Hong Kong Young Writers Anthologies Fiction 12 | Page 125

two swords from the ground and jabbed and swiped at General Takagi. Determination to avenge their ancestor
raged from within their hearts, giving them inhuman strength to fight harder than any man on the battlefield.
However, General Takagi was properly trained, unlike the children, who had only play-dueled with each other
with Lawrence’s plastic swords. Slowly, the children began to weaken. Just as they were about to collapse with
exhaustion, a sword came flying out from nowhere and knocked General Takagi to the ground. Taking their chance,
the children pounced on him and pinned him down. With a strong swipe of his sword, Lawrence struck down onto
General Tagaki’s throat. At once scarlet blood gushed out in floods. General Takagi emitted a half-strangled
gurgling noise and died, but not before the children saw the malicious glint of hatred in his rat-like eyes.
Unfortunately, that sight will haunt their nightmares for many years to come.
At the sight of their dead general, the Japanese army weakened and soon began to retreat. Stephanie let out a long
breath. They had changed the course of the battle tide and avenged Commander Zhang Yang, as he had requested
before his death. In their ears, they thought they heard a very faint voice. “Thank you…”The children felt very
relieved. Exhausted, the children closed their eyes.
When Stephanie opened her eyes again, she could just make out the blurry shape of her mother. “Hi!” Laura said
cheerfully. “What are you guys doing here on the floor?” The children looked around and saw that they were
back in their home once more. “Um, just… playing.” Lawrence stuttered. To their relief, their mother didn’t
question them any further. “Well, go take a bath!” she ordered, fetching them clean towels. “You two are covered
with dust and sweat!” When their mother wasn’t looking, Stephanie gave Lawrence a wink. No one could even
imagine what they had experienced just then in the Great Battle of Shanghai.