[center][h3]Terauchi Temple[/h3][/center]
[center][b]PRE-EMPTIVE STRIKE[/b][/center]
[center]~ [@Hammerman], [@Rezod92], [@Crowvette], [@Nakushita], [@Restalaan] (GRI & SKA), [@AzureKnight] (ATS & HIN) ~[/center]

[quote=Eula][color=C48BD3][b]"The Varjans are about to attack! Ready your defenses! Evaluate civilians! Alert your leaders! We don't have much time!"[/b][/color][/quote]

The discussion about Komatsu Bay was suddenly interrupted when [u]Eula[/u] barged into the temple, shouting about a Varjan attack. The refugees and monks dropped everything they were doing to listen could scarcely believe what she was saying... but then, the upper floors of a pagoda exploded! A flaming boulder was launched upon it, and it was followed with a couple more shots that landed on the temple grounds and the shelters.

The villagers panicked as fire quickly spread, but a leader was there to keep order. "Ayu! Lead the peasants into any cover you can find. Inside the temples, in cellars, anywhere so long as its hidden well." Takeshi ordered and the head spy nodded and ran off to fulfill it. "Warriors of Shizuyama! Taskforce of Lady Kyouko! The Varjans come in countless numbers! But so long as we stand, we will never give in!"

"[color=lavender]I am with you, Takeshi...[/color]" Kikyo unsheathed her sword.

"[color=yellow]Let us send them to their ancestors![/color]" Takamori drew his dual blades.

"[color=mediumslateblue]No mercy for the Varjans![/color]" Sorae yelled.

"[color=orange]Never back down![/color]" Nobutada raised his club to his shoulders.

"[color=firebrick]One strike, one kill![/color]" Kageho let hang her sickles.

"[color=violet]Remember the fallen, but fight for the living![/color]" Yurine exclaimed.

"[color=indianred]These Varjans will fall before us![/color]" Kazenosuke smiled, his sword already drawn.

There were also other warriors present, the remnants of Kikyo's forces and survivors who managed to find their way into the temple and did not mind the yokai. The combined troops of Terauchi Temple was a meager force, but one will see if quality trumps quantity in this fight.

The brutal horns of the Varjans sounded... from opposing sides of the temple. "They're attacking from two sides!" Takeshi pointed out. "We have to split up! We can't let a single Varjan get to the refugees! Lord Takamori, take Sorae, Nobutada and Kageho to the other side. Kikyo, Yurine, Kazenosuke, take this side. I'll join in a moment."

The renowned warriors all followed Takeshi's orders without question, leaving only the young lord with the taskforce. "It is unfortunate that Sir Shizuka and some of the others cannot join us. But the Varjans do not wait for anyone, we must do this ourselves." Takeshi said to them. "You're a smart bunch, go where you think you are needed the most." were his last words to the yokai before taking off.