Herculean task; next-to-impossible undertaking
rear; rear unit guard; anchor (man)
without looking aside; looking neither right nor left; wholeheartedly; single-mindedly
outrider; herald; rikishi who leads the yokozuna to the ring prior to his ring-entering ceremony
certain; sure; definite; reliable; sound; solid
to narrow; to reduce; to contract
all one's power (strength, energy, efforts); one's utmost
flight; desertion; escape
zero; 0; nought; nothing; zilch
equal; identical; the same; no different (to); just like; equivalent
to shoot (at); to attack; to defeat; to destroy
going up in flames; destruction by fire (esp. of a large building); stirring up a storm of criticism online (of an article, tweet, statement, etc.); becoming the target of an Internet pitchfork mob
mark; symbol; to mark; to put a mark on; trademark; paying attention to; focusing on
to lead; to spearhead (a group); to command (troops)
a long time (since the last time); first in a long time
unexpected; unforeseen; inconceivable
to attract; to draw near; to charm; to attract; to have a convulsion
veteran; battle-worn; schooled by adversity in many battles; rich in experience
... being the case; (precisely) because ...; as might be expected from ...
in the twinkling of an eye; in a flash
ruins; wreckage; wreck; broken remains; debris
to be destroyed; to perish; to go out (e.g. fire); to destroy; to get rid of; to extinguish
deciding first; settling (a matter) first; first priority
annihilation; total destruction; complete destruction; crushing defeat
repatriation; return; (electrical) feedback
to let the tension out of one's shoulders; to relax; to not take oneself too seriously
after (a long process); at the end of; last line (of a renga)
when it becomes; when it comes to
blood (in one's face, cheeks, etc.); colour; color; hot-bloodedness; hotheadedness; impulsive temperament
to descend; to go down; to be handed down (of an order, judgment, etc.); to pass (of time); to surrender; to capitulate; to be less than
to put one's life on the line
note left by a dead person; suicide note; testamentary letter; posthumous work
to become; to appear like; to have a touch of; to look like
calmness; composure; coolness; serenity; presence of mind
reprimand; rebuke; reproach; scolding
while there is life, there is hope; without life, there is nothing; don't waste your life
occupation; profession; job; vocation; trade; calling
vast; huge; immense; malva nut (Sterculia lychnophora)
to compare and contrast two alternatives; to weigh the relative merits of A and B; to weigh one's options; to try to have it both ways; to try to sit on two stools
to share (life's) joys and sorrows (with); to share the good and the bad (with); to stick together through thick and thin