The Battle on the Train is a battle between Chihiro, Hakuri, Uruha and a sorcerers lead by Hiruhiko.
As Uruha, Chihiro and Hakuri make their way to Senkutsuji Temple by train, Hiruhiko tracks them down and boards the train, intending to finish what he started at Kokugoku and kill Uruha to sever his contract with Kumeyuri. Refusing to allow one of his father's trusted comrades to be killed, Chihiro prepares to fend off Hiruhiko and ensure Uruha and Hakuri arrive at Senkutsuji safely.
Prologue[]
After escaping Kokugoku Hot Spring Uruha arrived at Atago Station 8 kilometres away from the hot spring, where his bodyguards had informed him the Kamunabi would be sending a guard force. Uruha speculated about his new guards' identities, considering individuals with the strength of Azami or Hiyuki to be required. Hakuri then encountered him, just as several enemy sorcerers began to attack. Hakuri attempted to activate his sorcery but failed due to his injuries, Uruha using his sword to dispatch them instead. The two fled onto a train where they met up with Chihiro, and upon realising his identity Uruha was awestruck, eager to fight alongside the son of Kunishige, who he looked up to.
Chihiro explained he had arranged for the civilians to leave the train soon and they would be heading towards Senkutsuji Temple, the Sanso where Seiichi Samura was housed. Uruha momentarily reminisced that Chihiro reminded him very much of Kunishige, and the two briefly discuss Kunishige's life after the war with Chihiro. Chihiro and Uruha then talked about the Datenseki weapons (semi-stabilised pieces Sojo had manufactured) the attackers at Kokugoku had used, rationalising that the Hishaku planned on using the weapons to overwhelm the Sanso.
While Hakuri was concerned at the sheer amount of force at the Hishaku's disposal, Uruha reminded him that their first attack had been a failure as he had escaped, and voiced his belief in the Kamunabi squad stationed at Kokugoku. When the train pulled into a station, the three saw the bodies of several of the Kokugoku Steam Squad arrayed on a bench, and two members of the Hishaku present on the platform with no one else around. One of the two, Hiruhiko, expressed his excitement to finally take action after Yura had only permitted them to 'prepare' for three years, before boarding the train with several hired sorcerers.
Battle[]
As the hired sorcerers engaged Uruha, Hiruhiko fought Chihiro, using his sorcery Blood Crane to launch several paper cranes, which cut through a hired sorcerer and spattered Chihiro's face with blood. Wiping his eyes, Chihiro hastily blocked a slash from Hiruhiko just as the latter turned the cranes into shuriken and impaled Uruha, though the swordsman did not seem seriously injured. After Chihiro used a circular Kuro to wipe out all the hired sorcerers in the room, Uruha realised Chihiro was having difficulty fighting Hiruhiko whilst also protecting him, and told Chihiro not to worry about him.
Chihiro immediately impaled Hiruhiko and threw the two of them outside the train window, the two landing in a crossroads. Chihiro internally recalled their strategy; getting Hakuri and Uruha to Senkutsuji and Samura so Hakuri could recover two Enchanted Blades simultaneously once his powers recovered. Hiruhiko handed Datenseki pieces to three hired sorcerers nearby who had been thrown out of the train earlier, idly calling them the 'Anti-Enten Special Forces' and preparing to kill Chihiro.
Aftermath[]
When Uruha and Hakuri got off the train at the station near Senkutsuji, the Masumi sorcerers Sumi and Moku greeted them and used a Mandala to teleport the four of them to Senkutsuji Temple. Samura greeted them and began to ask where Chihiro was before suddenly hearing a nearby priest bang a hammer on a drum as a signal, informing Samura the enemy, several sorcerers with Datenseki, were approaching. Samura and Moku immediately shouted for the forces to mobilise and Sumi ushered Hakuri to a room to begin treatment for his sorcery to recover more quickly.