Spartans vs Samurai

         A sea of scarlet and crimson cloaks flapped and twisted beautifully in the summer afternoon winds. 30,500 Spartan soldiers stood atop a small hill that led into a large grassy plain that further on turned into a heavily dense forest. For armor they only wore bronze helmets and bronze leg greaves. For that was all a Spartan soldier needed.
         They all carried either an aspis or a hoplon; a large rounded metal shield with the lambda symbol emblazoned on it. As their primary weapon they carried a doru; a 9 foot long spear with a bronze leaf shaped spearhead on one end, and a small metal spike on the other. For a secondary weapon they all carried either a xiphos; a short sword used for stabbing. Or a kopis; a short sword used for slashing. Some men even wore both for good measure.
         At the front of their ranks stood the king of Sparta, King Ambrosio. His armor or weapons were no more ornate or beautiful than any of his soldiers. For he was simply that; a soldier, a warrior, a Spartan. Fighting for his fellow Spartans as well as his country.
Across the vast plain of grass 25,900 Samurai slowly began to emerge from the forest. 8,700 men in total were on horseback. They all wore the traditional Samurai armor. Iron Dou or d?, which protected their chest. Iron Kusazuri to protect the upper thighs. Large rectangular Iron shoulder plates called Sode. Iron sleeves called Kote. Large rounded Iron helmets called Kabuto. And iron haidete and suneate to protect their thighs and shins.
         The Samurai had no shortage of weapons either. They all carried the traditional steel Katana. As well as a shorter Wakizashi sword. For extremely close combat they carried small daggers called tanto's.
         Leading the army on horseback was the Samurai general Kaito. With a small gesture of his sword and a few words he ordered all of his archers to fire at will while 5,000 men on horseback and 13,000 men on foot charged the Spartan ranks. All the while the remaining 3,700 men on horseback would go back in through the forest and circle around the Spartans to attack from behind.

         Once Ambrosio saw the arrows speeding through the air and the Samurai racing towards his army, he commanded the Spartans to form a shield wall. Arrows pinged off the shields for what seemed like hours. Some found their mark and struck a man in the upper leg or forearm. But the shield wall kept. For a few seconds there were no arrows, and Ambrosio peeked out from behind his shield. Only to find that the Samurai were almost on top of them. At once he shouted for spears, and hundreds of long deadly spears peeked out between the shields. Where once there had been no sound but that of the arrows against shield and the soft breathing of soldiers, there was now screaming. Horses screamed as they were impaled through the neck, stomach, and legs. Men screamed as they were thrown from their dying horses. Even some Spartans screamed as small pockets of the shield wall fell and men were trampled or had their heads lopped off by razor sharp katana's.
         The breaks in the shield wall didn't last long however. Only a few men on horseback were able to push through, and those who did were quickly taken care of, and the shield wall restored. After some time of fighting just men on horse, the foot soldiers finally arrived. They were almost all focused on a single point of the wall to try to break it. They succeeded. Only to sustain heavy losses in the process however. After the break almost all nearby Spartans pulled out their xiphos or kopis for close combat.
         Two Samurai surrounded one Spartan thinking that he'd be easy prey. One raised his Katana to cut in a diagonal motion while another jabbed the Spartans legs. The Spartan hunched down, parried the jab and blocked the swing. He then swung his shield across one Samurais head. And plunged his xiphos into the neck of the other. He retrieved his sword from the dead man's neck and used it to slit the throat of the battered Samurai. He then looked around to find another man to kill. His blood was up. His heart was thumping in his chest. But just as he found what looked to be a rather easy target, an arrow found its mark just under his eye. He fell to the ground. Alive but in shock. Warm blood trickled down his face. He attempted to remove the arrow. Right as he started to make progress he felt cold steel penetrate his stomach. He looked down to see a Katana covered in his own blood. As soon as it had entered his body it had also left if. In a rage and adrenaline induced blur he took his shield and brought it up towards the Samurai that had stabbed him. The shied struck him in the jaw and giving off an audible crunch. The Samurai gave a scream and quickly grabbed at his jaw. The Spartan looked quickly to find his sword. It lay several feet away. He scrambled through blood and dirt to reach it. But just when he stood and turned to face the Samurai, he was already upon him. Bringing his katana down through his shoulder and completely severing his right arm. The Samurai brought the sword back up over his shoulders and quickly separated head and body.
         Even though the Samurai successfully broke the shield wall, the Spartans had the greater numbers and were slowly but surely beating the Samurai back. Even the men on horseback were being driven back. Just as the Samurai forces were seemingly on the run a thunderous sound came from behind the Spartan ranks. 3,700 men on horseback races towards them. But instead of being caught off guard, the Spartans were ready. The rear end of the army had been almost untouched by the battle, save for a few rogue arrows. So the Spartans quickly formed a shield wall and raised their spears against the oncoming wave. Much as had happened before, spears pierced horses and men alike. A few Samurai managed to lunge their swords in between cracks in the wall and pierce a shoulder or neck. But they were quickly thrown from their horses and brutally stabbed to death with spear and sword.
         The Samurai that had engaged the front lines had retreated and the front half of the army moved in to chase after them and finish the off the reserves of the Samurai. The back half was left to deal with the meager force that had attempted to surprise them.
         The Spartans managed to encircle the remaining men on horse. The Samurai were now trapped in a circle of bronze shields. But they fought to the very death. They cut through numerous Spartans. Plunging their razor sharp Katanas into legs, arms, shoulders, necks, and Abdomens. But the massive number of Spartans were too much. Even for men on horse. When there was only one Samurai left, a lone Spartan stepped out from his ranks, threw down his shield, and unsheathed his xiphos. The Spartan charged with his sword raised and brought it down onto the Samurais Katana. The iron on steel made an loud CLANG. The Samurai stepped backwards, his sword held in both hands. The Spartan charged him and made a swing for his stomach. The Samurai sidestepped to the left, avoiding the swing. He brought his sword down onto the Spartans back, cutting through flesh and muscle and scrapping against bone. He wrenched his sword free and brought it high above his head for another swing. But before he could make it, the Spartan turned and sprang to his feet, and sent his sword straight into the Samurais face. They both toppled down in a squirming bloody mess. The Samurai lay dead, and the Spartan face down on top of him dying. The other Spartans looked on for a few moments as their brother died, and then marched on to meet with the front half of the army to finish off the Samurai forces.
         When they arrived they found mostly dead and dying Samurai. And Spartans planting swords and spears firmly into their heads and hearts to give them the cold embrace of death.
The Samurai general Kaito sat under a tree. Blood pouring out of multiple wounds on his arms and stomach. Ambrosio walked over to him with a small royal guard. He knelt down beside Kaito and put a hand on his shoulder. "You put up a very good fight. And you gave many of my men the best thing a Spartan can ask for.... A great death. But in the end we will always win. For Spartans are true warriors." He unsheathed Kaitos Katana. Examined the fine steel craftsmanship, and took of Kaitos head with it.