“True Realm” (
Summary[]
During their previous discussion in the hospital, Chihiro shared his late father Kunishige's teachings regarding the Enchanted Blades' True Realm with the Kamunabi squad. According to Kunishige, the Enchanted Blades held an inexplicable power beyond the theoretical. This power was said to shape the blade's abilities based on the wielder's body, will and understanding of the weapon, in ways unknown to even Kunishige.
In the present, Shiba teleports near a shed on the outskirts of Sojo's base at Kaburato Castle. Through a flashback, it is revealed that Shiba had arrived to raid the castle alongside Chihiro. The two had discussed their priorities: rescue Char and learn more about the Hishaku and Shinuchi. Through interrogating the guard Chihiro had left alive, they learned about a small shed leading to an underground storage room guarded by several sorcerers. The two agreed for Chihiro to rescue Char while Shiba investigated the shed. Before they split up, Shiba told Chihiro focus solely on rescuing Char while avoiding any sorcerers, as he was in no shape to fight.
After remembering Shiba's words, Chihiro kneels on the rafters, continuing to watch the two mohawked sorcerers outside the door to a stairwell leading to the room where Char is held. Having already searched the area, he is certain the guarded entrance is the only way down to Char. Chihiro's hand shakes as he sees one of the sorcerers move to head downstairs to watch the operations that are to be performed on Char. Rage darknes Chihiro's expression but a visor-wearing sorcerer abruptly ambushes Chihiro, and the sound of his falling is heard by Shiba.
Sensing Chihiro's peril, Shiba prepares to teleport over to assist him, but is interrupted by two sorcerers moving out from the shed, forcing Shiba to prioritise dealing with them despite his desire to help Chihiro.
The doctors immediately pause their operations upon hearing of Chihiro's arrival, and Char also becomes aware that Chihiro is present. After being forced to the ground, Chihiro draws Enten, preparing to confront the visor-wearing sorcerer and mohawked sorcerers guarding the path to the lab. The visor-wearing sorcerer reports that his keen sense of smell for blood had alerted him to the wounds of guards outside the castle. The impact of Chihiro's wounds is clearly visible, sweat rolling down Chihiro's face and Enten held unsteadily in Chihiro's non-dominant right hand.
Abruptly, a seed-like object rolls by Chihiro's feet before transforming into a sorcerer, vines in place of his arm securely holding a blade. The sorcerer slashes upwards and Chihiro dodges before using Kuro to counter, but the plant sorcerer easily parries the flying slash, Chihiro's attack being notably weaker than normal. A heavyset samurai-helmet wearing sorcerer then throws his steam-propelled fist forward, Chihiro parrying but being smashed into a wall. As the mohawked sorcerers then mocked his pointless arrival, Chihiro questions if he should use Nishiki, but decides he wouldn't have enough time to finish off all of them. He decides to use Kuro to cut the lights and retreats. The enemy sorcerers taunt him and call for reinforcements, seeing an opportunity not just to defeat Chihiro but also to steal his Enchanted Blade.
Chihiro ducks behind a shoji door far away from the many searching guards and sorcerers. Filled with self-doubt, Chihiro repeatedly wishes he was at full power, and maybe then he would be able to save Char. Recalling various opponents doubting his strength, he then question his ability to defeat them at all, even if he wasn't injured. He tries to dismiss the thoughts and wait for Shiba's assistance, but believes in his mind that if he waits, he wouldn't be able to save anyone.
Suddenly, Chihiro recalls a memory with his father, where he had been sitting outside morosely and Kunishige had asked about his feelings. Chihiro told him he wondered if there's any point trying to become like Kunishige if he will never match up to him. Kunishige bluntly agreed that Chihiro would be nothing like him. As Chihiro lamented his father's seemingly casual attitude, Kunishige continued, mentioning Chihiro was serious and logical like his mother, and that's why he was often narrow-minded, illustrating the point by holding up his palms to the sides of his forehead to restrict his vision.
Kunishige appreciated Chihiro's seriousness regarding his teachings, but advised him not to lose his own identity as Chihiro Rokuhira while aspiring to emulate him. Chihiro was moved by his father's serious advice, as Kunishige lightened the mood by bringing up the many things Chihiro could do that he couldn't, like taking care of the house and goldfish. Returning to his 'palms-restricting-vision' pose, Kunishige concluded by telling Chihiro to keep calm and be flexible whenever he got too narrow-minded, adjusting and expanding the 'vision' of his palms as he did so, and instructed Chihiro to find his own hand-shape, prompting Chihiro to smile and tear up with joy and laughter as Kunishige continued experimenting with hand shapes.
In the present, the mohawked twins tell the researchers to continue experimenting on Char, as Chihiro had run off and would be dealt with soon. The researchers drag Char out of her cell, telling her she has no hope. The visor-wearing sorcerer, meanwhile, searches the area with several guards, tracking Chihiro using the scent of spilt blood on him. Abruptly, the sorcerer notices Chihiro is approaching them, first by scent and then by sight, the sword-wielder standing at the end of the hallway they were in.
Chihiro once again recalls his father's words to keep calm and be flexible, before remembering Enten's three techniques: long-range attacks (Kuro), absorption (Aka) and cloaking (Nishiki). As the message of flexibility runs through his mind, he internally apologises to Char, assuring her that he would end everything soon. A school of black fish is then revealed to be present around the visor sorcerer and guards, each one identical to Chihiro's usual black goldfish used with Kuro but appearing smaller in size. Chihiro then prepares to use his newest technique: Kuro: Shred.
Quick References[]
Chapter Notes[]
- Chihiro introduces the concept of the True Realm (
本 領 Honryō) to the Anti-Cloud Gouger Special Forces, which, according to Kunishige, could shape an Enchanted Blades' powers in ways beyond its normal three abilities based on the blade's user. - Shiba is revealed to have joined Chihiro in raiding Sojo's base.
- He joined Chihiro during his interrogation of a guard and the two agreed to split up; Chihiro focusing on rescuing Char while Shiba investigated a shed that potentially contained information regarding the Hishaku and Shinuchi.
- Shiba reminded Chihiro to avoid combat due to his injuries.
- Chihiro is ambushed by a visor-wearing sorcerer who has a heightened sense for blood, using it to track Chihiro.
- Shiba, by the shed, hears the confrontation but is forced to direct his attention away by two sorcerers.
- Chihiro's weakened physical state renders his fighting prowess significantly diminished, and he is barely able to fend off the sorcerers.
- He decides to retreat and the sorcerers and other guards pursue him.
- Having found a hiding place behind a shoji door, Chihiro begins doubting his ability to save Char even if he had been at full power, and recalls the words of his father when he had been feeling disappointed at not measuring up to Kunishige's legacy.
- Kunishige tells him not to get too fixated and stubborn, and to calm down and be flexible whenever he gets too narrow-minded.
- Chihiro confronts the visor-wearing sorcerer and the guards with him as they approach him, summoning a school of small black goldfish in preparation to use a new technique called Kuro: Shred, derived from Chihiro being more flexible with Enten's abilities and tapping into the True Realm.
Trivia[]
- The title of this chapter was unknown during the magazine release, and was only revealed in Volume 2.
- In this chapter, the kanji reading of Kagurabachi was revealed to be 神楽鉢.
Characters in Order of Appearance[]
Author's Comment[]
| Author's Comments | |
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Takeru Hokazono |
I want to get used to the weekly serialization schedule so I can start going through my movie backlog. I want to see Kubi!
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