Hauling Jack out of the pond, the four of them rushed to Hayato’s side. He was still breathing, but a thin stream of blood trickled from his mouth. Yori gently eased him into a sitting position.

‘Is … the battle … over?’ Hayato gasped, his face deathly pale, the snow around him a pool of red.

Jack looked to the square. Only Akuma and a single bandit remained. Having lost their mounts, they were trapped within an ever-tightening circle of armed farmers. The fearsome Black Moon had no chance of victory … or escape.

‘We’ve won.’

Hayato smiled at their triumph. He turned his eyes on Miyuki.

‘Was the Ring of Fire … your idea?’

Miyuki nodded.

‘I wish … I’d thought of it,’ said Hayato. With his last breath, he proffered a final truce. ‘Ninja have all the best ideas …’

Reaching out, Miyuki tenderly touched his cheek and shed a tear. For a moment, no one spoke. Jack was choked at their tragic loss so close to victory. Hayato had just saved his life – and he hadn’t even had the chance to thank him.

A shout from the square broke their grieving silence.

‘This nightmare needs to end now,’ said Jack with determination born out of sorrow. Standing up, he retrieved his swords.

In the square, Saburo was commanding the farmers to hold back.

‘What’s the problem?’ Jack asked, looking over the crowd of agitated villagers.

‘Akuma won’t admit defeat,’ Saburo explained. ‘And he’s demanded to talk with you.’

The farmers parted to allow Jack through.

‘Be careful,’ said Saburo, sticking close to his side, his sword at the ready.

Nodding, Jack stepped into the circle.

‘Face to face with the infamous gaijin samurai, at last!’ snarled Akuma, looking him up and down with contempt. He stood defiantly in the centre, seemingly indifferent to the ring of steel-tipped spears that surrounded him. ‘I’d heard the rumours but never believed them to be true. It appears I’ve paid the price for not heeding the myth. It just sounded so improbable – a foreign boy trained as a samurai who’d mastered the Two Heavens. And, to my eyes, one who appears to be a ninja as well! What other powers do you possess, gaijin?’

‘I don’t have any powers,’ replied Jack, keeping a wary distance.

Akuma snorted. ‘My power is fear.’

He faked an attack with his trident and the farmers jumped nervously away. ‘See how they still tremble! Yet you don’t show fear.’

Jack stared into Akuma’s demonic eyes and felt a cold chill run through him.

‘I have loyal friends by my side, so I’ve no need to be scared of you,’ Jack explained. ‘That’s the reason we defeated you. Now lay down your arms and surrender.’

Akuma laughed. ‘And you’ll let us live?’