After surviving a sudden bear attack that spooked my horse, I followed blue hydrangeas toward Hiyoshi. Along the way, I cut down several Mongol patrols in quick standoffs and passed the remains of fallen samurai, eventually spotting Hiyoshi Island despite failing to save a few captive peasants.
I was the first to arrive in this stretch of the wilderness, but my quiet ride ended the moment a wild bear burst from the brush. It lunged straight at us, striking my horse with enough force to throw me hard onto the ground.
The beast turned its attention to me, standing its ground as if challenging me to an immediate showdown. My horse panicked and bolted into the tree line, leaving me to face the threat alone.
The beast charged before I could fully set my stance. It proved surprisingly quick and vicious, swiping wildly and pressing the attack. I dodged sideways, swinging my blade whenever an opening appeared.
I managed to land a few solid strikes, though the bear stood its ground remarkably well. After a tense exchange, I finally landed a clean lethal blow, bringing the massive animal down before harvesting its hide.
Once back in the saddle, I began scanning the surrounding hills for the island I needed to locate. I steered onto a narrow path and quickly realized I was heading the right way, as light blue flower petals drifted through the air, carried by a gentle breeze.
The trail did not stay quiet for long. A small patrol of Mongols blocked the road ahead, so I called them out for a standoff. As the lead soldier stepped forward, I waited for the precise moment he committed to his strike before cutting him down in one clean motion.
Two more soldiers rushed in to avenge him. I delivered a heavy kick to create distance from the first, parried his quick follow-up, and executed him on the spot.
The last remaining Mongol tried to close the gap, but I put an end to the fight before he could land a single hit. After quickly clearing out the nearby supply crate, I got back on my horse to continue the search.
Following the wind toward the coast, I came across a grim scene perched high on a cliffside. There were remains of some fallen samurai, along with a few slain invaders left behind from the Battle of Komoda.
Looking past the bloody sight and out toward the horizon, I spotted Hiyoshi Island resting just off the shore. It was still a distance away, but I knew I could reach it if I kept moving.
Pushing forward along the coastal trail, I ran into another group of Mongols dragging two peasant captives along the dirt. I immediately drew my bow and tried to take out the captors with fire arrows before they could harm the peasants.
Unfortunately, my shots missed their marks in the chaos, and the Mongols executed both captives on the spot. Fueled by frustration, I drew my katana, closed the distance, and gave quick death to the Mongols.
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