we first set out. Less then a quarter but still our soldiers nonetheless," Cao Wei nodded. "They will be replaced when we launch the final offensive on the last island in our path."

"We should expect the Hyperion to interfere. I don't believe the magical beasts would let them travel this far through their waters," Lu Shu nodded.

"Report from Great General Meng Ce," a soldier said as he arrived during the chaos. "The leader of the magical beasts of this island has been captured as well as most of the elite that served it. There is also troubling news from the scouts that tried to scout the next island."

"What is that?" Lu Shu asked.

"The island has fallen to the Hyperion. However, the leader of the magical beasts is at the tenth stage of the Spirit Shaman tier and has been left alive to kill us. The Hyperion have made several outposts and built a giant fortress in the heart of the island. How big, none of our scouts discovered as they were killed before they could investigate further," the soldier reported.

"Now we know the answer, General Lu Shu. I thought we were the reason the magical beasts panicked and gathered in the valley. They weren't hiding from us. They were hiding...." Cao Wei began.

"....from the Hyperion," Lu Shu finished. "No wonder they stayed inside their nests. They were like people of a conquered city trying to hide from the invaders. Tell the soldiers not to kill these magical beasts and to capture them instead. We need all the fighting force we can get. If the soldiers are willing, let them bond with the magical beasts."

"Yes, general," Cao Wei nodded and relayed his orders as Lu Shu left and returned to the war tent where General Han Jian, Li Jiro, and Matsuda Ken waited. After a while, the two lieutenant generals and his two marriage candidates arrived and they all sat on the war table with General Han Jian's own lieutenant generals.

"I assume you all heard the report," Lu Shu said.

"Yes, Your Highness," Han Jian nodded as the others also agreed. "I always knew the Hyperion wouldn't just let us waltz to their lands so easily."

"Indeed. The Hyperion had always been a race that conquered and used offense as a defense," Ivy nodded.

"Uncle Liao always said the boss of the magical beasts would not fall. Who knew it would betray its own kind to survive," Rian said, frowning. "My uncle is currently conferring the news to Ancestor Lu Feng. It seems my uncle was more concerned for me than I expected. I told him I would be fine."

"I already told Lu Feng but the girl speaks the truth," Spook said in his mind. "He already spread his spirit sense all over Giant's Chain. It seems humanoid Hyperion are on the island. He said to warn you that some of them might be experimented Hyperion and that they must have been sent here to test their worth."

"Your Highness?" Han Jian asked as Lu Shu was quiet.

"I received a report from my ancestor. It seems humanoid Hyperion are on the island. We are not going to face mindless beasts or ones that think like a pack. We must expect the enemy to have an intelligence near ours," Lu Shu warned.

"What is the plan?" Lu Gong asked.

"For now, we rest and re-supply with some of the resources here. Let the soldiers get used to their magical beasts and for reinforcements to arrive to replenish our forces. General Han Jian, I thank you for assisting us in taking the valley," Lu Shu said, nodding his head in gratitude to the general. "This war meeting is dismissed.

"Your gratitude is more than enough, Your Highness. I thank you for allowing me to be of service. Be careful on the next island," General Han Jian said and left with his lieutenant generals.

"By your leave, general," the others said and all left except for Rian.

"My lord said you are dismissed," Bakura said as its hand grasped its katana.

"I guess he doesn't want the Two-Headed Magma Hound meat," Rian said and started to leave.

"Wait!" Lu Shu cried, the taste of the meat in his mind. "Bakura, take Hao to my tent and let it rest."

"She's bribing my liege with meat. This vixen is a threat," Bakura thought as it picked up Hao and left.

"So you want to speak with me or eat the meat?" Rian teased.

"Both. Now that I am at the tenth stage. It is time I start awakening the power of my spirit reactors. You, who come from an ancient clan and even gave me a book about it, should know more than me," Lu Shu answered truthfully.

"Oh," Rian said, feeling a little happy and sad as she heard his answer. "Okay. We'll talk as we eat. We have the entire night to talk about it."

As Rian started setting the table, Bakura had stepped outside the tent and was noticed by all the people nearby.

"Where is Rian and Lu Shu?" Ivy asked.

"Another distraction," Bakura muttered as it answered. "The master's business, this lowly vassal cannot reveal. All I can say is that it requires a meal. I have urgent business to do on my lord's behalf. I must make haste before Hao awakens after feeding on so many magical beasts."

"The competition has already begun," Ken grinned as he and Jiro heard from a few feet away.

"I wouldn't date a girl from the ancient clans," Jiro said as he fingered the bead necklace on his neck. Inside was a human woman's head with long vermillion hair. It seemed almost alive and one would feel a shiver down his spine if he looked at the bottom of the head. He would see the blood circulate around the broken fragment of the spine containing the neck of the head.

"What's that necklace?" Ken asked as he saw what was inside the bead necklace. "Is that a head? No wonder you hate the Li Clan so much. Was she someone you knew?"

"No. This bead has nothing to do with my clan. Years ago, the Hyperion were searching for something. This bead was hidden at the sight. Based on the impressions on the altar, there are three more. However, someone his this bead in the root wall near the altar. Whoever did must have gotten a bead as well," Jiro said.

"Do you know who did?" Ken asked.

"I have a clue but my mind can't believe he was the one," Jiro said. "I just know that the Hyperion are deceived and do not know they really need five. A five-star point formation is quite powerful and mysterious. I believe there should be five."

"So who do you think Lu Shu will fall for?" Ken asked as he saw Ivy clench her fist and walk into the tent.

"Honestly, I don't know. Rian is very beautiful. Of course, Ivy has an advantage as she seemed to know Lu Shu and might even be his classmate from her academy. I forget the name," Jiro said as he was friends with her. He hated his clan, but his uncle still had him interact with the clan and do his responsibilities.

"I do not understand why humans," Bakura said as it laid Hao next to the demon blood pool. "You've been with the master for a long time. How do I get rid of the distractions?"

"It's a human thing called love, opposite to the feeling that created us. Who knows? Anger, hatred, and vengeance made us. What would love, kindness, and forgiveness make?" Wraith shrugged as it exited Hao's shadow.

"That is unacceptable," Bakura said as it would have blanched if it had any flesh.

"Living creatures with souls have feelings of love. As they are more intelligent, they don't just pro-create with any opposite gender they feel the need to mate with. They develop relationships," Wraith said. "The more intelligent, the more they seek a companion. It is their way."

"Will my lord be swayed by those vixens?" Bakura asked. "He must kill the leader of the magical beasts."

"That has nothing to do with it as he will obviously kill it. However, the master's type of woman....you should know as you have his memories due to our bond with him. His desire for meat and the power to protect what he wants, and how he lives his life, is what drives him. He would not desire a weak woman he would need to protect," Wraith answered.

"Magical beast meat did make him pause and change his judgment," Bakura said as it remembered how his lord reacted upon hearing about the meat Rian had. "I must return and protect my liege."

"He should learn to relax," Wraith sighed as it spread its eight legs and hopped into the pool while Bakura left to save his master..