The Assassination Plot Arc is the 4th significant story arc of Yasuhisa Hara's manga "Kingdom", detailing the aftermath of the Keiyou Campaign where Ei Sei's faction faces a deadly conspiracy orchestrated by five clans, and the surprising revelation about Kyou Kai's identity and motives.
After the Keiyou Campaign, 15 men from the Ei Sei Faction are assassinated by five assassination clans. Kyou Kai, a member of the Shiyuu Clan, is revealed to be involved. Summoned to protect the king, Shin battles the clan's. Shin and Ei Sei attempt to escape through a secret tunnel but are blocked by a assassination clan and Kyou Kai.
The royal guards arrive in time to save the king, and Shin persuades them to treat Kyou Kai's wounds, revealing her true identity as a woman.
Summary[]
After the Keiyou Campaign, a disturbance in the palace was created with the assassination of 15 men who held political power within the Ei Sei Faction. The assassins belonged to five clans, the Gouma, Kensen, Kakuriki, Shukyou, and Shiyuu. It is revealed that Kyou Kai is a member of the Clan Shiyuu and is involved in the plot to assassinate the king.
Shin was summoned to the royal palace, as a last resort to provide protection for the king. While Shin fought the Kensen clan, Kyou Kai saved Ten by killing the Kakuriki clan with ease. Shin arrived at Ei Sei's chambers and they attempted to escape through a secret tunnel. However, the door was locked on the other side and the Shukyou clan emerged along with Kyou Kai.
Kyou Kai engages Shin in a one-on-one duel and demonstrates a superior and almost inhuman form of swordsmanship derived from the Shiyuu's Priestess Dance. However, she seems reserve, as if she didn't really want to fight Shin. At that point, the Gouma Clan arrived at the same time as the Shukyou leader decided Kyou Kai was not the true Shiyuu.
As the Gouma launched an attack, Kyou Kai teamed up with Shin and asked him to buy her 30 seconds. Shin managed to somehow provide that time for her to rest and after that, Kyou Kai performed the dance and killed quite a few enemies, until she collapsed leaving three Gouma and one Shukyou left standing.
As they went for the King, the Royal Guards and retainers arrived, killing the remaining assassins. Shin convinced the guards to leave Kyou Kai alone and treat her wounds instead, claiming that she helped protect the king.
As her injuries were being taken care of, it was revealed that Kyou Kai is actually a woman. Once she regains consciousness, Kyou Kai escapes the palace but is caught on the walls by Ten. In a brief chat, Kyou Kai reveals her tragic past as a member of the Clan Shiyuu and how she desires to avenge her sister's death.
Characters Introduced[]
Assassins[]
Story Impacts[]
- Shin is promoted to the rank of a 100-Man Commander and shows incredible improvement in his combat ability.
- Qin King Ei Sei faces an assassination attempt.
- Kyou Kai's origins, background, and technique are explained.
- Various assassin clans are introduced.
- Kyou Kai demonstrated unreal level of swordplay that suppress common sense and is later revealed to be a woman in disguise.
- Ryo Fui is revealed to be the mastermind behind the assassination plot.
- Ryo Fui Faction has a meeting with Sei and the Ei Sei Faction.
- Ryo Fui admits his involvement on Sei's life, but it treats as a joke due to the large power gap between him and the young king.
- Mou Bu tells Sei and the royal courts that his wishes for a royal hearing and express his desire to revive the Six Great Generals system.
- The Six Great Generals are mentioned and explained for the first time.
- General Ou Ki is reveled to be a former member of the Six Greats.
Major Fights[]
- Shin vs Clan Kensen
- Kyou Kai vs Clan Kakuriki
- Shin vs Kyou Kai
- Shin vs Clan Gouma
- Kyou Kai vs Clan Gouma
Trivia[]
- This arc was completely skipped in Season 1, was instead replaced with Ryo Fui stating that he would not have cared if the king died during his brother's rebellion when he was introduced and Kyou Kai's backstory, her reason for vengeance, and the first appearance of the Ryo Fui Faction.