For the other chapter named Selection, see Chapter 29.
Selection (
Summary[]
Yura notices Chihiro's usage of Mei: Shred has resulted in the manifestation of black lightning rather than the usual white, surmising Chihiro has regained his resolve.
Chihiro severs Yura's arm
It is noted that after Chihiro achieved resonation and solidarity with Cloud Gouger, the blade surpassed its limits in order to support Chihiro, resulting in a burst of speed sufficient for Chihiro to break free from the wall of trees, dash past Yura and sever his right arm. Nonchalantly catching his limb, Yura hurls his arm at Chihiro, and as Chihiro ducks Yura speeds behind Chihiro and aims a kick at him. Chihiro blasts away as the leg destroys a large portion of the ground, before rushing back and impaling Yura's chest with his wakizashi.
Still unconcerned, Yura spits blood directly in Chihiro's face, Chihiro forced to close one of his eyes. Realising Yura had deliberately taken the attack, Chihiro dashes back again as Yura strikes forward with his arm. Yura catches his right arm and comments Chihiro's attack power and speed has greatly risen, to the point where he had to lose a limb to keep up.
Chihiro mentally notes Yura's physical and mental fortitude is extraordinary, and he would need to commit everything he had in order to kill him. Looking back, he sees the wall of trees is already repairing himself, and through his connection with Cloud Gouger Chihiro notes he only has three full charges of Mei left, one of which would be necessary to cut through the durable wall. Internally noting Yura had not used his sorcery at all during their fight, realising Yura's plan was to get Chihiro to waste Cloud Gouger and concerned about Shiba and Hakuri, Chihiro decides he cannot hesitate and voices his desire to kill Yura.
On the other side of the wall, Hakuri attempts to use Isou but fails again, Soya grabbing him and forcing him against the wall. Soya's face grows agitated, baffled by Hakuri's claim that he would 'defeat him'. Wanting to hammer in his uselessness, Soya kicks him across the hall and insults him, but Hakuri does not focus on him as he sees black lightning crackle across the wall, from when Chihiro used Mei: Shred to break free.
Hakuri realises Chihiro is trying to break through the wall, and refocuses on their goal to get down to the Naginojoen, telling himself Chihiro will break down the wall soon. Simultaneously, Soya continues to kick Hakuri on the floor, screaming that Chihiro was just using Hakuri to achieve his goals and that he would abandon Hakuri, unlike Soya himself. Angered, Hakuri shouts back that Chihiro is not that kind of person, and begins remembering a lesson he had received from Shiba.
Sometime prior to the Rakuzaichi, Shiba told Hakuri he was capable of using Isou. He briefly goes over how sorcerers can train to manipulate spirit energy within their body to augment their mobility, strength and defensive capabilities, before becoming capable of sorcery. Shiba notes Hakuri took an attack from Hiyuki's Flame Bone and survived where most people would have died, which indicated to Shiba that Hakuri already had spirit energy circulating within his body, and thus Hakuri had completed the first step to use sorcery.
Hakuri recalls that within the Sazanami Clan, clan members were taught to manipulate spirit energy at 8 years old and learn Isou by 11, but he was not capable of achieving the former at 12 years old and subsequently barred from training. Shiba disparages the elite clans for their belief in training at a young age and notes Hakuri's mentality may be central to why he was unable to use sorcery; with years of self-doubt, Hakuri may have unconsciously placed barriers between him and his sorcery.
Hakuri performs Isou
In the present, as he consolidates his resolve, Hakuri successfully performs Isou, though the output is only able to push Soya back to the wall. Soya is begrudgingly impressed, but even as he notes the weak output, Chihiro dashes through the wall behind him and slices into his back. Chihiro shouts to Hakuri that they will proceed underground, while on the other side of the wall Yura is impressed by Chihiro's ability to set aside his revenge.
Behind Yura, Hiyuki walks down the stairs with Flame Bone active.
Quick References[]
Chapter Notes[]
- Chihiro uses Mei: Shred to break free from the wall of trees and fight on more even footing with Yura, severing one of his arms.
- Noting Yura is holding back (having not used his sorcery offensively) and refocusing on the Rakuzaichi, Chihiro voices his desire to kill Yura before slicing through the wall of trees.
- Hakuri fails to use Isou and faces more attacks from Soya, who attempts to emphasise Hakuri's uselessness and claims Chihiro does not value Hakuri as much as he does.
- Hakuri recalls a lesson he had with Shiba regarding spirit energy.
- It is revealed in order to use sorcery, one must first learn to reinforce their body by circulating spirit energy through it to boost their physical capabilities.
- Shiba speculates based on Hakuri's ability to withstand Flame Bone that Hakuri is already capable of unconsciously reinforcing his body's defences using spirit energy.
- Hakuri uses Isou to push Soya into the wall of trees as Chihiro slices through the wall and slashes at Soya's back.
- Hiyuki approaches Yura's position.
Characters in Order of Appearance[]
Author's Comment[]
| Author Comment | |
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Takeru Hokazono |
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Trivia[]
- When originally published in Weekly Shonen Jump, the Japanese title of this chapter was
選別 Senbetsu.