Gaze into Darkness Part 1

A dry wind slid out of the Shadowlands, fluttering the paper wards Kuni Yori had affixed to the Wall. Horns and drums were sounding from a distant watchtower, but Yori ignored them, keeping his gaze fixed to the south. Kuni Utagu looked in the direction of the signals, then moved closer to his daimyō.
"Lord Yori," Utagu said, "Lone Candle Keep signals that the enemy has attacked in force to the north. If we depart now-”
”This is our place, Utagu-san." Kuni Utagu’s voice dropped further.
”My lord, if we wish to test this new ward you have crafted, we should-”
”There is a vacant position in our embassy to the Crane, Utagusan," Yori said, turning to face Utagu. "Questioning me a third time will convince me that you are an excellent candidate for it.”
Utagu bowed and stepped back. As he did, Yori pointed. ”And...there, Utagu-san, do you see? Our enemy approaches even now.”
A wave of darkness rose up from the blasted approach to the Wall, quickly resolving into a horde of chitinous monstrosities, like swarming ants. Horns and drums sounded again, all around them this time, as the bushi and their supporting archers and siege engines braced for the onslaught. Utagu narrowed his eyes at the approaching horde.
"How did you know they would attack this place, my lord? And at this time?”
"I know our enemy, Utagu-san.” If Utagu had a reply, it was cut off by an ear-scraping rattle of segmented limbs and clashing mandibles that grew louder by the second. Arrows hissed away from the archers, rattling ineffectively against resinous carapaces. A heavy stone flung from a catapult slammed into their midst, crushing several horrors into black paste, but the horde didn’t slow. It continued its headlong rush, charging directly toward where Yori stood among the fluttering wards.
Half a bowshot, now.
Yori closed his eyes and began to intone a prayer. Some of the paper wards shivered madly in response, jade-green light flaring from one, then another, then more in quick succession.
The onrushing swarm swerved aside, slamming into the Wall to Yori’s left. A caustic stink rose from the creatures as they clambered over one another, piling up against the stone. Arrows poured into the rising pillar of monstrosities while chūi and gunsō shouted orders, readying their troops for the attack. The crest of the squirming pile reached the battlements, segmented legs scrabbling at the stone. Tetsubō and the great axes called masakari rose and fell, hacking limbs and cracking carapaces, knocking the creatures back.
Something massive erupted from the heaving pile, a vile fusion of the creatures, dozens of them joined into a single, monstrous entity. It easily mounted the Wall, serrated mandibles seemingly everywhere, clashing, chewing through armor, flesh and bone. More bushi piled into the fray, striking and slashing, but the huge agglomeration of creatures kept shoving forward, driving the defenders back.
”My lord!" Utagu shouted.
”Indeed," Yori said, closing his eyes and chanting again. The remaining paper wards fluttered wildly. Yori felt the Earth kami roiling in the stone beneath his feet, but his will, focused through the wards, infused them with unified purpose. He shouted a final word of supplication and flung up his arms. A deep rumble. The Wall trembled...then a massive spike of rock stove upwards from the battlement, skewering the fused monstrosity like a colossal yari striking it from below. An explosion of fetid gore showered the bushi engaged with it, sending them stumbling back, retching and wiping desperately at their mouths and eyes.
Yori lowered his hands and watched as the remaining bushi closed back in. ”We are done here, Utagu-san."
”But...Lord Yori,” Utagu said, ”these warriors yet need our aid-"
"Are you saying they require our continued assistance to win this battle, Utagu-san?"
”I...no, of course not, my lord.”
"Good. Now, select six of those most affected by the creature’s effluent. Have them brought to Castle Kuni.” He paused and looked at Utagu’s apprentice, a young man staring at the carnage with wide eyes. "You...Kuni Daigo, is it not?”
The apprentice blinked, then bowed. "Yes, my lord-”
”You will accompany them, recording detailed observations as you do. When you reach Castle Kuni, deliver your report directly to me."
”Yes, my lord."
Yori waved a hand and the remaining paper wards curled to ash. He turned and walked away from the dying clamor of battle.