Burning Soul [Yukimura | Musou]

[Uesugi Kenshin]

Yukimura would find himself waking up in a frozen wasteland, suddenly pulled from his daily routine into a swirling vortex that appeared from nowhere. The weather is chilling, and a blizzard is raging through the area. Visibility is poor, and he must survive making due with the items he currently has, fighting off both nature and whatever creatures lay in the mist. There are various caves and natural shelters to take refuge from the unforgiving cold.

Amidst the roaring wind, howls could be heard at various intervals, belonging to creatures not of earthly origin. If Yukimura searches, he may find other people, or even monsters.

[Sanada Yukimura]

One minute, Yukimura was training in his new armor that he acquired from Numa Castle, the next, he was pulled into a swirling vortex and shivering his ass off. His teeth chattering from the cold, he'd clutch his spear close to his body, his whip-sword on his back. He couldn't even see anything around him, and if he didn't start moving, he was going to die out here... wherever here was.

The howls mixed amongst the howling wind wasn't making things any better, but moving was better than standing around and praying he'd get back to Nippon in a snap. He'd start trudging through the snow towards the nearest cave, using his spear to help get through the snow drifts, his first priority to make a fire to warm himself up and get some feeling back into his body.

[Uesugi Kenshin]

The cave that Yukimura would come across would be nearly empty, and would be a small respite from the harsh cold. Luckily, he had not wandered into a creature's nest. The floor of the cave would be littered with discarded or rusted weapons or bits of armor and clothing, implying that someone else had previously been here, or killed here. However, no corpses were to be found, nor blood. Only strange looking chunks of ice scattered amongst the equipment.

[Sanada Yukimura]

The small cave a bit of a respite from the blizzard raging outside, a frown would form on his face at the sight of the ground littered with discarded or rusted weapons and bits of armor and clothing. Someone had been here before, but there was no corpse, just strange looking chunks of ice scattered amongst the equipment. Carefully and cautiously advancing into the cave, he would gather any weapon nearby that wasn't too rusted, then gathering and creating a pile of clothes together, he would grab a rock if there were any around, and begin striking it against the weapon, to try and create sparks and ignite a fire. He would keep his spear close, his arm wrapped around it, ready to take hold of it in case whatever killed the former occupant of the cave returned.

[Uesugi Kenshin]

Yukimura would succeed in creating a fire where the clothes were. Sitting close to the fire would grant him instant warmth from the cold, and would provide clearer light in this cave. If he looked closer at the strange chunks of ice, he would notice that it wasn't just simply ice... but rather, it was frozen chunks of human flesh. The previous occupant(s) were frozen solid and smashed into pieces.

[Sanada Yukimura]

As he warmed his hands over the fire, Yukimura would briefly glance up... only to recoil in horror at what he saw what he thought were just chunks of ice. It was actually chunks of frozen human flesh, which explained why there were no corpses or blood left behind. The former occupants had been frozen solid and smashed to pieces. Hoping he wouldn't encounter whatever killed these people (but he highly doubted that), without a moment's hesitation, he would hold the blade of his spear over the fire, to heat the metal up red-hot, while trying to warm himself up quickly.

He had a bad feeling about this...

[Uesugi Kenshin]

A howl could be heard from outside. It sounded like a beast. If Yukimura looked towards the cave entrance, however, a young boy would run in, panting and scared and in tears. He was accompanied by a man.

"Please, mister! You have to help us!" The boy cried. Soon after, a wolf lunged in from outside, biting into the man's ankle and dragging him back outside screaming. The screams would continue combined with snarls and the sound of claws tearing into flesh would resonate before suddenly dying out. A few moments later, the wolf would jump back into the cave, covered in blood and planning on getting the boy next.

[Sanada Yukimura]

Lifting his head up and turning it slowly to look behind him at the sound of a howl, Yukimura would bolt upwards into a standing position, the blade of his spear red-hot, as he looked over at the cave entrance and saw a young boy and a man bolt inside, only for the man to be dragged back outside by a wolf.

"Stay behind me, and keep close to me no matter what!"

Yukimura would shout as the wolf jumped back into the cave, covered in blood, after tearing the poor man apart. Placing himself between the boy and the wolf, his spear at the ready, he would be ready to attack the moment the wolf leaped forward.

[Uesugi Kenshin]

The wolf would look at Yukimura, snarling. Two more wolves would walk in from behind him as if from nowhere. With unearthly howls, two would leap for the soldier, wanting to tear his throat from his neck while the other one attempted to circle around to claim the boy!

[Sanada Yukimura]

His spear held slightly behind him, as two more wolves walked in from behind him, as if out of nowhere, as two of them lunged towards him, he would swing the blade of the spear through the fire and attempt to execute a spin attack with his spear of sorts, to try and slash not only the two that lunged at him, but also prevent the third one from reaching the boy.

If he managed to knock all three wolves back, he'd quickly try to back up and direct the boy towards one of the walls of the cave, ensuring he was in front of the boy at all times, and nothing could sneak up from behind him as well.

[Uesugi Kenshin]

The two wolves slashed, one of them on the legs and the other's neck. The one whose legs were slashed would cry in pain, limping towards the entrance while blood trailed along the ground, and the other wolf would fall to the floor dead. The third backed away in fear of the fire, snarling at Yukimura before retreating from the cave. Before it left, it would slay the injured wolf, finding it useless, before retreating into the wilderness. Something seemed strange about the wild life here. And these wolves were definitely not the creatures that had frozen these people.

The boy behind Yukimura would cry, and through his cries Yukimura would be able to make out something about a village and a curse.

[Sanada Yukimura]

Breathing a sigh of relief as he injured one and killed another, the third one retreating, though not before killing the injured wolf, he would keep his guard up, even as he would guide the boy to the fire, crouching beside it, as he would place one hand comfortingly on the boy's shoulder, the other holding his spear over the fire to heat the blade up once more, managing to catch something about a village and a curse through the boy's crying.

"Calm down and explain to me slowly what happened. What is this about a village and a curse?"

[Uesugi Kenshin]

The boy looked up at Yukimura through tear-stained eyes, shivering, half from the cold and half from fear.

"T-the people of my village... they're all f-frozen..."

The boy would continue to sob. As if beckoning Yukimura, the fog outside the cave would part in the center, showing a village off in the distance, surrounded by mist.

[Sanada Yukimura]

"When did it happen?"

Plopping the boy as close to the fire as possible, to warm him up, he would look out the entrance of the cave as the fog parted in the middle, revealing a village off in the distance, surrounded by mist. A frown forming on his face, he would turn and look back down at the boy, continuing to clasp his shoulder comfortingly.

"I know you're frightened, but I'm going to go to your village, and find out what happened. I do not want to leave you alone here, not with those wolves around, but if you rather stay here, I understand. What do you wish to do young one?"

[Uesugi Kenshin]

"I.. I'll go with you..." The boy would nod bravely, and would follow Yukimura should he decide to leave.

"We've always had winter, ever since before I was born... it's never stopped snowing... but then we heard a scary noise and everyone became ice..."

The boy would shiver, sticking close to Yukimura. It sounded like something much more dangerous than wolves would be a concern.

[Sanada Yukimura]

Yukimura would indeed leave, making sure to keep one arm wrapped protectively around the boy, the other holding onto his spear. Frowning even more at the boy's story, the scary noise he spoke of definitely sounded worse than where wolves were concerned. Moving slowly, allowing him to stay completely silent, upon reaching the village, he would carefully and cautiously move through it, motioning for the boy to stay silent.

There was no telling what he would encounter, but it wouldn't be good, that's for sure, if it could freeze an entire village solid.

[Uesugi Kenshin]

Yukimura's trek to the village would be relatively unhindered. The weather seemed to part for them as they traveled despite the raging winds on either side of them.

Upon arriving in the village, Yukimura would be greeted with the horrific sight of dozens upon dozens of people, encased in ice. Many were frozen mid-run, their faces contorted in agony. Others had no idea what was going on and were frozen doing their daily routines. A place of eternal winter which no longer had any inhabitants. The people looked as if they could break with a single touch.

"Please, mister... you have to help us..." The boy would say through tears again.

[Sanada Yukimura]

A grim expression on his face at the sight of the frozen villagers, he would turn to the boy and give him a kind smile and a nod of his head, before facing forward once more, his face set like flint. Eternal winter. He would help this boy and his village, no matter what. Navigating his way carefully and slowly through the village, he would stick close to the boy, spear at the ready.

"Did the scary noise come from a particular place?"

[Uesugi Kenshin]

The boy nodded. With a trembling finger, he would point towards a hill, and the fog would lift where he pointed, strangely. An exceptionally large cave entrance could be seen, much larger than the one that Yukimura had previously taken refuge in.

"The noise came from there, mister..."

[Sanada Yukimura]

Looking in the direction the boy pointed, the fog lifting oddly, revealing a large cave entrance at a hill, far larger than the one he took refuge in, he would give the boy a kind smile.

"Thank you young one. If you wish to stay with me, you may. But I would not fault you if you do not wish to follow me into the cave."

If the boy followed him, Yukimura would make sure to stick like glue to him. If he did not follow him, Yukimura would tightly grip his spear in his hands, as he made his way to the hill, and with a deep breathe, would enter into the cave, not knowing what was in store for him.

[Uesugi Kenshin]

The young boy would follow Yukimura closely, their trek to the cave seemed rather long despite the distance not being that far at all. However, as Yukimura approached the cave, he would be sent flying backwards, the entrance exploding in a veil of snow, the boy flying with him.

If he looked up after the mist dissipated, he would see a gargantuan beast made of ice, the source of the villager's 'curse'.

It was now up to Yukimura to either run and save himself, or attempt to fight this beast for the sake of the villagers.

[Sanada Yukimura]

Though the distance seemed not that far, the trek itself ended up being rather far, but as soon as he reached the cave, he would be sent flying backwards, the boy flying with him, as the entrance exploded in a veil of snow. As he slowly sat up, cradling his head, the moment the mist dissipated, his eyes would widen upon seeing what was essentially, the source of the curse.

"RUN BOY, IT'S TOO DANGEROUS HERE!"

Yukimura would shout, as he quickly climbed to his feet, placing himself between the creature and the boy, to ensure the boy escaped. He would not run and save himself, he promised he would help the boy, and he would not go back on his word. With spear in hand, he would face off against the creature, as he thrust his spear towards one of the creature's legs. It may be a futile effort, but he would not back down.

[Uesugi Kenshin]

Yukimura's spear would pierce the creature's leg, but it seemed as though it hardly affected the beast at all. It would roar and swat Yukimura away, sending him flying and rolling down the hill, his spear flying after him. With a shriek, the beast would fire ice in front of the boy, stopping him from leaving. The boy would curl up and begin to cry. "T-that's the noise!"

[Sanada Yukimura]

"AHHHHHH!"

Yukimura would scream as he was swatted away and sent flying and rolling down the hill after his spear pierced the creature's leg, but did absolutely nothing surprise. His spear flying after him, Yukimura would land with a dull phumph! in the snow, his spear landing beisde him and sliding a little before coming to a stop. Slowly sitting up, not dazed thanks to his helmet, he would quickly scramble to his feet and grab his spear before rushing in front of the boy, acting as a shield between the boy and the creature, who was unable to leave due to the wall of ice created by the creature.

"Stay behind me at all times, you understand!? I won't let the creature get you!"

The odds were definitely against him, but he wasn't going to give up, not when lives were on the line.

[Uesugi Kenshin]

The boy hid behind Yukimura the best he could, the creature would look at the two of them and almost looked as if it was grinning sinisterly. It rose its foot into the air, bringing it down on the two and planning on smashing both of them to a pulp.

Yukimura would begin to feel heat building up inside of his body, although it wasn't a painful one. It was invigorating.