*It’s night time at Brister. Inside the Wall, Elise is leaving her office. She turns off the nights and gets ready to walk to the elevator when she notices the light from a computer screen on in the lobby. She thought she was the only one still there and found it suspicious. Readying her she walks over the lobby and looks inside to see a rather muscular man with short brown hair, blue eyes, and wearing glasses sitting at the computer. He wore a collared grey shirt and blue pants with brown shoes*
(Elise): Duncan?
*Recognizing the voice, the man turned around in his chair and saw Elise approaching him*
(Duncan): Commander Elise? I thought I was the only one still here.
(Elise): Likewise. What are you still doing here?
(Duncan): Just got done decoding this file. Our spies in Hargus sent us a file about an experiment conducted in Hargus to create super soldiers.
(Elise): Not surprising. Hargus has been trying to find an answer to our Ranger program for years.
(Duncan): Apparently this project was conducted years ago. It was called Project Ramas.
(Elise): Ramas? As in the same Ramas from the story: The Legion of Rage?
(Duncan): Don’t know. According to the file, Hargus took in a bunch of orphans and began training them to be soldiers. They had their food and sleep scheduled monitored daily, along with having their bodies injected with supplements and drugs to make them stronger. Their instructors were given free rein to deal out any disciplinary action they saw fit in case of failure or rebellious acts. This led to a number of abusive scenarios on the orphans which included being locked up in solitary confinement for days without food or water, physical assault, chained up to trees on cold nights, attacked by wild dogs, and even sexual assault.
*Elise stood there disgusted by what Duncan just said covering her mouth. She knew that Hargus’s experiments were inhumane from past reports and was used in how disturbing they could be, but abusing helpless children was something that always turned her stomach and made her feel sick. She could feel her rage boiled up within her*
(Duncan): The experimented lasted for 4 ½ years until one orphan finally snapped from the abuse and harsh conditions. He went on a rampage killing all of the instructors, fellow orphans, and burning the place down.
(Elise): So the experiment was a failure.
(Duncan): No. According to the file it was a success. The whole point of the experiment was for only one survivor to emerge. Hargus purposefully chose some of their most corrupt soldiers to oversee the experiment, knowing they would abuse their position of power. They didn’t even know the full details of the experiment, they were just told to watch over the kids and keep them in line.
(Elise): They were set up to die and give Hargus a new super soldier.
(Duncan): That’s messed up. They did all of this just to get one super soldier?
(Elise): I believe this quote from their general, Yamos, sums it up best: I would rather sacrifice 99 lives for one super soldier than one super soldier for 99 lives. To him, as long as the kingdom gets a skilled and unstoppable soldier, the means justify the ends. No matter how much blood is spilled. Do we know what became of the child?
(Duncan): Not sure. There’s no name or picture of him in the file. All we have is a codename: The Blood Flame.
***
*Back in Werben, Sanada and Barnt’s swords were clashing with each other. Sanada’s sword was able to withstand the heat from Barnt’s flaming sword. When the two came to a standstill with their swords, Barnt managed to lean in and headbutt Sanada hard. He was hoping to break Sanada’s mask but it had no effect. The attack did daze Sanada as he staggered backwards clutching his head with his free hand. Barnt was also effected by the headbutt thanks to the mask. He quickly recovered from the daze and charged at Sanada only for him to dodge the attack with a sidestep. Barnt attacked again only for his swings to miss as Sanada sidestepped them*
(Sanada): Sloppy. You swing that blade with wild abandonment. Like an animal whose lost all reasoning and just wants to kill.
*After dodging one more swing, Sanada perfectly parried Barnt’s next swing which left him to attacks*
(Sanada): Tornado Style: Gust Thrust!
*Pulling his sword, Sanada thrusted his sword toward Barnt unleashing a gust of wind which hit Barnt’s shoulder and pushed him through the doors. He soon landed on the cafeteria floor with his shoulder slightly bleeding. As he rose to his feet, Sanada walked through the doors ready to continue their fight. Barnt stared at him with anger. In his eyes Sanada looked like the instructors at the orphanage he was raised at. A monster who deserved nothing but death and he was going to deliver it to him no matter what. Ripping off his coat, Barnt charged at Sanada swinging his blade wildly. This resulted in tables being broken and catching fire as Sanada blocked his attacks and was back on defense*
(Barnt): Got you on the ropes now you fox bastard.
*Sanada blocked his last attack to bring them to a standstill*
(Sanada): Hardly.
*Sanada managed to push Barnt back as if unleashing a gust of wind and sheathed his sword*
(Sanada): Hurricane Style: Crosswinds Slash!
*Unsheathing his sword, Sanada ran past Barnt at amazing speed in the blink of an eye. Sanada appeared behind who stood still as he was hit by eight wind slashes. Barnt screamed out in pain from the attack as Sanada stood there waiting for him to fall. However, Barnt remained standing, turned around and swung his flaming attempting to attack Sanada while his back was turned. However, Sanada blocked the attack with his sword while he was still facing away from Barnt. He then spun around and attempted to slash Barnt, but he did a back flip to escape the attack. Once Barnt was at a safe distance he then charged at Sanada again swinging recklessly. Sanada once again was forced to block his attacks and wait for his opening to attack. As he did he began to compare Barnt’s fighting style to Gael’s and could see a huge difference. Gael’s style was wild and unpredictable. However, every move he made had a purpose. Whether it was to throw off his opponent or get close to them to attack, there was wasted movement in what he was doing. Barnt’s style on the other hand was scary, each swing was skilled but reckless and carried the weight of anger in them. Barnt wasn’t swinging with the intention to win, he was swinging with the intention to destroy whatever was in front of him. Sanada managed to see his opening and delivered a kick to Barnt’s stomach to push him away*
(Sanada): You’re talented. I’ll admit, but it takes more than that to be a swordsman.
(Barnt): Stop talking and bleed.
*Barnt charged once again at Sanada by sliding on the floor and attempted to slash Sanada’s legs but he dodged the attack. After Barnt slid behind Sanada, he rose to his feet and attempted to attack Sanada once again who blocked his attack*
(Sanada): What you’re holding isn’t a toy. You’re undisciplined, unskilled, and your tactics are child’s play. You use fear to overwhelm your opponents, and you use your anger to fuel your swings. You’re like a little bumblebee buzzing around a picnic. Buzz. Buzz. Buzz.
*Sanada’s comment only seemed to fuel Barnt’s anger as he began to swing more wild and recklessly at Sanada who maintained his composure against the onslaught. Barnt took a wide swing and missed Sanada leaving himself wide open. Sanada was quick to counter and delivered a knee to Barnt’s stomach followed by a sword hilt to his Barnt’s nose and then finished with an elbow to back of his head. Barnt stumbled to ground and saw that his nose was bleeding from Sanada’s hilt shot and began to breathe heavily as his blood fell to the floor*
(Sanada): You’re not used to fighting another swordsman. You never go for a wide swing. You leave yourself completely defenseless. And when someone hits you with a hilt you have to-
(Barnt): SHUT UP!
*Barnt shouted as a dark red aura was released from his body. The flames on his sword also became dark red as well. Sanada could sense the anger emitting from Barnt and backed away as well because of how dangerous the flames were getting. Once Barnt returned his feet he stared at Sanada growling and baring his teeth like a wild animal. He was consumed by anger like never before. At this moment he hated Sanada more than anything in the world. Hated him more than his parents, the orphanage his raised in, the orphans he grew up with, the doctors who performed test on him, and the soldiers who abused him on daily basis. The only thing that was on his mind was making Sanada suffer unimaginable pain and then killing him. With one powerful screech he charged at Sanada. The screech actually did struck fear into Sanada and left him open to an attack. Never before had he felt such anger and bloodlust from a man. Not even an Eclipse could unleash this level of anger he was currently feeling. Barnt unleashed another barrage of attacks on Sanada who was barely unable to maintain his defense and was actually slashed a few times. Thankfully, his bodysuit was made of cut resistant material and cushioned some of the strikes. However, the flames from his sword slightly burnt him with each slash. Sanada found himself backed into a wall and about to slashed by Barnt, but he unluckily rolled out of the way. Barnt missed but he managed to slash through the wall with his strike*
(Barnt): I’LL KILL YOU! THEN AFTER I’M DONE WITH YOU, I’M GONNA RIP YOUR HEAD FROM YOUR BODY AND SHOW IT TO YOUR FRIENDS. THEN I’LL SLICE THEIR HEADS OFF PUT THEM ON PIKES AND BURN THEIR BODIES ALIVE FOR EVERYONE TO SEE!
(Sanada): I will not let that happen.
*Sanada sheathes Sora no Senshi and draws out Kaze Sakura. As Sanada was unsheathing Kaze Sakura, Barnt attempted to charge at him again, only to get pushed back against a table as the sword unleashed a large green gust of wind which put out the flames in the cafeteria and turned on the sprinkler system*
(Barnt): What’s with that sword. You think that sword is going to do anything against me?
(Sanada): I believe it already has.
*Sanada motioned toward Barnt’s sword with his eyes. Barnt looked at his sword and saw that the flames on his sword had died out from the release of wind magic*
(Sanada): It’s over. My calm wind put out your flames of anger. Stand down.
(Barnt): I’m getting sick of you underestimating me.
*Barnt places his free hand on the blade of the sword*
(Barnt): Like I said. I’m going to kill you. Right here and now.
*Barnt runs his hand across the blade fast cutting himself and pouring out flame. This reignited his sword and he began spinning it around as he prepared for his attack*
(Sanada): Don’t do it.
*Barnt charged at Sanada still spinning his sword while Sanada closed his eyes and took he deep breath to calm himself. He took up a stance with his right leg bent and slightly in front of him while his left was fully extended outwardly behind him*
(Sanada): Tornado Style: Silent Rapture.
*Sanada swung his sword at Barnt just as he was about to swing his downward at Sanada. Barnt ran past Sanada and stood still as his sword fell apart and he dropped it. He soon began to cough up blood and his body split into two from the hips. His lower half fell backwards while the front fell forward and landed on the floor. The Blood Flame had been defeated. His last thoughts before the light left his eyes: I hate you*
(Sanada): A warrior’s greatest challenge is their anger. When channeled correctly you can do great things. When channeled incorrectly it creates a fire that threatens to consume all.
*Sanada left the cafeteria and made his way back into the main lobby leaving Barnt’s body there. Upon making it back into the lobby the front doors opened and in came members of Blood Sword. The immediately spotted Sanada*
(Blood Sword member): Who the hell are you!?
(Sanada): A wondering fox passing through. But in your case-
*Sanada draws Sora no Senshi*
(Sanada): A mischief maker here to cause trouble.
*The members of Blood Sword charged at Sanada who smiled confidently under his mask*
Author’s Note: Hello everyone. We’ve reached the climax of the Werband arc. This arc was largely inspired by the heists in Payday 2. I played the game with my friends back in the day, and I wanted to show Shadow Eye do more Black Ops in enemy territory. The fight between Sanada and Barnt played out differently than some people thought. Barnt’s character took inspiration from Homelander from The Boys. Homelander is essentially a bully posing as a hero and that’s what I wanted to make Barnt. He’s not a swordsman; he’s a bully. He uses anger, intimidation, and violence to get what he wants. It may have helped him in the past against opponents much weaker than him, but against an opponent like Sanada, who is calm, not easily intimidated, and is a master swordsman, Barnt gets exposed and doesn’t stand a chance against his more experienced opponent. In the end, having natural talent is good, but hard work, dedication, and discipline usually win in the end. If you don’t develop that natural talent, you’re wasting it and that’s what Barnt did. The finale comes out so look forward to how this arc concludes. Thanks for reading and I’ll see you next time on Project Nitsuj.
