The oni lead ship collided with with a human boat. In the blood fog the humans had never even seen the beastly ship sneak up on them. The Oni rushed over the rails like spiders on a web. In moments the screams of the crew reached Mitsuhide. He watched as the captain of the human ship was dragged screaming fro his cabin and ripped apart even as the human ship sank into the red waters. Soon dismembers human limbs floated to the surface only to be snapped up in the mouths of the Oni that had stayed on the ship. Having lost their ride they swam for shore bloody snacks cluched in their jaws.
Excited by the blood flow he needed to wet his blade. " Clear the deck" He yelled. Before most of the crew could duck for cover Mitsu dropped into a sprinters pose and ran for the front of the ship. When he crested the dragon head he fell to all fours and lept for the nearest human ship.
On board the ship the crew screamed as they watched the mad Oni sail at them. When the crazed figure dropped into the ocean some hundred feet from their ship they let out a collective sigh of relief. The relief was shattered when they heard the screams coming from below deck. The ship rocked violently. As the first crewman made it to the entrance to the lower levels of the ship his head disappeared in a fountain of blood. As Mitsuhide kicked the still standing corpse out of his way he looked at the remaining crew. He didn't say anything. They knew they were dead, and so did he. There was nothing left to say.
#####
Several hours later Mitsuhide sat in the former home of the lord of the city who's name he now knew to be Di Yu. He had his Oni seal the city and round up the population so he could address them.
Stepping out into the lord's balcony he could see the entire docks. The only ship left were his or small fishing boats. They had killed any resistance. looking out over the crowd he took each and every one of them in with his third eye
" Good people of Di Yu. Today is a great day. Many of you will see this as the greatest day of your life. Today is that day that you got to see the strongest army in the world. Better yet if everyone behaves then no one else will die this day."
As he spoke his Oni rolled out several barrels of water from the city stores. They proceeded to crack each barrel open and then stood back. One of the shamans came forth and placed a single drop of a black liquid in each barrel. He would then chant over the water until it turned as black as midnight.
" All we ask is that each of you take a single sip of this water from the pools of Mount Todo. "
The people were hesitant. None wanted to drink the black waters. After a moment basking in their fear Mitsu waved a hand. One of the guards stepped forward and grabbed a human man by the neck. Despite the part Oni's size the human was as powerless as an infant in it's grip. Moving to the first barrel the guard forcably dunked the humans head under the water, and punched him in the stomach. Satisfied that the human had drank of the waters the guard lifted him up and dropped him before his fellow peasants.
The man coughed for a bit, but after some prodding from the guard stood and walked around so the others could see the water was OK to drink.
" Now that you know it's not poison.Drink or Die."
With little choice the people of the city came forward one at a time and drank the water. For a while all seemed fine then an old woman who was one of the first to drink fell to her knees screaming. Before the eyes of the towns people the old widow's time seemed to flow backwards. Her face became pale and smooth. Her body supple and inviting. Her robe barly clinging to her lush new body. While the rest of her had become young and beautiful her hair had grown and turned a shining white. Around her the air became chilly. She watched in amazement as her long beautiful hands curled into talons of ice. Her screams quickly became a laugh as she stood straight and tall. Looking to Mitsuhide she made an enticing bow to him. " I'm Shirahime the widow. I'm yours my lord."
Nodding his head to the newly born Yuki-onna (snow woman) he turned back to the crowd to see some others undergoing similar transformations. " My new people do not fear the water of Todo. It is merely helping those with Yokai ancestry find their roots. If you are pure human then no change will come to you. You will be free to go home and enjoy your selves. Even the changed are free to chose to stay or serve in my army."
While some resisted most gave in day went smoothly. By that time the next day the whole city had tasted the waters. To his delight Mitsu had added a 400 Oni to his cause, a few Tengu and Kapa, One half breed dragon and to his overjoyed surprise almost 1000 Yuki-onna to his army. It turned out that there had once been a tribe of the Snow temptresses living near the village that grew into Di Yu. Long ago they had breed into the general population. While the blood was thin; many of the city's family's carried it. Many more were transformed, but those people declined his offer to join in glorious battle.
When he left the next week Mitsu appointed Shirahime governor as many of her sisters had decided to stay with their family's , and he felt the city would be well served by such a beautiful elder. Her Daughter Yukina however came in her stead to lead the Yuki-onna traveling with the army.
( wow too long)
