Sheathing his swords, Jack ran for his life as the bandit rode him down. The horse’s hot breath was almost on his neck, when he snatched up the bamboo spear he’d been heading for and spun on his attacker. The bandit, unable to halt his charge, was struck in the chest by its pointed tip. The bamboo shaft split on impact against his armour, but the blow was enough to knock him out of his saddle.

Jack dived aside as the horse continued on its charge. Winded but otherwise unhurt, the bandit scrambled after his katana, determined to fulfil Akuma’s wishes and kill Jack. Finally gathering their wits, a group of farmers led by Yuto rushed to Jack’s defence. Stabbing furiously with their spears, they brought the bandit’s life to a swift end.

Jack, amazed to have survived the encounter, hurried over to Yuto.

‘Stay together. Remember what Hayato said: in a storm a single tree falls, but a forest still stands.’

Yuto nodded mutely, traumatized by having killed a man, even a sworn enemy.

‘Set up a defensive wall of spears to protect those women and children,’ ordered Jack, pointing to a group of villagers cowering next to the rice store.

Glad to have instruction, Yuto and the other farmers immediately fell into line and surrounded the defenceless group.

On the other side of the square, Jack spotted Sora being knocked to the ground by the charging riderless horse. The old farmer lay at the mercy of the bandits. One outlaw wielding a heavy club bore down on Sora as he struggled to find his feet.

Running with all his might, Jack fought to reach his friend before the bandit did. Dodging and weaving between the panicked villagers and mounted bandits, Jack dived in front of the horse’s flying hooves, grabbed Sora by the arm and bundled him out of its path.

Thwarted from killing his intended victim, the bandit lashed out at Jack with his club as he shot by. The studded end caught Jack on the back of the head. It was a glancing blow, but enough to send him reeling to the ground.

With his head ringing, and the taste of blood in his mouth, Jack felt sick and disorientated as if caught in the worst of sea storms. Dimly aware he was an easy target for the enemy, he forced himself to his knees. But the pain in his head intensified. On the verge of blacking out, the village spun around him, glimpses of the battle flashing before his eyes …

The farmers scattering as Akuma rampaged through the village …

Yori in mortal danger, confronted by a bandit seemingly immune to his kiaijutsu …

Nakamura Scarface in the square, swinging his deadly axe with wild abandon …